Curved part of endoscope
US6482149B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/2476
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A curve control wire, which is inserted in a curved part of an endoscope, is inserted and guided in guide holes of connecting pins, which are rotatably provided inside a plurality of joint rings. A body of the connecting pin is inserted into a hole formed in the joint ring, and the connecting pin body is provided with a flange for preventing the body from falling into the inside of the joint ring and an annular plate for preventing the body from falling to the outside of the joint ring. By such a structure, the curve control wire can be easily inserted into the guide holes. A protection member is attached to the end of the connecting pin. The outer peripheral face of the protection member is made of a material softer than internal members, which are arranged inside the curved part, such as a light guide, a signal cable, a forceps tube, and an air and water supply tube. Thus, the internal members are prevented from being damaged. The joint rings are connected such that intervals between the bodies of the joint rings become gradually larger from the manual control part side of the curved part to the tip component side of the curved part. Thereby, a view area from an objective optical…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.