Endoscope apparatus with electric deflection mechanism
First Claim
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1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
- (a) an insertion section adapted to be deflective in a coeliac cavity of a living body into which said insertion section is inserted;
(b) a control section mechanically coupled to said insertion section;
(c) first motor means provided in said control section for generating rotational torque to bend said insertion section in a first direction;
(d) second motor means provided in said control section for generating rotational torque to bend said insertion section in a second direction;
(e) a deflection means, provided in said control section and said insertion section and mechanically coupled to a distal end of said insertion section and to said first and second motor means, for deflecting said insertion section in accordance with the rotational torques generated by said first and second motor means; and
(f) control circuit means including a single deflection control lever arranged in said control section and electrically connected to said first and second motor means for varying the amount of power to be supplied to said first and second motor means in accordance with manual inclination of said control lever by an operator and for selectively supplying power to said first motor means, said second motor means or to both said first and second motor means to drive said first and second motor means when said control lever is inclined in a predetermined direction, thereby allowing said distal end of said insertion section to directly deflect in an aimed direction, said deflection control lever being disposed to at least partially extend from said control section to the outside thereof and being pivotally inclinable in any direction with respect to a neutral position thereof.
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Abstract
There is disclosed an endoscope apparatus including an electric deflection mechanism which has an insertion section with a deflection portion to be freely deflected, a control section, electric motors, wire drums and angulation wires. A single deflection control lever is arranged in the control section to arbitrarily deflect a distal end portion in any direction. The motors are properly rotated in the forward or reverse direction in accordance with the manual operation of the deflection control lever, thereby properly and very precisely deflecting the deflection portion of the insertion section under the control of the operator through the electric deflection mechanism.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
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(a) an insertion section adapted to be deflective in a coeliac cavity of a living body into which said insertion section is inserted; (b) a control section mechanically coupled to said insertion section; (c) first motor means provided in said control section for generating rotational torque to bend said insertion section in a first direction; (d) second motor means provided in said control section for generating rotational torque to bend said insertion section in a second direction; (e) a deflection means, provided in said control section and said insertion section and mechanically coupled to a distal end of said insertion section and to said first and second motor means, for deflecting said insertion section in accordance with the rotational torques generated by said first and second motor means; and (f) control circuit means including a single deflection control lever arranged in said control section and electrically connected to said first and second motor means for varying the amount of power to be supplied to said first and second motor means in accordance with manual inclination of said control lever by an operator and for selectively supplying power to said first motor means, said second motor means or to both said first and second motor means to drive said first and second motor means when said control lever is inclined in a predetermined direction, thereby allowing said distal end of said insertion section to directly deflect in an aimed direction, said deflection control lever being disposed to at least partially extend from said control section to the outside thereof and being pivotally inclinable in any direction with respect to a neutral position thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification