Endoscopic device actuator and method
US5271379A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1991 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/00973
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An actuator (2) is used for actuating an auxiliary endoscopic device, such as an irrigation syringe (4), a pronged forcep (98) or a flexible stone-capturing basket (86). The auxiliary endoscopic device has a stationary portion (46) and a portion (62) which moves relative to the stationary portion. The actuator includes a foot pedal assembly (6) having a movable part (14) and a stationary part (12), a housing (8) and a coaxial cable (10). The coaxial cable includes an inner wire (30) and an outer tube (22) fixed at its ends (24, 26) to the movable part of the foot pedal assembly and to the housing. The stationary portion of the auxiliary endoscopic device is secured to the housing while the movable portion is connected to one end of the wire, the other end of the wire being connected to the stationary part of the foot pedal assembly. Accordingly, moving the movable part of the foot pedal assembly, typically by the operator's foot, thigh or elbow, causes the wire to slide back and forth within the elongate tube, thus moving the movable portion of the auxiliary device relative to the stationary portion. This allows the auxiliary endoscopic device to be actuated using one's foot to fre…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.