Patent ID: 9549666
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A deflectable endoscope comprising: an imaging structure; a longitudinally extending elongated outer member having a proximal portion and a distal portion having a distalmost end; an elongated column member extending distally from the outer member and distal of the distalmost end of the outer member; an inner member positioned coaxial with the outer member and attached to the column member, the inner member extending distally of the distalmost end of the outer member and having a distal tip portion; and a reinforcement member positioned over the column member to restrict axial movement of the column member such that when one of the inner member or outer member is moved coaxially with respect to the other, axial compression of the column member is restricted by the reinforcement member causing the distal tip portion of the inner member to deflect laterally, wherein the distal tip portion is deflectable in a first direction with respect to a longitudinal axis in response to a first direction of axial movement of one of the inner member or outer member and the distal tip portion is deflectable in a second direction with respect to the longitudinal axis in response to a second different direction of axial movement of one of the inner member or outer member.