Endoscope device

• US 6,767,322 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kura, Yasuhito, Yamaguchi, Takao, Kishi, Takahiro, Nakamura, Takeaki, Higuma, Masakazu, Nakamura, Ichiro, Futatsugi, Yasuyuki, Hiroya, Jun, Yoshimoto, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US09/588,704
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109-110, 600/129-130, 600/133, 600/169
• US Class Current: 600/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/243 Objectives for endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2461 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/008 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation

Abstract

A cover glass frame as a second frame body mounting thereto a cover glass is fitted onto an objective lens frame, which is a first frame body mounting thereto a tip end lens and an objective lens as optical members, in a manner to be movable in a direction of optical axis, and is fixed after having been adjusted in position in the direction of optical axis. The objective lens frame and the cover glass frame thus fitted and fixed are fitted into and joined to a cylindrical member to constitute an imaging unit, which is then arranged in a tip end portion of an insertion part of an endoscope. Thereby, focus adjustment can be performed on the optical members, which are assembled into the imaging unit, and a tip end side portion of the insertion part of the endoscope can be made small in outer diameter to prevent entry of vapor into the imaging unit even when autoclave sterilization is carried out.

Claims

1. An endoscope for autoclave sterilization, comprising:

a first unit comprised of an optical member and a first frame body, the first frame body including an extension portion, a joining portion, and an optical receiving portion for gas-tightly receiving the optical member, the optical receiving portion having an outer diameter;

a second unit having a second frame body, the second frame body including a joining portion and an abutting portion positioned rearwardly of the joining portion, an outer diameter of the abutting portion being larger than an outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body, the outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body being substantially the same as the outer diameter of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body, the joining portion of the first frame body being fitted in an interior of the joining portion of the second frame body; and

a covering member disposed over and gas-tightly joined with the extension portion of the first frame body and the abutting portion of the second frame body, an inner diameter of the covering member being substantially the same as the outer diameters of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body and the joining portion of the second frame body;

wherein the first frame body, the second frame body and the covering member are joined integrally and gas-tightly by one of soldering, brazing and welding between the first frame body and the covering member and between the second frame body and the covering member.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first unit includes an objective lens system, the first unit and the second unit being joined at a position that focuses the objective lens system and a solid state image pickup device.

3. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the second frame body encloses the first frame body.

4. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the second frame body of the second unit gas-tightly holds the solid-state image pickup device.

5. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the solid-state image pickup device comprises a solid-state image pickup element and a glass body arranged forwardly of the solid-state image pickup element, and the glass body and the second frame body of the second unit are gas-tightly held.

6. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second frame body encloses the first frame body.

7. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second frame body of the second unit gas-tightly holds a solid-state image pickup device.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the solid-state image pickup device comprises a solid-state image pickup element and a glass body arranged forwardly of the solid-state image pickup element, and the glass body and the second frame body of the second unit are gas-tightly held.

9. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first frame body has a portion that is joined with the optical member and the first frame body has a thin wall portion disposed rearwardly of the portion that is joined to the optical member, the thin wall portion buffering stress transmitted to the joined portion due to a change in temperature.

10. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the thin wall portion is capable of buffering stress during a change in temperature when the first frame body is joined to the optical member.

11. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the thin wall portion is capable of buffering stress during a change in temperature when the endoscope is subjected to autoclave sterilization.

12. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second unit further comprises an imaging unit.

13. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the covering member comprises a cylindrical member.

14. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the covering member, the first frame body and the second frame body are joined gas-tightly by welding.

15. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the covering member is gas-tightly joined with the first frame body and the second frame body by butt welding.

16. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a solder layer is formed between the covering member and the first frame body and the second frame body to join them gas-tightly.

17. An endoscope device for autoclave sterilization, comprising:

an insertion part, the insertion part having a distal free end; and

an optical unit on the insertion part, the optical unit including;

a first frame body disposed at the distal free end of the insertion part and including an extension portion, a joining portion, and an optical receiving portion for gas-tightly receiving an optical member, the optical receiving portion having an outer diameter;

a second frame body including a joining portion and an abutting portion positioned rearwardly of the joining portion, an outer diameter of the abutting portion being larger than an outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body, the outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body being substantially the same as the outer diameter of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body, the joining portion of the first frame body being fitted in an interior of the joining portion of the second frame body; and

a cylindrical member disposed over and gas-tightly joined with the extension portion of the first frame body and the abutting portion of the second frame body, an inner diameter of the cylindrical member being substantially the same as the outer diameters of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body and the joining portion of the second frame body

wherein the first frame body, the second frame body and the cylindrical member are joined integrally and gas-tightly by one of soldering, brazing, and welding between the first frame body and the cylindrical member and between the second frame body and the cylindrical member.

18. The endoscope according to claim 17, wherein plating processing is applied on surfaces of at least one of the first frame body, the second frame body, and the cylindrical member.

19. The endoscope according to claim 18, wherein the plating processing comprises nickel plating on a lower layer, and gold electroplating on an outermost layer.

20. An endoscope for autoclave sterilization, comprising:

an insertion part, the insertion part having a distal free end; and

an optical unit on the insertion part, the optical unit including;

a first metallic frame body disposed at the distal free end of the insertion part and including a joining portion and an optical receiving portion for gas-tightly receiving an optical member by one of brazing and soldering, the optical receiving portion having an outer diameter;

a second metallic frame body including a joining portion and an abutting portion positioned rearwardly of the joining portion, an outer diameter of the abutting portion being larger than an outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body, the outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body being substantially the same as the outer diameter of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body, the joining portion of the first frame body being fitted in an interior of the joining portion of the second frame body;

a cylindrical member disposed over and gas-tightly joined with the first metallic frame body and the second metallic frame body, the cylindrical member being fitted to abut against the abutting portion of the second metallic frame body, an inner diameter of the cylindrical member being substantially the same as the outer diameters of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body and the joining portion of the second frame body

wherein the first frame body, the second frame body and the cylindrical member are joined integrally and gas-tightly by one of soldering, brazing, and welding between the first frame body and the cylindrical member and between the second frame body and the cylindrical member.

21. The endoscope according to claim 20, wherein plating processing is applied on surfaces of at least one of the first metallic frame body, the second metallic frame body, and the cylindrical member.

22. The endoscope according to claim 21, wherein the plating processing comprises nickel plating on a lower layer, and gold electroplating on an outermost layer.

23. The endoscope for autoclave sterilization according to claim 23, wherein a tip end lens provided at the distal end of the first metallic frame body to be exposed as an outer surface is made of glass having a high temperature vapor resistance, the outer peripheral surface of the tip end lens having been subjected to surface treatment so as to be melted and joined to the first metallic frame body, the tip end lens being air-tightly joined to the first metallic frame body.

24. The endoscope for autoclave sterilization according to claim 23, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the tip end lens has been subjected to a surface treatment so as to form a nickel layer as a lower layer and a gold layer as an upper layer.

25. The endoscope for autoclave sterilization according to claim 23, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the tip end lens has been subjected to a surface treatment so as to form a chrome layer as a lowermost layer, a nickel layer as an intermediate layer and a gold layer as an outermost layer.

26. The endoscope for autoclave sterilization according to claim 23, wherein at least the inner peripheral surface of the metallic frame body is provided with a nickel layer as a lower layer and a gold layer as an upper layer.

27. A method of assembling an endoscope device for autoclave sterilization, comprising steps of:

fitting a second frame body having a solid-state image pickup element therein on an exterior portion of a first frame body having a tip end lens at a distal end thereof and an objective lens system therein such that an outer peripheral surface at the distal end side of the first frame body is exposed from the second frame body;

adjusting the focusing by the objective lens system and the solid-state image pickup element by relatively moving the first frame body and the second frame body in directions along an optical axis;

fitting a cylindrical member on the outer peripheral surface of the first frame body exposed from the second frame body and an outer peripheral surface of the second frame body after having adjusted the focusing; and

joining integrally and gas-tightly the first frame body, the second frame body and the cylindrical member by soldering or brazing or welding between the outer peripheral surface of the first frame body and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and between the outer peripheral surface of the second frame body and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member;

wherein a first frame body includes a joining portion and an optical receiving portion for gas-tightly receiving an optical member, and the second frame body includes a joining portion and an abutting portion positioned rearwardly of the joining portion, an outer diameter of the abutting portion being larger than an outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body, the outer diameter of the joining portion of the second frame body being substantially the same as an outer diameter of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body, the joining portion of the first frame body being fitted in an interior of the joining portion of the second frame body, and the cylindrical member is disposed over and gas-tightly joined with the first frame body and the abutting portion of the second frame body, an inner diameter of the cylindrical member being substantially the same as the outer diameters of the optical receiving portion of the first frame body and the joining portion of the second frame body.

