Endoscope optics with device counteracting lens-element shifting
AssigneeOlympus Winter & Ibe GmbH
InventorsHolger Frische, Jens Peter Wulfsberg, Michael Weber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endoscopic optics fitted with lens elements and securing device to secure the element positions against shifting in case of being impacted. The securing device is a circumferentially expansible tube that jointly encloses, at least at one abutment surface, the adjoining ends of two lens elements while being of a lesser inside diameter than the outside diameter of the lens elements and being permanently prestressed against them.
Claims12
An endoscope optics (1) fitted with lens elements (4, 85,86) and with a securing device (6, 26, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80) to secure the lens elements (4, 85, 86) against shifting on account of impacts, wherein the securing device is a circumferentially expansible tube (6, 26, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80) which jointly encloses in an elastically stressed manner, at at least one abutment surface, mutually adjoining ends of two lens elements (4, 85, 86), said circumferentially expansible tube having an inside diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the lens elements so as to engage and hold said lens elements against movement in more than one direction and thereby insure axial alignment of said lens elements.
An endoscope optics (1) fitted with lens elements (4, 85, 86) and with a securing device (6, 26, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80) to secure the lens elements (4, 85, 86) against shifting on account of impacts, wherein the securing device is a circumferentially expansible tube (6, 26, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80) which jointly encloses in an elastically stressed manner, at at least one abutment surface, mutually adjoining ends of two lens elements (4, 85, 86), said circumferentially expansible tube having an inside diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the lens elements, and wherein said tube is formed as a pullover stocking (40) consisting of mutually crossing, oblique, twisted or interlaced fibers (41).
An endoscope optics (1) fitted with lens elements (4, 85, 86) and with a securing device (6, 26, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80) to secure the lens elements (4, 85, 86) against shifting on account of impacts, wherein the securing device is a circumferentially expansible tube (6, 26, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80) which jointly encloses in an elastically stressed manner, at at least one abutment surface, mutually adjoining ends of two lens elements (4, 85, 86), said circumferentially expansible tube having an inside diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the lens elements, wherein the tube is made of a flexurally elastic material and is fitted with a continuous slot linking the tube ends, said slot runs parallel to an axis of the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.