US3788303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthogonally deflectable endoscope
Assignee: Circon Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-24
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A device for controlling movement of a plurality of cables including support means, a rotary first shaft and shaft means which are carried by the support means, the shaft means consisting of telescopically arranged second and third shafts which are rotatable about a common axis that is normal to the axis of the first shaft. The device also includes a pair of coaxial pulleys, one of the pulleys being secured to and rotatable with the second shaft and the other being secured to and rotatable with the third shaft. Each pulley is equipped with a pair of cables that are secured thereto and partly and oppositely wound thereon. Coupling means connect the first shaft to the shaft means and effect rotation of the shaft means and the pulleys in response to rotary movement of the first shaft about its axis and/or bodily movement of the first shaft about the axis of the shaft means.
Inventors
- 👤 R Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0052; A61B1/0057; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/2042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
327 words
An endoscope, comprising, in combination, a proximal portion, a distal portion and a hollow portion connected to the proximal and distal portions, said hollow portion comprising a flexible sheath and a deflection section within the sheath and adjacent the distal portion, support means and actuating means carried by the support means being mounted on the proximal portion, said actuating and support means including a first shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis, shaft means rotatable about a common axis which is normal to the axis of rotation of the first shaft, a pair of rotary cable drive means carried by and rotatable with the shaft means, coupling means connecting the first shaft to the shaft means and effecting rotation of the shaft means and both rotary cable drive means in response to rotary movement of the first shaft about its axis and to bodily movement of the first shaft about the axis of the shaft means, one of said rotary cable drive means being rotated in response to and in a direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the first shaft about its axis and the other of said rotary cable drive means being rotated in response to and in a direction depending upon the direction of bodily movement of the first shaft about the axis of said shaft means, a first pair of cables secured to said one of the rotary cable drive means and to points on opposite sides of said deflection section disposed substantially in one plane, and a second pair of cables secured to said other rotary cable drive means and to points on opposite sides of said deflection section disposed substantially in another plane normal to said given plane, whereby rotation of said first shaft about its axis caused deflection of said deflection section in said one plane and bodily movement of said first shaft about the axis of said shaft means causes deflection of said deflection section in said other plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
327 words
An endoscope, comprising, in combination, a proximal portion, a distal portion and a hollow portion connected to the proximal and distal portions, said hollow portion comprising a flexible sheath and a deflection section within the sheath and adjacent the distal portion, support means and actuating means carried by the support means being mounted on the proximal portion, said actuating and support means including a first shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis, shaft means rotatable about a common axis which is normal to the axis of rotation of the first shaft, a pair of rotary cable drive means carried by and rotatable with the shaft means, coupling means connecting the first shaft to the shaft means and effecting rotation of the shaft means and both rotary cable drive means in response to rotary movement of the first shaft about its axis and to bodily movement of the first shaft about the axis of the shaft means, one of said rotary cable drive means being rotated in response to and in a direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the first shaft about its axis and the other of said rotary cable drive means being rotated in response to and in a direction depending upon the direction of bodily movement of the first shaft about the axis of said shaft means, a first pair of cables secured to said one of the rotary cable drive means and to points on opposite sides of said deflection section disposed substantially in one plane, and a second pair of cables secured to said other rotary cable drive means and to points on opposite sides of said deflection section disposed substantially in another plane normal to said given plane, whereby rotation of said first shaft about its axis caused deflection of said deflection section in said one plane and bodily movement of said first shaft about the axis of said shaft means causes deflection of said deflection section in said other plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein each rotary cable drive means comprises pulley means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A control device according to claim 2 wherein the shaft means comprises a second shaft and a third shaft which is tubular and is telescopically arranged relative to the second shaft and wherein one of the pulley means is secured to and rotatable with the second shaft and the other pulley means is secured to and rotatable with the third shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control device according to claim 3 wherein each pulley means comprises a pulley having a helical peripheral groove, one of the pulleys being rotatable with the second shaft and the other pulley being rotatable with the third shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control device according to claim 3 wherein the coupling means includes intermeshing gears comprised of first, second and third gears that are respectively connected to and rotatable with the first, second and third shafts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A control device according to claim 4 wherein the coupling means includes intermeshing first, second and third bevel gears that are respectively connected to and rotatable with the first, second and third shafts, the second and third bevel gears being spaced apart and mounted on the second shaft and meshing with the first bevel gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
231 words
An endoscope, comprising, in combination, a proximal portion, a distal portion and a hollow portion connected to the proximal and distal portions, said hollow portion comprising a flexible sheath and a deflection section within the sheath and adjacent the distal portion, support means and actuating means carried by the support means being mounted on the proximal portion, said actuating and support means including a first shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis, shaft means rotatable about a common axis which is normal to the axis of rotation of the first shaft, first and second deflection means connected to said deflection section for orthogonally deflecting the latter in response to said shaft means, coupling means between said first shaft and said shaft means responsive to rotation of said first shaft about its said axis for actuating said first deflection means to deflect said deflection section in a first plane and in a direction and extent corresponding to the direction and extent of rotation of said first shaft, said coupling means also being responsive to bodily movement of said first shaft about said common axis of said shaft means for actuating said second deflection means to deflect said deflection section in a second plane normal to said first plane in a direction and to an extent corresponding to said direction and extent of the bodily movement of said first shaft about said common axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
231 words
An endoscope, comprising, in combination, a proximal portion, a distal portion and a hollow portion connected to the proximal and distal portions, said hollow portion comprising a flexible sheath and a deflection section within the sheath and adjacent the distal portion, support means and actuating means carried by the support means being mounted on the proximal portion, said actuating and support means including a first shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis, shaft means rotatable about a common axis which is normal to the axis of rotation of the first shaft, first and second deflection means connected to said deflection section for orthogonally deflecting the latter in response to said shaft means, coupling means between said first shaft and said shaft means responsive to rotation of said first shaft about its said axis for actuating said first deflection means to deflect said deflection section in a first plane and in a direction and extent corresponding to the direction and extent of rotation of said first shaft, said coupling means also being responsive to bodily movement of said first shaft about said common axis of said shaft means for actuating said second deflection means to deflect said deflection section in a second plane normal to said first plane in a direction and to an extent corresponding to said direction and extent of the bodily movement of said first shaft about said common axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |