Endoscope examination apparatus

• US 5,259,365 A
• Filed: 09/09/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawashima, Masahiro, Parker, Christopher, Nakajima, Yukio, Takano, Akira, Greengrass, Stuart M., Sanagai, Kenichiro, Takayama, Shuichi, Hayashi, Masaaki, Nakamura, Takeaki, Yamaguchi, Tatsuya, Akui, Nobuaki, Nishigaki, Shinichi, Nishikori, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US07/942,339
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6, 128/376, 128/897, 269/322-328, 5/60, 5/82 R, 5/600
• US Class Current: 600/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/462 characterised by constructional features of the display

Abstract

An endoscope examination apparatus includes a bed on which a subject lies, a device separately positioned from the bed and used for an endoscope examination, a control device provided in the bed for controlling the device and a connecting device extended from the bed and connected to the device for operatively connecting the device and the control device.

Claims

1. An endoscope examination apparatus comprising:

a bed on which a subject lies;

an examination device positioned separately from said bed and used for an endoscope examination;

a single control means provided in said bed for controlling said examination device;

a connecting means for operatively connecting said examination device and said control means, said connecting means including a part extended from said bed and connected to said examination device,

a plurality of connectors spaced about a peripheral part of said bed providing communication with said control means; and

at least one operating means detachably connected to at least one of said connectors for permitting the operator to manipulate said examination device through said control means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said examination device is an endoscope light source device, wherein said connecting means provides for connection of an endoscope and said light source device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, including a plurality of operating means wherein

each said operating means has the same function.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said operating means comprises a display part and an input part.

5. An endoscope examination apparatus comprising:

an examination bed on which a subject lies;

a device used for an endoscope examination;

at least one operating means provided on a peripheral part of said bed for allowing the operator to operate said device; and

a connecting means for removably connecting said device and said operating means, said connecting means including a plurality of connectors spaced about the sides of said bed,

wherein said operating means may be removably connected with any one of said connectors to permit operation of said device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said device comprises at least an endoscope signal processing device, wherein said endoscope signal processing device is controlled by a control means and said operating means to process image information from said device used for an endoscope examination which is operatively attached to said signal processing device.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said device is an endoscope light source device, wherein said connecting means includes provided in said bed for connecting an endoscope and said light source device.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of said operating means each having the same function which can be connected to said plurality of connectors.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said operating means comprises a display part and an input part.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a single control device provided in said bed for controlling said examination device, wherein said connecting means removably connects said operating means to said control device and said connecting means removably connects said examination device to said control device;

an address bus connected between said control device and said examination device; and

a data bus connected between said control device and said examination device.

11. An endoscope examination apparatus comprising:

a bed on which a subject lies;

a single control device provided in said bed for controlling an endoscope examination device separately positioned from said bed;

a first connecting means for operatively connecting said endoscope examination device and said control device, said first connecting means including a part extended from said bed and connected to said endoscope examination device;

a plurality of connectors spaced about a peripheral part of said bed and connected to said control device; and

at least one operating means detachably connected to any one of said connectors, wherein said operating means is connected through at least one of said connectors to said control device for permitting the operator to manipulate said endoscope examination device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a plurality of said operating means, provided on a peripheral part of said bed for operating said examination device, each having the same function,

connected to said control device through said plurality of connectors.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said operating means comprises a display part and an input part.