Videoendoscope
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A videoendoscope comprising:
- an inspection probe including an inspection tube having a distal endpiece housing an optoelectronic imaging device delivering an electrical signal;
a video processor for processing the electrical signal delivered by the imaging device in order to generate a video signal;
a control unit secured to a proximal end of the inspection tube and provided with controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor;
an umbilical connection cable having a distal end secured to the control unit for connecting the videoendoscope to a light source and to an electrical power supply;
a display unit including a video display screen connected to the video processor in order to display the video signal; and
a bundle of lighting fibers integrated without interruption in the umbilical cable, in the control unit, and then in the inspection tube, and having a distal end housed in the distal endpiece that serves to light a target observed by the probe when a proximal end of the umbilical cable is connected to a light generator;
wherein the display unit is secured to a side face of the control unit to form an assembly configured to be held in one hand and actuated while being held in said hand, the control unit having a control panel on a top face and carrying control members including said controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor, and the assembly being of elongate shape between a distal end and a proximal end so as to be suitable for being held in said hand while allowing the control members to be actuated by using the thumb of said hand;
wherein the video processor is included in the control unit; and
wherein the control unit has mechanical and electrical coupling means on both side faces to enable the display unit to be fixed and electrically connected to either side face of the control unit.
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Abstract
A videoendoscope comprising an inspection probe comprising an inspection tube and a distal endpiece secured to one end of the inspection tube and housing an imaging device; a video processor for processing the electrical signal delivered by the imaging device and for generating a video signal; a control handle comprising a control unit secured to the inspection tube to control the video processor and a display unit secured to a side face of the control unit and including a display screen connected to the video processor; and an umbilical cable having one end secured to the control unit and having its other end connected to a light source and to an electrical power supply.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A videoendoscope comprising:
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an inspection probe including an inspection tube having a distal endpiece housing an optoelectronic imaging device delivering an electrical signal; a video processor for processing the electrical signal delivered by the imaging device in order to generate a video signal; a control unit secured to a proximal end of the inspection tube and provided with controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor; an umbilical connection cable having a distal end secured to the control unit for connecting the videoendoscope to a light source and to an electrical power supply; a display unit including a video display screen connected to the video processor in order to display the video signal; and a bundle of lighting fibers integrated without interruption in the umbilical cable, in the control unit, and then in the inspection tube, and having a distal end housed in the distal endpiece that serves to light a target observed by the probe when a proximal end of the umbilical cable is connected to a light generator; wherein the display unit is secured to a side face of the control unit to form an assembly configured to be held in one hand and actuated while being held in said hand, the control unit having a control panel on a top face and carrying control members including said controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor, and the assembly being of elongate shape between a distal end and a proximal end so as to be suitable for being held in said hand while allowing the control members to be actuated by using the thumb of said hand; wherein the video processor is included in the control unit; and wherein the control unit has mechanical and electrical coupling means on both side faces to enable the display unit to be fixed and electrically connected to either side face of the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A videoendoscope comprising:
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an inspection probe including an inspection tube having a distal endpiece housing an optoelectronic imaging device delivering an electrical signal; a video processor for processing the electrical signal delivered by the imaging device in order to generate a video signal; a control unit secured to a proximal end of the inspection tube and provided with controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor; an umbilical connection cable having a distal end secured to the control unit for connecting the videoendoscope to a light source and to an electrical power supply; a display unit including a video display screen connected to the video processor in order to display the video signal; switch means designed to deliver to the video screen either the video signal coming from the video processor or the video signal coming from a system for processing and/or storing images; and a bundle of lighting fibers integrated without interruption in the umbilical cable, in the control unit, and then in the inspection tube, and having a distal end housed in the distal endpiece that serves to light a target observed by the probe when a proximal end of the umbilical cable is connected to a light generator; wherein the display unit is secured to a side face of the control unit to form an assembly configured to be held in one hand and actuated while being held in said hand, the control unit having a control panel on a top face and carrying control members including said controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor, and the assembly being of elongate shape between a distal end and a proximal end so as to be suitable for being held in said hand while allowing the control members to be actuated by using the thumb of said hand; wherein the proximal end of the umbilical cable is secured to a connection unit fitted with connection means for connection to the proximal end of the bundle of lighting fibers and to a light generator, and connection means for connecting the videoendoscope to an electrical power supply; wherein the connection unit further comprises connection means for connecting the probe to the system for processing and or storing images; and
wherein the control unit has means for controlling a system for processing and/or storing images, which system is connected to the connection means of the connect unit, said connection means including a pin for transmitting the video signal generated by the video processor to a video input of the system for processing and/or storing images, a pin for transmitting to the switch means a video signal generated by the system for processing and/or storing images, and a pin for connecting the controls of the control unit to a control interface of the system for processing and/or storing images.
