Observation window washing device of endoscope

• US 6,638,214 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Akiba, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schopfer, Kenneth G
• Application Number:
  US10/088,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 600/114, 600/121, 600/123, 600/156, 600/157, 600/158
• US Class Current: 600/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence

Abstract

A notched void portion 29 is provided in a rigid casing block 20 of a rigid tip end section 2c of an endoscopic insertion instrument 2. For spurting a cleaning fluid toward an observation window 11, a cleaning supply passage is constituted by a cleaner nozzle 13, a connector pipe 27 and a flexible tube 26. A cleaner nozzle 13 is partly fitted in the notched void portion 29 which is formed in the rigid casing block 20. The connector pipe 27 is formed in a staggered shape having an angularly bent intermediate pipe section 27c between straight and parallel front and rear pipe sections 27a and 27b. The straight front pipe section 27a is at least partly fitted in the rigid casing block 20 and its fore distal end portion is fitted in the cleaner nozzle 13 over a predetermined length. On the other hand, the flexible tube is fitted on a rear end portion of the straight rear pipe section 27b the position of which is offset radially inward relative to the straight front pipe section 27a by the angularly bent intermediate pipe section 27c to avoid interference with biopsy channel 24, light guides 24 and wiring cable 17 which are threaded through a foremost angle ring 40 of an angle section 2b of the insertion instrument 2.

Claims

1. An endoscope and an endoscopic observation window cleaning device for the endoscope having an elongated insertion instrument extended out from a manipulating head assembly, said insertion instrument having an angle section and a rigid tip end section successively connected to a fore end of an elongated flexible body, said rigid tip end section having a rigid casing block connected to a foremost one of angle rings of said angle section by fitting engagement therewith and sheathed in an insulating cap in distal end portions including a distal end face with at least openings for observation and illumination windows axially in alignment with corresponding openings in said insulating cap, along with an opening for a cleaner nozzle connected to a cleaning fluid supply passage and arranged to spurt a cleaning fluid toward said observation window, said endoscopic observation window cleaning device comprising:

a nozzle fitting portion being axially bored through said rigid casing block of said rigid tip end section and having a small diameter portion and a radially spread large diameter portion opened in said distal end face of said rigid casing block;

a notched void portion being formed in said rigid casing block laterally on the outer side of said large diameter portion of said nozzle fitting portion in such a way as to form an outermost segment of said large diameter portion; and

a cleaner nozzle fitted in said large diameter portion of said nozzle fitting portion to form a cleaning fluid supply passage along with a connector pipe fitted in said small diameter portion of said nozzle fitting portion and connected in said angle section to a flexible tube from a cleaning fluid supply source;

said cleaner nozzle being fitted in said large diameter portion of said nozzle fitting portion and partly in said notched void portion in said rigid casing block; and

said connector pipe being in a staggered shape having an angularly bent intermediate pipe section between straight and parallel front and rear pipe sections and said flexible tube being fitted on said rear pipe section of said connector pipe in said angle section at a position offset radially inward relative to said front pipe section and free of interference with other component parts threaded through said angle section.

2. An endoscope and an endoscopic observation window cleaning device as defined in claim 1, wherein said large diameter portion of said nozzle fitting portion is located to have said outer segment substantially flush with outer periphery of said rigid casing block, and said notched void portion is formed to have a radial width containing an outer segment of both said large diameter portion and said rigid casing block.

3. An endoscope and an endoscopic observation window cleaning device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rigid casing block is provided with an index mark on a rear end face thereof to indicate a direction in which said angularly bent intermediate pipe section is to be set within said angle section of said insertion instrument.

4. An endoscope and an endoscopic observation window cleaning device as defined in claim 1, wherein a seal material is applied around outer peripheral portions in said notched void portion of said rigid casing block.