Endoscope apparatus
US4856495A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 1988 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/00165
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A first optical adapter is to be detachably mounted on the distal end of an endoscope having an observation optical system and an illumination optical system, in which an aperture diaphragm which has been disposed at a given position within the observation optical system of the endoscope in the past, is disposed instead within an observaiton optical system of the optical adapter such that its optical axis is in agreement with that of the observation optical system for the endoscope. The optical adapter is selected from a set of adapters having different F numbers or the optical adapter is provided with a set of different F number diaphragms which are interchangeable. This enables the F number of the observation optical system of the endoscope apparatus to be changed by merely selecting the appropriate front optical adapter or diaphragm, depending upon brightness of the observation optical system, depth of field and brightness of an object being observed, as well as observation range and view angle of the observation optical system and the like, in order to obtain a clear observation image with optimum brightness.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.