Shaft for a flexible endoscope and flexible endoscope

• US 20010056224A1
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Bacher, Uwe, Renner, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 6,551,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00075 with externally roughened shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00

Abstract

A shaft is provided for a flexible endoscope. The shaft has a tubular mantle whose outer surface contacts a body tissue of a patient during use of said endoscope. The outer surface of said shaft is microscopically roughened, for example by sand blasting.

Claims

1. A shaft for a flexible endoscope, comprising

a tubular mantle having an outer surface contacting a body tissue of a patient during a use of said endoscope, wherein

said outer surface is microscopically roughened:

2. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein said outer surface is roughened by a sand blasting.

3. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein said outer surface is roughened by said sand blasting with grains having edges.

4. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein said outer surface is roughened to a roughness which is achievable by sand blasting with a corundum 0.05 to 0.5 mm.

5. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein said outer surface is roughened by etching.

6. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein said outer surface is roughened by abrasion.

7. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein said outer surface is made of a material being initially glossy, and wherein said outer surface is roughened to the extent that it appears dull.

8. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein said tubular mantle comprises at least one inner base layer and an outer cover layer, wherein only said outer cover layer is roughened.

9. The shaft of

claim 1

, wherein an average roughness value R_a of said roughened outer surface lies in a range of 0.1 μ

m to 1.6 μ

m.

10. A flexible endoscope having a shaft, comprising

a tubular mantle having an outer surface contacting a body tissue of a patient during a use of said endoscope, wherein

said outer surface is microscopically roughened.

11. The flexible endoscope of

claim 10

, wherein said outer surface of said shaft is roughened by a sand blasting.

12. The flexible endoscope of

claim 11

, wherein said outer surface is roughened by said sand blasting with grains having edges.

13. The flexible endoscope of

claim 10

, wherein said outer surface of said shaft is roughened to a roughness which is achievable by sand blasting with a corundum 0.05 to 0.5 mm.

14. The flexible endoscope of

claim 10

, wherein said outer surface of said shaft is roughened by etching.

15. The flexible endoscope of

claim 10

, wherein said outer surface of said shaft is roughened by abrasion.

16. The flexible endoscope of

claim 10

, wherein said outer surface of said shaft is made of a material that is initially glossy, and wherein said outer surface of said shaft is roughened to the extent that it appears dull.

17. The flexible endoscope of

claim 10

, wherein said tubular mantle of said shaft comprises at least one inner base layer and an outer cover layer, wherein only said outer cover layer is roughened.

18. The flexible endoscope of

claim 10

, wherein an average roughness value R_a of said roughened outer surface of said shaft lies in a range of 0.1 μ

m to 1.6 μ

m.