Endoscope and method for confirming grounding of endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12303100-B2
Application number	US-202117519281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2021
Priority date	May 7, 2019
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

An endoscope can include an internal member provided at a distal end of an insertion portion a conductive external member fitted over the internal member and electrically connected to a ground. The endoscope can also include an image pickup instrument fixed to the internal member, and the image pickup instrument can include a lens. The endoscope can include an electrical connection part having a first end portion connected to the conductive member and a second end portion connected to the external member, the electrical connection part being configured to electrically connect the conductive member and the external member, a conductor wire including a third end portion electrically connected to the first end portion, and a fourth end portion that passes through an opening formed in the external member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An endoscope comprising:
an internal member provided at a distal end of an insertion portion;
a conductive external member fitted over an outer surface of the internal member and electrically connected to a ground that serves as an electrical reference;
an image pickup instrument fixed to the internal member;
a conductive member provided on the image pickup instrument;
an electrical connection wire including a first portion connected to the conductive member and a second end portion connected to the external member, the second end portion located proximally relative to the first portion, the electrical connection wire being configured to electrically connect the conductive member to the external member;
a conductor wire comprising a third portion and a fourth end portion, the third portion being electrically connected to the first portion of the electrical connection wire; and
an opening formed in the external member with the internal member fitted in the external member, the fourth end portion of the conductor wire configured to pass through the opening.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the internal member is non-conductive.

3. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the conductor wire is a coated conductor wire coated with an insulator.

4. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the image pickup instrument includes an image sensor.

5. A method for confirming grounding of an endoscope, the endoscope comprising:
an internal member provided at a distal end of an insertion portion;
a conductive external member fitted over an outer surface of the internal member and electrically connected to a ground that serves as an electrical reference;
an image pickup unit fixed to the internal member;
a conductive member provided at the image pickup instrument;
an electrical connection wire including a first portion connected to the conductive member and a second end portion connected to the external member, the second end portion located proximally relative to the first portion, the electrical connection wire being configured to electrically connect the conductive member to the external member;
a conductor wire having a third portion electrically connected to the first portion; and
an opening formed in the external member with the internal member fitted in the external member, the conductor wire including a fourth end portion configured to pass through the opening, the method comprising:
sandwiching the second end portion of the electrical connection wire between an outer surface of the internal member and an inner surface of the external member;
fitting the internal member into the external member so that the fourth end portion of the conductor wire passes through the opening;
applying a tester to the fourth end portion of the conductor wire and the external member; and
conducting a continuity test between the image pickup instrument and the external member with the electrical connection wire to ensure an electrical connection is not damaged.

6. The method for confirming grounding of an endoscope according to claim 5 , wherein the conductor wire passes through the opening in the external member after the continuity test.

7. An endoscope comprising:
a lens;
a frame holding the lens;
an internal member holding the frame;
an external member fitted over an outer surface of the internal member; and
a first part of a first wire and a first part of a second wire located between the frame and the internal member, wherein a second part of the first wire is located between the internal member and the external member.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein when a charge is applied between the second wire and the external member, the charge flows from the second wire to the frame, and then to the first wire, and then to the external member.

9. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the external member includes a first opening.

10. The endoscope according to claim 9 , the first opening is configured to receive a second part of the second wire.

11. The endoscope according to claim 9 , wherein the external member includes a second opening, a second part of the first wire is exposed from the second opening.

12. The endoscope according to claim 11 , wherein the second part of the first wire is located between the internal member and the external member.

13. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the frame is electrically connected to the external member via the first wire.

14. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein a part of the second wire is covered by an insulator.

15. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the second wire is electrically connected to the first wire.

16. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the external member includes a second opening that exposes an outer circumferential surface of the internal member, and the second opening includes a linear groove portion and a triangular cut portion.

17. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the external member includes a plurality of pieces connected together and axially supported by a pivotally supporting part such that the plurality of pieces are configured to rotate relative to the pivotally supporting part.

18. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein at least two sections of the first wire contact the internal member.

19. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the external member is connected to a ground that serves as an electrical reference.

Assignees

• Olympus Corp

Inventors

• Hatano Keisuke
• ARIYOSHI Takuya
• Nagamizu Hiroyuki

Classifications

• A61B1/05

  characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion · CPC title

• A61B1/00114

  Electrical cables in or with an endoscope · CPC title

• G01R31/52

  Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults · CPC title

• A61B1/00124

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

• A61B1/051

  Details of CCD assembly · CPC title