US5609561A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic type endoscope in which image pickup unit is dismounted to execute disinfection/sterilization processing
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1994-12-22
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Granted: 1997-03-11
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Expires: 2014-12-22
Abstract
Abstract An image pickup unit provided with an image pickup element is of structure capable of being detachably received in an endoscope body or a TV camera. After having been used in observation, the image pickup unit is dismounted, whereby disinfection processing and sterilization processing of the endoscope body from which the image pickup unit is dismounted, or the TV camera can be executed without inviting deterioration and the like of a characteristic of the image pickup unit by a disinfection unit, a sterilization unit or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Uehara
- 👤 Katsuyuki Saito
- 👤 Masahito Goto
- 👤 Shinji Yamashita
- 👤 Akinobu Uchikubo
- 👤 Akihiro Miyashita
- 👤 Takehiro Nakagawa
- 👤 Kazunari Kobayashi
- 👤 Akira Murata
- 👤 Mototsugu Ogawa
- 👤 Seiji Yamaguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/05; A61B1/053; A61B1/042; A61B1/12; A61B1/121; A61B1/125; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/04; A61L2/06; A61L2/07; A61L2/24; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2476; G02B23/2484
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
An electronic type endoscope comprising: an endoscope body having an elongated inserting section; illuminating-light projection means for projecting an illuminating light from a distal end portion of said inserting section; an objective optical system provided at the distal end portion of said inserting section for imaging a subject illuminated by said illuminating light; an image pickup unit provided with an image pickup element for photoelectrically transferring an optical image based on said objective optical system, to generate an image pickup signal; a pickup unit receiving body which receives and fully encloses said image pickup unit including a first detaching means located on a distal end of said pickup unit receiving body for detachably mounting said pickup unit receiving body on said endoscope body; and a second detaching means for detaching said image pickup unit from said pickup unit receiving body, said second detaching means being located on a proximal end of said pickup unit receiving body wherein said image pickup unit is detachable from said pickup unit receiving body via said second detaching means while said pickup unit receiving body is mounted on said endoscope body, wherein said second detaching means forms a portion of an outer surface of said proximal end of said pickup unit receiving body when attached to said pickup unit receiving body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
An electronic type endoscope comprising: an endoscope body having an elongated inserting section; illuminating-light projection means for projecting an illuminating light from a distal end portion of said inserting section; an objective optical system provided at the distal end portion of said inserting section for imaging a subject illuminated by said illuminating light; an image pickup unit provided with an image pickup element for photoelectrically transferring an optical image based on said objective optical system, to generate an image pickup signal; a pickup unit receiving body which receives and fully encloses said image pickup unit including a first detaching means located on a distal end of said pickup unit receiving body for detachably mounting said pickup unit receiving body on said endoscope body; and a second detaching means for detaching said image pickup unit from said pickup unit receiving body, said second detaching means being located on a proximal end of said pickup unit receiving body wherein said image pickup unit is detachable from said pickup unit receiving body via said second detaching means while said pickup unit receiving body is mounted on said endoscope body, wherein said second detaching means forms a portion of an outer surface of said proximal end of said pickup unit receiving body when attached to said pickup unit receiving body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said electronic type endoscope is an endoscope of TV camera outside mounted type having an image guide for transmitting an optical image due to said objective optical system toward an ocular lens, an ocular portion at which said ocular lens is arranged, and a TV camera having a mount mechanism detachable with respect to said ocular portion and provided with said image pickup unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said TV camera has a TV camera head having said mount mechanism and a cable extending toward the outside from said TV camera head and provided with a connector at a proximal end of said TV camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said image pickup unit has a connecting means for detachably connecting said image pickup unit to a proximal end of said cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said endoscope body is an optical endoscope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said pickup unit receiving body has said mount mechanism, and said pickup unit receiving body receives said image pickup unit within a housing which is opened and closed by a closure mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said endoscope body is formed by an optical endoscope and an optical adaptor having said mount mechanism and an image pickup lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 7, wherein said pickup unit receiving body is detachable with respect to said optical adaptor by said first detaching means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 7, wherein said image pickup unit is detachable with respect to said optical adaptor by said second detaching means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said inserting section of said endoscope body is rigid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said inserting section of said endoscope body is flexible.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope body and said pickup unit receiving body are formed of a material having heat resistance higher than a temperature at which at least said image pickup element is deteriorated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup unit has a peripheral circuit for executing signal processing with respect to said image pickup element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup unit has a connecting means for detachably connecting said image pickup unit to a signal line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope body is constructed of a material which is capable of withstanding high temperature produced by an autoclave steam during thermal sterilization processing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic type endoscope according to claim 15, wherein said endoscope body is capable of withstanding said autoclave thermal sterilization processing by steam having pressure equal to or greater than 1 atmosphere.
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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) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-09-09 | 2001-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-10 | 2004-09-09 | 2005-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-10 | 2008-09-09 | 2009-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |