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US 5,203,380 AGranted
Bending device
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Machida Seisakusho
InventorToshio Chikama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bending device for use in an endoscope, a catheter or the like is of a simple construction having a coil, an operating wire and a pair of limitation members for limiting an axial compression of the coil. The pair of limitation members are arranged along the length of the coil, and are mounted respectively on diametrically-opposite portions of the coil. The coil is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the pair of limitation members are disposed. Instead of the coil, a bellows can be used.
Claims5
A bending device comprising:
- (a) a coil having an internal space therein, and comprising a number of turn portions juxtaposed in a direction of an axis of said coil;
- (b) means for bending said coil comprising an operating wire, said means for bending said coil having a proximal end portion adapted to receive an operating force, said means for bending said coil having a distal end portion substantially fixed to a distal end portion of said coil;
- and
- (c) at least one pair of limitation members extending in an axial direction of said coil and mounted respectively on diametrically-opposite portions of said coil, said limitation members engaging said turn portions of said coil to keep said turn portions at substantially constant intervals, and said coil being bendable in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which said pair of limitation members are disposed.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.