VIDEO ENDOSCOPE

Abstract

A video endoscope including: an outer casing tube; an inner casing tube disposed within the outer casing tube; a fiber tube disposed between the outer and inner casing tubes, an image-forming unit being accommodated in the inner casing tube; and a heating film provided between the fiber tube and the inner casing tube.

Claims

1. A video endoscope comprising: n outer casing tube; an inner casing tube disposed within the outer casing tube; a fiber tube disposed between the outer and inner casing tubes, an image-forming unit being accommodated in the inner casing tube; and a heating film provided between the fiber tube and the inner casing tube.

2. The video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heating film surrounds the inner casing tube.

3. The video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the inner casing tube has a tube section, wherein the tube section of the inner casing tube is enclosed by the heating film in a circumferential direction.

4. The video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heating film is configured in a sleeve-shape.

5. The video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heating film is in direct contact with the fiber tube and with the inner casing tube.

6. The video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heating film is formed from plastic.

7. The video endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the plastic is polyimide.

8. The video endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising an optical fiber bundle provided between the outer casing tube and the fiber tube.

9. The video endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor operatively arranged in the video endoscope for detecting the temperature of the heating film.

10. The video endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the at least one temperature sensor is arranged in the heating film.

11. The video endoscope according to claim 9, further comprising a controller for controlling the temperature of the heating film based on an output of the at least one temperature sensor.

12. The video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heating film has a positive temperature coefficient of electrical resistance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further features will become apparent from the description of the embodiments together with the claims and the attached drawings. Embodiments can fulfill individual features or a combination of several features.

[0026] The embodiments are described below, without restricting the general idea, using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein we expressly refer to the drawings with regard to all details that are not explained in greater detail in the text. In the figures:

[0027] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-section through a distal end region of an endoscope shaft according to the prior art, and

[0028] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a cross-section through a distal end region of an endoscope shaft.

[0029] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross-section through a distal end region of an endoscope shaft with a temperature control.

[0030] In the drawings, in each case the same or similar elements and/or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that in each case a repeated introduction is omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In FIG. 2, a section of an endoscope shaft 10 of a video endoscope E is schematically represented in cross-section. The distal end region of the endoscope shaft 10 is shown schematically in FIG. 2. A fiber tube 4 is disposed in the interior of the outer casing tube 1, wherein the elongated inner casing tube 6 is disposed in the interior of the fiber tube 4. Between the fiber tube 4 and the inner casing tube 6, a heating film 7, which may be a foil, is disposed that is in direct contact with the fiber tube 4 and the inner casing tube 6. The heating film 7 can be configured from Kapton. In addition, corresponding attaching means for the resistance heating of the heating film 7 are also provided in order to cause a warming of the fiber tube 4.

[0032] In FIG. 3, a cross-section through an endoscope shaft is schematically represented, wherein, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, a temperature control for the heating film 7 is possible. The heating film 7 has a temperature sensor 8, by means of which the temperature of the heating film 7 is detected. When electric current is applied to the heating film 7, it is warmed so that the temperature of the heating film 7 established by the temperature sensor 8 is transmitted to a temperature control device 9, such as a controller, computer or CPU. After an actual/set value comparison in the temperature control device 9, the strength of the electric current for the heating film 7 is correspondingly controlled so that a preferred temperature in the heating film is set and held constant.

[0033] While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments, 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.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

[0034] 1 Outer casing tube [0035] 2 Optical fibers [0036] 3 Heating film [0037] 4 Fiber tube [0038] 5 Heat-shrinkable sleeve [0039] 6 Inner casing tube [0040] 7 Heating film [0041] 8 Temperature sensor [0042] 9 Temperature control device [0043] 10 Endoscope shaft [0044] E Video endoscope