Patent US4681093A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4681093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-12-12
•
Granted: 1987-07-21
•
Expires: 2003-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope for image-observing or measuring an area filled with an opaque liquid is disclosed. The endoscope comprises an image fiber, a lens positioned at the leading end of the image fiber, a light guide arranged in parallel to the image fiber, a transparent fluid transport passage arranged in parallel to the image fiber and the light guide and having an outlet at the leading end thereof, a sheath enclosing the image fiber, lens, light guide and transparent fluid transport passage and a means for providing a field of vision at the leading end of the endoscope by a transparent fluid from the outlet of the transparent fluid transport passage. A means for stabilizing the field of vision formed by the field of vision providing means is provided on the leading end portion of the sheath.
Inventors
- 👤 Kimizo Ono
- 👤 Akira Nishimura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00082; A61B1/00174; A61B1/00177
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An endoscope for image-observing or measuring an area filled with an opaque liquid comprising: an image fiber; a lens positioned at the leading end of said image fiber; a light guide arranged in parallel to said image fiber; a transparent fluid transport passage arranged in parallel to said image fiber and light guide and having an outlet at the leading end thereof; a sheath enclosing said image fiber, lens, light guide and transparent fluid transport passage; means for providing a field of vision at the leading end of said endoscope by a transparent fluid from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage; and stabilizing means provided on the leading end portion of said sheath for stabilizing said field of vision formed by said field of vision providing means said field of vision providing means including a transparent balloon provided at the leading end of said endoscope encircling said lens, the leading end of said light guide and the outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage and being inflatable by the transparent fluid from said opening; said stabilizing means including a substantially cylindrical balloon support means formed of a resilient material and provided at the leading end of said endoscope so as to encircle the joint portion of said balloon, said balloon support means in response to inflation of said balloon, being gradually expanded in a direction from a trailing end toward a leading end thereof for supporting the balloon joint portion when said balloon is inflated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
An endoscope for image-observing or measuring an area filled with an opaque liquid comprising: an image fiber; a lens positioned at the leading end of said image fiber; a light guide arranged in parallel to said image fiber; a transparent fluid transport passage arranged in parallel to said image fiber and light guide and having an outlet at the leading end thereof; a sheath enclosing said image fiber, lens, light guide and transparent fluid transport passage; means for providing a field of vision at the leading end of said endoscope by a transparent fluid from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage; and stabilizing means provided on the leading end portion of said sheath for stabilizing said field of vision formed by said field of vision providing means said field of vision providing means including a transparent balloon provided at the leading end of said endoscope encircling said lens, the leading end of said light guide and the outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage and being inflatable by the transparent fluid from said opening; said stabilizing means including a substantially cylindrical balloon support means formed of a resilient material and provided at the leading end of said endoscope so as to encircle the joint portion of said balloon, said balloon support means in response to inflation of said balloon, being gradually expanded in a direction from a trailing end toward a leading end thereof for supporting the balloon joint portion when said balloon is inflated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 1, in which said balloon support means is formed of resin and is divided into a plurality of pieces by a plurality of slits which extend axially and inwardly from an outer edge, of said balloon support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 2, in which said resin is polyethylene or vinyl chloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 1, in which said balloon support means is formed of a metal cylinder contiguous with the leading end of said sheath and is divided into a plurality of pieces by a plurality of slits which extend axially and inwardly from an outer edge of said balloon support means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 4, in which said metal cylinder is formed of phosphor-bronze.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 1, in which said balloon support is a cylinder formed of extensible material which gradually decreases in thickness in the axial direction towards the leading end of the cylinder and is disposed at the leading end of said sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 6, in which said extensible material is natural rubber or urethane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 6, in which said cylinder is axially contiguous with said sheath and integral therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 6, in which said cylinder is a resilient cap separate from said sheath and is axially aligned therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
210 words
An endoscope for image-observing or measuring an area filed with an opaque liquid comprising: an image fiber; a lens positioned at the leading end of said image fiber; a light guide arranged in parallel to said image fiber; a transparent fluid transport passage arranged in parallel to said image fiber and light guide and having an outlet at the leading end thereof; sheath enclosing said image fiber, lens, light guide and transparent fluid transport passage; means for providing a field of vision at the leading end of said endoscope by a transparent fluid from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage; and stabilizing means for stabilizing said field of vision formed by said field of vision providing means, said field of vision providing means including a transparent balloon provided at the leading end of said endoscope encircling said lens, the leading end of said light guide and the outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage and being inflatable by the transparent fluid from said opening, and said stabilizing means including a support balloon mounted on said sheath behind said transparent balloon for supporting a backside of the transparent balloon when said transparent and support balloons are inflated to thereby limit the sway of the transparent balloon during observation operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
210 words
An endoscope for image-observing or measuring an area filed with an opaque liquid comprising: an image fiber; a lens positioned at the leading end of said image fiber; a light guide arranged in parallel to said image fiber; a transparent fluid transport passage arranged in parallel to said image fiber and light guide and having an outlet at the leading end thereof; sheath enclosing said image fiber, lens, light guide and transparent fluid transport passage; means for providing a field of vision at the leading end of said endoscope by a transparent fluid from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage; and stabilizing means for stabilizing said field of vision formed by said field of vision providing means, said field of vision providing means including a transparent balloon provided at the leading end of said endoscope encircling said lens, the leading end of said light guide and the outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage and being inflatable by the transparent fluid from said opening, and said stabilizing means including a support balloon mounted on said sheath behind said transparent balloon for supporting a backside of the transparent balloon when said transparent and support balloons are inflated to thereby limit the sway of the transparent balloon during observation operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
The endoscope as set forth in claim 10, in which a rubber cap is fitted on said sheath at the leading end portion of said endoscope, said rubber cap is tied at the rear end and at an intermediate point thereof to said sheath whereby said transparent balloon is formed by the cap portion positioned forwardly of said tied intermediate point and said support balloon is formed by the cap portion between said tied intermetiate point and the tied rear end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope as in claim 10 wherein said fluid transparent passage includes first and second fluid transport passages respectively communicating with said transparent balloon and said support balloon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
192 words
An endoscope for image-observing or measuring an area filled with an opaque liquid comprising: an image fiber; a lens positioned at the leading end of said image fiber; a light guide arranged in parallel to said image fiber; a transparent fluid transport passage arranged in parallel to said image fiber and light guide and having an outlet at the leading end thereof; a sheath enclosing said image fiber, lens, light guide and transparent fluid transport passage; means for providing a field of vision at the leading end of said endoscope by a transparent fluid from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage; and stabilizing means provided on the leading end portion of said sheath for stabilizing said field of vision formed by said field of vision providing means, said field of vision providing means being provided by a flush of the transparent fluid directly exiting from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage into said opaque liquid, and said stabilizing means including an expandable hood surrounding said lens, the leading end of said light guide, the opening of said transparent fluid transport passage and said flush of the transparent fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
192 words
An endoscope for image-observing or measuring an area filled with an opaque liquid comprising: an image fiber; a lens positioned at the leading end of said image fiber; a light guide arranged in parallel to said image fiber; a transparent fluid transport passage arranged in parallel to said image fiber and light guide and having an outlet at the leading end thereof; a sheath enclosing said image fiber, lens, light guide and transparent fluid transport passage; means for providing a field of vision at the leading end of said endoscope by a transparent fluid from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage; and stabilizing means provided on the leading end portion of said sheath for stabilizing said field of vision formed by said field of vision providing means, said field of vision providing means being provided by a flush of the transparent fluid directly exiting from said outlet of said transparent fluid transport passage into said opaque liquid, and said stabilizing means including an expandable hood surrounding said lens, the leading end of said light guide, the opening of said transparent fluid transport passage and said flush of the transparent fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 13, in which said hood forms an extension of said sheath at the leading end of said endoscope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 13, in which said hood is formed of a resilient material and includes a balloon device in the wall of said hood.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
An endoscope as set forth in claim 15, in which said resilient material is rubber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endoscope as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 16, in which said opaque liquid is blood and said endoscope is one used for observing a blood vessel or the internal wall of the heart of a living body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3417745A
Cited
US3643653A
Cited
US3690769A
Cited
US3866599A
Cited
DE2311807A1
Cited
US3831587A
Cited
FR2278305A1
Cited
US4284081A
Cited
DE2848484A1
Cited
WO1982001669A1
Cited
WO1983000312A1
Cited
DE3131652A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-01-19 | 1991-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-01-19 | 1995-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |