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US4838246A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Application part for an endoscope

Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
•
Filing: 1987-08-13
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Granted: 1989-06-13
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Expires: 2007-08-13
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Abstract

Abstract The disclosure relates to an application part for rigid or flexible endoscopes having a viewing channel and a working channel extending parallel to the viewing channel, with the working channel being equipped with a guide as well as a defined stop for a fiber optic waveguide, which can be inserted and coupled with a laser light source, and the working channel having optics for concentrating the laser light emerging from the fiber optic waveguide onto a punctiform area. The part of the working channel surrounding the punctiform area is formed as shock wave reflector. Further, a flushing channel is provided, the outlet opening of which is at least partially directed onto the face of the optics from which the light emerges.

Inventors

  • 👤 Andreas Hahn
  • 👤 Fritz Wondrazek
  • 👤 Frank Frank

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 00:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00091; A61B1/12; A61B1/127; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/26; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2423; G10; G10K; G10K15/00; G10K15/04; G10K15/046

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
In an application part for an endoscope, said application part comprising a viewing channel and a working channel extending parallel to said viewing channel; said working channel including a guiding means and a defined stop for slidable insertion of a fiber optic waveguide, selectively coupled to a laser light source, an improvement in said application part wherein said working channel includes an optics arrangement for concentrating the laser light emerging from the fiber optic wave guide onto a punctiform region, and further said working channel being arranged to extend beyond the optics arrangement in the direction of said punctiform region to form a shock wave reflector and further comprising a flushing channel having an outlet opening which is at least partially directed toward the face of said optics arrangement from which the light emerges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 134 words
In an application part for an endoscope, said application part comprising a viewing channel and a working channel extending parallel to said viewing channel; said working channel including a guiding means and a defined stop for slidable insertion of a fiber optic waveguide, selectively coupled to a laser light source, an improvement in said application part wherein said working channel includes an optics arrangement for concentrating the laser light emerging from the fiber optic wave guide onto a punctiform region, and further said working channel being arranged to extend beyond the optics arrangement in the direction of said punctiform region to form a shock wave reflector and further comprising a flushing channel having an outlet opening which is at least partially directed toward the face of said optics arrangement from which the light emerges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The application part of claim 1, wherein said optics arrangement on the side facing the shock wave reflector includes a concave-convex lens, the concave surface of which is connected at the outer edge with said shock wave reflector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
The application part of either claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one lens of the optics arrangement adjacent to said shock reflector includes an elastic seal in the region of the lens mount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The application part of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the lenses of said optics arrangement facing the shock wave reflector and the fiber optic waveguide being made from quartz glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The application part of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the lenses of said optics arrangement facing the shock wave reflector and the fiber optic waveguide being made from sapphire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The application part of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the optics arrangement is a reduction optics arrangement with a reproduction ratio of no more than 1:4.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 41 words
The application part of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the focal point of the optics arrangement and the focus of the shock wave reflector lie on the plane defined by the distal edge of the shock wave reflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The application part of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the viewing, working, and flushing channels extend parallel to one another and have a common sheathing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The application part of claim 8 wherein said common sheathing is of a circular cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
The application part of claim 8 wherein said common sheathing is of an elliptical cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The application part of claim 8 wherein said common sheathing is of an oval cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
The application part of claim 8 wherein said common sheathing is of a non-uniform round cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
The application part of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the proximal opening of the working channel includes a clamping device to clamp said fiber optic waveguide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 13 words
The application part of claim 1 wherein said endoscope is a flexible endoscope.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The application part of claim 1 wherein said endoscope is a rigid endoscope.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US4146019A Cited
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DE2945080A1 Cited
US4419987A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-06-12 1992-12-12 1993-06-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-06-12 1996-12-12 1997-06-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-06-12 2000-12-12 2001-06-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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