US6605104B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grasping forceps for endoscope
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1997-03-31
•
Granted: 2003-08-12
•
Expires: 2017-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A grasping forceps for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises a flexible insertion section, an operating wire passing through said insertion section and adapted to be advanced and retreated in accordance with an operation of an operating section connected to a hand side end of the operating wire, and an elastic grasping section arranged in the leading end portion of said operating wire and composed of at least four elastic grasping members different in length having a habit of so flexing that leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outwards from a center axis of said insertion section, wherein the leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of the plurality of elastic grasping members different in length are spread in a spiral arrangement at the time of spreading of the elastic grasping section. On one hand, at least the leading end grasping portion to be disposed nearest to the insertion section leading end surface and the elastic grasping member having the leading end grasping portion to be disposed remotest from the insertion section leading end surface come in an inclined relationship at the time of accommodating of the elastic grasping section.
Inventors
- 👤 Yukio Sato
- 👤 Tsutomu Okada
- 👤 Yayoi Ishibashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/30; A61B2017/303
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope comprising: a flexible insertion section; an operating wire passing through said insertion section and adapted to be advanced and retreated in accordance with an operation of an operating section connected to a hand side end of the operating wire; and an elastic grasping section arranged in the leading end portion of said operating wire and composed of at least four elastic grasping members different in length having a habit of flexing such that leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outward from a center axis of said insertion section; wherein said leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said at least four elastic grasping members different in length are spread in a helical arrangement at the time of spreading of said elastic grasping section so that said leading end grasping portions are arranged in a helical manner on an outer surface of an imaginary column parallel to a direction of the axis of the insertion section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope comprising: a flexible insertion section; an operating wire passing through said insertion section and adapted to be advanced and retreated in accordance with an operation of an operating section connected to a hand side end of the operating wire; and an elastic grasping section arranged in the leading end portion of said operating wire and composed of at least four elastic grasping members different in length having a habit of flexing such that leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outward from a center axis of said insertion section; wherein said leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said at least four elastic grasping members different in length are spread in a helical arrangement at the time of spreading of said elastic grasping section so that said leading end grasping portions are arranged in a helical manner on an outer surface of an imaginary column parallel to a direction of the axis of the insertion section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
174 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope comprising: a flexible insertion section; an operating wire passing through said insertion section and adapted to be advanced and retreated in accordance with an operation of an operating section connected to a hand side end of the operating wire; and an elastic grasping section arranged in the leading end portion of said operating wire and composed of a plurality of elastic grasping members different in length having a habit of flexing such that leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outwards from a center axis of said insertion section; wherein at least a nearest leading end grasping portion disposed nearest to the insertion section and a farthest leading end grasping portion disposed farthest from the insertion section are respectively attached to first and second elastic grasping members at different angles such that said nearest leading end grasping portion and said furthest leading end grasping portion are inclined at different angles at the time of accommodating of said elastic grasping section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
174 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope comprising: a flexible insertion section; an operating wire passing through said insertion section and adapted to be advanced and retreated in accordance with an operation of an operating section connected to a hand side end of the operating wire; and an elastic grasping section arranged in the leading end portion of said operating wire and composed of a plurality of elastic grasping members different in length having a habit of flexing such that leading end grasping portions formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outwards from a center axis of said insertion section; wherein at least a nearest leading end grasping portion disposed nearest to the insertion section and a farthest leading end grasping portion disposed farthest from the insertion section are respectively attached to first and second elastic grasping members at different angles such that said nearest leading end grasping portion and said furthest leading end grasping portion are inclined at different angles at the time of accommodating of said elastic grasping section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein a stainless steel wire or a spring stainless steel wire is used for said elastic grasping member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein a diameter of said elastic grasping section in the spread state is at least 20 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said farthest leading end grasping portion disposed farthest to said insertion section is bent at an inclination angle substantially different from ninety degrees with respect to the elastic grasping member to which said farthest leading end grasping portion is attached, so that said nearest