Inspection apparatus having an insertion tube with dispersed healing agent

• US 8,356,527 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Hudson, Craig Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shabman, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US12/187,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2636 cylindrical from inside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/043 in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

An elongated insertion tube can be provided having a wall having one or multiple layers. A layer of a wall can include composite material having healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material and a catalyst dispersed within a polymer matrix. The layer can be formed so that when force is imparted to the layer, healing agent material stored within a storage structure reacts with a catalyst and polymerizes, to heal damage imparted to the layer.

Claims

1. An inspection apparatus comprising:

a control and display unit comprising a display for display of data acquired by said inspection apparatus, and at least one control interface component for use in providing operator control of said inspection apparatus; and

an elongated insertion tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for extending to a location in proximity with a target being subject to inspection, said elongated insertion tube being of multilayer stacked up construction having a plurality of layers, and wherein said layers of said multilayer elongated insertion tube include;

a monocoil layer for providing crush resistance to said elongated insertion tube;

a metallic mesh layer comprising a mesh made of metal, wherein said metallic mesh layer is disposed externally relative to said monocoil layer;

a first composite layer disposed externally and adjacent to said monocoil layer and including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said first composite layer being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said first composite layer can rupture to release said healing agent material when a first force is imparted to said first composite layer, and wherein said healing agent material can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said first composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said first force; and

a second composite layer disposed externally and adjacent to said metallic mesh layer and also including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said second composite layer defining an external surface of said inspection apparatus and being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said second composite layer can rupture to release said healing agent material of said second composite layer when a second force is imparted to said second composite layer, and wherein said healing agent of said second composite layer can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said second composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said second force so that forces imparted by said monocoil layer can be received by said first composite layer and further so that forces imparted by a body external to said inspection apparatus can be received at said second composite layer.

2. An inspection apparatus comprising:

a control and display unit comprising a display for display of data acquired by said inspection apparatus, and at least one control interface component for use in providing operator control of said inspection apparatus; and

an elongated insertion tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for extending to a location in proximity with a target being subject to inspection, said insertion tube being of multilayer stacked up construction, and wherein said layers of said multilayer elongated insertion tube include;

a monocoil layer for providing crash resistance to said elongated insertion tube;

a composite layer disposed externally to said monocoil layer and defining an external surface of said insertion tube, said composite layer including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said composite layer being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said composite layer can rupture to release said healing agent material when a force is imparted to said composite layer, and wherein said healing agent material can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said force and further so that forces imparted by a body external to said insertion tube can be received at said composite layer; and

wherein one of said layers includes a metallic mesh layer comprising a mesh made of metal disposed externally to said monocoil layer and wherein said composite layer is disposed externally and adjacent to said metallic mesh layer.

3. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein said inspection apparatus includes a second composite layer between, and adjacent to, the monocoil layer and the metallic mesh layer, said second composite layer including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said second composite layer being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said second composite layer can rupture to release said healing, agent material when a force is imparted to said second composite layer, and wherein said healing agent material can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said second composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said force.

4. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein said inspection apparatus is a video inspection apparatus having, an image sensor disposed therein, and wherein said control and display module is adapted to display on said display streaming, video images corresponding to light incident on said image sensor.

5. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein said inspection apparatus is an eddy current sensing apparatus.

6. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein said inspection apparatus is an ultrasonic sensing apparatus.

7. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein said insertion tube extends from said control and display unit.

8. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein said display and said at least one control interface component are supported on a common housing.

9. An insertion tube comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end for extending to a location in proximity with a target being subject to inspection, said insertion tube being of multilayer stacked up construction, and wherein said layers of said multilayer elongated insertion tube include;

a monocoil layer for providing crush resistance to said elongated insertion tube;

a composite layer disposed externally to said monocoil layer and defining an external surface of said insertion tube, said composite layer including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said composite layer being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said composite layer can rupture to release said healing agent material when a force is imparted to said composite layer, and wherein said healing agent material can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said force and further so that forces imparted by to body external to said insertion tube can be received at said composite layer; and

wherein one of said layers further comprises a metallic mesh layer comprising a mesh made of metal disposed externally to said monocoil layer, and wherein said composite layer is disposed externally and adjacent to said metallic mesh layer.

10. The insertion tube of claim 9, wherein said insertion tube includes a second composite layer between, and adjacent to, the monocoil layer and the metallic mesh layer, said second composite layer including a polymer matrix and healing agent storage structures that store healing agent material dispersed in said polymer matrix, said second composite layer being adapted so that one of said storage structures of said second composite layer can rupture to release said healing agent material when a force is imparted to said second composite layer, and wherein said healing agent material can react with a catalyst also dispersed in said polymer matrix of said second composite layer to initiate polymerization for healing of damage caused by said force.