Endoscope guide pipe

• US 4,819,620 A
• Filed: 08/13/1987
• Issued: 04/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ichiro Okutsu
• Original Assignee: Ichiro Okutsu
• Inventors: Okutsu, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/085,060
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 128/3, 128/4, 128/5, 128/6, 128/7, 128/8, 356/241
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/313 for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/317 for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence

Abstract

An endoscope guide pipe includes a pipe member with a first end, which is closed and in a generally convergent, rounded shape, and a second end which is opposite to the first end and open. The pipe member is typically formed from a transparent material, such as a glass or plastic material. Thus, the guide pipe may be inserted into a body, and then an endoscope may be fitted into the guide pipe to observe the internal structure of the body. Since a defined space or cavity is maintained when the guide pipe is inserted into the body, so the internal structure of a body, such as a subcutaneous tissue, can be viewed directly by the endoscope in the present guide pipe. The guide pipe is particularly advantageous when it is desired to view directly a portion of a body which does not have a cavity or space, such as the internal structure of a muscle.

Claims

1. A medical instrument for guiding an endoscope to be inserted therein for viewing a subcutaneous structure of a body, comprising:

an endoscope; and

an elongated pipe member having a first end, which is closed and generally convergent in shape, and a second end, which is opposite said first end and which is open, thereby allowing said endoscope to be loosely fitted into said pipe member to permit said endoscope to rotate around a longitudinal axis thereof as being located inside of said guide pipe, said elongated pipe member including a transparent portion comprising at least a predetermined part thereof.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein said convergent first end is generally rounded, thereby substantially eliminating any sharp corner.

3. The medical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a handle integrally formed with said pipe member and extending radially outwardly from said pipe member.

4. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein said pipe member is formed from a transparent glass material.

5. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein said pipe member is formed from a transparent plastic material.

6. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein said pipe member is formed with at least one opening.

7. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein said pipe member is provided with at least one scale.

8. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein said pipe member is so structured that the endoscope fitted into said pipe member may be moved slidably freely along the longitudinal axis of said pipe member.

9. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein said pipe member is formed from a metal at least in part, and said pipe member is formed with at least one opening.

10. The medical instrument of claim 1, wherein a gap between said guide pipe and said endoscope loosely fitted in said guide pipe is filled with liquid.

11. The medical instrument of claim 10, further comprising:

support means for fitting said endoscope into said guide pipe,

external liquid supply means for providing said liquid to said gap through said support means, and

external liquid discharge means for removing said liquid from said gap through said support means.