Alternating propulsion type endoscope and continuous drive type endoscope
First Claim
1. A method for bending an endoscope shaft of an endoscope which comprises said endoscope shaft having a distal end to which is mounted a deflecting which, in turn, has a distal end to which is mounted an endoscope head, wherein the endoscope shaft comprises at least one guiding means which upon propulsion of the endoscope shaft into a canal-shaped cavity to be examined guides the endoscope shaft, wherein the guiding means acting as stiffness adjusting means varies its stiffness depending on the cavity to be examined, and wherein bending the endoscope shaft in a desired direction is achieved by moving with respect to the endoscope shaft the respective guiding means acting as stiffness adjusting means.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope preferably comprising an alternating propulsion system in which an endoscope shaft is advanced by means of an auxiliary means (e.g. a hose preferably including fluid pads or a guiding wire/net) in a canal-shaped cavity by the fact that the endoscope shaft and the auxiliary means are alternately resting with respect to a cavity to be inspected and, at the same time, the element not at rest can be advanced while being guided along the resting element into the cavity, or are simultaneously moved forward, wherein in the latter case the basic stiffness of the auxiliary means is higher than that of the shaft.
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Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A method for bending an endoscope shaft of an endoscope which comprises said endoscope shaft having a distal end to which is mounted a deflecting which, in turn, has a distal end to which is mounted an endoscope head, wherein the endoscope shaft comprises at least one guiding means which upon propulsion of the endoscope shaft into a canal-shaped cavity to be examined guides the endoscope shaft, wherein the guiding means acting as stiffness adjusting means varies its stiffness depending on the cavity to be examined, and wherein bending the endoscope shaft in a desired direction is achieved by moving with respect to the endoscope shaft the respective guiding means acting as stiffness adjusting means.
- 4. A method for bending an endoscope shaft of an endoscope which comprises said endoscope shaft having a distal end to which is mounted a deflecting which, in turn, has a distal end to which is mounted an endoscope had, wherein the endoscope shaft comprises at least one guiding means which upon propulsion of the endoscope shaft into a canal-shaped cavity to be examined guides the endoscope shaft, wherein the guiding means acting as stiffness adjusting means varies its stiffness depending on the cavity to be examined, and wherein bending the endoscope shaft in a desired direction is achieved by elongation or compression of the respective guiding means acting as stiffness adjusting means which is fixedly connected to the endoscope shaft.
Specification