MEDICAL APPARATUS

• US 20080171910A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: KANAZAWA, Noriaki
• Application Number:
  US12/039,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20080171910A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00149 using articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

A medical apparatus includes a medical device, a first support mechanism, a second support mechanism, and a resistance force generation mechanism. The first support mechanism has the medical device arranged therein, and a turning portion that is turned around a predetermined rotation axis. The second support mechanism has the first support mechanism arranged therein and includes a support portion that supports the turning portion to allow the support portion to turn around the rotation axis of the first support mechanism. The resistance force generation mechanism is provided between the turning portion of the first support mechanism and the support portion of the second support mechanism and produces a predetermined resistance force with respect to a relative turning motion of the turning portion and the support portion.

Claims

1. A medical apparatus comprising:

a medical device;

a first support mechanism which has the medical device arranged therein and includes a turning portion that is turned around a predetermined rotation axis;

a second support mechanism which has the first support mechanism arranged therein and includes a support portion that supports the turning portion to allow the support portion to turn around the rotation axis of the first support mechanism; and

a resistance force generation mechanism which is provided between the turning portion of the first support mechanism and the support portion of the second support mechanism and produces a predetermined resistance force with respect to a relative turning motion of the turning portion and the support portion.

2. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a first flexible body which is arranged in the medical device and extended from the medical device in a predetermined direction; and

a second flexible body which is arranged in the medical device and extended from the medical device in a direction different from that of the first flexible body,

wherein the second flexible body has a lower torque transmission rate than that of the first flexible body.

3. The medical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second flexible body is more flexible than the first flexible body.

4. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the resistance force generation mechanism includes:

a contact portion which is provided to the turning portion and comes into contact with the support portion; and

an urging portion that urges the contact portion with respect to the support portion with a predetermined force amount.

5. The medical apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the support portion includes a plurality of engagement portions that is able to engage with the contact portion in a turning direction of the turning portion.

6. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the resistance force generation mechanism includes:

a contact portion that is provided to the support portion and comes into contact with the turning portion; and

an urging portion which urges the contact portion with respect to the turning portion with a predetermined force amount.

7. The medical apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the turning portion includes a plurality of engagement portions which is able to engage with the contact portion in a turning direction of the turning portion.

8. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the support portion is formed to have a cylindrical shape,

the turning portion includes a flange portion which faces a cylindrical facet of the support portion, and

the resistance force generation mechanism is provided between the facet of the support portion and the flange portion.

9. A medical apparatus comprising:

an inner ring in which a medical device is arranged on an inner side thereof;

an outer ring in which the inner ring is arranged on an inner side thereof to allow the inner ring to turn or rotate; and

a resistance force generation mechanism which restricts a turning or rotating motion of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring when this motion has a predetermined turning or rotating force or a smaller force, and allows the turning or rotating motion while restricting the same when this motion has the predetermined turning or rotating force or a larger force.

10. The medical apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the medical device is integral with the inner ring.