Patents Examined by Christen A. Sharpless
  • Patent number: 11938662
    Abstract: A tip part assembly for an endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end positioned oppositely from the proximal end, the tip part assembly including: a working channel extending in a longitudinal direction extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, and a camera assembly including a flexible printed circuit and a camera module having an image sensor, a lens, and a proximal connection surface, wherein the camera module is positioned above the working channel in a top-down direction providing a lateral direction extending laterally from both the camera module and the working channel, and wherein the flexible printed circuit continues from a connection to the connection surface of the camera module in the lateral direction into a first fold of the flexible printed circuit toward the proximal end of the tip part assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: AMBU A/S
    Inventor: Morten Sørensen
  • Patent number: 11925327
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a dichroic prism assembly configured to receive light from an object image through an entrance face. The assembly includes a first prism and a further dichroic prism assembly for splitting light in three light components, the first prism having a cross section with corners designed so that an incoming beam is partially reflected twice inside and exits the first prism through an exit face towards a first sensor. The dichroic prism assembly includes a compensator prism between the first prism and the further dichroic prism assembly. A first path length travelled by the part of the incoming beam reflected twice inside the first prism towards the first sensor is the same as path lengths travelled by a part of the incoming beam entering the further dichroic prism assembly towards each of three sensors, accounting for adjustment for focal plane focus position difference in wavelengths at the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Quest Photonic Devices B.V.
    Inventor: Richard Johannes Cornelis Meester
  • Patent number: 11857167
    Abstract: An image pickup unit includes: a metal barrel holding an objective lens; a substrate barrel formed of a circuit formed product having insulation property; an image sensor having a chip size package; plural electrodes formed in a penetrating manner from an inside of a substrate barrel to a proximal end side in an exposed manner, the plural electrodes being electrically connected to an image sensor in the substrate barrel; an electric conductive portion formed on an outer surface of the substrate barrel, having an insulation property with respect to the metal barrel, and having a predetermined creepage distance by which a current such as static electricity can be discharged; a ground electrode electrically connected to the electric conductive portion; and a cable provided with plural wires connected to a ground wire connected to the ground electrode and plural wires connected to the plural electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyosuke Yoshida, Toshiyuki Fujii, Shun Ogi
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11771315
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile colposcopy device for early diagnosis of cervical cancer, which includes an insertion unit which is inserted into the vagina of a woman, has a penetrating hole formed in one end coming into contact with the uterus, and is provided with a capturing path communicating with the penetrating hole, a capturing unit which is provided in the insertion unit so as to capture the cervix through the capturing path, and a lighting unit which is provided on the capturing path of the insertion unit and irradiates a lighting to the cervix through the penetrating hole. According to the present disclosure, the mobile colposcopy device for early diagnosis of cervical cancer can be simply and easily used so as to perform cervical cancer screening using a mobile colposcopy without environmental constraints including hospitals and allows women to early diagnose cervical cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: Pukyong National University Industry—University Cooperation Foundation, KOSIN UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY—ACADEMY COOPERATION
    Inventors: Yeh-Chan Ahn, Daa Young Kwon, Yi Keun Kim, Chul Ho Oak, Hang Goo Yun, Sung Won Kim
  • Patent number: 11644661
    Abstract: A camera head includes an airtight case which includes an image pickup unit having an image pickup device and the like as a heat source in an inner portion and includes a partition wall to secure air-tightness with respect to an outside of the airtight case, a heat transfer sheet which connects the heat source and an inner surface of the partition wall to transfer heat generated at the heat source to the partition wall, a heat sink arranged on an outer side of the partition wall of the airtight case, and a spring member which is interposed between an outer surface corresponding to the inner surface of the partition wall of the airtight case connected to the heat transfer sheet and the heat sink to transfer heat from the outer surface of the partition wall to the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuro Nara
  • Patent number: 11627240
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for endoscope includes: an optical unit having an incident surface and an emitting surface; an image pickup unit adhering to the emitting surface; an interposer where the image pickup unit is bonded to a first electrode of a first main surface; and an electric cable bonded to the interposer. The image pickup unit is smaller than the optical unit and the interposer in an outer size in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis. The image pickup apparatus for endoscope further includes a heat conductive resin with which a portion among the emitting surface, the first main surface, and a side surface of the image pickup unit is filled. The first electrode extends to a position where the first electrode is brought into contact with the heat conductive resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Takatoshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11607117
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses for holding an endoscope handle and locking out an angulation lever of an endoscope handle. Given by way of illustration only and not of limitation, in an embodiment an illustrative apparatus includes: a frame; a support mechanism attached to the frame and configured to hold thereon an endoscope handle having an angulation lever; an attachment device configured to hold an endoscope handle in place on the support mechanism; and an angulation lever engagement mechanism configured to prevent an angulation lever of an endoscope handle from returning to a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine N. Jurevicius, Taylor N. Tyson
  • Patent number: 11576562
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a camera to capture images inside a body cavity of a patient during a medical procedure is disclosed. The apparatus includes an insertion tube, a plurality of connected linkages extending from a distal end of the insertion tube, each linkage having a threaded actuator received on a threaded end of a drive shaft extending between the threaded actuator and a proximal end of the insertion tube. The apparatus also includes a camera disposed at a distal end of the plurality of connected linkages. Each connected linkage has at least one associated movement actuated by movement of the threaded actuator in response to rotation of the drive shaft, the associated movements of the connected linkages together operable to facilitate positioning of the camera within the body cavity of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TITAN MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Richard Andrews, Leonard M. Faria
  • Patent number: 11564559
    Abstract: An insertion portion of an endoscope includes a multi-lumen tube including a treatment instrument insertion channel, a first wire insertion hole that is provided parallel to the treatment instrument insertion channel, and a second wire insertion hole; one towing wire including a first portion that is inserted into the first wire insertion hole, a second portion that is inserted into the second wire insertion hole, and a third portion that is drawn out between the first wire insertion hole and the second wire insertion hole, wherein a proximal end portion of the first portion and a proximal end portion of the second portion are connected to a bending operation member; and a third wire insertion hole into which the third portion is inserted and in which the third portion abuts on a part of an inner peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuka Ide
  • Patent number: 11562822
    Abstract: A device, system, and method that: acquires information that a sterilized endoscope, having reusable and non-reusable parts, is used; outputs an instruction for collecting the used endoscope from a medical institution; acquires information on the number of endoscopes scheduled for inspection, a predetermined number of endoscopes not scheduled for inspection, and the number of endoscopes in an endoscope inventory; outputs an instruction for delivering a non-used replaceable endoscope to the institution in response to the collection instruction; and outputs an instruction for delivering a non-used endoscope to the institution when equation (2) is not satisfied, equation (2) being: endoscope inventory quantity>number of endoscopes scheduled for inspection+predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Morishima, Keiji Ito, Kohei Iketani, Atsushi Watabe
  • Patent number: 11517181
    Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a single-use cannula configured for insertion through a cervix into a uterus, a camera secured to a distal end region of the single-use cannula for acquiring images of the uterus, a connection hub secured to a proximal end region of the cannula, a reusable display configured to present the images acquired by the camera and that is securable to the connection hub, and a handle secured to the connection hub. The handle is pivotable between a first position in which the handle is stowed along the connection hub and arranged to prevent attachment of the reusable display to the connection hub and a second position in which the handle is deployed to an orientation that is antiparallel to the connection hub and arranged to permit attachment of the reusable display to the connection hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CooperSurgical, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Podpolucha, Richard I. Farrington
  • Patent number: 11517192
    Abstract: An arrangement for sterile handling of a non-sterile endoscope in a sterile environment. The arrangement includes a sterile endoscope sheath, and the non-sterile endoscope. The sterile endoscope sheath has an optical element arranged at a distal end of the sterile endoscope sheath. The non-sterile endoscope has an endoscope shaft with an optical element arranged at a distal end of the endoscope shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Peter Preuß
  • Patent number: 11510548
