Video endoscope and handle for video endoscope

Abstract

A video endoscope and a handle for a video endoscope. The video endoscope is in particular a medical or industrial video endoscope, which includes a handle having a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongated shaft having one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal portion of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electrical transmission element of the interface portion, the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first connector element and the second connector element cooperate to form a detachable electrical connection, the handle includes an electrical connection assembly disposed at the outer shell of the interface portion, and in a plurality of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing, the electrical connection assembly forms an electrical connection with at least one fixed electrical and / or electronic component of the handle. The present invention also relates to a handle for a video endoscope.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a video endoscope according to the preamble of Technical Solution 1, and preferably relates to a medical video endoscope according to the preamble of Technical Solution 1. The present invention also relates to a handle for a video endoscope. Background Art

[0002] An endoscope typically includes an elongated shaft and a handle, the shaft being configured for insertion into an inner cavity of a human or animal body or another target object to be viewed by the endoscope. The elongated shaft may be rigid or flexible. The handle is designed to be held by a user during endoscopic examination and may have control elements for controlling various functions of the endoscope, wherein the handle remains outside the cavity. The endoscope includes an optical system for generating an image of an object field in a cavity of a body or target object. In a video endoscope, the generated image is captured by an electronic image sensor and displayed on a monitor. Depending on the broad type of video endoscope, the electronic image sensor is configured in a distal (i.e., away from the user) end portion of the shaft, and an image signal generated by the image sensor is electrically transmitted toward a proximal (i.e., close to the user) end portion of the endoscope to display the endoscopic image on the monitor.

[0003] During endoscopic examinations, it is often necessary to change the rotational direction of an endoscope. For example, oblique endoscopes are known that have a viewing direction offset from the longitudinal axis of a shaft and allow viewing of different object fields within a body cavity by adjusting the rotational direction of the shaft. Preferably, for ergonomic reasons, for example, to maintain the orientation of the handle during shaft rotation, the endoscope can be constructed so that the shaft is rotatable relative to the handle. When the viewing direction of an oblique endoscope is to be changed, in an endoscope having a conventional rod lens system, the image direction is not affected by the rotation of the shaft, where the image is detected by a non-rotating image sensor located in the handle.

[0004] In video endoscopes in which an electronic image sensor is fixedly mounted in a shaft, the image sensor rotates when the shaft rotates, and this rotation of the shaft thus causes a rotation of the image displayed on the monitor. The rotating image displayed on the monitor makes navigation within the cavity more difficult for the user, which can result in prolonged endoscopic procedures and potentially increase the risks involved in medical endoscopic interventions. Therefore, it is known to provide an image processing unit configured to erect the image displayed on the monitor to be viewed by the user.

[0005] In US 2010 / 0125166 A1, a side-view video endoscope is disclosed, which has a rigid endoscope tube and an image sensor arranged on the distal end of the endoscope shaft. The image can be rotated by rotating a wheel arranged on the proximal end of the shaft.

[0006] According to EP 2428155 B1, which relates to a wireless camera coupled with a rotatable coupling, a system is provided that includes an endoscope and a detachable camera head. The endoscope is provided with a transponder / transceiver, and the detachable camera head is provided with a corresponding transponder / transceiver, thereby transmitting electrical energy from the camera head to the endoscope. In addition, image data generated by the endoscope via a CCD or CMOS device can also be wirelessly transmitted from the endoscope to the detachable camera head.

[0007] As disclosed in US 8,187,171 B2, a video endoscope includes an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis and a handpiece at a proximal end of the shaft, and an electronic image sensor is provided at a distal end of the shaft. The image sensor is connected to an electrical connector configured on the handpiece via an electrical connection extending along the shaft. The image sensor and the connector are capable of rotating relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The electrical connection includes at least one flexible elongated circuit board that can be twisted about its longitudinal axis and has at least one conductive wire.

[0008] An endoscope is described in US 9,907,457 B2 that has a pan-tilt camera at a distal end of its insertion shaft, and the pan-tilt camera assembly is pivotable to provide a field of view range that can be equal to or greater than 180 degrees. A distal portion of the endoscope handle can be rotated relative to a proximal hand-held portion of the endoscope handle, and a rotary encoder is provided to convert the rotational position of the insertion shaft relative to the handle into a signal to correct the image orientation by an electronic processor.

[0009] In known video endoscopes of the above type, it has proven disadvantageous to transmit electrical energy and / or signals between the electronic image sensor and the handle, especially in terms of efficiency and reliability. In addition, the handling of the video endoscope before, during, and / or after the endoscope intervention and the erection of the image for easy navigation have been shown not to be always optimal. Moreover, such endoscopes are generally not suitable for withstanding high-pressure steam and are therefore not particularly autoclaveable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a video endoscope that alleviates at least one of the above problems. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a video endoscope that often provides improved operation and orientation to the user in a manner to which the user is already accustomed, while ensuring a high level of operational safety and durability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a handle for a video endoscope.

[0011] These objects are achieved by a video endoscope according to aspect 1 and by a handle according to aspect 16. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are indicated in the dependent aspects.

[0012] The video endoscope according to the present invention is preferably designed for medical applications, such as minimally invasive surgery and / or medical examinations. Thus, the user of the video endoscope is typically a surgeon performing endoscopic interventions. However, the present invention can also be applied to video endoscopes designed for non-medical purposes, such as industrial endoscopes or pipeline scopes.

[0013] The video endoscope according to the present invention includes a handle, which includes a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing. The size and shape of the housing may be adapted to be held by a user with one hand during an endoscopic intervention; the handle may also include, for example, a grip held by the user, which is connected to the housing. Preferably, the handle also has one or more control elements for controlling various functions of the endoscope, which are configured to be operated by one or more fingers of the same hand that holds the handle by the user. The handle includes at least one fixed electrical and / or electronic component, which may be fixedly mounted to and housed in the housing and does not participate or substantially does not participate in the rotation of the interface portion relative to the housing. Hereinafter, the at least one fixed electrical and / or electronic component is briefly referred to as "fixed electronics", although it should be understood that it may consist only of cables and / or electrical leads and / or printed circuit boards with conductive lines to provide electrical connection to an external power supply and control system. However, preferably, the fixed electronics includes a processing device such as an image preprocessing circuit and / or a power supply unit for supplying electrical energy to an image sensor described below. The fixed electronics may also include control elements and corresponding circuits. The handle may have ports for electrical connection to an external power supply and control system and / or a monitor. The external power supply and control system may include, for example, an image processing unit, a monitor for displaying the endoscopic image provided by the image sensor, and / or a power supply.

[0014] The interface portion is rotatably mounted relative to the housing and has a rotation axis defined by its rotation relative to the housing. The interface portion has an exterior, which may be the outer surface of the body of the interface portion. In particular, the exterior of the interface portion may be formed by an outer surface that is substantially rotationally symmetric with respect to the rotation axis. The exterior may be or include a continuous surface, or may be discontinuous. The interface portion may include an internal hollow space. The interface portion may be mounted at or within the housing; in particular, the interface portion may be mounted in an opening or a partially open cavity of the housing in such a way that a part of its exterior forms a part of the exterior of the handle. However, at least a part of the exterior of the interface portion may be enclosed or surrounded by the housing of the handle.

[0015] The video endoscope according to the present invention further includes an elongated shaft configured to be inserted into a cavity for endoscopic observation, particularly into a body cavity of a human or animal body. The shaft may be formed of a rigid tube, so the video endoscope may be a rigid video endoscope; however, the present invention may also relate to a video endoscope with a flexible shaft. The shaft may include, for example, channels for irrigation and / or working instruments. The shaft includes an electronic image sensor configured to capture an image of the object field generated by the objective system. The objective system may be configured at or in the distal portion of the shaft such that the image is generated on the image sensing surface of the image sensor. The objective system may include one or more lenses and other optical elements, such as an aperture stop or plate-like elements such as filters, polarizers, retarders or waveplates. The electronic image sensor may be, for example, a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The image sensor is configured to convert the captured image into an electrical image signal.

[0016] In some preferred embodiments, the electronic image sensor is configured in the distal portion of the shaft, and wires such as cables or flexible printed circuit boards may be provided to run through the shaft to supply electrical power and / or control signals to the electronic image sensor and to transmit the image signal to the proximal portion of the shaft. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the image sensor may be located in the proximal portion of the shaft, and the image light collected by the objective system may be transmitted from the distal portion of the shaft to the proximal portion, where the image sensor captures the image transmitted to the proximal portion. In these embodiments, the optical image transmission system includes, for example, rod lenses commonly used to transmit image light from the distal portion of the shaft to the image sensor located proximally. These embodiments are particularly advantageous when the diameter of the endoscope shaft must be narrower than the diameter of a shaft that may have an image sensor located distally.

[0017] The video endoscope according to the present invention may further include a plurality of image sensors located distally or proximally. Dual image sensors are particularly advantageous for performing stereoscopic endoscopy to allow the generation of 3D images. It should be understood that the present disclosure relates not only to a single image sensor, but also to multiple image sensors, such as two, three or even more image sensors.

[0018] According to the present invention, the proximal portion of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle. In particular, the proximal end of the shaft is connected to the interface portion. Preferably, the shaft is non-rotatably connected to the interface portion. Thus, the shaft can rotate relative to the housing together with the interface portion, and thus can rotate relative to the housing about the rotation axis of the interface portion. The shaft can be constructed and connected in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the shaft is substantially aligned with the rotation axis of the interface portion, and thus the shaft can rotate relative to the housing about its longitudinal axis together with the interface portion; alternatively, the shaft can be constructed and connected such that the longitudinal axis of the shaft forms an angle with the rotation axis of the interface portion. By means of the detachable connection, the shaft can be easily detached from the interface portion, and in particular, can be detached without the need for tools, and most preferably, can be detached by the user during or immediately before or after an endoscopic intervention.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to the electrical transmission element of the interface portion, and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the electronic image sensor. The first connector element and the second connector element cooperate and are connected to form a detachable electrical connection between the electrical transmission element of the interface portion and the electronic image sensor. In particular, the first connector element and the second connector element are configured to transmit the electronic image signal generated by the electronic image sensor to the electrical transmission element of the interface portion, and to transmit electrical energy and / or control signals from the electrical transmission element of the interface portion to the electronic image sensor arranged in the shaft. In this sense, the first connector element and the second connector element are configured to electrically connect the interface portion to the electronic image sensor via a detachable electrical interface. The electrical transmission element of the interface portion can be, for example, a printed circuit board having conductive lines for transmitting electrical signals and / or energy. The interface portion is particularly configured not to include user-operable control elements and / or not to include electronic components; alternatively, the electrical transmission element of the interface portion can include, for example, an image preprocessing circuit.

[0020] In addition, according to the present invention, the handle includes an electrical connection assembly disposed in the housing of the interface portion, and the electrical connection assembly forms an electrical connection at a plurality of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing. The electrical connection assembly forms an electrical connection between the electrical transmission element of the rotatable interface portion and the fixed electronics of the handle, and when the interface portion rotates, the fixed electronics substantially do not rotate. The electrical connection assembly may have: a first end that is connected to or configured to contact the housing, such as connected to or contacting the outer surface of the interface portion; and a second end that is connected to the fixed electronics of the handle, and the first end and the second end are electrically connected to each other. The electrical connection assembly is configured to maintain an electrical connection at various rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing. In particular, the electrical connection assembly may be configured to provide an electrical connection that is independent of the rotational position or corresponding rotational angle of the interface portion at least within a given range of rotational positions. The electrical connection assembly is configured to transmit an electronic image signal from the electrical transmission element of the interface portion to the fixed electronics of the handle, and / or to transmit electrical energy from the fixed electronics of the handle to the electrical transmission element of the interface portion.

[0021] Since the interface portion is rotatable relative to the housing of the handle, the user can rotate relative to the axis of rotation of the housing of the handle, so that, for example, the viewing direction of the endoscope can be adjusted while the handle is held in a fixed direction. In addition, by detachably connecting to the shaft of the handle, the construction of the endoscope is facilitated. In addition, due to the configuration of the electrical connection assembly, an electrical connection is formed at a plurality of rotational positions of the interface portion, so that an electrical connection can be established and maintained between the fixed electrical and / or electronic components of the handle and the electronic image sensor at a plurality of rotational positions of the shaft or particularly in any direction of the shaft relative to the housing of the handle, at least within a given range of rotational positions. Therefore, the user can freely select a suitable direction of the shaft without substantially disturbing the electrical connection between the image sensor and the image processing unit disposed in the handle or an external system, thereby providing an uninterrupted endoscope observation. The configuration of the electrical connection assembly at the housing of the rotatable interface portion allows a space-saving configuration and thus allows a compact and ergonomic design of the handle, and also allows for a reliable and durable electrical connection. Therefore, the endoscope allows for easier handling and construction, as well as improved functionality and operational safety.

