Electronic endoscope

• US 6,520,908 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Yuichi, Fukuda, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Esquivel, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/671,560
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 600/132, 600/110, 600/158, 600/159, 600/131, 385/118
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle

Abstract

An electronic endoscope in accordance with the present invention consists broadly of an operation unit, an elongated insertion unit, and a universal cord. The operation unit has a treatment appliance insertion port and various operation switches and fills the role of a hand-held unit. The insertion unit extends from the lower end of the operation unit in a direction substantially corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the operation unit. The universal cord extends in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the operation unit at an acute angle, and accommodates at least a signal cable extending from the top of the operation unit.

Claims

1. An easily maneuverable electronic endoscope comprising:

an operation unit having a treatment appliance insertion port, a longitudinal direction, and various operation switches and filling the role of a hand-held unit;

an elongated insertion unit extending from a lower end of said operation unit in a direction substantially corresponding to the longitudinal direction of said operation unit; and

a universal cord extending from an upper part of said operation unit in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of said operation unit at an acute angle, and accommodating at least a signal cable, and said universal cord being rotatably coupled to said operation unit.

2. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a portion proximal to said universal cord is joined to the proximal end of said operation unit at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said operation unit so that the longitudinal axis of said universal cord will cross the longitudinal axis of said operation unit at an acute angle.

3. An electronic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal axis of said universal cord and the longitudinal axis of said operation unit share the same plane.

4. An electronic endoscope according to claim 2, further comprising an angle varying means linking said operation unit and universal cord and making it possible to vary a crossed-axes angle formed between a portion proximal to said universal cord and said operation unit, wherein:

the crossed-axes angle is varied in order to allow the portion proximal to said universal cord to abut against the back of a user'"'"'s hand with which said operation unit is held irrespective of the size of the user'"'"'s hand.

5. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising an angle varying means linking said operation unit and universal cord and making it possible to vary a crossed-axes angle formed between a portion proximal to said universal cord and said operation unit, wherein:

the crossed-axes angle is varied in order to allow the portion proximal to said universal cord to abut against the back of a user'"'"'s hand with which said operation unit is held irrespective of the size of the user'"'"'s hand.

6. An electronic endoscope according to claim 5, wherein said angle varying means is a hinge for joining said cord juncture to said operation unit so that said cord juncture can pivot freely.

7. An easily maneuverable electronic endoscope comprising:

an operation, unit having a treatment appliance insertion port, a longitudinal direction, and various operation switches and filling the role of a hand-held unit;

an elongated insertion unit extending from a lower end of said operation unit in a direction substantially corresponding to the longitudinal direction of said operation unit; and

a universal cord extending from an upper part of said operation unit in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of said operation unit at an acute angle, and accommodating at least a signal cable;

wherein a portion proximal to said universal cord meeting said operation unit at an acute angle serves as a hold assistant against which the back of a user'"'"'s hand with which said operation unit is held is rested.

8. An easily maneuverable electronic endoscope comprising:

an operation unit having a treatment appliance insertion port, a longitudinal direction, and various operation switches and filling the role of a hand-held unit;

an elongated insertion unit extending from a lower end of said operation unit in a direction substantially corresponding to the longitudinal direction of said operation unit;

a universal cord extending from an upper part of said operation unit in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of said operation unit at an acute angle, and accommodating at least a signal cable; and

a cord twist correcting structure, formed on said operation unit, for linking said operation unit and universal cord and permitting said universal cord to freely rotate at least 180°

about the axis of said universal cord, wherein;

even when said universal cord have such a positional relationship to said operation unit that it is twisted to form a twist, once said universal cord is rotated, the twist is unraveled.

9. An electronic endoscope according to claim 8, wherein said cord twist correcting means comprises:

a cord juncture projecting from said operation unit and having a screw hole on the wall of which a female screw to be mated with a lock screw is threaded; and

a coupling fixture including a first coupling member that has a rotator portion joined to said cord juncture so that it can rotate freely, and a second coupling member that is joined to said first coupling member as an integral part of said first coupling member and in which said universal cord is locked as an integral part of said second coupling member.

10. An easily maneuverable electronic endoscope comprising:

an operation unit having a treatment appliance insertion port, a longitudinal direction, and various operation switches and filling the role of a hand-held unit;

an elongated insertion unit extending from a lower end of said operation unit in a direction substantially corresponding to the longitudinal direction of said operation unit; and

a universal cord extending from an upper part of said operation unit in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of said operation unit at an acute angle, and accommodating at least a signal cable;

wherein a treatment appliance insertion port is interposed between an aeration/perfusion button and a suction button that comprise operation switches formed on said operation unit.

11. An electronic endoscope comprising:

an operation unit having a longitudinal direction associated therewith, and an elongated insertion unit extending from a lower end of the operation unit in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of said operation unit; and

a universal cord extending in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of said operation unit at an acute angle,

wherein a portion of said universal cord extending from said operation unit serves as a hold assistant against which the back of an operator'"'"'s hand with which said operation unit is held is rested.

12. An endoscope, comprising:

a hand-held operation unit having at least one operation switch associated therewith, said operation unit having a longitudinal axis;

an elongated insertion unit extending from said operation unit; and

a signal cord extending from said operation unit through an elongated rigid member which is fixed to said operation unit, at least a portion of said rigid member being located opposite a side surface of said operation unit and extending along a substantially straight line which forms an acute angle with said longitudinal axis of said operation unit, and said signal cord being rotatably coupled to said operation unit.

13. An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said portion of said rigid member and said side surface of said operation unit form space in which a hum,an operator'"'"'s hand may be inserted.

14. An endoscope according to claim 13, wherein said space is of a size adapted to accommodate a human operator'"'"'s hand such that the palm of said human operator'"'"'s hand can grasp said side surface of said operation unit and the back of said human operator'"'"'s hand can touch said rigid member.

15. An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said rigid member comprises:

a cord junction which is fixedly coupled to said operation unit; and

a coupling fixture which is rotatably coupled to said cord junction.

16. An endoscope according to claim 15, wherein said signal cord is fixedly coupled to said coupling fixture and is thereby rotatably coupled to said cord junction and said operation unit.

17. An endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said coupling fixture comprises first and second coupling members which are removably connected to one another, and which form a recess which receives said cord junction.

18. An endoscope according to claim 17, wherein a rotation groove extends circumferentially in said first coupling member, said first coupling member is engaged with said cord junction by a lock screw meshed with a screw hole in said cord junction and said lock screw is received by said rotation groove.

19. An endoscope according to claim 18, wherein said rotation groove enables said cord to rotate less than 360°

.

20. An endoscope according to claim 19, wherein an O ring is located between said cord junction and said coupling fixture to prevent water permutation.

21. An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said signal cord has a signal line adapted to carry information signals therein.

22. An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said signal cord has a fiber optic line extending therethrough.

23. An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said signal cord is operatively coupled to said elongated insertion unit.

24. An endoscope according to claim 23, wherein signals pass between said elongated insertion unit and said signal cord.

25. An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said operation unit also includes a treatment appliance insertion port.

26. An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said elongated insertion unit exits said operation unit along said longitudinal axis.

27. An endoscope according to claim 26, wherein said elongated insertion unit is a flexible unit.

28. An endoscope according to claim 27, wherein said elongated insertion unit extends from said operation unit through a second rigid member which extends from said operation unit along said longitudinal axis.

29. An endoscope, comprising:

a hand-held operation unit having at least one operation switch associated therewith, said operation unit having a longitudinal axis;

an elongated insertion unit extending from said operation unit; and

a signal cord extending from said operation unit through an elongated rigid member which is fixed to said operation unit, at least a portion of said rigid member being located opposite a side surface of said operation unit and extending along a substantially straight line which forms an acute angle with said longitudinal axis of said operation unit;

wherein said portion of said rigid member forms an acute angle with said longitudinal axis in at least two planes.

30. An endoscope, comprising:

an elongated hand-held operation unit having at least one operation switch associated therewith;

an elongated insertion unit extending from said operation unit; and

a signal cord extending from said operation unit through an elongated rigid member which is fixed to said operation unit, at least a portion of said rigid member having a surface opposed to a side surface of said operation unit and forming a space in which a human operator'"'"'s hand can be placed where the palm of the human operator'"'"'s hand can grasp said side surface of said operation unit and the back of said human operator'"'"'s hand can touch said rigid member, said signal cord being rotatably coupled to said operation unit.

31. An endoscope according to claim 30 further comprising a hinge coupled to said cord junction and said operation unit.

32. An endoscope according to claim 31, wherein said hinge permits said space to be adjusted.

33. An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said rigid member comprises:

a cord junction which is fixedly coupled to said operation unit; and

a coupling fixture which is rotatably coupled to said cord junction.

34. An endoscope according to claim 33, wherein said signal cord is fixedly coupled to said coupling fixture and is thereby rotatably coupled to said cord junction and said operation unit.

35. An endoscope according to claim 34, wherein said coupling fixture comprises first and second coupling members which are removably connected to one another, and which form a recess which receives said cord junction.

36. An endoscope according to claim 35, wherein a rotation groove extends circumferentially in said first coupling member, said first coupling member is engaged with said cord junction by a lock screw meshed with a screw hole in said cord junction and said lock screw is received by said rotation groove.

37. An endoscope according to claim 36, wherein said rotation groove enables said cord to rotate less than 360°

.

38. An endoscope according to claim 37, wherein an O ring is located between said cord junction and said coupling fixture to prevent water permutation.

39. An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said signal cord has a signal line adapted to carry information signals therein.

40. An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said signal cord has a fiber optic line extending therethrough.

41. An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said signal cord is operatively coupled to said elongated insertion unit.

42. An endoscope according to claim 41, wherein signals pass between said elongated insertion unit and said signal cord.

43. An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said operation unit also includes a treatment appliance insertion port.

44. An endoscope according to claim 30, wherein said elongated insertion unit exits said operation unit along said longitudinal axis.

45. An endoscope according to claim 44, wherein said elongated insertion unit is a flexible unit.

46. An endoscope, comprising:

an elongated hand-held operation unit having at least one operation switch associated therewith;

an elongated insertion unit extending from said operation unit; and

a signal cord extending from said operation unit through an elongated rigid member which is fixed to said operation unit, at least a portion of said rigid member having a surface opposed to a side surface of said operation unit and forming a space in which a human operator'"'"'s hand can be placed where the palm of the human operator'"'"'s hand can grasp said side surface of said operation unit and the back of said human operator'"'"'s hand can touch said rigid member;

wherein said portion of said rigid member forms an acute angle with said operation unit in at least two planes.