28. An endoscope for autoclave sterilization, comprising:

a first frame body having an outer peripheral surface with a outer diameter, the first frame body defining an interior space;

a second frame body having a first outer peripheral surface with a first outer diameter substantially identical to the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the first frame body, the second frame body further having a second outer peripheral surface with a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter of the first outer peripheral surface of the second frame body, the second outer peripheral surface of the second frame body being insertable into the interior space defined by the first frame body;

a third frame body having an inner peripheral surface with a diameter substantially identical to the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the first frame body, the third frame body covering the peripheral surface of the first frame body and the first peripheral surface of the second frame body, the inner peripheral surface of the third frame body being gas-tightly joined to the outer peripheral surface of the first frame body and to the first outer peripheral surface of the second frame body by one of soldering and welding.

29. The endoscope according to claim 28, wherein the third frame body is a cylindrical member.

30. The endoscope according to claim 28, further comprising

an image pickup device; and

an objective optical system,

wherein the first frame body supports the image pickup device, and the second frame body supports the objective optical system, the second frame body being provided at a position to form an image by the objective optical system at the image pickup device.

31. The endoscope according to claim 28, further comprising

an image pickup device;

and

an objective optical system,

wherein the second frame body supports the image pickup device, and the first frame body supports the objective optical system, the first frame body being provided at a position to form an image by the objective optical system at the image pickup device.

32. An endoscope for autoclave sterilization;

comprising;

a hollow first frame body having an inner peripheral surface with a predetermined diameter;

a second frame body having a first outer peripheral surface slidable along the inner peripheral surface of the first frame body, the second frame body defining an interior space;

a third frame body having a second outer peripheral surface slidable along the inner peripheral surface of the first frame body and a third outer peripheral surface having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second outer peripheral surface, the third outer peripheral surface being insertable into the interior space defined by the second frame body;

a first joining portion for joining gas-tightly between the inner peripheral surface of the first frame body and the first outer peripheral surface, the first joining portion being joined by one of soldering, bracing and welding; and

a second joining portion for joining gas-tightly between the inner peripheral surface of the first frame body and the first outer peripheral surface of the second frame body, the second joining portion being joined by one of soldering, brazing, and welding.

33. The endoscope according to claim 32, wherein the first frame body is a cylindrical member.

34. The endoscope according to claim 32, further comprising

an image pickup device; and

an objective optical system,

wherein the second frame body supports the image pickup device, and the third frame body supports the objective optical system, the third frame body being provided at a position to form an image by the objective optical system at the image pickup device.

35. The endoscope according to claim 32, further comprising

an image pickup device;

and

an objective optical system,

wherein the third frame body supports the image pickup device, and the second frame body supports the objective optical system, the second frame body being provided at a position to form an image by the objective optical system at the image pickup device.

36. An endoscope for autoclave sterilization, comprising:

an insertion part having a distal end side;

a hollow first frame body having an inner peripheral surface with a predetermined diameter;

a second frame body provided at the distal end side of the insertion part for supporting an image pickup device therein, the second frame body having a first outer peripheral surface with an outer diameter substantially identical to the predetermined diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the hollow first frame body;

a third frame body to hold an objective optical system therein for forming an image at an imaging plane of the image pickup device, the third frame body having a second outer peripheral surface of an outer diameter substantially identical to the predetermined diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the hollow first frame body;

a first joining portion for joining gas-tightly between the inner peripheral surface of the first frame body and the first outer peripheral surface, the first joining portion being joined by one of soldering, brazing, and welding; and

a second joining portion for joining gas-tightly between the inner peripheral surface of the first frame body and the second outer peripheral surface, the second joining portion being joined by one of soldering, brazing, and welding.

37. The endoscope to claim 36, wherein the first frame body is a cylindrical member.

38. An endoscope for autoclave sterilization, comprising:

first frame body having a first outer peripheral surface formed to be of a predetermined diameter, the first frame body holding an objective optical system;

a second frame body for holding an image pickup device for taking an image formed by the objective optical system, a flange portion of a larger diameter than the predetermined diameter being provided on a second outer peripheral surface of the second frame body;

a hollow third frame body having an inner peripheral surface formed to be a predetermined diameter from one end to the other end thereof, the one end of the third frame body abutting against the flange portion, the inner peripheral surface at the side of the other end of the third frame body being fitted to the first outer peripheral surface;

a first joining portion for joining gas-tightly between the inner peripheral surface of the third frame body and the first outer peripheral surface, the first joining portion being joined by soldering or brazing or welding; and

a second joining portion for joining gas-tightly between the one end of the third frame body and the flange portion, the second joining portion being joined by soldering or brazing or welding.

39. The endoscope according to claim 38, wherein the third frame body is a cylindrical member.