Guide tube, guide tube apparatus, endoscope system, and method for self-propelling guide tube

• US 8,491,465 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evident Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Eiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US12/637,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 600/114, 396/17, 396/19, 346/107.2, 348/65, 348/82, 348 84- 85
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part

Abstract

A guide tube includes a tube; a ciliary portion composed of many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube, provided in an outer peripheral portion of the tube; and a bag as a press mechanism for pressing an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted inside the tube.

Claims

1. A guide tube comprising:

a tube;

a ciliary portion composed of many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube, provided in an outer peripheral portion of the tube; and

a press mechanism configured for pressing a member inserted inside the tube,

wherein the press mechanism has a press member provided in the tube configured for pressing the inserted member, and

wherein the press member is a screw, and

the screw is provided in the tube so as to threadingly engage a screw hole provided in a tube wall portion of the tube and press an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted inside the tube.

2. A guide tube comprising:

a tube;

a ciliary portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the tube and composed of many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube; and

a spring member configured for pressing an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted inside the tube,

wherein the tube has an opening portion on a wall surface thereof,

one end of the spring member is fixed to a periphery of the opening portion of the tube and an other end of the spring member is located at the opening portion as a movable end, and

the movable end of the spring member located at the opening portion is pressed and engaged between an inner wall surface of the tube and the insertion portion of the endoscope and thereby the insertion portion is pressed by an elastic force of the spring member to be fixed to the tube.

3. A guide tube comprising:

a tube;

a ciliary portion composed of many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube, provided in an outer peripheral portion of the tube; and

a press mechanism configured for pressing a member inserted inside the tube, wherein the press mechanism has a press member provided in the tube configured for pressing inserted member, and

wherein the press member is a rotating member, and

the rotating member is provided to the tube so that the rotating member is rotatable with respect to a tube wall portion of the tube and one end of the rotating member presses an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted inside the tube, by rotation.

4. A guide tube comprising:

a tube;

a ciliary portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the tube and composed of many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube; and

a press mechanism configured for pressing an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted inside the tube,

wherein the press mechanism has a first cylinder provided at a distal end of the tube, and a second cylinder which is threadingly engaged with the first cylinder and configured to press the first cylinder towards the insertion portion, and

wherein the first cylinder is made of a resin and has a screw thread on an outer peripheral surface thereof,

the second cylinder has a threaded portion which is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the second cylinder and has a screw thread capable of threadingly engaging with the screw thread of the first cylinder, and a taper portion, having an inner diameter of the second cylinder, gradually decreases toward a distal end side, and

the second cylinder is threadingly engaged with the first cylinder, and thereby the taper portion of the second cylinder presses an outer peripheral surface of the first cylinder on a distal end side thereof and a distal end portion of the pressed first cylinder deforms toward the insertion portion, so that the deformed distal end portion presses the insertion portion to be fixed to the tube.

5. A guide tube comprising:

a tube;

a ciliary portion composed of many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube, provided in an outer peripheral portion of the tube; and

a press mechanism configured for pressing a member inserted inside the tube, and

wherein the press mechanism has the tube that is heat-shrinkable.

6. A guide tube comprising:

a tube;

a ciliary portion composed of many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube, provided in an outer peripheral portion of the tube; and

a press mechanism configured for pressing a member inserted inside the tube, and

wherein the press mechanism is a mechanism for tightening the tube with a string-like member.