With Particular Arrangement Of Internal Elements (e.g., Shaft Reducing) Patents (Class 600/130)
  • Patent number: 6994716
    Abstract: A medical manipulator comprises a working unit (10) that performs operations, an operating unit (20) that generates instructions, a drive unit (50) that drives the working unit on the basis of instructions given thereto by the operating unit, a power transmission mechanism (60) for transmitting driving force of the drive unit to the working unit, and a control unit (40) for controlling the power transmission mechanism on the basis of instructions given thereto by the operating unit. The power transmission mechanism includes a first power transmission unit (61) interlocked with the drive unit, and a second power transmission unit (63) interlocked with the working unit and capable of being detachably connected to the first power transmission unit. A back drive torque of the first power transmission unit is larger than a back drive torque of the second power transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Jinno, Takamitsu Sunaoshi
  • Patent number: 6970308
    Abstract: A lens holding unit that holds an objective lens on which a luminous flux from a subject is landed and an image-pickup element holding unit that holds an image-pickup element capable of picking up an optical image are connected to each other for elastic deformation and restoration. External force that acts on the lens holding unit serves to change the position of the optical axis of an optical image that is formed on the image-pickup surface of the image-pickup element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 6923757
    Abstract: An endoscope which has small bending resistance and is hard to be damaged or broken even when it is repeatedly used is disclosed. The endoscope includes a flexible insertion section 2 and an operation section 7 provided on the proximal end of the insertion section 2. The insertion section 2 has a sheath constructed from an outer layer 382 and the like, and elongated members such as an image guide 31 and light guides 32, 32 and the like are housed in lumens in the sheath. Further, each light guide 32 has an optical fiber bundle and a protective sheath 321 for protecting the optical fiber bundle. In the interior space of the protective sheath 321, a lubricant 5 containing a silicone oil and a solid lubricant is provided. The solid lubricant contains at least one of boron nitride, poly tetrafluoroethylene, and molybdenum disulfide. The solid lubricant is preferably formed into powder having an average grain size of 0.1 to 15 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masanao Abe, Kazuhiko Gonda
  • Patent number: 6918872
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes means for illuminating an object, means for imaging the object, and a transparent cover having a center of curvature. The transparent cover covers the illumination means and the imaging means, and the imaging means includes an objective optical system and an image detecting element. The illumination means is positioned relative to the image detecting element, as viewed axially from the object side of the capsule endoscope, so that an area that is symmetrically positioned about the optical axis of the objective optical system from a light emitting area of the illumination means overlaps an area of the image detecting element, but does not overlap any areas of the image detecting element that are used for image detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Yokoi, Akira Hasegawa, Shinya Matsumoto, Takayuki Suzuki, Hidetake Segawa, Hironobu Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6902526
    Abstract: A medical needle set for visualized tissue ablation within a subject's body includes a cannula and components configured for inclusion in the cannula, including a trocar for occlusion of the cannula lumen during needle placement, and a visualizing ablation probe used for simultaneous endoscopic viewing and ablation of tissue sites with a laser beam. The cannula can include a tissue-gripping surface for stabilization of the needle set on the target tissue. A surgical system for tissue ablation includes a visualizing ablation needle set operably connected to an endoscope and a laser. A surgical procedure using this system permits simultaneous visualization and ablation of tissues, including those of the facet joints of the spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Orthopaedic Development, LLC
    Inventor: Scott S. Katzman
  • Patent number: 6889116
    Abstract: A manipulator comprises an operation command unit provided with an attitude adjusting unit and an end effector control unit, a connecting unit having one end connected to the operation command unit, a working unit connected to the other end of the connecting unit and provided with an end effector and a support unit supporting the end effector for motions, and a control unit that transmits an operation command provided by the attitude adjusting unit to the support unit to adjust the attitude of the end effector and transmits an operation command provided by the end effector control unit to the end effector to operate the end effector. The support unit includes a first joint capable of turning about a first axis perpendicular to the center axis of the connecting unit, and a second joint capable of turning about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The end effector can be turned for rolling about an axis substantially parallel to the second axis of the second joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Makoto Jinno
  • Patent number: 6878108
