Endoscope having bent circuit board

Abstract

An endoscope of this invention includes a solid-state image sensor in a hard distal end portion of an insertion section thereof. A body cavity can be observed by utilizing the solid-state image sensor and an image reproduction apparatus. An objective optical system consisting of a plurality of objective lenses is arranged inside the distal end portion of the insertion section of the endoscope. One side surface of an optical element is in contact with the proximal end face of the objective optical system. The direction of the optical path of light reflected by the observed portion and incident on the optical element is changed into a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical element. A solid-state image sensor for converting light into an electrical signal is mounted on the other side surface of the optical element. A circuit board bent to surround the optical element includes an electrical circuit connected to the solid-state image sensor. Therefore, the space around the optical element can be efficiently utilized. In order to connect the electronic components and the bundle of signal lines to the circuit board, the diameter and length of the hard distal end portion of the endoscope need not be increased.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.