Curvature control mechanism in endoscopes
US4483326A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 1982 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0057
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A curvature control mechanism in an endoscope is disclosed. The endoscope is of the type which has a manipulator unit to which a flexible tubular member is connected and whose front end region constitutes a bendable portion. A knob member is rotatably mounted on the manipulator unit and control wires extend from the manipulator unit through the flexible member to the bendable portion so the latter can be bent by the wires in a selectively controlled manner through rotation of the knob. The curvature control mechanism includes a double cylinder type drum device including two drums fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft coupled to the knob. A pair of elongate resilient strips are wound around respective drums in mutually opposite directions and one end of each of the resilient strips is coupled to a respective control wire such that rotation of the drums in one direction causes a take-up of one of the elongate strips on its respective drum and a tension-relief in the other of the resilient strips in the form of a diametric expansion thereof, such expansion preventing an excessive slackness in the control wire to which that resilient strip is coupled while maintaining at least some tension…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.