The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 17, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1999
David Chatenever, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Klaus M. Irion, Emmingen-Liptingen, DE;
André Ehrhardt, Tuttlingen, DE;
Jürgen Rudischhauser, Tuttlingen, DE;
Daniel Mattsson-Boze, Goleta, CA (US);
Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG, , DE;
Abstract
A coupling provides mechanical, light-guiding, and image-guiding connection of an endoscope to a camera module. It is proposed that a first cylindrical stem, in whose interior a proximal end segment of the light guiding system is received, project in the coupling direction from a coupling end of the endoscope. Also projecting from the coupling end in the coupling direction is a second approximately cylindrical stem whose length and diameter are greater than the length and diameter of the first stem, a proximal end segment of the image guiding system being received in the interior of the second stem. The second stem coacts with an interlock arranged on the camera module, for mechanical interlocking of the coupling. The first and second stems extend at a distance next to one another, and the coupling end of the camera module has receptacles, complementary to the two stems, into which the two stems penetrate. In the base, the receptacle into which the second stem enters is optically connected to the image sensing system of the camera module, and the receptacle into which the shorter first stem can be received has a light guide.