US6623424B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible tube for an endoscope and electronic endoscope equipped with the flexible tube
Assignee: Hoya Corp
•
Filing: 2001-08-31
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Granted: 2003-09-23
•
Expires: 2021-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A flexible tube for an endoscope which has excellent insertion operability is disclosed. The flexible tube includes and an elongated flexible tubular body constructed from a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body and formed into a laminated structure having a plurality of layers. The tubular body is formed with a plurality of easily bendable portions which are provided in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portion being adapted to bend locally with a smaller curvature radius when the flexible tube is bent in one direction. The average interval between the adjacent easily bendable portions is preferably in the range 50-400 mm. The easily bendable portions is formed by locally changing the flexural rigidity of the outer cover. For example, it is formed by changing the thickness of at least one layer of the laminated structure of the outer cover at a position corresponding to the easily bendable portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinji Hayakawa
- 👤 Akira Sugiyama
- 👤 Masaru Takeshige
- 👤 Tadashi Kasai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/00078; A61B1/00131; A61B1/00135; A61B1/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent in one specified direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent in one specified direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the average interval between the adjacent easily bendable portions is in the range 50-400 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the average of the curvature radius of each of said easily bendable portions is defined as R 1 and the curvature radius of a center portion lying between said adjacent easily bendable portions is defined as R 2 , the value of the ratio R 1 /R 2 in the bending state lies in the range of 0.2-0.9.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible tubular body includes a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body, the outer cover being formed into either of a single layer structure or a laminated structure having a plurality of layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 4 , wherein each of said easily bendable portions is formed by locally changing the flexural rigidity of the outer cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one of said easily bendable portions is formed by changing the thickness of at least one layer of the laminated structure of the outer cover at a position corresponding to the easily bendable portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the outer cover has a portion which is made of a material including at least one kind of material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane-based elastomer, polyester-based elastomer, polyolefin-based elastomer, polystyrene-based elastomer, polyamide-based elastomer, and fluoro-based elastomer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the outer cover is applied over the core body using an extrusion molding method.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the core body includes a coil formed by winding a band-shaped material into a spiral and a braided tube provided over the outer periphery of the coil and formed by braiding fine wires.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The flexible tube for an endoscope as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one of said easily bendable portions is formed by reducing the width and/or thickness of the band-shaped material of the coil locally at a position corresponding to the easily bendable portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the flexible tubular body includes a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body, the outer cover being formed into either of a single layer structure or a laminated structure having a plurality of layers; and wherein at least one of said easily bendable portions is constructed from a portion of the outer cover where the thickness of the outer cover changes along the circumferential direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the flexible tubular body includes a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body, the outer cover being formed into either of a single layer structure or a laminated structure having a plurality of layers; and wherein at least one of said easily bendable portions is constructed from a portion of the outer cover where the thickness of the outer cover changes along the circumferential direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the flexible tubular body includes a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body, the outer cover being formed into either of a single layer structure or a laminated structure having a plurality of layers; and wherein at least one of said easily bendable portions is formed by forming the outer cover so at to have an elliptical cross section at a position corresponding to the easily bendable portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
147 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the flexible tubular body includes a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body, the outer cover being formed into either of a single layer structure or a laminated structure having a plurality of layers; and wherein at least one of said easily bendable portions is formed by forming the outer cover so at to have an elliptical cross section at a position corresponding to the easily bendable portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the flexible tubular body includes a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body, the outer cover being formed into either of a single layer structure or a laminated structure having a plurality of layers; and wherein at least on of said easily bendable portions is formed by increasing the winding pitch of the coil locally at a position corresponding to the easily bendable portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
143 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the flexible tubular body includes a core body having a hollow space and an outer cover which is provided over the outer periphery of the core body, the outer cover being formed into either of a single layer structure or a laminated structure having a plurality of layers; and wherein at least on of said easily bendable portions is formed by increasing the winding pitch of the coil locally at a position corresponding to the easily bendable portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electronic endoscope, comprising: an operation section which is adapted to be operated by an operator; and a flexible tube for an endoscope which is connected to the operation section, the flexible tube including an elongated flexible tubular body and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to bend locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent in one specified direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electronic endoscope, comprising: an operation section which is adapted to be operated by an operator; and a flexible tube for an endoscope which is connected to the operation section, the flexible tube including an elongated flexible tubular body and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to bend locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent in one specified direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the average interval between the adjacent easily bendable portions is in the range 50-400 mm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
80 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein the average interval between the adjacent easily bendable portions is in the range 50-400 mm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
124 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein when the average of the curvature radius of each of said easily bendable portions is defined as R 1 and the curvature radius of a center portion lying between said adjacent easily bendable portions is defined as R 2 , the value of the ratio R 1 /R 2 in the bending state lies in the range of 0.2-0.9.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
124 words
A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an elongated flexible tubular body; and a plurality of easily bendable portions provided in the tubular body in a spaced apart manner along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of these easily bendable portions being adapted to be bent locally with a curvature radius smaller than other portions of the tubular body when the flexible tube is bent; wherein when the average of the curvature radius of each of said easily bendable portions is defined as R 1 and the curvature radius of a center portion lying between said adjacent easily bendable portions is defined as R 2 , the value of the ratio R 1 /R 2 in the bending state lies in the range of 0.2-0.9.
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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) | 2006-09-22 | 2007-03-24 | 2007-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-22 | 2011-03-24 | 2011-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-22 | 2015-03-24 | 2015-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |