Endoscope having bending means
US4941455A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M25/0136
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
There is disclosed an endoscope incorporating a device for bending a bendable portion of the endoscope. A pair of operating wires are fixedly connected at their distal ends to a distal end of the bendable portion, and are extended respectively around a pair of engaging members. The proximal ends of the operating wires are retained by a retaining member. When an operating shaft, operatively connected to the engaging members through a connecting member, is angularly moved, one of the two engaging members is moved away from the bendable portion. As a result, one of the operating wires associated with the one engaging member is pulled to bend the bendable portion. Alternatively, first and second operating shafts, four operating wires and four engaging members can be employed so that the bendable portion can be bent in two directions generally perpendicular to each other. In this case, the engaging members are moved upon angular movement of the first operating shaft, and the turned-back portions of the four operating wires are moved upon angular movement of the second operating shaft, so as to simultaneously pull two out of the four operating wires, thereby bending the bendable portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.