Endoscope system

• US 20060116550A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Noguchi, Toshiaki, Suzuki, Eiri, Gocho, Masanori, Hasegawa, Hitoshi, Kuroshima, Hisashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,582,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00117 Optical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00119 Tubes or pipes in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use

Abstract

An endoscope system in which an endoscope can be cleaned and sterilized more easily. The endoscope system includes the endoscope including at least a main body unit formed by collecting an electric function portion, an optical function portion, and channels to a part of the main body unit, a signal line which is detachable to the main body unit and which is extended from the electric function portion of the main body unit, and a universal cord unit having a scope connector at an end portion of the universal cord unit in which a light guide extended from the optical function portion is inserted, and an endoscope control device including at least a multi-connector portion to which the scope connector of the universal cord unit is detachably arranged, a signal processing unit which controls the electric function portion of the endoscope, a light source device which controls the optical function portion of the endoscope, a light source control unit, and a power supply unit for lighting-on a lamp.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope, the endoscope comprising at least a main body unit formed by collecting an electric function portion, an optical function portion, and channels to a part of the main body unit,

a signal line which is detachable to the main body unit and which is extended from the electric function portion of the main body unit, and

a universal cord unit comprising a scope connector at an end portion of the universal cord unit in which a light guide extended from the optical function portion is inserted; and

an endoscope control device, the endoscope control device comprising at least a multi-connector portion to which the scope connector of the universal cord unit is detachably arranged,

a signal processing unit which controls the electric function portion of the endoscope,

a light source device which controls the optical function portion of the endoscope,

a light source control unit, and

a power supply unit for lighting-on a lamp.

2. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein two or more of a power transmitting portion, a signal transmitting portion, an electric wire connecting portion for electric knife, and an illuminating light transmitting portion are combined and are arranged to a connecting portion of the detachable universal cord unit and a connecting portion of the main body unit.

3. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the power transmitting portion and the signal transmitting portion comprise:

a non-contact power transmitting portion and a non-contact signal transmitting portion as non-contact electromagnetic induction and coupling means.

4. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein an LED which is lit-on by power obtained via the non-contact power transmitting portion is arranged to the main body unit.

5. An endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the electric wire connecting portion for electric knife comprises high-frequency connecting means.

6. An endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the power transmitting portion and the signal transmitting portion comprise common electromagnetic induction and coupling means.

7. An endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the non-contact power transmitting portion and the non-contact signal transmitting portion comprising the electromagnetic induction and coupling means are coaxially arranged with the signal transmitting portion as center.

8. An endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein the non-contact power transmitting portion and the non-contact signal transmitting portion comprising the electromagnetic induction and coupling means are coaxially arranged to the scope connector and the multi-connector portion with the signal transmitting portion as center, and a peripheral groove is arranged to the scope connector, and a ball plunger is arranged to the multi-connector portion, corresponding to the peripheral groove.