Patent ID: 8648896
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
1. A stereoscopic optical system comprising, at a distal end of an insertion part of an endoscope: a two-path forming optical system for forming two paths of rays involving a parallax; an image forming optical system for forming images out of light travelling along the respective paths of rays in the two-path forming optical system onto a common region; and an image sensor arranged at an image forming position of the image forming optical system; wherein the stereoscopic optical system is provided with a time-division path switching means that is capable of switching between the two paths of rays in a time-division manner so that only light coming from either one of the two paths of rays formed by the two-path forming optical system enters the image forming optical system; wherein the time-division path switching means comprises a diaphragm member having two apertures arranged to be mated with the two paths of rays formed by the two-path forming optical system, and a blocking member that is capable of blocking the two apertures of the diaphragm member alternately in a time-division manner; and wherein the blocking member includes a blocking plate that is formed to have a size configured to block one of the two apertures of the diaphragm member, and a lever that is connected with the blocking plate at one end and mounted rotatably around a pivot on the diaphragm member at another end, and is configured to cause the blocking plate to block the two apertures alternately by rotating the lever around the pivot.