Vertebrae for a bending section of an endoscope
US5271381A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 1991 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0055
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A bending section of an endoscope is constructed from non-round vertebrae. The vertebrae are D-shaped, having a planar portion and an arcuate portion. A first pair of protrusions extends from a first surface of the vertebra, defining a vertical bending axis. A second pair of protrusions extends from a second surface of the vertebra, defining a horizontal bending axis. Because the vertebra is D-shaped, the second pair of protrusions are farther from the longitudinal bending axis of the bending section than the first pair of protrusions. To provide uniform, symmetrical bending of the bending section, the first pair of protrusions are shorter than the second pair of protrusions. In addition, the first pair of protrusions extends at a different angle than the second pair and thus have a different shape, so that the first and second pair of protrusions are not symmetrically shaped with respect to each other. The asymmetrical shape of the non-round vertebra is exactly compensated for by the asymmetrical shape of the protrusions to provide symmetrical bending of the bending section. In addition, the apex of each protrusion is flat, providing a flat contact surface between adjacent vertebr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.