Endoscopic apparatus and endoscope adapter

• US 20070203397A1
• Filed: 11/20/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evident Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kanzaki, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,617,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/175
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope

Abstract

An endoscope adapter for use with an endoscope is provided. The endoscope includes an endoscopic insertion section subject to be inserted into an object subject to inspection and the endoscope adapter so that the endoscopic insertion section has an insertion section electrodes; the endoscope adapter comprises a lighting section for emitting light to the object and an adapter electrode section connected to the lighting section. The adapter electrode section comprises: an elongated hollow casing having an opening section at one end in the longitudinal direction of the casing; and a columnar electrode terminal configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction in the hollow casing and capable of projecting from the longitudinal direction end of the hollow casing. The inner diameter of the opening section is equalized to the outer diameter of the electrode terminal. It is possible to provide an endoscopic apparatus and an endoscope adapter having an endoscope adapter and an endoscopic insertion section not so significant in sizes; being capable of closing an opening section in a state where the endoscope adapter is attached to the endoscopic insertion section; and being capable of maintaining the electrode terminal clean for a prolonged period.

Claims

1. An endoscope adapter for use with an endoscope, the endoscope comprising an endoscopic insertion section subject to be inserted into an object subject to inspection and the endoscope adapter, the endoscopic insertion section having insertion section electrodes, the endoscope adapter comprising a lighting section for emitting light to the object and an adapter electrode section connected to the lighting section, wherein:

the adapter electrode section comprises;

an elongated hollow casing having an opening section at one end in the longitudinal direction of the casing; and

a columnar electrode terminal configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction in the hollow casing and capable of projecting from the longitudinal direction end of the hollow casing, and

the inner diameter of the opening section is equal to the outer diameter of the electrode terminal.

2. The endoscope adapter according to claim 1, wherein

one of the adapter electrode section and the insertion electrode section is provided with the hollow casing and the electrode terminal, and

the electrode terminal is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction in the hollow casing and capable of projecting from the longitudinal direction end of the hollow casing.

3. The endoscope adapter according to claim 1, wherein the hollow casing is electrically conductive.

4. The endoscope adapter according to claim 1, wherein

an attaching section is provided to one of the endoscope adapter and the endoscopic insertion section, and

the adapter further has an insulative unit for insulating the hollow casing from the attaching section.

5. The endoscope adapter according to claim 1, further comprising an attaching surface disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the surface being subjected to be detachably attached to the adapter having the adapter electrode section;

and

the insertion section electrode disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the electrode being subjected to being electrically connected to the adapter electrode when the adapter is attached to the attaching surface, wherein

the insertion section electrode is disposed innermore toward the endoscopic insertion section relative to the attaching surface.

6. The endoscope adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:

an attaching surface disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the surface being subjected to be detachably attached to the adapter having the adapter electrode section;

the insertion section electrode disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the electrode being subjected to being electrically connected to the adapter electrode section when the adapter is attached to the attaching surface; and

projecting sections disposed in the vicinity of the insertion section electrode on the attaching surface and projecting from the attaching surface, wherein

the insertion section electrode is disposed innermore toward the attaching surface relative to the tip of the projecting sections.

7. An endoscopic apparatus for use in observing an object subject to inspection, the apparatus comprising:

an endoscopic insertion section subjected to be inserted into the object subject to inspection, the endoscopic insertion section having insertion section electrodes; and

an endoscope adapter having an adapter electrode section electrically connected to a lighting section for emitting light to the object, the endoscope adapter being subjected to be detachably attached to the endoscopic insertion section, wherein

the endoscopic insertion section is provided with an insertion electrode section electrically connected to the adapter electrode section when the endoscope adapter is attached to the endoscopic insertion section,

the insertion electrode section comprises;

an elongated hollow casing having an opening section at one end in the longitudinal direction of the casing; and

a columnar electrode terminal configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction in the hollow casing and capable of projecting from the longitudinal direction end of the hollow casing, wherein

the inner diameter of the opening section is equalized to the outer diameter of the electrode terminal.

8. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

one of the adapter electrode section and the insertion electrode section is provided with the hollow casing and the electrode terminal, and

the electrode terminal is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction in the hollow casing and capable of projecting from the longitudinal direction end of the hollow casing.

9. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hollow casing is electrically conductive.

10. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

an attaching section is provided to one of the endoscope adapter and the endoscopic insertion section, and

the adapter further has an insulative unit for insulating the hollow casing from the attaching section.

11. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an attaching surface disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the surface being subjected to be detachably attached to the adapter having the adapter electrode section; and

the insertion section electrode disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the electrode being subjected to being electrically connected to the adapter electrode section when the adapter is attached to the attaching surface, wherein

the insertion section electrode is disposed innermore toward the endoscopic insertion section relative to the attaching surface.

12. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an attaching surface disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the surface being subjected to be detachably attached to the adapter having the adapter electrode section; and

the insertion section electrode disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the electrode being subjected to being electrically connected to the adapter electrode section when the adapter is attached to the attaching surface, wherein

projecting sections are disposed in the vicinity of the insertion section electrode on the attaching surface and project from the attaching surface, and

the insertion section electrode is disposed innermore toward the attaching surface relative to the tip of the projecting sections.

13. An endoscopic apparatus comprising:

an endoscopic insertion section subjected to be inserted into an object subject to inspection;

an attaching surface disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the surface being subjected to be detachably attached to the adapter having the adapter electrode section; and

the insertion section electrode disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the electrode being subjected to being electrically connected to the adapter electrode section when the adapter is attached to the attaching surface, wherein

the insertion section electrode is disposed innermore toward the endoscopic insertion section relative to the attaching surface.

14. The endoscopic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a recess accommodating the insertion section electrode is formed in the attaching surface.

15. An endoscopic apparatus comprising:

an endoscopic insertion section subjected to be inserted into an object subject to inspection;

an attaching surface disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the surface being subjected to be detachably attached to the adapter having the adapter electrode section; and

the insertion section electrode disposed to the endoscopic insertion section, the electrode being subjected to being electrically connected to the adapter electrode section when the adapter is attached to the attaching surface, wherein

projecting sections are disposed in the vicinity of the insertion section electrode on the attaching surface and project from the attaching surface, and

the insertion section electrode is disposed innermore toward the attaching surface relative to the tip of the projecting sections.

16. An endoscopic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the projecting sections are provided with a hollow section extending in the projecting direction, the insertion section electrode being disposed in the hollow section.