Flexible tube for endoscope

• US 6,616,601 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Hayakawa, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US09/765,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 600/140, 600/139, 600/101, 424/726, 424/725
• US Class Current: 600/140
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/30 Compounds of undetermined constitution extracted from natural sources, e.g. Aloe Vera
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/08 Materials for coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence

Abstract

A flexible tube for an endoscope comprises a flexible elongated structural body and an outer cover provided over the elongated structural body. In this flexible tube, at least the outer peripheral part of the outer cover is made of a material which contains elastic resin and plant extract having an antibacterial property, and the plant extract is prepared using at least one plant selected from the group consisting of plants belonging to the order Ranunculales. Further, in the flexible tube, the plant extract and the resin that constitutes the outer cover are inert with respect to each other. According to the flexible tube described above, it is possible to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope that can not only exhibit excellent antibacterial property against bacteria and the like, but also sustain the antibacterial property over a long period of time.

Claims

1. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible elongated structural body; and

an outer cover provided over the elongated structural body, the outer cover having an outer peripheral part, and at least the outer peripheral part of the outer cover being made of a material which contains elastic resin and plant extract obtained from at least Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner.

2. The flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein the plant extract is in a form of a concentrated liquid extracted from leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner.

3. The flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein the plant extract is in a form of a dried powder.

4. The flexible tube according to claim 3, wherein the dried powder is obtained by drying a concentrated liquid extracted from leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner.

5. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:

a flexible elongated structural body;

an outer cover provided over the elongated structural body, the outer cover having an outer periphery and being made of a material which contains elastic resin; and

a covering layer provided on the outer periphery of the outer cover, the covering layer being made of a material which contains plant extract obtained from at least Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner.

6. The flexible tube according to claim 5, wherein the plant extract is in a form of a concentrated liquid extracted from leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner.

7. The flexible tube according to claim 5, wherein the plant extract is in a form of a dried powder.

8. The flexible tube according to claim 7, wherein the dried powder is obtained by drying a concentrated liquid extracted from leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner.