US 6,673,011 B1 · Apparatus for testing and evaluating the condition of endoscopes

Abstract

An apparatus for testing and evaluating the condition of an endoscope. The apparatus includes a guide tube dimensioned to accommodate an endoscope, the guide tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis. The apparatus also includes a lens assembly at the proximal end, the lens assembly defining an eyepiece, and an endoscope support disposed in the guide tube. The lens assembly has an optical axis aligned with the guide tube axis. The endoscope support is slidably movable within the guide tube along the guide tube axis. The apparatus may also include a manually-operable device to aid in moving the endoscope support, such as a ratchet wheel rotatably disposed in a wall of the guide tube which engages a groove disposed along a length of the endoscope support, such that when the ratchet wheel is manually rotated, the endoscope support is moved within the guide tube.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for inspecting and evaluating the condition of the lenses of an endoscope, said endoscope including a plurality of lenses, said apparatus comprising:

a hollow guide dimensioned to substantially completely house an endoscope, said guide having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis;
a lens assembly disposed in said guide at said proximal end, said lens assembly defining an eyepiece, said lens assembly having an optical axis;
and
an endoscope support disposed within said guide, said endoscope support and said lens assembly aligned with each other in the direction of the optical axis of the lens assembly and movable relative to each other over a distance to permit inspection of each one of said plurality of lenses.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for testing and evaluating the condition of endoscopes

Life of this patent

Apparatus for testing and evaluating the condition of endoscopes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14