# US 2010/0168519 A1 · Endoscope Flexible Tube and Endoscope Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0168519 A1 - Document ID: US20100168519A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/884,340 - Filed: 2006-02-10 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-14 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Shigeki Matsuo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168519A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/0055: {Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements} - A61B 1/00071: {Insertion part of the endoscope body (A61B1/0055 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/00078: {with stiffening means} - G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports} - G02B 23/26: using light guides {(for illumination G02B23/2469)} - A61B 1/31: for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes or sigmoidoscopes - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract In an endoscope flexible tube and an endoscope device of the present invention, an endoscope flexible tube which exhibits flexibility to be inserted into a body cavity includes a bending portion formed at a distal end side, a first flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the bending portion, and a second flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the first flexible tube portion. When the bending portion and the first flexible tube portion pass a flexed portion of the body cavity, a curvature radius of the first flexible tube portion which is passively bent under a predetermined force is set to be larger than a curvature radius of the bending portion in a maximum bent state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscope flexible tube which exhibits flexibility to be inserted into a body cavity, comprising: a bending portion formed at a distal end side; a first flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the bending portion; and a second flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the first flexible tube portion, wherein when the bending portion and the first flexible tube portion pass a flexed portion of the body cavity, a curvature radius of the first flexible tube portion which is passively bent under a predetermined force is set to be larger than a curvature radius of the bending portion in a maximum bent state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein upon passing the flexed portion of the body cavity, the portion of a proximal end side of the first flexible tube portion which is passively bent under the predetermined force has the curvature radius set to be larger than the curvature radius of a portion of a distal end side of the first flexible tube portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein the curvature radius of the first flexible tube portion is set to vary stepwise or substantially continuously from the distal end side to the proximal end side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the first flexible tube portion is set to be bent at the curvature radius which is substantially the same as that of the bending portion under the predetermined force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein a proximal end portion of the first flexible tube portion is set to be in a maximum bent state at the curvature radius which is substantially the same as that of the second flexible tube portion under the predetermined force. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible tube portion contains a plurality of curvature regulation bodies each formed of a cylindrical rigid member therein, and has adjacent curvature regulation bodies rotatably pivoted such that each circumference of the plurality of curvature regulation bodies is in an abutment state so as to regulate the curvature radius of the first flexible tube portion to be brought into the maximum bent state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein a helical tube formed of helically formed belt-like members is inserted into the first flexible tube portion such that each side surface of the belt-like members is brought into an abutment state to regulate the curvature radius of the first flexible tube to be brought into a maximum bent state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 6, wherein an outer circumference of the first flexible tube portion is covered with an outer coat which exhibits a flexural rigidity substantially the same as or smaller than the flexural rigidity of a cylindrical first outer member which covers an outer circumference of the bending portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein the flexural rigidity of the first flexible tube portion serves to regulate the curvature radius thereof under the predetermined or lower force. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 9, wherein the flexural rigidity of the first flexible tube portion is set based on the flexural rigidity of the outer coat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 9, wherein the flexural rigidity of the first flexible tube portion is set based on the flexural rigidity of a long bar-like member which is inserted into the first flexible tube member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined force is 2 kg. ### Claim 13 An endoscope flexible tube which exhibits flexibility to be inserted into a body cavity, comprising: a bending Portion formed at a distal end side which is brought into a maximum bent state with a first curvature radius; a first flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the bending portion, which is brought into the maximum bent state with a second curvature radius; and a second flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the first flexible tube portion, wherein the second curvature radius is set to be larger than the first curvature radius. ### Claim 14 An endoscope flexible tube which exhibits flexibility to be inserted into a body cavity, comprising: a bending portion formed at a distal end side which is brought into a maximum bent state with a first curvature radius: a first flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the bending portion, which is brought into a maximum bent state with a second curvature radius larger than the first curvature radius; and a second flexible tube portion connected in series to a proximal end of the first flexible tube portion, which is brought into a maximum bent state with a third curvature radius larger than the second curvature radius. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 13, wherein the curvature radius of the first flexible tube at a side of the proximal end portion in the maximum bent state is set to be larger than the curvature radius at a side of a distal end portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 13, wherein the curvature radius of the first flexible tube portion in the maximum bent state is set to vary stepwise or continuously from the distal end to the proximal end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 13, wherein the distal end portion of the first flexible tube portion in the maximum bent state has the curvature radius which is substantially the same as the first curvature radius. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 13, wherein the proximal end portion of the first flexible tube portion in the maximum bent state has the curvature radius which is substantially the same as the third curvature radius. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The endoscope device comprising an endoscope flexible tube according to claim 1. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 14, wherein the curvature radius of the first flexible tube at a side of the proximal end portion in the maximum bent state is set to be larger than the curvature radius at a side of a distal end portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 14, wherein the curvature radius of the first flexible tube portion in the maximum bent state is set to vary stepwise or continuously from the distal end to the proximal end. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 14, wherein the distal end portion of the first flexible tube portion in the maximum bent state has the curvature radius which is substantially the same as the first curvature radius. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The endoscope flexible tube according to claim 14, wherein the proximal end portion of the first flexible tube portion in the maximum bent state has the curvature radius which is substantially the same as the third curvature radius. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The endoscope device comprising an endoscope flexible tube according to claim 13. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The endoscope device comprising an endoscope flexible tube according to claim 14.