Endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017059850-A1
Application number	US-201615249460-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2016
Priority date	Aug 31, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An endoscope includes, in a tip portion of an insertion unit: an image sensor having a photodetecting surface as defined herein; an imaging optical system as defined herein; a holding frame as defined herein; and a tip portion of a treatment tool channel as defined herein, and, in a cross section taken perpendicularly to the optical axis, a thickness, on a first axis that intersects the optical axis and a center of the treatment tool channel, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the first axis, of at least a portion of the holding frame is smaller than a thickness, on a second axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the at least portion of the holding frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An endoscope comprising, in a tip portion of an insertion unit of the endoscope:
an image sensor having a photodetecting surface in a plane that crosses a longitudinal axis of the insertion unit; an imaging optical system which forms a subject image on the photodetecting surface; a holding frame which houses the imaging optical system and the image sensor; and a tip portion, extending parallel with an optical axis of the imaging optical system, of a treatment tool channel, wherein in a cross section taken perpendicularly to the optical axis, a thickness, on a first axis that intersects the optical axis and a center of the treatment tool channel, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the first axis, of at least a portion of the holding frame is smaller than a thickness, on a second axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the at least portion of the holding frame.

2 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein:
the holding frame has a sensor holding portion which holds the image sensor; and a thickness, on the first axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the first axis, of the sensor holding portion is smaller than a thickness, on the second axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the sensor holding portion.

3 . The endoscope according to claim 2 , wherein:
the holding frame has an optical system holding portion which holds the imaging optical system; and the frame wall portions, located on the two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the sensor holding portion is located outside frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the optical system holding portion.

4 . The endoscope according to claim 3 , further comprising a cable reinforcement member having two holding arms which hold a cable connected to the image sensor,
wherein the two holding arms are locked on respective step portions that are formed at a boundary between the frame wall portions, intersecting the second axis, of the sensor holding portion and the frame wall portions, intersecting the second axis, of the optical system holding portion.

5 . The endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein the cable reinforcement member has a link piece which links the two holding arms, and is disposed alongside a frame wall portion that is opposite to a frame wall portion adjacent to the treatment tool channel, of the frame wall portions, located on the two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the first axis, of the sensor holding portion.

6 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein:
the holding frame has an optical system holding portion which holds the imaging optical system; and a thickness, on the first axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the first axis, of the optical system holding portion is smaller than a thickness, on the second axis, of frame wall portions, located on two respective sides of the optical axis and intersecting the second axis, of the optical system holding portion.

7 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , further comprising a screw which fixes the holding frame to the tip portion of the insertion unit, and is fixed to a frame wall portion, intersecting the second axis and being relatively thick, of the holding frame.

8 . The endoscope according to claim 2 , further comprising a screw which fixes the holding frame to the tip portion of the insertion unit, and is fixed to a frame wall portion, intersecting the second axis and being relatively thick, of the holding frame.

9 . The endoscope according to claim 3 , further comprising a screw which fixes the holding frame to the tip portion of the insertion unit, and is fixed to a frame wall portion, intersecting the second axis and being relatively thick, of the holding frame.

10 . The endoscope according to claim 4 , further comprising a screw which fixes the holding frame to the tip portion of the insertion unit, and is fixed to a frame wall portion, intersecting the second axis and being relatively thick, of the holding frame.

11 . The endoscope according to claim 5 , further comprising a screw which fixes the holding frame to the tip portion of the insertion unit, and is fixed to a frame wall portion, intersecting the second axis and being relatively thick, of the holding frame.

12 . The endoscope according to claim 6 , further comprising a screw which fixes the holding frame to the tip portion of the insertion unit, and is fixed to a frame wall portion, intersecting the second axis and being relatively thick, of the holding frame.

Assignees

• Fujifilm Corp

Inventors

• Yashiro Takashi
• Ishii Shuichi
• Takahashi Kazuaki
• Kitano Ryou
• Suzuki Issei

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · 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

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/2253

  Electricity · mapped topic