Manipulator for flexible portion of an endoscope

• US 5,752,912 A
• Filed: 06/19/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Miura, Shizuharu, Takahashi, Hisaki, Iwasaka, Kikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US08/666,041
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 600/139, 600/146-150
• US Class Current: 600/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

A manipulator for a flexible portion of an endoscope includes a rotatable pulley provided in an operating portion of the endoscope, and a pliable pull rope which is wound about the pulley. One end of the pull rope is connected to the pulley. The flexible front end portion is provided at an insertion portion of the endoscope to be remotely bendable through the pull rope when the pull rope is pulled in accordance with a rotation of the pulley. The pull rope is made of braided non-metallic fibers so as to have a high pliability.

Claims

1. A manipulator for a flexible front end portion of an endoscope, comprising:

a rotatable pulley provided in an operating portion of said endoscope;

a pliable pull rope which is wound about said pulley, a first end of said pull rope being connected to said pulley; and

an operation wire connected to a second end of said pull rope and connected to said flexible front end portion;

wherein said flexible front end portion is provided at an insertion portion of said endoscope, said flexible front end portion being remotely bendable by said pull rope when said pull rope is pulled in accordance with a rotation of said pulley,

and wherein said pull rope is made of braided non-metallic fibers so as to have a high pliability.

2. The manipulator for a flexible front end portion of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said pull rope wound around said pulley is provided with a synthetic resin layer coated thereon.

3. The manipulator for a flexible front end portion of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said pull rope wound around said pulley is provided with a tubular protection mesh layer made of fine metal wires.

4. An endoscope having an insertion portion, a flexible front end portion provided at a front end of said insertion portion and an operating portion connected to a rear end of said insertion portion, comprising:

a rotatable pulley provided in said operating portion, said rotatable pulley being manually operable to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise;

a pliable pull rope which is wound about said pulley, a first end of said pull rope being connected to said pulley, a second end of said pull rope extending outwardly from said pulley; and

an operation wire, a first end of said operation wire being connected to said second end of said pull rope, and a second end of said operation wire being connected to said flexible front end portion, said flexible front end portion being remotely operable by said pull rope when said pull rope is pulled in accordance with a rotation of said pulley;

wherein said pull rope is made of braided non-metallic fibers so as to have a high pliability.

5. The endoscope having a flexible front end portion according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said pull rope wound around said pulley is provided with a synthetic resin layer coated thereon.

6. The endoscope having a flexible front end portion according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said pull rope wound around said pulley is provided with a tubular protection mesh layer made of fine metal wires.