# US 12,599,385 B2 · Endoscope system and endoscopic ligator attachment method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,599,385 B2 - Document ID: US12599385B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/115,937 - Filed: 2023-03-01 - Published: 2023-09-07 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-02 - Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp. - Applicants: Olympus Medical Systems Corp. - Inventors: Seiji Iwasaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12599385B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/00087: {Tools (A61B17/00234 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/12013: {for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - A61B 1/00101: {the distal tip features being detachable} - A61B 1/00133: {Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope} - A61B 1/00137: {End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs} - A61B 1/0014: {Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands} - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - A61B 2017/00296: {mounted on an endoscope} - A61B 2017/0034: {adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope} - A61B 2017/00358: {Snares for grasping} - A61B 2017/12018: {Elastic band ligators} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An endoscope system of the disclosure includes an endoscope including an insertion section, and a coupling thread extending along the insertion section. The coupling thread includes a coupling portion at a distal end of the coupling thread, and a thread portion extending proximally from the coupling portion. The endoscope system includes a distal end cover on a distal end portion of the insertion section. At least a part of the distal end cover moves on an outer surface of the distal end portion. The distal end cover partially covers the coupling portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope system, comprising: an endoscope; and an endoscope attachment, wherein the endoscope attachment includes: a distal end cover configured to be attached on a distal end portion of an insertion section of an endoscope, and a coupling thread configured to move between a first state and a second state, wherein the coupling thread includes; a coupling portion at a distal end of the coupling thread, and a thread portion extending proximally from the coupling portion, wherein the distal end cover is attached on to the distal end portion of the insertion section of the endoscope, wherein the distal end portion includes a groove, wherein, in the first state; a distal portion of the coupling portion contacts an inner circumferential surface of the distal end cover, and the distal portion of the coupling portion is attached to the groove, wherein the distal end cover includes a slit having a first length, wherein a length in a longitudinal axis direction that the distal portion of the coupling portion is attached to the distal end portion of the insertion section defines a second length, and wherein the first length is equivalent to or greater than the second length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the groove is located on one or more of a circumferential side surface of the distal end portion or a distal end surface of the distal end portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the distal end cover includes a cutout portion, and wherein an area of the cutout portion is a first area, an area of the groove on a circumferential side surface of the distal end portion is a second area, and a size of the first area is equivalent to or larger than a size of the second area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein, in the first state, the distal portion of the coupling portion is attached to the distal end portion, wherein, in the second state, the distal portion of the coupling portion is released from the distal end portion, and wherein the distal end cover is movable relative to a circumferential side surface of the distal end portion to change between the first state and the second state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the cutout portion has a shape corresponding to a shape of a region on the circumferential side surface of the distal end portion where the groove is provided. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the distal end cover rotates around an insertion axis of the insertion section relative to the distal end portion to change between the first state and the second state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein, in the first state, a proximal end of the coupling thread is inserted through a treatment instrument channel of the insertion section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein, in the first state, the distal end of the coupling thread is on an outer surface of the insertion section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein, in the first state, a position of the distal portion of the coupling thread in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the insertion section is between an outer surface of the insertion section of the endoscope and the inner circumferential surface of the distal end cover. ### Claim 10 An endoscope system, comprising: an endoscope; and an endoscope attachment, wherein the endoscope attachment includes: a distal end cover configured to be attached on a distal end portion of an insertion section of an endoscope, and a coupling thread configured to move between a first state and a second state, wherein the coupling thread includes; a coupling portion at a distal end of the coupling thread, and a thread portion extending proximally from the coupling portion, wherein the distal end cover is attached on to the distal end portion of the insertion section of the endoscope, wherein the distal end portion includes a groove, wherein, in the first state; a distal portion of the coupling portion contacts an inner circumferential surface of the distal end cover, and the distal portion of the coupling portion is attached to the groove, wherein the distal end cover includes a slit having a first length, wherein a longest part of the groove in a longitudinal axis direction of the insertion section defines a second length, and wherein the first length is equivalent to or greater than the second length. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The endoscope system according to claim 10, wherein the groove is located on one or more of a circumferential side surface of the distal end portion or a distal end surface of the distal end portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The endoscope system according to claim 10, wherein the distal end cover includes a cutout portion, and wherein an area of the cutout portion is a first area, an area of the groove on a circumferential side surface of the distal end portion is a second area, and a size of the first area is equivalent to or larger than a size of the second area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The endoscope system according to claim 12, wherein, in the first state, the distal portion of the coupling portion is attached to the distal end portion, wherein, in the second state, the distal portion of the coupling portion is released from the distal end portion, and wherein the distal end cover is movable relative to a circumferential side surface of the distal end portion to change between the first state and the second state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The endoscope system according to claim 12, wherein the cutout portion has a shape corresponding to a shape of a region on the circumferential side surface of the distal end portion where the groove is provided. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The endoscope system according to claim 12, wherein the distal end cover rotates around an insertion axis of the insertion section relative to the distal end portion to change between the first state and the second state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The endoscope system according to claim 10, wherein, in the first state, a proximal end of the coupling thread is inserted through a treatment instrument channel of the insertion section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The endoscope system according to claim 10, wherein, in the first state, the distal end of the coupling thread is on an outer surface of the insertion section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The endoscope system according to claim 10, wherein, in the first state, a position of the distal portion of the coupling thread in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the insertion section is between an outer surface of the insertion section of the endoscope and the inner circumferential surface of the distal end cover.