US5331948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes
Assignee: Mitsubishi Cable Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1992-12-07
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Granted: 1994-07-26
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Expires: 2012-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A pulling wire for tip articulation mechanism of endoscope is fitted with an overload preventing spring in the middle thereof. This spring is arranged to stretch upon more than a certain amount of tension. Elongation of the overload preventing spring absorbs any excessive tension which is exerted upon the pulling wire as a result of motion restriction of the endoscope. This spring is fabricated such that the material wire thereof is spirally coiled, and is simultaneously twisted so that forcing pressure is introduced in the spring in the direction in which the adjoining ring portions thereof are brought into pressure contact with one another it is subjected to tension.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsushi Utsumi
- 👤 Masahiro Miura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B1/0056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, comprising: a pulling wire having first and second base end portions; and an overload preventing spring having first and second axial end portions, wherein said first and second axial end portions of said overload preventing spring are respectively connected to said first and second base end portions of said pulling wire so as to locate said spring between said base end portions of said pulling wire, and wherein said spring is arranged to begin stretching if said spring is subjected to more than a certain amount of tension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, comprising: a pulling wire having first and second base end portions; and an overload preventing spring having first and second axial end portions, wherein said first and second axial end portions of said overload preventing spring are respectively connected to said first and second base end portions of said pulling wire so as to locate said spring between said base end portions of said pulling wire, and wherein said spring is arranged to begin stretching if said spring is subjected to more than a certain amount of tension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a grip section located at the base end portion of an endoscope is provided with an articulation controlling section adapted to slide axially, while at the same time, the pulling wire is connected in the base end thereof to said articulation controlling section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, comprising: a pulling wire having at least one base end portion; and an overload preventing spring having first and second axial end portions, wherein one of said axial end portions of said spring is connected to said base end portion of said pulling wire, and wherein said spring is arranged to begin stretching if said spring is subjected to more than a certain amount of tension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, comprising: a pulling wire having at least one base end portion; and an overload preventing spring having first and second axial end portions, wherein one of said axial end portions of said spring is connected to said base end portion of said pulling wire, and wherein said spring is arranged to begin stretching if said spring is subjected to more than a certain amount of tension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grip section located at the base end portion of an endoscope is provided with an articulation controlling section adapted to slide axially, while at the same time, the base end of the overload preventing spring is connected to said articulation controlling section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, comprising: a grip section located at a base end portion of an endoscope having an engaging protruding portion with which a base end side holding portion of a pulling wire is engaged as a result of a movement of an articulation controlling section towards the base end side of said controlling section to draw the pulling wire in the direction of the base end side of said wire; and an overload preventing spring having first and second axial end portions, said first axial end portion being connected to said engaging protruding portion and said second axial end portion being connected to the articulation controlling section, wherein a spacing is provided between the base end side holding portion of the pulling wire and the engaging protruding portion in a free state of said wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, comprising: a grip section located at a base end portion of an endoscope having an engaging protruding portion with which a base end side holding portion of a pulling wire is engaged as a result of a movement of an articulation controlling section towards the base end side of said controlling section to draw the pulling wire in the direction of the base end side of said wire; and an overload preventing spring having first and second axial end portions, said first axial end portion being connected to said engaging protruding portion and said second axial end portion being connected to the articulation controlling section, wherein a spacing is provided between the base end side holding portion of the pulling wire and the engaging protruding portion in a free state of said wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 1, 3 or 5, wherein the overload preventing spring is fabricated such that the material wire thereof is spirally coiled, and is simultaneously twisted so that forcing pressure is introduced therein in the direction in which the adjoining ring portions of said spring are brought into pressure contact with one another when said spring is subjected to tension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 1, 3 or 5, wherein the overload preventing spring satisfies the formula 1/3×Tmax≦Fo≦1.5×Tmax. for the relation between the initial tension Fo which causes said spring to begin displacement thereof, and the maximum allowable working tension Tmax.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 1, 3 or 5, wherein the overload preventing spring satisfies the formula 1/20×Tmax≦K≦1/2×Tmax for the relation between the spring constant K and the maximum allowable working tension Tmax.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 1, 3 or 5, wherein the base end portion of the pulling wire has the maximum stroke of 10 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 1, 3 or 5, wherein the tension resistivity of the pulling wire is approximately four times the maximum allowable tension of the overload preventing spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the overload preventing spring is made of a piano wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tip articulation mechanism for endoscopes, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the material wire of which the overload preventing spring is made is annealed at a low temperature.
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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) | 1997-07-25 | 1998-01-24 | 1998-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-25 | 2002-01-24 | 2002-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-25 | 2006-01-24 | 2006-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |