Endoscope with non-contact signal transmission and reception

• US 7,914,443 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Katsuya, Onoda, Fumiyuki, Noguchi, Toshiaki, Uchimura, Sumihiro, Taniguchi, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Application Number:
  US11/599,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 600/110, 600/132, 600/134, 600/136
• US Class Current: 600/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00126 optical, e.g. for light supply cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes

Abstract

An endoscope is provided that can reduce examination costs by realizing commonality of an operating unit by making an inserting unit and the operating unit attachable/detachable with respect to each other to enable the exchange of inserting units. The endoscope of this invention includes an operating unit, an inserting unit that can be detachably connected to the operating unit, and transmission and reception coils provided in the operating unit and the inserting unit, respectively, for sending and receiving signals in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the inserting unit when the inserting unit is connected to the operating unit.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising:

an operating unit that at least actuates a function of an endoscope;

an inserting unit that is detachably connected to the operating unit;

a first signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the operating unit; and

a second signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the inserting unit;

wherein the inserting unit comprises an image pickup part and a drive control part that controls the image pickup part, and the operating art that controls the drive control part based on a signal that is output from the drive control part,

the endoscope further comprising,

a tube unit that is provided with conduits that communicate with a plurality of conduits inside the inserting unit and a signal wire that connects to the drive control part when the tube unit is connected to the inserting unit,

wherein, when the operating unit and the inserting unit are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section are disposed apart from each other.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operating unit side engaging portion that is provided to the operating unit; and

an inserting unit side engaging portion that is provided to the inserting unit and has a structure that is attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit side engaging portion,

wherein, when the operating unit side engaging portion and the inserting unit side engaging portion are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section are disposed apart from each other.

3. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit side engaging portion has a connector portion that is formed at an end of the operating unit, and protrusions that are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the connector portion, and the inserting unit side engaging portion has concave portions that are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the inserting unit and are configured to be capable of engaging with the protrusions.

4. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the inserting unit further comprises a power generating part that generates power to be utilized in the inserting unit, and the first signal transmission and reception section sends a power signal that is based on the power to the second signal transmission and reception section, and the second signal transmission and reception section sends the received power signal to the power generating part.

5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit and the inserting unit further internally comprise a first light guide part and a second light guide part, respectively, and when the inserting unit is connected to the operating unit, the first light guide part and the second light guide part communicate.

6. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the tube unit sends a power signal from a power source to the drive control part through the signal wire, and the drive control part sends the received power signal to the control part through the signal transmission and reception sections.

7. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit further comprises a power supply part that is configured to be attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, and the power supply part sends a power signal to the control part through a power signal sending part that sends a power signal in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the power supply part, and the control part sends the received power signal to the drive control part through the signal transmission and reception sections.

8. An endoscope comprising:

an operating unit that at least actuates a function of an endoscope;

an inserting unit that is detachably connected to the operating unit;

a first signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the operating unit; and

a second signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the inserting unit;

wherein the inserting unit comprises an image pickup part and a drive control part that controls the image pickup part, and the operating unit has a control part that controls the drive control part based on a signal that is output from the drive control part,

the endoscope further comprising,

a tube unit that is provided with conduits that communicate with a plurality of conduits inside the inserting unit and a signal wire that connects to the drive control part when the tube unit is connected to the inserting unit,

wherein, when the operating unit and the inserting unit are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section perform sending and receiving of signals between the operating unit and the inserting unit in a non-contact manner.

9. The endoscope according to claim 8, further comprising:

an operating unit side engaging portion that is provided to the operating unit;

an inserting unit side engaging portion that is provided to the inserting unit and has a structure that is attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit side engaging portion;

wherein, when the operating unit side engaging portion and the inserting unit side engaging portion are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section perform sending and receiving of signals between the operating unit and the inserting unit in a non-contact manner.

10. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the operating unit side engaging portion has a connector portion that is formed at an end of the operating unit, and protrusions that are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the connector portion, and the inserting unit side engaging portion has concave portions that are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the inserting unit and are configured to be capable of engaging with the protrusions.

11. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the inserting unit further comprises a power generating part that generates power to be utilized in the inserting unit, and the first signal transmission and reception section sends a power signal that is based on the power to the second signal transmission and reception section, and the second signal transmission and reception section sends the received power signal to the power generating part.

12. The endoscope according to claim 8,

wherein the operating unit and the inserting unit further internally comprise a first light guide part and a second light guide part, respectively;

and

when the inserting unit is connected to the operating unit, the first light guide part and the second light guide part communicate.

13. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the tube unit sends a power signal from a power source to the drive control part through the signal wire, and the drive control part sends the received power signal to the control part through the signal transmission and reception sections.

14. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit further comprises a power supply part that is configured to be attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, and the power supply part sends a power signal to the control part through a power signal sending part that sends a power signal in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the power supply part, and the control part sends the received power signal to the drive control part through the signal transmission and reception sections.

15. An endoscope, comprising:

an operating unit that at least actuates a function of an endoscope;

an inserting unit that is detachably connected to the operating unit;

a first signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the operating unit; and

a second signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the inserting unit;

wherein the inserting unit comprises an image pickup part and a drive control part that controls the image pickup part, the operating unit comprises a control part that controls the drive control part based on a signal that is output from the drive control part and a power supply part that is configured to be attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, the power supply part sends a power signal to the control part through a power signal sending part that sends a power signal in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the power supply part, and the control part sends the received power signal to the drive control part through the signal transmission and reception sections,

wherein, when the operating unit and the inserting unit are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section are disposed apart from each other.

16. An endoscope comprising:

an operating unit that at least actuates a function of an endoscope;

an inserting unit that is detachably connected to the operating unit;

a first signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the operating unit; and

a second signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the inserting unit,

wherein the inserting unit comprises an image pickup part and a drive control part that controls the image pickup part, the operating unit comprises a control part that controls the drive control part based on a signal that is output from the drive control part and a power supply part that is configured to be attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, the power supply part sends a power signal to the control part through a power signal sending part that sends a power signal in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the power supply part, and the control part sends the received power signal to the drive control part through the signal transmission and reception sections,

wherein, when the operating unit and the inserting unit are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section perform sending and receiving of signals between the operating unit and the inserting unit in a non-contact manner.

17. An endoscope comprising:

an operating unit that at least actuates a function of an endoscope;

an inserting unit;

a connection adapter that is attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, and connects the inserting unit to the operating unit;

a first signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the inserting unit; and

a second signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the connection adapter;

wherein the connection adapter comprises an image pickup part and a drive control part that controls the image pickup part, the operating unit comprises a control part that controls the drive control part based on a signal that is output from the drive control part and a power supply part that is configured to be attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, the power supply part sends a power signal to the control part through a power signal sending part that sends a power signal in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the power supply part, and the control part sends the received power signal to the drive control part through the signal transmission and reception sections,

wherein, when the operating unit and the connection adapter are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section are disposed apart from each other.

18. The endoscope according to claim 17, further comprising:

an operating unit side engaging portion that is provided to the operating unit;

a connection adapter side engaging portion that is provided to the connection adapter and has a structure that is attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit side engaging portion;

wherein, when the operating unit side engaging portion and the connection adapter side engaging portion are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section are disposed apart from each other.

19. The endoscope according to claim 18, wherein the operating unit side engaging portion has a connector portion that is formed at an end of the operating unit, and protrusions that are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the connector portion, and the connection adapter side engaging portion has concave portions that are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the connection adapter and are configured to be capable of engaging with the protrusions.

20. The endoscope according to claim 17, wherein the connection adapter comprises a power generating part that generates power to be utilized in the connection adapter, and the first signal transmission and reception section sends a power signal that is based on the power to the second signal transmission and reception section, and the second signal transmission and reception section sends the received power signal to the power generating part.

21. The endoscope according to claim 17, wherein the operating unit and the connection adapter further internally comprise a third light guide part and a fourth light guide part, respectively, and when the connection adapter is connected to the operating unit, the third light guide part and the fourth light guide part communicate.

22. An endoscope comprising:

an operating unit that at least actuates a function of an endoscope;

an inserting unit;

a connection adapter that is attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, and connects the inserting unit to the operating unit;

a first signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the operating unit; and

a second signal transmission and reception section that is provided to the connection adapter,

wherein the connection adapter comprises an image pickup part and a drive control part that controls the image pickup part, the operating unit comprises a control part that controls the drive control part based on a signal that is output from the drive control part and a power supply part that is configured to be attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit, the power supply part sends a power signal to the control part through a power signal sending part that sends a power signal in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the power supply part, and the control part sends the received power signal to the drive control part through the signal transmission and reception section,

wherein, when the operating unit and the connection adapter are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section perform sending and receiving of signals between the inserting unit and the connection adapter in a non-contact manner.

23. The endoscope according to claim 22, further comprising:

an operating unit side engaging portion that is provided to the operating unit;

a connection adapter side engaging portion that is provided to the connection adapter and has a structure that is attachable/detachable with respect to the operating unit side engaging portion,

wherein, when the operating unit side engaging portion and the connection adapter side engaging portion are connected, the first signal transmission and reception section and the second signal transmission and reception section perform sending and receiving of signals between the inserting unit and the connection adapter in a non-contact manner.

24. The endoscope according to claim 23, wherein the operating unit side engaging portion has a connector portion that is formed at an end of the operating unit, and protrusions that are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the connector portion, and the connection adapter side engaging portion has concave portions that are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the connection adapter and are configured to be capable of engaging with the protrusions.

25. The endoscope according to claim 22,

wherein the connection adapter further comprises a power generating part that generates power to be utilized in the connection adapter, and the first signal transmission and reception section sends a power signal that is based on the power to the second signal transmission and reception section, and the second signal transmission and reception section sends the received power signal to the power generating part.

26. The endoscope according to claim 22,

wherein the operating unit and the connection adapter further internally comprise a third light guide part and a fourth light guide part, respectively, and when the connection adapter is connected to the operating unit, the third light guide part and the fourth light guide part communicate.