Endoscope and endoscope assembly

An endoscope assembly has an endoscope, having an optical waveguide and having an image guide, wherein the image guide is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an image guide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an image capturing unit, an illumination unit having a light source and having an optical waveguide interface for optical connection of the light source to an optical waveguide, and an image capturing unit having an image sensor and having an image guide interface for optical connection of the image sensor to an image guide.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2019 131 076.8 filed Nov. 18, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an endoscope having an optical waveguide and having an image guide, and an endoscope assembly with such an endoscope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Endoscopes with image guides are well-known in the art. The image guide can be used to transmit an image to an image sensor arranged outside of the endoscope. Compared to an arrangement of the image sensor within the endoscope, this has the advantage that the endoscope can be manufactured at lower costs.

However, after use, endoscopes require considerable treatment and sterilization. Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an endoscope of the aforementioned type which is altogether easier to handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved according to embodiments of the invention by an endoscope having the features of claim1.

Accordingly, in the endoscope according to the invention, the image guide is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an image guide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an image capturing unit. In this way, the endoscope can be separated from an image capturing unit in which an image sensor may be arranged, for example. Thus, an image capturing unit may be used with multiple, also different, endoscopes. In particular, it may thus be possible to even switch endoscopes during use without having to change the remaining imaging and image rendering.

In addition, cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope becomes easier. As there is no image sensor arranged within the endoscope, it may also be designed to be so cost-effective that it is suitable for single use and thus does not require any treatment.

In addition, the image guide may be uninterrupted and thus not influence image quality up to a non-sterile area. Thus, the image interface can be configured for maximum image quality as it does not have to be configured to be sterile or sterilizable.

Finally, approval of the endoscope may also be simplified, in particular with combinations of different endoscopes and image capturing units.

The image guide is preferably configured to be flexible, facilitating its introduction into different body orifices and/or body cavities. To this end, the image guide has at least one image guide fiber or at least one image guide fiber bundle.

In one advantageous embodiment, the image guide has two image channels formed by two image guide fibers or two image guide fiber bundles. For example, these two image channels can be used to transmit a stereoscopic image or two images in different spectra.

In one embodiment, the endoscope has a handle, and the image guide extends outward from the handle, in particular at the proximal end of the handle. What is important in the invention is that the image guide runs uninterrupted and without couplings up to the endoscope tip. Accordingly, there is also no interruption of the image guide arranged within the handle. Of particular advantage is here that the image guide interface is arranged within a non-sterile area of the endoscope in any case.

Conveniently, the image guide interface has a coupling for optical and/or mechanical connection to an image capturing unit. The mechanical connection may have, for example, a bayonet coupling, a latching mechanism, a screw connection or another known mechanical connection. In particular, the optical connection may be configured such that the image guide is directly coupled to an image sensor. However, the optical connection may also have an additional image guide within the image capturing unit which is coupled planar and normal to the image guide of the endoscope.

In one embodiment, the endoscope has a light source coupled to the optical waveguide. Preferably, this light source may be arranged in the or a handle of the endoscope.

In an alternative embodiment, the image guide is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an optical waveguide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an illumination unit.

It is particularly advantageous if the optical waveguide has a coupling for optical and/or mechanical connection to the illumination unit.

In particular, the optical waveguide may substantially have the same length as the image guide.

The invention further comprises an illumination unit for an endoscope assembly, having a light source and having an optical waveguide interface for optical connection of the light source to an optical waveguide.

The illumination unit may be configured to be separate or together with an image capturing unit.

For example, the illumination unit can be arranged within a handle of an endoscope. As such, the illumination unit may have a battery or rechargeable battery for power supply, for example.

The illumination unit may preferably have an electrical interface for controlling the light source. For example, the electrical interface may be configured for connection to a control unit and/or comprise a media interface, in particular USB and/or HDMI interface, for connection to an image display unit, in particular a smart TV.

The invention further comprises an image capturing unit for an endoscope assembly, having an image sensor and having an image guide interface for optical connection of the image sensor to an image guide.

Preferably, the image guide interface has a coupling for optical and/or mechanical connection to an image guide. As such, in particular, the image sensor may be arranged within the coupling area such that it can capture an image of the image guide directly.

In one embodiment, the image capturing unit has an electrical interface for controlling the image sensor and/or for output of the image data of the image sensor. For example, the electrical interface may be configured for connection to a control unit and/or comprise a media interface, in particular USB and/or HDMI interface, for connection to an image display unit, in particular a smart TV.

The invention further comprises an endoscope assembly with an image capturing unit according to the invention, with an illumination unit according to the invention and with an endoscope according to the invention.

The advantage of the endoscope assembly is the modular exchangeability and combinability of the individual components, also during use. Thus, an illumination unit can be readily replaced, for example if illumination in another spectrum is necessary or desired.

The endoscope may also be exchanged, for example if other optics are required.

Hence, the endoscope assembly according to the invention is substantially safer and more flexible to use.

In one embodiment of the invention, the image guide of the endoscope is configured to be uninterrupted up to its proximal end and has an optical waveguide interface at its proximal end for optical connection to an illumination unit.

In one alternative embodiment, the endoscope has a handle and the illumination unit is arranged within the handle.

In one embodiment, the illumination unit and/or the image capturing unit has an interface for connection to a camera control unit.

In one alternative embodiment, the illumination unit and/or the image capturing unit has an electrical interface, in particular USB and/or HDMI interface, for connection to an image display unit.

The image capturing unit and the illumination unit may each be configured as stand-alone devices or arranged in a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows an endoscope assembly1according to the invention with an endoscope2, a combined image capturing and illumination unit3, a control unit4and an image display unit5.

Endoscope2has a shaft6and a handle7. Inside shaft6and handle7, an image guide and an optical waveguide are arranged, shown as image guide and optical waveguide unit24in the figure. As such, image guide13and optical waveguide14may each be composed of a fiber bundle including a plurality of image guide fibers or optical waveguide fibers.

The image guide may also be produced in a so-called extruding method in which the individual image fibers of the image guide are manufactured simultaneously and manual assembly of the fiber bundle is therefore not necessary. In particular, this allows to easily maintain the orientation of the individual image fibers so that the individual pixels of the image are correctly aligned. To increase image resolution, the image guide fibers may be elongated in an additional or alternative thermal process, enabling production of significantly thinner fibers.

In the figure, a sterile area8is separated from a non-sterile area9of a place of operation of endoscope assembly1by a dashed line. One advantage of the invention is that the image guide and, in the example, also the optical waveguide, may run uninterrupted in non-sterile area9.

In non-sterile area9, an image capturing and illumination unit3is arranged which has a combined image guide and optical waveguide interface10for connection to the image guide and the optical waveguide of endoscope2.

Image capturing and illumination unit3has an image sensor and a light source. Image capturing and illumination unit3further has electrical interfaces11for connection to a control unit4. In the example, this control unit4has a camera controller and an illumination controller. Control unit4has a data interface12for image output to an image display unit5.

FIG.2shows an endoscope2with an image guide13and an optical waveguide14, running uninterrupted to the proximal end in non-sterile area9. There, they are connected to an image capturing and illumination unit3via a combined image guide and optical waveguide interface10.

Image capturing and illumination unit3has an image sensor15which, in the example, is connected to the image guide and optical waveguide interface10with an internal image guide17, so that an image of image guide13can be transmitted to image sensor15.

Image capturing and illumination unit3has a light source16which, in the example, is connected to image guide and optical waveguide interface10via an internal optical waveguide18, so that the light of light source16can enter optical waveguide14. Finally, image capturing and illumination unit3has an electrical interface11for connection to a control unit4.

The embodiment ofFIG.3substantially corresponds toFIG.2. However, image capturing and illumination unit3has a separate image guide interface19and a separate optical waveguide interface20. As such, image sensor15is arranged in the area of image guide interface19such that an image of image guide13directly falls on image sensor15and an internal optical waveguide is not necessary.

Similarly, light source16is arranged in the area of optical waveguide interface20, so that the light directly enters optical waveguide14.

FIG.4shows an endoscope2and an image capturing unit22with an image sensor15in direct arrangement towards an image guide interface19as shown inFIG.3. In this embodiment, a light source16is arranged in handle7of endoscope2. Accordingly, in addition to image guide13, an electric line21runs from endoscope2to image capturing unit22. Hence, image guide interface19has an electrical interface for controlling the light source. Image capturing unit22further has an electrical interface11for connection to a control unit4.

FIG.5shows an alternative endoscope assembly1ofFIG.1. Here, electrical interface11of combined image capturing and illumination unit3is additionally configured for transmission of image signals, so that image capturing and illumination unit3is directly connected to an image display unit5.

The embodiments ofFIGS.6and8each substantially correspond toFIGS.2and4. However, here, image capturing and illumination unit3is shown as a USB or media drive, the electrical interface11of which is configured as a media interface, e.g., as a USB and/or HDMI interface.

The embodiment ofFIG.7substantially corresponds toFIG.3, in which an image capturing unit22and an illumination unit23are present in the form of a USB or media drive. Illumination unit23has an optical waveguide interface24for connection of optical waveguide14.

FIG.9shows an endoscope assembly1with an endoscope2, an image capturing unit22, an illumination unit23, a control unit4and an image display unit5. Image capturing unit21has an image guide interface19for connection to image guide13of endoscope2and an electrical interface11for connection to control unit4. Illumination unit23is configured separately.

The embodiment ofFIG.10differs from that inFIG.9in that illumination unit23also has an electrical interface11via which it is connected to control unit4.

FIG.11shows an endoscope2with two image guides13and an optical waveguide14. Here, combined image capturing and illumination unit3accordingly has two image guide interfaces19, each optically coupled to an image sensor15. An electrical interface11enables connection to a control unit. In this embodiment, it is also basically possible to configure the electrical interface as a USB and/or HDMI interface.