Patent US5217002A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5217002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible tube of endoscope and method of producing the same
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1991-05-01
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Granted: 1993-06-08
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Expires: 2011-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A long and thin flexible tube of an endoscope which forms an outer wall of an insert part and which is fitted with a built-in object including a device for transmitting an observed image from the distal end of the insert part to the proximal end thereof. Also disclosed is a method of producing the long and thin flexible tube. The flexible tube is formed by inserting the built-in object into a plurality of short flexible tube elements, and then connecting together each pair of adjacent short flexible tube elements by use of a connecting device, with the built-in object inserted therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Katsurada
- 👤 Wataru Murai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0011; A61B1/005; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2476
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope which forms an outer wall of an insert part and which is fitted with a built-in object extending along substantially the entire length of said flexible tube, said built-in object including an image guide fiber bundle for transmitting an observed image from the distal end of said insert part to the proximal end thereof, said flexible tube comprising: a plurality of flexible tube elements; and means for connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements while said built-in object is inserted therein to form said flexible tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope which forms an outer wall of an insert part and which is fitted with a built-in object extending along substantially the entire length of said flexible tube, said built-in object including an image guide fiber bundle for transmitting an observed image from the distal end of said insert part to the proximal end thereof, said flexible tube comprising: a plurality of flexible tube elements; and means for connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements while said built-in object is inserted therein to form said flexible tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means is rigidly provided on each end portion of each of said flexible tube elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means enables each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements to be connected together and disconnected from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said connecting means allows said flexible tube elements to be connected together and disconnected from each other by axially pushing and pulling said connecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said connecting means connects together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements by thread engagement, so that said flexible tube elements can be connected together and disconnected from each other by rotating said connecting means about the axis of said flexible tube elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means is covered with a skin of each flexible tube element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means is provided with means for sealing the joint between adjacent flexible tube elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tube elements vary in hardness from each other.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing a flexible tube of an endoscope which forms an outer wall of an insert part and which is fitted with a built-in object, said built-in object including an image guide fiber bundle for transmitting an observed image from the distal end of said insert part to the proximal end thereof, comprising the steps of: inserting said built-in object into a plurality of flexible tube elements, so that said built-in object extends substantially along the entire length of said plurality of flexible tube elements; and connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements by use of connecting means, while said built-in object is inserted therein, to form a single flexible tube.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing a flexible tube of an endoscope which forms an outer wall of an insert part and which is fitted with a built-in object, said built-in object including an image guide fiber bundle for transmitting an observed image from the distal end of said insert part to the proximal end thereof, comprising the steps of: inserting said built-in object into a plurality of flexible tube elements, so that said built-in object extends substantially along the entire length of said plurality of flexible tube elements; and connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements by use of connecting means, while said built-in object is inserted therein, to form a single flexible tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of producing a flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 9, comprising said connecting rigidly providing means on each end portion of each of said flexible tube elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of producing a flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 9, comprising connecting together and disconnecting from each other said flexible tube elements by axially pushing and pulling said connecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of producing a flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 9, connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements by thread engagement, so that said flexible tube elements can be connected together and disconnected from each other by rotating said connecting means about the axis of said tube elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of producing a flexible tube of an endoscope according to claim 9, wherein, after said adjacent flexible tube elements are connected together by said connecting means, covering said connecting means with skins of said flexible tube elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A flexible tube which has a spiral tube inside thereof and which is fitted with a built-in object, comprising: a plurality of flexible tube elements; and means for connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements with said built-in object inserted therein to form said flexible tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A flexible tube which has a spiral tube inside thereof and which is fitted with a built-in object, comprising: a plurality of flexible tube elements; and means for connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements with said built-in object inserted therein to form said flexible tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope which forms an outer wall of an insert part and which is fitted with a built-in object extending along substantially the entire length of said flexible tube, said flexible tube comprising: a plurality of flexible tube elements; and means for connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements while said built-in object is inserted therein to form said flexible tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A flexible tube of an endoscope which forms an outer wall of an insert part and which is fitted with a built-in object extending along substantially the entire length of said flexible tube, said flexible tube comprising: a plurality of flexible tube elements; and means for connecting together each pair of adjacent flexible tube elements while said built-in object is inserted therein to form said flexible tube.
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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) | 1996-06-07 | 1996-12-07 | 1997-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-12-07 | 2001-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-07 | 2004-12-07 | 2005-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |