Tubed manifold of a multiple viewing elements endoscope

• US 10,271,713 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ofir, Yaniv
• Primary Examiner(s): Henderson, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US14/988,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 600104, 600106, 600107, 600121-125, 600127, 600129, 600109-113, 600153, 600157, 600158, 600160-182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/24 Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

The specification describes a manifold for use in a tip section of a multi-viewing elements endoscope. The manifold has: a first section attached to an elongated second section, where the proximal section has a proximal socket and the distal section has a distal socket; a groove having a first portion along a first axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the manifold, and a second portion along a second axis tilted at an angle to the first axis; and a working channel tube wherein a distal segment of the tube extends along the first axis to lie within the first portion of the groove, and where a proximal segment of the tube extends along the second axis to lie within the second portion of the groove.

Claims

1. A multi-viewing elements endoscope comprising:

a manifold positioned in a tip section of the endoscope, the manifold comprising;

a first section having a first width and a first length, and comprising a proximal socket;

a second section extending from said first section proximate said proximal socket, and having a second width and a second length, and comprising a distal socket, wherein the second width is less than the first width and the second length is greater than the first length; and

a groove extending from an entry port of the proximal socket to an entry port of the distal socket, wherein the groove is partially open and extends inward towards a central longitudinal axis of the manifold from an outer circumferential surface of the manifold;

a tube having a proximal end and a distal end and positioned in said groove, wherein said distal end is held within the distal socket and said proximal end extends out of the proximal socket; and

an electronic circuit board assembly positioned adjacent said manifold in the tip section, wherein the electronic circuit board assembly comprises a front viewing element and a first side viewing element, and wherein each of the front viewing element and the first side viewing element comprises at least one of a charge coupled device and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor.

2. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a first tube segment and a second tube segment that meet each other at a predefined angle.

3. The endoscope of claim 2, wherein the first and the second tube segments are laser-welded, sewn, or glued together at the predefined angle.

4. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the tube has a circular cross-section.

5. The endoscope of claim 4, wherein a diameter of the tube ranges from 1 millimeter to 10.5 millimeters.

6. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the tube is made from a medical grade material, stainless steel, brass, and/or Teflon.

7. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the tube is autoclavable and reusable, or disposable.

8. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the tube is connected to a channel that runs from a handle through a shaft and a bending section of the endoscope, and wherein said channel is defined by a third tube.

9. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the tube is glued, laser-welded, or sewn to the proximal socket, and wherein the distal end of the tube is glued, laser-welded, or sewn to the distal socket.

10. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the proximal socket is partially open at an external surface of said manifold.

11. The endoscope of claim 10, wherein the partial opening of the groove is connected to the partial opening of the proximal socket.