ENDOSCOPE

Abstract

An endoscope including: a shaft; a main body arranged at a proximal end of the shaft; an eyepiece arranged at a proximal end of the main body; an eyepiece system tube, in which the eyepiece is arranged; an eyepiece cone arranged at a proximal end of the eyepiece, wherein the eyepiece cone comprises at least two parts; and an electronic component arranged between the at least two parts of the eyepiece cone; wherein the electronic component is connected to an electronic circuit arranged inside the endoscope and outside the eyepiece system tube.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising: a shaft; a main body arranged at a proximal end of the shaft; an eyepiece arranged at a proximal end of the main body; an eyepiece system tube, in which the eyepiece is arranged; an eyepiece cone arranged at a proximal end of the eyepiece, wherein the eyepiece cone comprises at least two parts; and an electronic component arranged between the at least two parts of the eyepiece cone; wherein the electronic component is connected to an electronic circuit arranged inside the endoscope and outside the eyepiece system tube.

2. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two parts of the eyepiece cone are are configured to be movable in relation to one another at least during assembly of the endoscope.

3. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first part of the at least two parts of the eyepiece cone includes a first threaded portion in mating engagement with a second threaded portion provided on the eyepiece system tube.

4. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the eyepiece system tube having a first portion protruding into the main body and a second portion exposed form the main body, the endoscope further comprising a sleeve arranged around the second portion of the eyepiece system tube.

5. The endoscope as claimed in claim 4, wherein a second part of the at least two parts of the eyepiece cone includes a first threaded portion in mating engagement with a second threaded portion provided on the sleeve.

6. The endoscope as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connection between the electronic component and the electronic circuit is established via a connecting element arranged on an outer side of the eyepiece system tube.

7. The endoscope as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sleeve comprises a passage window in a region of the connecting element.

8. The endoscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein the passage window is configured to be covered by one of the at least two parts of the eyepiece cone in an assembled state of the endoscope.

9. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises a coil.

10. The endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises an electrical consumer.

11. The endoscope as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electrical consumer is selected from a group consisting of a light source, a window heater, an actuator and a video chip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The embodiments are explained in greater detail hereafter on the basis of several exemplary illustrations. In the figures:

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an endoscope, and

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the proximal portion of an endoscope in a simplified sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] An endoscope 1 is shown in FIG. 1. The endoscope 1 comprises a shaft 2 and a main body 3. Furthermore, the endoscope 1 comprises an eyepiece 4, arranged at the proximal end of the main body, having an eyepiece cone 5.

[0024] The proximal end of the endoscope 1 is shown in detail in FIG. 2. An eyepiece system tube 10 protrudes proximally out of the main body 3. Optical components of the eyepiece 4, which are not shown for the sake of clarity, are arranged in the eyepiece system tube 10. The eyepiece system tube 10 ends in an eyepiece window frame 11, in which an eyepiece window 12 is inserted in a sealed manner, for example, by adhesive bonding or soldering.

[0025] To avoid thermal tensions during the soldering of the eyepiece window 12, which usually consists of sapphire, into the eyepiece window frame 11, the eyepiece window frame can consist of a material, the coefficient of thermal expansion of which approximately corresponds to that of the eyepiece window 12. A steel of the type Sandvik 1.4523, for example, comes into consideration for this purpose.

[0026] For the optical adjustment of the endoscope 1, it can be necessary to displace the eyepiece system tube 10 having the optical components located therein in relation to the main body 3 during the production or maintenance and fix it in the correct position. So as not to change the external contour of the endoscope 1 at the same time, a sleeve 15, which encloses the eyepiece system tube 10, is fastened on the main body 3.

[0027] The endoscope is proximally terminated by the eyepiece cone 5, which is constructed from two parts. A first, outer part 17 is screwed onto a thread 18 arranged at the proximal end of the sleeve 15. A second, inner part 19 is screwed onto a thread 20 arranged on the proximal end of the eyepiece window frame 11. A cavity 21, in which an electronic component 22, in the present case a coil, finds space, remains between the parts 17 and 19.

[0028] Feed lines 25 of the electronic component 22 are connected via a connecting element 26 to lines 27 of an electronic circuit 28. The electronic circuit 28 can be used to process a signal captured via the electronic component 22, for example, to convert an AC voltage signal received via a coil into a supply voltage for electrical consumers 30 arranged in the endoscope 1. The consumer 30 can be, inter alia, an electrical light source, a window heater, an actuator, and/or a video chip.

[0029] Reference is expressly made to the corresponding embodiments in the patent application DE102016108095 (PO-2016-008 DE) of the applicant with respect to possible embodiments and arrangements of the electronic component 22, the electronic circuit 28, and the consumers 30.

[0030] The connecting element 26 is fastened on the outer side of the eyepiece system tube 10 and can comprise one or more solder pads or screw clamps.

[0031] During the assembly of the endoscope 1, firstly the eyepiece system tube 10 is introduced into the main body 3, adjusted, and then fixed. The lines 27 of the electronic circuit 28 are then fastened on the connecting element 26. The sleeve 15 is subsequently placed on the main body 3 and fixed, for example by pressing. In this case, seal elements (not shown here for reasons of clarity) can be introduced between the main body 3 and the sleeve 15.

[0032] The sleeve 15 is aligned during the assembly so that an assembly window 32 arranged in the wall of the sleeve 15 is placed over the connecting element 26.

[0033] In a next step, the outer part 17 of the eyepiece cone 5 is screwed onto the sleeve 15 and firstly moved far enough in the distal direction that the assembly window 32 is proximally accessible.

[0034] Subsequently, the electronic component 22 is placed onto the inner part 19 of the eyepiece cone 5 and the latter is screwed onto the thread 20 of the eyepiece window frame 11. In this case, the feed lines 25 are aligned in the direction of the sleeve 15. If the inner part 19 is fixedly screwed together with the eyepiece window frame 11, the electronic component 22 is aligned so that its feed lines 25 extend into the region of the connecting element, this is observed through the assembly window 32.

[0035] The feed lines 25 are now connected, for example, soldered, to the connecting element 26 by means of tools grasping or acting through the assembly window 32.

[0036] Next, the outer part 17 of the eyepiece cone is again screwed in the proximal direction, so that it conceals the assembly window 32. In this case, the proximal edges of the parts 17, 19 are aligned in a planar manner in relation to one another, so that the eyepiece cone 5 has a flat proximal end face. A ring gap 35 remaining between the parts 17, 19 can be closed leak-tight by means of an adhesive, to prevent the penetration of contaminants into the ring gap 35.

[0037] Further seal elements, for example, O-rings, can be arranged between the outer part 17 of the eyepiece cone and the sleeve 15 to also prevent the penetration of contaminants here.

[0038] 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.