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US 11,445,895 B2Granted
Knobs for endoscopes with improved usability and ergonomics
AssigneeBoston Scientific Corporation
InventorsBalaji Aswatha Narayana, Shrikant V. Raut, Aditya Dhanotiya
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to medical devices and systems with control knobs designed for improved usability and ergonomics. For example, the control knobs of the present disclosure may include surface features for improved gripping, surface features for improved perception of medical device orientation within a patient and/or knobs dimensioned for improved thumb reach and reduced torque.
Claims20
An endoscopic system, comprising:
- a control handle operably attached to a proximal end of an endoscope;
- a first control knob rotatably attached to the control handle via a first opening of the first control knob and configured to move a distal end of the endoscope in a first direction;
- a series of crests and troughs defining an outer circumference of the first control knob;
- a second control knob rotatably attached to the control handle via a second opening of the second control knob and configured to move the distal end of the endoscope in a second direction;
- a series of crests and troughs defining an outer circumference of the second control knob, wherein a lever arm length from a center of the second opening to an end of a second crest of the series of crests of the second control knob is greater than each of a lever arm length from the center of the second opening to an end of a first crest and a third crest of the series of crests of the second control knob, and each of the lever arm lengths from the center of the second opening to the ends of the first crest and the third crest is greater than each of a lever arm length from the center of the second opening to ends of a fourth crest, a fifth crest, and a sixth crest of the series of crests of the second control knob;
- wherein the first control knob is disposed between the control handle and the second control knob;
- wherein an outer dimension of the first control knob is greater than an outer dimension of the second control knob;
- and
- wherein a gripping surface of the outer circumference of the first control knob includes a first width and a gripping surface of the outer circumference of the second control knob includes a second width.
6 more elements
An endoscopic system, comprising:
- a control handle operably attached to a proximal end of an endoscope;
- and
- a control knob rotatably attached to the control handle via an opening of the control knob and configured to move a distal end of the endoscope in a direction;
- wherein:
- an outer circumference of the control knob is defined by a plurality of radially outermost points, including first, second, third, fourth, and fifth radially outermost points;
- a lever arm length extends from a center of the opening to an end of each of the plurality of radially outermost points,
- each of a first lever arm length of the first radially outermost point and a third lever arm length of the third radially outmost point is different than a second lever arm length of the second radially outermost point, and
- each of a fourth lever arm length of the fourth radially outermost point and a fifth lever arm length of the fifth radially outmost point is less than the first, second, and third lever arm lengths.
5 more elements
An endoscopic system, comprising:
- a control handle operably attached to a proximal end of an endoscope;
- and
- a control knob rotatably attached to the control handle via an opening of the control knob and configured to move a distal end of the endoscope in a direction;
- and
- wherein an outer circumference of the control knob is defined by a plurality of radially outermost points each associated with a lever arm length from a center of the opening to the respective radially outermost point, and the opening of the control knob is off-center within the control knob resulting in at least three different lever arm lengths associated with the plurality of radially outermost points.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.