AU636144B2

AU636144B2 - Endoscope support system

Info

Publication number: AU636144B2
Application number: AU55319/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Patricia Hermione Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-01
Filing date: 1990-05-01
Publication date: 1993-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-01
Also published as: AU5531990A

Description

END0SC0PE SUPPORT SYSTEM Technical Field

The present invention relates to a support system for an endoscope and, in particular to a rigid, telescopic support for an endoscope which allows video or photographs to be taken through the endoscope. Background Art

Endoscopes are well known in the mechanical and medical arts. They are employed to allow examinations of recesses or remote areas which are not accessible to the naked eye. To facilitate visual observation, endoscopes are sometimes equipped with fibre optic illumination. However, the very attributes which make the endoscope useful, i.e. small diameter and long bore, make it a poor gatherer of light. Furthermore, the low level of illumination and the vibration induced by the hand of the operator effectively prevent either photography or video imaging. Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to substantially overcome, or ameliorate, the above entioned difficulties by providing a substantially rigid support for an endoscope. The rigid support, when affixed to the device to be examined, provides a steady platform from which high quality endoscopic video images and photographs can be obtained.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a rigid support for an endoscope, said support comprising a coupling adapted to be removably affixed to the exterior of a mechanical device, the coupling having attached thereto two or more telescopically arranged tubes, the interior cross-section of said tubes being sufficiently large to receive said endoscope. Locking nuts are preferably provided between adjacent tubes. The smaller or smallest tube is preferably provided with a locking collet which receives the endoscope. Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevation of the endoscope and rigid support, showing also the adaption of the present invention to a piston and cylinder arrangement shown in cross-section;

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the rigid support having a threaded coupling;

Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the locking collet of the rigid support; Fig. 4 illustrates the use of the rigid support with a universal adaptor; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing an adaption with a camera. Best and Other Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

As seen in Fig. 1, the endoscope support is characterised by a long bore 1 having at one end an objective 2 and at the other end an occular or eye piece 3.

The bore 1 contains not only the principal optic passageway, but also includes a separate pathway for illumination, normally a fibre optic bundle which runs from a light guide connector 4 to the objective end 2. Thus, the endoscope is ideally suited for examining and Inspecting remote and inaccessible locations. Using an endoscope, machinery can be inspected without the need for disassembly. For example, the cylinder 12, piston 13 and valves 14 of an internal combustion engine can be inspected without disassembling the engine. The rigid support shown in Fig. 1, stabilizes the endoscope by providing a temporary yet rigid point of attachment to the machine being examined. In this instance a threaded coupling 5 is adapted to threadably engage the spark plug or injector hole of the cylinder. Extending from the coupling is a rigid cylindrical support for the endoscope.

While a single cylinder or tube can be employed, the preferred embodiment incorporates three nested telescopic cylinders of diminishing diameter 6,7,9. Locking nuts 8 between adjacent cylinders allow the length of the cylindrical support to be adjusted. The cylinder of the smaller diameter 9, bears a locking collet 10, Fig. 3 shows the locking collet in more detail. A slot 17 in the collet 10 allows the endoscope to be clamped and undamped by the action of a locking screw 11 which transverses the slot 17.

It should be understood that the support can be provided with any number of couplings 5 to suit the intended point of attachment. When an endoscope is supported by the device of the preferred embodiment, the resulting mechanical stability of the endoscope's optical system allows long photographic exposures to be made without the blurring or loss of detail normally associated with vibration. The stability also provides for higher quality video images and frees the user's hands for other work.

Fig. 4 illustrates the side of a boiler 18 with an opening 19 that communicates with the interior of the boiler 18. A universal bearing 22, sometimes known in the art as a Torenson bearing, is mounted using swivel mount 21 to a base support 20 that is located over the opening 19. Together, the bearing 22 and base 20, in this example act as the coupling earlier described. For stability and rigidity the support 20 is preferably fixed to the boiler 18 using screws as illustrated. The endoscope bore 1 is connected to and through the bearing 22 by nut 5 to protrude through the opening 19 to enable examination of the interior of the boiler 18. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the universal bearing 22 provides for effortless respositioning of the bore 1 over a wide arc. Locking nut 23 is provided to clamp the bearing 22 for sustained, steady observation of one point on the interior of the boiler 18.

A further application of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 5. In a view similar to Fig. 1, the endoscope bore 1 has arranged over the eyepiece 3 a video camera 25. Light guide 24 enters the connector 4 to provide illumination within the cylinder 12 as earlier described. The camera 25 is retained by a support 26 fixed to the endoscope support bore 1.

The camera support 26 comprises first arm 27 and a second arm 28 adapted to be telescopically adjusted as indicated and locked using locking screw 33. The second arm 28 is fixed by a weld to the collet 10. The first arm 27 can be slid longitudinally with respect to the second arm 28 as indicated in Fig. 5 and fixed in position using locking screw 32.

The camera 25 is mounted onto the support 26 using bolt 29, locking nut 31 and an adaptor plate 30 configured for the particular camera being used. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the camera support 26 hold the camera 25 in a fixed position over the eyepiece 3 to provide remote viewing of the interior of the piston 12.

The support 26 has been used to hold a 35mm video camera and 35mm SLR camera configured with a 70mm zoom lens. The camera 25 has known features such as lens adaptor 34, zoom ring 35, focus ring 36, power adaptor 37, automatic gain control switch 38, external synchronization 39, endolux coupling 40, aperture 41 and video out coupling 42. The support 26 will readily hold a camera weight of about 1kg. Heavy cameras can be supported if a larger endoscope support 1 and camera support 26 are used.

The advantages provided by the support 26 is that it can be used as a hands free universal tool for internal inspection, in a variety of industries such as aircraft, construction, marine, mining, manufacturing and transport. The foregoing describes only a number of embodiments of the present invention and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, particularly to the coupling, lock nuts and collet without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rigid support for an endoscope, said support comprising a coupling adapted to be removably affixed to the exterior of a mechanical device, the coupling having attached thereto two or more telescopically arranged tubes, the interior cross-section of said tubes being sufficiently large to receive said endoscope.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1 further comprising locking nuts between adjacent tubes and adapted to prevent and permit telescopic lengthening and shortening of said support.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the smallest one of said tubes is provided with a locking collet adapted to receive said endoscope.

4. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the largest one of said tubes is provided with said coupling.

5. A support as claimed in claim 4 wherein said coupling is a screw type connector adapted to mate with a threaded aperture in said device.

6. A support as claimed in claim 4 wherein said coupling is a universal bearing mounted on a base, said base being affixed to said device.

7. A support as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a camera support for retaining a camera over an eyepiece of said endoscope.

8. A support as claimed in claim 7 wherein said camera support comprises first and second arms adjustable to support a variety of camera sizes, said camera support being affixed to said endoscope support at a locking collet arranged at the smallest one of said tubes.