Insertion tube terminator

• US 5,275,152 A
• Filed: 07/27/1992
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Grantier, Terry V., Krauter, Allan I.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHARD, KAREN
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jalbert, Karen A.
• Application Number:
  US07/919,843
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6, 128/772, 128/656, 128/657, 128/658, 128/786, 128/784, 128/642, 128/419 P, 174/74 R, 174/78, 174/80, 174/74 A, 174/19, 174/75 C, 604/282, 604/283, 604/280, 138/127, 138/96 R, 138/131, 138/134, 138/138, 138/120, 138/109, 29/854, 29/747, 29/857, 493/949
• US Class Current: 600/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0012 with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids

Abstract

The insertion tube body of a borescope or endoscope is constructed to avoid leakage current. An inner coil is covered with a tubular urethane jacket over which a tubular braid is disposed. Terminators having sleeve portions are attached by inserting the sleeve portions between the coil and the jacket. The terminators are secured using epoxy and the braid is bound using a winding or wrap of thread. The braid does not contact the terminator or the coil, and floats electrically. A layer of a flexible tough material such as polyurethane is applied over the braid and onto the terminators.

Claims

1. A flexible elongated insertion tube body for a borescope or endoscope which has axial, radial, and torsional dimensional stability and provides electrical isolation between an interior and an exterior thereof, the insertion tube body comprising a tube body member which includes an inner helical metal coil, an insulating elastomeric tubular jacket disposed over said coil, a metal braid layer disposed over said tubular jacket, and an insulating coating applied onto said braid layer;

a terminator in the form of a tubular member having a metal sleeve portion inserted at one end of said tube body member between said coil and said jacket and in electrical contact with the coil, said jacket extending axially to or beyond an axially terminal end of said braid so that the braid and coil are kept electrically isolated from one another by said jacket; and

means mechanically binding said terminal portion of said braid onto said jacket over said sleeve portion of said terminator with said insulating coating extending over said terminal end of said braid.

2. The insertion tube body of claim 1 wherein said coil is a metal ribbon formed into an elongated helix having a predetermined inner diameter and outer diameter.

3. The insertion tube body of claim 2 wherein said terminator metal sleeve portion has an inner diameter smaller than said coil outer diameter so that said coil and terminator form an interference fit.

4. The insertion tube body of claim 2 wherein said terminator metal sleeve has an inner land against which an axial end of said coil is lodged.

5. The insertion tube body of claim 1 wherein said jacket is a tube of urethane.

6. The insertion tube body of claim 1 wherein said outer insulating coating is polyurethane which penetrates and covers over said braid.

7. The insertion tube body of claim 1 wherein said means mechanically binding includes a wrap of thread or monofilament wound over said braid terminal end.