US5166787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope having provision for repositioning a video sensor to a location which does not provide the same cross-sectionally viewed relationship with the distal end
Assignee: Karl Storz Endoscopy America Inc
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Filing: 1990-06-28
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Granted: 1992-11-24
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Expires: 2010-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope has a video device arranged at the distal end of the endoscope shaft. The video device is connected by means of a transmission system to a supply unit arranged at the proximal end of the endoscope shaft. The video device is provided with a lens for imaging an object field and an illumination unit. The lens and the image recorder are combined into a video unit which is held in such a movable manner at the endoscope shaft that the outer contour of the cross-section of the video unit lays essentially within the outer contour of the cross-section of the distal end of the endoscope shaft when being introduced into the cavity to be examined. After termination of the introduction procedure, the video unit can be moved in relation to the distal end of the endoscopic shaft beyond the outer contour of the cross-section and/or longitudinal section.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Irion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00174; A61B1/00181; A61B1/00183; A61B1/00193; A61B1/012; A61B1/015; A61B1/018; A61B1/04; A61B1/05; A61B1/051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An endoscope comprising an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, an illumination unit and a video unit arranged at the distal end of said shaft and connected by a transmission system to a supply unit arranged at the proximal end of said shaft, said video unit comprising a lens adapted to acquire images of an object field illuminated by said illumination unit and at least one image recorder which is adapted to record and transmit images acquired by said lens, said video unit being movable between a first position adjacent the distal end of said shaft, in which an outer contour of a cross section of said video unit lies substantially within an outer contour of a cross section of said distal end of said shaft during introduction and withdrawal of said endoscope into and out of a cavity to be examined, and at least a second position in which the outer contour of the cross section of said video unit lies substantially without the outer contour of a cross section of the distal end of said shaft after completion of the introduction of said endoscope into said cavity, and actuating means for causing said video unit to move between said first position and at least said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
An endoscope comprising an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, an illumination unit and a video unit arranged at the distal end of said shaft and connected by a transmission system to a supply unit arranged at the proximal end of said shaft, said video unit comprising a lens adapted to acquire images of an object field illuminated by said illumination unit and at least one image recorder which is adapted to record and transmit images acquired by said lens, said video unit being movable between a first position adjacent the distal end of said shaft, in which an outer contour of a cross section of said video unit lies substantially within an outer contour of a cross section of said distal end of said shaft during introduction and withdrawal of said endoscope into and out of a cavity to be examined, and at least a second position in which the outer contour of the cross section of said video unit lies substantially without the outer contour of a cross section of the distal end of said shaft after completion of the introduction of said endoscope into said cavity, and actuating means for causing said video unit to move between said first position and at least said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit is adapted to be rotated about an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft and eccentric in relation to the front face of said video unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the outer diameter of the cross-section of said video unit is nearly as large as that of said endoscope shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said video unit is adapted to be rotated by means of a pull cable running from the proximal end to the distal end and back, the pulling of which is guided from axial to lateral via a distal roller system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope shaft has a main duct which connects the distal end with the proximal end, and said video unit at least partially covers the opening of said duct during the introduction and withdrawal of said shaft into and out of said cavity in said first position, and clears said main duct in said second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope according to claim 5, wherein said endoscope shaft has a transmission duct adapted to receive said actuating means and transmission system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said transmission duct is connected to said main duct by a slit running in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
An endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said outer contour of the cross-section of said video unit conforms to the inner contour of said main duct in such a manner that the former can be pushed forward through said main duct into an examination position at said distal end of said shaft, and pulled back to the proximal end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope according to claim 8, wherein said transmission duct is adapted to serve as a guide for said actuating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscope according to claim 8, wherein said actuating means comprises a thrust rod coupled to said video unit eccentrically in relation to a cross-section of said video unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope according to claim 10, wherein a longitudinal contour of said video unit has an edgeless, smooth transition from the maximum cross-section of said video unit to the cross-section of said thrust rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope according to claim 11, wherein said thrust rod can be moved within said main duct.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said actuating means is hollow, and said transmission system is arranged inside said actuating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endoscope according to claim 13, wherein said actuating means is a rigid hollow pipe or a flexible axle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit in said first position is disposed within said shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said illumination unit is movable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said illumination and video units are rotatable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said illumination and video units are arranged behind each other along a longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope according to claim 18, wherein said illumination and video units are adapted to be disposed in a common plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said endoscope after being swung out.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscope according to claim 19, further comprising a second movable video unit, whereby stereo imaging is possible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
An endoscope according to claim 16, further comprising a light transmitter for triangulation measuring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said video unit is provided with another image-giving recorder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit can be moved in a direction which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said endoscope.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a telescopically designed moving element adapted to move said video unit along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said endoscope.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit can be detached from the distal end of said endoscope shaft, said video unit remaining connected only to the proximal supply unit via said transmission system whereby said video unit is adapted to be used as a video probe, and is adapted to be reattached to the distal end for withdrawal of said endoscope form said cavity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope according to claim 25, wherein said video unit is adapted to be pushed forward out of said endoscope shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endoscope according to claim 26, wherein said video unit is adapted to be rotated, about at least one axis which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said image recorder is arranged perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft in said video unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said image recorder is arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft in said video unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said video unit further comprises a second image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said image recorder has two lenses, the image of which can be selectively aimed at said image recorder.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit further comprises a plurality of image convertors, onto which a dichroic deflection system steers light from said lens.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said transmission system is provided with at least one connection line for electrical and/or optical transmission of energy and signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein electric signal lenses, energy lines and light conductors are combined into a single connection line.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endoscope according to claim 34, wherein said connection line is adapted to control movement of said video unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a light exit area of the illumination unit is provided at said endoscope shaft.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope according to claim 36, wherein said light exit area of said illumination unit is provided at said video unit.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscope according to claim 37, wherein said illumination unit is provided with an illumination light source arranged in said video unit.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
An endoscope according to claim 37, wherein said illumination unit is provided with an illumination light source arranged at said proximal end, and light conductors adapted to conduct light from said light source to said video unit.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit is provided with transducers adapted to supply energy to the image recorder and to said illumination light source, said transducers being one of: opto-electrical and electromagnetic.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein in said video unit comprises an opto-electrical signal converter for the output signal of said image recorder.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
An endoscope according to claim 26, wherein an end area of said video unit, which is facing the proximal end of said endoscope shaft has a tapered contour, and the distal end area of said endoscope shaft is designed in a complimentary manner.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope according to claim 42, wherein said endoscope shaft is flexible and is provided with chambers, adapted to be filled with fluid, whereby said endoscope shaft becomes rigid against lateral forces upon being filled.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope shaft is adapted to be folded open along the longitudinal axis thereof so that said video unit can be separated from said endoscope shaft.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope shaft is provided with a longitudinal slit that said video unit can be separated from said endoscope shaft.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit comprises a magnetically influenced element for contactless positioning of said video unit independent of said endoscope shaft.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
48 words
An endoscope according to claim 34, wherein said connection line is provided with plugs, the size of a cross-section of which is no greater than a cross section of the connection lines, which are substantially smaller than the maximum size of a transverse cross-section of said video unit.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscope according to claims 1, wherein an optical axis of said lens of said video unit is disposed at an angle with the axis of said endoscope shaft.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said video unit is provided with at least one rinsing duct to rinse said lens.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an examination unit with image forwarders can be utilized instead of said video unit.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endoscope according to claim 50, wherein said examination unit is adapted to be inserted in said main duct.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
39 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a crosssection of said shaft and a cross section of said video unit are oval and said video unit is adapted to be rotated 90° about a longitudinal axis of said shaft.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-24 | 1996-05-25 | 1996-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-24 | 2000-05-25 | 2000-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-24 | 2004-05-25 | 2004-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |