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US 12,599,292 B2Granted
Articulated bending section body for an insertion endoscope
AssigneeAmbu A/S
InventorKaspar Mat Matthison-Hansen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An endoscope with an articulated bending section body (1) including a number of segments (4) where at least one hinge member (5) is provided between any adjacent segment (4). Each segment (4) has a first surface (9, 9″) and a second surface (10, 10′) delimited by an outer rim. The first surface (9, 9″) includes a first abutment part (11) adapted to abut the first opposing surface (10, 11) of an adjacent segment, wherein the first abutment part (11) is at a distance from the at least one hinge member (5) that is shorter than the shortest distance from the at least one hinge member (5) to the most remote part of the rim.
Claims23
An endoscope comprising:
- an articulated bending section body including segments interconnected by hinge members on a first bending plane, the segments including a proximal segment, a distal segment and intermediate segments arranged between the proximal segment and the distal segment,
- a sheath positioned over the articulated bending section body;
- and
- a pull-wire,
- wherein each intermediate segment comprises a pull-wire passage, an outer rim, a distal surface and a proximal surface, the distal surface of one intermediate segment facing the proximal surface of another segment positioned adjacent to the one segment, the proximal surface and the distal surface each extending from the outer rim of the respective intermediate segment to a hinge member of the hinge members, the pull-wire extending through the pull-wire passages,
- wherein the one intermediate segment comprises a distal abutment portion and the another intermediate segment comprises a proximal abutment portion,
- wherein the pull-wire is configured to cause the distal abutment portion of the one intermediate segment and the proximal abutment portion of the another intermediate segment to abut each other at a location intermediate the outer rims and the hinge member to maintain apart the outer rim of the one intermediate segment from the outer rim of the another intermediate segment, a sheath pocket being formed between the outer rims, the distal abutment portion and the proximal abutment portion when the distal abutment portion and the proximal abutment portion abut each other,
- wherein each of the pull-wire passages comprises a radially outward peripheral portion and a radially inward peripheral portion radially opposite the radially outward peripheral portion, the radially outward peripheral portion limiting radially outward movement of the pull-wire,
- wherein the radially outward peripheral portion of the pull-wire passage is radially inward of the sheath pocket to prevent contact between the pull-wire and the sheath,
- wherein the distal abutment portion of the one intermediate segment and the proximal abutment portion of the another intermediate segment abut each other when the articulated bending section body is bent at a maximum angle of the first bending plane, and
- wherein when the articulated bending section body is bent at the maximum angle of the first bending plane a gap is formed between the outer rim of the one intermediate segment and the outer rim of the another intermediate segment, and wherein the sheath extends through the gap and into the sheath pocket no further than the location where the distal abutment portion of the one intermediate segment and the proximal abutment portion of the another intermediate segment abut.
8 more elements
A system comprising:
- an endoscope;
- and
- a display unit connectable to said endoscope,
- wherein the endoscope comprises:
- an articulated bending section body including segments interconnected by hinge members on a first bending plane, the segments including a proximal segment, a distal segment and intermediate segments arranged between the proximal segment and the distal segment,
- a sheath positioned over the articulated bending section body;
- and
- a pull-wire,
- wherein each intermediate segment comprises a pull-wire passage, an outer rim, a distal surface and a proximal surface, the distal surface of one intermediate segment facing the proximal surface of another segment positioned adjacent to the one segment, the proximal surface and the distal surface each extending from the outer rim of the respective intermediate segment to a hinge member of the hinge members, the pull-wire extending through the pull-wire passages,
- wherein the one intermediate segment comprises a distal abutment portion and the another intermediate segment comprises a proximal abutment portion,
- wherein the pull-wire is configured to cause the distal abutment portion of the one intermediate segment and the proximal abutment portion of the another intermediate segment to abut each other at a location intermediate the outer rims and the hinge member to maintain apart the outer rim of the one intermediate segment from the outer rim of the another intermediate segment, a sheath pocket being formed between the outer rims, the distal abutment portion and the proximal abutment portion when the distal abutment portion and the proximal abutment portion abut each other,
- wherein each of the pull-wire passages comprises a radially outward peripheral portion and a radially inward peripheral portion radially opposite the radially outward peripheral portion, the radially outward peripheral portion limiting radially outward movement of the pull-wire,
- wherein the radially outward peripheral portion of the pull-wire passage is radially inward of the sheath pocket to prevent contact between the pull-wire and the sheath,
- wherein when the distal abutment portion of the one intermediate segment and the proximal abutment portion of the another intermediate segment abut each other when the articulated bending section body is bent at a maximum angle of the first bending plane,
- wherein when the articulated bending section body is bent at the maximum angle of the first bending plane a gap is formed between the outer rim of the one intermediate segment and the outer rim of the another intermediate segment, and
- wherein the sheath extends through the gap no further than the location where the distal abutment portion of the one intermediate segment and the proximal abutment portion of the another intermediate segment abut.
13 more elements
An endoscope comprising:
- an articulated bending section body including segments interconnected by hinge members on a first bending plane, the segments including a proximal segment, a distal segment and intermediate segments arranged between the proximal segment and the distal segment,
- a sheath positioned over the articulated bending section body;
- and
- a pull-wire,
- wherein each intermediate segment comprises a pull-wire passage, an outer rim, a distal surface and a proximal surface, the distal surface of one intermediate segment facing the proximal surface of another segment positioned adjacent to the one segment, the proximal surface and the distal surface each extending from the outer rim of the respective intermediate segment to a hinge member of the hinge members, the pull-wire extending through the pull-wire passages,
- wherein the one intermediate segment comprises a distal abutment portion and the another intermediate segment comprises a proximal abutment portion,
- wherein the pull-wire is configured to cause the distal abutment portion of the one intermediate segment and the proximal abutment portion of the another intermediate segment to abut each other at a location intermediate the outer rims and the hinge member to maintain apart the outer rim of the one intermediate segment from the outer rim of the another intermediate segment, a sheath pocket being formed between the outer rims, the distal abutment portion and the proximal abutment portion when the distal abutment portion and the proximal abutment portion abut each other,
- wherein each of the pull-wire passages comprises a radially outward peripheral portion and a radially inward peripheral portion radially opposite the radially outward peripheral portion, the radially outward peripheral portion limiting radially outward movement of the pull-wire, and
- wherein the radially outward peripheral portion of the pull-wire passage is radially inward of the sheath pocket to prevent contact between the pull-wire and the sheath,
- wherein the pull-wire passage of the one intermediate segment comprises an opening at the distal abutment portion and the pull-wire passage of the another intermediate segment comprises an opening at the proximal abutment portion.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.