Patents by Inventor Alrun THUEMEN

Alrun THUEMEN has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240138654
    Abstract: An endoscope including: a shaft assembly; and a handle assembly. The shaft assembly includes: a fiber tube; an outer shaft tube arranged around the fiber tube; and a support proximally extending from the outer shaft tube. The handle assembly is arranged around the support, and an electrical connection is arranged on an outer surface of the support extending from a proximal end of the support in a distal direction such that the electrical connection is arranged at least in part between the support and the handle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: OLYMPUS Winter & Ibe GmbH
    Inventor: Alrun THUEMEN
  • Patent number: 11963664
    Abstract: An endoscope including an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft including: an inner shaft tube in which an optical system is received; an outer shaft assembly including an outer shaft tube and a tubular support body proximally abutting the outer shaft tube; at least one bundle of optical fibers disposed between the inner shaft tube and the outer shaft tube; and an electrical connector arranged between the inner shaft tube and the support body. Where the support body includes at least a first web and a second web each extending radially between an inner surface of the support body and an outer surface of the inner shaft tube, the first web and the second web also extending in a longitudinal direction of the shaft such that an annular space between the inner shaft tube and the support body is divided into at least two segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Alrun Thuemen, Martin Wieters
  • Patent number: 11812929
    Abstract: A plug connection between distal video and proximal cable units, including: a plug; and a connector inserted into the plug, the plug is a glass cast part arranged at a proximal end of the distal video unit; the connector is arranged at a distal end of the proximal cable unit; the plug is connected to a housing of the distal video unit, has electrical feedthroughs and is connected on a distal side to a first flexboard in the distal video unit and has a connector receptacle; the connector is enclosed in a housing formed to fit the connector receptacle; the connector has a plurality of electrical feedthroughs arranged in accordance with an arrangement of the electrical feedthroughs of the plug; and the electrical feedthroughs are connected proximally to a second flexboard having a planar solder pad structure having solder pads, to which signal and connecting cables are soldered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Alrun Thuemen, Sebastian Jungbauer
  • Publication number: 20230288693
    Abstract: A deflection prism assembly for an endoscope having a lateral viewing direction. The deflection prism assembly including: a prism holder; a deflection prism which is received in the prism holder; and at least one electrical heating element for heating the deflection prism. The prism holder includes a reception component and an adjustment component. The deflection prism is attached to the reception component and the adjustment component provides a stop for the deflection prism in an axial direction. Wherein the at least one electrical heating element being disposed in or on the reception component; and the at least one electrical heating element at least partially extending in one or more of a circumferential direction or longitudinal direction of the reception component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Wieters, Alrun Thuemen
  • Patent number: 11751752
    Abstract: A video endoscope including an elongated shaft, a main body, a cable for conducting control signals, video signals and/or illumination light, wherein the cable includes: a core having an optical fiber bundle, a video signal line, and/or a control signal line; a mechanical protective layer; and a sheath tube; a junction body sealingly inserted into the main body on to sealingly receive the sheath tube; an anti-kink sleeve disposed around the sheath tube to engage over the junction body, a clamping ring supported on the junction body pulled towards the main body by a first clamping nut presses the junction body against a round cord seal between the junction body and the main body and presses the anti-kink sleeve against the junction body such to seal a cavity between the anti-kink sleeve and the junction body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun Thuemen
  • Patent number: 11693227
    Abstract: A deflection prism assembly for an endoscope having a lateral viewing direction. The deflection prism assembly including: a prism holder; and a deflection prism which is received in the prism holder. The deflection prism is formed of a glass. The prism holder includes a reception component and an adjustment component, where the reception component is formed of a ceramic and the adjustment component is formed of a metal. The deflection prism is attached to the reception component and the adjustment component provides a stop for the deflection prism in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Wieters, Alrun Thuemen
  • Patent number: 11672411
    Abstract: A deflection prism assembly for an endoscope having a lateral viewing direction, the deflection prism assembly including: a prism holder; and a deflection prism accommodated in the prism holder; wherein the deflection prism has a light outlet surface and an opposite light inlet surface arranged obliquely to the light outlet surface, the deflection prism further having a lateral surface extending between the light inlet surface and the light outlet surface; and the prism holder accommodates the deflection prism such that the prism holder surrounds less than all regions of the lateral surface of the deflection prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Wieters, Alrun Thuemen
  • Patent number: 11579432
    Abstract: An optical system having a viewing angle ? relative to a longitudinal axis including: a prism group to deflect incident light by reflection at first and second surfaces including prisms with mutually adjacent boundary surfaces arranged in pairs and separated by a gap, a total reflection of incident light from outside a field of view takes place at a boundary surface between a prism and a corresponding gap, the prism group has a cylindrical envelope (D), and an input-side prism is configured to have a wedge-shape with angle ? and an optical path length ?; an entry surface of the prism has a length L, which is a length of a line of intersection of the entry surface with a plane that is spanned by a central beam path; and the first prism meets the conditions: ?<cos ?·tan ?·D/2 and L<D/cos ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Jianxin Zhao, Alrun Thuemen
  • Patent number: 11550141
    Abstract: A video endoscope with lateral viewing direction including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, an objective lens in the distal end, an image sensor, and a main body at the proximal end. Where a first grip rotationally fixed relative to the shaft and the main body to rotate the shaft and the main body to change the viewing direction of the objective lens. A second grip is disposed on the main body to be rotatable relative to the shaft and the main body to maintain a horizontal position of the image sensor when the viewing direction is changed. An annular seal is disposed between the second grip and the main body and/or the first grip. The seal includes a circumferentially wound coil spring having windings oriented such that a surface vector of a surface spanned by a single winding points substantially in a circumferential direction of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun Thuemen
  • Publication number: 20220280030
    Abstract: An endoscope including an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft including: an inner shaft tube in which an optical system is received; an outer shaft assembly including an outer shaft tube and a tubular support body proximally abutting the outer shaft tube; at least one bundle of optical fibers disposed between the inner shaft tube and the outer shaft tube; and an electrical connector arranged between the inner shaft tube and the support body. Where the support body includes at least a first web and a second web each extending radially between an inner surface of the support body and an outer surface of the inner shaft tube, the first web and the second web also extending in a longitudinal direction of the shaft such that an annular space between the inner shaft tube and the support body is divided into at least two segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: OLYMPUS Winter & Ibe GmbH
    Inventors: Alrun THUEMEN, Martin WIETERS
  • Publication number: 20220282816
    Abstract: A fluid-tight hose connection for a surgical instrument including: a hose having an inner hose and an outer protective hose surrounding the inner hose, wherein the inner hose has a coiled hose portion at an end portion of the hose; and a sleeve having a wedge-shape in a longitudinal section, the sleeve being arranged between the coiled hose portion of the inner hose and the outer protective hose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: OLYMPUS Winter & Ibe GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp HENKE, Nils TORKUHL, Alrun THUEMEN
  • Patent number: 11426057
    Abstract: A video endoscope including an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; a tubular sleeve arranged in the shaft so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the shaft; a connector arranged at the proximal end of the shaft; an objective arranged at the distal end of the shaft; at least one image sensor arranged in the shaft so as to be proximal to the objective, the at least one image sensor being surrounded by the tubular sleeve; a flexible signal line connecting the at least one image sensor to the connector; and a fastener for detachable fastening the flexible signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun Thuemen
  • Patent number: 11357390
    Abstract: An optical system for a stereo video endoscope including: first and second lens system channels each having optical elements in identical configurations, the optical elements being arranged in a same position along first and second optical axes, respectively, an optical axis of first and second optical elements coincide with the first and second optical axes, respectively, first and second cross-sectional areas of the first and second optical elements are inscribed in first and second circumferential circles, respectively, centers of first and second circumferential circles each coincide with the first and second optical axes, respectively, to define a maximum radius of the first optical element and the second optical element, the first and second circumferential circles overlap one another, and circumferential shapes of the first and second optical elements deviate from the first and second circumferential circles circumscribing them such that the first and second optical elements do not contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Wieters, Peter Schouwink, Jianxin Zhao, Alrun Thuemen
  • Publication number: 20220087508
    Abstract: An endoscope including a first substantially hollow cylindrical body and a second substantially hollow cylindrical body, wherein the first body and the second body at least partially overlap coaxially, and wherein between the first body and the second body a round cord seal is disposed, which is sealingly disposed between a first sealing surface of the first body and a second sealing surface of the second body. Wherein, the first sealing surface is conical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun THUEMEN
  • Publication number: 20220071481
    Abstract: A video endoscope including an elongated shaft, wherein the shaft includes at least one shaft tube, a magnetic ring surrounding the shaft tube is freely rotatably arranged in a region of a proximal end of the shaft tube, and the magnetic ring is axially fixed between a proximal stop shoulder of the shaft tube and a distal retaining body, and wherein the retaining body having a sleeve-like configuration and is placed onto the shaft tube from the distal direction. The shaft tube has an indentation in a region of the retaining body, and the retaining body is fastened on the shaft tube by a fastener which penetrates the retaining body and extends into the indentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun THUEMEN
  • Publication number: 20220007922
    Abstract: A video endoscope including an elongated shaft, a main body, a cable for conducting control signals, video signals and/or illumination light, wherein the cable includes: a core having an optical fiber bundle, a video signal line, and/or a control signal line; a mechanical protective layer; and a sheath tube; a junction body sealingly inserted into the main body on to sealingly receive the sheath tube; an anti-kink sleeve disposed around the sheath tube to engage over the junction body, a clamping ring supported on the junction body pulled towards the main body by a first clamping nut presses the junction body against a round cord seal between the junction body and the main body and presses the anti-kink sleeve against the junction body such to seal a cavity between the anti-kink sleeve and the junction body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun THUEMEN
  • Publication number: 20220003982
    Abstract: A video endoscope with lateral viewing direction including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, an objective lens in the distal end, an image sensor, and a main body at the proximal end. Where a first grip rotationally fixed relative to the shaft and the main body to rotate the shaft and the main body to change the viewing direction of the objective lens. A second grip is disposed on the main body to be rotatable relative to the shaft and the main body to maintain a horizontal position of the image sensor when the viewing direction is changed. An annular seal is disposed between the second grip and the main body and/or the first grip. The seal includes a circumferentially wound coil spring having windings oriented such that a surface vector of a surface spanned by a single winding points substantially in a circumferential direction of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun THUEMEN
  • Publication number: 20210378489
    Abstract: An endoscope including: a retaining body; and a flexible printed circuit board providing an electrical connection between an electrical component arranged in a proximal end region of the endoscope and an internal electrical terminal provided in the proximal end region distanced along a longitudinal axis from the electrical component. The flexible printed circuit board includes: a first circuit board section extending in a longitudinal axial direction and guided at least partially in a cavity in the endoscope by the electrical terminal in the direction of the electrical component, and a second circuit board section arranged on the retaining body and guided along a lower side of the retaining body directed in a direction of an internal space in the endoscope and along an upper side of the retaining body directed in a direction of an outer sleeve of the endoscope towards the electrical component, and electrically contacts the electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH
    Inventors: Alrun Thuemen, Jens SCHNITGER
  • Publication number: 20210330176
    Abstract: A connection body for use with an endoscope that provides an electrical connection between at least one electrical component arranged in a proximal end region of the endoscope and an internal electrical connection provided in the proximal end region. The connection body including: a dimensionally stable three-dimensional circuit carrier: and a flexible elongate circuit board. Where, in a first region of the circuit carrier, the electrical component is mechanically directly connected to the circuit carrier and is contacted by conductor tracks provided in the circuit carrier; in a second region different from the first region, a first end of the circuit board is mechanically directly connected to the circuit carrier and contacts the conductor tracks for electrical connection to the electrical component and a second end of the circuit board opposite the first end in a longitudinal direction of the circuit board, contacts the internal electrical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Alrun THUEMEN, Uwe SCHOELER, Jens SCHNITGER
  • Publication number: 20210290044
    Abstract: A plug connection between distal video and proximal cable units, including: a plug; and a connector inserted into the plug, the plug is a glass cast part arranged at a proximal end of the distal video unit; the connector is arranged at a distal end of the proximal cable unit; the plug is connected to a housing of the distal video unit,_has electrical feedthroughs and is connected on a distal side to a first flexboard in the distal video unit and has a connector receptacle; the connector is enclosed in a housing formed to fit the connector receptacle; the connector has a plurality of electrical feedthroughs arranged in accordance with an arrangement of the electrical feedthroughs of the plug; and the electrical feedthroughs are connected proximally to a second flexboard having a planar solder pad structure having solder pads, to which signal and connecting cables are soldered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Alrun THUEMEN, Sebastian JUNGBAUER