    Abstract: An insertion unit for an endoscope includes a flexible tube having an inner diameter D1 and an inner cross-sectional area S, and a plurality of components inserted and arranged in said flexible tube. The plurality of components include at least one optical fiber bundle. The insertion unit is configured such that the inner diameter D1 is not less than 6.5 mm and the inner cross-sectional area S satisfies the condition of 0.5??s/s?0.6, where ?s represents a sum of cross-sectional areas of the components arranged in the flexible tube. Alternatively, the insertion unit is configured such that the inner diameter D1 is less than 6.5 mm and the inner cross-sectional area S satisfies the condition of 0.5??s/s?0.65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Teruo Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6863651
    Abstract: An endoscope has a fiber optic waveguide that transmits an image from a distal end to a proximal end, the waveguide having an outer diameter of less than 3 mm. A lens system is positioned at the distal end of the fiber optic waveguide. An imaging device is optically coupled to the proximal end of fiber optic waveguide. A disposable sheath extends about the fiber optic waveguide to provide a sterile barrier, and in a preferred embodiment the sheath includes an illumination channel. In a preferred embodiment, the lens system has a first lens element, a second lens element and an aperture stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: VisionScope, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Remijan, James E. McDonald
  • Patent number: 6840900
    Abstract: An endoscopic instrument has a control member, a portion of the member having an outer surface with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The non-circular cross-sectional shape may be provided to the control member by providing peripheral projections or fins along the length of the portion or by providing the periphery of the portion with a polygonal shape. Where fins are used, the fins are preferably quite small and only have a minimal effect on the fluid flow cross-sectional area between the interior of the endoscope instrument shaft and the central control member. The resulting instrument has significantly reduced backlash in end effector assembly manipulation, while maintaining adequate fluid flow in the endoscope shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6824544
    Abstract: In the inside of an outer shank there are formed a supply channel and a discharge channel which extend parallel to the outer shank. The suction channel has a larger cross section than the supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Boebel, Ludwig Bonnet, Sybille Brustle
  • Patent number: 6790175
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with a light guide including a plurality of optical paths, and a low-coherent light source that emits a low-coherent light beams. The low-coherent light source is provided at a proximal end side of the light guide. The light beams emitted by the low-coherent light source are incident on the plurality of optical paths, respectively. The endoscope system is further provided with an interferometer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Furusawa, Masaru Eguchi, Tetsuya Utsui, Tetsuya Nakamura, Ryo Ozawa, Shinsuke Okada
  • Patent number: 6773392
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a first lens barrel having a brazing surface in at least a brazing portion thereof, and supporting an optical window member brazed thereon, and a second lens barrel arranged to be proximal with respect to the optical window member and supporting optical members on the inner circumference thereof. At least a distal end surface of one of the second lens barrel, a diaphragm member, a spacer ring, and the optical members has light reflectance lower than that of the brazing surface of the first lens barrel. At least the inner circumference of the second lens barrel has a light reflectance lower than that of the brazing surface of the first lens barrel or has a reflection surface more irregular than the brazing surface of the first lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masakazu Higuma
  • Publication number: 20040116806
    Abstract: A biopsy site marker comprises small bodies or pellets of gelatin which enclose substantially in their interior a radio (X-ray) opaque object. The gelatin pellets are deposited into the biopsy site, typically a cylindrical opening in the tissue created by the recent use of a vacuum assisted large core biopsy device, by an applicator device that includes an elongated cylindrical body that forms a flexible tube and a piston slidable in the tube. One end of the tube is placed into the biopsy site. Typically, several gelatin pellets, only some of which typically do, but all of which may contain the radio opaque object, are deposited sequentially into the site through the tube. The radio opaque objects contained in the gelatin bodies are of a non-biological configuration and readily identifiable as man-made object, so that in observation by typical mammography equipment they do not assume the shape of a line, whereby they are readily distinguishable from granules and lines of calcification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: SenoRx, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred H. Burbank, Paul Lubock, Michael L. Jones, Nancy Forcier
  • Patent number: 6749559
    Abstract: An endoscope having a tubular stem that, at its distal end, houses a camera and a distally pointing illumination device. The tubular stem defines an empty space extending from the camera in the proximal direction. The empty space receives a camera cable and is used to house implements useful during operation of the endoscope in a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Kraas, Andreas Mückner, Timo Wenzel
  • Patent number: 6743166
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for introducing an intubation tube into the trachea. The inventive device comprises a shaft, a receiving element arranged at the distal end of said shaft to which a proximal end of an intubation tube can be mounted and a coupling arranged at the proximal end of the shaft for coupling an endoscope thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: George Berci, Markus Lipp, Christian Pradel
  • Patent number: 6736772
    Abstract: An endoscope suitable for autoclaving in accordance with the present invention has a barrier that separates an interior from an exterior. When the barrier is located at a predetermined position, consideration is taken into a displacement of the barrier between the position of the barrier observed before start of autoclaving and the position thereof observed after completion of the autoclaving during which predetermined pressure is applied and a thermal load is imposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 6716215
    Abstract: A medical device is provided comprising a MRI compatible cranial drill having a removable sterilizable drill bit and a sterile barrier. The sterile barrier has an interior portion, a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal opening at the proximal end and an opening at the distal end. The opening at the distal end further comprises an aperture. The drill is insertable into the proximal opening, the aperture being constructed and arranged to seal around the drill bit such that the drill is enclosed in the interior portion of the sterile barrier and only a portion of the sterile drill bit extends exteriorly of the barrier. In one embodiment, the medical device includes a MRI compatible adjustable depth stop which limits and defines depth of penetration of the drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Image-Guided Neurologics
    Inventors: John David, Matthew S. Solar, Gerald W Mills
  • Patent number: 6706033
    Abstract: Modular systems comprising a cannula and at least one access port adjacent to a distal end of the cannula provide insertion of one or more therapeutic or diagnostic devices into a vessel or cardiac tissue through a single incision site. Other embodiments include a vessel introducer or multi-port introducer. The devices can be operated in combination or independently. The systems can be employed to provide multiple therapies, including blood perfusion, filtration, aspiration, vessel occlusion, atherectomy, and endoscopic devices. Methods of using the system for vessel cannulation are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Lorraine Mangosong Martinez, Jobert Balceta, Kevin Hahnen, Bruce Addis, Timothy J. Wood, Roman Turovskiy, Richard O. Murphy, Tracy D. Maahs
  • Patent number: 6692432
    Abstract: A portable, hand-held endoscopic camera having all of the necessary components for performing endoscopic procedures comprises power source means, lens means, light source means, and video camera means. The portable endoscopic camera is adaptable to a wide variety of systems and includes a low wattage light source means. The camera is self-contained. A kit is also provided, the kit having all of the components necessary for performing endoscopic procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: East Giant Limited
    Inventors: Don Yarush, Todd Devos, Gary Handelin, Martin G. Sosa
  • Patent number: 6689052
    Abstract: An endoscope characterized by a soft section thereof through which built-in components lie has a flexible tube and pluralities of metallic built-in components and nonmetallic built-in components. The flexible tube is made by sheathing a metallic tubular member with a nonmetallic tubular member. The pluralities of metallic built-in components and nonmetallic built-in components lie through the flexible tube. As one property of the flexible tube, the hardness of at least a certain portion of the flexible tube, which discourages bending, is determined so that the hardness exhibited by the metallic tubular member that is an integral part of the flexible tube and the metallic built-in components will be higher than the hardness exhibited by the nonmetallic tubular member that is an integral part of the flexible tube and the nonmetallic built-in components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Moriyama
  • Patent number: 6689049
    Abstract: Three magnetic field generating coils on the distal end side of the shape detection probe are provided in the curvable portion, and the first coil at the leading end position is placed at the position corresponding to the leading end curvable piece, whereas the third coil at the position corresponding to the trailing end curvable piece. Further, the second coil is placed at a middle position between the leading end curvable piece and the trailing end curvable piece in the curvable portion. With this structure, the accuracy of detecting the shape of the curvable portion can be improved, and the production cost of the system as a whole can be lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Miyagi, Michio Satou, Hideo Ito, Akira Suzuki, Atsushi Watanabe, Kan Naito, Ryuichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 6679838
