Patent US5573494A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5573494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope in which an endoscope-cover coverable endoscope to be sheathed with an endoscope cover is structured to shut out water tightly
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1995-03-29
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Granted: 1996-11-12
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Expires: 2015-03-29
Abstract
Abstract In an endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope which is used for endoscopic examination with an insertional part of an endoscope sheathed with an endoscope cover, the surfaces of the insertional part, operational part, and universal cord of the endoscope are all structured to tightly shut out water. Even when contaminated, the endoscope can be immersed in chemical and thus disinfected effortlessly.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisao Yabe
- 👤 Yoshihiro Iida
- 👤 Akira Suzuki
- 👤 Hideo Ito
- 👤 Yoshio Tashiro
- 👤 Minoru Yamazaki
- 👤 Osamu Tamada
- 👤 Takahiro Kishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00188; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00091; A61B1/00098; A61B1/00142; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/012; A61B1/018; A61B1/04; A61B1/05; A61B1/00112; A61B1/00121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope comprising: an endoscope cover; and an endoscope-cover coverable endoscope that is to be sheathed with said endoscope cover having an elongated insertional part, wherein said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope is structured to tightly shut out water, and wherein an outer surface of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope includes a chemical-proof material; and a water shutout checking means for checking if water is tightly shut out of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope wherein said water shutout checking means includes a water leakage sensor base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope comprising: an endoscope cover; and an endoscope-cover coverable endoscope that is to be sheathed with said endoscope cover having an elongated insertional part, wherein said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope is structured to tightly shut out water, and wherein an outer surface of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope includes a chemical-proof material; and a water shutout checking means for checking if water is tightly shut out of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope wherein said water shutout checking means includes a water leakage sensor base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope cover including a forceps channel into which forceps are insertable and a raise mechanism serving as a guide for changing the direction in which the terminal of said forceps is projected through an opening at the terminal of said forceps channel; and an endoscope-cover coverable endoscope adaptable to be sheathed with said endoscope cover, including an insertional part and a structure for tightly shutting out water, wherein an outer surface of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope is coated with a chemical-proof material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope cover including a forceps channel into which forceps are insertable and a raise mechanism serving as a guide for changing the direction in which the terminal of said forceps is projected through an opening at the terminal of said forceps channel; and an endoscope-cover coverable endoscope adaptable to be sheathed with said endoscope cover, including an insertional part and a structure for tightly shutting out water, wherein an outer surface of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope is coated with a chemical-proof material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope has a direction operating means for changing the direction in which the terminal of said forceps is projected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope has a driving force generating mechanism that generates a driving force for raising said raise mechanism depending on how said direction operating means is manipulated, and said driving force generating means moves said raise mechanism by rotating or translating it using a driving force transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 4, further comprising a partition for isolating said endoscope cover from said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope so as to tightly shut out water; said driving force transmission mechanism coupling said driving force generating mechanism with said raise base via said partition, while retaining a capacity for shutting out water tightly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
203 words
A channeled endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope having an elongated insertional part; a channeled endoscope cover having an endoscope channel into which said insertional part of said endoscope is inserted, a forceps channel into which forceps are inserted, and a raise mechanism that is embedded in an opening at the terminal of said forceps channel and changes the direction in which said forceps are projected; a forceps raising means formed on said endoscope and used for raising said forceps; a driving force generating mechanism that is mounted in said endoscope and generates a driving force depending on how said forceps raising means is manipulated; a first driving force transmission member mounted in said endoscope and driven by said driving force generating mechanism; a second driving force transmission member that is mounted in said channeled endoscope cover and with which said raise mechanism embedded in said opening is coupled so as to be freely movable; and a coupling means that couples said first driving force transmission member with said second driving force transmission member via a partition, which is formed between said opening and said endoscope channel, so as to tightly shut out water, while retaining a capacity for tightly shutting out water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
203 words
A channeled endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope having an elongated insertional part; a channeled endoscope cover having an endoscope channel into which said insertional part of said endoscope is inserted, a forceps channel into which forceps are inserted, and a raise mechanism that is embedded in an opening at the terminal of said forceps channel and changes the direction in which said forceps are projected; a forceps raising means formed on said endoscope and used for raising said forceps; a driving force generating mechanism that is mounted in said endoscope and generates a driving force depending on how said forceps raising means is manipulated; a first driving force transmission member mounted in said endoscope and driven by said driving force generating mechanism; a second driving force transmission member that is mounted in said channeled endoscope cover and with which said raise mechanism embedded in said opening is coupled so as to be freely movable; and a coupling means that couples said first driving force transmission member with said second driving force transmission member via a partition, which is formed between said opening and said endoscope channel, so as to tightly shut out water, while retaining a capacity for tightly shutting out water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said coupling means is united with said second driving force transmission member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said forceps raising means includes switches for actuating said driving force generating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said driving force generating mechanism includes a motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said forceps raising means also has a capability of said driving force generating mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
A channeled endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope having an elongated insertional part; a channeled endoscope cover having an endoscope channel into which said insertional part of said endoscope is inserted, a forceps channel into which forceps are inserted, and a raise mechanism that is embedded in an opening at the terminal of said forceps channel and changes the direction in which said forceps are projected; a forceps raising means formed on said endoscope and used for raising said forceps; a driving force generating mechanism that is mounted in said endoscope and generates a driving force depending on how said forceps raising means is manipulated; a raise mechanism moving member that is mounted in said channeled endoscope cover and with which said raise mechanism embedded in said opening is coupled so as to be freely movable; and a coupling means that couples said driving force generating mechanism with said raise mechanism moving member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
A channeled endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope having an elongated insertional part; a channeled endoscope cover having an endoscope channel into which said insertional part of said endoscope is inserted, a forceps channel into which forceps are inserted, and a raise mechanism that is embedded in an opening at the terminal of said forceps channel and changes the direction in which said forceps are projected; a forceps raising means formed on said endoscope and used for raising said forceps; a driving force generating mechanism that is mounted in said endoscope and generates a driving force depending on how said forceps raising means is manipulated; a raise mechanism moving member that is mounted in said channeled endoscope cover and with which said raise mechanism embedded in said opening is coupled so as to be freely movable; and a coupling means that couples said driving force generating mechanism with said raise mechanism moving member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 11, wherein said forceps raising means also has a capability of said driving force generating mechanism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 11, further comprising a partition for isolating said raise mechanism moving member from said driving force generating mechanism so as to tightly shut out water; said coupling means including a water shutout coupling mechanism that couples said driving force generating mechanism with said raise mechanism moving member via said partition so as to tightly shut out water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope according to claim 13, wherein said water shutout coupling mechanism is realized with magnetic forces of magnets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope system an endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope system, comprising: an endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope made up of an endoscope cover and an endoscope-cover coverable endoscope to be sheathed with said endoscope cover; an insertion aid including a tube slidably moveable over the surface of an insertional part cover of said endoscope cover and used for assisting in insertion; and an immobilization mechanism formed on an operational endoscope part locking section of said endoscope cover for restricting the movement of said insertion aid as said insertion part and for locking an operational part of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope system an endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope system, comprising: an endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope made up of an endoscope cover and an endoscope-cover coverable endoscope to be sheathed with said endoscope cover; an insertion aid including a tube slidably moveable over the surface of an insertional part cover of said endoscope cover and used for assisting in insertion; and an immobilization mechanism formed on an operational endoscope part locking section of said endoscope cover for restricting the movement of said insertion aid as said insertion part and for locking an operational part of said endoscope-cover coverable endoscope.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope having an elongated insertional part; an endoscope cover having an endoscope channel into which said insertional part of said endoscope is inserted, and an endoscope locking section for locking the proximal portion of said insertional part; and a locked section formed in the proximal portion of said insertional part and locked in said endoscope locking section when brought into contact with said endoscope locking section; said locked section having a higher wear resistance than said endoscope locking section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
An endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope, comprising: an endoscope having an elongated insertional part; an endoscope cover having an endoscope channel into which said insertional part of said endoscope is inserted, and an endoscope locking section for locking the proximal portion of said insertional part; and a locked section formed in the proximal portion of said insertional part and locked in said endoscope locking section when brought into contact with said endoscope locking section; said locked section having a higher wear resistance than said endoscope locking section.
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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) | 1999-11-12 | 2000-05-13 | 2000-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-12 | 2004-05-13 | 2004-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-12 | 2008-05-13 | 2008-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |