US5685825A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1995-12-21
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Granted: 1997-11-11
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Expires: 2015-12-21
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope comprising a flexible tubular body characterized in that a coating layer of aliphatic resins is formed on at least one surface of the outermost layer portion of the flexible tubular body. The coating layer of aliphatic resins is formed by applying a coating agent containing an aliphatic prepolymer on the surface, followed by curing.
Inventors
- 👤 Seisuke Takase
- 👤 Tetsuaki Mori
- 👤 Akihiro Okubo
- 👤 Yasushi Machida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An endoscope comprising a flexible tubular body, wherein at least one portion of said flexible tubular body has a coating layer of aliphatic resins which is formed by applying a coating agent containing an aliphatic prepolymer which is a reaction product of an aliphatic diisocyanate and a polyester polyol, onto the surface of an outermost layer of a sheath made of a polymer material, and curing the coating agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An endoscope comprising a flexible tubular body, wherein at least one portion of said flexible tubular body has a coating layer of aliphatic resins which is formed by applying a coating agent containing an aliphatic prepolymer which is a reaction product of an aliphatic diisocyanate and a polyester polyol, onto the surface of an outermost layer of a sheath made of a polymer material, and curing the coating agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a tubular body having said coating layer of aliphatic resins is an insertion tubular section comprising a flexible tubular section, a bending section and a connecting section therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said tubular body having said coating layer of aliphatic resins is the flexible tubular section of said insertion tubular section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said tubular body having said coating layer of aliphatic resins is the bending section of said insertion tubular section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the tubular body having said coating layer of aliphatic resins is the connecting section between the flexible tubular section and the bending section of said insertion tubular section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said aliphatic diisocyanate is at least one diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of hexamethylene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyante and lysine diisocyanate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said coating layer of aliphatic resins further contains a friction reducing material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein said friction reducing material is a silicone resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein said friction reducing material is a fluororesin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body having said coating layer of aliphatic resins is a light guide cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said polymer material is an elastomer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The endoscope according to claim 11, wherein said elastomer is a thermoplastic elastomer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endoscope according to claim 13, wherein said polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer is an aliphatic polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is a polyester thermoplastic elastomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The endoscope according to claim 11, wherein said elastomer is a non-thermoplastic elastomer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The endoscope according to claim 11, wherein said tubular body having said coating layer of aliphatic resins is an insertion tubular section, and said elastomer is applied to an underlying layer of said insertion tubular section by means of an extruding machine in a molten state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The endoscope according to claim 11, wherein said tubular body having said coating layer of aliphatic resins is an insertion tubular section, and said elastomer is dissolved in a solvent selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofuran and N,N-dimethyl-formamide to prepare a liquid-state elastomer and then applied to an underlying layer of said insertion tubular section by dipping.
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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) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-05-12 | 2001-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-10 | 2005-05-12 | 2005-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-10 | 2009-05-12 | 2009-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |