Patent · US Expired

Endoscopic instrument

US5772578A · kind A · utility

1,615Cited by

11References

14Claims

0Family size

Assignee

RICHARD WOLF GMBH · DE

Inventors

Rudolf Heimberger · Oberderdingen, DE
Helmut Heckele
Uwe Schaumann · Oberderdingen, DE
Ralf Burkhardt · Eppingen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 16, 1996
Grant date	Jun 30, 1998
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 16, 2016

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA61B1/0057
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An endoscopic instrument is disclosed which comprises a shank with a bendable region. The bendability is achieved by almost complete circumferential transverse recesses which form segments bendable to each other. To increase the robustness of the shank, the segments, at their free ends, are provided with guides which engage a neighbouring recess and are adapted to the contour of the shank. Furthermore in the lateral regions of the shank there are incorporated positive locking elements, which prevent the overloading of the shank on over-extension.

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