Endoscope with reusable core and disposable sheath with passageways
First Claim
1. An improved endoscope having a sterilizable or fluid immersible optical section and a throwaway sterile outer sheath channel section, said endoscope comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical core housing, having a distal end and a proximal end, with optical lens means mounted in said distal end thereof;
an image sensor slidably received into said proximal end of said cylindrical core housing and slidable into said distal end of said cylindrical core housing adjacent to said optical lens means;
an electronic cable having a distal end connected to said image sensor and extending proximally from said cylindrical core housing for transmitting electronic signals from said image sensor to a video control unit and then to a remote image display device;
a cylindrical channel section having a cylindrical wall having a distal end and a proximal end, and with a transparent window at said distal end thereof, and having a central passageway for receiving and positioning said cylindrical core housing with said image sensor and said optical lens means adjacent said window, and having a plurality of longitudinal channels integrally disposed within and around a portion of the circumference of said cylindrical wall, communicating with said distal end thereof; and
means for releasably connecting said housing to said channel section, said channel section being disposable after use on a patient and said housing being sterilizable or soakable for reuse with another new sterile channel section on the next patient.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved endoscope has been provided which includes an elongated cylindrical shell housing with a transparent window at the distal end thereof. A removable core has an objective endoscope lens or optics at the distal end thereof and an image sensor mounted within the distal end of the core. A transmitting electronic cable with multiple conductors each has a distal end connected to the image sensor circuit board and a proximal end connected to a video control unit. Signals are transmitted from the control unit to the video monitor which displays the image. A sterile separable channel section, removably receives the core in a defined relationship and has at least one longitudinal channel for transmitting fluids or for receiving an operative instrument or carrying light transmitting fiber. A flexible tube is connected to the proximal end of the channel for supplying fluid or for manipulating the operative instrument from a remote location. The separable channel section is disposable after use on a patient. Light transmitting fibers can be integral with the housing or core or inserted into at least one of the channels in the channel or sheath section.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An improved endoscope having a sterilizable or fluid immersible optical section and a throwaway sterile outer sheath channel section, said endoscope comprising:
-
an elongated cylindrical core housing, having a distal end and a proximal end, with optical lens means mounted in said distal end thereof; an image sensor slidably received into said proximal end of said cylindrical core housing and slidable into said distal end of said cylindrical core housing adjacent to said optical lens means; an electronic cable having a distal end connected to said image sensor and extending proximally from said cylindrical core housing for transmitting electronic signals from said image sensor to a video control unit and then to a remote image display device; a cylindrical channel section having a cylindrical wall having a distal end and a proximal end, and with a transparent window at said distal end thereof, and having a central passageway for receiving and positioning said cylindrical core housing with said image sensor and said optical lens means adjacent said window, and having a plurality of longitudinal channels integrally disposed within and around a portion of the circumference of said cylindrical wall, communicating with said distal end thereof; and means for releasably connecting said housing to said channel section, said channel section being disposable after use on a patient and said housing being sterilizable or soakable for reuse with another new sterile channel section on the next patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification