# US 2014/0194693 A1 · Endoscope apparatus and treatment apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0194693 A1
- Document ID: US20140194693A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/183,601
- Filed: 2014-02-19
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-11
- Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
- Applicants: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
- Inventors: Katsuichi IMAIZUMI; Nobuaki AKUI; Mitsuhiro ITO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194693A1

## CPC

- A61B 1/063: {for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination}
- A61B 1/00006: {of control signals}
- A61B 1/00059: {provided with identification means for the endoscope}
- A61B 1/00165: {with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/00172: {with means for scanning}
- A61B 1/0655: {Control therefor}
- G02B 23/26: using light guides {(for illumination G02B23/2469)}
- G02B 26/10: Scanning systems
- A61B 1/00105: {characterised by modular construction}
- A61B 2017/00057: {Light}
- A61B 2017/00123: {and automatic shutdown}
- A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control}
- A61B 2018/00708: {switching the power on or off}
- A61B 2018/00785: {Reflected power}
- A61B 2018/00827: {Current}
- A61B 2018/00898: {Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition}
- A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes}
- A61B 2018/20357: {by movable optical fibre end}
- A61B 2018/20361: {with redirecting based on sensed condition, e.g. tissue analysis or tissue movement}
- A61B 2018/2247: {Fibre breakage detection}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An endoscope apparatus includes: a laser light source that generates laser light; an optical fiber that guides laser light inputted to a proximal end and applies the laser light to a subject from a distal end; an actuator swinging a distal end portion of the optical fiber; the conductive wire provided in close contact with the optical fiber, and connected to the actuator; a signal generator that generates a drive signal for driving the actuator, the drive signal being conducted by the conductive wire; a detection circuit that detects a current flowing in the conductive wire when the signal generator generates the drive signal, and detects that the conductive wire is broken, based on the detected current value; and a controller that controls an amount of illuminating light based on a result of determination of whether or not the conductive wire is broken in the detection circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope apparatus comprising:
a laser light source that generates laser light;
a light-guiding section that guides the laser light inputted to a proximal end, and applies the laser light to a subject from a distal end;
a drive section provided at a distal end portion of the light-guiding section the drive section swinging a distal end portion of the light-guiding section;
a conductive portion provided in close contact with the light-guiding section, the conductive portion being connected to the drive section;
a generation section that generates a drive signal for driving the drive section, the drive signal being conducted by the conductive portion;
a detection section that detects a current value of a current flowing in the conductive portion when the generation section generates the drive signal, and detects that the conductive portion is broken, based on the detected current value; and
a light amount control section that controls an amount of the illuminating light based on a result of detection of whether or not the conductive portion is broken in the detection section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection section detects the current value for a predetermined period of time based on a voltage of the drive signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection section detects the current value when the voltage of the drive signal reaches a maximum value.

### Claim 4

A treatment apparatus comprising:
a laser light source that generates laser light;
a light-guiding section that guides the laser light inputted to a proximal end, and applies the laser light to a subject from a distal end;
a drive section provided at a distal end portion of the light-guiding section the drive section swinging a distal end portion of the light-guiding section;
a conductive portion provided in close contact with the light-guiding section, the conductive portion being connected to the drive section;
a generation section that generates a drive signal for driving the drive section, the drive signal being conducted by the conductive portion;
a detection section that detects a current value of a current flowing in the conductive portion when the generation section generates the drive signal, and detects that the conductive portion is broken, based on the detected current value; and
a light amount control section that controls an amount of the illuminating light based on a result of detection of whether or not the conductive portion is broken in the detection section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detection section detects the current value for a predetermined period of time based on a voltage of the drive signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection section detects the current value when the voltage of the drive signal reaches a maximum value.