Endoscope with pivotable image capturing device

US12016532B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Markus Kupferschmid · Emmingen-Liptingen, DE
• Daniel Ulmschneider · Tuttlingen, DE
• Andreas Heni · Tuttlingen, DE
• Jonas Forster · Tuttlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2021
• Grant date: Jun 25, 2024
• Expiry date: Aug 5, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B23/2484
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present application relates to an endoscope apparatus including a shaft component with a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft component is arranged in an outer shaft. The endoscopy apparatus includes an image capture device having an objective lens for generating a real image and an image sensor for capturing the image and generating an image signal. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot joint device which couples the image capture device to the shaft component in a manner pivotable about two orthogonal axes but rigid in respect of a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft component. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot control device to set a pivot position of the image capture device relative to the shaft component which depends on the rotational position of the image capture device and the shaft component relative to the outer shaft.