Endoscope system

• US 20060178563A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• 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, Takizawa, Hironobu, Adachi, Hideyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 (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 between front and rear ends of said bending portion so as to be compressed to be shorter than a natural length thereof in an axial direction of said bending portion when the bending portion is not bent.

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.