Patent · US Expired

Curvable pipe assembly in endoscope

US4351323A · kind A · utility

101Cited by
7References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 1980
Grant dateSep 28, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 10, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B1/0055
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A curvable tube assembly for an endoscope which can be inserted through insertion paths of different curvature and along narrow and zigzag paths in a body cavity. First and second curvable tube sections are arranged in succession with one another with each of the first and second curvable sections including a plurality of articulation rings supporting one another at at least two points so as to make the curvable sections bendable in at least two directions. The free end of the second curvable section is connected to a flexible tube. At least one pair of stay coils is provided having ends fastened to the connecting point of the first and second curvable sections. Pull strings are disposed in the stay coils having first ends fastened to the first curvable section and extending to a manual operation unit of the endoscope.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.