US4944287A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible tube of endoscope
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1989-03-24
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Granted: 1990-07-31
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Expires: 2009-03-24
Abstract
Abstract An elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope. The flexible tube comprises: a spiral tube made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of the tube, the groove extending in a straight line along the axis of the tube, the spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment; a braided-wire tube formed by weaving fine metal wires into a braid, the braided-wire tube being closely fitted over the outer surface of the spiral tube; and a flexible skin closely and watertightly fitted over the outer surface of the braided-wire tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Nagashige Takahashi
- 👤 Teruo Ouchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:53
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L9/00; F16L9/02; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0011; A61B1/005; B; B21; B21C; B21C37/00; B21C37/06; B21C37/15; B21C37/154; F16L9/006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4981; Y10T29/49812; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49861; Y10T29/49906; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49925; Y10T29/49927; Y10T29/49929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope, comprising: a spiral tube made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of said tube, said groove extending in a straight line along the axis of said tube, said spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment; a braided-wire tube formed by weaving fine metal wires into a braid, said braided-wire tube being closely fitted over the outer surface of said spiral tube; and a flexible skin closely and watertightly fitted over the outer surface of said braided-wire tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope, comprising: a spiral tube made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of said tube, said groove extending in a straight line along the axis of said tube, said spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment; a braided-wire tube formed by weaving fine metal wires into a braid, said braided-wire tube being closely fitted over the outer surface of said spiral tube; and a flexible skin closely and watertightly fitted over the outer surface of said braided-wire tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said spiral tube is made of copper-beryllium alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said braided-wire tube is made of the same precipitation hardening metal as that for said spiral tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said spiral tube is comprised of a plurality of spiral tube elements assembled together in close contact with each other, said spiral tube elements being different from each other in the direction of spiral winding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A spiral tube for an elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope, said spiral tube being made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of said tube, said groove extending in a straight line along the axis of said tube, said spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A spiral tube for an elongated flexible tube that constitutes an insert part of an endoscope, said spiral tube being made of a precipitation hardening metal and having a groove which is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of said tube, said groove extending in a straight line along the axis of said tube, said spiral tube being subjected to age hardening process after a solid solution treatment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4646722A
Cited
US4869238A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-30 | 1994-01-29 | 1994-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-30 | 1998-01-29 | 1998-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-30 | 2002-01-29 | 2002-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |