Endoscope with detachable optical and CCD imaging system or detachable forwardly projecting hood

摘要

An endoscope includes an insertion tube which is inserted into a human body, a CCD imaging device 12 , an object optical system 11 which forms an image on the imaging device, and a detachable unit 30 accommodating the imaging device and the object optical system. The detachable unit is detachably mounted to a mounting portion 60 of the insertion tube. First electrical contacts 24 are provided to the detachable unit and second contacts 25 are provided to the mounting portion. The first and second contacts are electrically connected when the detachable unit is mounted to the mounting portion. A waterproof arrangement is provided to prevent water from entering the connecting portion of the first and second contacts. In a further arrangement (Fig 30) part of the endoscopes optical system is detachably mounted to the insertion tube by means of a hood (920) which also projects forwardly of the optics system. In this arrangement the insertion tube includes a fibre optics bundle (991) to send an image to the other end of the endoscope in addition to a fibre optics bundle (992) carrying illumination light.