Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.

Satoshi Arakawa

Makoto Toyota

Fumitaka Takeshita

David H Cooper

An endoscope used for observing the interior of a cavity in a human body. In the endoscope according to the present invention, an image sensor is provided in the forward end of an insertion section and an object of interest is displayed on a screen of a television set in response to a video signal obtained from the image sensor. According to the present invention, image information from the image sensor is provisionally stored in a memory, and the read-out from the memory is performed by horizontal scanning in accordance with read-out information by reversing the steps in the case of the write-in. With this arrangement, an image of the object of interest, which is inverted in an optical system in the forward end of the insertion section of the endoscope, can be displayed on the screen of the television as a normal image.

Endoscope for displaying a normal image

A compact optical imaging system with application to a viewing head of an endoscope. A lens assembly gathers and focuses light into parallel rays which are turned 90.degree. from the lens assembly optical axis. A planar image sensor is oriented parallel to the lens assembly optical axis and receives the light which has been turned. The light enters a glass plate serving as the back side of the image sensor and impinges on active light-sensitive elements on a silicon layer deposited on the glass plate. A substrate is bonded on the silicon layer and supports circuitry for buffering and driving signals to and from the image snsor. The substrate has a plurality of slots aligned with the bonding pads of the image sensor to permit electrical connection between the buffering and driving circuitry and the image sensor.

Compact optical imaging system

An endoscope includes in the viewing head of its insertable section into a cavity of a living body an image sensor for generating a video signal which in turn is transmitted to a television display to be visualized thereon as a television picture. The image sensor with a shape such as a plate is located in a plane containing the longitudinal center line of the viewing head. In the present endoscope, a prism to be cemented to the image sensor is shielded in the periphery thereof by a light shielding material except for an image pick-up light path which is so positioned as to face the image area of the image sensor, whereby any lights other than a light contributing to forming an image are prevented from entering the image sensor.

Endoscope

An endoscope of the type having in its imaging system a solid state imaging device provided in its insertable section into a cavity of a living body for receiving an optical image and converting it into electrical signals which are processed and then transmitted to a monitor to be visualized thereon. The endoscope comprises an operating part having an insertable section into a cavity which includes therein a solid state imaging device for receiving an optical image and converting it into electrical signals, a control unit for providing driving signals for the solid state imaging device and processing the signals from the solid state imaging device to provide a video signal and a display for receiving the video signal from the control unit to be visualized as, for example, a television picture. The operating part further includes an adjusting means for modifying levels of the driving signals corresponding to the characteristics of the solid state imaging device. The provision of the adjusting means in the operating part permits a control unit to be commonly applied to endoscopes having different characteristics of solid state imaging devices.

Endoscope having a control section with level adjusting device

A video endoscope system includes an endoscope having in its imaging system a solid state imaging device for generating a video signal of an image of an object to be observed or examined which in turn is transmitted through a control circuit to a CRT display to be visualized thereon as a television picture and to a video tape recorder. A manually operable control switch on a hand-held control section of the endoscope actuates the video tape recorder to start recording the transmitted video signal on a video tape when desired. The provision of the control switch operable remotely from the video recorder permits an endoscope operator to start the video recorder when desired, without calling on others observing the television picture to perform the recording operation, which avoids the risk of delays and faulty communications that might otherwise result.

Video endoscope system

An endoscope is provided which includes a viewing head in a section which is insertable into a cavity of a living body. An image sensor for generating a video signal which in turn is transmitted to a television display to be visualized thereon as a television picture is provided in the viewing head. The image sensor with a shape such as a plate is located in a plane containing the longitudinal center line of the viewing head. A heat conductive material is provided in a space formed between a metal barrel of the insertable section and the plate-shaped image sensor provided in the metal barrel. With this arrangement, heat accumulated in the image sensor can be emitted to the outside.

Construction of a forward end portion of an endoscope using a heat

An endoscope includes in the viewing head of its insertable section into a cavity of a living body an image sensor for generating a video signal which in turn is transmitted to a television display to be visualized thereon as a television picture. The image sensor with a shape such as a plate is located in a plane containing the longitudinal center line of the viewing head. According to the present invention, a mask having an opening formed at a position opposed to an image area of the image sensor is provided, so that any light other than the light contributing to the image formation can be prevented from falling into the image sensor.

Light shielding construction for the forward end of an endoscope

An endoscope used for observing the interior of a cavity and the like of a living human body. The endoscope according to the present invention is of such an arrangement that an image sensor is provided in the forward end of an insertion section and an object of interest can be displayed on a screen of a television set in response to a video signal obtained from the image sensor. According to the present invention, a control unit is provided therein with a circuit for producing an image standstill command and a shutter release command depending on a time or times of operation, or a step or steps in press-in value of a single push in switch provided a control section of the endoscope, so that the provision of a single control button makes it possible to make a monitored image stand still and to release a shutter of a camera.

Endoscope having a control for image stand still and photographing the

An endoscope includes in the viewing head of its insertable section into a cavity of a living body an image sensor for generating a video signal which in turn is transmitted to a television display to be visualized thereon as a television picture. The image sensor with a shape such as a plate is located in a plane containing the longitudinal center line of the viewing head. The location permits to keep the shape of the viewing head unchanged. In addition, the image sensor thus located the interior of the viewing head into two spaces, one accommodating therein a forceps channel, and the other accommodating therein an objective lens assembly, resulting in a most efficient arrangement of essential elements for endoscope.

Endoscope having a plate-like image sensor for forming images

An endoscope includes in a viewing head of its insertable section into a cavity of a living body an image sensor for generating a video signal which in turn is transmitted to a television display to be visualized thereon as a television picture. A manual control section of the endoscope according to the present invention comprises a connector section connected to the rear end of the insertable section on one and same axial line and a grip section. The center axis of which is inclined at an angle .theta. (90.degree.&lt;.theta.&lt;180.degree.) to the center axis of the connector section, being grasped at least with a third finger and a little finger, the connector section and the grip section forming a generally pistol shape. As the result, the manual control section is formed into a generally pistol shape, whereby control buttons for air and water supply and for suction can be provided at a position corresponding to a trigger portion, so that the handling of the control buttons can be facilitated. In consequence, even if the endoscope is used for a long period of time, the fatigue of the operator remains low.

Construction of manual control section of endoscope

An endoscope used for observing the interior of a cavity in a human body. The endoscope according to the present invention is provided in the forward end of an insertion section with an image sensor and an object of interest can be displayed on a screen of a television set in response to a video signal obtained from the image sensor. In this endoscope according to the present invention, a main body of a control section includes a grip section and a connecting section projecting at an obtuse angle forwardly and downwardly from this grip section, so that, when the endoscope is operated, such troublesomeness can be avoided that the connecting section interferes with an operator's body. Furthermore, a control button or buttons of the endoscope are provided on the front surface or the rear surface, so that the control button or buttons can be easily operated by an index finger or a thumb.

Endoscope with an obtusely angled connecting section

An endoscope connecting system having as its imaging system a solid state imaging device for generating a video signal containing image information of an interested object which is transmitted to a display to be visualized such as a television picture comprises a fiberoptic endoscope having an eyepiece section on its control section, a video endoscope having a solid state imaging device disposed in its insertion section for generating a video signal, an adaptor having a solid state imaging device therein which is detachably mounted on the eyepiece section of the fiberoptic endoscope and a light source device for producing illumination light to enter the fiberoptic endoscope or the video endoscope in a red, green and blue sequence. The adaptor permits the connection of the fiberoptic endoscope to video signal processing means for the video endoscope so as to display an image of the interested object on the monitor equipment.

Endoscope connecting system

This disclosure depicts an endoscope inserted into a cavity in a human body or a component such as an engine, for observing the interior thereof. In the endoscope according to the present invention, a face plate-shaped image sensor provided on the forward end of an insertion portion can output an optical image obtained through an objective optical system as electric image signals, which can be displayed on a picture plane of a television. This endoscope is disposed on a plane incorporating therein the center axis in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion, so that the outer diameter of the insertion portion of the endoscope can be reduced in addition to that the size of the image sensor can be secured satisfactorily. Furthermore, in the forward end of the insertion portion of this endoscope according to the present invention, a space sufficient for receiving a forceps channel can be secured at a side opposite to the side, where the objective optical system is disposed, with respect to the image sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Omiya, Japan

Satoshi Arakawa