Endoscope having a temperature sensitive memory alloy plate as the treatment instrument driving device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In an endoscope having a control section, an insertion section with a proximal and distal end, a treatment instrument, a treatment instrument closet, and an instrument channel, the improvement comprising:
- a treatment instrument driving device comprising;
a treatment driving member protruding into said treatment instrument closet provided in said distal portion of said endoscope, and adjacent to said channel provided in said endoscope in which is inserted detachably a treatment instrument, said treatment driving member being formed of a shape memory alloy varying in shape in accordance with temperature, andmeans connected to said treatment driving member for supplying a current to said treatment driving member to raise the temperature of said treatment driving member, thereby displacing the treatment instrument according to the varying of the shape of said treatment driving member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope having a forceps raiser for raising up a treatment instrument, i.e., forceps, which is composed of a shape memory alloy plate varying in shape in accordance with temperature. A power source is connected to the shape memory alloy plate to supply a current to the shape memory alloy plate, thereby heating the shape memory alloy plate, and the shape memory alloy plate, i.e., the forceps raiser is varied in shape to raise the forceps.
80 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. In an endoscope having a control section, an insertion section with a proximal and distal end, a treatment instrument, a treatment instrument closet, and an instrument channel, the improvement comprising:
a treatment instrument driving device comprising; a treatment driving member protruding into said treatment instrument closet provided in said distal portion of said endoscope, and adjacent to said channel provided in said endoscope in which is inserted detachably a treatment instrument, said treatment driving member being formed of a shape memory alloy varying in shape in accordance with temperature, and means connected to said treatment driving member for supplying a current to said treatment driving member to raise the temperature of said treatment driving member, thereby displacing the treatment instrument according to the varying of the shape of said treatment driving member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Specification