Flexible tube for an endoscope and electronic endoscope equipped with the flexible tube
First Claim
1. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:
- an elongated core body composed of a helical coil which is formed by helically winding a flat band member and a braided member formed by braiding thin wires and disposed over the coil; and
a flexible outer cover for covering the core body, wherein at least one of the thin wires has a coating layer and the flexible outer cover has a portion which is in contact with the coating layer of the thin wire of the braided member, in which the coating layer is formed of a material containing the material of the portion of the outer cover and the material of the coating layer has a higher melting point than that of the material of the portion of the outer cover.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An flexible tube for an endoscope having excellent resilience and durability is disclosed. The flexible tube is composed of a tubular core boy obtained by covering the outer periphery of a coil with a reticular tube of a braided thin wires and an outer cover formed of a synthetic resin and provided over the outer periphery of the tubular core boy. At least one of the thin wires has a coating layer and the flexible outer cover has a portion which is in contact with the coating layer of the thin wire of the reticular tube, in which the coating layer is formed of a material containing the material of the portion of the outer cover, and the material of the coating layer has a higher melting point than that of the material of the portion of the outer cover. The outer cover may be formed into a multi-layered structure including an inner layer, an intermediate layer and an outer layer.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:
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an elongated core body composed of a helical coil which is formed by helically winding a flat band member and a braided member formed by braiding thin wires and disposed over the coil; and
a flexible outer cover for covering the core body, wherein at least one of the thin wires has a coating layer and the flexible outer cover has a portion which is in contact with the coating layer of the thin wire of the braided member, in which the coating layer is formed of a material containing the material of the portion of the outer cover and the material of the coating layer has a higher melting point than that of the material of the portion of the outer cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic endoscope, comprising:
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an operation section which is operated by an operator; and
a flexible tube having a proximal end connected to the operation section at the proximal end thereof, the flexible tube including an elongated tubular core composed of a helical coil which is formed by helically winding a flat band member and provided over the coil and a braided member formed by braiding thin wires and an a flexible outer cover formed of a synthetic resin and provided over the outer periphery of the tubular core, wherein at least one of the thin wires has a coating layer and the flexible outer cover has a portion which is in contact with the coating layer of the thin wire of the braided member, in which the coating layer is formed of a material containing the material of the portion of the outer cover and the material of the coating layer has a higher melting point than that of the material of the portion of the outer cover. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification