IP Library Granted Patent US 10,244,932
Granted Patent B2
US 10,244,932 · App. 15/669,235 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Endoscope system with antifogging heating of distal lens

Inventor: Toshiyuki Fujii (Hachioji, JP)
Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
A61B1/127A61B1/0019A61B1/00096A61B1/00163A61B1/00188A61B1/05G02B23/2438A61B1/00006A61B1/00066A61B1/128G02B23/2469
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,244,932
App. No.
15/669,235
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscope includes: a first lens located at a distal-most position, a part of the first lens being exposed outside; a movable lens barrel configured to be able to move, and configured to hold a movable lens disposed on a proximal end side with respect to the first lens; an actuator unit including a coil that drives the movable lens barrel and generates heat by receiving a supply of electric power; and a control section that outputs first electric power to the coil when holding the movable lens barrel at a predetermined position, and outputs second electric power larger than the first electric power to the coil when conducting heat generated from the coil to the first lens at the predetermined position.

Claims (20)

1. An endoscope system comprising:

a first lens, a part of which is exposed outside of an endoscope;

a second lens disposed on a proximal end side with respect to the first lens;

a first barrel that holds the second lens;

a second barrel that holds the first lens on a distal end side of an inner circumferential surface of the second barrel, and movably holds the first barrel on a proximal end side of the inner circumferential surface;

a coil that is wound on an outer circumferential surface of the second barrel, generates a magnetic field for moving the first barrel, and generates heat for heating the first lens; and

a third barrel that surrounds the second barrel and the coil,

wherein an inner circumferential surface of the third barrel on a distal end side thereof and the outer circumferential surface of the second barrel are fitted to each other, and

a heat insulating space for preventing transmission of the heat from the coil to the third barrel is formed between the inner circumferential surface of the third barrel and an entire outer circumferential surface of the coil.

2. The endoscope system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor that is arranged at a predetermined position on an outer circumferential surface of the third barrel and detects heat,

wherein the predetermined position is a position opposed to the inner circumferential surface of the third barrel to which the second barrel is fitted, and

the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the first lens through the third barrel.

3. The endoscope system according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a first abutting portion that is provided at the second barrel and positions the first barrel at a distal holding position on the distal end side,

a second abutting portion that is provided at the second barrel and positions the first barrel at a proximal holding position on the proximal end side, and

a control circuit that generates a first voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage,

wherein the control circuit supplies the first voltage to the coil when moving the first barrel to the first abutting portion or the second abutting portion, and supplies the second voltage to the coil when heating the first lens.

4. The endoscope system according to claim 3 , further comprising:

wherein the control circuit, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a predefined temperature, supplies the second voltage to the coil such that the detected temperature becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-261361 · Dec 18, 2013 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15089695 · Apr 4, 2016
Continuation PCTJP2014082952 · Dec 12, 2014
Related Publication 20170332894A1 · Nov 23, 2017
Cited By (3)
US 12,498,552 US 12,557,973 US 12,560,480