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US4425025A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical system for endoscopes

Assignee: Fujinon Corp
•
Filing: 1980-12-17
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Granted: 1984-01-10
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Expires: 2000-12-17
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Abstract

Abstract A wide angle objective is located at the entrance face of a flexible image guide tube of an endoscope and a variable focal length eyepiece lens system is located at the exit face of the tube. The variable focal length eyepiece lens system includes an axially movable lens group which increases the magnification of the endoscope from the normal 20 times to about 40 times, in effect, increasing the magnification 20 times over the magnification potential of current endoscopes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yasumasa Sunaga

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 13:07
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2423; G02B23/243; G02B23/2438; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 129 words
An optical system for an endoscope, comprising: a flexible image guide optical fiber bundle having an entrance face at one end thereof and an exit face at the other end thereof, a wide angle objective adjacent said entrance face for focusing an image to be observed on said entrance face, a variable focal length eyepiece lens system located adjacent said exit face for viewing an image appearing on said exit face, said variable focal length eyepiece lens system comprising a positive lens group, and a negative lens group, said positive lens group being axially movable to vary the distance thereof from said exit face of said optical fiber bundle, and said negative lens group being axially movable to vary the distance between the same and the positive lens group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 129 words
An optical system for an endoscope, comprising: a flexible image guide optical fiber bundle having an entrance face at one end thereof and an exit face at the other end thereof, a wide angle objective adjacent said entrance face for focusing an image to be observed on said entrance face, a variable focal length eyepiece lens system located adjacent said exit face for viewing an image appearing on said exit face, said variable focal length eyepiece lens system comprising a positive lens group, and a negative lens group, said positive lens group being axially movable to vary the distance thereof from said exit face of said optical fiber bundle, and said negative lens group being axially movable to vary the distance between the same and the positive lens group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
An optical system for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said negative movable lens group serves for diopter adjustment.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2987960A Cited
US3576358A Cited
US3637282A Cited
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US4101196A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-01-09 1987-07-11 1988-01-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-01-09 1991-07-11 1992-01-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-01-09 1995-07-11 1996-01-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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