# US 10,244,932 B2 · Endoscope system with antifogging heating of distal lens

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- Number: US 10,244,932 B2
- Document ID: US10244932B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/669,235
- Filed: 2017-08-04
- Published: 2017-11-23
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-18
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Applicants: Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Toshiyuki Fujii
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10244932B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/127: {with means for preventing fogging (A61B1/253 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B 1/00163: {Optical arrangements (A61B1/002, A61B1/06 take precedence)}
- A61B 1/00188: {with focusing or zooming features}
- A61B 1/0019: {characterised by variable lenses}
- A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
- G02B 23/2438: {Zoom objectives}
- A61B 1/00006: {of control signals}
- A61B 1/00066: {Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/128: {provided with means for regulating temperature}
- G02B 23/2469: {using optical fibres}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An endoscope includes: a first lens located at a distal-most position, a part of the first lens being exposed outside; a movable lens barrel configured to be able to move, and configured to hold a movable lens disposed on a proximal end side with respect to the first lens; an actuator unit including a coil that drives the movable lens barrel and generates heat by receiving a supply of electric power; and a control section that outputs first electric power to the coil when holding the movable lens barrel at a predetermined position, and outputs second electric power larger than the first electric power to the coil when conducting heat generated from the coil to the first lens at the predetermined position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope system comprising:
a first lens, a part of which is exposed outside of an endoscope;
a second lens disposed on a proximal end side with respect to the first lens;
a first barrel that holds the second lens;
a second barrel that holds the first lens on a distal end side of an inner circumferential surface of the second barrel, and movably holds the first barrel on a proximal end side of the inner circumferential surface;
a coil that is wound on an outer circumferential surface of the second barrel, generates a magnetic field for moving the first barrel, and generates heat for heating the first lens; and
a third barrel that surrounds the second barrel and the coil,
wherein an inner circumferential surface of the third barrel on a distal end side thereof and the outer circumferential surface of the second barrel are fitted to each other, and
a heat insulating space for preventing transmission of the heat from the coil to the third barrel is formed between the inner circumferential surface of the third barrel and an entire outer circumferential surface of the coil.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a temperature sensor that is arranged at a predetermined position on an outer circumferential surface of the third barrel and detects heat,
wherein the predetermined position is a position opposed to the inner circumferential surface of the third barrel to which the second barrel is fitted, and
the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the first lens through the third barrel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The endoscope system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a first abutting portion that is provided at the second barrel and positions the first barrel at a distal holding position on the distal end side,
a second abutting portion that is provided at the second barrel and positions the first barrel at a proximal holding position on the proximal end side, and
a control circuit that generates a first voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage,
wherein the control circuit supplies the first voltage to the coil when moving the first barrel to the first abutting portion or the second abutting portion, and supplies the second voltage to the coil when heating the first lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The endoscope system according to claim 3, further comprising:
wherein the control circuit, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a predefined temperature, supplies the second voltage to the coil such that the detected temperature becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.