Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
In an elongated endoscope having a longitudinal axis and including, in axial sequence, a distal end casing, a bendable tube section, a flexible main tube, and a control housing at the proximal end of the endoscope, the endoscope further having bending means for bending said section, said bending means including a plurality of wire members extending from said control housing through said main tube in a distal direction toward said end casing, and control means connected to the proximal ends of said wire members for selectively tensioning said wire members, the improvement in said bending means which comprises: a. two elongated, flexible, tubular sheaths of fixed length movably enveloping respective first and second wire members of said plurality of wire members and having respective distal and proximal longitudinal ends, b. the distal end of a first one of said sheaths being fixedly secured to the longitudinally terminal distal portion of said main tube, and the distal end of the second sheath being fixedly secured to a portion of said bendable section spacedly intermediate said main tube and said end casing, the proximal ends of said sheaths being fastened to said control housing, c. said first and second wire members respectively enveloped by said first and second sheaths having their distal ends fastened to said end casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
In an elongated endoscope having a longitudinal axis and including, in axial sequence, a distal end casing, a bendable tube section, a flexible main tube, and a control housing at the proximal end of the endoscope, the endoscope further having bending means for bending said section, said bending means including a plurality of wire members extending from said control housing through said main tube in a distal direction toward said end casing, and control means connected to the proximal ends of said wire members for selectively tensioning said wire members, the improvement in said bending means which comprises: a. two elongated, flexible, tubular sheaths of fixed length movably enveloping respective first and second wire members of said plurality of wire members and having respective distal and proximal longitudinal ends, b. the distal end of a first one of said sheaths being fixedly secured to the longitudinally terminal distal portion of said main tube, and the distal end of the second sheath being fixedly secured to a portion of said bendable section spacedly intermediate said main tube and said end casing, the proximal ends of said sheaths being fastened to said control housing, c. said first and second wire members respectively enveloped by said first and second sheaths having their distal ends fastened to said end casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
In an endoscope as set forth in claim 1, said bendable tube section having two terminal, axial portions offset from said intermediate portion in a distal and a proximal direction respectively, each of said axial portions including a plurality of annular segments, pivot means connecting the segments of said portion offset in said distal direction for relative angular movement in each of two axial planes transversely intersecting each other, and further pivot means connecting the segments of said portion offset in said proximal directions for relative angular movement in only one of said axial planes, said enveloped wire members being fastened to said end casing in said planes respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
In an endoscope as set forth in claim 2, the distal ends of said first and second sheaths being fastened respectively to said terminal distal portion of said main tube and to said intermediate portion of said section in said planes respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an endoscope as set forth in claim 3, third and fourth elongated tubular sheaths of fixed length movably enveloping respective third and fourth wire members of said plurality of wire members and having respective distal and proximal longitudinal ends, the distal end of said third sheath being fastened to said distal portion of said main tube in the same axial plane as the distal end of said first sheath, the distal ends of said first and third sheaths being oppositely spaced from said axis, the distal end of said fourth sheath being fastened to said intermediate portion of said section in the same axial plane as the distal end of said second sheath, the distal ends of said second and fourth sheaths being oppositely spaced from said axis, the third and fourth wire members being fastened to said end casing in respective common axial planes with the wire members enveloped by said first and second sheaths respectively.