# US 2014/0194692 A1 · Endoscope and endoscope apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0194692 A1
- Document ID: US20140194692A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/203,763
- Filed: 2014-03-11
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-09
- Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.; Olympus Corporation
- Applicants: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.; Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Masahiro YOSHINO; Tomoki FUNAKUBO; Atsuyoshi SHIMAMOTO; Yasunobu IGA; Mitsuru NAMIKI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194692A1

## CPC

- A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B 1/00172: {with means for scanning}
- A61B 1/00183: {for variable viewing angles}
- G02B 23/2469: {using optical fibres}
- G02B 26/103: {having movable or deformable optical fibres, light guides or waveguides as scanning elements (light guides per se G02B6/00)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An endoscope has an insertion portion inserted through a living body, an illumination fiber arranged at a distal end of the insertion portion and irradiates the living body with illumination light, a detection fiber which detects return light from the living body, an actuator which swings a free end of the illumination fiber, and a ferrule which has a through-hole based on a diameter of the illumination fiber and is arranged between the illumination fiber and the actuator. The actuator has an actuator arranged at a first side face of the ferrule and an actuator arranged at a second side face of the ferrule that is different from a face point-symmetric to the first side face with respect to an axial direction of the illumination fiber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope comprising:
an insertion portion which is inserted through a living body;
an optical element which is arranged at a distal end of the insertion portion and irradiates the living body with illumination light;
a light-receiving portion which detects return light from the living body;
a drive section which swings a free end of the optical element; and
a joining member which has a through-hole based on a diameter of the optical element and is arranged between the optical element and the drive section,
wherein the drive section has a first drive section which is arranged at a first side face of the joining member and a second drive section which is arranged at a second side face of the joining member that is different from a face point-symmetric to the first side face with respect to an axial direction of the optical element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
the optical element is composed of an optical fiber, and
the joining member holds the optical fiber, and the through-hole is located at centers of a nearer end and a farther end face in the joining member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the joining member is a conductive member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the joining member is made of nickel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the joining member is a non-conductive member, a surface of which is subjected to conductive film processing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the joining member is made of zirconia.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the joining member is a polygonal column.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the joining member has a plurality of side faces.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the drive section is a piezoelectric element.

### Claim 10

An endoscope apparatus comprising:
an endoscope having
an insertion portion which is inserted through a living body,
an optical element which is arranged at a distal end of the insertion portion and irradiates the living body with illumination light,
a light-receiving portion which detects return light from the living body,
a drive section which swings a free end of the optical element, and
a joining member which has a through-hole based on a diameter of the optical element and is arranged between the optical element and the drive section; and
a body apparatus having a control section which produces a drive signal to be outputted to the drive section of the endoscope,
wherein the drive section has a first drive section which is arranged at a first side face of the joining member and a second drive section which is arranged at a second side face of the joining member that is different from a face point-symmetric to the first side face with respect to an axial direction of the optical element, and
the control section produces a first drive signal to be outputted to the first drive section and a second drive signal to be outputted to the second drive section and controls a phase difference between a phase of the first drive signal and a phase of the second drive signal on the basis of the number of axes of vibration.