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US3854473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Stilet for endoscopes
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1973-05-29
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1993-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A stilet for endoscopes includes an elongated coil spring to be inserted in the flexible tube of the endoscope. The coil spring may be compressed or extended by operating a mechanism outside of the human body so that the flexibilility of the coil spring and thus the flexible tube may be adjusted.
Inventors
- 👤 K Matsuo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/31; A61B1/012; A61B1/018; A61B1/273; A61B1/2736
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A stilet for varying the flexibility of an endoscope comprising: a coil spring having a central axis, said cOil spring being adapted to be inserted in the flexible tube of an endoscope, a retracting wire inserted through the coil spring substantially along said central axis, one end of the wire being operatively connected to one end of the coil spring, and adjusting means provided on the other end of the coil spring and coupled to the other end of the wire to selectively tighten said wire relative to the coil spring to compress adjacent turns thereof closer to each other to stiffen the coil spring, or to retract and loosen the wire relative to the coil spring to render the spring more flexible, thereby selectively adjusting the flexibility of the coil spring and of the flexible endoscope tube in which the coil spring is inserted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A stilet for varying the flexibility of an endoscope comprising: a coil spring having a central axis, said cOil spring being adapted to be inserted in the flexible tube of an endoscope, a retracting wire inserted through the coil spring substantially along said central axis, one end of the wire being operatively connected to one end of the coil spring, and adjusting means provided on the other end of the coil spring and coupled to the other end of the wire to selectively tighten said wire relative to the coil spring to compress adjacent turns thereof closer to each other to stiffen the coil spring, or to retract and loosen the wire relative to the coil spring to render the spring more flexible, thereby selectively adjusting the flexibility of the coil spring and of the flexible endoscope tube in which the coil spring is inserted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A stilet according to claim 1 wherein said adjusting means includes a cylindrical adjusting member in which said other end portion of the retracting wire is inserted and which is coaxial with the coil spring, a sliding ring mounted on the periphery of said cylindrical adjusting member so as to be slidable along its longitudinal direction and connected to said other end of the retracting wire, and a keeping mechanism operatively coupled with the sliding ring to maintain the sliding ring at the desired position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A stilet according to claim 2 wherein said cylindrical adjusting member has at one end a connecting member to receive said other end of said coil spring and at one side of the other end a slit extending in a longitudinal direction of the adjusting cylindrical member, and said sliding ring has a guide plate extending to the internal bore of said cylindrical adjusting member through the slit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A stilet according to claim 3 wherein said keeping mechanism includes a row of teeth formed on one side of said cylindrical adjusting member near the connecting ring along the longitudinal direction thereof and a lever pivotally mounted on the sliding ring and having at least one tooth engageable with the teeth of said cylindrical adjusting member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A stillet according to claim 4 wherein said lever has a plurality of teeth thereon which are engageable with the teeth of said cylindrical adjusting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A stilet according to claim 5 wherein the lever further includes an urging member for urging the lever so that in an normal condition the teeth of the lever engage the teeth of the adjusting cylindrical member, and a handle to release the engagement of the teeth of the lever and adjusting cylindrical member against the operation of the urging member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A stilet according to claim 1 wherein the coil spring includes a guide member coaxially attached to said one end thereof and having a curved surface, said one end of said retracting wire being connected to said guide member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A stilet according to claim 7 wherein said curved surface of said guide member is at the forward edge of said stilet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A stilet according to claim 1 wherein said coil spring is adapted to extend along the whole length of the flexible tube of the endoscope.
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) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |