Device for positioning at least one optical component within an endoscopic system

• US 6,641,531 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Kehr, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/918,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 600/160, 600/172-177, 600/181
• US Class Current: 600/172
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2453 of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/007 the movable or deformable optical element controlling the colour, i.e. a spectral characteristic, of the light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/008 in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels

Abstract

A device for positioning at least one optical component within an endoscopic system has a housing, through which runs an optical axis, and in which at least one component is arranged. The component is pivotable into the beam path of the endoscopic system about a pivot axis and pivotable out of the beam path. The pivot axis is here arranged running obliquely to the optical axis.

Claims

1. A device for positioning at least two optical components within an endoscopic system, comprising a housing, in which said optical components are arranged, and through which runs an optical axis of said endoscopic system, a beam path of said endoscopic system extending along said optical axis, wherein said components can be pivoted into said beam path of said endoscopic system about a pivot axis and can be pivoted out of said beam path, wherein said pivot axis is arranged obliquely with respect to said optical axis, and wherein at least two pivotable carriers are provided, which each carry at least one of said optical components, and which carriers are pivotable independently of each other, and wherein said carriers are arranged axially in an approximately same position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said pivot axis is arranged approximately orthogonal with respect to said optical axis.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said pivot axis is arranged in such a way that at least one of said components in the state pivoted out of said beam path comes in an adjacent position with a flat side of an inner wall of said housing.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said components is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said carrier, in cross-section, is configured approximately in L-shape, wherein a first leg of said carrier carries said at least one of said components and a second leg is articulatedly fixed at said housing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said components is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries the at least one of said components, and on the other lever arm of which engages an essentially axially movable force transmission element.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, wherein the at least one of said components is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries the at least one of said components and on the other lever arm of which engages an essentially axially movable force transmission element, and wherein said at least one magnetically active element for said outer magnet and said at least one inner magnetically active element are axially movable, wherein said inner magnetically active element is connected to said force transmission element.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, wherein the at least one of said components is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries the at least one of said components, and wherein said magnetic coupling comprises at least two outer magnetically active elements or magnets, which are arranged on a rotatable ring, in axially different positions, wherein said at least one inner magnetically active element is axially movable and connected with said force transmission element, and wherein said two outer magnetically active elements or magnets can alternatively be brought in magnetic engagement with said inner element by rotating said ring.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said components is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of the at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, and wherein said at least one inner magnetically active element is arranged on said carrier itself and coacts directly with said at least one outer magnetically active element or magnet for pivoting in and for pivoting out the at least one of said components.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said at least one outer magnetically active element or magnet is movable via a rotatable ring surrounding said housing.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, and wherein two inner magnetically active elements are arranged, in the form of two magnets, on carriers, wherein said inner magnets, with respect to said pivot axis, are arranged opposite to each other and polarized opposite to each other, and wherein at least two outer magnets are arranged outside said housing, which are, alternately, movable into a position, in which they coact magnetically with said inner magnets, in order to pivot in and/or to pivot out the at least one of said components.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, and wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, wherein the at least one of said components is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries the at least one of said components, and wherein said magnetic coupling comprises at least two outer magnetically active elements or magnets, which are arranged on a rotatable ring in axially different positions, and wherein said two outer magnetically active elements or magnets can alternatively be brought in magnetic engagement with said inner element by rotating said ring, and wherein said ring has at least two lock-in positions, wherein at least a first lock-in position is assigned to a pivoted-out position of said component and at least a second lock-in position is assigned to a pivoted-in position of said component.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said component a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, and wherein said at least one outer magnetically active element is a permanent magnet or a soft-iron core.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said component a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, and wherein said at least one magnetically active element is an electric magnet, which can also be arranged within said housing, wherein said at least one inner magnetically active element may be connected to a back-force spring.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, and wherein said at least one inner magnetically active element is a magnet or a soft-iron core.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of at least one of said components a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, and wherein the at least one of said components is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries said at least one component, and on the other lever arm of which engages an essentially axially movable force transmission element, and wherein a moving coil drive with an electric coil and an anchor is arranged in an inner part of said housing, said anchor being arranged therein axially movable and being connected to said force transmission element.

18. A device for positioning at least one optical component within an endoscopic system, comprising a housing, in which said at least one optical component is arranged, and through which runs an optical axis of said endoscopic system, a beam path of said endoscopic system extending along said optical axis, wherein said at least one component can be pivoted into said beam path of said endoscopic system about a pivot axis and can be pivoted out of said beam path, wherein said pivot axis is arranged obliquely with respect to said optical axis, wherein said at least one component is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier, in cross-section, is configured approximately in L-shape, wherein a first leg of said carrier carries said at least one component, and a second leg is articulatedly fixed at said housing.

19. The device of claim 18, said pivot axis is arranged approximately orthogonal with respect to said optical axis.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said pivot axis is arranged in such a way that said component in the state pivoted out of said beam path comes in an adjacent position with a flat side of an inner wall of said housing.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein in said housing at least two optical components are arranged, and wherein at least two pivotable carriers are provided, which each carry one of said at least two components, and which carriers are pivotable independently of each other.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein in said housing at least two optical components are arranged, and wherein at least two pivotable carriers are provided, which each carry at least one of said two components, and which carriers are pivotable independently of each other, and wherein said carriers are arranged axially in an approximately same position.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein said at least one component is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries said at least one component, and on the other lever arm of which engages an essentially axially movable force transmission element.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of said at least one component a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force.

25. The device of claim 18, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of said at least one component a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, wherein said at least one component is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries said at least one component, and on the other lever arm of which engages an essentially axially movable force transmission element, and wherein said at least one magnetically active element for said outer magnet and said at least one inner magnetically active element are axially movable, wherein said inner magnetically active element is connected to said force transmission element.

26. The device of claim 18, wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of said at least one component a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, wherein said at least one component is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries said at least one component, and wherein said magnetic coupling comprises at least two outer magnetically active elements or magnets, which are arranged on a rotatable ring, in axially different positions, wherein said at least one inner magnetically active element is axially movable and connected with said force transmission element, and wherein said two outer magnetically active elements or magnets can alternatively be brought in magnetic engagement with said inner element by rotating said ring.

27. A device for positioning at least one optical component within an endoscopic system, comprising a housing, in which said at least one optical component is arranged, and through which runs an optical axis of said endoscopic system, a beam path of said endoscopic system extending along said optical axis, L(herein said at least one component can be pivoted into said beam path of said endoscopic system about a pivot axis and can be pivoted out of said beam path,

wherein said pivot axis is arranged obliquely with respect to said optical axis;

and wherein for actuating the pivoting in and the pivoting out of said at least one component a magnetic coupling is provided, which has at least one outer movable magnetically active element arranged outside said housing or at least one magnet and at least one inner magnetically active element arranged within said housing, wherein said outer magnetically active element or said outer magnet and said inner magnetically active element coact through said housing via a magnetic force, wherein said at least one component is fixed on a carrier, which is fixed at said housing pivotably about said pivot axis, and wherein said carrier is configured as a two-armed lever with respect to said pivot axis, one lever arm of which carries said at least one component, and op the other lever arm of which engages an essentially axially movable force transmission element, and wherein said at least one magnetically active element for said outer magnet and said at least one inner magnetically active element are axially movable, wherein said inner magnetically active element is connected to raid force transmission element.