IP Library Granted Patent US 11,064,868
Granted Patent B2
US 11,064,868 · App. 16/052,209 · Granted Jul 20, 2021

Endoscope with distal linear conductor

Inventors: Katsuhiro Kobayashi (Fukuoka, JP); Hirofumi Enomoto (Fukuoka, JP); Kouichi Hoshino (Fukuoka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
A61B1/00096A61B1/0008A61B1/05G02B23/2423G02B23/2476G02B23/2484A61B1/00165A61B1/07A61B1/233A61B1/267A61B1/307A61B1/3137
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,064,868
App. No.
16/052,209
Granted
Jul 20, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscope includes an insertion portion that has a tip portion to be inserted into an examination target from a tip side of the tip portion. The endoscope includes a lens unit that is disposed at the tip portion. The endoscope includes an image sensor that is disposed on an opposite side to the tip side of tip portion with respect to the lens unit. The endoscope includes a linear conductor that has a tip disposed at the tip side with respect to the image sensor and has a proximal end which is extended from the tip through inside the insertion portion.

Claims (32)

1. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion portion that has a tip portion to be inserted into an examination target from a tip side of the tip portion;

a lens that is disposed at the tip portion;

a tip flange portion that is disposed on a front outermost surface of the tip portion and has electrical conductivity, wherein an internal diameter hole of the tip flange portion supports a part of the lens at the tip side;

an image sensor that is disposed on an opposite side to the tip side of the tip portion with respect to the lens;

an electrically-insulative circuit; and

a linear conductor electrically connected to the electrically-insulative circuit via an insulated earth line, and that has a tip disposed at the tip side with respect to the image sensor and has a proximal end which is extended from the tip through inside the insertion portion,

wherein the tip of the linear conductor and the tip flange portion are electrically connected to each other.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1 ,

wherein the tip of the linear conductor and the tip flange portion are disposed so as to be separated from each other.

3. The endoscope according to claim 2 ,

wherein the tip of the linear conductor and the tip flange portion are fixed to each other with an adhesive.

4. The endoscope according to claim 2 ,

wherein the tip of the linear conductor extends along a part of circumferential surface of the lens in a circumferential direction.

5. The endoscope according to claim 2 ,

wherein the tip of the linear conductor extends along an entire circumference of the lens in a circumferential direction.

6. The endoscope according to claim 2 ,

wherein the tip of the linear conductor and the tip flange portion are disposed so as to be separated from each other by a resin.

7. The endoscope according to claim 1 ,

wherein the tip of the linear conductor is disposed between an outer periphery of a circular lens and a corner portion of the image sensor, and

wherein the circular lens is surrounded by an angular outline of the image sensor.

8. The endoscope according to claim 1 ,

wherein an outer periphery of the lens is molded by a mold portion, and

wherein at least a portion of the tip of the linear conductor is covered with the mold portion.

9. The endoscope according to claim 1 ,

wherein an outer periphery of the lens is molded by a mold portion, and

wherein the tip of the linear conductor is disposed outside the mold portion.

10. The endoscope according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a protective element that is disposed between the linear conductor, wherein the electrically-insulative circuit is electrically insulated from the tip portion.

11. The endoscope according to claim 10 , wherein the protective element cuts off a leakage current leaking in the tip portion.

12. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulative circuit is a protected circuit that prevents an electric shock to a patient.

13. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically-insulative circuit suppresses static electricity from the tip portion.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063101/0966 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: I-PRO CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063102/0075 →
ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 055479/0932 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 28, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054757/0114 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2019
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051276/0124 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2018
From: KOBAYASHI, KATSUHIRO; ENOMOTO, HIROFUMI; HOSHINO, KOUICHI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047000/0889 →