# US 10,307,040 B2 · In-body monitoring camera system and support tube for in-body monitoring-camera-system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,040 B2 - Document ID: US10307040B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/899,269 - Filed: 2014-08-07 - Published: 2016-05-26 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-08 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Toshihisa Gotoh; Tsuguhisa Inoue; Kei Urakawa; Hitoshi Aoki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307040B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/005: Flexible endoscopes - A61B 1/00105: {characterised by modular construction} - A61B 1/00114: {Electrical cables in or with an endoscope} - A61B 1/00128: {mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes} - A61B 1/00147: {Holding or positioning arrangements} - A61B 1/041: {Capsule endoscopes for imaging} - A61B 1/053: {being detachable} - A61B 1/3132: {for laparoscopy} - A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The invention is provided with: a camera support tube (13) one end part of which is introduced into a body; a camera unit (11) which is joined to the camera support tube inside the body; a support tube joining portion (14) which joins the camera unit and the camera support tube; a camera-side cable (12) which is connected to the camera unit and led out to an outside of the body through the camera support tube; and a control system that is provided outside the body is connected to the camera-side cable, and includes at least a display (18). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An in-body monitoring camera system, comprising: a support tube, one end part of which is able to be introduced into a body; an imaging portion which is arranged to be joined to the support tube inside the body; a joining portion which joins the imaging portion and the support tube; a first cable which is connected to the imaging portion and able to be led out to an outside of the body through the support tube; and a control system that is electrically connected to the first cable, and includes at least a display apparatus, wherein the joining portion is a recess-shaped joining portion formed in the imaging portion, and the support tube is joined to the imaging portion by being inserted into the recess-shaped joining portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, wherein a part from which the first cable is pulled out is provided in an inner part of the joining portion, and the first cable is adhesively fixed to the inner part of the joining portion at the part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the joining portion and a part of the support tube is formed of an elastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, wherein the joining portion has a recess shape corresponding to the one end part of the support tube, and a protrusion or a recess for mechanically fixing the end part of the support tube is provided in an inner wall of the joining portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion is a locking pawl. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A support tube of the in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 4, comprising a recess or a protrusion corresponding to a shape of the protrusion or the recess provided in the inner wall of the joining portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The support tube according to claim 6, wherein the support tube has a shape an inner diameter of which is fixed and an outer diameter of which, in a part joining to the joining portion, becomes small as being close to a tip end thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, wherein joining strength of the support tube and the joining portion is smaller than connection strength of the imaging portion and the first cable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 8, wherein the joining strength is in a range of 3 N to 6 N. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a different cable electrically connected to the control system, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the different cable, and fitting strength of the first and the second connectors is smaller than connection strength of the imaging portion and the first cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 10, wherein the fitting strength is in a range of 4 N to 10 N. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a different cable electrically connected to the control system, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the different cable, and an outer diameter of the first connector is equal to or less than an outer diameter of the second connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a different cable electrically connected to the control system, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the different cable, the different cable has a clean part maintaining cleanliness, which is a part having a predetermined length from a position at which the first connector and the second connector are fit, and a value of a length of the first cable is a half of or less than a sum of the length of the first cable and the length of the clean part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the support tube at one end part is larger than an outer diameter of the support tube at the other end part that is to be fit to the joining portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a different cable electrically connected to the control system, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the different cable, and a part or entire of at least one of surfaces of the imaging portion, the first cable, and the first connector is colored blue or green. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a different cable electrically connected to the control system, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the different cable, and a light accumulating material or a reflective material is used for a part or entire of at least one of surfaces of the imaging portion, the first cable, and the first connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a different cable electrically connected to the control system, wherein a first connector provided in the first cable is fit to a second connector provided in the different cable, and an outer diameter of the first cable is smaller than an outer diameter of the different cable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second cable connected to the control system and a third cable connecting the first and the second cables. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 18, wherein an outer diameter of the third cable is larger than an outer diameter of the first cable and smaller than an outer diameter of the second cable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The in-body monitoring camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a tubular structure capable of being inserted into a body wall and a holding tube for holding the support tube which is inserted into an inner part thereof. ### Claim 21 An in-body monitoring camera system, comprising: a support tube, one end part of which is able to be introduced into a body; an imaging portion which is arranged to be joined to the support tube inside the body; a joining portion which joins the imaging portion and the support tube; a first cable which is connected to the imaging portion and able to be led out to an outside of the body through the support tube; and a control system that is electrically connected to the first cable, and includes at least a display apparatus, wherein the joining portion has a recess shape corresponding to the one end part of the support tube, and a protrusion or a recess for mechanically fixing the end part of the support tube is provided in an inner wall of the joining portion, and the protrusion is a locking pawl.