Method for manufacture of a tip part and a tip part for an endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023270319-A1
Application number	US-202318313749-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 8, 2023
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Aug 31, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for manufacture of a tip part for an endoscope including providing a camera assembly with an image sensor and a circuit board; providing a distal end segment having a distal end and a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing; providing an exterior housing having a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing; inserting the distal end of the camera assembly in the spacing of the exterior housing; positioning the proximal end of the exterior housing adjacent to the distal end of the distal end segment; injecting an adhesive into the spacing of the distal end segment so that at least parts of the circuit board are embedded in the adhesive; and allowing or causing the adhesive to harden; whereby the distal end segment, camera assembly and exterior housing form an assembled tip part of an endoscope attached to each other by means of the adhesive.

First claim

1 . A method for manufacture of a tip part for an endoscope, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a camera assembly with an image sensor and a circuit board, the camera assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, the circuit board being positioned at the proximal end; (b) providing a distal end segment having a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing, said distal end segment having a distal end; (c) providing an exterior housing comprising a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing and a proximal end; (d) inserting the distal end of the camera assembly in the spacing of the exterior housing; (e) positioning the proximal end of the exterior housing adjacent to the distal end of the distal end segment of the bending section, so that the distal end segment of the bending section and the exterior housing enclose the camera assembly; (f) injecting an adhesive into the spacing of the distal end segment of the bending section so that at least parts of the circuit board are embedded in the adhesive; and (g) allowing or causing the adhesive to harden; (h) whereby the distal end segment, camera assembly and exterior housing form an assembled tip part of an endoscope attached to each other by means of the adhesive.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive adheres the distal end segment to the exterior housing.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (e) comprises positioning the proximal end of the exterior housing in abutment with the distal end of the distal end segment of the bending section, so that the distal end segment of the bending section and the exterior housing enclose the camera assembly.

4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (e) comprises overlapping the proximal end of the exterior housing and the distal end of the distal end segment of the bending section.

5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (f) comprises injecting the adhesive into the spacing of the distal end segment of the bending section through an adhesive injection hole in the exterior housing and/or the distal end segment of the bending section.

6 . A method according to claim 1 , comprising a step, potentially performed simultaneously with the step (f), of:
providing a measurement of the volume of the injected adhesive into the spacing of the distal end segment of the bending section.

7 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (f) includes injecting the adhesive into the spacing of the distal end segment of the bending section so that the adhesive overlaps a distal end of a tube surrounding an electronic cable connected to the circuit board.

8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (d) divides the spacing of the exterior housing into a distal cavity in the distal end of the exterior housing, in which a light emitting surface is positioned, and a proximal cavity, the method further comprising a step of:
sealing the distal cavity from the proximal cavity.

9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the camera assembly includes a lens barrel positioned at a distal end of the camera assembly, and the exterior housing further comprising a distal end wall, the distal end wall being integral with the circumferential wall and having an opening, wherein the method further comprises a step of:
inserting the lens barrel of the camera assembly in the spacing of the exterior housing so that a distal end of the lens barrel extends into the opening, and so that an axially extending adhesive spacing is provided between the opening and the lens barrel along a circumference of the lens barrel, a radial extent of the adhesive spacing gradually being reduced in a direction towards the spacing of the exterior housing; injecting an adhesive into the adhesive spacing; and allowing or causing the adhesive to harden so as to adhere the lens barrel to the distal end wall of the exterior housing.

10 . A method according to claim 1 , comprising a step of:
positioning a sleeve or external sheath around the exterior housing and the distal end segment of the bending section.

11 . A tip part for an endoscope, comprising:
a camera assembly with an image sensor and a circuit board, the camera assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, the circuit board being positioned at the proximal end; a distal end segment having a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing, said distal end segment having a distal end; an exterior housing comprising a circumferential wall enclosing a spacing and a proximal end being adjacent the distal end of the distal end segment; wherein the distal end of the camera assembly is positioned in the spacing of the exterior housing; wherein the proximal end of the camera assembly is positioned in the spacing of the distal end segment, the distal end segment and the exterior housing enclosing the camera assembly; and wherein a hardened adhesive provided separately from the exterior housing substantially fills out the spacing of the distal end segment so that at least parts of the circuit board are embedded in the adhesive, the hardened adhesive attaching or fixing the distal end segment, camera assembly and exterior housing to each other.

12 . A tip part according to claim 11 , wherein at least the exterior housing and the distal end segment are adhered to each other by the hardened adhesive.

13 - 17 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Ambu As

Inventors

• Jensen Thomas Bachgaard
• Hansen Michael Kappler

Classifications

• A61B1/0676

  at distal tip of an endoscope · CPC title

• A61B1/126

  provided with means for cleaning in-use · CPC title

• A61B1/0011 Primary

  Manufacturing of endoscope parts · CPC title

• A61B1/00045

  Display arrangement · CPC title

• A61B1/051

  Details of CCD assembly · CPC title