Endoscope system

• US 7,104,953 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Takizawa, Hironobu, Hirata, Yasuo, Adachi, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US10/308,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 600/139, 600/140, 600/141, 600/142, 600/144, 600/146, 600/152, 604/95.01, 604/95.04
• US Class Current: 600/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

In this invention, a drum around which an insertion portion is wound is integrally housed in a carrying case, and a cylinder for supplying a fluid to a hydropneumatic actuator and a solenoid valve unit for controlling the application of a hydropneumatic pressure are housed in the carrying case or drum. In addition, a joystick for operating the controlled variables of the solenoid valve unit can be housed in the carrying case.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an image sensing device at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a tubular cavity under examination;

a bending portion behind said image sensing device;

a hydropneumatic actuator for bending said bending portion with hydropneumatic pressure, said hydropneumatic actuator comprising a multi lumen tube including first and second opposed pressurization chambers;

first and second syringes which are respectively connected to said opposed first and second pressurization chambers for supplying fluid to the respective pressurization chambers of the hydropneumatic actuator and for compressing the fluid, and which comprise first and second pistons which move in said first and second syringes, respectively;

an actuator for driving said syringe;

a control unit for controlling said actuator; and

an operating portion for operating a controlled variable of said control unit; and

means for changing the controlled variable in accordance with a load;

wherein said bending portion bends in an opposite direction with respect to one of the pressurization chambers when the one of said pressurization chambers is pressurized;

wherein the actuator which drives the syringe comprises a motor for driving said first and second pistons such that when one piston is driven the other is driven in an opposite direction; and

wherein said first and second syringes are arranged in line opposite directions, said first and second pistons are connected to each other through a coupling member, and said motor causes said coupling member to move within said syringes.

2. An endoscope system comprising:

an image sensing device at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a tubular cavity under examination;

a bending portion behind said image sensing device;

a hydropneumatic actuator for bending said bending portion with hydropneumatic pressure, said hydropneumatic actuator comprising a multi lumen tube including first and second opposed pressurization chambers;

first and second syringes which are respectively connected to said opposed first and second pressurization chambers for supplying fluid to the respective pressurization chambers of the hydropneumatic actuator and for compressing the fluid, and which comprise first and second pistons which move in said first and second syringes, respectively;

an actuator for driving said syring;

a control unit for controlling said actuator;

an operating portion for operating a controlled variable of said control unit; and

means for changing the controlled variable in accordance with a load;

wherein said bending portion bends in an opposite direction with respect to one of the pressurization chambers when the one of said pressurization chambers is pressurized;

wherein the actuator which drives the syringe comprises a motor for driving said first and second pistons such that when one piston is driven the other is driven in an opposite direction; and

wherein said control unit includes a control circuit for driving self motor to decrease hysteresis of bending at the bending portion during an increase/decrease in pressure in said pressurization chambers.

3. An endoscope system comprising:

an image sensing device at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a tubular cavity under examination;

a bending portion behind said image sensing device;

a hydropneumatic actuator for bending said bending portion with hydroneumatic pressure, said hydropneumatic actuator comprising a multi lumen tube including at least one pressurization chamber;

at least one syringe for supplying fluid to said hydropneumatic actuator;

an actuator for driving said syringe;

a control unit for controlling said actuator;

an operating portion for operating a controlled variable of said control unit;

means for changing the controlled variable in accordance with a load; and

fluid supply means, connected to said syringe, for supplying the fluid into said syringe before said actuator is driven and for controlling an initial fluid pressure in said syringe before said actuator is driven.

4. An endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein said fluid supply means comprises a gas cylinder.

5. An endoscope system comprising:

an image sensing device at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a tubular cavity under examination;

a bending portion behind said image sensing device;

a hydropneumatic actuator for bending said bending portion with hydropneumatic pressure, said hydropneumatic actuator comprising a multi lumen tube including first and second opposed pressurization chambers;

first and second syringes which are respectively connected to said opposed first and second pressurization chambers for supplying fluid to the respective pressurization chambers of the hydropneumatic actuator and for compressing the fluid, and which comprise first and second pistons which move in said first and second syringes, respectively;

an actuator for driving said syringe;

a control unit for controlling said actuator;

an operating portion for operating a controlled variable of said control unit; and

means for changing the controlled variable in accordance with a load;

wherein said actuator which drives the syringe comprises;

a motor for driving said first and second pistons such that when one piston is driven the other is driven in an opposite direction;

an origin position detecting portion for detecting an origin position of said piston in said syringe, and

a valve for admitting a compressed fluid into said syringe upon detection of the origin position.

