Endoscope

• US 3,924,608 A
• Filed: 05/22/1974
• Issued: 12/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kazuhiko Mitsui
• Original Assignee: Kazuhiko Mitsui
• Inventors: Mitsui, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/472,343
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 128/6-8,3,2B,11,303.1 32/69 356/241
• US Class Current: 600/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments

Abstract

A suction port is opened at the outer surface of a distal end section of an endoscope and a valve member is located within the suction port. The valve member is adapted to be moved from a first position in which the suction port is fully opened, to a second position in which the suction port is restricted in its opening area. In the first position of the valve member, a body liquid or liquid substance present within the body organ of a patient is suctioned through the suction port. In the second position of the valve member, the suction port is opened substantially along a view window, whereby the liquid substance deposited onto a view window can be removed.

Claims

1. An endoscope to be inserted in the human body cavity including a distal end section having an outer surface provided with a view window, a control unit provided at the proximal end, and a flexible tube connecting said distal end section to said control unit, said endoscope further comprising:

port means formed in said distal end section so as to open at the outer surface, including a main suction port, and adapted to receive liquid substance from the body cavity under suction;

channel means including a forceps channel communicating with the main suction port of said port means and adapted to let the liquid substance pass therethrough from said port means; and

a valve member disposed in the main suction port of said port means and made movable between an open position in which the opening area of the main suction port is fully open and a restricting position where it restricts the opening area of the main suction port, said valve member being positioned relative to said view window and said suction port such that when the valve member is moved to the restricting position, the direction of flow of the liquid substance being taken into said port means under suction is changed to one substantially parallel to said view window and the flow of the liquid substance is accelerated thereby removing the liquid substance deposited on the view window.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1, in which said valve member includes means pivoting said valve member about an axis from the open position to the restricting position thereof.

3. An endoscope according to claim 1, in which said valve member is made of flexible material, retracted in a curved slot formed in said distal end section while resting at the open position, and shifted toward the restricting position slidably in said curved slot, and guided by a guide rail curving in conformity with said curved slot.

4. An endoscope according to claim 1, in which said port means includes an auxiliary suction port which opens in a direction parallel to the view window and which has an opening area smaller than that of said main suction port;

said channel means including an auxiliary suction channel formed in said distal end section as to have one end communicating with said auxiliary suction port and the other end communicating with said main forcepS channel;

said main suction port and said auxiliary suction port remaining respectively closed and opened while said valve member rests in the restricting position.

5. An endoscope according to claim 4 in which said auxiliary suction port is defined by the outer surface of the distal end section and a section projecting from the outer surface.

6. An endoscope according to claim 1, in which said valve member in intermediate positions, provides a forceps raising means for controlling the direction of the tip of a forceps which is extended from the main suction port.