# US 2014/0155696 A1 · Endoscope

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- Number: US 2014/0155696 A1
- Document ID: US20140155696A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/174,030
- Filed: 2014-02-06
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-29
- Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
- Applicants: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
- Inventors: Hajime SAKATA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155696A1

## CPC

- A61B 1/0055: {Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements}
- A61B 1/00059: {provided with identification means for the endoscope}
- A61B 1/00114: {Electrical cables in or with an endoscope}
- A61B 1/00121: {Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle}
- A61B 1/00124: {electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection}
- A61B 1/00117: {Optical cables in or with an endoscope}
- A61B 1/121: {provided with means for cleaning post-use}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An endoscope includes: a universal cable that joins an operation portion and a connector; a signal cable inserted through an inside of the universal cable; a frame arranged at a portion of the connector, from which the universal cable extends out, to surround an outer circumference of the universal cable; and a hole formed in a barrel portion of the frame, the hole allowing the signal cable to be inserted therethrough. An excess part of the signal cable is drawn out from the hole and the excess part is wound and stored on the barrel portion of the frame, the barrel portion of the frame with the excess part of the signal cable wound and stored thereon is covered by a rigid tube detachably fixed to the connector, and the rigid tube is covered by a bend preventing portion to reduce concentration of stress from an external force.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope comprising:
a universal cable that joins an operation portion and a connector to each other;
a signal cable inserted through an inside of the universal cable;
a cylindrical frame arranged on a wiring route of the signal cable at a part of the connector from which the universal cable extends out, the frame allowing the signal cable to be inserted through an inside thereof; and
a hole formed in a barrel portion of the frame, the hole allowing the signal cable to be inserted therethrough,
wherein an excess part of the signal cable is drawn out from the hole to an outer circumference side of the frame and the excess part is wound and stored on the outer circumference of the frame;
wherein the barrel portion of the frame with the excess part of the signal cable wound and stored thereon is covered by a rigid tube detachably fixed to the connector; and
wherein the rigid tube is covered by a bend preventing portion so as to reduce concentration of stress from an external force.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a circumferential groove at an outer circumference and the excess part of the signal cable is wound and stored on a part of the barrel portion that forms a bottom face of the circumferential groove.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the hole is formed in the part of the barrel portion that forms the bottom face of the circumferential groove.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the excess part of the signal cable is drawn out in a loop from the hole of the barrel portion and wound and stored on the barrel portion with the excess part folded back in two.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the frame has a circular tube shape and the hole is a long hole.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, comprising a fixing member that fixes the excess part of the signal cable wound and stored on the barrel portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the signal cable includes one end connected to an image pickup apparatus and the other end connected to an electric connector that is attached/detached to/from a peripheral.