    Abstract: A micro-endoscopic system employs a pulsed xenon light source and novel image collection optics with a fine diameter optical probe for an endoscope. Very bright pulses of light emitted by a xenon flash tube increase the intensity of light incident on the light transmitting optics, allowing a reduction in size of the optical components, resulting in a corresponding reduction in the size of the optical probe. A novel segmented glass image guide directs the reflected light to a sensor array. Segmentation of the image guide avoids the birefringence problems associated with fine diameter glass optical structures. Conventional optical fiber imaging and light delivery apparatus may also be used in conjunction with the pulsed xenon light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micro-Invasive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Bala
  • Patent number: 6662041
    Abstract: A biopsy site marker comprises small bodies or pellets of gelatin which enclose substantially in their interior a radio (X-ray) opaque object. The gelatin pellets are deposited into the biopsy site, typically a cylindrical opening in the tissue created by the recent use of a vacuum assisted large core biopsy device, by an applicator device that includes an elongated cylindrical body that forms a flexible tube and a piston slidable in the tube. One end of the tube is placed into the biopsy site. Typically, several gelatin pellets, only some of which typically do, but all of which may contain the radio opaque object, are deposited sequentially into the site through the tube. The radio opaque objects contained in the gelatin bodies are of a non-biological configuration and readily identifiable as man -made object, so that in observation by typical mammography equipment they do not assume the shape of a line, whereby they are readily distinguishable from granules and lines of calcification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: SenoRx, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred H. Burbank, Paul Lubock, Michael L. Jones, Nancy Forcier
  • Patent number: 6656112
    Abstract: A substrate having a plurality of light emitting diodes united therewith lies on a plane containing the longitudinal axis of an insertion unit of an endoscope and its neighborhood. Likewise, part of a first objective surface lies on the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope and its neighborhood. As long as the diameter of the insertion unit remains unchanged, the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope and its neighborhood provides the largest area for the light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode sub-assembly is therefore placed on the plane, whereby the outer diameter of a distal endoscope part can be made as small as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 6641530
    Abstract: An endoscope with an objective lens drive mechanism for an objective lens system. The insertion instrument of the endoscope is provided with an angle section on the proximal side of the rigid tip end section for flexibly bending at least in upward and downward directions. Provided on an end face of a casing of a rigid tip end section of the insertion instrument are at least a illumination window, an observation window and an exit opening of a biopsy channel. An objective lens system includes a fixed lens mounted on a fixed lens frame, and at least a movable lens mounted on a movable lens frame. For rationally laying out internal components, the interior of the casing of the rigid tip end section is divided into right and left subsections along a center line of upward and downward flexures of the angle section. The observation window is located across the center line of upward and downward flexures to occupy part of both of the right and left subsections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naotake Mitsumori
  • Patent number: 6629924
    Abstract: An enhanced endotracheal tube utilizing a fiber optic bundle positioned in its wall section to transmit light and a reflectively coated bore to transmit images is disclosed. Additional passages formed in the wall of the endotracheal tube are adapted to receive a stylette and to act as an air passage for inflating an inflatable cuff formed on the inner end of the endotracheal tube. The light transmitted through the fiber optic bundle aids in illuminating the patient's laryngeal area and the image is reflected along the reflectively coated bore to aid the physician in intubating the patient. Alternative embodiments using a bore with a sleeve having a different refractive index from that of the tube material and an enhanced endotracheal tube for use with children are shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Jayson D. Aydelotte
  • Patent number: 6626825
    Abstract: A dental/medical instrument is provided for use in diagnostic and related patient inspection/examination. The device includes a body having an integral speculum with a video image capture device or camera, a power supply and a video display. These components, in addition to user actuatable controls, are disposed integrally with the body. The body is adapted for convenient engagement and manipulation by a user's hand to provide a unitary, hand-held device capable of illuminating and capturing an image of a patient, and displaying the image. The video display is disposed on a display portion of the speculum, while components of the image capture device, such as a lens and light emitter, are disposed on a nose portion of the speculum. The nose portion is modularly replaceable with alternate nose portions sized and shaped to facilitate various discrete medical/dental examination procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignees: M
    Inventor: Jory Tsai
  • Patent number: 6620096
    Abstract: In a tube connecting structure of an endoscope, a fluid supply tube is connected to a gas supply tube and a liquid supply tube via a tube joint. The tube joint is arranged at the inside of an insertion part of the endoscope, and is constructed of a main tube and a branch tube. The branch tube is provided next to the main tube, while an end of the branch tube protrudes to be longer than an end of the main tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Arai, Tetsuya Fujikura
  • Patent number: 6612982
    Abstract: A fully-swallowable endoscopic system includes a rod-shaped endoscope body which can be swallowed entirely by a patient to be examined so as to be placed in a body cavity, at least part of the rod-shaped endoscope body includes a bendable portion which is bendable along a curve of the body cavity; and an external device provided separately from the rod-shaped endoscope body having no mechanical connection with the rod-shaped endoscope body. The rod-shaped endoscope body is provided therein with a light emitter, an observing system, a transmitter for transmitting a radio wave which carries an image formed by the observing system, and a power supplying device. The external device includes a receiver for receiving the radio wave which carries the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Teruo Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6595913
    Abstract: A lead is connected to a shield through a notch formed on a sheathing of the shield so that the connecting part between the shield and the lead is contained within the notch. A sheathing of the lead can be directly connected over the sheathing of the shield, and at the same time the end of the shield and the end of the lead can be prevented from directly contacting with the core leads. Thus, the connecting part is not bulky, and the cable can be thinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20030125607
    Abstract: An endoscope has an optics housing provided at a proximal end, with an outer shank releasably connected to the optics housing, and with an inner shank which is arranged inside and parallel to the outer shank and is releasably connected to the optics housing. A corresponding endoscope set and a set of endoscope shanks are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Boebel, Sybille Bruestle
  • Patent number: 6582360
    Abstract: A tip component is provided at an extremity of an insertion part of an endoscope. The tip component includes a body member, in which a forceps aperture is formed. A forceps tube is arranged inside the insertion part. A hard part is formed at the end of the forceps tube, at which the forceps tube is sandwiched between an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. The hard part is inserted into the forceps aperture of the body of the tip component and is fixed with a screw. A connecting part between the forceps tube and the forceps aperture is thus formed in the body of the tip component, and the length of the tip component is reduced as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Torii
  • Patent number: 6572536
    Abstract: An autoclavable flexible fiberscope for remote visualization. A flexible fiberscope shaft including a number of flexible fiberoptic image-transmitting fibers is attached to a video coupler for connection to a video camera or other external video device. High-temperature materials of fabrication and high-temperature seals are provided to resist damage during autoclave sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Visionary Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Bon, Robert Biggs, Edward J. Lortie
  • Patent number: 6572535
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion section inserted into the body cavity and a probe provided inside the insertion section for detecting the form of the endoscope. The probe includes a plurality of coil portions arranged in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section of the endoscope and a wire electrically connecting the coil portions. The coil portions and the wire are covered with a flexible member. And the outer diameter of the covered wire is smaller than the outer diameter of the covered coil portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Hideo Ito, Michio Sato, Hidenobu Kimura, Takayasu Miyagi, Tae Nakatsuji, Ryuichi Toyama, Kan Naito
  • Patent number: 6561973
    Abstract: A micro-endoscopic system employs a pulsed xenon light source and image collection optics with a fine diameter optical probe for an endoscope. Very bright pulses of light emitted by a xenon flash tube increase the intensity of light incident on the light transmitting optics, allowing a reduction in size of the optical components, resulting in a corresponding reduction in the size of the optical probe. A segmented glass image guide directs the reflected light to a sensor array. Segmentation of the image guide avoids the stress related problems associated with fine diameter glass optical structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: John L. Bala
  • Patent number: 6547723
    Abstract: A fully-swallowable endoscopic system includes a rod-shaped endoscope body which can be swallowed entirely by a patient to be examined so as to be placed in a body cavity, the rod-shaped endoscope body including at least one bendable portion which is bendable along a curve of the body cavity; and an external device provided separately from the rod-shaped endoscope body having no mechanical connection with the rod-shaped endoscope body. The rod-shaped endoscope body is provided therein with at least two light emitters; at least two observing systems; a transmitter for transmitting a radio wave which carries an image formed by the observing system; and a power supplying device. The external device includes a receiver for receiving the radio wave which carries the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Teruo Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6537205
