# US 9,775,493 B2 · Endoscope, and endoscope system provided with the endoscope > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,775,493 B2 - Document ID: US9775493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/193,251 - Filed: 2016-06-27 - Published: 2016-10-20 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-26 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Takafumi Kubo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775493B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B 1/00181: {for multiple fixed viewing angles (A61B1/00193 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/00183: {for variable viewing angles} - A61B 1/005: Flexible endoscopes - A61B 1/015: Control of fluid supply or evacuation - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - G02B 23/2423: {of the distal end} - A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope} - A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements} - A61B 1/00163: {Optical arrangements (A61B1/002, A61B1/06 take precedence)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An object of the invention is to provide an endoscope capable of continuously grasping a direction which a distal end portion of an endoscope faces even when a bending operation is performed. The endoscope of the invention is provided with: a first image pickup optical system provided at a distal end of an insertion portion; a bending portion provided in a vicinity of a distal end portion of the insertion portion and configured to be bendingly operated by a proximal side operation; and a second image pickup optical system disposed on the bending portion and configured so that the distal end of the insertion portion is included within a field-of-view angle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope comprising: a first image pickup optical system provided at a distal end of an insertion portion; a bending portion provided in a vicinity of a distal end portion of the insertion portion and configured to be bendingly operated by a proximal side operation; and a second image pickup optical system disposed on the bending portion, the second image pickup optical system being configured so that the distal end of the insertion portion is included within a field-of-view angle of the second image pickup optical system; wherein, when the bending portion is in a non-bending state, an optical axis of the first image pickup optical system is fixed to be substantially parallel to an optical axis of the second image pickup optical system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second image pickup optical system is provided inside the insertion portion of the endoscope. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein, when the bending portion is in a non-bending state, a field-of-view direction of the second image pickup optical system is substantially parallel to an extending direction of the insertion portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein, when the bending portion is in the non-bending state, the field-of-view direction of the second image pickup optical system is deviated from the extending direction of the insertion portion by a predetermined angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second image pickup optical system is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the insertion portion of the endoscope. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein, when the bending portion is in a non-bending state, a field-of-view direction of the second image pickup optical system is substantially parallel to an extending direction of the insertion portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein, when the bending portion is in the non-bending state, the field-of-view direction of the second image pickup optical system is deviated from the extending direction of the insertion portion by a predetermined angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second image pickup optical system faces a field-of-view direction different from a field-of-view direction of the first image pickup optical system when the bending portion is bent. ### Claim 9 An endoscope system comprising: an endoscope comprising: a first image pickup unit including a first image pickup optical system and a first image pickup device, the first image pickup unit being provided at a distal end of an insertion portion; a bending portion provided in a vicinity of a distal end portion of the insertion portion and configured to be bendingly operated by a proximal side operation; and a second image pickup unit disposed on the bending portion the second image pickup unit including a second image pickup optical system and a second image pickup device, wherein the second image pickup optical system is configured so that the distal end of the insertion portion is included within a field-of-view angle of the second image pickup optical system, wherein, when the bending portion is in a non-bending state, an optical axis of the first image pickup optical system is fixed to be substantially parallel to an optical axis of the second image pickup optical system; an image processing control apparatus configured to receive image signals from the first image pickup unit and the second image pickup unit and perform image processing, and control the first image pickup unit and the second image pickup unit; and an image display apparatus configured to receive an image signal outputted from the image processing control apparatus and display an image. ### Claim 10 An endoscope comprising: a first image pickup optical system provided at a distal end of an insertion portion; a bending portion provided in a vicinity of a distal end portion of the insertion portion and configured to be bendingly operated by a proximal side operation; and a second image pickup optical system fixed at a predetermined position on the bending portion, the second image pickup optical system being configured at the predetermined position such that the distal end of the insertion portion is included within a field-of-view angle of the second image pickup optical system whether the bending portion is in an unbent state or in a bent state.