Patent Description:
Endoscopic devices are used in the medical field for observing inside of a patient's body cavity. Such endoscopic devices include an insertion unit to be inserted into a patient's body cavity, a light source device that supplies light to the insertion unit that shines onto a target of observation and a removable camera head which is coupled to an eyepiece at the base of the endoscope. The camera head may be associated with a control device that controls the camera head as well as a display device that displays images produced by the camera head imaging device such as a CCD, CMOS or similar imaging device.

Camera heads are often provided with a grasping mechanism to grasp the eyepiece of an endoscope to effectively couple the endoscope to the camera head. Current grasping mechanism include a rotatable coupling feature. For clinicians/surgeons that rotate the scope within the grasping mechanism, this can cause the scope to inadvertently become decoupled from the camera head. Also, for camera heads with rotatable focus or zoom control, a rotatable grasping mechanism presents another rotatable feature adding to confusion or unwanted adjustment or decoupling. Additionally, some cameras (pendulum models) are designed specifically with the grasping mechanism allowed to freely rotate about the optical axis. Using a rotatable coupling feature then requires an additional rotational lock feature in order to insert or remove endoscopes. Further, twist on and off grasping mechanisms use more parts including many machined parts which entails higher costs.

The patent application <CIT> discloses the features of the preamble of independent claim <NUM> and concerns a coupling device for detachably connecting an eyepiece of an endoscope optical system with a camera lens. It includes a receptacle for the eyepiece, attachment means for securing the eyepiece in the receptacle, and a manually activated handle arranged on the outside for releasing the attachment.

It is an object of the invention to provide an endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism (coupling feature) that comprises a push-pull mechanism so as to eliminate the problems of unwanted adjustment or decoupling associated with rotational mechanisms that provide grasping/coupling.

It is another object of the invention to provide a grasping mechanism (coupling feature) that avoids a need to rotationally lock the grasping mechanism, particularly on pendulum cameras, in order to insert or remove endoscopes from such a camera.

According to the invention, an endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism is provided for an endoscope camera head. The endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism comprises a base part with a central eyepiece receiving region with a light passage opening, the base part comprising an axially extending wall. A radially moveable tab member is positioned relative to the axially extending wall with an engagement member connected to the tab member. An annular part is provided comprising an outer engagement surface and an inner camming surface. The annular part is disposed coaxially with the base part and is axially moveable in an axial direction relative to the base part. The engagement surface is moveable with the camming surface to move the tab member radially outwardly, with a movement of the annular part relative to the base part in a first axial direction toward a receiving position, and to move the tab member radially inwardly, with movement of the annular part relative to the base part in a second axial direction toward a grasping position. In the grasping position an endoscope eyepiece within the central eyepiece receiving region is grasped by the grasping mechanism to couple the endoscope eyepiece to the endoscope camera head. A biasing device acts between the base part and the annular part to bias the annular part in the second direction toward the grasping position, whereby an endoscope eyepiece may be inserted in the central eyepiece receiving region in the receiving position and the endoscope eyepiece is engaged by the tab member and retained in the eyepiece receiving region upon the annular part moving from the receiving position to the grasping position.

The tab member may have a ramped shaped surface configured to be contacted by the endoscope eyepiece with the annular part in the grasping position to push the ramped shaped surface radially outwardly with axial movement of the endoscope eyepiece into the eyepiece receiving region, thereby causing movement of the tab member radially outwardly and movement of the annular part toward the receiving position.

The inner camming surface is configured as an axially extending camming wall portion defining a slot. The engagement member comprises a pin at each side of the tab member. The axially extending camming wall portion has a circumferential extent with a radially outwardly extending portion defining each slot. Preferably more than one tab member with pins is provided, such tabs being distributed about the circumferential extent of the grasping mechanism. The axially extending wall of the base part may comprise a pin guide configuration adjacent to a tab opening. The axially extending wall may extend circumferentially around the light passage opening with a plurality of tab openings distributed uniformly relative to a circumferential extent of the axially extending wall.

The annular part may comprise an outer shell with the outer engagement surface and an inner housing with the inner camming surface. The inner housing may comprise an axially extending camming wall portion with an annular shape have widened regions with an extent that is at least partially radial. The inner camming surface may be formed by a slot in each adjacent region. The engagement member may comprise a pin at each side of the tab member, each pin being received in one slot. Each widened region may have a tab member passage. The outer shell may have a gripping contour to facilitate being actuated by a hand of a user.

The annular part may be formed of metal or plastic. The base part may be formed of metal or plastic.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an endoscope camera head is provided comprising a camera head chassis and an endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism having some or all of the features as discussed above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an endoscope system is provided comprising an endoscope with an endoscope eyepiece, a camera head chassis and an endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism having some or all of the features as discussed above.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, <FIG> shows a grasping mechanism generally designated <NUM>, which is attached to a mounting portion <NUM> of a camera head chassis <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The grasping mechanism <NUM> comprises a base part <NUM> with a central eyepiece receiving region <NUM>.

The base part <NUM> defines a central light passage opening <NUM> (<FIG>). The base part <NUM> comprises an axially extending wall <NUM> which extends fully around the light passage opening <NUM>. The base part <NUM> also includes an inner contoured surface <NUM> that surrounds and defines the radially inward light passage opening <NUM>. The contoured surface <NUM> is intended and configured to receive an endoscope eyepiece <NUM> in a coupled position, wherein the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> is grasped to retain the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> in the grasping mechanism <NUM> to couple an endoscope <NUM> to the camera head chassis <NUM>.

The base part <NUM> supports at least one tab member <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, three tab members <NUM> are positioned and guided by the base part <NUM>. The axially extending wall <NUM> has a circumferential extent with tab guide regions <NUM> (three tab guide regions <NUM> are provided with the embodiment of <FIG>). The tab guide regions <NUM> have tab openings <NUM> with tab pin guide configurations <NUM>, comprised of partially radially extending slot guides (angled slots) <NUM> at each side of each of the tab openings <NUM>. The tab openings <NUM> and the extending slot guides <NUM> are formed in the wall <NUM>. Each of the slot guides <NUM> define a path extending from a radially inward lower end <NUM> to a radially outward upper end <NUM>. The path between the inward lower guide end <NUM> and the outward upper guide end <NUM> has a radial component relative to the inward light passage opening <NUM> based on the circumferential course of the wall <NUM>.

Each tab member <NUM> includes a tab guide engagement member <NUM> in the form of two pins. One pin <NUM> extends from each side of each of the member tab <NUM>. Each of the pins <NUM> is positioned in one of the slot guides <NUM> of one of the guide regions <NUM>. The slot guides <NUM> are preferably provided with the same shape and define a region for movement of each pin <NUM>. This moves the tab member <NUM> to follow the path of the movement of each pin <NUM> in the respective slot <NUM>. The shapes of the slots <NUM> provide a radial path for a radial movement of each tab member <NUM> toward the light passage opening <NUM> and away from the light passage opening <NUM> to grasp and retain the endoscope eyepiece in the receiving region <NUM>.

The grasping mechanism <NUM> further includes an annular part <NUM> with an outer engagement (grasping) surface <NUM> and a camming surface <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the outer engagement surface <NUM> is provided by an outer shell <NUM> with a gripping contour and the inner camming surface <NUM> is provided by an inner housing <NUM>. The two parts (the inner housing <NUM> and the outer shell <NUM>), are fixedly connected to form the annular part <NUM>.

The inner housing <NUM> has an annular shape that includes widened regions <NUM> with tab passage openings <NUM> corresponding to the three tab guide regions <NUM> of the base part <NUM>. In an assembled state of the grasping mechanism <NUM>, the widened regions <NUM> are radially outward, relative to the centrally located passage opening <NUM>, by a greater distance than reduced dimension (diameter) regions <NUM> of the inner housing <NUM>. This provides partially radially extending adjacent regions <NUM>, that each extend radially and circumferentially relative to the widened regions <NUM> of larger diameter and the reduced dimension region <NUM>. At the radially extending regions <NUM> the inner camming surface <NUM> is provided in the form of slots <NUM> (<FIG>). In the assembled state, each slot <NUM> receives one of the pins <NUM>, with the slot <NUM> forming the camming surface <NUM> and the pins <NUM> being cam followers to follow the path defined by each slot <NUM>. As shown, the slots <NUM> extend from a radially inward lower end <NUM> to a radially outward upper end <NUM>. With this configuration, each pin <NUM> in the associated slot <NUM> is moved to a radially inward location of the associated slot guides <NUM> with the pin <NUM> at the radially inward lower end <NUM> of the respective slot <NUM>. With the pin <NUM> at the radially outward end <NUM> of the respective slot <NUM>, the pin <NUM> is moved to a radially outward location of the associated slot guide <NUM> of the tab guide configuration <NUM>. In the assembled state, movement of the annular part <NUM> relative to the base part <NUM> in a first axial direction AO moves each of the tab members <NUM> radially outward (<FIG>). Further, in the assembled state, movement of the annular part <NUM> relative to the base part <NUM> in a second axial direction AC moves each of the tab members <NUM> radially inward. In the assembled state, each tab member <NUM> is guided and positioned and supported for movement radially relative to the annular part <NUM>, based on each tab member <NUM> being aligned with one of the tab passages <NUM>.

A biasing device <NUM> is connected to each of the base part <NUM> and the annular part <NUM> to act between the base part <NUM> and the annular part <NUM>. The biasing device <NUM> biases the annular part <NUM> in the axial direction AC toward a final grasping position with which the tab members <NUM> grasps the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> to hold the endoscope eyepiece in the central eyepiece receiving region <NUM> in contact with the inner contoured surface <NUM> so as to couple the eyepiece <NUM> with the camera head <NUM>. In the grasping position, each pin <NUM> is at a radially innermost position and each pin <NUM> is at or toward the lower inner end <NUM> of each slot <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the biasing device comprises a plurality of helical compression springs <NUM>. Each helical compression spring <NUM> is seated in a spring seat <NUM> and extends from the spring seat <NUM> between a spring receiving contour <NUM> of the annular part <NUM> and spring region <NUM> of the inner housing <NUM> to the upper annular wall <NUM> of the outer shell <NUM>. Each compression spring <NUM> acts between the respective spring seat <NUM> and a respective area of the upper annular wall <NUM>.

For assembling the grasping device <NUM>, the tab members <NUM> are each connected to pins <NUM> so one of the pins <NUM> extends from each side of each tab member <NUM>. The pins <NUM> with connected tab members <NUM> are mounted on the base part <NUM> with the pins <NUM> received in one of the slot guides <NUM> of each pin guide configuration <NUM>. The annular part <NUM> or the inner housing <NUM> is disposed coaxially with the base part <NUM> and pushed axially to capture the base part <NUM> within the inner housing <NUM>, with each tab member <NUM> disposed in a corresponding one of the tab openings <NUM> of the inner housing <NUM>. The assembly also captures each pin <NUM> in one of the slots <NUM> of the inner camming surface <NUM>. The helical compression springs <NUM> are positioned on the respective spring seats <NUM> and then placed in contact with the inner surface of the upper annular wall <NUM> of the outer shell <NUM>. A fixing of the outer shell <NUM> to the inner housing <NUM> may be performed before or after the inner housing <NUM> is combined with the base part <NUM>. The entire assembly of the grasping device <NUM> is attached to the camera head chassis <NUM> via a threaded retaining feature of a known fastening mechanism with additional sealing provided by ring washer <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the camera head <NUM> with the endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism <NUM> along with a positioned endoscope <NUM>. The endoscope <NUM> has the endoscope eyepiece <NUM>. <FIG> also shows a light source <NUM> which can be connected to the endoscope <NUM> as well as a signal connection line <NUM> that is connected to the camera head <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> is moved axially toward the grasping mechanism <NUM> and then is moved into the eyepiece receiving region <NUM>. In operation, the annular part <NUM> is grasped at the outer engagement surface <NUM> and is pulled in the direction AO. The angled slots <NUM> of the inner housing <NUM> act on the pins <NUM> such that the pins <NUM> each move radially outward along the slot guides <NUM> and move toward the radially outward end <NUM> of the angled slots <NUM>. With this relative movement of the pins <NUM>, each of the tab members <NUM> moves radially outward to a receiving position. After this, the annular part <NUM> may be released such that the action of the biasing device <NUM> moves the annular part <NUM> in the direction AC, such the grasping mechanism <NUM> assumes a grasping position. With this movement in the direction AC the angled slots <NUM> of the inner housing <NUM> act on the pins <NUM> such that the inner pins <NUM> each move radially inward along the slot guides <NUM> and move toward the radially inward end <NUM> of the angled slots <NUM>. The pins <NUM> along with the tab members <NUM> move radially inward to the grasping position in which the tab members <NUM> engage an outer periphery of the endoscope eyepiece <NUM>, to couple the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> to the camera head <NUM>. To release the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> and the connected endoscope <NUM> from the camera head <NUM>, the annular part <NUM> is again grasped and pulled in the direction AO to move the tab members <NUM> radially outwardly to a receiving position, allowing removal of the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> from the eyepiece receiving region <NUM>.

The tab members <NUM> include ramped, shaped or contoured surface features <NUM> at an inward side, namely within the eyepiece receiving region <NUM> and facing and surrounding the light passage opening <NUM>. This configuration allows the surface of the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> to be moved toward and into the receiving region <NUM> resulting in engagement with the tab members <NUM>. Based on the surface of the eyepiece <NUM> acting on the contoured surface features <NUM> of the tab members <NUM>, each of the tab members <NUM> is pressed radially outward to allow insertion of the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> into the receiving region <NUM>. This movement and pressing of the tabs results in the annular part <NUM> being pulled down in the direction AO. This results in the annular part <NUM> sliding relative to the base part <NUM> from the grasping position to the receiving position. When the endoscope eyepiece is fully received in the receiving region <NUM>, the surface of the eyepiece <NUM> clears the contoured surface features <NUM> of the tab members <NUM> and the tab members <NUM> again move radially inward with the annular part <NUM> sliding relative to the base part <NUM> from the receiving position to the grasping position to capture and retain the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> and to maintain the endoscope eyepiece <NUM> in the coupled position with the camera head <NUM>.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

The features of the invention as mentioned apply not only in the combinations mentioned but also in other combinations or alone, without leaving the scope of the present invention. Further aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the figures. These figures show examples of the invention. The figures, the description and the requirements contain numerous features in combination. One of skill in the art will recognize the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations. An endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism includes a base part engaging a tab member via a connected engagement member. An annular part has an outer engagement surface and an inner camming surface disposed coaxially with the base part and axially moveable relative to the base part. The engagement surface is moveable with the camming surface to move the tab member radially outwardly, with a movement of the annular part relative to the base part in a first axial direction, toward a receiving position, and to move the tab member radially inwardly, with movement of the annular part relative to the base part in a second axial direction, toward a grasping position. A biasing device acts to bias the annular part toward the grasping position. An endoscope eyepiece is engaged by the tab member upon the annular part moving from the receiving position to the grasping position.

Claim 1:
An endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism (<NUM>) for an endoscope camera head (<NUM>), the endoscope eyepiece grasping mechanism comprising:
- a base part (<NUM>) with a central eyepiece receiving region (<NUM>) with a light passage opening (<NUM>), the base part (<NUM>) comprising an axially extending wall (<NUM>);
- a radially moveable tab member (<NUM>) positioned relative to the axially extending wall (<NUM>);
- an engagement member (<NUM>) connected to the tab member (<NUM>);
- an annular part (<NUM>) comprising an outer engagement surface (<NUM>) and inner camming surface (<NUM>), the annular part (<NUM>) being disposed coaxially with the base part (<NUM>) and being axially moveable in an axial direction relative to the base part (<NUM>), the engagement surface (<NUM>) being moveable with said camming surface (<NUM>) to move the tab member (<NUM>) radially outwardly, with a movement of the annular part (<NUM>) relative to the base part (<NUM>) in a first axial direction (AO) toward a receiving position, and to move the tab member (<NUM>) radially inwardly, with movement of the annular part (<NUM>) relative to the base part (<NUM>) in a second axial direction (AC) toward a grasping position in which an endoscope eyepiece (<NUM>) within the central eyepiece receiving region (<NUM>) is grasped by the grasping mechanism (<NUM>) to couple the endoscope eyepiece (<NUM>) to the endoscope camera head (<NUM>); and
- a biasing device (<NUM>) acting between the base part (<NUM>) and the annular part (<NUM>) to bias the annular part (<NUM>) in the second direction (AC) toward the grasping position, whereby an endoscope eyepiece (<NUM>) may be inserted in the central eyepiece receiving region (<NUM>) in the receiving position and the endoscope eyepiece is engaged by the tab member (<NUM>) and retained in the eyepiece receiving region (<NUM>) upon the annular part (<NUM>) moving from the receiving position to the grasping position;
wherein the inner camming surface (<NUM>) is formed by an axially extending camming wall portion (<NUM>) defining a slot (<NUM>);
characterised in that:
- the engagement member (<NUM>) comprises a pin at each side of the tab member (<NUM>); and
- the axially extending camming wall portion (<NUM>) has a circumferential extent with a radially outwardly extending portion defining each slot.