Endoscope having multiple working segments
First Claim
1. A flexible endoscope comprising an insertion member having a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel, further comprising an additional segment containing illumination and image transmission components, said additional segment being the only segment provided with illumination and image transmission components.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible fiberoptic endoscope has an insertion member with a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel. Visualization optics are provided in the working segments or a separate central segment surrounded by the working segments. A sheath temporarily joins the working segments to one another during an introduction procedure. The sheath is removed upon insertion of the endoscope, so that the working segments may be/separated from one another and independently maneuvered via proximal control heads to facilitate the performance of an endoscopic surgical procedure.
1502 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A flexible endoscope comprising an insertion member having a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel, further comprising an additional segment containing illumination and image transmission components, said additional segment being the only segment provided with illumination and image transmission components.
- 10. A flexible endoscope comprising an insertion member having a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel, further comprising a coupling element operatively connected to said insertion member at least at said distal end portion to temporarily and releasably bind said working segments to one another.
- 13. A flexible endoscope comprising an insertion member having a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel, wherein said working segments are operatively connected to respective control heads disposed at a proximal end of said insertion member, said working segments being independently movable in response to operation of the respective control heads.
-
15. A flexible endoscope comprising an insertion member having a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel, wherein at least one of said working segments is longitudinally displaceable relative to another of said working segments.
-
16. A flexible endoscopic method comprising:
-
introducing an insertion member of a flexible endoscope into a patient, said insertion member having illumination and image transmission components; thereafter, while maintaining a distal end portion of the endoscope in the patient, separating said distal end portion into a plurality of independent longitudinally extending working segments each having at least one longitudinally extending working channel; passing a plurality of flexible endoscopic surgical instruments through the channels of the working segments; while visualizing internal body tissues of the patient via the illumination and image transmission components, operating the surgical instruments via the respective working segments to perform a surgical operation on said internal body tissues; and independently maneuvering the separated working segments inside the patient to enable the performance of the surgical operation, wherein the maneuvering of the separated working segments includes actuating respective control heads located at a proximal end of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification