Flexible sheath for an endoscope
First Claim
1. A flexible sheath arrangement for an endoscope comprising:
- a flexible hollow cylindrical tube having two ends; and
a single helical coil spring inserted into the flexible hollow cylindrical tube and forming with said hollow cylindrical tube the outer sheath of the endoscope, the single helical coil spring having two ends and an intermediate part between said two ends, one end of the helical coil spring being engageable with one end of the hollow cylindrical tube for adjusting the flexibility of the hollow cylindrical tube;
a helical coil spring-compressing means provided at the other end of the hollow cylindrical tube for urging the helical coil spring toward said one end of the hollow cylindrical tube by pressing against the other end of the helical coil spring;
engaging means provided in said hollow cylindrical tube for holding said intermediate part of the helical coil spring and comprising at least one abutment formed on said hollow cylindrical member and extending inward therefrom; and
a stop fixedly mounted on a portion of said helical coil spring which is adjacent to said abutment and remote from said one end of the hollow cylindrical tube with respect to said abutment, for engaging said abutment when said helical coil spring is compressed;
a first clearance formed between said other end of the helical coil spring and the helical coil spring-compressing means; and
a second clearance narrower than said first clearance and provided between the abutment and the stop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible sheath for an endoscope has a flexible hollow cylindrical tube and a helical coil spring which is inserted into the flexible hollow cylindrical tube. One end of the spring is made engageable with one end of the hollow cylindrical tube to adjust the flexibility of the flexible sheath. A mechanism for compressing the helical coil spring is provided at the other end of the hollow cylindrical tube. The mechanism comprises a spring-compressing member disposed at the other end of the helical coil spring and an actuating member for reciprocating the spring-compressing member between a position in which the spring-compressing member compresses the helical coil spring and a position in which the spring-compressing member is axially removed from the other end of the helical coil spring. The magnitude of a force axially applied to the helical coil spring is controlled in accordance with the extent to which the spring-compressing member is moved toward the helical coil spring by the actuating member, thereby adjusting the flexibility of the flexible sheath.
153 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A flexible sheath arrangement for an endoscope comprising:
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a flexible hollow cylindrical tube having two ends; and a single helical coil spring inserted into the flexible hollow cylindrical tube and forming with said hollow cylindrical tube the outer sheath of the endoscope, the single helical coil spring having two ends and an intermediate part between said two ends, one end of the helical coil spring being engageable with one end of the hollow cylindrical tube for adjusting the flexibility of the hollow cylindrical tube; a helical coil spring-compressing means provided at the other end of the hollow cylindrical tube for urging the helical coil spring toward said one end of the hollow cylindrical tube by pressing against the other end of the helical coil spring; engaging means provided in said hollow cylindrical tube for holding said intermediate part of the helical coil spring and comprising at least one abutment formed on said hollow cylindrical member and extending inward therefrom; and
a stop fixedly mounted on a portion of said helical coil spring which is adjacent to said abutment and remote from said one end of the hollow cylindrical tube with respect to said abutment, for engaging said abutment when said helical coil spring is compressed;a first clearance formed between said other end of the helical coil spring and the helical coil spring-compressing means; and a second clearance narrower than said first clearance and provided between the abutment and the stop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification