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US 6,585,641 B1Granted
Transesophageal probe with variable stiffness
AssigneeGE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
InventorDag Jordfald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transesophageal probe with variable stiffness has a probe head connected to a distal end of an endoscope. A flexible tube is secured to the endoscope. Finally, a semi-rigid rod is slidably disposed within the flexible tube. Advancing or retracting the semi-rigid rod within the flexible tube allows the operator to vary the stiffness of the transesophageal probe.
Claims18
A transesophageal probe with variable stiffness comprising:
- an endoscope;
- a probe head connected to a distal end of the endoscope;
- a flexible tube secured entirely within the outer surface of the endoscope;
- and
- a semi-rigid rod slidably disposed within the flexible tube.
2 more elements
A transesophageal probe with variable stiffness comprising:
- an endoscope having an articulation section;
- a probe head connected to a distal end to the endoscope;
- a flexible tube secured entirely within the outer surface of the endoscope;
- and
- a semi-rigid rod slidably disposed within the flexible tube.
2 more elements
A method of using a transesophageal probe with variable stiffness
- comprising the steps of:
- inserting into a patient an endoscope having a probe head connected to a distal end of the endoscope and having a flexible tube secured entirely within the outer surface of the endoscope;
- and
- advancing a semi-rigid rod within the flexible tube to make the endoscope more stiff.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.