Extension pull through device to allow for easier passage of flexible fiber endoscope
OwnerJohn G. Nagelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible endoscope having a fiber bundle for transmitting optical images from a distal end where an object to be viewed is located to a proximal end where an image of the object can be viewed by an operator. The endoscope incorporates a mechanism for advancing the endoscope toward the object to be viewed.
Claims33
An endoscope having a distal end and a proximal end for viewing remote areas by transferring an image from the distal end where the object for viewing is located to the proximal end where the image transferred can be viewed by an operator comprising:
- 1. a flexible fiber optical bundle comprised of light conducting fibers,
- 2. at least a portion of the fiber optical bundle being arranged at the distal end to define an optical face for receiving an image and transferring that image to the proximal end of the endoscope,
- 3. means at the proximal end of the endoscope for viewing the image transferred from the face of the distal end, and
- moving means at said distal end operable from the proximal end for tractively advancing the endoscope progressively into a passage, said moving means including a small rigid portion fixedly attached at the distal end, a movable pilot section which is slidably engaged with the rigid portion of the distal end, and said moving means further includes means for moving the pilot section relative to the rigid portion and alternately moving the rigid portion relative to the pilot section such that the distal end of the endoscope can be tractively advanced into a passage.
For use with an endoscope having a flexible optical fiber bundle comprised of light conducting fibers, a portable attachment having means for securing the endoscope to said attachment, said attachment having a distal end and a proximal end and means at its distal end for advancing the attached endoscope into the passage desired to be viewed, said attachment having remote control means at its proximal end for remotely operating said advancing means at the distal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.