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EP0025969A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

A structure including a light-receiving end portion of an endoscope light guide

Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1980-09-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2000-09-16
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Abstract

Abstract A light-receiving end structure of an endoscope light guide comprises the illumination light-receiving end plane (15) formed on an illumination light-receiving end portion (11a) of the light guide (11), an adhesive (50) applied to the illumination light-receiving end portion (11a) to bond together optical fibers constituting the end portion (11a), a transparent heat-resistant disc member (25) mounted on the illumination light-receiving end plane (15), and a metal support (21) surrounding the light-receiving end portion (11a) and the disc member (25) in a liquid-tight state. The heat generated by light beams irradiated on the light-receiving end plane (15) is conducted through the disc member (25) to the support (21) and then released into the open air. Therefore, the light-receiving end portion (11a) is not exposed to a high temperature. Accordingly, the light-receiving end structure is prominently increased in effective life.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tetsumaru Kubota
  • 👤 Kenji Koyata

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 15:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/06; A61B1/07; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00096; A61B1/12; A61B1/128; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2461; G02B23/2469; A61B1/00101

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 120 words
A structure of a light-receiving end portion of an endoscope light guide including a bundle of optical fibers comprising an end part (19) of the bundle of the optical fibers having an end plane (15) receiving light, an adhesive (50) applied to the end part (19) for fixing the optical fibers together, characterised by further comprising a support (21) made of a metal of good heat conductivity, and provided with a bore (21a) into which said end part (19) of the bundle of the optical fibers inserted and also with an annular hole (24) open to said bore (21a) and the outside, and a transparent heat-resistant disc member (25) fitted into said annular hole (24) in a liquid tight state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 120 words
A structure of a light-receiving end portion of an endoscope light guide including a bundle of optical fibers comprising an end part (19) of the bundle of the optical fibers having an end plane (15) receiving light, an adhesive (50) applied to the end part (19) for fixing the optical fibers together, characterised by further comprising a support (21) made of a metal of good heat conductivity, and provided with a bore (21a) into which said end part (19) of the bundle of the optical fibers inserted and also with an annular hole (24) open to said bore (21a) and the outside, and a transparent heat-resistant disc member (25) fitted into said annular hole (24) in a liquid tight state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The structure according to claim 1, characterised in that heat absorbing means (38, 40) is provided at the disc member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The structure according to claim 2, characterised in that said heat absorbing means is fine wires (38) of highly heat-conductive metal transversing the disc member (25).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The structure according to claim 3, characterised in that the fine metal wires (38) are arranged in a mesh form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The structure according to claim 3, characterised in that said fine metal wires (38) are arranged in a striped pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The structure according to claim 2, characterised in that said heat absorbing means (38) is disposed in the disc member (25).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
The structure according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that said heat absorbing means is a heat absorbing filter (40) disposed between the disc member (25) and the end plane (15) of the optical fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
The structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said disc member (25) is made of heat-resistant glass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The structure according to claim 8, characterised in that the heat-resistant glass member is prepared from one selected from the group consisting of quartz and boron glass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 68 words
The structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (21) comprises a support body (28) which is provided with the bore (21a), and a head memeber (31) which is provided with the annular hole (24); and screw threaded engagement means (30, 32, 35, 37) is provided between the distal end portion of the support body (28) and the rear end portion of the head member (31).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
The structure according to claim 10, characterised in that said screw threaded engagement means (30, 32, 35, 37) is provided with a sealing agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 58 words
The structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tubular fixing member (20) made of highly heat conductive metal is provided between said bore (21a) and said end part (19) of the optical fiber; and a set screw (23) is threadedly inserted across the support (21) to securely hold the fixing member (20).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The structure according to claim 12, characterised in that a sealing agent (51) is applied between the set screw (23) and support (21).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
The structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support (21) is provided with an annular holding portion (27) for holding the disc member (25).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
The structure according to claim 14, characterised in that said annular holding portion (27) is an annular caulked portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
The structure according to claim 13, wherein said annular holding portion (27) is a soldered element.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3051166A Cited
US3091235A Cited
US3610231A Cited
US3572325A Cited
US3773039A Cited

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