# US 10,945,587 B2 · Endoscopic probe with reduced obstruction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,587 B2 - Document ID: US10945587B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/950,715 - Filed: 2018-04-11 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-19 - Assignees: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG - Applicants: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG - Inventors: Martin Fanenbruck; Helge Jess; Roland Guckler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945587B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/00066: {Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/00016: {using wireless means} - A61B 1/00114: {Electrical cables in or with an endoscope} - A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres - A61B 1/00112: {Connection or coupling means} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An endoscopic probe includes a handle with a front end, a rear end with a rear end axis and, extending between the front end and the rear end, a straight grip portion with a grip portion axis. The probe further includes a shaft extending from the front end of the handle and having a shaft axis, and a cable issuing from the rear end. The shaft axis, the rear end axis and the grip portion axis lie within a common plane. The shaft axis encloses an angle in the range of 100 to 140 degrees with the grip portion axis, the grip portion axis encloses an angle in the range of 110 to 130 degrees with the rear end axis, and the shaft axis encloses an angle in the range of 30 to 90 degrees with the rear end axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope probe comprising: a handle with a front end, a rear end with a rear end axis (AK) and, extending between the front end and the rear end, a straight grip portion with a grip portion axis (AG); a shaft extending from the front end of the handle and having a shaft axis (AS), wherein the shaft axis (AS), the rear end axis (AK) and the grip portion axis (AG) lie within a common plane, the shaft axis (AS) encloses an angle (α) in the range of 100 to 140 degrees with the grip portion axis (AG), the grip portion axis (AG) encloses an angle (β) in the range of 110 to 130 degrees with the rear end axis (AK), the shaft axis (AS) encloses an angle (γ) in the range of 30 to 90 degrees with the rear end axis (AK), the grip portion in a plane perpendicular to the common plane of the shaft axis (AS), the grip portion axis (AG), and the rear end axis (AK) has a cross section with a cross-sectional upper side that forms the side of the handle facing the point of intersection of an imaginary continuation of the shaft axis (AS) with an imaginary continuation of the rear end axis (AK) and a cross-sectional underside facing away from the cross-sectional upper side, and the cross-sectional upper side has a central portion and, adjoining the central portion, two straight portions which form cut-outs from limbs of an imaginary isosceles triangle whose apex lies centrally above the cross-sectional upper side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the angle that the shaft axis (AS) encloses with the grip portion axis (AG) is the same size as the angle that the grip portion axis (AG) encloses with the rear end axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the shaft has a length in the range of 110 to 130 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the shaft has a diameter in the range of 3.0 to 4.1 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the shaft has a wall thickness in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 mm, at least in a distal portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the shaft has a proximal portion with a wall thickness in the range of 1.3 to 1.5 mm, which proximal portion adjoins the front end of the handle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The endoscope probe according to claim 6, in which the proximal portion has a length in the range of 10 to 20 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the grip portion has a diameter in the range of 18 to 38 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the grip portion and the front end together have a length (LH) in the range of 100 to 120 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the cross-sectional underside has a convexity, wherein the cross-sectional underside has a central region with a central convexity and, adjoining the central region, portions that have a lesser convexity compared to the central convexity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the side of the grip portion formed by the cross-sectional underside has a bearing surface for the middle finger. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the shaft is arranged at the front end of the handle in such a way that the front end perpendicularly with respect to the direction of extent of the shaft axis (AS), has a maximum protrusion, over the shaft that is dimensioned such that the angle θ between the shaft axis and an imaginary line emerging from the distal end of the shaft extending in the plane of the shaft axis (AS), the rear end axis (AK) and the grip portion axis (AG) and tangent to the front end of the handle is not more than 8 degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The endoscope probe according to claim 12, in which the interior of the shaft accommodates an image-conveying optics system with which object light emanating from an object observed by means of the endoscopic probe is conveyed to an image sensor arranged in the handle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The endoscope probe according to claim 12, in which the interior of the handle accommodates a light source for emitting illumination light with which the object observed by means of the endoscopic probe is illuminated, and in which an optical fibre for conveying the illumination light to the object observed by means of the endoscopic probe extends through the interior of the shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the shaft and the handle, including a connection between the shaft and the handle, are impervious to liquid and gas, and the shaft and the handle are made of a material that can be autoclaved. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the rear end is a cable outlet end with an emerging cable wherein the cable emerges from the cable outlet end at an angle of not more than 20 degrees with respect to the rear end axis (AK). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The endoscope probe according to claim 16, in which the connection between the cable outlet end and the cable is impervious to liquid and gas, and the cable is made of a material that can be autoclaved. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The endoscope probe according to claim 1, in which the rear end contains an antenna and/or an accumulator.