Endoscope and discharge control unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11369019-B2
Application number	US-201916713148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2019
Priority date	Jun 30, 2017
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

An endoscope includes: an internal conductor that is formed of a conductive material; an external conductor that is electrically insulated from the internal conductor and is formed of a conductive material that configures a part of an exterior; a holder that holds a first conductor that is electrically connected to the internal conductor and a second conductor that is electrically connected to the external conductor such that the first conductor and the second conductor are separated from each other by a space with a predetermined spatial distance; and a water-tightness holding member that holds water-tightness in the space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An endoscope comprising:
an internal conductor formed of a conductive material;
an external conductor electrically insulated from the internal conductor, the external conductor being formed of a conductive material that configures a part of an exterior;
a holder that holds a first conductor electrically connected to the internal conductor and a second conductor electrically connected to the external conductor such that the first conductor and the second conductor are separated from each other by a space with a predetermined distance interposed between the first conductor and the second conductor; and
a seal configured to hold water tightness in the space;
wherein the holder comprises:
a first hole into which the first conductor is inserted,
a second hole into which the second conductor is inserted, and
a communication hole communicating with both of the first hole and the second hole, the first conductor and the second conductor facing each other and being separated from each other by the predetermined distance through the communication hole, and

the seal holds water-tightness in the communication hole with respect to an outside of the holder.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first conductor and the second conductor having one or more projections projecting into the communication hole.

3. The endoscope according to claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor electrically connected to the internal conductor and to the external conductor.

4. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a first seal located between the holder and the second conductor and a second seal located between the holder and the first conductor.

5. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the seal covers at least the holder.

6. The endoscope according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an insertion portion,
wherein the exterior is an outer surface of the insertion portion.

7. The endoscope according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first conductor and the first hole are screwed to each other through respective screws formed at the first conductor and the first hole, and
the second conductor and the second hole are screwed to each other through respective screws formed at the second conductor and the second hole.

8. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is configured such that when a potential difference between the internal conductor and the external conductor exceeds a predetermined value, a discharge occurs between the first conductor and the second conductor via the space.

9. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the space is an air gap.

10. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the communication hole having a smaller inner diameter than an inner diameter or each of the first and second holes to define first and second stops defining the predetermined distance when the first and second conductors abut the first and second stops, respectively.

11. A discharge control unit comprising:
an internal conductor formed of a conductive material;
an external conductor electrically insulated from the internal conductor the external conductor being formed of a conductive material;
a holder that holds a first conductor electrically connected to the internal conductor and a second conductor electrically connected to the external conductor such that the first conductor and the second conductor are separated from each other by a space with a predetermined distance interposed between the first conductor and the second conductor; and
a seal configured to hold water-tightness in the space;
wherein the holder comprises:
a first hole into which the first conductor is inserted,
a second hole into which the second conductor is inserted, and
a communication hole communicating with both of the first hole and the second hole, the first conductor and the second conductor facing each other and being separated from each other by the predetermined distance through the communication hole, and

the seal holds water-tightness in the communication hole with respect to an outside of the holder.

12. The discharge control unit according to claim 11 , wherein one or more of the first conductor and the second conductor having one or more projections projecting into the communication hole.

13. The discharge control unit according to claim 11 ,
wherein the first conductor and the first hole are screwed to each other through respective screws formed at the first conductor and the first hole, and
the second conductor and the second hole are screwed to each other through respective screws formed at the second conductor and the second hole.

14. The discharge control unit according to claim 11 , further comprising a capacitor electrically connected to the internal conductor and to the external conductor.

15. The discharge control unit according to claim 11 , wherein the predetermined distance is configured such that when a potential difference between the internal conductor and the external conductor exceeds a predetermined value, a discharge occurs between the first conductor and the second conductor via the space.

16. The discharge control unit according to claim 11 , wherein the space is an air gap.

17. The discharge control unit according to claim 11 , wherein the communication hole having a smaller inner diameter than an inner diameter or each of the first and second holes to define first and second stops defining the predetermined distance when the first and second conductors abut the first and second stops, respectively.

Assignees

• Olympus Corp

Inventors

• Nakao Yosuke
• Tsuruoka Kaoru

Classifications

• A61B1/00124

  electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection · CPC title

• A61B1/00128

  mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes · CPC title

• A61B1/00071

  Insertion part of the endoscope body (A61B1/0055 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B1/0052

  Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles · CPC title

• H01T4/10

  having a single gap or a plurality of gaps in parallel · CPC title