Patent ID: 8900122
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
1. An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope comprising a thin and long insertion portion having flexibility; a connector main body arranged on a proximal end side of the endoscope, the connector main body comprising an exterior housing configured to house a heat generating portion, wherein the exterior housing of the connector main body has an air passage hole that communicates an inner surface of the exterior housing of the connector main body with an outer surface of the exterior housing of the connector main body; an apparatus main body comprising an exterior housing, wherein the exterior housing of the apparatus main body has a slit that communicates an inner surface of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body with an outer surface of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body, and wherein the outer surface of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body defines a housing chamber to which the connector main body is configured to be detachably mounted, and wherein the slit is formed in the exterior housing of the apparatus main body at a part where the housing chamber is formed so as to face and communicate with the air passage hole of the exterior housing of the connector main body in a state where the connector main body is mounted to the housing chamber; and a fan provided in the exterior housing of the apparatus main body, the fan being configured to supply air to the heat generating portion provided in the exterior housing of the connector main body through the slit and the air passage hole, wherein in the state where the connector main body is mounted to the housing chamber, the slit communicates with the air passage hole facing the slit, thereby causing an inner space defined by the inner surface of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body to communicate with an inner space defined by the inner surface of the exterior housing of the connector main body so that one sealed space is formed to preclude movement of air from outsides of the apparatus main body and the connector main body into the one sealed space, wherein the fan is configured to generate convection of the air between the inner space of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body and the inner space of the exterior housing of the connector main body which form the one sealed space, and wherein heat generated by the heat generating portion is conducted from the inner surface of each of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body and the exterior housing of the connector main body to the outer surface of each of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body and the exterior housing of the connector main body, and radiated from the outer surface of each of the exterior housing of the apparatus main body and the exterior housing of the connector main body.