# US 7,611,457 B2 · Front end structure of endoscope

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- Number: US 7,611,457 B2
- Document ID: US7611457B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/331,177
- Filed: 2006-01-13
- Published: 2006-07-20
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2005-01-14
- Assignees: Hoya Corporation
- Inventors: Teruo Ouchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611457B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/0051: {with controlled bending of insertion part}
- A61B 1/0008: {characterised by distal tip features}
- A61B 1/00089: {Hoods}
- A61B 1/31: for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes or sigmoidoscopes
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An endoscope having an inserted portion, which is to be inserted into a tubular organ, including a bendable portion that is adapted to bend arbitrarily by a remote operation and a distal unit with a window for observation to capture an image of inside the tubular organ, is provided. A plurality of grooves are formed in parallel with an axis of the distal unit on a circumferential surface of the distal unit and the grooves are spaced from each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope comprising:
an inserted portion, which is to be inserted into a tubular organ, including a bendable portion that is adapted to bend arbitrarily by a remote operation and a distal unit with a window for observation to capture an image of inside the tubular organ,
wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in parallel with an axis of the distal unit on an outer peripheral surface of the distal unit and extend entirely across the axis along the outer peripheral surface of the distal unit, and are spaced from each other, each of the plurality of grooves having a depth,
wherein the distal unit is configured to hook a crease of an organ and to advance the inserted portion,
wherein an outer diameter of the distal unit is configured to be greater than an outer diameter of the bendable portion,
wherein a step having a height is formed at a boundary of the bendable portion and the distal unit, and
wherein the depth of each of the plurality of grooves is equal to the height of the step.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential surface of the distal unit is formed to be tapered.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of grooves is an arc.

### Claim 4

An endoscope comprising:
an inserted portion, which is to be inserted into a tubular organ, including a bendable portion that is adapted to bend arbitrarily by a remote operation and a distal unit with a window for observation to capture an image of inside the tubular organ,
wherein the distal unit is provided with a tubular hood that protrudes forwardly from an edge of the distal unit,
wherein a plurality of grooves are formed perpendicularly to a diameter of the tubular hood and extend entirely along an outer peripheral surface of the tubular hood, and are spaced from each other, each of the plurality of grooves having a depth,
wherein the tubular hood is configured to hook a crease of an organ and to advance the inserted portion,
wherein an outer diameter of the tubular hood is configured to be greater than an outer diameter of the bendable portion,
wherein a step having a height is formed at a boundary of the bendable portion and the tubular hood, and
wherein the depth of each of the plurality of grooves is equal to the height of the step.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein a cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of grooves is an arc.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the height of the step is between 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal unit is between three grooves and twelve grooves.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the height of the step is between 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular hood is between three grooves and twelve grooves.