ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM

• US 20110018989A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Shinichi, Watanabe, Katsushi, Kameya, Takayuki, Matsumoto, Kazutaka, Nakamura, Takeaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,581,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances

Abstract

The endoscope system of the present invention includes: an endoscope that has an image pickup device that picks up an observation image of a test object; an image display unit that converts image pickup signals that have been sent from the image pickup device into images and then displays these images; a first mounting portion that is provided in an operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted; and a second mounting portion that is provided in the operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted in a different position from that of the first mounting portion.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an insertion portion adapted to be inserted into a test object;

an operating section connected to a base end of the insertion portion, the operating section comprising a gripping portion;

an image display unit provided so as to face an outer circumferential surface of the operation section; and

a supporting portion provided on the operating section, the supporting portion supporting the image display unit so that the image display unit can be opened from and shut against the outer circumferential surface of the operating section.

2. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting portion is provided with:

a first rotation shaft that makes the image display unit rotatable with respect to one direction of the outer circumferential surface of the operation section, and a second rotation shaft that makes the image display unit rotatable around an axis which is perpendicular to the first rotation shaft.

3. The endoscope system according to any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation section is provided with a recessed portion on the outer circumferential surface of the operation section, and the supporting portion supports the image display unit such that it can be housed within the recessed portion.

4. The endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft are each located away from the central axis of the image display unit.