leading end grasping portion disposed nearest to said insertion section, and said farthest leading end grasping portion disposed farthest from said insertion section are inclined at different angles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the inclination angle between said nearest leading end grasping portion, disposed nearest to said insertion section, and said first elastic grasping member is an obtuse angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the inclination angle between said nearest leading end grasping portion, disposed nearest to said insertion section, and said first elastic grasping member is an acute angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 2 , wherein a bent portion is formed in said second elastic grasping member having said farthest leading end grasping portion disposed farthest from said insertion section, so that said nearest leading end grasping portion disposed nearest to said insertion section and said elastic grasping member having said farthest leading end grasping portion disposed farthest from said insertion section are inclined at different angles when said elastic grasping members are spread.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 8 , wherein leading end side portions of said elastic grasping members are spread outwards from the center axis of the insertion section by the bent portion formed nearly in a midway portion of said second elastic grasping member having said farthest leading end portion attached.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein at least one of said elastic grasping members different in length is extended to said operating section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said leading end grasping portions are circular pawl portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said leading end grasping portions are bent pawl portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
168 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope including an insertion section comprising: at least a leading end member and a flexible sheath, an operating wire adapted to pass through said insertion section, a plurality of elastic grasping members having a habit of flexing so that leading end grasping portions arranged at a leading end portion of said operating wire and formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outward from a center axis of said insertion section, and elastic grasping section drop-out prevention means arranged in an inner peripheral surface of said end member for preventing said plurality of elastic grasping members from dropping out, wherein a cross section of the combination of the elastic grasping section drop-out prevention means and the leading end member, taken in a direction perpendicular to a center axis of the inner peripheral surface of the leading end member, includes a through-hole having a center spaced apart from the center axis of the inner peripheral surface of the leading end member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
168 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope including an insertion section comprising: at least a leading end member and a flexible sheath, an operating wire adapted to pass through said insertion section, a plurality of elastic grasping members having a habit of flexing so that leading end grasping portions arranged at a leading end portion of said operating wire and formed at the leading ends of said elastic grasping members spread outward from a center axis of said insertion section, and elastic grasping section drop-out prevention means arranged in an inner peripheral surface of said end member for preventing said plurality of elastic grasping members from dropping out, wherein a cross section of the combination of the elastic grasping section drop-out prevention means and the leading end member, taken in a direction perpendicular to a center axis of the inner peripheral surface of the leading end member, includes a through-hole having a center spaced apart from the center axis of the inner peripheral surface of the leading end member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the through-hole is part of a tubular hole portion defined in said elastic grasping section drop-out prevention means, and wherein a center axis of the tubular hole portion and a center axis of the inner peripheral surface of the leading end member are spaced apart.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The grasping forceps according to claim 14 , wherein the tubular hole defined in said elastic grasping section drop-out prevention means is cylindrically shaped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
A grasping forceps for an endoscope as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the inner peripheral surface of said leading end member and an inner peripheral surface of said drop-out prevention means include portions which are cylindrically shaped having substantially parallel and spaced apart axes, and wherein the diameter of the cylindrically shaped portion of the inner peripheral surface of said drop-out prevention means is equal to or larger than the diameter of a coupling member coupling the plurality of grasping members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The grasping forceps according to claim 13 , wherein the center of the through-hole is defined such that any line including the center of the through-hole lying in the plane of the cross section equally divides the area of the through-hole.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The grasping forceps according to claim 13 , wherein a shape of the through-hole is symmetrical with respect to the center of the through-hole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The grasping forceps according to claim 13 , wherein the through-hole is circular.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The grasping forceps according to claim 13 , wherein the through-hole is completely defined by said drop-out prevention means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1443086A
Cited
US2114695A
Cited
US4174715A
Cited
US4509517A
Cited
WO1985004320A1
Cited
US4655219A
Cited
US4592347A
Cited
EP0205228A1
Cited
DE3709706A1
Cited
DE3909999A1
Cited
US5053041A
Cited
US5098440A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-11 | 2007-02-10 | 2007-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-11 | 2011-02-10 | 2011-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-11 | 2015-02-10 | 2015-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |