Device for sealing an endoscope channel

• US 4,240,411 A
• Filed: 04/18/1978
• Issued: 12/23/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Hosono, Saburo
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tayon, Jeffrey W.
• Application Number:
  US05/897,428
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 128/3-8, 128/274, 128/240-241, 128/349 R, 128/349 B, 128/349 BV, 128/348, 128/350 R, 128/351, 215/311, 137/223, 251/9, 251/149.2, 251/149.7, 243/348-349, 277/207 R, 277/209
• US Class Current: 600/154
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0633 the seal being a passive seal made of a resilient material with or without an opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0646 Duckbill-valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0606 without means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for sealing an endoscope channel is provided in the operation section of an endoscope and comprises a hollow cylindrical member connected at one end to the proximal end of a channel disposed in the sheath of the endoscope and a tubular member of an elastic material disposed in the hollow cylindrical member and connected at one end sealingly to the other end of the hollow cylindrical member. The other end portion of the tubular member is bent to form a sealing portion which can prevent air introduced into a body cavity from flowing back therefrom through the channel.

Claims

1. In an endoscope having an operation section, an elongated sheath which has a proximal end connected to said operation section and in which channels each having two ends are formed, and a sealing device which is disposed in said operation section and which communicates with the corresponding channel, the improvement wherein said sealing device comprises a hollow cylindrical member having two ends, one end being connected to one of said two ends of the corresponding channel and a tubular member of an elastic material having two ends, one end being connected to the other end of said hollow cylindrical member and a portion adjacent to the other end of the tubular member which forms a sealing portion comprising a first part formed by substantially one half of the circumference of said portion adjacent to the other end of said tubular member and a second part formed by substantially the other half of said circumference, said first part being folded and said second part being sealingly pressed against said first part.

2. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow cylindrical member is provided therein with a blocking means for normally resiliently pressing said sealing portion.

3. The sealing device according to claim 2, wherein said blocking means comprises a substantially L-shaped arm member of an elastic material.

4. The sealing device according to claim 2, wherein said blocking means comprises a blocking plate pivotally movable in said hollow cylindrical member and adapted to normally press said sealing portion, and a spring for biasing said blocking plate toward said tubular member.

5. The sealing device according to claim 2, wherein said blocking means comprises a blocking plate pivotally movable in said hollow cylindrical member and adapted to normally press said sealing portion, and a lever connected to said blocking plate and operated at the outside of said hollow cylindrical member.

6. The sealing device according to claim 2, wherein said tubular member is straightened when said blocking means is moved away therefrom.

7. The sealing device according to claim 1, wherein said sealing portion is permanently folded.