Patents by Inventor Ulrich Kehr

Ulrich Kehr 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).

  • Patent number: 7011626
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical instrument, in particular an endoscopic instrument, with a housing, containing at least one optical system and a hygroscopic substance, and in which an eyepiece is detachably secured to the housing. In order to design an optical instrument of the aforementioned type in such a way that the hygroscopic substance can be integrated easily and safely into the housing, the invention proposes that the hygroscopic substance should be imbedded in a moldable matrix material and that the matrix material caulked with the hygroscopic substance can be replaceably inserted in the eyepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Huber, Ulrich Kehr
  • Publication number: 20050004435
    Abstract: A device for positioning at least one optical component inside an endoscopic system has a housing through which an optical axis of the endoscopic system extends and in which the at least one component is arranged, which component can be pivoted into the beam path and back out of the beam path about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, said at least one component being arranged on a support which is pivotable about the pivot axis. A smallest distance of an inside wall of the housing from the pivot axis is smaller than a greatest distance of the pivot axis to an outer edge of the at least one component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Ulrich Kehr, Siegfried Hoefig
  • Publication number: 20040152950
    Abstract: A description is given of an apparatus for positioning at least one component within an endoscopic system, having a hermetically tight housing, having at least one external magnetically active element which is arranged outside the housing, and having at least one internal magnetically active element which is arranged inside the housing, a magnetic force coupling acting through the housing between the external element and the internal element, it further being possible for the external element and the internal element to move at least with an axial movement component with reference to a longitudinal axis of the housing, and the internal element being in operational connection with the component in such a way that a movement of the internal element causes a movement of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Ulrich Kehr
  • Publication number: 20040127768
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical instrument, in particular an endoscopic instrument, with a housing (1), containing at least one optical system (2) and a hygroscopic substance, and in which an eyepiece (6) is detachably secured to the housing (1). In order to design an optical instrument of the aforementioned type in such a way that the hygroscopic substance can be integrated easily and safely into the housing (1), the invention proposes that the hygroscopic substance should be imbedded in a moldable matrix material and that the matrix material caulked with the hygroscopic substance can be replaceably inserted in the eyepiece (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Huber, Ulrich Kehr
  • Patent number: 6641531
    Abstract: A device for positioning at least one optical component within an endoscopic system has a housing, through which runs an optical axis, and in which at least one component is arranged. The component is pivotable into the beam path of the endoscopic system about a pivot axis and pivotable out of the beam path. The pivot axis is here arranged running obliquely to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Kehr
  • Patent number: 6632173
    Abstract: A device for positioning components within endoscopic systems includes a hermetically sealed housing. An outer ring element is mounted to rotate about the outer side of the housing and carries on its circumference at least one outer magnet. Further, an inner ring element is mounted inside the housing and carries likewise at least one inner magnet, the magnets being aligned in such a way that any rotation of the outer ring element has the effect to move the at least one inner magnet by magnetic coupling, such movement serving the purpose to position the respective components. In order to achieve a simple, relatively small and functionally safe structure it is proposed that both the outer and inner ring elements be configured as axially displaceable rings carrying the oppositely arranged magnets, and that the inner ring be mechanically connected with the component to be positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kehr, Jürgen Rudischhauser, Jan Dahmen
  • 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: 6425857
    Abstract: An endoscope, in particular a video endoscope, has an endoscope shaft at the distal end and a mount at the proximal end for attaching an optical imaging device, for example a video camera, and an endoscope housing between said endoscope shaft and said mount, said mount being rotatable relative to said endoscope shaft, via a rotary joint, about the longitudinal axis of said endoscope an optically imaging arrangement, which is at least partially positionally displaceable by way of an adjusting device for focusing the image transmission, moreover being received in said endoscope housing. Said endoscope housing is configured in continuously hermetically sealed fashion, and said rotary joint is arranged outside said endoscope housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Rudischhauser, Ulrich Kehr
  • Publication number: 20020080233
    Abstract: An image pick-up module, especially for an endoscope, comprises an electronic image sensor, a single-piece circuit board which is electrically bonded to the image sensor, with at least one cable leading away from the circuit board being further electrically bonded to the circuit board. The circuit board has at least three sections, with a first section and a second section extending in spaced relation one to the other and obliquely or crosswise to the image sensor and a third section being arranged between the first and the second section. In order to provide for strain relief of the at least one cable, it is pro prosed that the image sensor be arranged on one side of the circuit board opposite the third section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Klaus M. Irion, Peter Schwarz, Mark Kocher, Ulrich Kehr
  • Patent number: 6398723
    Abstract: An endoscope has a tubular shaft in whose interior is arranged at least one component of an optical system. At least one support element made from a shrinkable material surrounds at least partially said component in a radial gap between the outer side of said component and the inner side of said tubular shaft. After shrinking of said support element the radial gap is filled up in a manner such that the component is immobilized on the inner side of the tubular shaft via the shrunken support element (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kehr, Jürgen Rudischhauser
  • Publication number: 20020049366
    Abstract: A device for positioning at least one optical component within an endoscopic system has a housing, through which runs an optical axis, and in which at least one component is arranged. The component is pivotable into the beam path of the endoscopic system about a pivot axis and pivotable out of the beam path. The pivot axis is here arranged running obliquely to the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Ulrich Kehr
  • Patent number: 6201649
    Abstract: A method for mounting at least one rod lens in an interior of a tube has the following steps, i.e. selecting an outside diameter of said rod lens in that an airgap is created circumferentially between an outer side of said rod lens in an inner side of said tube, positioning said outer side of said rod lens at a defined radial spacing from said inner side of said tube by way of at least two centering aids and effecting an elastic adhesive join between said outer side of said rod lens and said inner side of said tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Rudischhauser, Ulrich Kehr
  • Patent number: 6099467
    Abstract: A device for positioning components within endoscopic systems comprises a hermetically sealed housing. An outer ring element is mounted to rotate about the outer side of said housing and carries on its circumference at least one outer magnet. Further, an inner ring element is mounted inside said housing and carries likewise at least one inner magnet, said magnets being aligned in such a way that any rotation of said outer ring element has the effect to move said at least one inner magnet by magnetic coupling, such movement serving the purpose to position said respective components.In order to achieve a simple, relatively small and functionally safe structure it is proposed that both, said outer and said inner ring elements be configured as axially non-displaceable rings carrying said oppositely arranged magnets, and that said inner ring be mechanically connected with said component to be positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Kehr, Jurgen Rudischhauser, Jan Dahmen