US5643174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscopic guide tube with embedded coil spring
Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-08-08
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Granted: 1997-07-01
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Expires: 2014-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A guide tube comprising a tube body having a throughhole penetrated therethrough in the axial direction and a mouthpiece provided at the rearward end of the tube body, or comprising a tube body having a throughhole penetrated therethrough in the axial direction, a connector provided at the rearward end of the tube body and a mouthpiece engageable with and detachable from the connector, the tube body being embedded with a coil spring in the tube wall and cut slantly to the axial direction at the forward end, and the mouthpiece having a circular or elliptical cross-sectional shape, a rib at the forward end and a flange at the rearward end, and the connector being in a structure engageable with and detachable from the mouthpiece and having at the rearward end a sealing film member with a slit or a perforation at the center facilitates passage of an endoscope through the phalynx to the esophagus, simplifies washing of or aspiration from the esophagus or stomach and shortens the treating time and reduces a painful burden on patients much more, when the engageable and detachable mouthpiece is used.
Inventors
- 👤 Manabu Yamamoto
- 👤 Zenetu Suzuki
- 👤 Yasunobu Izumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0488; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00147; A61B1/00154; A61B1/24; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0425; A61M16/049; A61M16/0493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A guide tube for an endoscope, the guide tube comprising: a tube body having a throughhole penetrated therethrough in an axial direction and a mouthpiece provided at a rearward end of the tube body, the tube body including a tube wall and an inner surface; and a coil spring substantially completely embedded in the tube wall such that individual coils are surrounded by tube wall material and the inner surface is substantially smooth so as to prevent catching of the endoscope as it passes; the tube body being cut at a slant to the axial direction at a forward end; the mouthpiece having one of a circular cross-sectional shape and an elliptical cross-sectional shape, and including a rib at the forward end and a flange at the rearward end, the flange including a sealing film member with a slit or a perforation at the center.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A guide tube for an endoscope, the guide tube comprising: a tube body having a throughhole penetrated therethrough in an axial direction and a mouthpiece provided at a rearward end of the tube body, the tube body including a tube wall and an inner surface; and a coil spring substantially completely embedded in the tube wall such that individual coils are surrounded by tube wall material and the inner surface is substantially smooth so as to prevent catching of the endoscope as it passes; the tube body being cut at a slant to the axial direction at a forward end; the mouthpiece having one of a circular cross-sectional shape and an elliptical cross-sectional shape, and including a rib at the forward end and a flange at the rearward end, the flange including a sealing film member with a slit or a perforation at the center.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A guide tube according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring is embedded in the tube wall in a region from a position of at least 35 mm to a position of maximum 230 mm, as measured from the flange at the rearward end of the mouthpiece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guide tube according to claim 1, wherein the tube body is cut at the forward end at an angle of 40° to 70° to the axial direction of the tube body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A guide tube according to claim 1, wherein the flange has a flat top side or both flat top side and flat bottom side, or a narrower vertical span than the horizontal span.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The guide tube according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring comprises generally a single helix.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The guide tube according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring has a wire diameter greater than 1.0 millimeter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The guide tube according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring has a wire diameter substantially equal to a tube wall thickness of the tube wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The guide tube according to claim 1, wherein coil turns of the coil spring are separated by an axial distance substantially greater than a tube wall thickness of the tube wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
A guide tube for an endoscope, the guide tube comprising: a tube body including a tube wall and an inner surface and having a throughhole penetrated therethrough in an axial direction; a connector fixed to a rearward end of the tube body; and a slidable mouthpiece engageable with and detachable from the connector and slidable on the tube body when detached from the connector; a coil spring substantially completely embedded in the tube wall such that individual coils are surrounded by tube wall material and the inner surface is substantially smooth so as to prevent catching of the endoscope as it passes; the tube body being cut at a slant to the axial direction at a forward end; the mouthpiece including a rib at the forward end and a flange at the rearward end, and the connector being engageable with and detachable from the mouthpiece and including at the rearward end a sealing film member with a slit or a perforation at the center.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
A guide tube for an endoscope, the guide tube comprising: a tube body including a tube wall and an inner surface and having a throughhole penetrated therethrough in an axial direction; a connector fixed to a rearward end of the tube body; and a slidable mouthpiece engageable with and detachable from the connector and slidable on the tube body when detached from the connector; a coil spring substantially completely embedded in the tube wall such that individual coils are surrounded by tube wall material and the inner surface is substantially smooth so as to prevent catching of the endoscope as it passes; the tube body being cut at a slant to the axial direction at a forward end; the mouthpiece including a rib at the forward end and a flange at the rearward end, and the connector being engageable with and detachable from the mouthpiece and including at the rearward end a sealing film member with a slit or a perforation at the center.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A guide tube according to claim 9, wherein the coil spring is embedded in the tube wall in a region from a position of at least 35 mm to a position of maximum 230 mm, as measured from the rearward end of the connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guide tube according to claim 9, wherein the tube body is cut at the forward end at an angle of 40° to 70° to the axial direction of the tube body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A guide tube according to claim 9, wherein the flange has a flat top side or both flat top side and flat bottom side, or a narrower vertical span than the horizontal span.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guide tube according to claim 9, wherein the mouthpiece has a circular cross-sectional shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The guide tube according to claim 13, comprising a snap-in coupling mechanism for engaging the mouthpiece with the connector when the mouthpiece is slid over the tube body onto the connector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guide tube according to claim 9, wherein the mouthpiece has an elliptical cross-sectional shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The guide tube according to claim 15, comprising a snap-in coupling mechanism for engaging the mouthpiece with the connector when the mouthpiece is slid over the tube body onto the connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The guide tube according to claim 16, wherein the snap-in coupling mechanism angularly aligns the mouthpiece to the connector about the axial direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The guide tube according to claim 9, wherein the coil spring comprises generally a single helix and has a wire diameter greater than 1.0 millimeter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The guide tube according to claim 9, wherein the coil spring has a wire diameter substantially equal to a tube wall thickness of the tube wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The guide tube according to claim 9, wherein coil turns of the coil spring are separated by an axial distance substantially greater than a tube wall thickness of the tube wall.
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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) | 2000-06-30 | 2000-12-30 | 2001-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-30 | 2004-12-30 | 2005-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-30 | 2008-12-30 | 2009-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |