IP Library Granted Patent US 8,029,438
Granted Patent B2
US 8,029,438 · App. 12/129,326 · Granted Oct 4, 2011

Endoscope and hydrophilic cap

Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,029,438
App. No.
12/129,326
Granted
Oct 4, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscope includes: an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject; an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion; an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which a photographing light to be incident into the observation optical system transmits; a first hydrophilic portion that is film-formed at least on a surface of the optical member; a second hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a first surface of the distal end portion in which the optical member is disposed; and a third hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a second surface separate from the first surface of the distal end portion.

Claims (28)

1. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion portion including a distal end portion having a distal end surface provided with an irradiating surface for irradiating illumination light, adapted to be inserted into a subject;

an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion;

an observation window configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which an observation light to be incident into the observation optical system transmits;

a first hydrophilic portion that is film-formed at least on a surface of the observation window;

a second hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a distal end surface of the distal end portion including the irradiating surface, except for the observation window;

a third hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a circumferential side surface of the distal end portion; and

a heat conversion portion that is disposed on the observation window and converts the illumination light irradiated thereon into heat to prevent moisture condensation on the observation window, wherein the heat conversion portion on the observation window has a roughened surface on a part of the observation window that faces an irradiating surface of a light guide that transmits the illumination light.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first hydrophilic portion, the second hydrophilic portion, and the third hydrophilic portion are hydrophilic films that are continuously formed.

3. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the roughened surface has small uneven structures on a part of the observation window that faces an irradiating surface of a light guide that transmits the illumination light.

4. A hydrophilic cap comprising:

a cylindrical body having an essentially circular ring shape, that is detachably attachable to a distal end portion of an endoscope;

a transparent plate body disposed on a distal end of the cylindrical body;

a hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a distal end surface of the cylindrical body including a surface of the plate body, and on a circumferential side surface of the cylindrical body; and

a heat conversion portion that is disposed on the plate body and converts the illumination light irradiated thereon from an endoscope into heat to prevent moisture condensation on the plate body, wherein the heat conversion portion on the observation window has a roughened surface on a part of the observation window that faces an irradiating surface of a light guide that transmits the illumination light.

5. The hydrophilic cap according to claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic portion is film-formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body so that the surface of the plate body is continuous with the circumferential side surface.

6. The hydrophilic cap according to claim 4 , wherein the roughened surface has small uneven structures on a part of the plate body that faces an irradiating surface of a light guide which transmits the illumination light.

7. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject;

an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion;

an illumination optical system for irradiating illumination light to the subject;

an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which an observation light to be incident into the observation optical system transmits;

a cylindrical body having an essentially circular ring shape, that is detachably attachable to the distal end portion;

a transparent plate body disposed on a distal end of the cylindrical body;

a hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a distal end surface of the cylindrical body including a surface of the plate body and on a circumferential side surface of the cylindrical body; and

a heat conversion portion that is disposed on the optical member and converts the illumination light irradiated thereon from the illumination optical system into heat to, wherein the heat conversion portion on the observation window has a roughened surface on a part of the observation window that faces an irradiating surface of a light guide that transmits the illumination light.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the hydrophilic portion is film-formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body so that the surface of the plate body is continuous with the circumferential side surface.

9. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the roughened surface has small uneven structures on a part of the optical member that faces an irradiating surface of a light guide which transmits the illumination light.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2015
From: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036276/0543 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2008
From: HAGIHARA, MASAHIRO; YAMAGUCHI, TAKAO; TSUJI, KIYOSHI; GOTO, ATSUSHI; KINOSHITA, HIROAKI; YAMAMOTO, HIROFUMI
To: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
Reel/Frame 021016/0871 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-348392 · Dec 1, 2005 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2006321272 · Oct 25, 2006
Related Publication 20080228035A1 · Sep 18, 2008