Abstract: An operation member fixing mechanism includes: a plate member, an elastic member including a facing region, a protruding portion, a fixing lever, and a fixing knob. The protruding portion has a predetermined rigidity so as to allow the facing region to separate from the plate member when a compressed state is switched to a released state with a fixing lever and a fixing knob. The operation member fixing mechanism further includes a lubricant layer for reducing a sliding resistance of the protruding portion to the plate member in the released state and a cutout portion formed by cutting a contact surface of the facing region, the contact surface being a surface to be in contact with the plate member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for actively detecting an ingress of a medical probe. In accordance with certain embodiments, a method includes monitoring, with a sensor within a medical probe, an internal environment of the medical probe, detecting, with the sensor, at least one of a temperature, pressure, humidity, or concentration of a gas within the medical probe, determining, with a processor that is in communication with the sensor, whether a seal that hermetically seals the medical probe has failed as a function of at least one of the temperature, pressure, humidity, or concentration of the gas, and outputting, with the processor, a notification that indicates whether the seal has failed.

Abstract: To provide an endoscope or the like that can reuse an image sensor or the like. An endoscope includes: an imaging unit including an image sensor and an optical component that forms an image of light incident from a first end surface on the image sensor; a cable inserted into an insertion portion and having a first end connected to the imaging unit; an exterior cylinder covering a connected portion between the imaging unit and the cable; and a distal tip piece in which a housing portion having a shape fitted with a shape of the exterior cylinder is provided and which is arranged at a distal tip of the insertion portion.

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.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an internal conductor that is formed of a conductive material; an external conductor that is electrically insulated from the internal conductor and is formed of a conductive material that configures a part of an exterior; a holder that holds a first conductor that is electrically connected to the internal conductor and a second conductor that is electrically connected to the external conductor such that the first conductor and the second conductor are separated from each other by a space with a predetermined spatial distance; and a water-tightness holding member that holds water-tightness in the space.

Abstract: Medical borescopes and related methods. In some embodiments, a medical borescope may comprise a handle and a tube extending from the handle. The tube may be partially, or wholly, defined by an at least substantially non-conductive material, such as a suitable plastic, ceramic, or other non-metallic material. The borescope may further comprise a tip assembly positioned at a distal end of the tube, which may comprise an image sensor configured to take images through the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medical device. The medical device may include an elongate member, having a proximal end and a distal end and at least two lumens extending therebetween. At least one of the lumens may be an imaging lumen configured to hold an imaging device, and an imaging device may be disposed inside the imaging lumen. A signal transmitting device may extend longitudinally through the imaging lumen. A distal end of the signal transmitting device may be operably coupled to the imaging device and a proximal end may be operably coupled to a processor. The processor may be located outside of the imaging lumen. The signal transmitting device may transmit signals between the imaging device and the processor. A grounded, braided catheter may be disposed within and extend the length of the elongate member, surrounding the imaging lumen.

Abstract: A harness for a medical device is provided which can suppress defective products from being passed to the subsequent process. The harness 10 for medical device 1 comprises: cables 20A-20D which is to be inserted into a tube 3 of the medical device 1; a camera 30 which is connected to one ends of the cables 20A-20D; and printed wiring boards 40A and 40B which is connected to the other ends of the cables 20A-20D, and a following Expression (1) is satisfied. W1<D1??(1) In the above Expression (1), W1 denotes the width of the printed wiring boards 40A and 40B, and D1 denotes the inner diameter of the tube 3.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates electronic components, a metal frame which holds an observation window, an earth member which is connected to a patient-side ground of an external device, and a static-protective member which is disposed in the distal end portion to have a predetermined clearance from the metal frame and is electrically connected to the earth member to let static electricity applied to the distal end portion flow to the earth member. With the configuration, the electronic endoscope prevents occurrence of trouble, a fault, and the like in an electronic component incorporated in the distal end portion due to applied static electricity.

Abstract: An endoscope of an embodiment includes: a distal end rigid member made of resin; a channel tube connecting member which has a distal end side fitted and fixed in the distal end rigid member and is formed in a tubular shape using a conductive member, and which includes a stepped portion on a part of an outer circumferential surface in a longitudinal direction; and a bending piece member which is formed in a tubular shape using a conductive member and arranged just behind a rear end side of the distal end rigid member, and which has a protruding portion protruding and elastically-deformed toward an inner circumferential surface side, wherein when the bending piece member is fixed to the distal end rigid member with the channel tube connecting member being housed inside thereof, the protruding portion contacts the outer circumferential surface of the channel tube connecting member to establish conduction.

Abstract: A system for wirelessly powering various devices positioned on an endoscope, including, for example, a light source, various electronics including an imager and/or a memory device. The system is further provided such that video signal processing parameters are automatically set for an endoscopic video camera system based upon characteristics of an attached endoscope, with reduced EMI and improved inventory tracking, maintenance and quality assurance, and reducing the necessity for adjustment and alignment of the endoscope and camera to achieve the data transfer.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates electronic components, a metal frame which holds an observation window, an earth member which is connected to a patient-side ground of an external device, and a static-protective member which is disposed in the distal end portion to have a predetermined clearance from the metal frame and is electrically connected to the earth member to let static electricity E applied to the distal end portion flow to the earth member. With the configuration, the electronic endoscope prevents occurrence of trouble, a fault, and the like in an electronic component incorporated in the distal end portion due to applied static electricity.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an LVDS driver that outputs a differential signal; a differential transmission line that transmits the differential signal outputted from the LVDS driver; a pulse transformer including, in order to input the differential signal transmitted by the differential transmission line, two input terminals connected to an end of the differential transmission line; a resistor functioning as a bypass impedance element connected on an input side of the pulse transformer, to which the differential signal is inputted, in parallel to the pulse transformer and having, at a predetermined noise frequency of noise mixed in the differential transmission line, impedance smaller than circuit impedance of a circuit to which the pulse transformer, which is connected in parallel to the bypass impedance element, is connected; and a dielectric disposed between the two input terminals of the pulse transformer and between lines of the differential transmission line.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus includes: an image pickup apparatus mounted at a distal end portion of an insertion portion; an operation portion provided consecutively at the insertion portion, with a frame member incorporated therein; and an electrical cable extended from the operation portion for connection with an external device. In the electronic endoscope apparatus, the frame member has a circuit board portion which establishes electrical connection between shields of the insertion portion and the electrical cable, and on which various electronic parts for exchanging signals with the image pickup apparatus are mounted. In spite of the arrangement of the image pickup apparatus that can acquire high-quality images at a distal end portion of the insertion portion, a size of the apparatus, in particular, a diameter of the insertion portion, can be prevented from being increased.

Abstract: An observed image forming apparatus comprises: an apparatus body including a plurality of connector receivers to which electric connectors of a plurality of observation devices for obtaining an image of an object to be observed can be connected; a cap that is to be mounted to one of said plurality of connector receivers to which any of said plurality of electric connectors is not connected; and a cap insertion and extraction detecting circuit that detects whether or not the cap is mounted to the one of the connector receivers in the apparatus body, wherein, when mounting of the cap has been detected by the cap insertion and extraction detecting circuit, one of the observation devices an electric connector of which is connected to the other one of the connector receivers in the apparatus body is controlled to be driven.

Abstract: An endoscope including an insertion portion, an operation portion, an image pickup device provided in the operation portion, an image display device connected to the operation portion and provided with a monitor portion, an image processing portion such as an image pickup device control circuit processing an image pickup signal of a portion to be inspected picked up by the image pickup device, a cylindrical rotating shaft formed by an electromagnetic wave shielding member such as metal, slidably engaged with the operation portion, for rotatably connecting the operation portion and the image display device to each other, and an image pickup cable inserted through the rotating shaft and electrically connecting the image pickup device control circuit and the image pickup device to each other.

Abstract: Heat isolation and relocation systems and methods are provided to enable utilization of a remote viewing device in a wider range of temperature environments and while operating its one or more light sources at or near full power without fear of causing temperature-related harm to the one or more light sources and/or to the imager, even if the imager is positioned nearby the one or more light sources.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided that can reduce examination costs by realizing commonality of an operating unit by making an inserting unit and the operating unit attachable/detachable with respect to each other to enable the exchange of inserting units. The endoscope of this invention includes an operating unit, an inserting unit that can be detachably connected to the operating unit, and transmission and reception coils provided in the operating unit and the inserting unit, respectively, for sending and receiving signals in a non-contact manner between the operating unit and the inserting unit when the inserting unit is connected to the operating unit.

Abstract: An optical adaptor for endoscope according to the present invention includes, in an outer casing, a light emitter, serving as a light source for illumination, and two terminals connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the light emitters to be externally projected from the inside of the outer casing. The connection of a diode between the positive and negative electrodes of the light emitters prevents the static electricity from being applied to the light emitter.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system which is largely composed of a scope and a processor. The processor includes a primary or patient's circuit and a secondary circuit which are so connected as to be able to communicate with each other for data transmission in an electrically insulated state. The secondary circuit on the side of the processor includes first MPU and first rewritable ROM which is connected with the first MPU through a first bus, a PC card slot connected to said first bus. In addition to data of picture images captured by an image sensor device mounted on a fore distal end portion of an insertion tube of a scope, a PC card stores a firmware version-up program to be executed for updating a firmware in the first ROM as soon as PC card is booted, starting from an address described in MBR of PC card. An update program of the firmware version-up program is transferred to and written into the first ROM at a high speed depending upon a clock speed of the first bus.

Abstract: A disposable simultaneous stereo endoscope system is disclosed. The disposable endoscope does not include image relay. Instead, two electronic imaging sensors and solid illumination lighting are arranged inside the endoscope. A demultiplexing beam splitter is used for splitting the two imaging light beams to the two imaging devices. A wedged multi-facet illumination window is used to create an illumination field that is larger than the field of view of the imaging optics. An electrically conductive heat sink is engaged for dissipating the heat generated by the solid light source and also for shielding end side of the endoscope. The disposable endoscope is shielded from electromagnetic interferences. A repeater unit is used to electrically connect the disposable endoscope with a remote receiver and to increase the data transfer rate. An electrical isolation means is provided between the endoscope and an image processing and power conditioning unit to protect the endoscope against electric shock.

Abstract: An endoscopic operation assisting device includes a first handle member and a second handle member, which are openable and closable. The first handle member includes, at the side of an opening and closing surface portion thereof, a groove forming an insertion section holding hole for holding an insertion section of an endoscope. Further, the first handle member includes, on a surface portion of the first handle member contraposed to the opening and closing surface portion, a step portion including a flat surface which is provided at a distal end side disposed toward the direction of a distal end portion of the insertion section and which is lower than a proximal end side. Meanwhile, the second handle member includes, at the side of an opening and closing surface portion thereof, a groove forming the insertion section holding hole.

Abstract: An endoscope to obtain an image inside a body cavity is provided. The endoscope includes an image capturing element, a power source, which supplies electric power to the image capturing element, a power shutdown unit, which shuts down the electric power to the image capturing element so that the image capturing element can be prevented from overcurrent, a drive control unit, which outputs control signals to the image capturing element in order to control driving of the image capturing element based on driving signals provided from an external unit connected with the endoscope, and a control restricting unit, which restricts the drive control unit to cease outputting the control signals to the image capturing element in response to activation of the power shutdown unit.

Abstract: A connecting mechanism for an electronic endoscope system is provided. The connecting mechanism is for detachably connecting a scope and a processor unit of the electronic endoscope system. The connecting mechanism includes a rotational cylinder, a linear movable member, and a sensor. The rotational cylinder locks the scope-side connector section to the processor-side connector section by rotating the rotational cylinder, when the scope-side connector section is docked with the processor-side connector section. The linear movable member is moved linearly along a tangent of the rotational cylinder in cooperation with the rotation of the rotational cylinder. The sensor detects whether the linear movable member has arrived at a predetermined position. The predetermined position corresponds to a locking position where the scope-side connector section and the processor-side connector section are locked together by the rotational cylinder.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed, preferably for the minimally invasive intervention in human or animal tissues comprising a, for example, needle-shaped base body (3) with at least one passage formed from a hollow fiber (2). The at least one hollow fiber (2) is surrounded by a matrix (5) of a fibre composite material. The use of hollow fiber (2) permits a simple production in particular of instruments with a number of passages. The use of more than one hollow fiber (2) within the base body (3) increases the application possibilities, for example, simultaneous monitoring and treatment of the tissue.

Abstract: Metal members for an insertion section, an operation section, and a cable section, respectively, are provided as a sheath for a scope. These metal members are electrically connected together. The metal member in the cable section is connected to a shield box in a connector circuit section via a static-electricity-suppressing part. The shield box is connected to a housing ground for a processor device via a contact piece spring. Furthermore,the metal member in the cable section may be connected to a ground terminal in the connector circuit section via a static-electricity-suppressing part. Thus, static electricity measures can be taken using only a small number of parts, while preventing the static-electricity-suppressing part from affecting the operations and characteristics of electronic circuits in the scope.

Abstract: A grounding system for a fiberscope utilizing an electrically conductive braid surrounding at least a portion of a flexible hollow tube containing fiber optic bundles. The fiberscope also includes an electrically conductive member surrounding the bundle end. The system further possesses connections between the electrically conductive braid and the end member. An electrically conductive ferrule underlies and links the fiberscope housing and the electrically conductive braid. A conductor connects to the ferrule, extending to the exterior portion of the housing for accessibility to the user.

Abstract: A treating instrument erecting device for use in an endoscope includes a treating instrument erecting member for changing the direction of projection of the distal end portion of a treating instrument inserted in a treating instrument inserting channel. The treating instrument erecting member is provided at the distal end of an insert part of the endoscope. A control wire for operating the treating instrument erecting member is axially movably inserted in a wire guide provided in the insert part to extend over the entire length of the insert part. A wire driving member for advancing or retracting the control wire is provided in a control part connected to the proximal end of the insert part. The control wire and the wire driving member are electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: A video camera head configured for use with an endoscope and having a conductive inner chamber for shielding the imager and imager electronics from electro-magnetic interference is described in which the inner chamber is substantially isolated from contact by a human or conductive fluid through a sealed outer non-conductive housing. Another aspect of the invention involves hermetically sealing the inner chamber, thus facilitating the use of steam autoclave sterilization, including flash sterilization, to sterilize the camera head.

Abstract: An articulating elongated inspection neck effective to shield radio frequency interference. The inspection neck includes a series of individual electrically conducting parts each having a passageway there through. The parts are pivotally joined together with the passageways aligned along the length of the neck. A self-adjusting electrically conducting member connects immediately adjacent individual parts in electrical communication. The self-adjusting members maintain electrical communication between the parts throughout movement of the parts during flexure of the neck. Consequently, these members maintain electrical continuity along the length of the neck. The spacing between the parts is sized to be barrier to predetermined radio frequencies.

Abstract: A medical system having an endoscope probe intubated into a body, a signal processing circuit for processing a signal for the probe and an electric source circuit insulated from a commercial electric source. A part of the signal processing circuit connected to the probe is isolated by an isolation circuit to secure the safety. An impedance element is employed to prevent a malfunction by reducing an emission/permeation of noises. No adverse influence is thereby exerted on outside units.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system which is configured to eliminate the necessity to mount separate airtight means on a connector section between an electronic endoscope and an external unit at a stage of washing and disinfection, and maintain electrical isolation for patients' securities at the same time. The electronic endoscope system has a composition wherein an electronic endoscope which is equipped with a CCD is connected by way of a connector to a light source unit which is equipped with a light source and performs output control of at least video signals, signal transfer between the electronic endoscope and the light source unit is performed with optical elements, and electric power is supplied from the light source unit to the electronic endoscope by spatial electromagnetic means. Electric power obtained by the electromagnetic coupling means is accumulated once in a battery and the electronic endoscope is driven by the battery.

Abstract: A TV camera is attached to an eyepiece unit of an endoscope and includes a solid-state imaging device. A housing of the TV camera has an outer metallic sheathing. The outer metallic sheathing is hermetically coupled via an insulating material to a metallic housing frame of an electric connector which has contact pins connected to the solid-state imaging device and which is fixed hermetically using a hermetic seal. This structure defines a hermetically enclosed space which can withstand autoclaving. A shielding sheathing layer is formed inside an insulating layer within the hermetic space in order to shield an electric circuit including the solid-state imaging device and which is located inside the shielding sheathing layer. The shielding sheathing layer is designed to communicate with the housing metallic frame of the connector that is isolated and sheathed. This structure provides measures for solving problems concerning electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

Abstract: A unit connecting member for connecting an illuminating light supply unit to a control part of an endoscope includes a receiving socket mounted to the control part for detachably receiving the illuminating light supply unit for connection to, and disconnection from, the control part. The unit connecting member further includes an electrically insulating member provided between the receiving socket and the control part, for electrically insulating the light supply unit from the control part. The endoscope system further including an illuminating light guide for transmitting light for illuminating an object, and an illuminating light supply unit for supplying illuminating light to the illuminating light guide. The illuminating light supply unit is detachably attached to the control part. The portable endoscope system includes an AC/DC conversion adapter which is connected to an AC power supply to output a predetermined DC voltage and is connectable to the illuminating light supply unit.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises inner and outer tubes, the inner metal tube containing electrical an objective unit components including a solid state video imaging unit. An electrically insulative sleeve is disposed around the inner tube for electrically isolating the inner tube and electrical components from the outer tube. In a preferred embodiment, an electrically insulative ring is disposed between a major portion of the inner tube and distal end portion of the inner tube to electrically isolate the inner tube distal end portion from the inner tube major portion and the electrical components. Thus, those endoscope components which are likely to contact a patient, i.e., the outer tube and the inner tube distal end portion, are electrically isolated from the inner tube and the electrical components therein, thereby preventing injurious electrical current flow to the patient.

Abstract: A video camera isolation system and method for use with video cameras that are coupled to endoscopes that utilize simple pulse transformer technology to isolate the video camera head from the video processing circuitry allowing the processing circuitry to be referenced to ground. The video signal from the CCD sensor in the camera head is specifically processed to prevent shutter pulses from interfering with the isolated video signal. Special circuitry blanks the shutter pulse from the pulse transformer. Timing errors due to cable length delays are corrected by means of a pilot signal which correlates with the CCD output signal. Open collector data circuitry is also specially processed by dual channel detecting and amplifying circuits which are transistor switched through the pulse transformers before being delivered to and from the camera head.

Abstract: A video-signal processing device is connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of video signal, and comprises a character-information signal producer for producing a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data, and an adder for adding the character-information signal to the video signal outputted from the electronic endoscope, whereby the video signal carrying the character-information signal is fed outside from the device. When the endoscope further outputs a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch thereof, the device comprises a memory for storing fixed character-code data; and a memory-reader for reading the fixed character-code data from the memory in response to the control signal outputted from the endoscope. The character-information signal producer produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from the memory.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system comprises an insertional part at least part of whose armor is a conductor, an imaging unit incorporated in the insertional part and realized with a solid-state imaging device, a signal transmitting device for transmitting an electric signal that results from photoelectric conversion performed by the solid-state imaging device, and a signal processor for transforming an electric signal transmitted by the signal transmitting device into a video signal. The conductor serving as the armor of the insertional part is electrically isolated from the imaging unit, signal transmitting device, signal processor, and around.

Abstract: A video camera head configured for use with an endoscope and having a conductive inner chamber for shielding the imager and imager electronics from electro-magnetic interference is described in which the inner chamber is substantially isolated from contact by a human or conductive fluid through a sealed outer non-conductive housing. Another aspect of the invention involves hermetically sealing the inner chamber, thus facilitating the use of steam autoclave sterilization, including flash sterilization, to sterilize the camera head.

Abstract: A portable endoscope having a control part containing an entrance end portion of a light guide for transmitting light for illuminating an object, and a hermetic illuminating light supply unit containing a light source lamp for supplying illuminating light to the light guide. The unit is connected to the control part. An armoring member is disposed at a position where it is heated by heat radiated from the light source lamp. The outer surface of the armoring member is covered with a heat-insulating cover made of a material having a low thermal conductivity. A battery chamber is formed in the illuminating light supply unit to accommodate a battery as a power supply for the lamp. A relief valve releases the pressure in the battery chamber to the outside of the unit when the pressure rises.

Abstract: A connector guide structure for electronic endoscope systems capable of efficiently eliminating high-frequency noises which are allowed by a connector guide functioning as an antenna to mix by way of sheath members and a console. The connector guide structure comprises a connector guide for connecting a connector disposed on an electronic endoscope to a main unit, and noise eliminating capacitors are connected between the connector guide and a console of the main unit. A capacitor for eliminating noises produced by a radio knife and a plurality of capacitors for eliminating noises produced by clock-frequency signals are used as the capacitors. Feet of the capacitors are directly connected within an interval of 4 mm to 20 mm which is reserved between the connector guide and the console. Accordingly, the connector guide structure is capable of favorably eliminating not only the noises produced by the radio knife but also the noises produced by providing clock-frequency signals.

Abstract: An endoscopic apparatus comprising a solid-state image pickup device installed in an insert assembly, a signal transmission member for conducting the electric signal into which the solid-state image pickup device photoelectrically converts an optical image, and a flexible tube-like metal member that makes up part of the cover of the insert assembly and/or a flexible tube-like metal member that constitutes part of the universal cord, whereby the signal transmission member is inserted through the insert assembly member and the universal cord, the shield member that covers the signal transmission member is disposed at least in part of the insert assembly and/or part of the universal cord assembly, and the shield member and the metal members are set to be equipotential to each other.

Abstract: A video camera isolation circuit for use with video cameras that are coupled to endoscopes utilizes simple pulse transformer technology to isolate the video camera head from the video processing circuitry allowing the processing circuitry to be referenced to ground. The video signal from the CCD sensor in the camera head is specially processed to prevent shutter pulses from interfering with the isolated video signal. Special circuitry blanks the shutter pulse from the pulse transformer. Open collector data circuitry is also specially processed by dual channel detecting and amplifying circuits which are transistor switched through the pulse transformers before being delivered to and from the camera head. Timing pulses are processed through logic buffering conditioning circuitry and pulse transformers for reconstruction on the secondary of the pulse transformer by hysteresis buffers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus to facilitate feeding of electric signals, achieved in a defined area of medical electric environment, to and from auxiliary equipment, specifically a so called Personal Computer (PC), without the necessity that such auxiliary equipment fulfill the requirements necessary for use within the area of medical electric environment.