    Abstract: An imaging device for use with an endoscope, the imaging device comprising: a lens arrangement operable to receive light from a scene captured by the endoscope and to form an image of the scene using the received light; an image sensor operable to capture the image of the scene formed by the lens arrangement; a birefringent device positioned along an optical path between the endoscope and the image sensor, wherein the birefringent device comprises birefringent material arranged in a plurality of concentric rings, and wherein the birefringent material of each of the concentric rings is configured such that the polarisation directions of an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray of light from the scene which travels through the birefringent material are different for at least two of the plurality of concentric rings; and an image processor operable to process the captured image to generate an output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Springer, Thimo Emmerich, Zoltan Facius
  • Patent number: 11490788
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an identification unit provided in each of a plurality of optical adaptors, an MMA connected in parallel to the identification unit, an MMA drive circuit that is provided in a main body portion and applies a drive signal for driving the MMA through a pair of conductive wires, a sine-wave generation circuit that is provided in the main body portion and applies an alternating signal to the identification unit through a pair of conductive wires in a state where any one of the plurality of optical adaptors is mounted at a distal end portion, and CPU that is provided in the main body portion and measures an input impedance of the pair of conductive wires at a frequency of the alternating current signal to perform individual identification of the optical adaptor mounted at the distal end portion based on a measurement result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: EVIDENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Shigehisa
  • Patent number: 11478128
    Abstract: An endoscope has a cannula, one and only one translucent or transparent cover at a distal end of the cannula, a light source and imaging system, both inside the cannula. The light source delivers light into the cover. At least some of that light passes through the cover to illuminate an inspection site inside the patient's body; some of that light is internally reflected at an outer surface of the cover to travel back toward an inner surface of the cover. The imaging system receives the light that has been reflected off the inspection site and returned to the endoscope through the cover. The components are configured such that none of the light that is internally reflected at the outer surface of the cover reaches an optical input of the imaging system directly (e.g., without being further reflected).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Christina Wimmer, Martin Rothe, Guido Zillmann
  • Patent number: 11464392
    Abstract: An optical module is configured being provided with: a first case fixed to an implementation surface of an implementation substrate to cover an LD and an LD driver; a first filler filled in the first case to seal the LD and the LD driver; a second case fixed to the implementation surface of the implementation substrate to cover the first case in a state of not adhering to the first case; a third case accommodating the implementation substrate and the second case inside; and a second filler filled in the third case to seal the implementation substrate and the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Urakawa, Susumu Kawata
  • Patent number: 11412919
    Abstract: A medical observation system includes: a microscope; a support including a first joint configured to hold the microscope such that the microscope is rotatable about a first axis parallel to an optical axis of the microscope; and a first arm configured to hold the first joint and extend in a direction different from a direction of the optical axis of the microscope; a light guide cable inserted in the support and configured to guide illumination light to the microscope; and a binder configured to bind the light guide cable, wherein at least a part of the light guide cable is arranged along the first axis in a first section, the light guide cable extends in a direction different from the first axis in a second section, and the binder is configured to bind the light guide cable in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okabe
  • Patent number: 11399703
    Abstract: The endoscope of the invention includes: an insertion portion; a multi-lumen tube including bending operation wire insertion holes; bending operation wires inserted into the bending operation wire insertion holes; a wire retaining member including two opening portions; a pressing member that presses a distal end surface of the multi-lumen tube through the wire retaining member; a treatment instrument insertion channel; a distal end rigid member including a through hole; and a pipe member. A contact area of the wire retaining member with a distal end surface of the multi-lumen tube is set to be larger than a contact area of a pressing member with the wire retaining member. The pressing member is disposed between the two opening portions of the wire retaining member. The wire retaining member includes a pipe holding portion that holds the pipe member and is held between the distal end rigid member and the multi-lumen tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuka Ide
  • Patent number: 11375880
    Abstract: A rigid endoscope including: a shaft; a body disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, a fiber image guide mounted to move longitudinally within the shaft and body; a securing section for securing the fiber image guide, the securing section being positioned within the body; a sliding element mounted to move longitudinally within the body; and a protective sheath encasing the fiber image guide; wherein the fiber image guide is twisted, for image rotation, in a longitudinal portion corresponding to the protective sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Gregor Kiedrowski