Distal end part of endoscope

• US 5,951,464 A
• Filed: 04/19/1995
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Takahashi, Nagashige, Shibuya, Hiromichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanagan, Beverly M.
• Application Number:
  US08/424,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 600/127, 600/129, 600/121, 600/160, 600/175, 600/176, 600/177, 600/169, 600/181, 600/106, 359/601, 359/613, 359/385
• US Class Current: 600/176
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence

Abstract

A distal end part of an endoscope having a viewing window for introducing light from an object into an objective optical system for forming an observed image. An illuminating window is disposed in a side by a side relationship with the viewing window for illuminating a visual field of the objective optical system. A continuous transparent cover covers the surfaces of both the illuminating and viewing windows. A window glass is attached to the viewing window in such a manner that a virtual image of the outer edge portion of the window glass, which is produced by single reflection from the inner side of the outer surface of the transparent cover, lies outside the visual filed of the objective optical system.

Claims

1. A distal end part of an endoscope, comprising:

a viewing window for introducing light from an object into an objective optical system having a visual field for forming an observed image;

an illumination window disposed in a side by side relationship with said viewing window for illuminating said visual field of said objective optical system;

a continuous transparent cover for covering surfaces of both said illumination and viewing windows; and

a window glass that is attached to and covers said viewing window, said window glass having a flat front surface and a flat rear surface, said window glass having a diameter large enough so that a virtual image of an outer edge portion of said window glass, which is produced by single reflection from an inner side of an outer surface of said transparent cover, lies outside the visual field of said objective optical system, said illumination window being uncovered by said window glass.

2. A distal end part of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein both said illuminating and viewing windows are disposed to face forwardly.

3. A distal end part of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said transparent cover is in close contact with a surface of said window glass.

4. A distal end part of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said transparent cover can be attached to and removed from said distal end part.

5. A distal end part of an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein said transparent cover is provided at a distal end of a sheath which is removably fitted over an insert part of said endoscope.

6. A distal end part of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said outer end portion of said window glass is chamfered.

7. A distal end part of an endoscope according to claim 1, comprising an aperture diaphragm located proximate said window glass.

8. A distal end part of an endoscope according to claim 7, wherein said objective optical system includes at least one objective lens, said aperture diaphragm being located between said at least one objective lens and said window glass.