[0022] In particular, the interface portion may be configured to be permanently connected to the housing or included in the housing, or cannot be detached from the housing without tools. In this sense, the interface portion according to this embodiment, although rotatable, cannot be detached from the housing, while the shaft can be detached from the interface portion, although in the connected state, the shaft preferably cannot rotate relative to the interface portion. In this case, the functions of detachability and rotatability are separated and provided by different components of the video endoscope, thereby achieving a particularly simple and reliable design.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the electrical connection assembly includes at least one sliding contact. The sliding contact can be designed, for example, as a slip ring that includes a brush fixedly mounted relative to the housing and that contacts, in a sliding manner, a metal ring that forms part of the outer housing or outer surface of the interface portion. Conversely, the sliding contact can be formed by a rotating brush that contacts a fixed metal ring. Preferably, the electrical connection assembly includes two or more sliding contacts or contact elements that are electrically insulated from each other to provide at least as many electrical connections as are required for transmitting signals and / or electrical energy to and / or from the image sensor. By providing at least one sliding contact, an electrical connection can be established and maintained at any rotational position within at least a given range. Most preferably, the metal ring extends approximately 360°; in this case, the electrical connection is independent of the rotational position, and even an infinite number of rotations of the interface portion relative to the housing can be permitted.

[0024] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the electrical connection assembly is arranged at or on the periphery of the interface portion. For the sake of clarity, in the present disclosure, the periphery is also referred to as the outer periphery. Thus, according to this embodiment, the housing of the interface portion that forms the electrical connection at a plurality of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing is the outer periphery of the interface portion. The outer periphery can be, for example, a continuous or discontinuous surface of the body of the interface portion. The outer periphery or the portion of the outer periphery on which the electrical connection assembly is arranged can be formed by the outer peripheral surface of the interface portion that is located at a radial distance from the axis of rotation. The outer peripheral surface can be at least partially rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation in at least the portion on which the electrical connection assembly is arranged. For example, the interface portion can have an approximately cylindrical shape, where the axis of the cylinder substantially coincides with the axis of rotation, and the outer periphery is formed by a portion of the side surface of the approximately cylindrical interface portion. This embodiment allows for a particularly simple design and enhances the operational reliability of the video endoscope.

[0025] According to another preferred embodiment, the electrical connection assembly includes at least one flexible conductor element configured to wind around the perimeter of the interface portion and / or unwind from the perimeter of the interface portion by rotating the interface portion relative to the housing, where the perimeter can be the outer peripheral surface of the interface portion. Thus, according to this embodiment, the handle includes a flexible conductor element that forms an electrical connection between the electrical transmission element of the interface portion and the fixed electronics of the handle, where the flexible conductor element winds around the perimeter of the interface portion and / or unwinds from the perimeter of the interface portion by rotation of the interface portion. In particular, when the interface portion rotates in one direction, the flexible conductor element wraps or coils around a portion of the perimeter or outer peripheral surface of the interface portion, and when the interface portion rotates in the opposite direction, the flexible conductor element unwinds. Thus, the interface portion and the flexible conductor element can be considered to form a spool. The flexible conductor element can have: a first end fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the interface portion and electrically connected to the electrical transmission element of the interface portion; and a second end mounted to the housing and connected to the fixed electrical and / or electronic components of the handle. Most preferably, the flexible conductor element is mounted such that twisting is avoided when the flexible conductor element winds or unwinds. By providing a flexible conductor element that winds around the interface portion, rotation of the interface portion can be achieved with low friction, and at the same time, an electrical connection can be maintained in an uninterrupted manner during rotation and for any rotational position of the interface portion within a predetermined range of rotational positions. Preferably, the interface portion and the flexible conductor element are configured such that the flexible conductor element can wind around the outer perimeter of the interface portion by at least 90°, at least 180°, at least 270°, or at least 360°, allowing rotation at least within the corresponding range of rotational positions. That is, when the flexible conductor element winds around the circumference of the interface portion, it can form less than a complete winding, or it can form a complete winding or more than one winding; in the latter case, the windings can be wound around each other to form a helical configuration. In this way, a high degree of rotational freedom and substantially wear-free operation can be achieved, thereby enhancing the functionality and durability of the video endoscope.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible conductor element is or includes a flexible cable, a flexible ribbon cable, or a flexible printed circuit board or a combination of multiple such elements or such elements. Using a flexible cable, a flexible ribbon cable, or a flexible printed circuit board facilitates the assembly of the handle and provides a reliable connection during use. In addition, the ribbon cable or the flexible printed circuit board can include multiple electrical leads, thereby allowing parallel transmission of a high data volume and / or multiple signals, as well as supplying electrical energy to the image sensor. In addition, the ribbon cable or the flexible printed circuit board is easy to wind, thereby allowing a particularly simple design of the endoscope and reliable and reproducible operation.

[0027] Preferably, the housing includes a storage or storage portion for receiving at least the unwound portion of the flexible conductor element. In particular, the flexible conductor element can be completely contained within the housing, including the portion wound around the outer periphery of the interface portion and the unwound portion. The housing typically has dimensions that provide sufficient space to accommodate the storage portion. In this way, entanglement or blockage of the flexible conductor element during rotation can be greatly avoided, thereby improving operational reliability and safety.

