US3643653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscopic apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-19
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1989-12-19
Abstract
Abstract Endoscopic apparatus comprising a major endoscope and a minor endoscope adapted to be inserted in the major endoscope and capable of viewing on a magnified scale an object sought by the major endoscope. The forward end portion of the minor endoscope is provided with a cylindrical wall extending forwardly therefrom so that, by contacting the front end edge of the cylindrical wall with the object, the forward end portion of the minor endoscope can be firmly secured relative to the object, while a sharp image of the object can be properly observed on a magnified scale through an objective lens provided in the forward end portion by virtue of the proper spacing of the objective lens from the object by means of the cylindrical wall extending forwardly from the forward end portion of the minor endoscope. In order to positively fix the forward end portion in position relative to the object, the front end edge of the cylindrical wall may be provided with a plurality of pricking needles which prick the object when the cylindrical wall contacts the object or vacuum may be introduced into the hollow space defined by the cylindrical wall between the object and the front end of the objective lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Nagashige Takahashi
- 👤 Kunio Kinoshita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/06; A61B1/07; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6886
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
An endoscopic apparatus adapted to be inserted into a cavity of a body for viewing a portion of the body in said cavity, and comprising, in combination: a. a first endoscope and a second endoscope, 1. said first endoscope including a first, elongated, tubular member having longitudinally terminal first front and rear parts, and a first flexible part intermediate said terminal first parts; b. a guide channel longitudinally extending in said first intermediate part and said first front part, 1. said second endoscope including a second, elongated, tubular member having longitudinally terminal second front and rear parts, and a second flexible part intermediate said terminal second parts, 2. said second intermediate part being releasably received in said guide channel, said second front part projecting from said first front part in the direction of elongation of said first tubular member, and said second rear part projecting outward of said first tubular member adjacent said first rear part; c. first and second optical systems respectively associated with said first and second tubular members, 1. each optical system including objective lens means on the associated front part for receiving an image of said body portion, an ocular on the associated rear part, and imagetransmitting means in the associated intermediate part for transmitting the image received by said objective lens means to said ocular, 2. said second optical system having a magnification much greater than the magnification of said first optical system; d. a tubular wall member projecting from said second front part in the direction of elongation of said second tubular member, said wall member laterally bounding a chamber having an end open in said latter direction, said wall member having a free edge portion extending in a closed loop about said open end in a plane transverse to said latter direction; and e. securing means for holding said edge portion fixedly engaged with said body portion and for thereby preventing shifting of the objective lens means of said second optical system relative to the engaged body portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
335 words
An endoscopic apparatus adapted to be inserted into a cavity of a body for viewing a portion of the body in said cavity, and comprising, in combination: a. a first endoscope and a second endoscope, 1. said first endoscope including a first, elongated, tubular member having longitudinally terminal first front and rear parts, and a first flexible part intermediate said terminal first parts; b. a guide channel longitudinally extending in said first intermediate part and said first front part, 1. said second endoscope including a second, elongated, tubular member having longitudinally terminal second front and rear parts, and a second flexible part intermediate said terminal second parts, 2. said second intermediate part being releasably received in said guide channel, said second front part projecting from said first front part in the direction of elongation of said first tubular member, and said second rear part projecting outward of said first tubular member adjacent said first rear part; c. first and second optical systems respectively associated with said first and second tubular members, 1. each optical system including objective lens means on the associated front part for receiving an image of said body portion, an ocular on the associated rear part, and imagetransmitting means in the associated intermediate part for transmitting the image received by said objective lens means to said ocular, 2. said second optical system having a magnification much greater than the magnification of said first optical system; d. a tubular wall member projecting from said second front part in the direction of elongation of said second tubular member, said wall member laterally bounding a chamber having an end open in said latter direction, said wall member having a free edge portion extending in a closed loop about said open end in a plane transverse to said latter direction; and e. securing means for holding said edge portion fixedly engaged with said body portion and for thereby preventing shifting of the objective lens means of said second optical system relative to the engaged body portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
said second intermediate part being releasably received in said guide channel, said second front part projecting from said first front part in the direction of elongation of said first tubular member, and said second rear part projecting outward of said first tubular member adjacent said first rear part; c. first and second optical systems respectively associated with said first and second tubular members,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
said second intermediate part being releasably received in said guide channel, said second front part projecting from said first front part in the direction of elongation of said first tubular member, and said second rear part projecting outward of said first tubular member adjacent said first rear part; c. first and second optical systems respectively associated with said first and second tubular members,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
said second optical system having a magnification much greater than the magnification of said first optical system; d. a tubular wall member projecting from said second front part in the direction of elongation of said second tubular member, said wall member laterally bounding a chamber having an end open in said latter direction, said wall member having a free edge portion extending in a closed loop about said open end in a plane transverse to said latter direction; and e. securing means for holding said edge portion fixedly engaged with said body portion and for thereby preventing shifting of the objective lens means of said second optical system relative to the engaged body portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
said second optical system having a magnification much greater than the magnification of said first optical system; d. a tubular wall member projecting from said second front part in the direction of elongation of said second tubular member, said wall member laterally bounding a chamber having an end open in said latter direction, said wall member having a free edge portion extending in a closed loop about said open end in a plane transverse to said latter direction; and e. securing means for holding said edge portion fixedly engaged with said body portion and for thereby preventing shifting of the objective lens means of said second optical system relative to the engaged body portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said securing means including a plurality of elongated needles, and fastening means for fastening said needles to said wall member in respective operative positions in which said needles project beyond said edge portion in a common direction outward of said chamber while spaced from each other transversely of said direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said fastening means including a fastening member carrying said needles, and moving means accessible outside said cavity when said second front part is inserted in said cavity for moving said fastening member relative to said wall member in said common direction, and for thereby moving said needles between said operative positions thereof and respective inoperative positions in which said needles are retracted rearward of said plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said chamber normally communicating with the ambient air througH said open end, said securing means including evacuating means for withdrawing air from said chamber while said edge portion engages said body portion in said cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said evacuating means including suction means communicating with said chamber through said second rear part, and venting means on said second rear part for venting said suction means to said ambient air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the objective lens means of said second optical system bounds said chamber in a direction away from said open end, and focusing means for focusing said last-mentioned objective lens means on said plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means on said second rear part for introducing a liquid into said chamber while said edge portion engages said body portion in said cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising bending means for bending said first intermediate part about an axis transverse to the direction of elongation of said first tubular member, whereby respective portions of said first intermediate part are stressed in tension and in compression respectively, said portions being separated by a neutral surface extending longitudinally of said first tubular member, the image-transmitting means of said first optical system including a plurality of light-transmitting optical fibers elongated in the direction of elongation of said first tubular member and closely adjacent said neutral surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |