Suction control apparatus for an endoscope
First Claim
1. An endoscope including a suction control unit for controlling communication between a fluid channel leading to a suction source and fluid channel extending in an insertion section, the insertion section being insertable into a cavity of an object, the endoscope comprising:
- the insertion section;
a control section for operating the insertion section, the control section being adapted to be positioned outside of the object;
a first fluid channel extending from the insertion section to the control section;
a second fluid channel provided in the control section, the second fluid channel being connectable to the suction source;
a control body provided at the control section, the control body having;
an outer surface;
a first hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled in fluid communication with the first fluid channel; and
at its other end portion, a first opening which is opened outwardly of the control body; and
a second hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled to the second fluid channel; and
at its other end portion, a second opening which is opened outwardly of the control body;
and wherein the first and second openings are adjacent to each other at the outer surface of the control body;
a cap member detachably mounted on the control section, the cap member covering the outer surface of the control body so that a given space is formed therebetween;
control means for selectively placing the first and second holes in fluid communication with each other via said given space, the control means including a piston member inserted to be movable with a stroke-like motion in a given direction into the second hole to selectively open and close the second hole in cooperation with walls defining the second hole;
the piston member having;
a leak hole that is in fluid communication with an outer atmosphere; and
wherein the leak hole extends substantially along the given direction of the stroke-like motion of the piston member into the second hole.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope includes a cylinder body having an opening leading to a suction channel and an opening of the suction channel leads to a suction device both of side bath of these openings are provided in an adjacent, parallel relation. A cap member is detachably mounted on the cylinder body and is made of an elastic member. A piston is provided on the cap member to allow one of the openings to be opened or closed through the movement of the piston. A suction control unit thus achieved has a simpler arrangement and enables easy and positive cleaning.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An endoscope including a suction control unit for controlling communication between a fluid channel leading to a suction source and fluid channel extending in an insertion section, the insertion section being insertable into a cavity of an object, the endoscope comprising:
-
the insertion section; a control section for operating the insertion section, the control section being adapted to be positioned outside of the object; a first fluid channel extending from the insertion section to the control section; a second fluid channel provided in the control section, the second fluid channel being connectable to the suction source; a control body provided at the control section, the control body having; an outer surface; a first hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled in fluid communication with the first fluid channel; and at its other end portion, a first opening which is opened outwardly of the control body; and a second hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled to the second fluid channel; and at its other end portion, a second opening which is opened outwardly of the control body; and wherein the first and second openings are adjacent to each other at the outer surface of the control body; a cap member detachably mounted on the control section, the cap member covering the outer surface of the control body so that a given space is formed therebetween; control means for selectively placing the first and second holes in fluid communication with each other via said given space, the control means including a piston member inserted to be movable with a stroke-like motion in a given direction into the second hole to selectively open and close the second hole in cooperation with walls defining the second hole; the piston member having; a leak hole that is in fluid communication with an outer atmosphere; and wherein the leak hole extends substantially along the given direction of the stroke-like motion of the piston member into the second hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An endoscope including a suction control unit for controlling communication between a fluid channel leading to a suction source and fluid channel extending in an insertion section, the insertion section being insertable into a cavity of an object, the endoscope comprising:
-
the insertion section; a control section for operating the insertion section, the control section being adapted to be positioned outside of the object; a first fluid channel extending from the insertion section to the control section; a second fluid channel provided in the control section, the second fluid channel being connectable to the suction source; a control body provided at the control section, the control body having; an outer surface; a first hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled in fluid communication with the first fluid channel; and at its other end portion, a first opening which is opened outwardly of the control body; and a second hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled to the second fluid channel; and at its other end portion, a second opening which is opened outwardly of the control body; and wherein the first and second openings are adjacent to each other at the outer surface of the control body; a cap member detachably mounted on the control section, the cap member covering the outer surface of the control body so that a given space is formed therebetween; control means for selectively placing the first and second holes in fluid communication with each other, said control means including a piston member, said piston member being movable with a stroke-like motion in a given direction into the second hole to selectively open and close the second hole in cooperation with walls defining the second hole, said control means including; means for enabling a fluid communication between the first and second holes via the given space; said piston member having; first and second end portions, the first end portion of said piston member being inserted into said second hole, to be movable with said stroke-like motion into the second hole; a finger-operable button section provided at the second end portion thereof; and a leak hole that is in fluid communication with an outer atmosphere; and wherein the leak hole of the piston member extends substantially along the given direction of the stroke-like motion of the piston member into the second hole; a valve seat provided at the second hole into which the first end portion f said piston member is inserted, a fluid communication being controlled between the first and second holes by the valve seat and the piston member; and
whereinthe cap member has; a leakage hole which extends through the piston member from the finger-operable button section thereof; and a first end portion of the leakage hole leading to the opening of the second hole where the valve seat is provided; a second end portion of the leakage hole being opened outside a surface of the button section of the piston member and the first end portion of the leakage hole being opened to a suction side of the suction source with the valve seat as a reference and the second end portion of the leakage hole being blockable by a finger of an operator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An endoscope including a suction control unit for controlling a communication between a fluid channel leading to a suction source and a fluid channel extending in an insertion section, the insertion section being insertable into a cavity of an object, the endoscope comprising:
-
the insertion section; a control section for operating the insertion section, the control section being positioned outside of the object; a first fluid channel extending from the insertion section to the control section; a second fluid channel provided in the control section, the second fluid channel being connectable to the suction source; a control body provided at the control section, the control body having; an outer surface; a first hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled in fluid communication with the first fluid channel; and at its other end portion, a first opening which is opened outwardly of the control body; and a second hole having two end portions and an axis, with one end portion being coupled to the second fluid channel; and at its other end portion, a second opening which is opened outwardly of the control body; and wherein the first and second openings are adjacent to each other at the outer surface of the control body; a cap member detachably mounted on the control section, the cap member covering the outer surface of the control body so that a given space is provided therebetween; first means for enabling a fluid communication between the first and second holes via the given space; second means for controlling a fluid communication to be enabled by the first means; the cap member having a leak hole for allowing a fluid communication to be established between an outer atmosphere and a communication space; and an open end side of the leak hole on the communication space side thereof being provided such that the open end side of the leak hole confronts the outer surface of the control body of the control section so that, when the cap member is pushed, the open end side of the leak hole is closed by the outer surface of the control body of the control section to allow a communication between the first and second holes to be established through the communication space thereby to provide said control means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification