# US 11,910,133 B2 · Endoscope image-capturing device and endoscope device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,910,133 B2 - Document ID: US11910133B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/172,328 - Filed: 2023-02-22 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-02 - Assignees: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc. - Applicants: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc. - Inventors: Kei Tomatsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910133B2 ## CPC - H04N 7/22: Adaptations for optical transmission - A61B 1/00013: {using optical means} - A61B 1/00048: {Constructional features of the display} - A61B 1/0008: {characterised by distal tip features} - A61B 1/00112: {Connection or coupling means} - A61B 1/045: Control thereof - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B 1/0669: {at proximal end of an endoscope} - H04N 7/015: High-definition television systems - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An endoscope image-capturing device includes: a first case inside of which is sealed; an image sensor arranged inside the first case; an electro-optic conversion element arranged outside the first case and configured to convert an image signal output from the image sensor into an optical signal; and a sealing member sealing the electro-optic conversion element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope image-capturing device comprising: a first case having an outer surface to be held by a user when the user operates the endoscope image-capturing device, an inside of the first case being sealed; an image sensor arranged inside the first case; a first terminal arranged outside the first case and electrically coupled with the image sensor; a second case; an electro-optic conversion element arranged inside the second case and configured to convert an electric image signal output from the image sensor into an optical signal; a second terminal arranged outside the second case and electrically coupled with the electro-optic conversion element, the image sensor inside the first case and the electro-optic conversion element inside the second case being electrically coupled with each other via the first terminal and the second terminal when in operation; and a sealing member sealing the electro-optic conversion element arranged inside the second case, wherein the first case has a connector to which an endoscope insert portion is to be connected, the second case has a base end side to which a composite cable is to be connected, and the endoscope insert portion, the connector, the first case, the first terminal, the second terminal, the second case, and the composite cable are aligned in this order when in operation and the endoscope insertion portion and the composite cable are connected to the endoscope image-capturing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member includes resin that covers the electro-optic conversion element and seals the electro-optic conversion element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 2, wherein the resin fills at least an opening of the second case. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a blocking part blocking an opening of the first case to seal the inside of the first case; and a printed-circuit board that is arranged outside the first case and on which the electro-optic conversion element is mounted, wherein the blocking part is provided with the first terminal configured to electrically couple the image sensor arranged inside the first case and the printed-circuit board arranged outside the first case. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 4, wherein the blocking part is a sealing connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the first case is held airtightly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An endoscope device comprising the endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The endoscope device according to claim 7, wherein the image sensor has number of effective pixels of eight megapixels or larger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The endoscope device according to claim 8, further comprising a display configured to display an image captured by the endoscope image-capturing device, wherein the display has a monitor size of 55 inches or larger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member entirely seals the electro-optic conversion element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member seals the electro-optic conversion element to enable autoclave processing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member fills a space inside the second case. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the first case and the second case are coupled via a connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch exposed on the outer surface of the first case, the switch being to be operated by the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the second case is detachable from the first case. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal includes a plurality of conductive pins, the second terminal includes a plurality of insertion holes, and the first terminal and the second terminal engage with each other by each of the plurality of the conductive pins inserting each of the plurality of the insertion holes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The endoscope image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal has a first round shape, and the second terminal has a second round shape. ### Claim 18 An endoscope image-capturing device comprising: a first case having an outer surface to be held by a user when the user operates the endoscope image-capturing device, an inside of the first case being sealed; an image sensor arranged inside the first case; a first terminal arranged outside the first case and electrically coupled with the image sensor; a second case; an electro-optic conversion element arranged inside the second case and configured to convert an electric image signal output from the image sensor into an optical signal; a second terminal arranged outside the second case and electrically coupled with the electro-optic conversion element, the image sensor inside the first case and the electro-optic conversion element inside the second case being electrically coupled with each other via the first terminal and the second terminal when in operation; and a sealing member sealing the electro-optic conversion element arranged inside the second case, wherein the image sensor is not arranged inside the second case, and the second case is not arranged entirely inside the first case. ### Claim 19 An endoscope image-capturing device comprising: a first case having an outer surface to be held by a user when the user operates the endoscope image-capturing device, an inside of the first case being sealed; an image sensor arranged inside the first case; a first terminal arranged outside the first case and electrically coupled with the image sensor; a second case; an electro-optic conversion element arranged inside the second case and configured to convert an electric image signal output from the image sensor into an optical signal; a second terminal arranged outside the second case and electrically coupled with the electro-optic conversion element, the image sensor inside the first case and the electro-optic conversion element inside the second case being electrically coupled with each other via the first terminal and the second terminal when in operation; and a sealing member sealing the electro-optic conversion element arranged inside the second case, wherein the first case is located closer to a connector to which an endoscope insert portion is to be connected than the second case, and the second case is located further from the connector than the first case.