Insertion tube storage carousel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for storing an insertion tube of a borescope and endoscope device, said apparatus comprising:
- a storage carousel including a rotatable cavity bounded by at least one inner surface that includes an inner surface of a base and an inner surface of a peripheral barrier; and
where said rotatable cavity is configured to rotate around an axis of rotation and configured to accommodate storage of an insertion tube having a proximal end and distal end; and
where said storage is performed without a physical attachment between said insertion tube and said storage carousel and where said storage carousel is configured to allow said proximal end to be located outside of said cavity while a remaining portion of said insertion tube is stored inside of said cavity; and
including a frame providing mechanical support to a pivot shaft and including an insertion port and configured to guide a transfer of said insertion tube either towards or away from said rotatable cavity; and
where said at least one inner surface is configured to make physical contact and to generate a frictional force between said insertion tube and said at least one inner surface so that said transfer of said insertion tube towards or away from said rotatable cavity causes said rotatable cavity to rotate.
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Abstract
An apparatus for storing at least one elongated and flexible object, such as an insertion tube that functions as a portion of an endoscope or a borescope device. The apparatus includes a rotating storage carousel having a base and a peripheral barrier. An elongated and flexible object, such as an insertion tube, is stored along the inner side of the peripheral barrier and the base. The storage cavity of the carousel rotates while accepting the transfer of the elongated and flexible object for storage.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for storing an insertion tube of a borescope and endoscope device, said apparatus comprising:
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a storage carousel including a rotatable cavity bounded by at least one inner surface that includes an inner surface of a base and an inner surface of a peripheral barrier; and
where said rotatable cavity is configured to rotate around an axis of rotation and configured to accommodate storage of an insertion tube having a proximal end and distal end; and
where said storage is performed without a physical attachment between said insertion tube and said storage carousel and where said storage carousel is configured to allow said proximal end to be located outside of said cavity while a remaining portion of said insertion tube is stored inside of said cavity; and
includinga frame providing mechanical support to a pivot shaft and including an insertion port and configured to guide a transfer of said insertion tube either towards or away from said rotatable cavity; and
where said at least one inner surface is configured to make physical contact and to generate a frictional force between said insertion tube and said at least one inner surface so that said transfer of said insertion tube towards or away from said rotatable cavity causes said rotatable cavity to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19, 20, 21)
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10. An apparatus for storing an insertion tube of a borescope and an endoscope, said apparatus comprising:
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a storage carousel including a base, a peripheral barrier and a rotatable cavity;
said rotatable cavity is bounded by at least one inner surface that includes at least one of an inner surface of a base and an inner surface of a peripheral barrier that are configured to rotate around an axis of rotation and that are configured to accommodate the storage of an insertion tube, said at least one inner surface being configured to make physical contact with said insertion tube having both a proximal end and a distal end; and
where said rotatable cavity is of a conical shape and where said rotatable cavity of said conical shape has a larger diameter located more proximate to said base and a smaller diameter located less proximate to said base. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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22. An apparatus for storing an insertion tube of a borescope or endoscope, said apparatus comprising:
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a storage carousel having rotatable cavity and an axis of rotation;
said rotatable cavity is bounded by at least one inner surface that includes an inner surface of a base and an inner surface of a peripheral barrier and where said rotatable cavity is configured to rotate around said axis of rotation and is configured to accommodate the storage of an insertion tube; and
where said base is an angled base and said angled base is configured to form an acute angle at an intersection of said inner surface of said base and said inner surface of said peripheral barrier, and where said acute angle is configured to receive and make physical contact with said insertion tube and to enhance frictional contact between said at least one inner surface and said insertion tube. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A video borescope system for remote visual applications comprising:
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a handset that is configured for inputting commands from a user and a display that is configured for communicating information to said user;
an insertion tube including a distal end and a proximal end that is attachable to said handset, said insertion tube is configured to illuminate and to capture an image from an area surrounding said distal end;
a storage carousel including a rotatable cavity adjacent to an insertion port, said rotatable cavity being enclosed by a peripheral barrier and a base that collectively have at least one inner surface, said at least one inner surface is configured to cause frictional contact with said insertion tube when said insertion tube is transferred to or from said rotatable cavity via said insertion port, said frictional contact generating a frictional force upon said at least one inner surface so that said rotatable cavity rotates around an axis in a direction in which said insertion tube is being transferred.
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31. An apparatus for storing an elongated flexible object, said apparatus including:
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a storage carousel having a base, a peripheral barrier, and an axis of rotation, said base substantially defining at least one inner surface that intersects said axis of rotation, said peripheral barrier having a conical shaped inner surface that surrounds said axis of rotation;
a rotatable cavity that is bounded by said inner surface of said base and said inner surface of said peripheral barrier; and
where said storage carousel is configured to rotate around said axis of rotation and said rotatable cavity is configured to accommodate the storage of an elongated flexible object disposed along at least one of said inner surface of said peripheral barrier and said inner surface of said base, said elongated flexible object having both a proximal end and a distal end;
where said storage carousel includes a conical shaped peripheral barrier, said conical shaped peripheral barrier including an inner surface having a larger inner diameter located proximate to said base and a smaller inner/diameter located farther away from said base. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of storing an insertion tube of an endoscope inside a storage device comprising:
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providing a rotatable cavity that is rotatable around an axis of rotation and that is bounded by at least one inner surface;
transferring a distal end of an insertion tube into said cavity through an insertion port;
causing said cavity to rotate via a friction force resulting from physical contact between a portion of said insertion tube and said at least one an inner surface;
transferring said insertion tube further into said cavity to cause further rotation of said cavity and to cause storage of a substantial portion of said insertion tube within said cavity so that a proximal end of said insertion tube is located proximal to said insertion port. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification