Coupling for a mechanical a light-guiding and an image-guiding connection of an endoscope to a camera module

US6494826B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• David Chatenever · Lompoc, US
• Klaus Irion · Liptingen, DE
• Andre Ehrhardt · Tuttlingen, DE
• Jurgen Rudischhauser · Tuttlingen, DE
• Daniel Mattsson-Boze · Goleta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 14, 1999
• Grant date: Dec 17, 2002
• Expiry date: Oct 14, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03B17/48
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A coupling provides mechanical, light-guiding, and image-guiding connection of an endoscope to a camera module. It is proposed that a first cylindrical stem, in whose interior a proximal end segment of the light guiding system is received, project in the coupling direction from a coupling end of the endoscope. Also projecting from the coupling end in the coupling direction is a second approximately cylindrical stem whose length and diameter are greater than the length and diameter of the first stem, a proximal end segment of the image guiding system being received in the interior of the second stem. The second stem coacts with an interlock arranged on the camera module, for mechanical interlocking of the coupling. The first and second stems extend at a distance next to one another, and the coupling end of the camera module has receptacles, complementary to the two stems, into which the two stems penetrate. In the base, the receptacle into which the second stem enters is optically connected to the image sensing system of the camera module, and the receptacle into which the shorter first stem can be received has a light guide.