6. An endoscope system comprising:

an image sensing device at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a tubular cavity under examination;

a bending portion behind said image sensing device;

a hydropneumatic actuator for bending said bending portion with hydropneumatic pressure, said hydropneumatic actuator comprising a multi lumen tube including at least one pressurization chamber;

a take-up drum which is adapted to take up the insertion portion and in which said hydropneumatic actuator is housed;

a cylinder for supplying fluid to said hydropneumatic actuator in said drum;

a housing case for housing said insertion portion and said drum;

a control unit for controlling a fluid amount in said cylinder, which is housed in one of said housing case and said drum; and

an operating portion which is adapted to be housed in said housing case and which operates a controlled variable of said control unit, wherein said operating portion comprises;

a monitor for displaying an image sensed by said image sensing device;

a controlled variable display section which displays the controlled variable of said control unit, and which is provided one of (i) on a display screen of said monitor and (ii) near said monitor; and

a touch panel on the display screen of said monitor ti detect a position of pressure on the display screen of the monitor;

wherein the controlled variable of said control unit is adjusted in accordance with a pressure position signal from touch panel.

7. An endoscope system according to claim 6, further comprising a control section, having one switch corresponding to each said pressurization chamber of said hydropneumatic actuator,

wherein when the switch is pressed, the control section stops a supply of the fluid to said pressurization chamber.

8. An endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein one of said housing care and said drum includes a release valve for simultaneously releasing pressures in all of a plurality of fluid supply tubes.

12. An endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein the multi lumen tube includes a central hole housing a built-in member, and wherein the at least one pressurization chamber comprises a plurality of pressurization chambers arranged around the central hole.

9. An endoscope system according 6 wherein:

said insertion portion includes a hydropneumatic pressure supply port connected to a fluid supply tube,

said housing case includes an auxiliary fluid supply tube coupled to said cylinder, and

said auxiliary fluid supply tube includes a hydropneumatic pressure supply connector detachably connected to the hydropneumatic pressure supply port.

10. An endoscope system according to claim 9, wherein said hydropneumatic pressure supply connector is provided on said housing case.

11. An endoscope system according to claim 9, wherein the hydropneumatic pressure supply port is provided at a substantially middle position of said insertion portion.

13. An endoscope system comprising:

an image sensing device at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a tubular cavity under examination;

a bending portion behind said image sensing device;

a hydropneumatic actuator for bending said bending portion with hydropneumatic pressure, said hydropneumatic actuator comprising a multi lumen tube including first and second pressurization chambers;

first and second syringes, which are respectively connected to said first and second pressurization chambers for supplying fluid to the respective pressurization chambers of the hydropneumatic actuator and for compressing the fluid, and which comprise first and second pistons which move in said first and second syringes, respectively;

an actuator for driving said syringe;

a control unit for controlling said actuator; and

an operating portion for operating a controlled variable of said control unit;

wherein said bending portion bends in an opposite direction with respect to one of the pressurization chambers when the one of said pressurization chambers is pressurized;

wherein the actuator which drives the syringe comprises a motor for driving said first and second pistons;

wherein said first and second syringes are arranged in line in opposite directions, said first and second pistons are connected to each other through a coupling member, and said motor causes said coupling member to move within said syringes.

14. An endoscope system comprising:

an image sensing device at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a tubular cavity under examination;

a bending portion behind said image sensing device;

a hydropneumatic actuator for bending said bending portion with hydropneumatic pressure, said hydropneumatic actuator comprising a multi lumen tube including first and second pressurization chambers;

first and second syringes, which are respectively connected to said first and second pressurization chambers for supplying fluid to the respective pressurization chambers of the hydropneumatic actuator and for compressing the fluid, and which comprise first and second pistons which move in said first and second syringes, respectively;

an actuator for driving said syringe;

a control unit for controlling said actuator; and

an operating portion for operating a controlled variable of said control unit;

wherein said bending portion bends in an opposite direction with respect to one of the pressurization chambers when the one of said pressurization chambers is pressurized;

wherein the actuator which drives the syringe comprises;

a motor for driving said first and second pistons;

an origin position detecting portion for detecting an origin position of each said piston in the syringe; and

a valve admitting a compressed fluid into said syringe upon detection of the origin position.