Video endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11119308-B2
Application number	US-201816961530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2018
Priority date	Jan 10, 2018
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A video endoscope including: an elongated shaft having distal and proximal ends; an objective lens arranged in the shaft; and an image sensor arranged proximally to the objective lens; wherein the objective lens includes distal and proximal objective lens assemblies; the image sensor rotates about an axis of the shaft relative to the distal objective lens assembly which is arranged in an outer tube; a torque for rotating the image sensor is transmitted by an inner tube, which is arranged in the outer tube, the inner tube being rotatably fixed and axially slidably connected to a frame receiving the image sensor, the inner tube and the frame each including coupling portions that engage coaxially; one the coupling portions includes cut-outs extending parallel to the axis; and another includes elastic protrusions, the elastic protrusions extending toward and engage in a corresponding cut-out.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A video endoscope comprising:
an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;
an objective lens arranged at the distal end of the shaft; and
at least one image sensor arranged proximally relative to the objective lens;
wherein:
the objective lens comprises a distal objective lens assembly and a proximal objective lens assembly;
at least the image sensor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the distal objective lens assembly;
the distal objective lens assembly is arranged in an outer tube;
a torque for rotating the image sensor relative to the distal objective lens assembly is transmitted by an inner tube, the inner tube being arranged in the outer tube, the inner tube being rotatably fixed and axially slidably connected to a frame receiving the image sensor,
the inner tube and the frame each comprising coupling portions that engage coaxially;
a first of the coupling portions of one of the frame and the inner tube comprises at least two cut-outs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and
a second of the coupling portions of an other of the frame and the inner tube comprises at least two elastic protrusions, the at least two elastic protrusions each extending toward and engage in a corresponding one of the at least two cut-outs.

2. The video endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic protrusions are elastic tongues cut from the inner and/or the outer tube.

3. The video endoscope according to claim 2 , wherein the elastic tongues have a trapezoid shape structure.

4. The video endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the number of cut-outs correspond to the number of protrusions.

5. The video endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the number of protrusions is greater than the number of cut-outs.

6. The video endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the image sensor together with the proximal objective lens assembly are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the distal objective lens assembly.

7. A video endoscope comprising:
an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;
an objective lens arranged at the distal end of the shaft; and
at least one image sensor arranged proximally relative to the objective lens;
wherein
the objective lens comprises a distal objective lens assembly and a proximal objective lens assembly;
the image sensor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the distal objective lens assembly;
the distal objective lens assembly is arranged in an outer tube;
a torque for rotating the image sensor relative to the distal objective lens assembly is transmitted by an inner tube, the inner tube being arranged in the outer tube, the inner tube being connected to a frame receiving the image sensor;
the outer tube and the inner tube are supported against each other at proximal ends thereof by a bearing, the bearing being arranged in a bearing sleeve fastened to the proximal end of the outer tube;
the outer tube and the bearing sleeve each comprising coupling portions that engage coaxially;
a first of the coupling portions of one of the outer tube and the bearing sleeve comprising at least two cut-outs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and
a second of the coupling portions of an other of the outer tube and the bearing sleeve comprises at least two elastic protrusions, the at least two elastic protrusions each extending toward and engage in a corresponding one of the at least two cut-outs.

8. The video endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the number of protrusions is greater than the number of cut-outs such that at least one protrusion is an excess protrusion, and the excess protrusion forms an electrical contact between the outer tube and the bearing sleeve.

9. The video endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the image sensor-together with the proximal objective lens assembly are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the distal objective lens assembly.

10. The video endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the elastic protrusions are elastic tongues cut from the inner and/or the outer tube.

11. The video endoscope according to claim 10 , wherein the elastic tongues have a trapezoid shape.

12. The video endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the number of cut-outs correspond to the number of protrusions.

13. The video endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the number of protrusions is greater than the number of cut-outs.

Assignees

• Winter & Ibe Olympus

Inventors

• Wieters Martin

Classifications

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/555

  for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes · CPC title

• A61B1/00183

  for variable viewing angles · CPC title

• G02B23/243 Primary

  Objectives for endoscopes · CPC title

• G02B23/2476 Primary

  Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports · CPC title