US5810718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes
Assignee: Fujinon Corp
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Filing: 1998-02-03
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Granted: 1998-09-22
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Expires: 2018-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes functions to prevent a liquid, etc. remaining in aspiration tubes from adhering or penetrating to or into other tubes, and avoid increasing surplus cleaning and sterilizing works. Aspiration tubes have protruding lengths longer than those of air feeding tubes and water feeding tubes in couplers of an endoscope which is configured to couple a tube unit with a control section by way of a faucet joint and control rings. All these tubes are arranged so as to protrude from wall surfaces. When a positioning key and a key groove which also serve for restricting rotation are to be disposed, this key is configured longer than the aspiration tubes. This coupler structure allows the air feeding tube and the water feeding tube to have been already pulled out when the aspiration tube is pulled out, thereby preventing soiled water, etc. flowing out of the aspiration tubes from adhering to or penetrating into the air feeding tubes and water feeding tubes. The protruding structure also serves for preventing soiled water, etc. from flowing into the tubes.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruo Akiba
- 👤 Seiki Yamaguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/12; A61B1/00112; A61B1/00121; A61B1/00128; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2476; A61B1/04; A61B1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes comprising: an endoscope main unit in which various kinds of tubes including aspiration tubes are arranged; a tube unit in which tubes to be connected to the tubes on the side of the main unit are arranged; and couplers which detachably couple the tubes on the side of said main unit to the tubes on the side of said tube unit, wherein said aspiration tubes for said coupler have protruding lengths longer than those of the other tubes so that said aspiration tubes are pulled out last when said tube unit is detached from said main unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes comprising: an endoscope main unit in which various kinds of tubes including aspiration tubes are arranged; a tube unit in which tubes to be connected to the tubes on the side of the main unit are arranged; and couplers which detachably couple the tubes on the side of said main unit to the tubes on the side of said tube unit, wherein said aspiration tubes for said coupler have protruding lengths longer than those of the other tubes so that said aspiration tubes are pulled out last when said tube unit is detached from said main unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes according to claim 1, wherein a positioning member which restricts rotation and determines a position of the coupler is disposed in the coupler of said main unit or said tube unit, and this positioning member is longer than the tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes according to claim 1, wherein airtightness maintaining members for said coupler are disposed on the tubes on the side of said tube unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes according to claim 1, wherein back flow preventive means is disposed in a tube of the coupler on the side of said tube unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes comprising: an endoscope main unit in which various kinds of tubes are arranged; a tube unit in which tubes to be connected to the tubes on a side of said main unit are arranged; and couplers which detachably couple the tubes on the side of said main unit to the tubes on a side of said tube unit, wherein the tubes on the sides of said main unit and said tube unit are arranged so as to protrude from mounting wall surfaces in said couplers and protruding portions of the tubes are coupled with each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes comprising: an endoscope main unit in which various kinds of tubes are arranged; a tube unit in which tubes to be connected to the tubes on a side of said main unit are arranged; and couplers which detachably couple the tubes on the side of said main unit to the tubes on a side of said tube unit, wherein the tubes on the sides of said main unit and said tube unit are arranged so as to protrude from mounting wall surfaces in said couplers and protruding portions of the tubes are coupled with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes according to claim 5, wherein airtightness maintaining members for said coupler are disposed on the tubes on the side of said tube unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes according to claim 5, wherein back flow preventive means are disposed over the tubes in the coupler on the side of said tube unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A coupler structure for tube units of endoscopes according to claim 5, wherein aspiration tubes and other tubes are disposed as said various kinds of tubes and protruding tips of the aspiration tubes are disposed at locations different from those of the other tubes in both of said couplers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-21 | 2002-03-23 | 2002-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-21 | 2006-03-23 | 2006-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-21 | 2010-03-23 | 2010-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |