DE102019003842A1 - Endoscope and method for producing an endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

Endoscope (1) comprising an elongated shaft (2), an objective lens system (10) and an image sensor (11) arranged on a distal end region (9) of the shaft (2), and a headpiece arranged on a proximal end region of the shaft (2) (3), wherein the electronic image sensor (11) has a sensor plane arranged essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft (2) and wherein the image sensor (11) is connected to a distal end region (13) of a flexible connection board (14), and wherein the flexible connection board (14) extends through the shaft (2) at least up to a proximal end region of the shaft (2). The invention also relates to a method for producing an endoscope (1).

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a corresponding endoscope.

Endoscopic examinations have become the standard in a large number of medical and veterinary disciplines as well as in many non-medical disciplines. In this examination technique, an endoscope, which has an elongated shaft with an optical image processing system, is inserted into a cavity of a human or animal body or another object in order to examine it. The elongated shaft can be made rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. An endoscope objective for generating an image of an examination region within the cavity of the body or of the other object is arranged at a distal (e.g. facing away from a user) end region of the elongated shaft. In video endoscopes, which are also known as electronic endoscopes, the generated image is recorded by means of an electronic image sensor. According to a widespread embodiment, the electronic image sensor is arranged in the distal end region of the shaft and connected to control circuits by electrical conductors, these control circuits being arranged at a proximal (e.g. facing the user) end of the endoscope.

The electronic image sensor can be arranged, for example, in a plane that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Such a configuration requires an optical deflection element in order to generate the endoscopic image in the sensor plane. This deflection element increases the complexity and the manufacturing costs. According to another embodiment, the image sensor can be arranged essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (so-called “standing sensor”). In this case, the electrical conductors for transmitting the electrical energy and the signals through the shaft must be connected at an angle to the image sensor, which also increases the manufacturing costs.

In US 8,698,887 B2 an image recording system is presented, which has an image recording chip, a connection board and a signal cable. The connection board consists of a central area and a first flexible area and a second flexible area, the two flexible areas being arranged at opposite ends of the central area and being bent at a predetermined angle with respect to this central area and a first protruding area and a second protruding area have which protrude over the first or the second flexible area. The central area is connected to an external connection area of the image recording chip. The signal cable is connected to at least one of the two protruding areas. A reinforcement element is fastened in contact with at least one part of the first protruding area and the second protruding area or with an inner side of the connection board.

According to US 9,609,286 B2 the image generation unit of an endoscope has an optical objective system and an area with an image generation circuit. The imaging circuit area includes a support body, a circuit substrate, an imaging member, and an image transfer area. The circuit substrate is a flexible, printed substrate that is attached to an outer surface of the support body. The image generation element is an electronic component, for example a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor, which is arranged bundled with the circuit substrate. The image transmission area is arranged bundled on the circuit substrate and has an oscillator and a serialization circuit, the serialization circuit converting the image data recorded by the image generation element into serial data on the basis of time signals which are output by the oscillator.

Endoscopes according to the prior art require a large number of production steps in order to ensure the electrical connections between the image sensor and electrical circuits at the facing end of the endoscope, whereby the production costs and the complexity are increased. In particular, connecting cables or wires is a flawed process.

It is the object of the present invention to propose an endoscope which avoids or reduces the disadvantages mentioned above. In particular, it is the object of the invention to propose an endoscope which can be assembled with fewer assembly steps and / or reduced manufacturing costs. It is also an object of the invention to propose an improved method for manufacturing an endoscope.

This object is achieved by the invention with an endoscope according to claim 1 and according to a method according to claim 11. Special embodiments of the invention presented are specified in claims 2-10 and claim 12.

According to the presented invention, an endoscope comprises an elongated shaft, an objective lens system, an electronic image sensor and a head piece. The objective lens system and the electronic image sensor are both arranged on a distal end region of the shaft, whereas the head piece is arranged on a proximal end region of the shaft. The elongated shaft is designed in such a way that it can be inserted into a cavity of a human or animal body or another object. The shaft can be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible, preferably the shaft of the endoscope according to the invention presented is rigid. The endoscope can have further elements such as a handle or devices for manipulations within the cavity. The endoscope can be a video mediastinoscope, for example.

