Treating instrument for endoscope

• US 6,328,731 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ouchi, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAM, JOCELYN D
• Application Number:
  US09/411,160
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 600/121, 600/125, 600/159, 600/139, 600/136, 600/144, 604/525, 604/533, 604/534, 604/535
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible

Abstract

A treating instrument for an endoscope has a flexible sheath and an operating part connected to the proximal end of the flexible sheath. A first buckling preventing member formed from a flexible cylindrical material covers a proximal end portion of the flexible sheath. One end of the first buckling preventing member is secured to the operating part. A second buckling preventing member formed from a flexible cylindrical material overlaps the first buckling preventing member at a region extending from an intermediate position on the first buckling preventing member to the proximal end thereof. One end of the second buckling preventing member is secured to the operating part.

Claims

1. A treating instrument for an endoscope having a flexible sheath and an operating part connected to a proximal end of said flexible sheath, said treating instrument comprising:

a first flexible buckling preventing member that covers a proximal end portion of said flexible sheath, one end of said first buckling preventing member being secured to said operating part; and

a second flexible buckling preventing member that overlaps said first buckling preventing member at an overlap region extending from an intermediate position on said first buckling preventing member to a proximal end thereof, one end of said second buckling preventing member being secured to said operating part,

wherein at least one of said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member comprises a heat-shrinkable material.

2. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member each comprises a flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness.

3. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said first buckling preventing member is inside said second buckling preventing member at said overlap region.

4. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said first buckling preventing member is outside said second buckling preventing member at said overlap region, and a portion of said first buckling preventing member that does not extend over said second buckling preventing member has a reduced diameter nearly equal to a diameter of said second buckling preventing member.

5. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said flexible sheath is pressed against and thus secured to said operating part by either one of said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member that is inside the other at said overlap region.

6. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein either one of said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member that is inside the other at said overlap region is secured to said operating part by force-fitting it in a direction identical with a direction in which said flexible sheath is fitted into said operating part.

7. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein, at said overlap region, an identification indicating member is provided between said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member to identify a type of said treating instrument, and either one of said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member that is outside the other comprises one of a transparent member and a semitransparent member.

8. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 7, wherein either one of said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member that is outside the other at said overlap region comprises a colored semitransparent member.

9. A treating instrument for an endoscope having a flexible sheath and an operating part connected to a proximal end of said flexible sheath, said treating instrument comprising:

a first flexible buckling preventing member that covers a proximal end portion of said flexible sheath, one end of said first buckling preventing member being secured to said operating part; and

a second flexible buckling preventing member that overlaps said first buckling preventing member at an overlap region extending from an intermediate position on said first buckling preventing member to a proximal end thereof, one end of said second buckling preventing member being secured to said operating part,

wherein, at said overlap region, an identification indicating member is provided between said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member to identify a type of said treating instrument, and either one of said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member that is outside the other comprises one of a transparent member and a semitransparent member.

10. The treating instrument for an endoscope according to claim 9, wherein either one of said first buckling preventing member and said second buckling preventing member that is outside the other at said overlap region comprises a colored semitransparent member.