Endoscope system having reduced noise emission/permeation

• US 6,319,197 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Kenji, Uchikubo, Akinobu, Tsuji, Kiyoshi, Goto, Masahito, Hirai, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/888,671
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 600/132, 600/134, 600/109, 348/65, 361/818, 439/607, 439/608, 439/620
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/901 Suppression of noise in electric signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/908 Patient protection from electric shock

Abstract

A medical system having an endoscope probe intubated into a body, a signal processing circuit for processing a signal for the probe and an electric source circuit insulated from a commercial electric source. A part of the signal processing circuit connected to the probe is isolated by an isolation circuit to secure the safety. An impedance element is employed to prevent a malfunction by reducing an emission/permeation of noises. No adverse influence is thereby exerted on outside units.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope system comprising:

an electronic endoscope including an elongated intubation unit, an objective optical system for forming an optical image of a subject illuminated by illumination light emitted from a distal end side of said intubation unit, and an imaging element for photoelectrically converting an optical image based on said objective optical system;

a signal transmitting cable connected to said imaging element, said signal transmitting cable having a portion covering transmission lines;

a signal processor connected through said signal transmitting cable for processing signals for said imaging element;

a connecting part connecting said signal processor and said signal transmitting cable;

a metal cylinder covering said connecting part; and

an electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means consisting of a ring-shaped ferrite core for absorbing electromagnetic waves, said signal transmitting cable passing through said electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means,

wherein said electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means is arranged at an end portion of said portion of said signal transmitting cable near an electrical contact point of said connecting part and a small distance away and apart from said metal cylinder along said signal transmitting cable.

2. An electronic endoscope system comprising:

an electronic endoscope including an elongated intubation unit, an objective optical system for forming an optical image of a subject illuminated by illumination light emitted from a distal end side of said intubation unit, and an imaging element for photoelectrically converting an optical image based on said objective optical system;

a first signal transmitting cable connected to said imaging element, said first signal transmitting cable having a portion covering first transmission lines;

a signal processor circuit for processing signals for said imaging element;

a second signal transmitting cable connected to said signal processing circuit;

a connecting part for detachably connecting said first signal transmitting cable and said second signal transmitting cable;

a metal cylinder covering said connecting part; and

an electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means consisting of a ring-shaped ferrite core for absorbing electromagnetic waves, at least one of said first signal transmitting cable and said second signal transmitting cable passing through said electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means,

wherein said electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means is arranged at an end portion of said portion of said first signal transmitting cable covering said first transmission lines near an electrical contact point of said connecting part and a small distance away and apart from said metal cylinder along said signal transmitting cable.

3. An electronic endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means is arranged at one end of said first signal transmitting cable.

4. An electronic endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic energy absorbing and attenuating means is arranged at one end of said second signal transmitting cable.