Electronic type endoscope in which image pickup unit is dismounted to execute disinfection/sterilization processing

• US 5,609,561 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyashita, Akihiro, Goto, Masahito, Ogawa, Mototsugu, Kobayashi, Kazunari, Yamaguchi, Seiji, Yamashita, Shinji, Nakagawa, Takehiro, Murata, Akira, Uchikubo, Akinobu, Saito, Katsuyuki, Uehara, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/362,731
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/112, 600/130, 600/133, 600/160, 600/132, 348/73, 348/75
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/125 using fluid circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70

Abstract

An image pickup unit provided with an image pickup element is of structure capable of being detachably received in an endoscope body or a TV camera. After having been used in observation, the image pickup unit is dismounted, whereby disinfection processing and sterilization processing of the endoscope body from which the image pickup unit is dismounted, or the TV camera can be executed without inviting deterioration and the like of a characteristic of the image pickup unit by a disinfection unit, a sterilization unit or the like.

Claims

1. An electronic type endoscope comprising:

an endoscope body having an elongated inserting section;

illuminating-light projection means for projecting an illuminating light from a distal end portion of said inserting section;

an objective optical system provided at the distal end portion of said inserting section for imaging a subject illuminated by said illuminating light;

an image pickup unit provided with an image pickup element for photoelectrically transferring an optical image based on said objective optical system, to generate an image pickup signal;

a pickup unit receiving body which receives and fully encloses said image pickup unit including a first detaching means located on a distal end of said pickup unit receiving body for detachably mounting said pickup unit receiving body on said endoscope body; and

a second detaching means for detaching said image pickup unit from said pickup unit receiving body, said second detaching means being located on a proximal end of said pickup unit receiving body wherein said image pickup unit is detachable from said pickup unit receiving body via said second detaching means while said pickup unit receiving body is mounted on said endoscope body,

wherein said second detaching means forms a portion of an outer surface of said proximal end of said pickup unit receiving body when attached to said pickup unit receiving body.

2. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said electronic type endoscope is an endoscope of TV camera outside mounted type having an image guide for transmitting an optical image due to said objective optical system toward an ocular lens, an ocular portion at which said ocular lens is arranged, and a TV camera having a mount mechanism detachable with respect to said ocular portion and provided with said image pickup unit.

3. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said TV camera has a TV camera head having said mount mechanism and a cable extending toward the outside from said TV camera head and provided with a connector at a proximal end of said TV camera.

4. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said image pickup unit has a connecting means for detachably connecting said image pickup unit to a proximal end of said cable.

5. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said endoscope body is an optical endoscope.

6. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said pickup unit receiving body has said mount mechanism, and said pickup unit receiving body receives said image pickup unit within a housing which is opened and closed by a closure mechanism.

7. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said endoscope body is formed by an optical endoscope and an optical adaptor having said mount mechanism and an image pickup lens.

8. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 7, wherein said pickup unit receiving body is detachable with respect to said optical adaptor by said first detaching means.

9. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 7, wherein said image pickup unit is detachable with respect to said optical adaptor by said second detaching means.

10. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said inserting section of said endoscope body is rigid.

11. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said inserting section of said endoscope body is flexible.

12. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope body and said pickup unit receiving body are formed of a material having heat resistance higher than a temperature at which at least said image pickup element is deteriorated.

13. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup unit has a peripheral circuit for executing signal processing with respect to said image pickup element.

14. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup unit has a connecting means for detachably connecting said image pickup unit to a signal line.

15. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope body is constructed of a material which is capable of withstanding high temperature produced by an autoclave steam during thermal sterilization processing.

16. An electronic type endoscope according to claim 15, wherein said endoscope body is capable of withstanding said autoclave thermal sterilization processing by steam having pressure equal to or greater than 1 atmosphere.