Patent ID: 6849043
Filing Date: 2005-02-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A suction valve for an endoscope, comprising: a valve casing which is set up in a control portion of an endoscope and is connected with a suction side path having an opening as a suction inlet at the tip distal end of the insertion portion of said endoscope, and is also connected with a suction source side path connected with a negative pressure generation source; a valve member which is fitted up inside of said valve casing and being adapted to make a slide motion inside thereof and is constituted such that it is able to switch from a state in which said suction side path is cut off from said suction source side path, to a state in which said suction side path is in communication with said suction source side path or vice versa, in correspondence with a position of said valve member in said valve casing, said valve member having an outer peripheral surface that defines an active blockade face which is movable to be in front of an opening leading directly into the suction side path to seal off the suction side path; and a groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of said valve member which comes in contact with the inside of said valve casing, wherein said groove is formed in the active blockade face, so that when the active blockade face is moved to be in front of the opening, said groove is disposed in front of the opening to allow foreign substances in a region of the opening and from the suction side path to be accommodated within the groove.