ENDOSCOPE

Abstract

An endoscope, including: at least one outer shaft tube, at least one inner shaft tube disposed within the at least one outer shaft tube; a window distally hermetically sealing one of the inner shaft tube or the outer shaft tube, a heater disposed proximate to the window between the at least one outer shaft tube and the at least one inner shaft tube, a temperature sensor disposed embedded in a potting compound proximate to the window, and an encasement filled with the potting compound, the encasement at least partially surrounding the temperature sensor.

Claims

1. An endoscope, comprising: at least one outer shaft tube, at least one inner shaft tube disposed within the at least one outer shaft tube; a window distally hermetically sealing one of the inner shaft tube or the outer shaft tube, a heater disposed proximate to the window between the at least one outer shaft tube and the at least one inner shaft tube, a temperature sensor disposed embedded in a potting compound proximate to the window, and an encasement filled with the potting compound, the encasement at least partially surrounding the temperature sensor.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on a flexible printed circuit board.

3. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the encasement comprises a dome resting on the printed circuit board.

4. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the encasement comprises a ring resting on the printed circuit board.

5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises at least one thermistor.

6. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the at least one thermistor comprises two thermistors.

7. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the encasement is at least partially formed of a thermoplastic material.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic material is polyaryletherketone.

9. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the potting compound comprises a thermosetting adhesive.

10. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the potting compound comprises an adhesive that cures under UV radiation.

11. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the potting compound comprises a hybrid adhesive which thermally cures under UV radiation after pre-curing.

12. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board comprises geometric reference marks for alignment of the encasement.

13. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the polyaryletherketone is polyetheretherketone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments, the embodiments being intended merely to aid understanding without limiting the scope of the following claims, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an endoscope,

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates the distal end of the shaft of an endoscope according to the prior art,

[0030] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate sections of a heating foil, and

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a heating foil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an endoscope 1 with an elongated shaft 2 and a main body 3. An objective lens 4 is disposed in the distal end of the shaft 2. The image from the objective lens is converted into electrical video signals by an electronic image converter, not shown, and transmitted to the main body 3. From the main body 3, the video signals are output via a cable 5, if necessary, after electronic preprocessing.

[0033] Operating switches 6 are provided in the distal area of the main body, via which functions of the endoscope 1 or connected devices can be controlled. Signals from the operating switches 6 are also routed via the cable 5.

[0034] FIGS. 3a and 3b show heating foils which may be used in place of the heating foil 20 of FIG. 2.

[0035] FIG. 3a shows a section of a heating foil 30 with a temperature sensor 31, which in turn is embedded in a potting compound 32. To ensure a reproducible shape of the potting compound 32 and thus also a reproducible heat transfer to the temperature sensor 31, the potting compound 32 is embedded in an encasement in the form of a dome 33 placed on the heating foil 31.

[0036] FIG. 3b shows a section of a heating foil 40 with a temperature sensor 41. In the example shown, the temperature sensor 41 consists of two thermistors 41a, 41b. Here, too, the potting compound 42 is surrounded by an encasement, which is configured in the form of a ring 43. Here, after fastening the ring 43, the potting compound 42 can be introduced into it particularly easily and then cured, for example, by means of a UV lamp not shown. For this purpose, a UV-curing adhesive can be used as the potting compound 42. Alternatively, a thermosetting adhesive or a hybrid adhesive may be used which, after being pre-cured by UV radiation during which the viscosity of the adhesive increases, is completely thermally cured by the application of heat.

[0037] The dome 33 and the ring 43 may be made of thermoplastic material. Because of the high temperatures that occur during the reprocessing of endoscopes, temperature-resistant plastics such as PAEK, PEEK or PPSU can be used.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the heating foil 40, with the temperature sensor 41 and the ring 43 visible. In order to place the ring 43 correctly during the production of the heating foil 40 in a semi- or fully-automated process, reference markings 44 in the form of through-holes are provided in the heating foil 40, by means of which the heating foil 30 can be precisely positioned in a device.

[0039] An extension 43 of the heating foil 40 is provided for contacting purpose at the proximal end of the shaft 2.

[0040] The described embodiments are simplified in many respects to facilitate understanding thereof. For example, the shaft of an endoscope may have more than the two shaft tubes shown. Likewise, the objective lens may have a much more complicated structure than shown herein.

[0041] In one embodiment of an endoscope not shown, the outer shaft tube 10 may be surrounded by a further shaft tube, with the window 16 hermetically sealing the outer shaft tube 10 in place of the inner shaft tube 11, and the optical fibers 12 being disposed between the outer shaft tube 10 and the further shaft tube.

[0042] The features of the individual embodiments shown may be combined with each other. For example, in an embodiment of the heating foil according to FIG. 3b, a one-piece temperature sensor, such as a single thermistor, may be used. Similarly, in an embodiment according to FIG. 3a, the temperature sensor 31 may comprise two thermistors. Also, the heating foil shown in FIG. 3a may also have reference markings and/or an extension for contacting.

[0043] While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.