The objective lens system has one or more optical lenses and can also have other optical elements, such as, for example, one or more diversion prisms. The objective lens is designed in such a way that it generates an optical image of the examination area of the cavity in an image plane. The electronic image sensor can be, for example, a CCD or a CMOS image sensor, the sensor plane of which is essentially located in the image plane of the objective lens. The image sensor is arranged in this way to take an endoscopic image of the examination area and to generate electronic image signals corresponding to the endoscopic image. Due to the arrangement of the image sensor on the distal end area of the shaft, such an endoscope is usually referred to as a chip-on-the-tip video endoscope.

The head piece is arranged on the proximal end region of the shaft and usually has a greater width than the shaft and is designed in such a way that it remains outside the cavity of the body during the endoscopic examination. The head piece can, for example, be designed as a handle for the endoscope, form part of a handle or be designed to attach a handle or part of a handle. The head piece can comprise electronic circuits which supply the image sensor with electrical energy and / or forward the image data generated by the image sensor to a display instrument and / or a memory or which can be connected to such circuits. Furthermore, the head piece can be provided with operating elements for the image sensor and / or other functions of the endoscope or can be connected to a handle piece or other devices which have such operating elements. The endoscope can also have devices such as an illumination device for illuminating the cavity in the body and / or an integrated display element.

In an endoscope according to the present invention, the sensor surface of the electronic image sensor is arranged essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. In contrast to a sensor whose sensor surface is arranged parallel to the shaft axis, such an arrangement can also be referred to as a “stationary sensor”.

The endoscope has a flexible connection board and an image sensor electrically connected to it. In particular, a rear side of the image sensor is connected to the conductor tracks of the flexible connection board in order to supply the image sensor with electrical energy and to transmit image data generated by the image sensor. The flexible connection board or the flexible printed circuit board or the flexible PCB (PCB: Printed Circuit Board) is referred to here as "flexible circuit board" for short. The flexible board has a plurality of conductor tracks or conductive paths and can comprise a plurality of levels. The flexible circuit board has a width dimension or width and a length dimension or length, the length dimension usually exceeding the width dimension and the conductor tracks generally being arranged essentially parallel to the length dimension. In the installed position in the endoscope, the flexible circuit board can comprise a plurality of flexible areas that are bent. The flexible board is preferably a highly flexible printed circuit board that allows bends with a bending radius down to 0.2 mm or 0.1 mm or even less.

According to the presented invention, the flexible connection board extends into the shaft of the endoscope, specifically at least to the proximal end area of the shaft, preferably beyond the proximal end area of the shaft, particularly preferably into the head piece of the endoscope. The flexible board is arranged in particular in the shaft in such a way that its longitudinal extent is arranged along the axial alignment of the shaft, the conductor tracks being continued in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The flexible circuit board can be connected to electrical circuits which are arranged in the proximal end region of the shaft or in the head piece. The endoscope, but at least the shaft of the endoscope, preferably has no cables or wires; instead, all electrical connections in the shaft are implemented by means of the flexible connection board.

Because a flexible connection board, which goes through continuously from a distal end area to a proximal end area Running the shaft of the endoscope, the electrical connections through the shaft can be provided with a minimum number of components that need to be assembled, thereby requiring a minimum number of manufacturing steps and incurring minimal costs. In general, no cables are necessary, soldering of wires to establish electrical connections to the electronic image sensor is not necessary, which reduces manufacturing steps that are prone to errors. Furthermore, the operational safety and robustness of the endoscope can be increased by the uninterrupted transmission of current and signals along essentially the entire length of the shaft. Furthermore, the flexible connection board simply adapts to a bend in the shaft that can occur temporarily during use, thereby increasing the durability of the endoscope.

The image sensor is preferably connected to a distal end area of the flexible board, the distal end area being essentially flat and arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft, and a first flexible section adjoins the distal end area in the continuing direction of the flexible board, which preferably directly adjacent to the distal end area. The first flexible section has a bending angle of preferably 90 ° or more, for example 180 °. For this purpose, the distal end area is essentially flat, it being aligned with the rear side of the image sensor and connected to it and being arranged essentially perpendicular to the shaft axis. In particular, the image sensor is connected to the end face of the flexible board and is arranged parallel to it. The flexible plate forms a first flexible section on a proximal side of the distal end region. This embodiment makes it possible to provide a simple arrangement for connecting the image sensor and establishing the electrical connections in the direction of a proximal side.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first bend has an angle of approximately 180 °. The first flexible area is adjoined in the proximal direction of the flexible plate by a support area which is approximately flat and is arranged parallel to or opposite the distal end area. This support area therefore extends essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This design enables the flexible circuit board to be installed in the shaft of the endoscope.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the distal end area and the support area are both attached to a support structure, which preferably consists of an electrically insulating material, for example a polyamide plastic. In particular, the distal end area and the support area are both located with their respective rear side on the support structure. Preferably, essentially the entire distal end area and the entire support area are located with their respective rear side on the support structure. The support structure serves to stiffen the distal end area and the support area of the flexible circuit board, which reduces the risk of the electrical connection to the image sensor breaking during the bending of the flexible circuit board and which results in a compact arrangement of the two areas. The support structure can thus remain in the interior of the shaft and additionally provide stability for the arrangement of the image generator and the flexible printed circuit board.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support structure is formed from at least two parts, for example from two plates or foils of a suitable plastic, which adhere to one another and to the respective rear side of the distal end area and the support area of the flexible board. This enables the endoscope to be manufactured.

A second bend preferably follows the support area in an area adjoining the flexible plate, for example on a side of the support area facing away from the first bend, this second bend preferably having a bending angle of more than 90 ° and a third bend which directs the flexible board in a direction substantially near the longitudinal axis. The first bend, the second bend and the third bend have alternating bending directions. A bending angle of the second bend can be around 140 °, for example, and a bending angle of the third bend around 50 °, resulting in an angle of around 90 ° to the image sensor plane. With this design, the flexible plate can be guided in a central longitudinal plane of the shaft, whereby the use of the space available in the interior of the shaft is increased. Furthermore, the second and the third bend can provide length compensation in the event of thermal expansion or bending of the shaft.

The flexible connection board is preferably in the proximal end area of the shaft or in the head piece with an electrical connector, for example an SMD connector, which can have a plug connection for connection to an insert with pins corresponding to the plug connection. The electrical connector can have a connection plane which is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft is aligned. In this way, the assembly of the endoscope can be further simplified.

The flexible plate particularly preferably has an excess length in such a way that a bay is created for length compensation. The bay for length compensation is arranged in particular on a proximal end region of the shaft or in the head piece. In this way, the assembly can be further simplified, the plug-in connection, for example, being able to be connected outside the shaft and the head piece and then being introduced into the distal end area or the head piece. Furthermore, for length compensation, the bay can be used to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and / or thermal expansion.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the objective lens system, the image sensor and the flexible connection board are located in a hermetically sealed unit. This unit can, for example, have an inner shaft of the endoscope which contains the imaging optics of the endoscope and is therefore referred to as an optical shaft. The hermetic seal can have a sealed cover glass in the optical shaft or the distal side of the objective lens system and / or a connector in the proximal end area of the flexible circuit board, the connector being inserted in a hermetically sealed manner into the facing end of the optical shaft or a connection housing, whereby the connection housing is arranged in the head piece and is connected to the proximal end of the optical shaft in a hermetically sealed manner. In this way, an endoscope is provided which can then be sterilized and thus reused in medical fields of application and which, for example, can be easily separated from the handle for maintenance.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for producing an endoscope is presented, in particular an endoscope as described above. According to this method, an elongated shaft, an objective lens system, an image sensor and a flexible connection board are provided in a first step, the flexible board being elongated and having a length which corresponds somewhat to the length of the shaft.

In a second step, the image sensor is electrically connected to a distal end area of the flexible connection board and the objective lens system, the image sensor and at least a partial area of the flexible circuit board are inserted into the elongated shaft and fastened in a distal end area of the shaft. The image sensor is preferably arranged such that its sensor plane extends approximately at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the flexible board being bent in such a way that an electrical connection to the image sensor is established and the flexible board extends through the shaft and over the facing end of the shaft protrudes. Particularly preferably, the distal end area of the flexible board is glued to a support structure before the flexible connection board is bent in order to prevent a break in the electrical connection to the image sensor, wherein the support structure can, for example, have two parts, which with respective rear sides of a distal end area of the support area the flexible board are adhesively connected and then adhesively connected to each other.

According to a third step, a proximal end area of the flexible circuit board is connected to an electrical connector which has a plurality of plug-in positions for receiving pins that correspond thereto. A housing is connected to a proximal end region of the shaft. These steps can also be performed in reverse order.

