Light-conducting device for an endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964752-B2
Application number	US-201213452108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2012
Priority date	Apr 21, 2011
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A light-conducting device for an endoscope for conducting observation light from a proximal end of the endoscope to a distal end of the endoscope includes a number of optical fibers. Each optical fiber includes a proximal end with a light inlet surface, which is provided for positioning on a proximal end of an endoscope, and a distal end with a light outlet surface, which is provided for positioning on a distal end of an endoscope. Each of the number of optical fibers including in a proximal region a first cross-section with a first surface area, and in a distal region a second cross-section with a second surface area. The first surface area is larger than the second surface area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light-conducting device for an endoscope to conduct illuminating light from a proximal end of the endoscope to a distal end of the endoscope, comprising:
a number of optical fibers,
each optical fiber having a proximal end with a light inlet surface for positioning on the proximal end of the endoscope and a distal end with a light outlet surface for positioning on the distal end of the endoscope,
each optical fiber having a first cross-section with a first surface area in a proximal region, a second cross-section with a second surface area in a distal region, and a third cross-section with a third surface area in a transitional area between the proximal region and the distal region, the first, second and third cross-sections are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the respective optical fiber,
the first surface area is larger than the second surface area, and the third surface area constantly decreases downstream in a light path of the respective optical fiber from the proximal region to the distal region,
a framing sheath, the proximal regions, the transitional areas and, at most, proximal portions of the distal regions of the number of optical fibers being positioned inside the framing sheath, the transitional area of each optical fiber being located between the proximal and distal regions and proximate to the proximal end of the respective optical fiber,
a first casting compound surrounding the transitional areas and joining the optical fibers to the framing sheath to mechanically fix and stabilize the transitional areas relative to the framing sheath, the first casting compound being positioned between the transitional areas and joining the optical fibers to one another, and
a second different casting compound positioned downstream in the light path from the first casting compound and between the optical fibers within the framing sheath,
wherein the framing sheath has a coupling device to detachably fasten the framing sheath inside the proximal end of the endoscope at a coupling of the endoscope for optical and mechanical coupling with a light-conducting cable.

2. The light-conducting device according to claim 1 , wherein the second casting compound has a higher elasticity than the first casting compound.

3. The light-conducting device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of optical fibers are secured together in their proximal regions by soldering, melting, welding, cementing, or casting.

4. The light-conducting device according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the distal ends of the optical fibers of the number of optical fibers are secured together by soldering, melting, welding, cementing, or casting.

5. An endoscope comprising:
a light-conducting device, comprising
a number of optical fibers,
each optical fiber having a proximal end with a light inlet surface for positioning on a proximal end of the endoscope and a distal end with a light outlet surface for positioning on a distal end of the endoscope,
each optical fiber having a first cross-section with a first surface area in a proximal region, a second cross-section with a second surface area in a distal region, and a third cross-section with a third surface area in a transitional area between the proximal region and the distal region, the first, second and third cross-sections are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the respective optical fiber,
the first surface area is larger than the second surface area, and the third surface area constantly decreases downstream in a light path of the respective optical fiber from the proximal region to the distal region,
a framing sheath, the proximal regions, the transitional areas and, at most, the proximal ends of the distal regions of the number of optical fibers being positioned inside the framing sheath, the transitional area of each optical fiber being located between the proximal and distal regions and proximate to the proximal end of the respective optical fiber, and
a first casting compound surrounding the transitional areas and joining the optical fibers to the framing sheath to mechanically fix and stabilize the transitional areas relative to the framing sheath, the first casting compound being positioned between the transitional areas and joining the optical fibers to one another, and
a second different casting compound positioned downstream in the light path from the first casting compound and between the optical fibers within the framing sheath,
wherein the framing sheath has a coupling device to detachably fasten the framing sheath inside the proximal end of the endoscope at a coupling of the endoscope for optical and mechanical coupling with a light-conducting cable.

6. A method for producing an endoscope, having the following steps:
providing a light-conducting device comprising
a number of optical fibers,
each optical fiber having a proximal end with a light inlet surface for positioning on a proximal end of the endoscope and a distal end with a light outlet surface for positioning on a distal end of the endoscope,
each optical fiber having a first cross-section with a first surface area in a proximal region, a second cross-section with a second surface area in a distal region, and a third cross-section with a third surface area in a transitional area between the proximal region and the distal region, the first, second and third cross-sections are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the respective optical fiber,
the first surface area is larger than the second surface area, and the third surface area constantly decreases downstream in a light path of the respective optical fiber from the proximal region to the distal region,
a framing sheath, the proximal regions, the transitional areas and, at most, proximal portions of the distal regions of the number of optical fibers being positioned inside the framing sheath, the transitional area of each optical fiber being located between the proximal and distal regions and proximate to the proximal end of the respective optical fiber, and
a first casting compound surrounding the transitional areas and joining the optical fibers to the framing sheath to mechanically fix and stabilize the transitional areas relative to the framing sheath, the first casting compound being positioned between the transitional areas and joining the optical fibers to one another, and
a second different casting compound positioned downstream in the light path from the first casting compound and between the optical fibers within the framing sheath,
wherein the framing sheath has a coupling device to detachably fasten the framing sheath inside the proximal end of the endoscope at a coupling of the endoscope for optical and mechanical coupling with a light-conducting cable;

providing a subassembly for an endoscope; and
inserting the light-conducting device into the subassembly in order to produce the endoscope.

7. The light-conducting device according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal ends of the optical fibers are combined into a single bundle while the distal ends of the optical fibers are divided into a plurality of bundles that are positionable at different sites on the distal end of the endoscope.

8. The light-conducting device according to claim 1 , wherein the distal regions of the optical fibers are longer than the proximal regions of the optical fibers.

9. The light-conducting device according to claim 1 , wherein the framing sheath within the proximal end of the endoscope forms a part of the coupling of the endoscope.

10. The light-conducting device according to claim 1 , wherein an elasticity of the first casting compound is adjusted to the elasticity of a material of the optical fibers to mechanically

Assignees

• Buerk Andre
• Storz Karl Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Buerk Andre

Classifications

• A61B1/07

  using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• G02B6/04

  formed by bundles of fibres (G02B6/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/0006

  Coupling light into the fibre (in general G02B6/4298) · CPC title

• A61B1/0011

  Manufacturing of endoscope parts · CPC title