[0028] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the unwound portion of the flexible conductor element is guided by at least one roller disposed in the storage portion, the roller having a rotation axis that is preferably substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the interface portion. In particular, the unwound portion can be routed around the roller. The roller can be configured to receive the unwound portion of the flexible conductor element when the interface portion rotates to unwind the flexible conductor element, and to wind a portion of the flexible conductor element around the outer periphery when the interface portion rotates in the opposite direction. According to another preferred embodiment, the roller is movably disposed within the storage portion and is configured to tension the flexible conductor element. In particular, the roller can be spring-loaded in a direction for tensioning the flexible conductor element. In this way, the unwinding movement of the flexible conductor element can be precisely controlled, and entanglement of the flexible conductor element can be most safely avoided. Therefore, the reliability and reproducibility of the operation of the endoscope can be further enhanced.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, at least a portion of the unwound portion of the flexible conductor element can be routed in an arcuate shape within the storage portion and / or can be loosely disposed within the storage portion. Thus, for example, a single-sided or double-sided abutment surface can be provided for routing the flexible conductor element within the storage portion. The unwound portion of the flexible conductor element can form continuous or alternating arcs, such as a meandering shape. Additionally, the flexible conductor element can be configured to be pre-bent in an elastic manner or can be implemented as a spring itself. Thus, a flexible conductor element of sufficient length for winding can be achieved in a simple manner.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle includes at least two bearings for rotatably supporting the interface portion relative to the housing, and the electrical connection assembly is disposed in an intermediate portion of the outer peripheral surface of the interface portion. The intermediate portion of the outer peripheral surface is the portion of the outer peripheral surface that is located between at least two bearings. The bearings can be used to support the rotational movement of the interface portion and also to define the configuration of the electrical connection assembly. Thus, for example, by disposing the bearings on both sides of the corresponding portions of the outer peripheral surface, the contact between the brush and the metal ring can be enhanced and / or the winding on the outer peripheral surface of the interface portion can be improved. In this way, the handling of the endoscope can be further facilitated.

[0031] In addition, a seal may be provided to seal the opening of the rotatably mounted interface portion of the housing. The seal is preferably located near the bearing such that the bearing is included in the sealed inner space of the housing. Most preferably, the seal is arranged in the outer direction of the first and second bearings described above such that the middle portion of the outer peripheral surface is enclosed by the seal. Such a seal can protect the handle, in particular any electrical and electronic components and / or connections within the handle and / or the interface portion, such as in particular the electrical connection assembly, from body fluids or disinfectants. Therefore, the seal can improve the durability and operating safety of the endoscope.

[0032] Preferably, the rotation range of the interface portion relative to the housing is limited by a stop. The stop may be a physical stop that limits the rotation range to an angular range less than 360°. The stop can be used to enhance the operating safety and reliability of the endoscope and, in particular, to avoid damage to the endoscope due to excessive rotation of the interface portion relative to the housing. As described above, the stop is particularly advantageous in the case where the electrical connection assembly includes at least one flexible conductor element to be wound and / or unwound during rotation of the interface portion.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the handle includes at least one sensor configured to detect the rotation angle and / or rotation position of the interface portion relative to the housing. The sensor may be or include, for example, a rotary encoder, a Hall sensor, and / or a magnetic sensor. In particular, the sensor may be an incremental rotary encoder to generate a rotation signal representative of the rotation angle, or may be an absolute rotary encoder to generate a rotation signal representative of the rotation position of the interface portion. The rotation signal can be transmitted to an image processing unit for digitally erecting an image based on the detected rotation angle.

[0034] Most preferably, the endoscope includes or is connectable to an image processing unit configured to erect an image provided by an image sensor according to the rotation signal to display an image independent of the rotation of the axis. The image processing unit may be included in the handle or, preferably, in an external control and supply system. The endoscope may also include a gravity sensor for detecting the rotation of the handle; the image processing unit may be configured to erect an image independent of the direction of the axis relative to the gravity vector. In this way, it is possible to facilitate the user's navigation in the cavity.

[0035] Advantageously, the second connector element includes a plurality of conductor pins, and the first connector element includes a plurality of sockets configured to receive the conductor pins. Electrical energy and data signals can be appropriately transmitted via the connection of the pins of the shaft and the corresponding sockets of the handle. In this way, a compact design and a simple and reliable electrical connection between the electrical transmission element of the interface portion and the electronic image sensor can be achieved. In addition, after using the video endoscope, the pins of the second connector element can be easily cleaned. Preferably, the first connector element is rigidly mounted to the front side of the interface portion facing the shaft, and the second connector element is rigidly mounted to the proximal portion of the shaft. Further preferably, the pins and the sockets of the jacks extend in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the interface portion; thereby facilitating the formation of an electrical connection. Most preferably, the first connector element and the second connector element can be configured and constructed such that an electrical connection is automatically formed when the shaft is mechanically connected to the handle.

[0036] In particular, the pins of the shaft are connected to the sockets of the handle by a friction fit, and thus when an electrical connection is formed, the shaft is mechanically connected to the handle. Therefore, the shaft can be easily connected to and detached from the handle. In addition, the first connector element, the second connector element, and / or other elements of the shaft and the interface portion can be configured such that the shaft can be connected to the interface portion only at a defined angular position, thereby facilitating the rotational sensing of the sensor for erecting the endoscope image.

[0037] Preferably, in addition to the first connector element and the second connector element, a mechanical coupling mechanism can be provided to couple the shaft to the handle in a safe and stable manner. The coupling mechanism can particularly include a coupling element of the shaft that cooperates with a corresponding coupling element of the handle, thereby preventing the shaft from accidentally detaching from the handle, but allowing the shaft to rotate relative to the housing of the handle. The coupling element of the handle can be configured on the front side of the proximal portion of the housing facing the shaft, for example, configured on the circumferential portion of the housing surrounding the interface portion, such that the interface portion of the handle substantially or completely overlaps the shaft and the coupling mechanism in the connected state. In this way, a particularly stable coupling can be achieved. The mechanical coupling mechanism can be configured to include, for example, a releasable snap fit, a form fit, a ratchet, and / or a claw coupling. Thereby, the handling and reliability of the connection can be further improved.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shaft is hermetically sealed. In particular, the second connector element itself can be sealed and connected to the shaft in a hermetically sealed manner; the second connector element can, for example, be inserted into the proximal portion of the tube forming the shaft and hermetically embedded in a suitable resin. The electronic image sensor can also be accommodated in the hermetically sealed internal space of the shaft. The shaft can further include an open channel, such as a flushing channel or an instrument channel. Most preferably, the shaft is configured to be autoclaveable. Since the shaft is hermetically sealed and / or autoclaveable, the multiple use of the shaft can be facilitated.

[0039] Alternatively, the shaft can be constructed to be disposable, i.e., for single use. In particular, the shaft can include only a small number of expensive optical and electronic components and can thus be designed to be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

[0040] Preferably, the handle is constructed to be reusable. Since the handle is not introduced into the body cavity during an endoscopic intervention, the handle may or may not be autoclaveable.

[0041] According to another preferred embodiment, the shaft can include an electrical light source to generate light or, for example, near-infrared radiation for illuminating the cavity to be observed. The light source is preferably or includes an LED. The light source can be configured at the distal end of the shaft or, for example, near the proximal end of the shaft and optically coupled to a light guide tube that transmits the illumination radiation to the distal end. As described above, the light source is preferably supplied with electrical energy via the interface portion, i.e., via the first and second connector elements, the electrical transmission elements of the interface portion, and the electrical connection assembly of the handle. The power supply for the light source can be provided in the housing of the handle or an external power supply can be connected to the handle.

[0042] Alternatively, the shaft can include a port for connecting an optical fiber cable and a light guide tube of an external light source to transmit the illumination radiation generated by the external light source to the distal end of the shaft. The port can be configured at or near the proximal portion of the shaft and is preferably separated from the second connector element.

[0043] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a handle for a video endoscope, particularly for a medical video endoscope, preferably for the handle of the video endoscope as described above. The handle includes a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing. The interface portion can be constructed to be detachably connected to the proximal portion of the elongated shaft of the video endoscope, which shaft includes at least one electronic image sensor. The interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to the electrical transmission elements of the interface portion, wherein the first connector element is constructed to be connectable to a second connector element of the shaft of the video endoscope to form a detachable electrical connection. The handle further includes an electrical connection assembly disposed on the outer housing of the interface portion, particularly on the outer peripheral surface of the interface portion, which electrical connection assembly forms an electrical connection to the fixed electrical and / or electronic components of the handle in a plurality of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing. In particular, at least one flexible conductor element and / or sliding contact can be disposed at or on the outer housing of the interface portion for transmitting electrical signals and / or electrical energy from the shaft or to the shaft via the electrical interface in different rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing. In particular, the handle is constructed as described above.

[0044] The handle allows connection of the shaft of the video endoscope and, since the interface part is rotatable relative to the housing, allows rotation of the shaft. At the same time, at multiple rotational positions of the shaft relative to the handle, the configuration of the electrical connection assembly disposed at the outer housing of the interface part allows establishment and maintenance of an electrical connection between the shaft and other electrical and / or electronic components or units inside or outside the handle. That is, the electrical connection assembly allows the connected shaft and interface part to rotate relative to the housing while substantially not impeding the electrical connection to the shaft.

[0045] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a shaft for a video endoscope, particularly for a medical video endoscope, preferably for the shaft of a video endoscope as described above. The shaft is elongated and configured for insertion into a cavity for endoscopic observation and includes at least one electronic image sensor. The proximal part of the shaft is configured to be detachably connected to the interface part of the handle of the video endoscope. The proximal part of the shaft is equipped with a second connector element that can be electrically connected to the first connector element of the handle. In particular, the shaft is constructed as described above.

[0046] The present invention also relates to a video endoscope system, particularly to a medical video endoscope system. The video endoscope system includes at least one handle constructed as described above and at least two shafts, each of the at least two shafts being constructed as described above. Preferably, the at least two shafts are designed to have different optical, mechanical, and / or electrical characteristics, such as different viewing directions, different fields of view, different lengths and / or diameters, different configurations related to the irrigation or instrument channel, different types or configurations of image sensors and / or light sources. Due to the detachable connection of each shaft to the handle, the shaft can be easily replaced to adapt the video endoscope to the requirements of a specific endoscopic intervention.

[0047] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating a video endoscope. According to this method, a video endoscope constructed as described above is provided, the shaft is in a first angular position relative to the housing of the handle, and the shaft is rotated relative to the housing of the handle to a second angular position, wherein at the first and second angular positions, an electrical connection is provided between the electrical transmission element of the interface part and the fixed electrical and / or electronic components of the handle through the electrical connection assembly. Preferably, during the rotation, that is, at all intermediate angular positions of the shaft relative to the housing of the handle, the electrical connection is uninterruptedly maintained by the electrical connection assembly. In this way, an electrical connection can be provided and maintained between the electronic image sensor and the fixed electronics of the handle regardless of the rotation of the shaft relative to the housing of the handle.

[0048] In the method steps preceding the steps mentioned, a handle and a shaft can be provided, which are constructed as described above; the shaft is electrically and mechanically connected to the handle as described above to form a video endoscope to be operated. As described above, in the subsequent method steps to be performed after operating the video endoscope, the shaft can be detached from the handle. In a further step, another shaft can be connected to the handle, or the shaft and the handle can be cleaned and disinfected. Both the shaft and the handle can be reused, and the shaft is preferably autoclaveable.

[0049] Without departing from the scope of the present invention, the features of the present invention described above and below apply not only to the combinations described, but also to other combinations or to individual applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings and the following description of specific embodiments.

[0051] Figure 1 A schematic partial cross-sectional view shows the shaft and the handle of a video endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a separated state;

[0052] Figure 2 Shows a video endoscope according to an embodiment in a connected state; Figure 1 of the embodiment;

[0053] Figure 3 A schematic partial cross-sectional view shows the shaft according to a variant of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 4 is Figures 1 to 3 A schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the interface portion of the handle of the video endoscope of;

[0055] Figure 5 is Figures 1 to 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of the interface portion of the handle of the video endoscope of;

[0056] Figure 6 A side view shows a video endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 7 A side view shows a video endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0058] Figure 1 and Figure 2 are schematic views of a video endoscope 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The video endoscope 10 is designed to provide video and / or imaging data from a field of view within a cavity of a human or animal body. As Figure 1 and Figure 2Symbolically shown by cable 11, the video endoscope can be connected to an external control and power supply system that provides power and includes image processing and display devices such as a computer and a monitor. The video endoscope 10 includes a handle 12 and a shaft 18. In Figure 1 Figure 1, the handle 12 and the shaft 18 are shown in a separated state. Figure 2 Figure 2 shows the Figure 1 video endoscope 10 in a connected state, where the shaft 18 is connected to the handle 12.

[0059] Shown in a schematic longitudinal sectional view in Figure 1 and Figure 2 is the handle 12. The handle 12 is sized and shaped to be held by a user of the video endoscope 10, who is typically a surgeon performing an endoscopic intervention. The handle of the video endoscope 10 includes a housing 14 and an interface portion 16 rotatably mounted relative to the housing 14. The housing 14 has a front side 17 with an opening in which the interface portion 16 is mounted. As described below, the housing 14 includes a storage portion 46 for accommodating a part of the flexible circuit board 34. For clarity, some electrical components are omitted in Figure 1 and Figure 2 Figures 3 and 4.

[0060] In addition, the video endoscope 10 includes an elongated shaft 18 having a distal end 20, a proximal end 22, and a longitudinal axis 24 extending between the distal end 20 and the proximal end 22. The proximal end 22 of the shaft 18 is detachably connected to the handle 12, and the shaft 18 has a coupling plate 19 at the proximal end 22. As described in detail below, the shaft 18 is electrically and mechanically connected to the handle 12, and the shaft 18 together with the interface portion 16 is rotatable relative to the housing 14. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axis 24 of the shaft 18 is aligned with the rotational axis 38 of the interface portion 16. Thus, the shaft 18 can rotate relative to the housing 14 of the handle 12 about the longitudinal axis 24 of the shaft 18.

[0061] The interface portion 16 includes a first connector element 26, and the shaft 18 has a second connector element 28 at its proximal end 22. The first connector element 26 and the second connector element 28 cooperate to form an electrical interface for electrically connecting the handle 12 and the shaft 18. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 the exemplary embodiment, the first connector element 26 includes a plurality of sockets 30, and the second connector element 28 includes a plurality of conductor pins 32. Five sockets 30 and five pins 32 are symbolically shown in the drawings. The pins 32 and the sockets 30 extend parallel to the rotational axis 38 of the interface portion, and the pins 32 can be inserted into the corresponding sockets 30 in the direction of the rotational axis 38.

[0062] The first connector element 26 and the second connector element 28 can be held to each other by a friction fit of the pin 32 in the socket 30 and / or by a form fit of the connector base 29 of the second connector element 28 in the corresponding groove 27 of the interface portion 16 (see Figure 4 ). For a particularly safe and stable mechanical connection of the shaft 18 to the handle 12, in the illustrated embodiment, a mechanical coupling mechanism 13 is provided, which consists of a claw coupling mechanism having claws 15 that firmly but rotatably and releasably hold the coupling plate 19 of the shaft 18 to the housing 14. Since the first connector element 26 and the second connector element 28 are fixedly mounted to the interface portion 16 and the shaft 18, respectively, the shaft 18 is non-rotatably connected to the interface portion 16. Embodiments employing means such as a claw coupling mechanism to fixedly connect the shaft 18 to the handle 12 may also employ contact means other than the pin / socket system discussed above. Such a system may employ simple contacts for the necessary electrical connection instead of a more robust pin / socket connection.

[0063] The shaft 18 further includes an imaging unit 50 having an objective system and an electronic image sensor. The imaging unit 50 is disposed at or near the distal end 20 of the shaft 18. A multi-wire cable 52 runs through the shaft 18 to connect the electronic image sensor of the imaging unit 50 to the second connector element 28 at the proximal end 22 of the shaft 18. Alternatively, the electronic image sensor may be located near the proximal end 22 of the shaft 18 (see below and Figure 3 ).

[0064] In addition, the shaft 18 includes a short post or light post 54 forming a port for connecting an optical fiber cable of an external light source, and a light guide tube (not shown) extending in the shaft 18 until the distal end 20 of the shaft 18 to transmit the illumination radiation provided by the external light source toward the field of view to be observed. Alternatively, the shaft may include, for example, an LED to generate the illumination radiation, which is electrically connected to the second connector element 28 to be supplied with electrical energy via the electrical connection described above.

[0065] The shaft 18 may be hermetically sealed and, in particular, may be autoclavable. For this purpose, the second connector element 28 may be sealingly inserted into the proximal end 22 of the shaft 18. The shaft 18 may have an outer diameter of, for example, approximately 4 mm or approximately 10 mm, but may also have any other diameter and size suitable for a particular medical intervention, or, in the case of a non-medical endoscope, may have a diameter and size suitable for the intended endoscopic examination.

[0066] According to a variant of the first embodiment and as Figure 3As shown, the shaft may include an electronic image sensor 51 near the proximal end 22 of the shaft 18. The shaft 18 also includes a rod lens system that includes a plurality of rod lenses 48 to transmit image light collected by an objective lens system 49 disposed at or near the distal end 20 of the shaft 18 to the image sensor 51 disposed proximally. The image sensor 51 is connected to the second connector element 28 via an electrical lead 53. The electrical lead 53 may be formed, for example, by a multi-wire cable or by a printed circuit board. On the other hand, the image sensor 51 may form a unit with the second connector element 28, be directly connected to the second connector element 28 and not require the electrical lead 53 (not shown). As Figure 3 can be seen, since the image sensor 51 is located near the proximal end 22 of the shaft 18, the image sensor 51 may have a larger size than if it were disposed at or near the distal end 20. In addition, according to Figure 3 the shaft 18 may be constructed as described above with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 and may be connected to the handle 12 as described above.

[0067] In Figure 4 and Figure 5 the interface portion 16 is shown in more detail. Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the interface portion 16, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the interface portion 16 ( Figure 4 cross-section A-A in

[0068] The interface portion 16 has an approximately cylindrical shape, and the axis of the cylinder approximately coincides with the rotational axis 38 of the interface portion 16. The housing of the interface portion 16 is formed by a front end 42 and a rear end 44 corresponding to the base of the cylinder and a perimeter or peripheral surface 40 corresponding to the side surface of the cylinder. The front end 42 is on the side of the handle 12 where it is connected to the shaft 18 (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 ), and the rear end 44 points towards the interior of the housing 14. In the example shown, the peripheral surface 40 is a largely continuous surface, but it may also be, for example, discontinuous and include gaps. Hereinafter, the peripheral surface 40 is also referred to as the outer peripheral surface 40.

[0069] The interface portion 16 is rotatably supported in the housing 14 by a first bearing 60a and a second bearing 60b. As Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 4Symbolically shown, bearings 60a and 60b may be disposed on the outer peripheral surface 40 of the interface portion 16, but may also be designed in any other suitable manner. The first bearing 60a and the second bearing 60b are disposed at a certain distance from each other, and the second bearing 60b is located near the rear end 44 of the interface portion 16. Between the first bearing 60a and the front end 42, a seal 61 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface 40 to seal the internal space of the housing 14 where the interface portion 16 is installed. The seal 61 may be, for example, any appropriately designed shaft seal, or may simply be formed by an O-ring.

[0070] As Figure 4 shown, the interface portion 16 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 35 disposed in the hollow space 33 of the interface portion 16. The socket 30 of the first connector element 26 is electrically connected to the PCB 35 through a plurality of leads 36. In addition, a flexible circuit board 34 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface 40 of the interface portion 16. Instead of the flexible circuit board 34, another flexible conductor element such as a flexible cable or a ribbon cable, or a sliding contact, or a combination of a plurality of such elements may be disposed on the outer peripheral surface 40 of the interface portion 16 (not shown). The first end of the flexible board 34 is fixed to a part of the peripheral surface 40 where the conductive wires of the flexible board 34 are connected to the PCB 35 through leads 37. Symbolically, Figure 4 five leads 36 and five leads 37 are shown. Opposite to the first end and at the Figure 5 second end of the flexible board indicated by the arrow is connected to a fixed electronic device (not shown) in the housing 14. The PCB 35 serves as an electrical transmission element and includes conductive wires for connecting the leads 36 to the leads 37 to redirect the electrical connection, and preferably does not include any electronic components.

[0071] The flexible circuit board 34 can adapt to the shape of the peripheral surface 40 and may be segmented against the peripheral surface 40 or at a radial distance from the peripheral surface 40. In the Figure 5 case shown, the first end of the flexible circuit board 34 is fixed to the peripheral surface 40 of the interface portion 16, while the other parts of the flexible circuit board 34 are loosely disposed in the storage portion 46 of the housing 14 (see Figure 1 ). As can be seen from Figure 5It is understandable that by rotating the interface portion 16 counterclockwise, the flexible circuit board 34 will be wound more tightly around the peripheral surface 40 until it is firmly against the peripheral surface 40. On the other hand, the flexible circuit board 34 will be configured more loosely by rotating the interface portion 16 clockwise. Therefore, the flexible circuit board 34 can be wound around the peripheral surface 40 by rotating the interface portion counterclockwise and can be unwound by rotating the interface portion clockwise. The total rotation range of the interface portion 16 relative to the housing 14 is particularly limited by the length of the flexible circuit board 34 that can be wound around the peripheral surface 40 and the capacity of the storage portion 46 for accommodating the unwound portion of the flexible circuit board 34. In the illustrated example, the unwound portion of the flexible circuit board 34 is loosely configured in the storage portion 46; alternatively, for example, the flexible circuit board 34 can be tensioned, for example, by a spring-loaded roller, so that the flexible circuit board 34 is firmly against the peripheral surface 40 independent of the rotation angle. In addition, in the illustrated example, the flexible circuit board 34 is configured on the peripheral surface 40 of the interface portion 16 at an intermediate portion spaced from the first end 42 and the second end 44 and as Figure 4 shown between the first bearing 60a and the second bearing 60b.

[0072] Figure 6 A video endoscope 10' according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, which has a shaft 18' shown as being connected to a handle 12. The shaft 18' according to this embodiment is constructed like the shaft 18 shown above in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , but instead of the lamp post 54, the shaft 18' has a grip wheel 59 that a user can hold to more easily and accurately rotate the shaft 18'. A lighting source such as an LED lighting device placed distally is housed in the shaft 18' itself. The handle 12 is constructed as described above and as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown in a schematic cross-sectional view. In the Figure 6 shown side view, it can be seen in more detail that the handle 12 includes a plurality of control elements 64 that are placed on one side of the handle 12 to be operated by the user generally with the same hand that holds the handle 12. In addition, Figure 6 a port 65 for passing through or connecting a cable 11 is shown in

[0073] In Figure 7 , a video endoscope 10'' according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The handle 12 is constructed as described above and as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 shown. The shaft 18'' according to the third embodiment differs from the shaft 18' of the second embodiment in that it is deflected by 90°, so the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18'' is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the interface unit 16 (seeFigure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 ). In addition, contrary to the shaft 18 of the first embodiment and the shaft 18' of the second embodiment, the shaft 18'' of the third embodiment includes a flushing channel and an instrument channel. Accordingly, the shaft 18'' has a connector 55 for attaching a flushing hose to the flushing valve 56, and a port 57 for inserting a working instrument, the port including a valve 58 for closing the instrument channel when not needed. Similar to the second embodiment, the shaft 18'' has a grip wheel 59 and an integrated illumination light source instead of an optical cable port. Regarding the other elements, the shaft 18'' is constructed as described above (see Figures 1 to 3 ).

[0074] The video endoscopes 10, 10', 10'' according to embodiments of the present invention include an electronic image sensor disposed in the shafts 18, 18', 18'' and connected to electrical and / or electronic components (not shown in the figures) disposed in the housing 14 via cables 52, a second electrical connector 28, a first electrical connector 26, leads 36, a PCB 35, leads 37, and a flexible circuit board 34. In addition, electrical energy and / or control signals can be supplied, for example, from the electrical and / or electronic components in the housing 14 to the image sensor or an illumination light source disposed in the shaft. To this end, the electrical connection includes as many leads or conductive wires as required. Due to the configuration of the flexible circuit board 34, the electrical connection can be maintained in a plurality of rotational positions of the shafts 18, 18', 18'' relative to the housing 14 of the handle 12. For example, an image preprocessing unit can be provided in the housing to improve data transmission via the cable 11 to an external image processing unit; however, the video endoscopes 10, 10', 10'' can be constructed such that the housing 14 only houses electrical leads providing a connection to the cable 11. The mentioned electrical and / or electronic components are fixed in the housing 14 and do not participate in the rotation of the interface portion 16. A sensor signal indicating the rotational angle or rotational position of the interface portion 16 relative to the housing 14 or relative to the gravity vector can be transmitted to the image preprocessing unit or an external image processing unit and used to electronically erect the endoscopic image provided by the image sensor. In addition, control elements 64 can be connected to the image preprocessing unit or to an external control unit for controlling various functions of the video endoscopes 10, 10', 10'', such as those related to illumination, zoom, and / or flushing. In addition, the electrical and mechanical connection between the shafts 18, 18', 18'' and the handle 12 is detachable, thereby improving the maneuverability and versatility of the video endoscopes 10, 10', 10''.

[0075] For clarity, not all reference numerals are shown in all the figures. If a reference numeral is not explicitly mentioned in the figure description, its meaning is the same as in the other figures.

[0076] Reference numeral

[0077] 10, 10’, 10” Video endoscope

[0078] 11 Cable

[0079] 12 Handle

[0080] 13 Coupling mechanism

[0081] 14 Housing

[0082] 15 Claw

[0083] 16 Interface part

[0084] 17 Front side

[0085] 18, 18’, 18” Shaft

[0086] 19 Plate

[0087] 20 Distal end

[0088] 22 Proximal end

[0089] 24 Longitudinal axis

[0090] 26 First connector element

[0091] 27 Groove

[0092] 28 Second connector element

[0093] 29 Connector base

[0094] 30 Socket

[0095] 32 Pin

[0096] 33 Hollow space

[0097] 34 Flexible printed circuit

[0098] 35 PCB

[0099] 36 Lead

[0100] 37 Lead

[0101] 38 Axis of rotation

[0102] 40 Peripheral surface

[0103] 42 Front end

[0104] 44 Rear end

[0105] 46 Storage part

[0106] 48 Rod lens

[0107] 49 Objective lens system

[0108] 50 Imaging unit

[0109] 51 Image sensor

[0110] 52 Cable

[0111] 53 Lead

[0112] 54 Lamp post

[0113] 55 Connector

[0114] 56 Valve

[0115] 57 Port

[0116] 58 Valve

[0117] 59 Wheel

[0118] 60a Bearing

[0119] 60b Bearing

[0120] 61 Seal

[0121] 64 Control element

[0122] 65 Port

Claims

1. A video endoscope, comprising a handle (12) having a housing (14) and an interface portion (16) rotatably mounted relative to the housing (14), and an elongate shaft (18, 18', 18") having one or more electronic image sensors (51), wherein a proximal portion of the shaft (18, 18', 18") is detachably connected to the interface portion (16) of the handle (12), the interface portion (16) includes a first connector element (26) electrically connected to an electrical transmission element of the interface portion (16), the shaft (18, 18', 18") includes a second connector element (28) electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors (51), the first connector element (26) and the second connector element (28) cooperate to form a detachable electrical connection, the handle (12) includes an electrical connection assembly disposed at a housing of the interface portion (16), and in a plurality of rotational positions of the interface portion (16) relative to the housing (14), the electrical connection assembly forms an electrical connection with at least one fixed electrical and / or electronic component of the handle (12), the electrical connection assembly includes at least one flexible conductor element, a first end of the flexible conductor element is fixed to an outer peripheral surface (40) of the interface portion (16), and other portions of the flexible conductor element are loosely disposed in a storage portion (46) of the housing (14), and the flexible conductor element is configured to wind onto and unwind from the outer peripheral surface (40) of the interface portion (16) by rotating the interface portion (16) relative to the housing (14).

2. The video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein The video endoscope is a medical or industrial video endoscope (10, 10', 10").

3. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The electrical connection assembly includes at least one sliding contact.

4. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The flexible conductor element is a flexible cable, a flexible ribbon cable, and / or a flexible printed circuit board (34) or includes a flexible cable, a flexible ribbon cable, and / or a flexible printed circuit board (34).

5. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The unwound portion of the flexible conductor element is guided by at least one roller.

6. The video endoscope according to claim 5, characterized in that, The roller is movably disposed in the storage portion (46).

7. The video endoscope according to claim 6, characterized in that, The roller is spring-loaded in a direction for tensioning the flexible conductor element.

8. The video endoscope according to claim 6, characterized in that, At least a portion of the unwound portion of the flexible conductor element is placed in the storage portion (46) in an arcuate shape.

9. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The handle includes at least two bearings (60a, 60b) for rotatably supporting the interface portion (16), wherein the electrical connection assembly is disposed at an intermediate portion of a periphery of the interface portion, and the intermediate portion is located between the at least two bearings (60a, 60b).

10. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The rotational range of the interface portion (16) relative to the housing (14) is limited by a stop.

11. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The handle (12) includes at least one sensor for detecting a rotational angle and / or a rotational position of the interface portion (16) relative to the housing (14).

12. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second connector element (28) includes a plurality of conductor pins (32), and the first connector element (26) includes a plurality of sockets (30) configured to receive the conductor pins (32).

13. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The shaft (18, 18', 18") is hermetically sealed and / or autoclaveable.

14. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The shaft (18, 18', 18") includes an electrical illumination source supplied with electrical energy via the interface portion (16).

15. The video endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The one or more electronic image sensors are disposed at a distal portion of the shaft (18, 18', 18"), or the one or more electronic image sensors (51) are disposed at a proximal portion of the shaft (18, 18', 18") and an optical image transmission system extends through the shaft (18, 18', 18") to transmit image light to the one or more electronic image sensors (51).

16. A handle for a video endoscope, comprising a housing (14) and an interface portion (16) rotatably mounted relative to the housing (14), wherein the interface portion (16) includes a first connector element (26) connected to an electrical transmission element of the interface portion (16) and the first connector element is connectable to a second connector element (28) of a shaft (18, 18', 18") of the video endoscope (10, 10', 10") to form a detachable electrical connection, the handle (12) includes an electrical connection assembly disposed at an outer housing of the interface portion (16), and in a plurality of rotational positions of the interface portion (16) relative to the housing (14), the electrical connection assembly forms an electrical connection with at least one fixed electrical and / or electronic component of the handle (12), the electrical connection assembly includes at least one flexible conductor element, a first end of the flexible conductor element is fixed to an outer peripheral surface (40) of the interface portion (16), and other portions of the flexible conductor element are loosely disposed within a storage portion (46) of the housing (14), and the flexible conductor element is configured to wind onto and unwind from the outer peripheral surface (40) of the interface portion (16) by rotating the interface portion (16) relative to the housing (14).

17. The handle for a video endoscope according to claim 16, characterized in that, The handle for a video endoscope is a handle for a medical video endoscope (10, 10', 10").

Images