Endoscope

• US 6,749,559 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Mückner, Andreas, Wenzel, Timo, Kraas, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US09/576,270
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101-183
• US Class Current: 600/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments

Abstract

An endoscope having a tubular stem that, at its distal end, houses a camera and a distally pointing illumination device. The tubular stem defines an empty space extending from the camera in the proximal direction. The empty space receives a camera cable and is used to house implements useful during operation of the endoscope in a surgical procedure.

Claims

1. An endoscope (10) comprising:

a main case (11);

a tubular stem (12), said tubular stem having a proximal end, a distal end, a generally constant diameter and orientation between said proximal end and said distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis, said tubular stem proximal end being connected to said main case (11);

a camera (13) and an objective (27) being disposed within said tubular stem near said distal end so as to look out of said tubular stem distal end;

an illumination device disposed inside said tubular stem (12) near said distal end so as to look out of said distal end;

wherein said tubular stem (12) defines an empty space (15) extending from said main case (11) to said camera (13), said empty space (15) receiving lines (14, 17) for connecting said camera (13) and said illumination device to said main case (11); and

,

wherein said empty space (14) receives, in addition to said connecting lines (14, 17), at least one implement (19, 20, 23).

2. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein illumination device is a diode.

3. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one implement is selected from the group consisting of:

an adjustment drive means (19), an operational tool, a pump (23), and a sensor.

4. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one implement is a laser pointer (20).

5. The endoscope as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one implement is selected from the group consisting of:

an adjustment drive means (19), an operational tool, a pump (23), and a sensor.

6. The endoscope as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one implement is a laser pointer (20).

7. An endoscope (10) comprising:

a main case (11);

a tubular stem (12), said tubular stem having a proximal end, a distal end, a generally constant diameter and orientation between said proximal end and said distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis, said tubular stem proximal end being connected to said main case (11), said longitudinal axis extending from said distal end to said proximal end;

a camera (13) and an objective (27) being disposed within said tubular stem 12) near said tubular stem distal end so as to look out of said distal end;

an illumination device disposed inside said tubular stem (12) near said distal end so as to look out of said distal end;

wherein said tubular stem defines an empty space (15) extending from said main case (11) to said camera (13), said empty space being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and receiving connecting lines (14, 17) for connecting said camera (13) and said illumination device to said main case (11), said empty space (15), in addition to receiving said connecting lines, receives at least one implement (19, 20, 23), and wherein said longitudinal axis extends past said camera and said implement.

8. The endoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein the illumination device is a diode.

9. The endoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one implement is selected from the group consisting of:

an adjustment drive means (19), an operational tool, a pump (23), and a sensor.

10. The endoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one implement is a laser pointer (20).

11. The endoscope as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one implement is selected from the group consisting of:

an adjustment drive means (19), an operational tool, a pump (23), and a sensor.

12. The endoscope as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one implement is a laser pointer (20).

13. An endoscope (10) comprising:

a main case (11);

a tubular stem (12), said tubular stem being generally cylindrical and defining an outer surface of said endoscope, said tubular stem having a proximal end, a distal end, a generally constant diameter and orientation between said proximal end and said distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis, said tubular stem proximal end being connected to said main case (11) so as to define an interior space within said tubular stem, said longitudinal axis extending from said distal end to said proximal end;

a camera (13) and an objective (27) disposed within said tubular stem (12) near said tubular stem distal end so as to look out of said tubular stem distal end;

an illumination device disposed inside said tubular stem (12) near said tubular stem distal end so as to look out of said tubular stem distal end; and

,

wherein said tubular stem interior space includes an empty space extending from said main case to proximally adjacent said camera generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and receiving lines (14, 17) for connecting said camera (13) and said illumination device to said main casing (11), and wherein said empty space, in addition to receiving said connecting lines for said camera and said illumination device, receives at least one implement (19, 20, 23).

14. The endoscope as claimed in claim 13, wherein the distally pointing illumination device is a diode.

15. The endoscope as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one implement is selected from the group consisting of:

an adjustment drive means (19), an operational tool, a pump (23), and a sensor.

16. The endoscope as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one implement is a laser pointer (20).

17. The endoscope as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least one implement is selected from the group consisting of:

an adjustment drive means (19), an operational tool, a pump (23), and a sensor.

18. The endoscope as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least one implement is a laser pointer (20).