Endoscope capable of varying hardness of flexible part of insertion unit thereof
US6203494A · kind A · utility
68Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0055
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscope capable of varying the hardness of a soft part of an insertion unit thereof includes a hardness adjustment unit and a location changing mechanism. The hardness adjustment unit includes an elongated coil and a wire lying through the coil, and adjusts the hardness of the soft part of the insertion unit. The location changing mechanism changes relatively the location of the coil and wire in a longitudinal direction of the insertion unit to maintain the hardness adjustment unit such that the insertion unit is hardened most greatly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.