Patent US3037179A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5873817A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Endoscope with resilient deflectable section
Assignee: Gyrus ACMI Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-12
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Granted: 1999-02-23
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Expires: 2017-05-12
Abstract
Abstract I An endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control. The shaft has a deflectable section operably connected to the deflection control by drive cables. The deflectable section comprises rigid rings and flexible connection members connecting the rings to each other. The connection members are comprised of a superelastic shape memory alloy. The connection members retain the deflectable section in a predetermined shape. The connection members can be resiliently bent to bend the deflectable section without permanent deformation of the connection member over a working life of the endoscope.
Inventors
- 👤 Arkady Kokish
- 👤 Gregory S. Konstorum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0058; A61B1/0051; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138; A61M25/0147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflectable section operably connected to the deflection control by drive cables, the deflection section comprising: rings; and flexible connection members connecting the rings to each other, the connection members being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein the connection members retain the deflection section in a predetermined shape, and wherein the connection members can be repeatedly resiliently bent to bend the deflection section without permanent deformation of the connection members over a working life of the endoscope because of superelastic properties of the superelastic alloy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflectable section operably connected to the deflection control by drive cables, the deflection section comprising: rings; and flexible connection members connecting the rings to each other, the connection members being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein the connection members retain the deflection section in a predetermined shape, and wherein the connection members can be repeatedly resiliently bent to bend the deflection section without permanent deformation of the connection members over a working life of the endoscope because of superelastic properties of the superelastic alloy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein the flexible connection members have a general pin shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope as in claim 2 wherein the flexible connection members have a naturally straight shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endoscope as in claim 3 wherein the flexible connection members are individually connected between two rings to form pairs of rings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endoscope as in claim 4 wherein at least two connection members connect the pairs of rings to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope as in claim 5 wherein a majority of rings have at lest four connection members connnected thereto with two on each side of the rings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An endoscope as in claim 6 wherein the majority of the rings each have eight holes therethrough with the at least four connection members in four of the holes and the drive cables in the four holes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein the flexible connection members have a general straight tube shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An endoscope as in claim 8 wherein the flexible have holes with enlarged counter-bore sections, and the flexible connection members are located in the enlarged counter-bore sections of the holes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscope as in claim 9 wherein the drive cables pass through a center aperture of the tube shape of the flexible connection members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein the flexible connection members have a general straight wire shape and extend along substantially the entire length of the deflection section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscope as in claim 1 further comprising stiffening members extending through holes of the rings, the stiffening members having an elongate shape and being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein the rings are longitudinally movable along the stiffening members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscope as in claim 1 wherein the superelastic alloy allows a strain of the connection members of at least about 4% without permanent deformation of the connection members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflectable section with rigid rings, wherein the improvement comprises: flexible connection members connecting the rings to each other, the flexible connection members being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein the flexible connection members have a naturally straight column shape and each connection member is fixedly connected between two of the rings with one end of the column shape connected to one of the two rings and a spaced opposite end of the column shape connected to another of the two rings, and wherein a middle of the column shape is adapted to be repeatedly resiliently bent without permanent deformation because of superelastic properties of the superelastic alloy and, provide a biasing force to return the connection member back to its naturally straight column shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflectable section with rigid rings, wherein the improvement comprises: flexible connection members connecting the rings to each other, the flexible connection members being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein the flexible connection members have a naturally straight column shape and each connection member is fixedly connected between two of the rings with one end of the column shape connected to one of the two rings and a spaced opposite end of the column shape connected to another of the two rings, and wherein a middle of the column shape is adapted to be repeatedly resiliently bent without permanent deformation because of superelastic properties of the superelastic alloy and, provide a biasing force to return the connection member back to its naturally straight column shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope as in claim 14 wherein the flexible connection members have a general solid pin shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope as in claim 14 wherein pairs of rings have at least two connection members between each pair of rings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endoscope as in claim 14 wherein a majority of the rings have at least four connection members connected thereto with two on each of two opposite sides of the rings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscope as in claim 17 wherein the majority of the rings each have eight holes therethrough with the at least four connection members in four of the holes and the drive cables in the other four holes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope as in claim 14 wherein each ring has only four flexible connection members connected to it, two of the flexible connection members being located on each of two opposite sides of each ring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope as in claim 14 wherein the flexible connection members have a general straight tube shape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
An endoscope as in claim 20 wherein the rings have holes with enlarged counter-bore sections, and the flexible connection members are located in the enlarged counter-bore sections of the holes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscope as in claim 14 further comprising stiffening members extending through holes of the rings, the stiffening members having an elongate shape and being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein the rings are longitudinally movable along the stiffening members.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscope as in claim 14 wherein the superelastic alloy allows a strain of the connection members during bending of over 1% without permanent deformation of the connection members.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflection section with rigid rings, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of flexible connection members connecting the rings to each other, the flexible connection members being comprised of a superelaslic shape memory alloy, wherein at least two of the connection members are connected to a majority of the rings.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflection section with rigid rings, wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of flexible connection members connecting the rings to each other, the flexible connection members being comprised of a superelaslic shape memory alloy, wherein at least two of the connection members are connected to a majority of the rings.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscope as in claim 24 further comprising stiffening members extending through holes of the rings, the stiffening members having an elongate shape and being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein the rings are longitudinally movable along the stiffening members.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
86 words
An endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflectable section operably connected to the deflection control by drive cables, the deflection section comprising: rigid rings movably connected to each other in series, the rings having holes therein; and stiffening members extending through the holes of all of the rings, the stiffening members having an elongate shape and being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein a plurality of the rings are longitudinally movable along the stiffening members.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
86 words
An endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control, the shaft having a deflectable section operably connected to the deflection control by drive cables, the deflection section comprising: rigid rings movably connected to each other in series, the rings having holes therein; and stiffening members extending through the holes of all of the rings, the stiffening members having an elongate shape and being comprised of a superelastic alloy, wherein a plurality of the rings are longitudinally movable along the stiffening members.
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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) | 2002-02-22 | 2002-08-24 | 2003-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-22 | 2006-08-24 | 2007-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-22 | 2010-08-24 | 2011-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |