Side view endoscope

• US 5,782,751 A
• Filed: 05/24/1995
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tele Digital Development, Inc. (Teledigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuno, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/449,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 600/121, 600/125, 600/127, 600/158, 600/157, 600/170
• US Class Current: 600/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination

Abstract

A side view type endoscope includes a front end body having a view window on the side surface thereof, a detachable front end cover which covers the front end body, an opening provided on the side surface of the front end cover, through which the view window is exposed to the exterior, air and/or water supply passages which supply cleaning air and/or water, and a nozzle connected to the air and/or water supply passages to selectively inject air or water toward the view window, wherein the air and/or water supply passages are provided on said front end body and the nozzle is provided on the front end cover.

Claims

1. A side view endoscope comprising:

a front end body having a view window on a side surface thereof;

a detachable front end cover which covers said front end body;

an opening provided on a side surface of said front end cover exposing said view window;

an air supply passage and a water supply passage formed within said front end body, said air supply passage for supplying air and said water supply passage for supplying water;

a nozzle formed and contained directly within said detachable front end cover, said nozzle comprising an enclosed passageway having an open end directly communicating outside said front end cover and not through said front end body;

means for connecting said nozzle to said at least one of said air and water supply passages when said detachable front end cover is attached to said front end body so that air and water can be ejected from said nozzle toward said view window;

a first engaging projection provided on said detachable front end cover;

a first engaging recess provided on said end body, said first engaging projection being fitted in said first engaging recess and aligned with said nozzle to eliminate fluctuation of said front end cover when air or water is ejected from said nozzle;

a second engaging projection provided on said detachable front end cover; and

a second engaging recess provided on said front end body, said second engaging projection being fitted in said second engaging recess to prevent said detachable front end cover from being accidentally detached from said front end body;

wherein said first engaging projection is provided with a connecting groove which constitutes a part of said nozzle, said at least one of said air supply passage and said water supply passage being connected to said connecting groove when the first engaging projection is fitted in the first engaging recess; and

,

wherein said air supply passage is adjacent and parallel to said water supply passage and said connecting groove extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the front end body so that the air supply passage and the water supply passage open into the connecting groove.

2. A side view endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said first and second engaging projections are formed of a resilient material of which the front end cover is formed.

3. A side view type endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge passage which is connected at one end thereof to the connecting groove and which opens at the other end toward the view window.

4. A side view endoscope comprising:

a front end body having a view window on a side surface thereof;

a detachable front end cover which covers said front end body;

an opening provided on a side surface of said front end cover exposing said view window;

at least one of an air supply passage and a water supply passage provided in said front end body, said air supply passage for supplying air and said water supply passage for supplying water;

a nozzle formed and contained directly within said detachable front end cover, said nozzle comprising an enclosed passageway having an open end directly communicating outside said front end cover and not through said front end body;

means for connecting said nozzle to said at least one of said air and water supply passages when said detachable front end cover is attached to said front end body so that air and water can be ejected from said nozzle toward said view window;

a first engaging projection provided on said detachable front end cover;

a first engaging recess provided on said end body, said first engaging projection being fitted in said first engaging recess and aligned with said nozzle to eliminate fluctuation of said front end cover when air or water is ejected from said nozzle;

a second engaging projection provided on said detachable front end cover; and

a second engaging recess provided on said front end body, said second engaging projection being fitted in said second engaging recess to prevent said detachable front end cover from being accidentally detached from said front end body wherein said front end cover comprises an elastically deformable body and a deformation restriction member, said deformation restricting member having an elasticity lesser than the elastically deformable body and wherein at least the second engaging projection is supported by the deformation restricting member.