Patent · US Expired

Endoscope with protruding member and method of utilizing the same

US5505686A · kind A · utility

146Cited by
14References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 1994
Grant dateApr 9, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/09183
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An endoscope including an elongated endoscope body sized and adapted for insertion into a passage, such as a passage of the body of a patient. Optical components are carried by the endoscope body to enable viewing of the passage distally of the distal end of the endoscope body within a field of view of the endoscope. An elongated, resilient member is mounted on and carried by the endoscope body such that the endoscope body and the resilient member are a unitary assembly which can be inserted as a unit into the passage. The resilient member extends beyond the distal end of the endoscope body and is capable of contacting material within or forming the passage and relatively displacing the distal end of the endoscope body and such material within the field of view of the endoscope to enhance viewing of the passage with the endoscope.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.