ENDOSCOPE

• US 3,610,231 A
• Filed: 07/17/1968
• Issued: 10/05/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nagashige Takahashi, Teruo Ouchi
• Original Assignee: Nagashige Takahashi, Teruo Ouchi
• Inventors: Takahashi, Nagashige, Ouchi, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunne, G. F.
• Application Number:
  US04/745,472
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4,5,6,7,9,2 95/11,11.5 138/120
• US Class Current: 600/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes

Abstract

An endoscope especially adapted to inspect the bronchi of a human body or the like and having a forward end portion and a control housing connected to the forward end portion through an elongated flexible tube. The forward end portion can be flexed by the control from the control housing so that it can be smoothly inserted into the bronchi. The endoscope is provided with an observation optical system, an illuminating optical system and a control mechanism for flexing the forward end portion together with a pharmaceutical liquid injecting tube, a forceps conducting tube and a suction tube for sucking unwanted matter in the bronchi therefrom all in combination in compact form in the forward end portion without increasing the outer diameter of the forward end portion. To ensure positive and exact flexing of the forward end portion, a stay means made of a resilient, relatively stiff wire is provided longitudinally adjacent to the inner wall of the flexible tube section of the forward end portion. The both ends of the stay means are fixedly secured to the inner wall of the flexible tube section at its forward and rearward ends so that the stay means serves as a backbone to prevent the flexible tube section from being unduly contracted as a whole while the flexibility of the flexible tube section is maintained. To effect the bending of the flexible tube section, string means extend from the control mechanism through the elongated tube, the forward ends of the string means are secured to the inner wall of the flexible tube section so that the flexible tube section can be flexed by pulling the string means by the operation of the control mechanism.

Claims

1. An improved control mechanism for use in an endoscope which includes a control housing, an elongated flexible tube extending from said housing, a flexible tubular probe provided at the front end of said tube an objective lens system in said probe, ocular means in said housing, means for transmitting an image from said objective lens system through said tube to said ocular means, a combined forceps conducting and suction tube extending from said housing through said tube to said probe, a medication injecting tube extending from the housing through said tube to the probe, and illuminating means provided at the probe, said improved control mechanism comprising a single resiliently bendable but noncontractable stay extending longitudinally along only one side of said tubular probe, said stay having a front end secured to the front end of the probe and a rear end secured to said tube at the rear end of the probe so that the stay permits lateral bending of the probe in all radial planes but prevents longitudinal contraction thereof as a whole, and control means provided in said housing and including at least two strings passing through said flexible tube into said probe, the front ends of said strings being secured to the front end of the probe at points which are spaced from the front end of said stay in such manner that the probe may be bent laterally in at least two different radial planes by pulling of the respective strings. CM,2Evice as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that said stay comprises a length of resiliently flexible wire.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means also includes a third string passing through said flexible tube into said probe and having its front end secured t the front end of the probe at a point spaced from the front ends of the first-mentioned strings and of said stay.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with at least two flexible but noncontractable pipes secured in said housing and passing through said flexible tube, said strings passing slidably through the respective pipes, the front end of one of the pipes being secured at the rear end of said probe and the front end of the other pipe being secured intermediate the ends of the probe, whereby the probe may be laterally bent to different radii selectively along its whole length or along the length of its front end portion by selective actuation of said strings.