# US 12,213,646 B2 · Endoscope having a distal end structure for holding a composite cable

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- Number: US 12,213,646 B2
- Document ID: US12213646B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/843,120
- Filed: 2022-06-17
- Published: 2022-10-13
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Applicants: Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Shuichi Takie; Nau Satake
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213646B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/00124: {electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection}
- A61B 1/0011: {Manufacturing of endoscope parts}
- A61B 1/00114: {Electrical cables in or with an endoscope}
- A61B 1/051: {Details of CCD assembly}
- G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports}
- H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes}
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An endoscope includes: a composite cable in which a plurality of cables each including a core wire and an electric insulating coated portion coating the core wire are bundled with an electric insulating outer sheath; a substrate that includes electrodes to which the respective cables are connected; and a cable fixing portion that includes a cable distal end fixing portion holding the plurality of cables in which the core wire and the coated portion are exposed from a distal end surface side of the composite cable, a cable alignment portion aligning the plurality of cables, and a cable body fixing portion holding an end portion of the composite cable on a side where the plurality of cables is exposed, and provided with a through hole having a diameter same as a diameter of an outer periphery of the composite cable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope comprising:
a composite cable in which a plurality of cables each including a core wire and an electric insulating coated portion coating the core wire are bundled with an electric insulating outer sheath;
a substrate that includes electrodes to which the respective cables are connected; and
a cable fixing portion that includes
a cable distal end fixing portion holding the plurality of cables in which the core wire and the coated portion are exposed from a distal end surface side of the composite cable,
a cable alignment portion aligning the plurality of cables, and
a cable body fixing portion holding an end portion of the composite cable on a side where the plurality of cables is exposed, and provided with a through hole having a diameter same as a diameter of an outer periphery of the composite cable;
wherein the cable distal end fixing portion includes an upper surface opening from which the core wire is exposed and a lower surface opening from which the core wire is exposed, the lower surface opening being formed on a side of a lower surface of the cable distal end fixing portion facing the substrate, the upper surface opening being formed on a side of an upper surface of the cable distal end fixing portion opposite to the lower surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cable fixing portion is configured to directly hold an end portion of the composite cable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
the substrate has a rectangular shape,
the cable distal end fixing portion holding the plurality of cables is placed on the substrate, and
a distal end surface side of the cable alignment portion is in contact with a proximal end surface of the substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the cable alignment portion includes a positioning portion configured to define a position in a horizontal direction with respect to the substrate on the distal end surface side.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cable fixing portion is divided into a front end fixing portion and the cable body fixing portion, the front end fixing portion including the cable distal end fixing portion and the cable alignment portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the front end fixing portion is insert-molded on the substrate.

### Claim 7

An endoscope comprising:
a composite cable in which a plurality of cables each including a core wire and an electric insulating coated portion coating the core wire are bundled with an electric insulating outer sheath;
a substrate that includes electrodes to which the respective cables are connected; and
a cable fixing portion that includes
a cable distal end fixing portion holding the plurality of cables in which the core wire and the coated portion are exposed from a distal end surface side of the composite cable,
a cable alignment portion aligning the plurality of cables, and
a cable body fixing portion holding an end portion of the composite cable on a side where the plurality of cables is exposed, and provided with a through hole having a diameter same as a diameter of an outer periphery of the composite cable;
wherein the cable fixing portion is divided into a front end fixing portion and the cable body fixing portion, the front end fixing portion including the cable distal end fixing portion and the cable alignment portion;
the cable alignment portion of the front end fixing portion includes a first fitting portion on a proximal end surface of the cable alignment portion,
the cable body fixing portion includes a second fitting portion on a distal end surface side of the cable body fixing portion, and
the front end fixing portion and the cable body fixing portion are positioned by fitting of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the cable fixing portion is configured to directly hold an end portion of the composite cable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein
the substrate has a rectangular shape,
the cable distal end fixing portion holding the plurality of cables is placed on the substrate, and
a distal end surface side of the cable alignment portion is in contact with a proximal end surface of the substrate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the cable alignment portion includes a positioning portion configured to define a position in a horizontal direction with respect to the substrate on the distal end surface side.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the front end fixing portion is insert-molded on the substrate.