Endoscope system having first and second endoscopes with insertion sections having different hardness variation amounts
US10925470B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2018 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/273
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscope system sets a hardness variation of a thick flexible tube portion and a hardness variation of a thin flexible tube portion such that their respective ratios against base hardness are constant, and as each flexible tube portion becomes thicker, the hardness variation increases and an endoscope with a relatively thin flexible tube portion has a smaller hardness variation. This makes it possible to avoid situations like an endoscope with a thick flexible tube portion lacking hardness or an endoscope with a thin flexible tube portion becoming too hard, and makes it possible to perform optimum insertion operation in accordance with the thickness of a flexible tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.