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Endoscope video camera head which can be autoclaved

  • US 6,080,101 A
  • Filed: 08/26/1998
  • Issued: 06/27/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An endoscopic imaging apparatus, comprising:

  • an outer metallic sheathing including a mount which is attachable to an eyepiece unit of an endoscope, said outer metallic sheathing forming a first housing member having a first opening adapted to be positioned opposing the eyepiece unit, a second opening, and substantially defining a storage space which remains airtight during autoclaving;

    an optical system aligned with said first opening of said first housing member so as to be opposed to said eyepiece unit, said optical system including at least an optical member located at said first opening to partially define said storage space;

    a first seal for hermetically sealing said first opening in cooperation with said optical member included in said optical system so that said optical system can withstand autoclaving;

    a solid-state imaging device disposed in said storage space and including a photoelectric converting mechanism located at a position at which an image produced by said optical system is formed;

    a first electrical connector affixed in said second opening of said first housing member, said first electrical connector including a metallic connector frame and a plurality of first electrical contact pins which are electrically coupled to said solid-state imaging device via a corresponding first plurality of signal lines, said first electrical connector being hermetically sealed using an insulating hermetic member so that said first electrical contact pins can withstand autoclaving;

    a second electrical connector having a plurality of second electrical contact pins which can be spliced to said plurality of first electrical contact pins;

    an electrical cable formed from a second plurality of signal lines, wherein each of said second electrical contact pins are electrically coupled to one end of a corresponding second signal line, said electrical cable being surrounded with a shielding sheath which in turn is protected by an insulating sheath;

    a second housing member made from an insulating material and adapted to be coupled to said first housing member in a water-tight manner so as to shield said first electrical connector and said second electrical connector including said plurality of second electrical contact pins and said ends of said second signal lines forming said electrical cable to which said second electrical contact pins are electrically coupled;

    an internal shielding sheathing placed inside said outer metallic sheathing and forming a conductive shielding layer;

    an inner insulating sheathing placed between said outer metallic sheathing and said internal shielding sheathing and forming an insulating layer for isolating said outer metallic sheathing from said internal shielding sheathing;

    an insulating element for isolating said outer metallic sheathing from said metallic connector frame inside said insulating second house member;

    a second seal for hermetically sealing said insulating element so that said insulating element can withstand autoclaving; and

    a shielding member for enabling electrical communication to travel from said internal shielding sheathing through said metallic connector frame and to said shielding sheath, and vice versa, said shielding member shielding said second electrical connector.

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