Flexible pressure resistant cover for the articulation system of a medical instrument
AssigneeACMI Corporation
InventorsGregory Konstorum, Ed Grabover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A deflection cover for a medical endoscope comprises a tubular covering that protects the articulation system of an endoscope during sterilization procedures where pressure differentials are generated. The deflection cover is of a single layer of a selected material whose properties provide the deflection cover with adequate flexibility, thinness, and strength for use on a medical endoscope. The deflection cover may include a reinforcement structure, such as a helically oriented thread, to increase the tube's pressure resistance without impeding the tube's longitudinal flexibility, which is needed to allow the articulation system in the endoscope to deflect through its intended range of motion.
Claims29
An endoscope including an elongate flexible shaft assembly and an articulation system therein for deflecting a distal portion of the shaft, the deflectable distal portion of the shaft being surrounded by a deflection cover substantially coextensive with the deflectable portion of the shaft, the deflection cover being incorporated onto the shaft assembly so as to be adjacent at least a section of shaft tubing, the deflection cover comprising:
- a tubular covering having a ratio of OD/T of at least about 15, the tubular covering comprising a biocompatible polymer material having a pressure resistance of at least about 9 psi.
An endoscope including an elongate flexible shaft assembly and an articulation system therein for deflecting a distal portion of the shaft, the deflectable distal portion of the shaft being surrounded by a deflection cover substantially coextensive with the deflectable portion of the shaft, the deflection cover being incorporated onto the shaft assembly so as to be adjacent at least a section of shaft tubing, the deflection cover comprising:
- a tubular covering composed of a single layer of a biocompatible polymer material having a pressure resistance of at least about 9 psi, the deflection cover being more expandable in the longitudinal dimension than in the radial dimension.
An endoscope including an elongate flexible shaft assembly and an articulation system therein for deflecting a distal portion of the shaft, the deflectable distal portion of the shaft being surrounded by a deflection cover substantially coextensive with the deflectable portion of the shaft and being substantially free of overlying shaft tubing, the deflection cover being incorporated onto the shaft assembly so as to be adjacent at least a section of shaft tubing, the deflection cover comprising a tubing that is more expandable in the longitudinal dimension than in the radial dimension, the deflection cover being pressure resistant in a water bath evaluation at about 5 psi, and the deflection cover being deflectable by the articulation system to an angle of at least about 90°.
An endoscope comprising a flexible shaft assembly having a deflectable distal portion, the deflectable distal portion including an underlying articulation system, the deflectable distal portion of the shaft assembly being substantially covered by a deflection cover and being substantially free of overlying shaft tubing, the deflection cover comprising a flexible tubular covering having a ratio of OD/T of at least about 15, and comprising a biocompatible polymer material having a pressure resistance of at least about 9 psi.
An endoscope comprising a flexible shaft assembly having a deflectable distal portion, the deflectable distal portion including an underlying articulation system, the deflectable distal portion of the shaft assembly being substantially covered by a deflection cover and being substantially free of overlying shaft tubing, the deflection cover comprising a single layer of biocompatible tubing, wherein the deflection cover comprises a tubing that is more expandable in the longitudinal dimension than in the radial dimension.
An endoscope comprising a flexible shaft assembly, including a shaft tube and underlying articulation system, a distal end portion of the shaft tube comprising a deflection cover, the deflection cover,being substantially incorporated in the shaft assembly between an objective lens of the endoscope and a section of shaft tubing, the deflection cover comprising a single layer of tubing that is more expandable in the longitudinal dimension than in the radial dimension, the deflection cover being pressure resistant in a water bath evaluation at about 5 psi, the deflection cover being deflectable by the articulation system to an angle of at least about 90°, the tubing being about 20 to about 300 mm in length.
An endoscope comprising a flexible shaft assembly having a deflectable distal portion, the deflectable distal portion including an underlying articulation system, the deflectable distal portion of the shaft assembly being substantially covered by a deflection cover and being substantially free of overlying shaft tubing, the deflection cover comprising a single layer of biocompatible tubing, wherein the endoscope is free of pressure relief valves for protecting an endoscope during sterilization procedures, and wherein the deflection cover is composed of a tubing that is more expandable in the longitudinal dimension than in the radial dimension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.