Noise suppressor for electronic endoscope

Claim 2

A combination, comprising: (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adaptable to be inserted into a coeloma, said endoscope including: (1) a solid-state camera disposed within said insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor, the video signal generated by the solid state camera and transmitted over the video signal lead falling within a first frequency spectrum; (B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including: (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto; (2) a transmission line extending through the diathermic cutter to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer, the high frequency current having a second frequency spectrum which overlaps the first frequency spectrum; and (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead.

Claim 3

A combination according to claim 1, further including impedance regulating means which establishes a high impedance between the conductor member and the transmission line with respect to a frequency band of the high frequency current.

Claim 4

A combination according to claim 2 in which the impedance regulating means comprises a coil connected to form a parallel resonance circuit together with a distributed capacitance between the transmission line and the conductor member at a frequency of the high frequency current.

Claim 5

A combination according to claim 2, in which the power supply for diathermy includes a narrow bandpass filter for limiting the frequency band of the high frequency current to a narrow band.

Claim 6

A combination according to claim 1 in which the conductor member is disposed in surrounding relationship with a sheath through which the diathermic cutter extends.

Claim 7

A combination according to claim 1 in which the transmission line and the conductor member are formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable.

Claim 8

A combination according to claim 6 in which the coaxial cable comprises a transmission line formed of conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line, a conductor member formed of conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer, and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

Claim 9

A coaxial cable comprising a transmission line formed of conductive rubber; a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line; a shielding conductor member formed of conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer; and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

Claim 10

A coaxial cable comprising a transmission line formed of conductive rubber; a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line; a shielding conductor member formed of conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer; and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

Claim 11

A coaxial cable according to claim 8, further including a close pitch coil disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating skin layer.

Claim 12

A combination, comprising: (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including: (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor; (B) a diathermic cutter which is removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including: (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto; (2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer; (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal leads; and (4) impedance regulating means which establishes a high impedance between the conductor member and the transmission line with respect to a frequency band of the high frequency current, the impedance regulating means comprising a coil connected to form a parallel resonant circuit together with a distributed capacitance between the transmission lines and the conductor member at a frequency of the high frequency current.

Claim 13

A combination, comprising: (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including: (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor; (B) a diathermic cutter which is removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including: (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto; (2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer; (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal leads; and (4) impedance regulating means which establishes a high impedance between the conductor member and the transmission line with respect to a frequency band of the high frequency current, the impedance regulating means comprising a coil connected to form a parallel resonant circuit together with a distributed capacitance between the transmission lines and the conductor member at a frequency of the high frequency current.

Claim 14

An electronic endoscope, comprising: (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including: (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output form the solid-state camera to an image processor; (B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including: (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application to a high frequency current thereto; (2) a transmission line extending through the diathermic cutter to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messr; and (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the conductor member being disposed in surrounding relationship with a sheet through which the diathermic cutter extends.

Claim 15

An electronic endoscope, comprising: (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including: (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output form the solid-state camera to an image processor; (B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including: (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application to a high frequency current thereto; (2) a transmission line extending through the diathermic cutter to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messr; and (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the conductor member being disposed in surrounding relationship with a sheet through which the diathermic cutter extends.

Claim 16

A combination, comprising: (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including: (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor; (B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including: (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto; (2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer; and (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductive member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively.

Claim 17

A combination, comprising: (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including: (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor; (B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including: (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto; (2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer; and (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductive member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively.

Claim 18

A combination according to claim 12 in which the coaxial cable comprises a transmission line formed of a conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the tramsmission line, a conductor member formed of a conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

Claim 19

An electronic endoscope, comprising: an insertable portion adapted to be inserted into a coeloma; a solid-state camera disposed with the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor; and an ultrasonic probe disposed within the insertable portion for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object being examined and for receiving a reflected wave therefrom; a transmission line extending through the insertable portion for transmitting an activating signal to the ultrasonic probe and the reflected signal from the probe to an ultrasonic diagnosis system; and a conductor member for electrically shielding the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductor member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively, the coaxial cable comprising the transmission line formed of a conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line, a conductor member formed of a conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer, and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

Claim 20

An electronic endoscope, comprising: an insertable portion adapted to be inserted into a coeloma; a solid-state camera disposed with the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor; and an ultrasonic probe disposed within the insertable portion for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object being examined and for receiving a reflected wave therefrom; a transmission line extending through the insertable portion for transmitting an activating signal to the ultrasonic probe and the reflected signal from the probe to an ultrasonic diagnosis system; and a conductor member for electrically shielding the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductor member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively, the coaxial cable comprising the transmission line formed of a conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line, a conductor member formed of a conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer, and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

Claim 21

An endoscope according to claim 14 in which the coaxial cable further comprises a close pitch coil disposed around the insulating skin layer.

Claim 22

An endoscope according to claim 14 in which the coaxial cable also serves as means for transmitting a scanning motion to the ultrasonic probe.