Endoscope apparatus

• US 6,890,294 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Niwa, Hiroshi, Onoda, Fumiyuki, Uchimura, Sumihiro, Taniguchi, Akira, Sato, Michio, Aizawa, Chieko
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US10/452,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104, 600/106, 600/153, 600/154
• US Class Current: 600/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope having a treatment tool passage channel in at least an insertion portion, an adaptor for endoscope forceps opening, which can be detachably attached to a treatment tool insertion opening which is at one end of the treatment tool passage channel, an insertion shape detection probe provided with a plurality of shape detection elements which are to be passed and arranged in the treatment tool passage channel via the adaptor for endoscope forceps opening, an insertion shape detection unit for detecting magnetic field emitted from the shape detection elements of the insertion shape detection probe, an insertion shape detection device which drives the insertion shape detection probe and outputs video signals for visualizing the insertion shape from the signals corresponding to the magnetic field detected by the insertion shape detection unit, and a display device for displaying the insertion shape of the insertion portion based on the video signals output from the insertion shape detection device.

Claims

1. An adaptor for endoscope forceps opening comprises:

an adaptor linking member that can be detachably attached to the endoscope forceps opening communicated with the treatment tool passage channel through which the treatment tool is to be passed;

a treatment tool integration member which is in tight contact with and fixed to part of the treatment tool protruding from said endoscope forceps opening; and

a treatment tool position changing member for changing stepwise, together with the treatment tool integration member, the insertion position of the treatment tool in a state in which said treatment tool integration member is in tight contact therewith.

4. The adaptor for endoscope forceps opening according to claim 1, wherein said treatment tool position changing member is provided rotatably on said adaptor linking member.

2. An adaptor for endoscope forceps opening comprises:

a tubular adaptor linking member having a mounting portion that can be detachably attached to an endoscope plug provided in the endoscope forceps opening through which the treatment tool is to be passed;

a treatment tool integration member having a tubular shape and elastic properties and arranged in a prescribed position of the adaptor linking member,

a pressing member arranged so that it is free to advance and retreat with respect to said adaptor linking member and used to apply a pressure with a prescribed force to said treatment tool integration member for elastic deformation thereof, thereby causing the treatment tool integration member to be brought in intimate contact with and fixed to part of said treatment tool; and

a treatment tool position changing member which has a tubular shape, comprises a mounting portion that can be detachably attached to said forceps plug and a notched portion communicated with the axial through hole, and is arranged so that it can be detachably attached to the distal end side of said adaptor linking member.

3. An adaptor for endoscope forceps opening comprises:

an adaptor linking member which can be detachably attached to a forceps socket constituting the endoscope forceps opening through which the treatment tool is to be passed and is composed of a first socket fixing member arranged on the outer peripheral side of the forceps socket and a second socket fixing member in which a positioning pin is provided in a protruding condition from a prescribed position on the outer peripheral surface which is integrally fixed to the first socket fixing member in a state where the second socket fixing member is abutted against the distal end side of said forceps socket;

a treatment tool position changing member which is arranged so as to be free to advance and retreat with respect to said adaptor linking member and has formed therein a motion-control groove that can move along said positioning pin and can be retained by the positioning pin;

a treatment tool integration member having a tubular shape and elastic properties and arranged in a prescribed position of the treatment tool position changing member; and

a pressing member arranged so as to be free to advance and retreat with respect to said tool position changing member and used to apply a pressure with a prescribed force to said treatment tool integration member for elastic deformation thereof, thereby causing the treatment tool integration member to be brought in intimate contact with and fixed to part of said treatment tool.

5. An adaptor for an endoscope forceps opening, the adaptor comprising:

an adaptor linking member detachably attached to the endoscope forceps opening and in communication with a treatment tool passage channel through which a treatment tool is to be passed;

a treatment tool integration member which engages with a portion of the treatment tool protruding from the endoscope forceps opening to fix a position of the treatment tool relative to a treatment tool position changing member; and

the treatment tool position changing member for changing the insertion position of the treatment tool while said treatment tool integration member is engaged with the treatment tool.