# US 12,181,656 B2 · Endoscope > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,656 B2 - Document ID: US12181656B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/215,739 - Filed: 2021-03-29 - Published: 2021-07-15 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-01 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Ramiya Uchida; Masanobu Koitabashi; Yasuhiro Okamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181656B2 ## CPC - G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports} - A61B 1/00032: {internally powered} - A61B 1/0004: {for electronic operation} - A61B 1/00042: {for mechanical operation} - A61B 1/00066: {Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/0052: {Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An endoscope includes an insertion portion, an operation portion, a knob protruding from the operation portion to a first side in a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction, a universal cord protruding to a second side in the direction, and a power unit provided in a housing portion disposed on the operation portion on the second side so as not to stick out to the first side with respect to a center axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope comprising: an insertion portion; an operation portion positioned proximally relative to the insertion portion, the operation portion including a side surface; a holder protruding from the side surface in a first direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the operation portion; a cord extending from the holder in a second direction intersecting each of the longitudinal direction and the first direction; and an actuator protruding from the holder; wherein the cord is positioned between the side surface and the actuator along the first direction; and the actuator is provided in a casing in which at least a part of the actuator is housed and which has an external dimension larger than an external dimension of the actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operation portion includes a grasping region and an operating element region, the grasping region disposed on a side of the insertion portion in the longitudinal direction, the operating element region disposed on a proximal end side in the longitudinal direction of the grasping region and including a knob configured to operate a bending portion of the insertion section and one or more switch buttons, and the actuator is provided in a housing positioned in the operating element region, the operating element region being from a proximal-most portion of the operating portion to a switch button of the one or more switch buttons furthest from the proximal-most portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operation portion includes a grasping region and an operating element region, the grasping region being disposed on a side of the insertion portion in the longitudinal direction, the operating element region being disposed on a proximal end side in the longitudinal direction of the grasping region and including a knob configured to operate a bending portion of the insertion section and two or more switch buttons, and the actuator is provided in a housing positioned in the operating element region, the operating element region being from a proximal-most switch button of the two or more switch buttons to a distal-most switch button of the two or more switch buttons. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion comprises a first bending portion disposed on a distal end side of the insertion portion in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion, the first bending portion being configured to bend in a plurality of directions in accordance with an operation of a knob arranged on the operation portion, the insertion portion comprising is a second bending portion disposed continuously with the first bending portion, and the actuator is configured to transmit a driving force from the operation portion to the second bending portion through a long member for bending the second bending portion in at least one direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the actuator extends from the holder in the second direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the side surface is a first side surface; and the endoscope further comprises a knob configured to operate a specific part of the insertion portion, the knob protruding from the operation portion from a second side surface of the operation portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the cord is positioned between the actuator and the knob along the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the specific part is a bending portion of the insertion section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the second side surface opposes the first side surface across a longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the side surface comprises a first side surface; the operation portion includes a lever positioned on a second side surface of the operation portion, the lever configured to operate an actuator; and the actuator is positioned on the first side surface, the first side surface being opposite to the second side surface across the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the lever is configured to move in the second direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operation portion includes a gear having an axis of rotation intersecting a longitudinal direction of the operation portion, the gear configured to transmit a rotation power of the actuator to a part of the insertion portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein the axis of rotation intersects the second direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the actuator protrudes from the holder in the second direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The endoscope according to claim 14, wherein the cord extends parallel to the actuator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the actuator is positioned between a top surface of the actuator and a bottom surface of the cord along the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 17 An endoscope comprising: an insertion portion; an operation portion positioned proximally relative to the insertion portion, the operation portion including a side surface; a holder protruding from the side surface in a first direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the operation portion; a cord extending from the holder in a second direction intersecting each of the longitudinal direction and the first direction; and an actuator protruding from the holder; wherein the cord is positioned between the side surface and the actuator along the first direction; the side surface is a first side surface; and the endoscope further comprises a knob configured to operate a specific part of the insertion portion, the knob protruding from the operation portion from a second side surface of the operation portion. ### Claim 18 An endoscope comprising: an insertion portion; an operation portion positioned proximally relative to the insertion portion, the operation portion including a side surface; a holder protruding from the side surface in a first direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the operation portion; a cord extending from the holder in a second direction intersecting each of the longitudinal direction and the first direction; and an actuator protruding from the holder; wherein the cord is positioned between the side surface and the actuator along the first direction; the side surface comprises a first side surface; the operation portion includes a lever positioned on a second side surface of the operation portion, the lever configured to operate an actuator; and the actuator is positioned on the first side surface, the first side surface being opposite to the second side surface across the longitudinal axis.