# US 10,483,708 B2 · Endoscope having a rotatable electric connecting element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,708 B2 - Document ID: US10483708B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/105,018 - Filed: 2018-08-20 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-28 - Assignees: Schölly Fiberoptic GmbH - Applicants: Scholly Fiberoptic GmbH - Inventors: Massimo Kubon; Johannes Wickersheim; Jochen Dietrich; Patrick Spring; Mateusz Cichosz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483708B2 ## CPC - H01R 35/025: {having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis} - A61B 1/00066: {Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/00183: {for variable viewing angles} - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H05K 1/0278: {Rigid circuit boards or rigid supports of circuit boards locally made bendable, e.g. by removal or replacement of material} - H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits - H05K 5/06: Hermetically-sealed casings {(specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095)} - A61B 1/00179: {for off-axis viewing} - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - H01R 2201/12: for medicine and surgery - H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes} - H05K 2201/10121: Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component - H05K 2201/10151: Sensor - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A high-frequency transmission of data between functional units, which are mounted rotatably with respect to each other, of an endoscope, is permitted in which the functional units can be electrically insulated from each other. For this, an electric connecting element which, in a central flexible portion, is rolled up transversely with respect to the direction of transmission and is fastened by its respective end portions to the functional units is provided. An uninterrupted electrical connection with consistent quality of the signal transmission can therefore be obtained even when the functional units are rotated in relation to each other. By the rolling up of the central portion to form a winding, which is preferably configured in a self-supporting manner, a long term stable rotary degree of freedom is created in a very simple manner for the connecting element, with this degree of freedom permitting complex mechanical adjustment functions in the endoscope. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope (1) comprising: two functional units (2a, 2b) which are rotatable in relation to each other about a common axis of rotation (8); an electric connecting element (3) by which the two functional units (2a, 2b) are electrically connected or connectable to one another, the connecting element (3) includes a flexible portion (4) that is placed into a winding (7), the connecting element (3) has a first rigid portion (5) and a second rigid portion (6), and the flexible portion (4) is a central flexible portion (4) that connects the first rigid portion (5) and the second rigid portion (6) to each other, and at least one of the first rigid portion (5) or the second rigid portion (6) protrudes over the central flexible portion (4) in a direction of the axis of rotation (8), and the first rigid portion (5) and the second rigid portion (6) overlap only in a region of the central flexible portion (4). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible portion (4) is arranged in a self-supporting manner, and the axis of rotation (8) coincides with a central winding axis (9) of the winding (7). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winding (7) is at least one of: in the form of a band, dimensionally stable, or arranged in a spiral. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed claim 1, wherein the flexible portion (4) is elastically deformable transversely with respect to the axis of rotation (8). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible portion generates a prestress upon the winding (7). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winding (7) is designed as a band-shaped, spiral spring (10). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the two functional units (2a, 2b) rotate in relation to each other, and the spiral spring (10) permits a reversible elastic deformation of the connecting element (3) out of a rotated position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central flexible portion (4) in each case contacts the two rigid portions (5, 6) in a direction of the winding (7), transversely with respect to the axis of rotation (8). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting element (3) is formed integrally from a multi-layered printed circuit board (11), and the flexible portion (4) is formed by a material weakening or material omission, or wherein a wedge (13) is formed at at least one transition (12) between one of the rigid portions (5, 6) and the central flexible portion (4), said wedge conducting away bending forces which occur to the transition (12). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein a number of layers of the printed circuit board (11) in the central flexible portion (4) is at least two less than a number of layers in the two rigid portions (5, 6), and, in order to obtain a uniform electrical impedance of the connecting element (3), a metalized layer of the printed circuit board (11) that is used for shielding is formed in a region of the central flexible portion (4) as a perforated grid, or wherein the printed circuit board (11) has strip conductors which are pressed onto individual layers of the printed circuit board. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first rigid portion (5) is connected non-rotatably to a housing (15) of the endoscope (1), and the second rigid portion (6) is connected non-rotatably to an inner coupling element which is arranged in an interior of the housing (15), and the endoscope (1) further comprises an outer coupling element (16) with which torques care transmittable to the inner coupling element from outside. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winding (7) at least one of forms at least two complete turns (17), or is designed as an Archimedes' spiral. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of: the winding (7) is wound from a flat blank, or turns (17) of the winding (7) are spaced apart from one another in an inoperative position (18). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hermetic housing (15), the electric connecting element (3) is electrically insulated from the housing (15) and is arranged in an interior of the hermetic housing (15), the connecting element (3) includes at least one rigid portion (5, 6) that is held by an electric leadthrough (19) formed on the housing (15), and the first functional unit (2a) bears an image sensor and the second functional unit (2b) bears an object-side lens assigned to the image sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The endoscope (1) as claimed in one claim 14, wherein the connecting element (3) is held only in each case in a region of the two rigid portions (5, 6), and the central flexible portion (4) is formed in a self-supporting manner, and one of the first or the second rigid portions (5, 6) is arranged in a center of rotation of the winding (7). ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein intermediate spaces (21) are kept free between individual turns of the winding (7), such that the winding (7) can be wound up and unwound automatically without assistance, by rotation of the two functional units (2a, 2b) in relation to each other, or such that the winding (7) is held freely movable in a radial direction over an entire rotary adjustment range of the spiral spring (10). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winding (7) is arranged without a carrier and is kept in a spiral shape in a radial direction free from contact with other bodies based only on a dimensional stability of the winding, and the endoscope further includes a receiving space (22) that receives the winding (7) in a contact-free manner in the radial direction both during winding up and unwinding. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The endoscope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or the second functional unit (2b) provides at least one axial stop surface (23) which axially limits a movement of the winding (7), during the rotation of the functional units (2a, 2b) in relation to each other, and the connecting element (3) bears an electronic circuit (34) in at least one end portion (33) thereof.