Finally, a plug insert is electrically connected to the electrical connector, for example by inserting a plurality of tabs of the plug insert into corresponding slots in the electrical connector, the plug insert and the electrical connector then being inserted into an opening in the connection housing. The shaft is preferably sealed at the distal end with a transparent cover glass, the connection housing is sealingly connected to the proximal end region of the shaft and the plug insert is sealingly inserted into an opening in the connection housing. The flexible connection board can have an expedient length which forms a bay for length compensation in a proximal end area, which enables the final steps of the method.

The method can include further steps, such as, for example, pre-assembly of the objective lens system, a final leak test or assembly of the head piece.

Further features of the endoscope are published in the parallel applications "Video Endoscope and method for configuring a video endoscope" (internal file KST083) and "Endoscope, method for operating an endoscope and method for manufacturing an endoscope" (internal file KST084), which are published by the same Applicants were submitted on the same filing date and which hereby by With regard to this, are incorporated into the present application.

The features of the invention as designated above and described below can be used not only in the combination mentioned, but also in a different combination or alone without departing from the scope of the invention presented.

• 1 zeigt ein Endoskop gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Schnittansicht entlang der Längsachse;
• 2 zeigt ein vergrößertes Detail des Endoskops aus 1;
• 3 zeigt einen Längsschnitt eines beispielhaften endoskopischen Instrumentes mit dem Endoskop aus 1.

Further aspects of the presented invention emerge from the figures and from the description of the specific embodiment of the invention, which follows on from this.

• 1 shows an endoscope according to an embodiment of the invention in a sectional view along the longitudinal axis;
• 2 shows an enlarged detail of the endoscope from 1 ;
• 3 shows a longitudinal section of an exemplary endoscopic instrument with the endoscope from 1 .

As in 1 shown has an endoscope 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an elongated endoscope shaft 2 , which defines a longitudinal axis of the endoscope, and a head piece 3 , located at a proximal end of the shaft 2 on. The shaft 2 includes an outer tube 4th and an inner tube 5 which extends through the outer tube 4th extends. The inner tube 5 serves as the optical shaft of the endoscope, which contains optical and electronic components as described below, whereas it is in the outer tube 4th a light guide 6th essentially parallel to the inner tube 5 extends. The light guide 6th is exemplary in 1 and may be formed from a bundle of optical fibers. The outer tube 4th and the inner tube 5 are slightly bent and cut off at their respective distal ends at an angle to thereby create an end face 7th of the shaft 2 form, which is formed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The distal end of the inner tube 5 is sealed by a transparent glass cover, for example a pane of glass 8th which is flush with the face 7th and an incidence window for the light entry from the examination area into the endoscope 1 forms. The optical fibers that make up the light guide 6th also close flush with the face 7th from.

On the proximal side of the glass pane 8th and in the inner tube 5 is an objective lens system 10 arranged, which is shown schematically in 1 is shown. The objective lens system 10 may comprise a plurality of lenses and other optical elements, such as one or more deflecting prisms. In the 1 The embodiment shown by way of example is an oblique view endoscope in which the objective lens system 10 a viewing direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 2 having. The objective lens system 10 is formed, an image of the examination area on the sensor surface of an electronic image sensor 11 to produce which on one of the objective lens system 10 proximal side is arranged.

The electronic image sensor 11 can in particular be a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. The objective lens system 10 and the image sensor 11 are by means of a fastening collar 12th to which the objective lens system 10 and the image sensor 11 are fastened by means of an adhesive, fixed in their position, the fastening collar 12th in the inner tube 5 is held in position by means of an adhesive layer.

The image sensor is on its proximal side 11 electrical with a distal end region 13 a flexible connection board 14th connected. The flexible connection board 14th has a plurality of alternating bends and also extends through the inner tube further in a proximal direction 4th in the proximal end area 15th of the shaft 2 and further into the head piece 3 . The headpiece 3 has a housing 16 on, its distal area 17th with the inner tube 5 connected is. A mission 18th is in the proximal side of the housing 16 introduced. A plurality of pins 19th are in use by means of glass solder 18th soldered and protrude into an interior 20th of the housing 16 into where the pins 19th into an SMD connector 21st are plugged in. The SMD connector 21st is electrical with a proximal end region 22nd the flexible connection board 14th connected. In its proximal section, which extends over the proximal end of the inner tube 5 in the interior 20th of the housing 16 protrudes reveals the flexible connection board 14th one or more bends creating a bay for length compensation 23 trains or educates.

The interior 20th of the head piece 3 and an interior 24 the inner tube 5 form an interior space of the endoscope 1 , this interior being hermetically sealed. In particular, the distal side is the inner tube 5 with the glass pane 8th sealed, which sealingly into the inner tube 5 is glued in or soldered in. At its proximal end is the inner tube 5 sealing in a distal area 17th of the housing 16 introduced, the distal area 17th tubular and at a proximal end portion of the inner tube 5 is fixed by welding or soldering. Next to its distal area 17th has the housing 16 only two more openings, with the insert 18th is inserted sealingly into one of these openings and secured therein by means of welding. The pins 19th are in action 18th poured. The second opening is a hole 25th for tightness control, which seals by means of a lid 26th is closed, which in an expansion of the bore 25th is welded on the outside. This is the optical, electrical and electronic components of the endoscope 1 housed in a hermetically sealed unit. The endoscope 1 may have a head housing, which the housing 16 includes and also a proximal end region 27 of the light guide 6th and an optical fiber mount 28 includes (see 3 ).

2 shows in an enlarged sectional view in more detail the electrical and electronic components which are located in the distal end region 9 of the shaft 2 are arranged. On its proximal side, for example on its back 32 opposite the sensor surface 30th instructs the image sensor 11 a plurality of connection terminals 31 on, which is generally designed as a ball grid array (BGA) and with the distal end area 13 the flexible connection board 14th are electrically connected. Adjacent to the distal end area 13 has the flexible connection board 14th a first flexible section 33 on, which forms a first bend of about 180 °. The first flexible section 33 closes a support area 34 the flexible connection board 14th at.

The sensor area 30th of the image sensor 11 , which defines a sensor plane, the back 32 of the image sensor 11 who have favourited the connection terminals 31 and the distal end region 13 and the support area 34 are all approximately perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft 2 arranged. Between the distal end area 13 and the support area 34 is a stiffener 35 arranged, which is formed from two plates or foils made of a polyamide plastic and on the respective rear side of the distal connection area 13 and the support area 34 is adhesively connected, the surfaces of the two polyamide plates each facing away from the flexible connection board and being adhesively connected to one another and so the stiffening 35 to build. The support area 34 carries electronic components such as a capacitor on its face 36 , which is the supply voltage for the image sensor 11 smooths.

Continue along the proximal direction of the support area 34 the flexible connection board 14th a second flexible area closes 37 and a third flexible area 38 at. Both flexible areas 37 , 38 serve to make the flexible connection board 14th in a direction close to the axial direction and approximately in a centrally arranged longitudinal plane of the inner tube 5 to direct. The second flexible area 37 can form an angle of approximately 140 ° and the third flexible area 38 can form an angle of approximately 50 °, with a total angle of approximately 90 ° relative to the image sensor plane being achieved, whereby the flexible connection board 14th substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 2 to be led.

The flexible connection board 14th is preferably designed as a highly flexible, ultra-thin plate which allows particularly tight bending radii. In the example described here, the first and second flexible sections 33 , 37 each have a bending radius of about 0.15mm. This allows the available clearance in the inner tube 5 can be used as best as possible with a high-resolution image sensor 11 to be integrated in a "standing" arrangement. The flexible connection board can be designed as a three-layer board with a thickness of less than 0.1mm, for example approximately 0.065mm and can have approximately 12 conductor tracks, each of which is approximately 0.03mm wide and less than 0.005 thick mm. The flexible connection board 14th has a total length of 10-40cm from its distal end to its proximal end, for example 16cm or 35cm. The length of the shaft 2 which can be introduced into a cavity is of a corresponding order of magnitude. Preferably the outer tube 4th , the inner tube 5 as well as the housing 16 made of stainless steel.

According to an exemplary method of manufacturing the endoscope 1 according to the presented invention, the inner tube 5 , the objective lens system 10 , the image sensor 11 as well as the ultra-thin flexible connection board 14th provided. The connection terminals 31 on the back side 32 of the image sensor 11 are attached to a front side of the distal end area 13 the flexible connection board 14th soldered to make the connection terminals 31 electrically with the conductor tracks of the flexible connection board 14th connect to. Two layers of a polyamide plastic are in the distal end area 13 and in the support area 34 with a small distance to the distal end area 13 on the back of the flexible connection board 14th arranged and attached to the flexible connection board 14th attached, for example by gluing; this can also take place before the image sensor connects to the distal end area 13 is connected. Then the flexible connection board 14th bent at a 180 ° angle between the distal end region 13 and the support area 34 form and the two layers are glued together around the stiffener 35 to form whereby a harmful influence of the bending forces on the electrical connections between the image sensor 11 and flexible connection board 14th is avoided.

The objective lens system 10 , the image sensor 11 as well as the flexible connection board 14th are in the inner tube 5 introduced, the second and third bend being the bendable Connection board 14th be shaped beforehand or during insertion. The objective lens system 10 and the image sensor 11 are held at a suitable distance from the mounting collar so that the image sensor 11 is arranged perpendicular to the shaft axis and the image plane of the objective lens system 10 with the sensor surface 30th of the image sensor 11 coincides. The inner tube 5 can then work together with the light guide 6th into the outer tube 4th and the distal end of the inner tube 5 with the glass pane 8th be closed before or after the steps described above.

Due to the excess length of the flexible connection board 14th its proximal end area protrudes 22nd over the proximal end of the inner tube 5 out. The proximal end area 22nd the flexible connection board comes with an SMD connector 21st connected and the housing 16 becomes sealing with a proximal end portion of the inner tube 5 connected. A plurality of pins 19th which in use 18th are cast in the corresponding slots of the SMD connector 21st plugged in, then the SMD connector and the insert 18th in the housing 16 plugged in with the insert 18th in the housing 16 is sealed. During insertion, a section of the flexible connection board is removed 14th as a bay for length compensation 23 shaped. A leak test can then be performed with the bore 25th can be used; after that the hole 25th hermetically sealed by welding.

The endoscope 1 as described above can be used in conjunction with various endoscopic instruments. in particular, the endoscope 1 can be used in or designed as an integral part of an endoscopic instrument. 3 shows a longitudinal section of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic instrument comprising an endoscope 1 as described above. The endoscopic instrument can itself be referred to as an endoscope.

The endoscopic instrument 40 has an elongated instrument shaft 41 with an instrument tube and an endoscope tube 43 . The instrument shaft 41 is designed for example for insertion into a cavity of a human body. The exemplary implementation in 3 is a mediastinoscope, with the instrument shaft 41 has a length of about 10-40cm, for example approximately 20cm.

The instrument tube 42 extends in the axial direction of the instrument shaft 41 from a proximal side of the instrument 40 to the obliquely cut distal end 44 and has a relatively large free space, which serves as a working channel for the introduction of endoscopic manipulators. Inside the endoscope tube 43 is the shaft 2 of the endoscope 1 housed the endoscope 1 an integral part of the instrument 40 forms. As in 3 shown extends the shaft 2 of the endoscope 1 until close to the distal end 44 of the instrument shaft 41 so that manipulations which are near the distal end of the instrument shaft 41 are performed in the field of view of the endoscope 1 lie.

The endoscopic instrument 40 also has a handle 48 which a handle 45 forms a head piece 3 with a headpiece housing 46 with a handle connection 47 from which the handle 48 , which is at an approximately right angle to the instrument shaft 41 extends and is detachably connected by means of a fastening mechanism (not detailed). The headpiece housing 46 encloses the housing 16 of the endoscope 1 , the proximal end area 27 of the light guide 6th and the fiber optic attachment 28 (please refer 1 ). The handle 48 is ergonomically shaped so that the endoscopic instrument 40 can be held in one hand by an operator, the handle 48 and the header housing 46 a plurality of finger grooves 49 having on the distal side surfaces. On a proximal side of the handle 48 are for operation by means of a thumb of the hand, which is the handle 48 holds a plurality of controls 50 arranged. Furthermore, the handle 48 a connection flange 51 for connecting an electrical cable for electrical supply and for data transmission to the endoscope 1 on. Inside the handle 48 and the header housing 46 make electrical connections to the pins 19th of the endoscope as well as connections to an LED light source, which is adjacent to the light guide attachment 28 is arranged to shine light into the proximal end region 27 of the light guide 6th to initiate illumination of the viewing area (not shown) provided. In addition, the handle 48 and / or the header housing 46 electrical elements and / or electronic circuits, such as a programmable switching module (field-programmable gate array, FPGA) for controlling the LED light source and for controlling the image sensor 11 and for transmitting the image information which is generated by the image sensor 11 of the endoscope 1 are provided, wherein the electrical and electronic components can be accommodated in a further hermetically sealed unit (not shown).

For the sake of clarity, not all reference symbols are used in all figures. Unless a reference symbol was explicitly mentioned in the description of a figure, it has the same meaning as in the other figures.

List of reference symbols

1

endoscope

2

shaft

3

Headjoint

4th

outer tube

5

inner tube

6th

Light guide

7th

Face

8th

Pane of glass

9

distal end area

10

Objective lens system

11

Image sensor

12

Fastening collar

13

distal end area

14th

flexible connection board

15th

proximal end area

16

casing

17th

distal area

18th

commitment

19th

Pin code

20th

inner space

21st

SMD connector

22nd

proximal end area

23

Bay for length compensation

24

inner space

25th

drilling

26th

cover

27

proximal end area

28

Fiber optic attachment

30th

Sensor area

31

Connection terminal

32

back

33

first flexible section

34

Support area

35

stiffening

36

capacitor

37

second flexible area

38

third flexible area

40

instrument

41

Instrument shaft

42

Instrument tube

43

Endoscope tube

44

distal end

45

Handle

46

Header housing

47

Handle connection

48

Handle

49

Finger grooves

50

Control element

51

Connection flange

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 8698887 B2 [0004]
• US 9609286 B2 [0005]

Claims (12)

Endoscope comprising an elongated shaft (2), an objective lens system (10) and an image sensor (11) arranged on a distal end region (9) of the shaft (2), and a head piece (3) arranged on a proximal end region of the shaft (2) , wherein the electronic image sensor (11) has a sensor plane arranged essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft (2) and wherein the image sensor (11) is connected to a distal end region (13) of a flexible connection board (14), characterized in that the flexible connection board (14) extends through the shaft (2) at least as far as the proximal end region of the shaft (2). Endoscope according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the distal end region (13) of the flexible connection board (14) is essentially flat and is arranged approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (2) and that the flexible connection board (14) has a first bend in a proximal direction forms distal end region (13) of the flexible connection board (14). Endoscope according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the first bend has a bending angle of approximately 180 ° and the flexible connection board (14) forms a support area (34) on a proximal side of the first bend, which is essentially flat. Endoscope according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the support area (34) and the distal end area (13) of the flexible connection board (14) are attached to a support structure. Endoscope according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the support structure has at least two parts which adhere to each other and to respective rear sides of the support area (34) and the distal end area (13) of the flexible connection board (14). Endoscope according to one of the Claims 2 to 5 , characterized in that further in a proximal direction of the flexible connection board (14) this connection board (14) forms a second bend and still further in the proximal direction a third bend, the first, the second and the third bend each having alternating bending directions. Endoscope according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the second bend has a bending angle of approximately 140 ° and the third bend has a bending angle of approximately 50 °. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a proximal end region (22) of the flexible connection board (14) is connected to an electrical connector. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible connection board (14) forms a bay for length compensation (23) with its proximal area. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the objective lens system (10), the electronic image sensor (11) and the flexible connection board (14) are accommodated in a hermetically sealed unit. Method for producing an endoscope (1), comprising the steps of providing an elongated shaft (2), an objective lens system (10), an image sensor (11) and a flexible connection board (14) with a length at least corresponding to the length of the shaft (2 ), electrical connection of the image sensor (11) to a distal end region (13) of the flexible connection board (14), introduction of the objective lens system (10) and the image sensor (11) and at least one area of the flexible connection board (14) into the elongated shaft ( 2), connecting a proximal end region (22) of the flexible connection board (14) to an electrical connector, connecting a plug housing to a proximal end region of the shaft (2), connecting an insert (18) to the electrical connector and inserting the electrical connector and of the insert (18) in an opening in the connector housing. Procedure according to Claim 11 , wherein a rear side of the distal end area (13) of the flexible connection board (14) to a first part of a support structure, a rear side of a support area (34) of the flexible connection board (14) are adhesively connected to a second part of the support structure, the first and the second part of the support structure are adhesively connected to one another in such a way that the flexible connection board (14) forms a first bend between the distal end region (13) and the support region (34), and then the objective lens system (10), the image sensor (11), at least a portion of the flexible connection board (14) and the support structure are inserted into the elongated shaft (2).

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