US5897488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bending insertion instrument to be inserted into a body cavity through an endoscope
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1996-02-15
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Granted: 1999-04-27
•
Expires: 2016-02-15
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope having a distal end, a port at the distal end, and a channel extending through the endoscope to the distal end and communicating with the port; and a bending insertion instrument extensible through the channel and the port. The bending insertion instrument includes angle wires provided at a distal end portion of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, the angle wires having a lower electrical resistance than an electrical resistance of the shape memory alloy wires. The bending insertion instrument is inserted through the channel of the endoscope such that a portion of the bending insertion instrument, which includes the shape memory alloy wires is located in the channel of the endoscope, and a bending portion of the bending insertion instrument which includes the angle wire is located at the distal end portion of the bending insertion instrument and is projected through the port of the endoscope.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhiro Ueda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:31
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J18/00; B25J18/06; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having a distal end, a port at the distal end, and a channel extending through said endoscope to the distal end and communicating with the port; and a bending insertion instrument extensible through the channel and through the port, the bending insertion instrument comprising: angle wires provided in a distal end side of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, and wherein the bending insertion instrument is inserted through the channel of the endoscope such that a portion of the bending insertion instruments, which is located on the distal end side of the bending insertion instrument and which includes the angle wires therein, is projected through the port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having a distal end, a port at the distal end, and a channel extending through said endoscope to the distal end and communicating with the port; and a bending insertion instrument extensible through the channel and through the port, the bending insertion instrument comprising: angle wires provided in a distal end side of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, and wherein the bending insertion instrument is inserted through the channel of the endoscope such that a portion of the bending insertion instruments, which is located on the distal end side of the bending insertion instrument and which includes the angle wires therein, is projected through the port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope apparatus further comprises: a control unit for controlling exposure of the bending insertion instrument outside of said endoscope through the channel and the port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control unit includes, at a proximal portion of the bending insertion instrument inserted into the channel of the endoscope, a stopper for controlling a maximum insertion length of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bending insertion instrument has a channel for allowing an observing device to be inserted therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bending insertion instrument has a channel for allowing an operating device to be inserted therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bending insertion instrument has a channel serving as a passage for use in supplying and sucking fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bending insertion instrument comprises a multi-lumen tube having a plurality of lumens, the angle wires and the shape memory alloy wires are inserted through the lumens, and connection portions of the angle wires and shape memory alloy wires are slidable within the lumens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shape memory alloy wires do not extend into a portion of said distal end side of the bending insertion instrument which projects through the port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having a distal end, a port at the distal end, and a channel extending through said endoscope to the distal end and communicating with the port; and a bending insertion instrument extensible through the channel and through the port, the bending insertion instrument comprising: angle wires provided in a distal end side of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, and wherein the bending insertion instrument is inserted through the channel of the endoscope such that (i) a portion of the bending insertion instrument, which includes the shape memory alloy wires, is located in the channel of the endoscope, and (ii) a portion of the bending insertion instrument, which includes the angle wires therein, is located on the distal end side of the bending insertion instrument and is projected through the port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having a distal end, a port at the distal end, and a channel extending through said endoscope to the distal end and communicating with the port; and a bending insertion instrument extensible through the channel and through the port, the bending insertion instrument comprising: angle wires provided in a distal end side of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, and wherein the bending insertion instrument is inserted through the channel of the endoscope such that (i) a portion of the bending insertion instrument, which includes the shape memory alloy wires, is located in the channel of the endoscope, and (ii) a portion of the bending insertion instrument, which includes the angle wires therein, is located on the distal end side of the bending insertion instrument and is projected through the port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the endoscope apparatus further comprises: a control unit for controlling exposure of the bending insertion instrument outside of said endoscope through the channel and the port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control unit includes, at a proximal end portion of the bending insertion instrument inserted into the channel of the endoscope, a stopper for controlling a maximum insertion length of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said shape memory alloy wires are directly connected to proximal ends of respective angle wires.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said shape memory alloy wires do not extend into a portion of said distal end side of the bending insertion instrument which projects through the port.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having a channel communicating with an outside of the endoscope; and a bending insertion instrument capable of being exposed to an outside of the endoscope through the channel of the endoscope, the bending insertion instrument including: angle wires provided at a distal end portion of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires electrically connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, and wherein an electrical resistance of the angle wires is lower than an electrical resistance of the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope having a channel communicating with an outside of the endoscope; and a bending insertion instrument capable of being exposed to an outside of the endoscope through the channel of the endoscope, the bending insertion instrument including: angle wires provided at a distal end portion of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires electrically connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, and wherein an electrical resistance of the angle wires is lower than an electrical resistance of the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the angle wires have distal end portions which are bent back, and proximal end portions which are electrically connected to the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the distal end portion of the bending insertion instrument at which the angle wires are arranged is more flexible than a proximal end portion of the bending insertion instrument so as to form a bending portion at said distal end portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: the bending insertion instrument comprises a covering tube provided at the proximal end portion of the bending insertion instrument; and a portion of the bending insertion instrument at which the covering tube is not provided is formed as the bending portion of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the shape memory alloy wires are provided at a backward side of the bending portion of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 14, wherein proximal end portions of the shape memory alloy wires are electrically connected to lead wires having a lower electrical resistance than that of the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the proximal end portions of the shape memory alloy wires are connected to the lead wires by caulking members, and the caulking members are fixed within the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the bending insertion instrument comprises a multi-lumen tube having a plurality of lumens, the shape memory alloy wires and the lead wires are inserted through the lumens, and caulking members are provided to connect the angle wires and the shape memory alloy wires, the caulking members having diameters which are greater than inside diameters of the lumens.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shape memory alloy wires are directly connected to proximal ends of respective angle wires.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
117 words
A bending operation apparatus for operating a bending insertion instrument which has an insertion section which is insertable into one of a digestive organ of a human body, a body cavity, an industrial tube, and a work space, and a bending portion arranged at a distal end portion of the insertion section and being capable of bending, the bending operation apparatus further comprising: angle wires provided in the bending portion at the distal end portion of the insertion section of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires electrically connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, the angle wires having a lower electrical resistance than an electrical resistance of the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
117 words
A bending operation apparatus for operating a bending insertion instrument which has an insertion section which is insertable into one of a digestive organ of a human body, a body cavity, an industrial tube, and a work space, and a bending portion arranged at a distal end portion of the insertion section and being capable of bending, the bending operation apparatus further comprising: angle wires provided in the bending portion at the distal end portion of the insertion section of the bending insertion instrument, and shape memory alloy wires electrically connected to proximal end portions of the angle wires, the angle wires having a lower electrical resistance than an electrical resistance of the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the angle wires have distal end portions which are bent back, and proximal end portions which are electrically connected to the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the bending portion at the distal end portion of the insertion section of the bending insertion instrument, at which the angle wires are arranged, is more flexible than a proximal end portion of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 25, wherein: the bending insertion instrument comprises a covering tube provided at the proximal end portion of the bending insertion instrument; and a portion of the bending insertion instrument at which the covering tube is not provided is the bending portion of the insertion section of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising: a shape memory alloy wire which extends through said insertion section and which further extends into the bending portion of the distal end portion of the insertion section of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the shape memory alloy wires are provided at a backward side of the bending portion of the insertion section of the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the bending insertion instrument comprises a covering tube at a portion at which the shape memory alloy wires are provided.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein proximal end portions of the shape memory alloy wires are electrically connected to lead wires having a lower electrical resistance than that of the shape memory alloy wires.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the angle wires have distal end portions which are fixed in the bending insertion instrument.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
88 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein: the bending insertion instrument has a plurality of lumens each of which is provided with one of the angle wires, one of the shape memory alloy wires, and one of the lead wires; and the shape memory alloy wires and the lead wires are connected to each other at a connecting point thereof by means of a caulking member having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the lumens, said caulking member is fixed to the lumens.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a distal end portion of one of said shape memory alloy wires is located in the bending portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said shape memory alloy wires are directly connected to proximal ends of respective angle wires.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
A bending operation apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said shape memory alloy wires do not extend into said bending portion at the distal end portion of the insertion section of the bending insertion instrument.
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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) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-10-26 | 2003-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-26 | 2006-10-26 | 2007-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-26 | 2010-10-26 | 2011-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |