Back to results
US 6,551,239 B2Granted
Shaft for a flexible endoscope and flexible endoscope
AssigneeKarl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsMartin Renner, Uwe Bacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shaft is provided for a flexible endoscope. The shaft has a tubular mantle whose outer surface contacts a body tissue of a patient during use of said endoscope. The outer surface of said shaft is microscopically roughened, for example by sand blasting.
Claims33
A shaft adapted for a flexible endoscope, comprising:
- a tube having an outer surface adapted to be in contact with a body tissue of a patient;
- and
- said outer surface includes a plurality of depressions of microscopic width, depth, and length;
- wherein said plurality of depressions reduces friction as said tube slides along the body tissue.
1 more element
A flexible endoscope having a shaft, comprising:
- a tube having an outer surface adapted to be in contact with a body tissue of a patient;
- and
- said outer surface includes a plurality of depressions of microscopic width, depth, and length;
- wherein said plurality of depressions reduces friction as said tube slides along the body tissue.
1 more element
A shaft adapted for a flexible endoscope, comprising:
- a tube having an outer surface adapted to be in contact with a body tissue of a patient;
- said outer surface includes a plurality of depressions;
- and
- said plurality of depressions have an average roughness value of approximately 0.1 μm to approximately 1.6 μm;
- wherein said plurality of depressions reduces friction as said tube slides along the body tissue.
2 more elements
A method for providing a shaft adapted for a flexible endoscope, comprising the steps of:
- providing a tube having an outer surface adapted to be in contact with a body tissue of patent;
- and
- providing a plurality of depressions of microscopic width, depth, and length on the outer surface;
- wherein said plurality of depressions reduces friction as said tube slides along the body tissue.
1 more element
A method for providing a flexible endoscope having a shaft, comprising the steps of:
- providing a tube having an outer surface adapted to be in contact with a body tissue of a patient;
- and
- providing a plurality of depressions of microscopic width, depth, and length on the outer surface;
- wherein said plurality of depressions reduces friction as said tube slides along the body tissue.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.