Connector unit for endoscopes

• US 8,734,332 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Inventors: Krattiger, Beat, Klumpp, Martin, Kuster, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/676,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,657 Days
• Field of Search: 600/112, 600/132, 600/104, 600106-107, 600153-154, 600/159
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/063 for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination

Abstract

A plug-in unit with integral cable connection to the operating part of an endoscope and plug connections for lamps, mechanical, and/or electronic modules is characterized in that a hollow tube extending to the distal end of the endoscope is inserted into the plug-in unit by the integral cable connection and the operating part and has its proximal end positioned so that it is freely movable in the plug-in unit in such a way that can be conducted out of a closeable bore-hole in the wall of the plug-in unit.

Claims

1. A plug-in unit for an integral cable connection to the operating part of an endoscope, comprising:

at least one plug connection for a lighting and/or electronic module;

a closeable borehole formed in a wall of the plug-in unit, wherein the borehole is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the integral cable connection in the plug-in unit;

a hollow axle at least partially disposed in the borehole; and

a hollow tube movably disposed in the plug-in unit and comprising a first portion that extends through the borehole via the hollow axle to the outside of the plug-in unit and a second portion that extends through the integral cable connection and the operating part of the endoscope to the distal end of the endoscope.

2. The plug-in unit according to claim 1, wherein the hollow axle is mounted in a housing of an additional module and holds the housing of the additional module on the plug-in unit such that the first portion of the hollow tube extends into the housing of the additional module.

3. A plug-in unit according to claim 2, wherein a proximal end of the first portion of the hollow tube is associated with a function-determining part of the additional module.

4. A plug-in unit according to claim 3, wherein the housing of the additional module at least partially surrounds the plug-in unit and has a center of gravity that lies on the axis of the integral cable connection.

5. A plug-in unit according to claim 3, wherein a single-mode laser fiber is inserted into the hollow tube, wherein said single-mode laser fiber has a collimation lens connected to it on its distal side and said single-mode laser fiber has a laser diode upstream from it on its proximal side, and said single-mode laser fiber is positioned in a frame in the housing of the additional module.