Patent US3878072A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0448284A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Bending device
Assignee: Machida Endoscope Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-03-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A bending device for use in an endoscope includes an articulation assembly (10) constituted of a number of segments (11). In order to increase the rigidity of the articulation assembly in its radial direction, each segment can be formed from spring metal. More specifically, each segment has a semi-cylindrical portion (12) comprising, at opposite circumferential ends, a pair of extension portions (13). A pair of notches (15) are formed respectively at opposite axial ends of each segment. The notches of the adjacent segments are engaged with each other and can be angularly movable relative to each other. The extension portions (13) of each of the segments (11) are bent inwardly with respect to the semi-cylindrical portions (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Toshio Chikama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/008; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/45; Y10T403/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A bending device comprising: (a) an articulation assembly comprising a number of segments, each of said segments having a semi-cylindrical portion, and a number of said segments being arranged along a line in such a manner that said semi-cylindrical portions of any two adjacent ones of said segments are directed in opposite directions, respectively; and (b) operating wire means for bending said articulation assembly, said operating wire means being subjected at its proximal end to an operating force, and said operating wire means being fixed at its distal end to a distal end of said articulation assembly; CHARACTERIZED in that: each of said segments (11) has a pair of extension portions (13) extending respectively from opposite circumferential ends of said semi-cylindrical portion (12) in a direction of the circumference of said semi-cylindrical portion; a pair of notches (15) are formed respectively in opposite axial ends of said segment at the boundary between each of the opposite circumferential ends of said semi-cylindrical portion and each of said extension portions; said pair of notches in one axial end of one of the adjacent segments are engaged respectively with said pair of notches in one axial end of the other segment opposed to the one axial end of said one segment, so that the adjacent segments can be angularly movable relative to each other about those portions of said adjacent segments engaged with each other; said pair of extension portions of said one segment are disposed inwardly of said semi-cylindrical portion of said other segment; and said pair of extension portions of said other segment are disposed inwardly of said semi-cylindrical portion of said one segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
A bending device according to claim 1, in which said pair of extension portions (13) of each of said segments (11) are disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface of said semi-cylindrical portion (12) of said segment disposed adjacent thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A bending device according to claim 2, in which each of said pair of extension portions (13) has the shape of an arc disposed on a circle substantially concentric with a circle in which said semi-cylindrical portion (12) lies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
A bending device according to claim 3, in which the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of said extension portion (13) is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface of said semi-cylindrical portion (12), a step (14) being formed at the boundary between said semi-cylindrical portion and each of said pair of extension portions, and said step extending in the direction of the axis of said segment and being inclined with respect to an imaginary line which passes radially transversely of said semi-cylindrical portion and through the center of a circle in which said semi-cylindrical portion lies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bending device according to claim 1, in which each of said notches (15) has a V-shape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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