Endoscope

• US 7,846,090 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Pilvísto, Tonis, Wimmer, Viktor Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak; Linda C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nia; Alireza
• Application Number:
  US11/513,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 600/153, 600/104, 600/149, 600/173, 600/106, 600/107, 600/157, 600/136, 600/147, 600/146, 600/145, 600/148, 600/150, 403/21, 439/263, 439/820, 439/821, 279/48, 279/32, 279/53
• US Class Current: 600/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00098 Deflecting means for inserted tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to an endoscope having a shaft in which at least one working channel is positioned and having on the distal end of the shaft an endoscope head, such that the part of the working channel contained in the endoscope head can be rotated with respect to the related working channel by a Bowden cable that is mounted on a control handle on the proximal end by a collet. To configure an endoscope in such a manner that it ensures simple construction as well as a constantly even tension of the Bowden cable, it is proposed with the invention that the depth of insertion of a cable cord of the Bowden cable into the collet can be limited by a pressure element acting on the cable cord and collet.

Claims

1. An endoscope having a shaft in which at least one working channel is positioned and having on the distal end of the shaft an endoscope head, such that a part of the working channel contained in the endoscope head can be rotated with respect to the related working channel by a Bowden cable that is mounted on a proximal end of a control handle by a collet, characterized in that a depth of insertion of a cable cord of the Bowden cable into the collet can be limited by a pressure element which is spring-loaded by a single spring element and that is arranged on the control handle in such a way that the pressure element acts on a proximal end of the cable cord and the collet and in that the collet is clamped shut with the cable cord of the Bowden cable by screwing on a nut onto the collet.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that on the collet at the proximal end a cone is configured that engages with a counter-cone configured in a nut that can be screwed onto the collet.

3. An endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one clamping slit is configured, running in the longitudinal direction of the collet, in the cone of the collet.

4. An endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure element is pre-tensioned contiguous to the counter-cone by at least one spring element.

5. An endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that the counter-cone is configured on a sleeve that can be inserted into the nut.

6. An endoscope according to claim 5, characterized in that the sleeve, can be fixed in the nut so that it cannot rotate.

7. An endoscope according to claim 5, characterized in that the sleeve has a non-threaded recess on the distal end.

8. An endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure element takes the form of a cap-shaped component, such that an axial length of the pressure element corresponds to a maximum depth of insertion of the cable cord into the collet.

9. An endoscope according to claim 8, characterized in that a closed rear wall of a cap-shaped pressure element is configured tapering toward an outside.

10. An endoscope according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring element is contiguous with a surrounding collar of a cap-shaped pressure element.

11. An endoscope according to claim 10, characterized in that a distal end of the spring element is supported on a collar of the pressure element and a proximal end of the spring element is supported on a rear wall of the nut that is configured as a cap nut.

12. An endoscope according to claim 6, characterized in that the sleeve can be fixed by cementing in the nut so that it cannot rotate.