Side-viewing endoscope

Claim 2

A side viewing endoscope comprising a hollow shaft having a distal end and a lateral wall with an outlet opening adjacent the distal end; an instrumentation channel being disposed in said shaft and having a distal end with a curved section terminating adjacent said outlet opening, said channel having a diameter and a radius of curvature for the curved section matched to each other to guide a complementary instrument out of said outlet opening at an angle to the axis of the shaft in a range of 60°-90°; and a deflection element being mounted adjacent said curved section for transverse movement to the axis of said shaft from a position withdrawn from the outlet opening to a position increasing the curved path of said curved portion by an amount in the range of 60°-90° so that an instrument being guided out of said outlet opening can be deflected up to an additional 90° by said element.

Claim 3

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the instrumentation channel is a hollow, tubular member.

Claim 4

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting element is curved in a longitudinal direction, and said element is moved on a curved path having a radius of curvature substantially the same as the curved section of the instrument channel.

Claim 5

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the deflection element is curved in a transverse direction.

Claim 6

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the deflecting element is the form of a partially closed sleeve.

Claim 7

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the deflecting element is mounted for pivotable movement by a pivotable bearing element disposed on the radius of curvature of said curved section.

Claim 8

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 6, which includes actuating means for pivoting the deflecting element between the two positions including traction wires with one wire being guided around a deflection shaft to engage the deflection element at a point spaced from the point engaged by the other wire.

Claim 9

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 1, which includes means for mounting said deflecting element for sliding movement in said endoscope.

Claim 10

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the means for mounting comprises a slide bearing having a glide coat.

Claim 11

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the means for mounting includes a roller bearing receiving said deflecting element.

Claim 12

A side viewing endoscope comprising a hollow shaft having a closed distal end and a lateral wall with an outlet opening adjacent the distal end; an instrumentation channel comprising a hollow tube being disposed in said shaft and having a distal end with a curved section with a radius of curvature terminating adjacent said outlet opening, said tubular channel having a diameter and a radius of curvature for the curved section matched to each other to guide a complementary instrument out of said outlet opening at an angle to the axis of the shaft in a range of 60°-90°; a deflection element; and means for mounting said deflection element adjacent said curved section for transverse movement along a curved path between a retracted position to an extended position extending through said outlet opening to increase the effective curvature of the curved portion by an amount in the range of 60°-90° so that an instrument being guided out of said outlet opening can be deflected up to an additional 90° by said element.

Claim 13

A side viewing endoscope comprising a hollow shaft having a closed distal end and a lateral wall with an outlet opening adjacent the distal end; an instrumentation channel comprising a hollow tube being disposed in said shaft and having a distal end with a curved section with a radius of curvature terminating adjacent said outlet opening, said tubular channel having a diameter and a radius of curvature for the curved section matched to each other to guide a complementary instrument out of said outlet opening at an angle to the axis of the shaft in a range of 60°-90°; a deflection element; and means for mounting said deflection element adjacent said curved section for transverse movement along a curved path between a retracted position to an extended position extending through said outlet opening to increase the effective curvature of the curved portion by an amount in the range of 60°-90° so that an instrument being guided out of said outlet opening can be deflected up to an additional 90° by said element.

Claim 14

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the means for mounting includes a bearing mounted on the curved section, said bearing allowing sliding movement of the element along said curved path.

Claim 15

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 12, wherein the deflecting element has a curvature in the longitudinal direction substantially similar to the curvature of said curved section of said channel.

Claim 16

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the deflecting element has a curvature substantially the same as the curvature of said curved section, said deflecting element being mounted by said means for mounting for pivotable movement on an axle positioned adjacent the center of curvature for the curved section.

Claim 17

A side viewing endoscope according to claim 14, wherein the deflection element has a curvature in the transverse direction.