End structure of endoscope

• US 5,685,823 A
• Filed: 03/24/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ito, Keiji, Matsuno, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US08/408,886
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 600/121, 600/123, 600/125, 600/127, 600/129, 600/153, 600/156, 600/157, 600/158, 600/203, 600/187, 600/205, 600/188, 433/93, 433/180, 138/89.3, 138/89.4, 138/96 R, 138/118.1, 138/147, 128/912, 220/449, 220/669, 220/675, 220/DIG. 21
• US Class Current: 600/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence

Abstract

An end structure of an endoscope includes a front end body of a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted in a human body, a fluid discharge opening which opens into the front end body, a front end cap detachably attached to the front end body and having a fluid injection nozzle connected to the fluid discharge opening. A projection is provided on the end cap, is fitted in the fluid discharge port, and constitutes at least a part of the fluid injection nozzle.

Claims

1. An end structure of an endoscope comprising:

a front end body of a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted in a human body;

a fluid discharge opening provided on a front surface of said front end body;

a front end cap detachably attached to said front end body, said front end cap including a projection, spaced from said front surface of said front end body and partially covering said front surface of said front end body; and

a fluid injection nozzle, said projection and said front end body forming said fluid injection nozzle therebetween.

2. An end structure according to claim 1, wherein said fluid discharge opening comprises an air/water discharging opening.

3. An end structure according to claim 1, wherein said fluid discharge opening comprises a water discharge opening.

4. An end structure according to claim 1, wherein said fluid discharge opening and said fluid injection nozzle are provided on a front end surface of said front end body.

5. An end structure according to claim 1, wherein said fluid discharge opening and said fluid injection nozzle are provided on said front end body at a position eccentric of a center of said front end body.

6. An end structure according to claim 1, wherein said fluid discharge opening and said fluid injection nozzle are provided on a side surface of said front end body.

7. An end structure according to claim 1, wherein said front end cap is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a recess in which a disengaging tool can be engaged to remove said front end cap from said front end body.

8. An end structure according to claim 1, wherein said front end body and said front end cap are provided with marks which indicate a fitting position of said front end body and said front end cap, in a circumferential direction.

9. An end structure according to claim 8, wherein said marks are formed by a first recess formed on an outer surface of said front end cap and a second recess formed on said front end body so that said first recess can be engaged by said second recess;

and

wherein a disengaging tool can be engaged in said first recess to remove said front end cap from said front end body.

10. An end structure according to claim 9, wherein said front end cap comprises an elastically deformable material.

11. An end structure according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said front end cap and said front end body is provided with an outer color for matching a color of the disengaging tool to be engaged therewith.

12. An end structure according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said front end cap and said front end body is provided with a mark having a color for matching a color of the disengaging tool to be engaged therewith.

13. An end structure of an endoscope comprising:

a front end body of a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted in a human body;

a front end cap detachably attached to said front end body; and

marks provided on said front end cap and said front end body, said marks indicating a fitting position of said front end cap and said front end body in a circumferential direction;

wherein said marks are formed by a first recess formed on an outer surface of said front end cap and a second recess formed on said front end body so that said first recess can be engaged by said second recess; and

wherein a disengaging tool can be engaged in said first recess to remove said front end cap from said front end body.

14. An end structure of an endoscope comprising:

a front end body of a cylindrical insertion portion to be inserted in a human body;

an opening in a front surface of said front end body;

a front end cap detachably attached to said front end body, said front end cap including a portion, wherein said portion is insertable into said opening; and

a fluid passage having a fluid emission aperture opening to said front surface of said front end body, a periphery of said fluid emission aperture formed by said portion and said opening.

15. An end structure according to claim 14, further comprising:

a fluid injection nozzle formed between said portion and said front end body.