Contamination-free endoscope valves for use with a disposable endoscope sheath
First Claim
1. An endoscope for use with a disposable sheath having a casing, a plurality of channels associated with said casing and a plurality of resilient tubes extending from respective channels, said endoscope comprising:
- a flexible insertion tube having distal and proximal ends;
a tip portion formed at the distal end of said insertion tube, said insertion tube and tip portion being surrounded by the casing of said sheath when said sheath is installed on said endoscope;
a control handle secured to said insertion tube at the proximal end thereof; and
manually actuated valve means having a plurality of valve-actuating members mounted in said control handle, said valve means selectively pinching off said tubes responsive to actuation of a respective valve-actuating member to control the flow of fluid through said tubes without allowing any contact between the interiors of said tubes and said valve means or control handle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope and valve system specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having a plurality of channels and respective resilient tubes extending therefrom. In one embodiment, the resilient tubes extend along grooves formed in the side of an endoscope control handle and are captured behind a pivotably mounted access door. The valve system pinches the tubes against the door. The pinching mechanism selectively releases the tubes by pressing respective valve-actuating buttons on the control handle. In another embodiment, the tubes are placed in external pinch valves which are selectively actuated by actuating switches mounted on the control handle.
109 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An endoscope for use with a disposable sheath having a casing, a plurality of channels associated with said casing and a plurality of resilient tubes extending from respective channels, said endoscope comprising:
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a flexible insertion tube having distal and proximal ends; a tip portion formed at the distal end of said insertion tube, said insertion tube and tip portion being surrounded by the casing of said sheath when said sheath is installed on said endoscope; a control handle secured to said insertion tube at the proximal end thereof; and manually actuated valve means having a plurality of valve-actuating members mounted in said control handle, said valve means selectively pinching off said tubes responsive to actuation of a respective valve-actuating member to control the flow of fluid through said tubes without allowing any contact between the interiors of said tubes and said valve means or control handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a control valve handle for an endoscope specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having a plurality of channels and a plurality of resilient tubes extending from respective channels, a valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through said tubes, said valve system comprising manually actuated valve means having a plurality of valve-actuating members mounted in said control handle, said valve means selectively pinching off said tubes responsive to actuation of a respective valve-actuating member to control the flow of fluid through said tubes without allowing any contact between the interiors of said tubes and said valve means or control handle, said control handle further including an access door movable between an open position, allowing said tubes to be placed behind said access door, and a closed position in which said tubes are positioned between said access door and a portion of said control handle on which said access door is mounted, and wherein said valve means applies a pinching force to said tubes toward said access door, whereby said tubes are pinched between said valve means and said access door.
- 19. In a control valve handle for an endoscope specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having a plurality of channels and a plurality of resilient tubes extending from respective channels, a valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through said tubes, said valve system comprising manually actuated valve means having a plurality of valve-actuating members mounted in said control handle, said valve means selectively pinching off said tubes responsive to actuation of a respective valve-actuating member to control the flow of fluid through said tubs without allowing any contact between the interiors of said tubes and said valve means or control handle, said control handle, the valve-actuating member for at least one of said tubes including a linear cam slidably received in said control handle and movable along its longitudinal axis between outer and inner positions, said cam having inner and outer cam surfaces, with said outer cam surface being positioned radially outward from said inner cam surface, and wherein said valve means include a return spring resiliently biasing said cam toward its outer position and a cam follower extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of said cam toward said access door, said cam follower contacting said outer cam and compressing said tube against said access door when said cam is in its outer position, and said cam follower contacting said inner cam surface to allow said tube to open when said cam is actuated to its inner position.
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21. In a control valve handle for an endoscope specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having a plurality of channels and a plurality of resilient tubes extending from respective channels, a valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through at least two of said tubes, said valve system comprising:
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a linear cam slidably received in said control handle and movable along its longitudinalaxis between an outer position and first and second inner positions, said cam having first and second outer cam surfaces separated by a first inner cam surface and third and fourth outer cam surfaces separated by a second inner cam surface, said outer cam surfaces being positioned radially outward from said inner cam surfaces; a return spring resiliently biasing said cam toward its outer position; a first cam follower extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of said cam toward said access door, said cam follower contacting said first outer cam surface and compressing one of said tubes against said access door when said cam is in its outer position, said cam follower contacting said first inner cam surface to allow said tube to open when said cam is actuated to its first inner position, and said cam follower contacting said second outer cam surface and compressing said tube against said access door when said cam is in its second position; and a second cam follower extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of said cam toward said access door, said cam follower contacting said third outer cam surface and compressing the other of said tubes against said access door when said cam is in its outer position, said cam follower contacting said fourth outer cam surface and compressing said tube against said access door when said cam is actuated to its first inner position, and said cam follower contacting said second inner cam surface to allow said tube to open when said cam is actuated to its second inner position, whereby inward movement of said cam to its first and second inner positions sequentially opens respective tubes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a control valve handle for an endoscope specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having a plurality of channels and a plurality of resilient tubes extending from respective channels, said handle having at least one groove formed in said handle to receive a respective resilient tube, a valve system for controlling the flow of fluids through said tubes, said valve system comprising manually actuated valve means having a plurality of valve-actuating members mounted in said-control handle, said valve means selectively pinching off said tubes responsive to actuation of a respective valve-actuating member to control the flow of fluid through said tubes without allowing any contact between the interiors of said tubes and said valve means or control handle, said control handle further including:
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an actuating rod slidably mounted in said control handle and projecting outwardly therefrom, said rod having a clamping member projecting therefrom into said groove adjacent said tube; and means for resiliently biasing said actuating rod toward its outer position so that said clamping member pinches said resilient tube against a wall of said groove, whereby inward actuation of said actuating rod releases said clamping member from said resilient tube to open the lumen of said tube.
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27. A method of controlling the flow of fluids through a plurality of tubes connected to respective channels of a disposable endoscope sheath, said method comprising placing said tubes into the control handle of an endoscope without threading the ends of said tubes through said control handle and selectively pinching off said tubes within said control handle.
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28. A method of controlling the flow of fluids through a plurality of tubes connected to respective channels of a disposable endoscope sheath mounted in an insertion tube extending from a handle of an endoscope said method comprising;
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providing said handle with a plurality of switches corresponding in number to the number of said tubes; placing said tubes into respective electrically operated pinch valves without threading the ends of said tubes through said pinch valves; and selectively actuating said switches on said handle to engage respective pinch valves to selectively control the pinching off of said tubes.
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Specification