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US5020893A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Biconvex rod lens

Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
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Filing: 1989-11-13
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Granted: 1991-06-04
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Expires: 2009-11-13
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Abstract

Abstract A biconvex rod lens for the optics assembly of a medical or technical endoscope comprises of a light transmitting rod and a correcting lens cemented to one end of the rod. The rod is provided with at least one cylindrical collar which is of greater diameter than the adjacent lengths of the rod, for supporting the rod lens on the inner surface of an internal tube in the shaft of the optics assembly. In order to avoid shear forces arising in the cemented joint between the rod and the correcting lens when the shaft and thus the tube are bent when the endoscope is in use, the correcting lens and the rod have, in the region of the cemented joint, a smaller diameter than the cylindrical collar or collars. Fracture of the rod lens is there by avoided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Siegfried Karst
  • 👤 Wilfried Uhrich
  • 👤 Rolf Zickwolf

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 07:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2446

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 101 words
A biconvex rod lens for an optics assembly of an endoscope, the rod lens comprising a light transmitting rod, a correcting lens connected to an end of the rod by means of a cemented joint and at least one cylindrical collar for supporting the rod lens on an inner surface of an internal tube of said assembly, each collar having a greater diameter about the rod than the parts of the rod adjacent to the collar, both the correcting lens and the rod in the region of the cemented joint being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the collar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 101 words
A biconvex rod lens for an optics assembly of an endoscope, the rod lens comprising a light transmitting rod, a correcting lens connected to an end of the rod by means of a cemented joint and at least one cylindrical collar for supporting the rod lens on an inner surface of an internal tube of said assembly, each collar having a greater diameter about the rod than the parts of the rod adjacent to the collar, both the correcting lens and the rod in the region of the cemented joint being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the collar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein end portions of the rod on each side of the collar are of a smaller diameter than the collar, the correcting lens being cemented to the end of one of said end portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rod has at least one planar end face and a plano-convex lens cemented to said planar end face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rod has at least one convex end face and a concavo-convex correcting lens cemented to said convex end face.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is provided with at least two cylindrical collars with portions of the length of the rod on each side of each collar being of a smaller diameter than that collar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rod has at least one planar end face and a plano-convex lens cemented to said planar end face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rod has at least one convex end face and a concavo-convex correcting lens cemented to said convex end face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod has at least one planar end face and a plano-convex lens cemented to said planar end face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod has at least one convex end face and a concavo-convex correcting lens cemented thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 35 words
A rod lens according to claim 1, wherein the correcting lens and part of the length of the rod adjacent thereto are of the same diameter, and a remainder of the rod forms said collar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
A rod lens as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rod has at least one convex end face and a concavo-convex correcting lens cemented to said convex end face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
A biconvex rod lens according to claim 1, wherein said light transmitting rod and collar are a one-piece component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 110 words
A biconvex rod lens for an optics assembly of an endoscope, the rod lens comprising a light transmitting rod, a correcting lens connected to an end of the rod by means of a cemented joint, said lens and a portion of the rod adjacent said cemented joint having a reduced diameter less than the diameter of a remaining portion of the rod to form at least one cylindrical collar for supporting the rod lens on an inner surface of an internal tube of said assembly so that the correcting lens and the rod in the region of the cemented joint are not subjected to stresses from bending of said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 110 words
A biconvex rod lens for an optics assembly of an endoscope, the rod lens comprising a light transmitting rod, a correcting lens connected to an end of the rod by means of a cemented joint, said lens and a portion of the rod adjacent said cemented joint having a reduced diameter less than the diameter of a remaining portion of the rod to form at least one cylindrical collar for supporting the rod lens on an inner surface of an internal tube of said assembly so that the correcting lens and the rod in the region of the cemented joint are not subjected to stresses from bending of said tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
A biconvex rod lens according to claim 13, which includes a second reduced diameter portion for said rod spaced from said first-mentioned reduced diameter portion by said collar.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 25 words
A biconvex rod lens according to claim 13, wherein the collar extends from the reduced diameter portion to the opposite end of said transmitting rod.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4148550A Cited
US4148551A Cited
DE3113110A1 Cited
US4608966A Cited
DE3431631A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-06-03 1994-12-03 1995-06-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-06-03 1998-12-03 1999-06-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-06-03 2002-12-03 2003-06-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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