# US 2014/0155697 A1 · Flexible tubular portion of endoscope and endoscope having this flexible tubular portion

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- Number: US 2014/0155697 A1
- Document ID: US20140155697A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/173,192
- Filed: 2014-02-05
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-04
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Applicants: Olympus Corporation
- Inventors: Taro IEDE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155697A1

## CPC

- A61B 1/0055: {Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements}
- A61B 1/00064: {Constructional details of the endoscope body}
- A61B 1/00071: {Insertion part of the endoscope body (A61B1/0055 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/005: Flexible endoscopes
- A61B 1/0051: {with controlled bending of insertion part}
- A61B 1/0057: {Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires}
- A61B 2017/003: {Steerable}
- A61B 2017/00305: {Constructional details of the flexible means}
- A61B 2017/00309: {Cut-outs or slits}
- G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A flexible tubular portion of an endoscope includes a spiral tube portion. The spiral tube portion includes a closely wound portion to at least a part of which an initial tension is applied, and a sparsely wound portion provided at least at one end of the closely wound portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flexible tubular portion of an endoscope including a spiral tube portion,
wherein the spiral tube portion comprising:
a closely wound portion to at least a part of which an initial tension is applied, and
a sparsely wound portion provided at least at one end of the closely wound portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the closely wound portion and the sparsely wound portion are alternately provided along a axial direction of the spiral tube portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the number of turns of at least one of the closely wound portion and the sparsely wound portion is configured to change in the axial direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of at least one of the closely wound portion and the sparsely wound portion is configured to change in the axial direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the sparsely wound portion is provided at least at one of a distal end of the spiral tube portion and a proximal end of the spiral tube portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the initial tension is configured to change in a axial direction of the closely wound portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of a wire of the closely wound portion in a axial direction of the closely wound portion is configured to change in the axial direction of the closely wound portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a wire of the closely wound portion has at least one of a rectangular shape, an oval shape, a circular shape, and an elliptic shape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An endoscope comprising the flexible tubular portion of the endoscope according to claim 1.