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26. A videoendoscope comprising:
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an inspection probe including an inspection tube having a distal endpiece housing an optoelectronic imaging device delivering an electrical signal; a video processor for processing the electrical signal delivered by the imaging device in order to generate a video signal; a control unit secured to a proximal end of the inspection tube and provided with controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor; an umbilical connection cable having a distal end secured to the control unit for connecting the videoendoscope to a light source and to an electrical power supply; a display unit including a video display screen connected to the video processor in order to display the video signal; and a bundle of lighting fibers integrated without interruption in the umbilical cable, in the control unit, and then in the inspection tube, and having a distal end housed in the distal endpiece that serves to light a target observed by the probe when a proximal end of the umbilical cable is connected to a light generator; switch means designed to deliver to the video screen either the video signal coming from the video processor or the video signal coming from the a system for processing and/or storing images; and means for controlling the switch means to direct the video signal coming from the system for processing and/or storing images to the video screen immediately said system is connected to the connection means; wherein the display unit is secured to a side face of the control unit to form an assembly configured to be held in one hand and actuated while being held in said hand, the control unit having a control panel on a top face and carrying control members including said controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor, and the assembly being of elongate shape between a distal end and a proximal end so as to be suitable for being held in said hand while allowing the control members to be actuated by using the thumb of said hand; wherein the proximal end of the umbilical cable is secured to a connection unit fitted with connection means for connection to the proximal end of the bundle of lighting fibers and to a light generator, and connection means for connecting the videoendoscope to an electrical power supply; and wherein the connection unit further comprises connection means for connecting the probe to a system for processing and or storing images.
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27. A videoendoscope comprising:
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an inspection probe including an inspection tube having a distal endpiece housing an optoelectronic imaging device delivering an electrical signal; a video processor for processing the electrical signal delivered by the imaging device in order to generate a video signal; a control unit secured to a proximal end of the inspection tube and provided with controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor; an umbilical connection cable having a distal end secured to the control unit for connecting the videoendoscope to a light source and to an electrical power supply; a display unit including a video display screen connected to the video processor in order to display the video signal; and a bundle of lighting fibers integrated without interruption in the umbilical cable, in the control unit, and then in the inspection tube, and having a distal end housed in the distal endpiece that serves to light a target observed by the probe when a proximal end of the umbilical cable is connected to a light generator; a storage and transport case containing an electrical power supply and lighting generator, the storage case containing a drum around which the probe can be wound, the drum being mounted in such a manner as to be capable of turning freely about its axis and having a tubular cavity for receiving the distal end of the probe, and opening out tangentially from the cylindrical surface of the drum; wherein the display unit is secured to a side face of the control unit to form an assembly configured to be held in one hand and actuated while being held in said hand, the control unit having a control panel on a top face and carrying control members including said controls for controlling and adjusting the video processor, and the assembly being of elongate shape between a distal end and a proximal end so as to be suitable for being held in said hand while allowing the control members to be actuated by using the thumb of said hand. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification