Disposable endoscope drive
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorChenghao Bi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The technology relates to an endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end with a steerable distal tip. The endoscope may include a motor positioned within an interior of the endoscope, the motor comprising an axle; a drum connected to the axle such that rotation of the axle causes rotation of the drum; an anchoring cylinder affixed to an interior surface of the endoscope; a first pull wire coupled to the drum and affixed to the anchoring cylinder, such that rotation of the drum in a first direction causes the first pull wire to wind around the drum; and a second pull wire coupled to the drum and affixed to the anchoring cylinder, such that rotation of the drum in a second direction causes the second pull wire to wind around the drum.
Claims15
An endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end with a steerable distal tip, the endoscope comprising:
- a motor positioned within an interior of the endoscope, the motor comprising an axle aligned substantially parallel to a long axis of the endoscope;
- a drum connected to the axle such that rotation of the axle causes rotation of the drum about an axis parallel to the long axis of the endoscope;
- an anchoring cylinder affixed to an interior surface of the endoscope;
- a first pull wire coupled to the drum and affixed to the anchoring cylinder, such that rotation of the drum in a first direction causes the first pull wire to wind around the drum;
- and
- a second pull wire coupled to the drum and affixed to the anchoring cylinder, such that rotation of the drum in a second direction causes the second pull wire to wind around the drum.
An endoscope comprising:
- a proximal end housing a drive system;
- a distal end including a steerable distal tip;
- a first pull wire having a proximal end, coupled to the drive system, and a distal end affixed to the steerable distal tip;
- and
- a second pull wire having a proximal end, coupled to the drive system, and a distal end affixed to the steerable distal tip;
- wherein the drive system comprises:
- a motor positioned within an interior of the endoscope, the motor comprising an axle aligned substantially parallel to a long axis of the endoscope;
- a drum connected to the axle such that rotation of the axle causes rotation of the drum about an axis parallel to the long axis of the endoscope, wherein:
- the proximal ends of the first pull wire and the second pull wire are coupled to the drum;
- rotation of the drum in a first direction causes the distal tip to bend in a first direction;
- and
- rotation of the drum in a second direction causes the distal tip to bend in a second direction.
A drive system housed within an endoscope, the drive system comprising:
- a first motor comprising a first axle aligned substantially parallel to a long axis of the endoscope;
- a first drum connected to the first axle such that rotation of the first axle causes rotation of the first drum, wherein the first drum comprises a first winding port to receive a first pull wire and a second winding port to receive a second pull wire;
- a first anchoring cylinder comprising a first anchoring port to receive the first pull wire and a second anchoring port to receive the second pull wire;
- a second motor positioned proximal from the first motor, comprising a second axle aligned substantially parallel to a long axis of the endoscope;
- a second drum connected to the second axle such that rotation of the second axle causes rotation of the second drum, wherein the second drum comprises a third winding port to receive a third pull wire and a fourth winding port to receive a fourth pull wire;
- and
- a second anchoring cylinder comprising a third anchoring port to receive the third pull wire and a fourth anchoring port to receive the fourth pull wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.