EP1046371B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope with cleaning device for the optics at its distal end
Assignee: Ferton Holding SA
•
Filing: 2000-04-06
•
Granted: 2004-03-17
•
Expires: 2020-04-06
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Joachim Dr. Schmidt
- 👤 Thorsten Dr. Raabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/12; A61B1/121; A61B1/126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
Endoscope, comprising an elongated hollow shaft (3) for receiving a light
carrier and optics (4) as well as a fluid line extending along the hollow shaft
(3) for passing a purging fluid to the distal end of the hollow shaft for cleaning
a front vision face (5) of the optics (4), characterised in that the endoscope comprises means for distributing the
purging fluid in intervals and alternately in such a manner that initially a
relatively strong fluid jet will be directed against the front vision face (5) of
the optics (4) and that the distribution of the purging fluid will be reduced
shortly before an interruption of this relatively strong fluid jet to a flow rate
which results in the formation of such a minimal fluid film on the vision face
(5) of the optics (4) that thereby any impediment of visibility will be avoided
at the optics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
Endoscope according to claim 1, characterised in that the distribution of the purging fluid is switched-off after
the formation of the minimal fluid film until the cleaning of the vision face (5)
of the optics (4) will again be taken up with a relatively strong fluid jet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Endoscope according to claim 1, characterised in that the formation of the minimal fluid film is continuously
maintained until the cleaning of the vision face (5) of the optics (4) will be
repeated with a relatively strong fluid jet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
Endoscope according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the formation of the minimal fluid film on the vision
face (5) of the optics (4) is carried out with a support by the gravity of the
purging fluid by allowing a flow direction of the purging fluid in a downward
direction from above.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Endoscope according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a purging fluid is being used which for the formation of
the minimal fluid film will be adapted for wetting the vision face (5) of the optics
(4) with a predetermined minimal layer thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Endoscope according to claim 5, characterised in that the vision face (5) of the optics (4) is provided with a
surface structure that allows a wetting with a predetermined minimal layer
thickness of the purging fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Endoscope according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a control means (12) is connected with the fluid line
which is adapted to adjust the purging fluid to different flow rates of its fluid
jet which is directed against the vision face (5) of the optics (4).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
Endoscope according to claim 7, characterised in that the control means (12) comprises a control valve (8)
which may be adjusted to at least two defined control ranges in which the
purging fluid is distributed to the vision face (5) of the optics (4) with a
maximum and with a minimum flow quantity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Endoscope according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the fluid line comprises a slotted exit opening the slot
size of which is dimensioned such as to allow a uniform distribution of the
purging fluid across the vision face (5) of the optics (4).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Endoscope according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the flow range of the purging fluid is controlled such
that the minimal fluid film will remain on the vision face (5) of the optics (4)
when the distribution of the purging fluid will be interrupted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Endoscope according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterised in that a separate line for the distribution of an air jet is
passed along the hollow shaft (3) which air jet will support the formation of
the minimal fluid film on the vision face (5) of the optics (4).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
Endoscope according to claim 11, characterised in that the separate line for the distribution of an air jet is
passed on the exterior of the hollow shaft (3) and is fixed to the hollow shaft
by means of clamps or the like.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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