Patent US4830023A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4748969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multi-lumen core deflecting endoscope
Assignee: ACMI Corp
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Filing: 1987-05-07
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Granted: 1988-06-07
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Expires: 2007-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope having a control head, an objective head and a flexible shaft therebetween. The shaft has a flexible core with a conduit means therewith. A deflection means is provided with the shaft having a tension member and a distal end compression member for controllably returning the distal end to an undeflected position.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Wardle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/307; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape for accessing a target area, the instrument having a proximal region thereof, a distal region thereof, and a shaft therebetween, said shaft comprising: structural core means of a substantially flexible and resilient material having a first longitudinal axis, said core means forming a flexible frame which can cooperate in conveying the distal region of the instrument towards the target area while also defining a conduit means therewith; and deflection means disposed on said flexible core means, said deflection means being connected to said distal region at an offset from said first longitudinal axis whereby upon activation of said deflection means said distal region is deflected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape for accessing a target area, the instrument having a proximal region thereof, a distal region thereof, and a shaft therebetween, said shaft comprising: structural core means of a substantially flexible and resilient material having a first longitudinal axis, said core means forming a flexible frame which can cooperate in conveying the distal region of the instrument towards the target area while also defining a conduit means therewith; and deflection means disposed on said flexible core means, said deflection means being connected to said distal region at an offset from said first longitudinal axis whereby upon activation of said deflection means said distal region is deflected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
An instrument as in claim 1 further comprising a deflection recovery means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An instrument as in claim 2 wherein said recovery means comprises a distal region spring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An instrument as in claim 2 wherein said recovery means comprises a proximal region spring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument as in claim 2 wherein said deflection recovery means comprises a spring sheath having a proximal end spring section and a sheath section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
An instrument as in claim 1 further comprising a shaft torque stabilizer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An instrument as in claim 5 wherein said torque stabilizer means is selectively connected to said core means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument as in claim 7 wherein said torque stabilizer means is substantially unfastened to said core means adjacent said distal region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said core means is a polymer material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said deflection means comprises a tension means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said deflection means comprises a compression means including a compressively stable connection member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said shaft is about 10 French in circumference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said shaft further comprising passive deflection means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
An instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape for accessing a target area, the instrument having a proximal region thereof, a distal region thereof, a shaft therebetween having a longitudinal axis and deflection means for deflecting said distal region, said deflection means comprising: a deflection member disposed on a channel on said shaft, said deflection member having a distal portion connected to said distal region at a position offset from said longitudinal axis and a proximal portion operably connected to said proximal region; deflection member control means for deflecting said distal region from a home position to a deflected position; and deflection recovery means for at least partially automatically returning said distal region from said deflected position to said home position as said control means is inactivated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
An instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape for accessing a target area, the instrument having a proximal region thereof, a distal region thereof, a shaft therebetween having a longitudinal axis and deflection means for deflecting said distal region, said deflection means comprising: a deflection member disposed on a channel on said shaft, said deflection member having a distal portion connected to said distal region at a position offset from said longitudinal axis and a proximal portion operably connected to said proximal region; deflection member control means for deflecting said distal region from a home position to a deflected position; and deflection recovery means for at least partially automatically returning said distal region from said deflected position to said home position as said control means is inactivated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An instrument as in claim 14 wherein said deflection recovery means comprises a distal region spring means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An instrument as in claim 14 wherein said deflection recovery means comprises a proximal region spring means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An instrument as in claim 15 wherein said spring means forms a sheath about said deflection member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument as in claim 14 wherein said home position has said distal region in a substantially straight position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument as in claim 14 wherein said home position has said distal region in a substantially curved position.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of manufacturing an instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape of accessing a target area, the instrument having a proximal region thereof, a distal region thereof, a shaft therebetween, and a deflection means, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a deflection member on a channel means of a structural core of flexible material, said core having a first longitudinal axis, said deflection member being offset from said first longitudinal axis proximate said distal region; and mounting a deflection recovery means on said core, said deflection recovery means comprising a spring means connected to said distal region at an offset, proximate said distal region, from said first longitudinal axis whereby said distal region is deflectable and said deflection recovery means cooperates to return said distal region to an undeflected position.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of manufacturing an instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape of accessing a target area, the instrument having a proximal region thereof, a distal region thereof, a shaft therebetween, and a deflection means, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a deflection member on a channel means of a structural core of flexible material, said core having a first longitudinal axis, said deflection member being offset from said first longitudinal axis proximate said distal region; and mounting a deflection recovery means on said core, said deflection recovery means comprising a spring means connected to said distal region at an offset, proximate said distal region, from said first longitudinal axis whereby said distal region is deflectable and said deflection recovery means cooperates to return said distal region to an undeflected position.
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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) | 1991-06-07 | 1991-12-07 | 1992-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-07 | 1995-12-07 | 1996-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-07 | 1999-12-07 | 2000-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |