Self-adjusting steering mechanism for borescope or endoscope
First Claim
1. In a steerable endoscope or borescope of the type having a viewing head, a cable-bendable steering section disposed proximally of the viewing head and including at least one pair of steering cables and bending means responsive to differential movement of the cables to bend the steering section, an insertion tube section proximally of the steering section through which said steering cables pass, and a control section proximally of said insertion tube section and which includes means for imparting a differential motion to said steering cables to bend said steering section, with said steering cables having respective cable sheaths extending thereover from said control section to said steering section to carry opposing forces to any forces applied to said steering cables;
- the improvement wherein said control section includes a self-adjusting steering mechanism comprising a frame fixedly mounted in said control section and including axially oriented track means;
slider means which enjoys axial sliding movement on said track means;
first and second arms extending radially outward from said slider means and including means for engaging the proximal ends of said cable sheaths; and
engaging means on said slider means for engaging said frame when the force in one said steering cable is zero to lock the slider means against proximal sliding motion on said frame, but permitting said proximal sliding motion when tension forces in both said steering cables exist.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a cable-steerable endoscope or borescope, in which opposing cables are displaced to deflect the tip of the endoscope or borescope, a self-adjusting mechanism in the control section ensures a maximal differential force and a minimal total force is applied to the two steering cables. The self-adjusting mechanism has a frame that is affixed within the control section and a slider that is slidably disposed on the frame. First and second arms project outwardly from the slider and engage ends of the cable sheaths for the steering cables. The slider has a structure that engages the frame when there is no force on one steering cable to lock the slider against sliding motion, but which permits the slider to move proximally on the frame when there are forces applied on both steering cables. This arrangement, along with a reset spring, automatically takes up play or slack in the cable when it is not necessary, and also avoids simultaneous tensioning of the two cables which produces high steering forces that can damage the steering section.
92 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a steerable endoscope or borescope of the type having a viewing head, a cable-bendable steering section disposed proximally of the viewing head and including at least one pair of steering cables and bending means responsive to differential movement of the cables to bend the steering section, an insertion tube section proximally of the steering section through which said steering cables pass, and a control section proximally of said insertion tube section and which includes means for imparting a differential motion to said steering cables to bend said steering section, with said steering cables having respective cable sheaths extending thereover from said control section to said steering section to carry opposing forces to any forces applied to said steering cables;
the improvement wherein said control section includes a self-adjusting steering mechanism comprising a frame fixedly mounted in said control section and including axially oriented track means;
slider means which enjoys axial sliding movement on said track means;
first and second arms extending radially outward from said slider means and including means for engaging the proximal ends of said cable sheaths; and
engaging means on said slider means for engaging said frame when the force in one said steering cable is zero to lock the slider means against proximal sliding motion on said frame, but permitting said proximal sliding motion when tension forces in both said steering cables exist.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Specification