Noise suppressor for electronic endoscope

A coaxial cable comprising

• a transmission line formed of conductive rubber;
• a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line;
• a shielding conductor member formed of conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer;
• and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

A combination, comprising:

• (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including:
• (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal;
• and
• (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor;
• (B) a diathermic cutter which is removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including:
• (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto;
• (2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer;
• (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal leads;
• and
• (4) impedance regulating means which establishes a high impedance between the conductor member and the transmission line with respect to a frequency band of the high frequency current, the impedance regulating means comprising a coil connected to form a parallel resonant circuit together with a distributed capacitance between the transmission lines and the conductor member at a frequency of the high frequency current.

An electronic endoscope, comprising:

• (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including:
• (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal;
• (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output form the solid-state camera to an image processor;
• (B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including:
• (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application to a high frequency current thereto;
• (2) a transmission line extending through the diathermic cutter to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messr;
• and
• (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the conductor member being disposed in surrounding relationship with a sheet through which the diathermic cutter extends.

A combination, comprising:

• (A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including:
• (1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal;
• and
• (2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor;
• (B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including:
• (1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto;
• (2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer;
• and
• (3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductive member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively.

An electronic endoscope, comprising:

• an insertable portion adapted to be inserted into a coeloma;
• a solid-state camera disposed with the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal;
• a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor;
• and
• an ultrasonic probe disposed within the insertable portion for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object being examined and for receiving a reflected wave therefrom;
• a transmission line extending through the insertable portion for transmitting an activating signal to the ultrasonic probe and the reflected signal from the probe to an ultrasonic diagnosis system;
• and
• a conductor member for electrically shielding the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductor member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively, the coaxial cable comprising the transmission line formed of a conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line, a conductor member formed of a conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer, and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.