Light source device for medical endoscope

A light source device having a light source unit housing and a light source unit including an electric lamp for supplying illumination light to an endoscope system, the electric lamp being electrically connected to a power source when the light source unit is inserted into the light source unit housing and disconnected from the power source when the light source unit is removed from the light source unit housing, the light source device comprising:

• socket means fixedly incorporated in the light source unit for receiving the electric lamp;
• a discharge circuit incorporated in the light source unit housing that operates to discharge electric charges built up in an object when electrically connected to the charge built-up object;
• sliding discharge electrodes forming part of the discharge circuit and held for slide movement in opposite directions for insertion and removal of the light source unit by the light source unit housing;
• and
• biasing means for biasing the sliding discharge electrodes in the direction for removal of the light source unit so as thereby to keep the sliding discharge electrodes connected to the discharge circuit;
• wherein the light source unit forces the sliding discharge electrodes against the biasing means through engagement between the socket means and the sliding discharge electrodes so as to electrically disconnect the sliding discharge electrodes from the discharge circuit following movement of the light source unit in the direction for insertion into the light source unit housing and allows the sliding discharge electrodes to slide keeping in contact with the socket means and to be brought into electric connection with the discharge circuit following movement of the light source unit in the direction for removal from the light source unit housing so as thereby to electrically connect the socket means as the charge built-up object with the discharge circuit.

A light source device having a light source unit housing and a light source unit including an electric lamp for supplying illumination light to an endoscope system, the light source unit is removably inserted into the light source unit housing, the light source unit comprising:

• grip means for being gripped by an operator;
• heat sink means for holding the heat sink means and radiating heat of the electric lamp;
• and
• insulating means disposed between the grip means and the heat sink means for thermally and electrically insulating the grip means from the heat sink means, the insulating means being made of a material that is electrically nonconductive and low in thermal conductivity.

A light source device having a light source unit housing and a light source unit including an electric lamp for supplying illumination light to an endoscope system, the light source unit is removably inserted into the light source unit housing, the light source device comprising:

• an outer casing with an access opening to the light source unit inserted in the light source unit housing;
• a door for opening and closing the access opening;
• and
• safety means fixedly attached to an inner side of the door for preventing the door from closing the access opening when the light source unit is in a false position in the light source unit housing.