Universal articulation of the end of a medical or industrial fiberscope is accomplished with three-wire control for reducing space requirements in small diameter instruments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention: 
Fiberoptic endoscope with particular reference to improvements in means for 
effecting remote articulation of ends of small diameter medical and 
industrial fiberscopes. 
2. Discussion of the Prior Art: 
Remote articulation of the distal ends of medical and industrial 
fiberscopes is commonly provided. This is either articulation in one plane 
only (two-way) or articulation in all planes (four-way). Two-way devices 
require two wires leading from the fiberscope tip to its proximal end and 
prior art four-way devices require four wires, two for each of two 
mutually perpendicular planes. The structures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,913,568 
and 3,091,235 are respectively exemplary of two-way and four-way devices. 
In small diameter fiberscopes, e.g. bronchoscopes of 5 to 6 mm in overall 
diameter, the heretofore trade-off of image-conducting and 
object-illuminating fiber space for manipulating wires, or vice versa, has 
posed the problem of selection between larger or more intense image 
conductance and four-way, two-way or no remotely-controlled distal 
articulation of the fiberscope. For example, the advantage of four-way 
articulation has required the sacrifice of a number of light-conducting 
fibers and/or biopsy channeling whose total cross-sectional area 
corresponds to that of four control wires and their guides. 
Accordingly, in the interest of increasing image size and/or illuminating 
bundle size in universally articulable fiberscopes of restricted overall 
diametral sizes, it is an object of this invention to accomplish 
remotely-controlled distal articulation in all planes (4-way) with less 
than four control wires. 
More particularly, it is an object of the invention to accomplish four-way 
distal articulation of a fiberscope with a three-wire system which affords 
greater than usual space for fiberscope light-conducting fibers and/or 
channeling. 
Another object is to provide improved distal vertebration in an articulable 
fiberscope. 
Still another object is to overcome the heretofore complexity of fiberscope 
remote control apparatuses by structural simplification and reduction of 
component parts. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the 
following description. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The foregoing objects and their corollaries are accomplished with 
three-wire control which provides for fiberscope articulation in all 
planes (4-way) with space available for light-conducting fibers of biopsy 
channeling and like in place of the usual fourth wire and wire guide. 
Centrally hinged hollow vertebrae, constrained against lateral 
displacement, comprise the supporting structure for distal articulation 
with light-conducting fibers and biopsy channeling or the like extended 
therethrough around the hinging. Three operating wires guided through 
peripheral portions of the vertebrae at approximately equally 
circumferentially spaced locations afford control means for articulation 
of the fiberscope. These simple centrally hinged fiberscope vertebrae 
avoid the costliness and complexity of previously pinned, socketed or 
similarly jointed fiberscope vertebrae.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Fiberscope 10 of FIG. 1 having probe 12 and head 14 with operating handle 
16 is distally universally articulable as illustrated with broken lines 
18, i.e. with remote operation at head 14 the distal portion 20 of probe 
12 may be flexed in all directions away from the position of full line 
illustration. This articulation is known in the art as "four-way" since it 
has heretofore required the use of four operating wires, two for each of 
two mutually perpendicular planes. With improved vertebration, however, 
the present invention affords full four-way articulation with three-wire 
control as follows: 
Distal vertebration in portion 20 of probe 12 comprises a series of 
centrally hinged vertebrae 22 secured against longitudinal and lateral 
misalignment with wire 24. 
Vertebrae 22 are each internally webbed to provide three approximately 
equally circumferentially spaced channels 26, 27 and 28 through which 
illuminating and image-conducting fiber bundles 32 and 34 (FIG. 2) and/or 
biopsy channeling (not shown) may be extended. 
In each case of each vertebra, webs 36, 38 and 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4) support 
double-ended hinge portion 42 through which retaining wire 24 is extended. 
Vertebrae 22 are fixed against relative longitudinal displacement by 
anchoring of opposite ends of wire 24, one in fiberscope tip 44 and the 
other in retainer 46. Abutting end faces 48 of hinge portions 42 allow 
universal hinging of vertebrae 22. Hinging is effected by pulling forces 
applied to the marginal portion of fiberscope tip 44, i.e. by one or more 
of operating wires 50, 52, 54. 
Wires 50, 52, 54 extending from fiberscope head 14 are loosely threaded 
through retainer 46 and marginal portions of vertebrae 22 and are anchored 
in tip 44 at approximately 120.degree. circumferential intervals. The 
anchoring of wires 50, 52, 54 and retaining wire 24 in fiberscope tip 44 
may be accomplished by soldering, brazing, swaging or combinations 
thereof, i.e. by any fastening scheme deemed appropriate to the artisan. 
Remote ends of the three operating wires 50, 52, 54 may be manipulated as 
follows to effect articulation of distal portion 20 of probe 14; 
All three wires may be manipulated independently by lever operation or 
electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically with servo drive. 
Alternatively, two wires may be activated as suggested above with the 
third wire spring loaded to return distal portion 20 to its unflexed 
position. The latter is a presently preferred version of manipulation 
since it minimizes the degree of operating technique and learning process 
required of an operator. 
Lever operated actuating means applicable to the threewire system of the 
present invention is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,091.235. 
For reasons of clarity of illustration of vertebrae 22, fiberoptic 
light-conducting bundles and/or biopsy channeling or other tubing have not 
been shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It should be understood, however, that the 
entire cross-sectional area of each of channels 26, 28 and 30 is available 
for reception of such light-conducting means and/or channeling. As shown 
in FIG. 2, for example, light-conducting bundle 32 is extended through one 
of channels 26, 28 and 30 of the succession of vertebrae 22 and thence 
through fiberscope tip 44. By such means, objects to be examined with the 
fiberscope may be illuminated with light from a remote source located in 
head 14, for example. 
Bundle 34 of optical fibers extended through another of channels 26, 28 and 
30 of vertebrae 22 is terminated in tip 44 with objective lenses 56 
adapted to form images of an object illuminated by bundle 32. In the usual 
fashion, such images may be transmitted by internal reflection through 
bundle 34 to a viewing plane in fiberscope head 14 and viewed directly or 
with the aid of an eyepiece 58. 
Remaining space through vertebrae 22, e.g. a third of channels 26, 28 and 
30, may be occupied by biopsy channeling or other tubing and/or additional 
optical fibers. The use of channeling in a fiberscope can be seen in 
drawings of the structure of U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,235. 
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that there are various 
modifications and adaptations of the precise form of the invention here 
shown which may suit particular requirements and that the foregoing 
illustrations are not to be interpreted as restrictive of the invention 
beyond that necessitated by the following claims.