Endoscope system

• US 7,762,948 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirata, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/395,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 600139-149
• US Class Current: 600/140
• 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 (i) a central hole housing a built-in member, and (ii) a plurality of pressurization chambers arranged around the central hole; and

a metal mesh tube mounted on an outer surface of said bending portion, wherein when mounting the metal mesh tube on the bending portion, the metal mesh tube is compressed to be shorter than its natural length in an axial direction thereof and mounted on the outer surface of the bending portion when the bending portion is not bent, and wherein when the bending portion bends, the metal mesh tube deforms such that the metal mesh tube returns from a compressed state to its natural length on an outer side of the bend.

2. An endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein said insertion portion comprises a spare built-in part including a plurality of said multi lumen tubes arranged in line behind said distal end portion.

3. An endoscope system according to claim 2, further comprising a bend tube which is a continuous tube and longer than said bending portion.

4. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said pressurization chamber has a cross-sectional shape obtained by forming circular holes at two end portions of a slit.