Disposable liquid supply system for use in an endoscope
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscope comprising, in combination:
- (a) an endoscope insertion assembly tube having first and second ends, said tube including;
(1) a fluid feed channel;
(2) an instrument and suction channel;
(3) a fiberoptic light cable; and
(4) an image guiding system;
(b) a tube control unit connected to said first end of said endoscope tube;
(c) a flexible endoscope supply cable having first and second ends, said first end of said supply cable being connected to said tube control unit, said cable including;
(1) a suction channel;
(2) a gas feed channel; and
(3) a liquid feed channel;
(d) a base unit connected to said second end of said supply cable for applying suction to said suction channel and for supplying a gas and a liquid to said gas feed and liquid feed channels, respectively, said base unit including;
(1) a gas/liquid coupler having a gas opening and a liquid opening connected to supply a liquid to said liquid feed channel of said supply cable; and
(2) a gas source connected to supply a gas to said gas opening of said gas/liquid feed coupler and to said gas feed channel of said supply cable;
(e) a liquid supply system including;
(1) a liquid container having a top and a bottom;
(2) a first tube connected between said top of said container and said gas opening of said gas/liquid coupler for introducing a gas into said container; and
(3) a second tube connected between said bottom of said container and said liquid opening of said gas/liquid coupler for supplying a liquid to said liquid opening and thus to said liquid feed channel of said supply cable; and
(f) a one-way valve arranged along a liquid path between said liquid container and said second end of said endoscope tube, for permitting liquid to pass in the direction toward said second end of said endoscope tube but not in the reverse direction toward said liquid container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable liquid supply system comprises a closed liquid container, a first flexible tube connected to the container and terminating at the top thereof for introducing a gas into the container, and a second flexible tube connected to the container and terminating at the bottom thereof for supplying a liquid to an endoscope. The container which contains a desired liquid, and the first and second tubes form a disposable, closed sealed unit which is connectable to an endoscope prior to use.
120 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An endoscope comprising, in combination:
-
(a) an endoscope insertion assembly tube having first and second ends, said tube including; (1) a fluid feed channel; (2) an instrument and suction channel; (3) a fiberoptic light cable; and (4) an image guiding system; (b) a tube control unit connected to said first end of said endoscope tube; (c) a flexible endoscope supply cable having first and second ends, said first end of said supply cable being connected to said tube control unit, said cable including; (1) a suction channel; (2) a gas feed channel; and (3) a liquid feed channel; (d) a base unit connected to said second end of said supply cable for applying suction to said suction channel and for supplying a gas and a liquid to said gas feed and liquid feed channels, respectively, said base unit including; (1) a gas/liquid coupler having a gas opening and a liquid opening connected to supply a liquid to said liquid feed channel of said supply cable; and (2) a gas source connected to supply a gas to said gas opening of said gas/liquid feed coupler and to said gas feed channel of said supply cable; (e) a liquid supply system including; (1) a liquid container having a top and a bottom; (2) a first tube connected between said top of said container and said gas opening of said gas/liquid coupler for introducing a gas into said container; and (3) a second tube connected between said bottom of said container and said liquid opening of said gas/liquid coupler for supplying a liquid to said liquid opening and thus to said liquid feed channel of said supply cable; and (f) a one-way valve arranged along a liquid path between said liquid container and said second end of said endoscope tube, for permitting liquid to pass in the direction toward said second end of said endoscope tube but not in the reverse direction toward said liquid container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An endoscope comprising, in combination:
-
(a) an endoscope insertion assembly tube having two ends, said tube including; (1) a fluid feed channel; (2) an instrument and suction channel; (3) a fiberoptic light cable; and (4) an image guiding system; (b) a tube control unit connected to one end of said endoscope tube; (c) a flexible endoscope supply cable having first and second ends, said first end of said supply cable being connected to said tube control unit, said cable including; (1) a suction channel; (2) a gas feed channel; and (3) a liquid feed channel; (d) a base unit connected to said second end of said supply cable for applying suction to said suction channel and for supplying a gas and a liquid to said gas feed and liquid feed channels, respectively, said base unit including; (1) a gas/liquid coupler having a gas opening and a liquid opening connected to supply a liquid to said liquid feed channel of said supply cable; and (2) a gas source connected to supply a gas to said gas opening of said gas/liquid feed coupler and to said gas feed channel of said supply cable; and (e) a disposable liquid supply system including; (1) a closed liquid container having a top and a bottom; (2) a first flexible tube connected between said top of said container and said gas opening of said gas/liquid coupler for introducing a gas into said container; and (3) a second flexible tube connected between said bottom of said container and said liquid opening of said gas/liquid coupler for supplying a liquid to said liquid opening and thus to said liquid feed channel of said supply cable; said container and said first and second tubes forming a sealed unit which is connectable to said gas/liquid coupler. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification