Endoscope with magnetic actuation

• US 6,616,602 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Witte, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/980,051
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 600/167, 600/168, 600/163, 600/112, 600/174, 600/131, 359/824, 359/823, 359/822, 359/694, 359/903
• US Class Current: 600/167
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

An endoscope with a sealed housing having inner magnetic structures coupled to a displacement element and outer magnetic structures coupled to an adjustment element. The inner and outer magnetic structures are magnetically coupled to each other through the wall of the housing and are displaceable parallel to the wall. The inner magnetic structure is displaceable toward and away from stop and the outer magnetic structure magnetically drives the inner structure. The outer magnetic structure can be affixed beyond the stop position of the inner structure in a secured adjustment position.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising a sealed housing wall and magnetic structures, said magnetic structures including an inner magnetic structure and an outer magnetic structure, the inner magnetic structure being coupled with a drive element and the outer magnetic structure being coupled with an adjustment element, said magnetic structures magnetically interacting through the housing wall and being displaceable parallel to said wall, wherein the inner magnetic structure is displaceable relative to a stop and wherein the outer magnetic structure, while magnetically ganged to the inner magnetic structure, is configured in an affixable manner beyond the stop of the inner magnetic structure into at least one secured adjustment position.

2. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tubular wall, wherein the inner and outer magnetic structures are mounted on rotatably supported and axially secured inner and outer rings, the inner ring cooperating with two rotational stops and the outer ring respectively, cooperating with two secured adjustment positions between which the outer ring is adjustable.

3. The endoscope as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer magnetic structure is axially offset from the inner magnetic structure.