Endoscope

• US 6,458,074 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Arai, Keiichi, Matsui, Raifu, Sekine, Ryuta
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/615,275
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104-107, 600/129, 600/153
• US Class Current: 600/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments

Abstract

An endoscope is provided which has a first forceps raising base and a second forceps raising base. The first forceps raising base is provided at a distal end opening of a first treating tool insertion channel formed at a distal end of an insertion section, and is adapted to be raised in a first direction. The second forceps raising base is provided at a distal end opening of a second treating tool insertion channel formed at the distal end of the insertion section, and is adapted to be raised in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second raising directions of the first and second forceps raising bases are different from each other in at least two combinations.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion section having at least a first treating tool insertion channel and a second treating tool insertion channel, each having a distal end opening at a distal end of the insertion section for enabling at least respective first and second treating tools to be projected therefrom;

a first mechanism provided at the distal end opening of the first treating tool insertion channel and having an operation member for changing a projecting direction of the first treating tool toward a first direction; and

a second mechanism provided at the distal end opening of the second treating tool insertion channel and having an operation member for changing a projecting direction of the second treating tool toward a second direction different from the first direction.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the distal end opening of the first treating tool insertion channel and the distal end opening of the second treating tool insertion channel are opened in substantially the same direction, and when the operation member of the first mechanism and the operation member of the second mechanism are in an initial standby position, the projecting direction of the first treating tool and the projecting direction of the second treating tool are substantially parallel to each other.

3. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion section having at least a first treating tool insertion channel and a second treating tool insertion channel, each having a distal end opening at a distal end of the insertion section for enabling at least respective first and second treating tools to be projected therefrom;

a first mechanism provided at the distal end opening of the first treating tool insertion channel and having an operation member for changing a projecting direction of the first treating tool toward a first direction; and

a second mechanism provided at the distal end opening of the second treating tool insertion channel and having an operation member for changing a projecting direction of the second treating tool toward a second direction different from the first direction;

wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially orthogonal to each other.

4. An endoscope according to claim 3, further comprising means for moving images of the treating tools, included in an image obtained by the endoscope, in the same directions that the treating tools are moved.

5. An endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the first and second mechanisms are adapted to move the first and second treating tools by different operation amounts.

6. An endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the first mechanism is adapted to move the first treating tool in an up/down direction by a first operation amount, and the second mechanism is adapted to move the second treating tool in a right/left direction by a second operation amount which is less than the first operation amount.

7. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion section having at least a first treating tool insertion channel and a second treating tool insertion channel, each having a distal end opening at a distal end of the insertion section for enabling at least respective first and second treating tools to be projected therefrom;

a first mechanism provided at the distal end opening of the first treating tool insertion channel and having an operation member for changing a projecting direction of the first treating tool toward a first direction; and

a second mechanism provided at the distal end opening of the second treating tool insertion channel and having an operation member for changing a projecting direction of the second treating tool toward a second direction different from the first direction;

wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially orthogonal to each other; and

wherein the operation member of the first mechanism and the operation member of the second mechanism are projected from the insertion section.

8. An endoscope according to claim 7, further comprising an annular hood provided on the distal end of the insertion section such that at least a portion of a periphery of the hood is further projected than the distal end of the insertion section.

9. An endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the hood has a longer peripheral section near to the distal end openings of the first and second treating tool insertion channels than at a remaining portion on an opposite side.