EP0301288A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible endoscope
Assignee: CONFIDA SpA
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Filing: 1988-07-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A flexible endoscope comprising a handle (9), a flexible section (3), a terminal articulated length (1), at least one additional articulated length (2) between the flexible section (3) and the terminal articulated length (1), each articulated length being movable, by two pairs of wires (5I, 5II) connected with servomechanisms, so as to cause the bending of one only or of more articulated lengths simulteneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Guido Danieli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2476; A61B18/00; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
A flexible endoscope comprising an handle (9) for an operator, control means on said handle to operate the endoscope, a flexible section (3), a first terminal articulated length (1) composed by a plurality of articulate ring elements (4I) and controlled by said control means by motor means and two first pairs of wires (5I) passing through holes in said plurality of articulate ring elements (4I), means on the tip (P) of the terminal length (1) for taking images in the cavity where the operation is in course and transmitting them outside, means for lighting said cavity, for washing said cavity and said means for taking the images, means for carrying out the conventional additional operations,characterized in that it also comprises, between said flexible section (3) and said terminal articulated length (1), at least an additional articulated length (2) controlled by control means on said handle (9) through motor means and two second pairs of wires (5II), each pair of said wires (5II) having the upper end fastened to a ring (8) at the upper end of the additional articulated length (2) and the lower end fastened to a motor means able to pull a wire and slack the other wire, each motor means for each articulated length (1, 2) being an assembly (AI, AII) comprising a pair of electric motors (13) provided with the two revolution directions, each associated with means (10, 11) adapted to impart a linear movement, in one direction or in the other one, to the lower ends of a pair of wires (5I, 5II), each assembly of motor means (AI, AII) being controlled by an assembly of means (15I, 16I, 17I, 18I) located on an outer face of the handle (9).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
285 words
A flexible endoscope comprising an handle (9) for an operator, control means on said handle to operate the endoscope, a flexible section (3), a first terminal articulated length (1) composed by a plurality of articulate ring elements (4I) and controlled by said control means by motor means and two first pairs of wires (5I) passing through holes in said plurality of articulate ring elements (4I), means on the tip (P) of the terminal length (1) for taking images in the cavity where the operation is in course and transmitting them outside, means for lighting said cavity, for washing said cavity and said means for taking the images, means for carrying out the conventional additional operations,characterized in that it also comprises, between said flexible section (3) and said terminal articulated length (1), at least an additional articulated length (2) controlled by control means on said handle (9) through motor means and two second pairs of wires (5II), each pair of said wires (5II) having the upper end fastened to a ring (8) at the upper end of the additional articulated length (2) and the lower end fastened to a motor means able to pull a wire and slack the other wire, each motor means for each articulated length (1, 2) being an assembly (AI, AII) comprising a pair of electric motors (13) provided with the two revolution directions, each associated with means (10, 11) adapted to impart a linear movement, in one direction or in the other one, to the lower ends of a pair of wires (5I, 5II), each assembly of motor means (AI, AII) being controlled by an assembly of means (15I, 16I, 17I, 18I) located on an outer face of the handle (9).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A flexible endoscope according to claim 1 characterized in that part of each wire of the two first pairs of wires (5I) is into a tubular flexible element (20) extended between the upper end of the articulated length (2) adjacent to the terminal articulated length (1) and the lower end of the flexible section (3); part of each wire of the second pairs of wires (5II) is into a tubular element (22) extended from the upper end to the lower end of said flexible section (3).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
A flexible endoscope according to claim 1 characterized in that each wire of the two second pairs of wires (5II) is a tubular flexible and unextensible element (5II) having the upper end fastened to the lower wall of said ring (8) at the upper end of the additional articulated length (2) and the lower end connected with an end of a corresponding transmission element (10) in an assembly of motor means (AII), each of said wires (5II) being received into a tubular element (23) extended between a ring (8′) at the top of the flexible section (3B) and a ring (8˝A) at the bottom of said flexible section, and each wire of the two first pairs of wires (5I) passes into an aperture of said ring (8) and, therefrom, into said tubular element (5II) to come out at the lower part thereof and fasten to an end of a corresponding transmission element (10) in an assembly of motor means (AI).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flexible endoscope according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 characterized in that the motor means for the articulated lengths (1, 2) are located within the endoscope handle (9).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A flexible endoscope according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 characterized in that the motor means for the articulated lengths (1, 2) are received in a box (34) apart from the endoscope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A flexible endoscope according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, characterized in that the assembly of means on the outer face (19) of the endoscope handle (9) is an assembly of push buttons, two of said buttons (15I, 16I) being adapted to impart, alternatively, the revolution movement in a direction or in the opposite direction to a first electric motor (13), two of said buttons (17I, 18I) being adapted to impart, alternatively, the revolution movement in one direction or in the opposite direction to a second electric motor (13).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A flexible endoscope according to claim 1 characterized in that the ring (8) at the upper end of each additional articulated length (2) has a passage (6) for each wire (5I, 5II) associated with the overhanging articulated lengths (1, 2) and holds the upper ends of each wire (5II) associated with the corresponding additional articulated length (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A flexible endoscope according to claims 1 and 7 characterized in that each additional articulated length (2) comprises a plurality of articulate ring elements (4II) which carry passages (6) for the wires (5I) associated with the terminal articulated length (1) and separate passages (6′) for the wires (5II) associated with the additional articulated lentghs (2).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A flexible endoscope according to claim 8 characterized in that each ring element (4II) comprised in the additional articulated lengths (2) carries passages (6˝) for a wire (5I) associated with the terminal length (1) and for one wire or wires (5II) associated with additional articulated lengths (2).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A flexible endoscope according to the preceding claims characterized in that the wires belonging to the two pairs of wires of the terminal articulated length (1) are adjacent to the wires belonging to the two pairs of wires of the additional articulated lengths (2) so as to provide pairs of wires (5I, 5II) in a plane perpendicular to other pairs of wires (5I, 5II).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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