Flexible tube for endoscope

• US 6,503,193 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Tomoko, Ouchi, Naoya, Sugiyama, Akira, Ohara, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn
• Application Number:
  US09/548,676
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 600/140, 600/139, 600/133, 600/143
• US Class Current: 600/140
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0036 with more than four lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids

Abstract

A flexible tube for an endoscope is provided with an outer tube member. A synthetic resin layer is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the outer tube member. A coating layer is further formed on the outer circumferential surface of the synthetic resin layer. The outer circumferential surface of the synthetic resin layer is provided with at least one groove or protrusion.

Claims

1. A flexible tube for an endoscope, having an outer tube member, a synthetic resin layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said outer tube member, a coating layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer being provided with at least one groove which extends substantially parallel with an axis of said outer tube member, and an inner surface of said coating layer contacting at least a portion of said at least one groove.

2. The flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein said at least one groove is provided over substantially an entire length of said flexible tube.

3. The flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises a plurality of grooves.

4. The flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein said at least one groove is formed helically on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer.

5. The flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface of said coating layer is bonded to at least a portion of said at least one groove.

6. The flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein said coating layer is substantially resistant to chemicals.

7. The flexible tube according to claim 6, wherein the chemicals are disinfectants.

8. A flexible tube for an endoscope, having an outer tube member, a synthetic resin layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said outer tube member, a coating layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer being provided with at least one protrusion which extends substantially parallel with an axis of said outer tube member, and an inner surface of said coating layer contacting at least a portion of a region adjacent to said at least one protrusion.

9. The flexible tube according to claim 8, wherein said at least one protrusion is provided over substantially an entire length of said flexible tube.

10. The flexible tube according to claim 8, wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions.

11. The flexible tube according to claim 8, wherein said at least one protrusion is formed helically on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer.

12. The flexible tube according to claim 8, wherein said inner surface of said coating layer is bonded to at least a portion of a region adjacent to said at least one protrusion.

13. The flexible tube according to claim 8, wherein said coating layer is substantially resistant to chemicals.

14. The flexible tube according to claim 13, wherein the chemicals are disinfectants.

15. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:

an outer tube member;

a synthetic resin layer on an outer circumferential surface of said outer tube member, said synthetic resin layer having an outer circumferential surface;

at least one groove and at least one protrusion on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, at least one of said at least one groove and said at least one protrusion extending substantially parallel with an axis of said outer tube member; and

a coating layer on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, an inner surface of said coating layer contacting at least a portion of said at least one groove.

16. The flexible tube according to claim 15, wherein said inner surface of said coating layer is bonded to at least a portion of said at least one groove.

17. The flexible tube according to claim 15, wherein said coating layer is resistant to chemicals.

18. The flexible tube according to claim 17, wherein the chemicals are disinfectants.

19. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:

an outer tube member;

a synthetic resin layer on an outer circumferential surface of said outer tube member, said synthetic resin layer having an outer circumferential surface;

at least one groove which extends substantially parallel with an axis of said outer tube member and positioned on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer; and

a coating layer on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, an inner surface of said coating layer protruding into said at least one groove.

20. The flexible tube according to claim 19, wherein said inner surface of said coating layer is bonded to at least a portion of said at least one groove.

21. The flexible tube according to claim 19, wherein said coating layer is substantially resistant to chemicals.

22. A flexible tube for an endoscope, having an outer tube member, a synthetic resin layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said outer tube member, a substantially disinfectant-resistant coating layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer being provided with at least one groove, and an inner surface of said coating layer contacting at least a portion of said at least one groove.

23. A flexible tube for an endoscope, having an outer tube member, a synthetic resin layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said outer tube member, a substantially disinfectant-resistant coating layer being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer being provided with at least one protrusion, and an inner surface of said coating layer contacting at least a portion of a region adjacent to said at least one protrusion.

24. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:

an outer tube member;

a synthetic resin layer on an outer circumferential surface of said outer tube member, said synthetic resin layer having an outer circumferential surface;

at least one groove and at least one protrusion on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer; and

a substantially disinfectant-resistant coating layer on said outer circumferential surface of said synthetic resin layer, an inner surface of said coating layer contacting at least a portion of said at least one groove.