Articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope
US4432349A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 5, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0057
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An articulated tube structure for use in an endoscope or the like consists of a number of elementary tubes connected in end-to-end relationship. Between the adjacent elementary tubes are provided springs to urge the articulated tube to bend in one direction. The endoscope is provided with a manipulating box to bend the articulated tube in a desired direction. The articulated tube is spring urged in one direction and is manipulated to bend as desired by operation of pull wires extending through the articulated tube and fixed at their end to the head of the endoscope. The springs may be composed of a series of coil springs provided around one pull wire between adjacent elementary tubes. The spring constant of the coil springs may be increased from the manipulating box to the head so as to bend the articulated tube to more extent in the portion closer to the head than the portion remote from the head.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.