Patent · US Active

Video endoscope

US8187171B2 · kind B2 · utility

88Cited by

10References

23Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

Klaus Irion · Liptingen, DE
Peter Schwarz · Tuttlingen, DE
Christian Graf · Emmingen-Liptingen, DE
Frank Rockenstiehl · Balingen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Feb 14, 2008
Grant date	May 29, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 31, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA61B1/00114
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A video endoscope comprises an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a handpiece at the proximal end of the shaft, a distal end of the shaft being provided with a lens and, in the proximal direction from the lens, with an electronic image pickup. The image pickup is connected, via an electrical connection extending along the shaft, to an electrical connector piece arranged on the handpiece. The image pickup and the connector piece can rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The electrical connection comprises at least one flexible, elongate circuit board, which is able to twist about its longitudinal direction and has at least one conductor track.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.