# US 11,992,368 B2 · Endoscope connector and endoscope > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,368 B2 - Document ID: US11992368B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/136,576 - Filed: 2020-12-29 - Published: 2021-04-22 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-06 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Norihisa Suzuki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992368B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/445: {Details of catheter construction} - A61B 8/4455: {Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects} - A61B 1/00124: {electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection} - A61B 1/00126: {optical, e.g. for light supply cables} - A61B 1/00128: {mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - G02B 23/24: Instruments {or systems} for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes - A61B 1/0669: {at proximal end of an endoscope} - A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An endoscope connector includes: a metal member that is exposed to an outside of the endoscope connector and electrically connected to an endoscopic examination apparatus; an exterior member formed of a resin material; and an elastic member that is exposed to the outside, the elastic member being configured to close a gap between the exterior member and the metal member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope connector comprising: a metal member that is exposed to an outside of the endoscope connector and electrically connected to an endoscopic examination apparatus; an exterior member formed of a resin material; and an elastic member that is exposed to the outside of the endoscope connector, the elastic member being configured to close a gap between the exterior member and the metal member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the metal member is provided at one end of the exterior member, and the elastic member is provided between the one end of the exterior member and the metal member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is formed of an electrically insulating material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is formed of a material having chemical resistance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the metal member is configured to be locked to the endoscopic examination apparatus so as to be mechanically connected to the endoscopic examination apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the metal member is a ground terminal that is electrically connected to the endoscopic examination apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein a watertight member is provided between the exterior member and the metal member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the resin material has a linear expansion coefficient larger than a linear expansion coefficient of the metal member, and the elastic member has an elastic modulus higher than an elastic modulus of the exterior member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the exterior member has a tubular shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The endoscope connector according to claim 9, further comprising: a connecting structure that is inserted inside the exterior member and has one end being connected to the metal member; and a holding member that is attached to another end of the connecting structure, the holding member being configured to come in contact with another end of the exterior member, wherein the exterior member and the elastic member are sandwiched between the metal member and the holding member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The endoscope connector according to claim 10, wherein the holding member is screwed to the other end of the connecting structure, and is configured to make a reciprocating movement with respect to the connecting structure along a central axis of the exterior member in accordance with a change in a state of being screwed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The endoscope connector according to claim 10, wherein a contact surface on which one end of the exterior member and the elastic member come into contact with each other is a plane that is orthogonal to a central axis of the exterior member and extends all around a circumferential direction centered on the central axis. ### Claim 13 An endoscope comprising: an insertion portion that has a distal end and a proximal end and is provided with an ultrasound probe on a side of the distal end; an operating portion provided on a side of the proximal end of the insertion portion; and an endoscope connector including a metal member exposed to an outside of the endoscope connector and electrically connected to an endoscopic examination apparatus, an exterior member formed of a resin material having a linear expansion coefficient larger than a linear expansion coefficient of the metal member, and an elastic member that has an elastic modulus higher than an elastic modulus of the exterior member and is exposed to the outside of the endoscope connector, the elastic member being configured to close a gap between the exterior member and the metal member.