US4245624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope with flexible tip control
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1977-12-30
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Granted: 1981-01-20
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Expires: 1997-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope has a control section and a tube section connected to the control section to be conducted into the body cavity, wherein a channel running through the tube section contains a guide tube which is made flexible along the entire length or near the distal end portion, and reciprocates through the channel, thereby causing the distal end portion of the guide tube to be pushed out of or be withdrawn into the distal end portion of the tube section, a wire, one end of which is fixed to the distal end of the guide tube is received in the tube section so as to be pulled toward the control section, and the distal end portion of the guide tube pushed out of the distal end of the tube section can be freely flexed by the pulling force of the wire.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Komiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/12; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00098; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B1/0056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An endoscope comprising: a control section; a tube section having two ends, one end thereof being connected to said control section; a channel extending through said tube section; a flexible guide tube having two ends and an outer surface, for surrounding a medical instrument and reciprocatingly movable in said channel so as to allow one of said two ends of said guide tube to project from the other end of said tube section; an engaging member formed on an inner wall of the tube section; a wire extending in said tube section along said outer surface of said guide tube, said wire having two ends, one end thereof being inserted into the channel and the other end being fastened to said one of said two ends of said guide tube; a stop provided in said tube section and connected to said one end of said wire, said stop being movable axially along said tube section together with said guide tube until said stop abuts against said engaging member and allowing said wire to gradually bend that portion of said guide tube which projects from said other end of said tube section, as said one of said two ends of said guide tube projects therefrom after said stop abuts against said engaging member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
An endoscope comprising: a control section; a tube section having two ends, one end thereof being connected to said control section; a channel extending through said tube section; a flexible guide tube having two ends and an outer surface, for surrounding a medical instrument and reciprocatingly movable in said channel so as to allow one of said two ends of said guide tube to project from the other end of said tube section; an engaging member formed on an inner wall of the tube section; a wire extending in said tube section along said outer surface of said guide tube, said wire having two ends, one end thereof being inserted into the channel and the other end being fastened to said one of said two ends of said guide tube; a stop provided in said tube section and connected to said one end of said wire, said stop being movable axially along said tube section together with said guide tube until said stop abuts against said engaging member and allowing said wire to gradually bend that portion of said guide tube which projects from said other end of said tube section, as said one of said two ends of said guide tube projects therefrom after said stop abuts against said engaging member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said portion of the guide tube is progressively more flexible toward a tip thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said portion of the guide tube is prepared from plastic material foamed at a progressively higher rate toward the tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said portion of the guide tube is progressively more reduced in wall thickness toward the tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the guide tube is wound with a flexible coil whose turns are arranged at a progressively greater pitch toward the tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the engaging member is a sleeve through which the wire passes, and which is made engageable with the stop.
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Cited
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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) | 1984-01-20 | 1984-07-21 | 1985-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-20 | 1988-07-21 | 1989-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-20 | 1992-07-21 | 1993-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |