Endoscope

• US 6,689,049 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Hideo, Naito, Kan, Satou, Michio, Suzuki, Akira, Watanabe, Atsushi, Miyagi, Takayasu, Toyama, Ryuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/588,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104, 600/114, 600/117, 600/118, 600/129, 600/130, 600/139-142, 600/424
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04

Abstract

Three magnetic field generating coils on the distal end side of the shape detection probe are provided in the curvable portion, and the first coil at the leading end position is placed at the position corresponding to the leading end curvable piece, whereas the third coil at the position corresponding to the trailing end curvable piece. Further, the second coil is placed at a middle position between the leading end curvable piece and the trailing end curvable piece in the curvable portion. With this structure, the accuracy of detecting the shape of the curvable portion can be improved, and the production cost of the system as a whole can be lowered.

Claims

1. An endoscope device comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion portion, said insertion portion including a curvable portion and a distal end portion provided at a distal end side of the curvable portion; and

an insertion portion shape detecting probe provided in the insertion portion for detecting a shape of the insertion portion;

wherein the insertion portion shape detecting probe includes;

(i) a first magnetic filed generating coil provided at one of a) an extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and b) the distal end portion, (ii) a second magnetic field generating coil provided at an extreme proximal end position of the curvable portion, (iii) a third magnetic field generating coil provided at substantially an intermediate position between the first and second coils, and (iv) a plurality of fourth magnetic field generating coils provided in a section of the insertion portion other than the curvable portion.

2. An endoscope device comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion portion, said insertion portion including a flexible tube portion, a curvable portion and a distal end portion provided at a distal end side of the curvable portion; and

an insertion portion shape detecting probe provided in the insertion portion for detecting a shape of the insertion portion;

wherein the insertion portion shape detecting probe includes;

(i) a first magnetic filed generating coil provided at one of a) an extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and b) the distal end portion, (ii) a second magnetic field generating coil provided at an extreme proximal end position of the curvable portion, (iii) a third magnetic field generating coil provided at substantially an intermediate position between the first and second coils, and (iv) a plurality of fourth magnetic field generating coils provided in the flexible tube portion.

3. An endoscope device comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion portion in which an imaging unit and a channel are provided; and

an insertion portion shape detecting probe including a plurality of magnetic field generating coils arranged in an axial direction of the insertion portion for detecting a shape of the insertion portion;

wherein the insertion portion shape detecting probe is situated at a position such that a moving amount of the insertion portion shape detecting probe in the axial direction of the insertion portion when the curvable portion is curved is minimum, and such that insertion portion shape detecting probe does not intersect with the imaging unit and channel provided in the insertion portion.

4. An endoscope device according to claim 3, wherein said insertion portion shape detection probe is situated in substantially a same position in a diameter direction over an entire length of the insertion portion.

5. An endoscope device according to claim 4, wherein the insertion portion shape detecting probe is situated at substantially a central position with respect to up and down curving directions of the curvable portion.

6. An endoscope device comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion portion in which a curvable portion is provided; and

an insertion portion shape detecting probe provided in the insertion portion for detecting a shape of the insertion portion;

wherein the insertion portion shape detecting probe includes;

(i) a first magnetic field generating coil provided at one of a) an extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and b) a section of the insertion portion that is on a distal side further than the curvable portion, (ii) a second magnetic field generating coil provided at one of a) an extreme proximal end position of the curvable portion and b) a section of the insertion portion that is on a proximal side further than the curvable portion, and (iii) a third magnetic field generating coil provided at substantially an intermediate position between the first and second coils;

wherein the first coil is provided at the extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and the second coil is provided at the extreme proximal end position of the curvable portion.

7. An endoscope device according to claim 6, wherein:

the endoscope includes a distal end structural portion provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion;

the distal end structural portion comprises a main body made of a non-magnetic material, and a probe mount portion for mounting a distal end portion of the insertion portion shape detection probe to the main body of the distal end structural portion; and

the first coil is disposed within the main body of the distal end structural portion.

8. An endoscope device according to claim 6, wherein:

the curvable portion comprises a plurality of curvable pieces arranged in one direction of the insertion portion;

the first coil is situated at a position corresponding to one of the curvable pieces that is placed at the extreme distal end of the curvable portion; and

the second coil is situated at a position corresponding to one of the curvable pieces that is placed at the extreme proximal end of the curvable portion.

9. An endoscope device according to claim 8, wherein the first, second and third coils are arranged at substantially equal intervals over an overall length of the insertion portion.

10. An endoscope device comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion portion in which a curvable portion is provided; and

an insertion portion shape detecting probe provided in the insertion portion for detecting a shape of the insertion portion;

wherein the insertion portion shape detecting probe includes;

(i) a first magnetic field generating coil provided at one of a) an extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and b) a section of the insertion portion that is on a distal side further than the curvable portion, (ii) a second magnetic field generating coil provided at one of a) an extreme proximal end position of the curvable portion and b) a section of the insertion portion that is on a proximal side further than the curvable portion (iii) a third magnetic field generating coil provided at substantially an intermediate position between the first and second coils, and (iv) a plurality of fourth magnetic field generating coils provided in a section of the insertion portion other than the curvable portion;

wherein the first coil is provided at the extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and the second coil is provided at the extreme proximal end position of the curvable portion.

11. An endoscope device according to claim 10, wherein:

the endoscope includes a distal end structural portion provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion;

the distal end structural portion comprises a main body made of a non-magnetic material, and a probe mount portion for mounting a distal end portion of the insertion portion shape detection probe to the main body of the distal end structural portion; and

the first coil is disposed within the main body of the distal end structural portion.

12. An endoscope device according to claim 10, wherein:

the curvable portion comprises a plurality of curvable pieces arranged in one direction of the insertion portion;

the first coil is situated at a position corresponding to one of the curvable pieces that is placed at the extreme distal end of the curvable portion; and

the second coil is situated at a position corresponding to one of the curvable pieces that is placed at the extreme proximal end of the curvable portion.

13. An endoscope device according to claim 12, wherein the first, second, third and fourth coils are arranged at substantially equal intervals over an overall length of the insertion portion.

14. An endoscope device comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion portion in which a curvable portion is provided; and

an insertion portion shape detecting probe provided in the insertion portion for detecting a shape of the insertion portion;

wherein the insertion portion shape detecting probe includes;

(i) a first magnetic field generating coil provided at one of a) an extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and b) a portion that is on a distal side further than the curvable portion, (ii) a second magnetic field generating coil provided in a vicinity of a rear end portion of the curvable portion for detecting an extreme rear end portion of the curvable portion, and (iii) at least one third magnetic field generating coil provided between the first magnetic field generating coil and the second magnetic field generating coil.

15. An endoscope device according to claim 14, wherein:

the endoscope includes a distal end structural portion provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion;

the distal end structural portion comprises a main body made of a non-magnetic material, and a probe mount portion for mounting a distal end portion of the insertion portion shape detection probe to the main body of the distal end structural portion; and

the first coil is disposed within the main body of the distal end structural portion.

16. An endoscope device according to claim 14, wherein the second magnetic field generating coil is provided at one of a) the extreme distal end position of the curvable portion and b) a position of the insertion portion which is adjacent to the extreme distal end position of the curvable portion.

17. An endoscope device according to claim 16, wherein the second magnetic field generating coil is provided at a rear end position of the curvable portion.

18. An endoscope device according to claim 17, wherein:

the curvable portion comprises a plurality of curvable pieces arranged in one direction of the insertion portion;

the first magnetic field generating coil is situated at a position corresponding to one of the curvable pieces that is placed at the extreme distal end of the curvable portion; and

the second magnetic field generating coil is situated at a position corresponding to one of the curvable pieces that is placed at an extreme proximal end of the curvable portion.

19. An endoscope device according to claim 14, wherein said at least one third magnetic field generating coil comprises a plurality of third magnetic field generating coils arranged between the first and second magnetic field generating coils.