INSERTION PORTION OF AN ENDOSCOPE
First Claim
1. An insertion portion of an endoscope comprising:
- a bendable flexible tubular framework composed of a plurality of short-cylindrical joint rings which are coupled in series via rotatable connecting shafts; and
a plurality of flexible internal elements including at least one treatment tool insertion channel and at least one optical fiber bundle for lighting which are inserted into said flexible tubular framework;
wherein each of said plurality of short-cylindrical joint rings is coupled at one end thereof to one adjacent joint ring of said plurality of joint rings via two connecting shafts of said connecting shafts at 180-degree symmetrical positions, respectively, and is coupled at the other end thereof to another adjacent joint ring of said plurality of joint rings via another two connecting shafts of said connecting shafts at 180-degree symmetrical positions, respectively, with a 90-degree phase shift with respect to said one adjacent joint ring,wherein inner end surfaces of one set of said connecting shafts which are positioned at a specific circumferential position and are aligned in an axial direction of said bendable flexible tubular framework are arranged to face said treatment tool insertion channel, andwherein inner end surfaces of another set of said connecting shafts which are positioned at another specific circumferential position and are aligned in an axial direction of said bendable flexible tubular framework are arranged to one of face and substantially face said optical fiber bundle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An insertion portion of an endoscope includes a flexible tubular framework composed of short-cylindrical joint rings coupled in series via rotatable connecting shafts; and flexible internal elements including a treatment tool insertion channel and a optical fiber bundle(s). Each short-cylindrical joint ring is coupled at one end to one adjacent joint ring via two connecting shafts at 180-degree symmetrical positions and is coupled at the other end to another adjacent joint ring via another two connecting shafts at 180-degree symmetrical positions with a 90-degree phase shift with respect to the one adjacent joint ring. Inner end surfaces of one set of connecting shafts at a specific circumferential position are arranged to face the treatment tool insertion channel, and inner end surfaces of another set of the connecting shafts at another specific circumferential direction are arranged to face or substantially face the optical fiber bundle.
62 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An insertion portion of an endoscope comprising:
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a bendable flexible tubular framework composed of a plurality of short-cylindrical joint rings which are coupled in series via rotatable connecting shafts; and a plurality of flexible internal elements including at least one treatment tool insertion channel and at least one optical fiber bundle for lighting which are inserted into said flexible tubular framework; wherein each of said plurality of short-cylindrical joint rings is coupled at one end thereof to one adjacent joint ring of said plurality of joint rings via two connecting shafts of said connecting shafts at 180-degree symmetrical positions, respectively, and is coupled at the other end thereof to another adjacent joint ring of said plurality of joint rings via another two connecting shafts of said connecting shafts at 180-degree symmetrical positions, respectively, with a 90-degree phase shift with respect to said one adjacent joint ring, wherein inner end surfaces of one set of said connecting shafts which are positioned at a specific circumferential position and are aligned in an axial direction of said bendable flexible tubular framework are arranged to face said treatment tool insertion channel, and wherein inner end surfaces of another set of said connecting shafts which are positioned at another specific circumferential position and are aligned in an axial direction of said bendable flexible tubular framework are arranged to one of face and substantially face said optical fiber bundle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification