Reversal system for an endoscope and an endoscope

Abstract

A reversal system for an endoscope, the reversal system including: first and second outer achromats each comprising at least two lenses, wherein the first and second outer achromats have an outer diameter; first and second inner achromats arranged between the first and second outer achromats, wherein each of the first and second inner achromats comprises at least two lenses; and a holding sleeve for accommodating the at least two lenses of one or more of the first and second inner achromats, wherein the holding sleeve with the at least one of the first and second inner achromats is arranged between the first and second outer achromats.

Claims

1. A reversal system for an endoscope, the reversal system comprising: first and second outer achromats each comprising at least two lenses, wherein the first and second outer achromats each have a first outer diameter; first and second inner achromats arranged between the first and second outer achromats, wherein each of the first and second inner achromats comprises at least two lenses; and a holding sleeve having an interior for accommodating each of the first and second inner achromats, wherein the holding sleeve having a second outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter of the first and second outer achromats and the holding sleeve with the first and second inner achromats is arranged between the first and second outer achromats; the at least two lenses of the first outer achromat comprises a first concave lens having a first flat shoulder surface contacting a mating first flat bearing surface at a first end of the holding sleeve; the at least two lenses of the second outer achromat comprises a second concave lens having a second flat shoulder surface contacting a mating second flat bearing surface at a second end of the holding sleeve.

2. The reversal system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two lenses of the first and second inner achromats are glued in the holding sleeve.

3. The reversal system according to claim 1, wherein the holding sleeve comprising a stop barrier positioned in the interior of the holding sleeve for separating the first and second inner achromats relative to each other.

4. The reversal system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second concave lenses having a thickness at least 1.5 times greater than the first outer diameter of the first and second outer achromats.

5. The reversal system according to claim 4, wherein the thickness is at least 2 times greater than the first outer diameter of the first and second outer achromats.

6. The reversal system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second flat shoulder surfaces are peripherally formed.

7. The reversal system according to claim 1, wherein the first flat shoulder surface is glued to the first flat bearing surface and the second flat shoulder surface is glued to the second flat bearing surface.

8. The reversal system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inner achromats, the first and second outer achromats and the sleeve comprise a reversal assembly, wherein an even number of the reversal assemblies are provided.

9. The reversal system according to claim 1, further comprising a system tube for accommodating the first and second outer achromats, the first and second inner achromats and the sleeve.

10. An endoscope comprising at least one reversal system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

(2) The embodiments are described below, without restricting the general idea of the invention, based on an exemplary embodiment in reference to the drawing, whereby we expressly refer to the drawing with regard to the disclosure of all details that are not explained in greater detail in the text, in which the:

(3) FIG. 1 schematically shows a portrayal of a reversal system for an endoscope.

(4) FIG. 2 schematically shows a portrayal of two of the reversal systems of FIG. 1 for an endoscope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 schematically portrays a reversal system 2 for a schematically identified endoscope 1. The reversal system 2 in this case is a component of an optical system of the endoscope 1. The endoscope 1 can be configured as a rigid endoscope. The optical system of the endoscope 1 can be arranged in a rigid tube (not shown). The optical system of the endoscope 1 can comprise an objective at a distal end, wherein the image generated by the objective is transmitted for example using a plurality of reversal systems, as shown in FIG. 2, to an image plane at the proximal end on which the image is viewed by an eyepiece. A camera can also be arranged on the eyepiece.

(6) The optical system of the endoscope 1 can have a plurality, such as an uneven number, of reversal systems which generate an upright image in the last proximal image plane before the eyepiece.

(7) The reversal system 2 shown in FIG. 1 of the optical system of the endoscope 1 transmits the image from a first image plane 3.1 to a second image plane 3.2. The image, which is present in the image plane 3.1, is shown in reverse on, or respectively in, the image plane 3.2. In so doing, the image of the image plane 3.1 is inverted in the image plane 3.2. The plurality of reversal systems shown in FIG. 2 includes an additional image place 3.3.

(8) The reversal system 2 has two outer achromats 10, 20 between which two inner achromats 30, 40 are arranged. The outer achromat 10 comprises in this case a biconvex lens 11 and a biconcave lens 12. Correspondingly, the outer achromat 20 has a biconvex lens 21 and a biconcave lens 22. The lenses 11, 12 of the outer achromat 10 as well as the lenses 21, 22 of the second outer achromat 20 are in this case configured circular in cross-section, i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and have in this case an outer diameter D10, or respectively D20.

(9) The inner achromats 30, 40 arranged between the outer achromats 10, 20 each have a biconvex lens 31, 41, as well as a convex-concave lens 32, or respectively 42.

(10) The lenses 31, 32 of the inner achromat 30 as well as the lenses 41, 42 of the second inner achromat 40 are configured circular in cross-section, and have a diameter D30, or respectively D40. The diameter D30 of the lenses 31, 32 can correspond to the diameter D40 of the lenses 41, 42 of the second inner achromat 40.

(11) The inner achromats 30, 40, or respectively, the lenses 31, 32, 41, 42 of the inner achromats 30, 40 are arranged in a sleeve 50 and accommodated therein. The lenses 31, 32, 41, 42 of the inner achromats 30, 40 can be glued in the sleeve 50. Moreover, a stop barrier 51 that extends radially inward for the lenses 32, 42 is formed in the sleeve 50 between the inner achromats 30, 40. Consequently, the lenses 32, 42 of the achromats 30, 40 are spaced from each other. The sleeve 50 is configured circular in cross-section and has an outer diameter D50. The outer diameter D50 of the sleeve 50 can correspond to the outer diameters D10 and D20 of the outer achromats 10, 20, or respectively their lenses 11, 12, or respectively 21, 22.

(12) The lenses 31, 32 of the achromat 30 as well as the lenses 41, 42 of the achromat 40 are each cemented.

(13) On its ends facing the outer achromats 10, 20, the sleeve 50 has a bearing surface 53, 54. The lenses 12, 22 of the outer achromats 10, 20 are configured elongated, or respectively rod-shaped and (relative to the optical axis) have a length, or respectively thickness that can be greater at least by a factor of 1.5 than the respective outer diameter D10, or respectively D20 of the lens 12, 22, or respectively of the outer achromats 10, 20.

(14) On the sides facing the sleeve 50, the lenses 12, or respectively 22 are configured with a flat shoulder surface 13, or respectively 23 so that the shoulder surfaces 13, or respectively 23 of the lenses 12, 22 are arranged opposite the bearing surfaces 53, 54 of the sleeve and may be connected thereto. In this case, the shoulder surfaces 13, 23 of the lenses 12, 22 are in contact with the bearing surfaces 53, 54 of the sleeve 50.

(15) The outer achromats 10, 20 as well as the inner achromats 30, 40 are arranged in a schematically represented system tube 60 of the endoscope 1 so that the achromats 10, 20, 30, 40 of the system tube 60, such as a fiber tube, are surrounded.

(16) 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(17) 1 Endoscope

(18) 2 Reversal system

(19) 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 Image plane

(20) 10 Achromat

(21) 11 Biconvex lens

(22) 12 Biconcave lens

(23) 13 Shoulder surface

(24) 20 Achromat

(25) 21 Biconvex lens

(26) 22 Biconcave lens

(27) 23 Shoulder surface

(28) 30 Inner achromat

(29) 31 Biconvex lens

(30) 32 Convex-concave lens

(31) 40 Inner achromat

(32) 41 Biconvex lens

(33) 42 Convex-concave lens

(34) 50 Sleeve

(35) 51 Stop barrier

(36) 53 Bearing surface

(37) 54 Bearing surface

(38) 60 System tube

(39) D10 Outer diameter

(40) D20 Outer diameter

(41) D30 Outer diameter

(42) D40 Outer diameter

(43) D50 Outer diameter