    Abstract: An endoscopic instrument has a control member, a portion of the member having an outer surface with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The non-circular cross-sectional shape may be provided to the control member by providing peripheral projections or fins along the length of the portion or by providing the periphery of the portion with a polygonal shape. Where fins are used, the fins are preferably quite small and only have a minimal effect on the fluid flow cross-sectional area between the interior of the endoscope instrument shaft and the central control member. The resulting instrument has significantly reduced backlash in end effector assembly manipulation, while maintaining adequate fluid flow in the endoscope shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6533722
    Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a tip portion with a tip end. This electronic endoscope comprises an imaging element provided in the tip portion; an imaging optical system provided in the tip portion at a position closer to the tip end than the imaging element; and a plurality of light-emitting elements for emitting light, each of which is provided in the tip portion at a position closer to the tip end than the imaging element. Each of the light-emitting elements is arranged such that a part of the light-emitting element is seen so as to overlap with the imaging element when viewed from the optical axis direction of the imaging optical system. According to this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the tip portion of the electronic endoscope. Further, when such an electronic endoscope is used as a medical endoscope, it becomes possible to relieve the pain that patients may feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Nakashima
  • Patent number: 6527705
    Abstract: A fully-swallowable endoscopic system includes a rod-shaped endoscope body which can be swallowed entirely by a patient to be examined so as to be placed in a body cavity, the rod-shaped endoscope body including two bendable portions respectively provided close to the opposite ends of the rod-shaped endoscope body and each being bendable along a curve of the body cavity, and an external device provided separately from the rod-shaped endoscope body having no mechanical connection with the rod-shaped endoscope body. The rod-shaped endoscope body is provided therein with at least one light emitter, at least one observing system, a transmitter for transmitting a radio wave which carries an image formed by the observing system, and a power supplying device. The external device includes a receiver for receiving the radio wave which carries the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Teruo Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6511419
    Abstract: In an endoscope tip part in which a lens barrel is arranged and fixed to a mounting hole of a support body of the endoscope tip part and to this lens barrel, and an optical member such as an optical filter or a prism is connected by an optical part holding fixture, a part of an endoscope outer peripheral side of the optical part holding fixture is cut off, and to this notch part, the mounting hole is extended out like an extending part, and a step part on an outside of this support member is made deep (diameter is reduced). If an end part of an outer skin is bound with a string on this step part with a small diameter and fixed by adhesives, a swell of an outer skin fixing part is eliminated, and an insertion of the endoscope also becomes easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Takahashi, Tadashi Ando
  • Publication number: 20030013939
    Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a pliable tube having an integument layer made of a resin constituting an insertion portion and at least one slender tube element inserted through the insertion portion. The amount of contraction of the pliable tube after application of a thermal load during a high-pressure steam sterilization step is set larger than the amount of contraction of the tube element after application of a thermal load during the high-pressure steam sterilization step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kouta Ishibiki
  • Patent number: 6503196
    Abstract: An endoscope has a head and an outer tube joined to it. Received in the outer tube is an inner tube in which optical components are received. Light guides are guided in the interstice between the interior space and outer tube. A closure element made of transparent material, which closes off the distal end of the outer tube in hermetically sealed fashion, is provided. The closure element has a window in the region of the inner tube. The window is surrounded by an opaque layer that shields the window radially from the entry of illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kehr, Jürgen Rudischhauser, Klaus M. Irion
  • Patent number: 6497653
    Abstract: A probe of an endoscope comprises a light guide fiber bundle and an image guide fiber bundle. The light guide fiber bundle supplies illumination light to the distal end of the probe, to illuminate the observed object. The illumination light is reflected by the observed object, and enters the end surface of the image guide fiber bundle. When the radius of the image guide fiber bundle is a, the radius of the light guide fiber bundle is b, and the inner radius of the probe is 1, a and b satisfy the following conditions. 0.545≦a≦0.581 0.419≦b≦0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruo Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6488619
    Abstract: A substrate having a plurality of light emitting diodes united therewith lies on a plane containing the longitudinal axis of an insertion unit of an endoscope. Likewise, part of a first objective surface lies on the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope. As long as the diameter of the insertion unit remains unchanged, the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope provides the largest area for the light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode sub-assembly is therefore placed on this plane, so that the outer diameter of a distal endoscope part can be made as small as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 6471639
    Abstract: An endoscope has an outer shaft, in which an optical channel receiving an optical system is arranged, wherein in the outer shaft, further, a channel for receiving a working element, at least one supply channel extending longitudinally for a medium and at least one discharge channel extending longitudinally for the discharge of a medium, the discharge being separated from the supply, are arranged. The optical channel and the at least one supply channel and/or the at least one discharge channel are configured as chambers of a profiled shaft, which is chambered in its cross section and received in the outer shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Rudischhauser, Siegfried Höfig
  • Patent number: 6471654
    Abstract: In an ultrasonic endoscope, a plurality of flexible substrates are connected to an ultrasonic probe as a signal transmission member for transmitting a signal which is inputted into/outputted from the ultrasonic probe. The plurality of flexible substrates are drawn into a curved portion and connected to a signal cable at lengthwise different positions respectively in the inside of a flexible tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Ohara, Toshiyuki Hashiyama
  • Publication number: 20020156380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Raman endoscope for diagnosing diseased tissue within the human body. An infrared sensitive array is used to form spectroscopy enhanced images of tissue where laser induced Raman scattering is used to identify and quantitatively measure constituents of diseased and healthy tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: MICHAEL S. FELD, JOSEPH BARAGA
  • Patent number: 6454702
    Abstract: An endoscopic instrument has a portion having an outer surface with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The non-circular cross-sectional shape may be provided to the instrument by providing peripheral projections or fins along the length of the portion or by providing the periphery of the portion with a polygonal shape. Where fins are used, the fins are preferably quite small and only have a minimal effect on the fluid flow cross sectional area between the interior of the working channel and the endoscopic instrument. The resulting instrument has significantly reduced backlash while maintaining adequate fluid flow in the working channel. According to a second embodiment of the invention, a portion of the interior of the working channel of the endoscope has an interior surface having a non-circular cross sectional shape by the inclusion of a plurality of radially spaced and inwardly directed ribs or by being polygonally shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6450949
    Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while the free end of the lens tube is adapted for insertion into a cavity of a body. At least one, and preferably several, lens assemblies are longitudinally slidably mounted within the lens tube and movable between longitudinally spaced positions within the lens tube. A drive mechanism is mounted to the housing and mechanically coupled to each lens assembly to move the lens assemblies longitudinally within the lens tube independently of one another. In doing so, the lens assemblies provide varying degrees of magnification between low or macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification at the free end of the lens tube. A stage is also detachably secured over the lens tube and has a transparent window across its end adjacent the free end of the lens tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Inner Vision Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Farkas, Richard Fisher, Steven Henke
  • Patent number: 6447445
    Abstract: An insertion instrument for an endoscope is disclosed which comprises, a hard end portion formed at least an illuminating means having an illumination lens provided in a lens barrel and light guide, and an observing means at least an objective optical system disposed within an objective lens barrel, the hard end portion being divided into a holding member and a cover member detachably fitted to said holding member, concave shaped recesses provided therebetween for inserting at least the illuminating lens barrel and the objective lens barrel from outer periphery of the holding member inwardly in the radial direction, wherein said recesses have a arc shaped portions to substantially coincide with outer diameters of the illuminating lens barrel and said objective lens barrel, and detachable positioning means provided for positioning the illuminating lens barrel and the objective lens barrel in the recesses in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sota Hirano