Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5860913?dq=7,117,485
Timestamp: 2014-03-09 02:56:21
Document Index: 322374722

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 9', 'art 38', 'art 38', 'art 38', 'art 38', 'art 38', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 232', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 244', 'art 232', 'art 208', 'art 232', 'art 208', 'art 232', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 208', 'art 311', 'art 311', 'art 311', 'art 311']

Patent US5860913 - Endoscope whose distal cover can be freely detachably attached to main ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn an endoscope of the present invention, while a cover indicator on a distal cover is aligned with a scope indicator on a main distal part, the distal cover is put on the main distal part in an axial direction at a certain insertion angle. Thereafter, the distal cover is rotated while being thrust in...http://www.google.com/patents/US5860913?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5860913 - Endoscope whose distal cover can be freely detachably attached to main distal part thereof with high positioning precisionAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5860913 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/848,217Publication dateJan 19, 1999Filing dateApr 29, 1997Priority dateMay 16, 1996Fee statusPaidPublication number08848217, 848217, US 5860913 A, US 5860913A, US-A-5860913, US5860913 A, US5860913AInventorsTatsuya Furukawa, Tsutomu Ishiguro, Haruhiko Kaiya, Takahiro Kishi, Tsugio Okazaki, Hisao Yabe, Koji YamayaOriginal AssigneeOlympus Optical Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Referenced by (14), Classifications (17), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetEndoscope whose distal cover can be freely detachably attached to main distal part thereof with high positioning precisionUS 5860913 AAbstract In an endoscope of the present invention, while a cover indicator on a distal cover is aligned with a scope indicator on a main distal part, the distal cover is put on the main distal part in an axial direction at a certain insertion angle. Thereafter, the distal cover is rotated while being thrust in the axial direction. The stoppage of a locking convex part of a hook of the main distal part by a claw of a reinforcement member is released, and the locking convex part of the hook is positioned in a locking ditch of the reinforcement member. The head of the hook is constrained to move in the axial direction by means of a main distal cover that is an elastic member and the claw. The locking convex part is then fitted into the locking ditch reliably. Consequently, the distal cover can be fixed to the main distal part readily, freely detachably, and reliably with high positioning precision.
5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a distance in said axial direction between a locking surface of said locking section and a back end surface of said distal cover, L1, and a distance in said axial direction between a locking surface of said locking means and an abutment surface on a proximal side of said main distal part, on which said back end surface of said distal cover abuts, L2, has a relationship of L1&gt;L2.
6. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a distance in said axial direction between a locking surface of said locking section and a back end surface of said distal cover, L1, and a distance in said axial direction between a locking surface of said locking means and an abutment surface on a proximal side of said main distal part, on which said back end surface of said distal cover abuts, L2, has a relationship of L1&gt;L2.
7. An endoscope having a distal cover freely attachable or detachable to or from a distal part of an insertion unit to be inserted into a body cavity for producing optical images of a region of view, said endoscope characterized in that:said distal cover that is an elastic member has a rigid locking section; a main distal part of said distal part of said insertion unit has a rigid locking means to be freely detachably locked in said locking section; said locking means is an engaging means that is engaged with said locking section with a thrust in the axial direction of said distal cover, in which said insertion unit is inserted longitudinally, and with a rotation; and said distal cover has a constraining means for constraining the distal surface of said locking means to move in the axial direction within at least part of the range of the rotation of said distal cover. 8. An endoscope according to claim 7, wherein with said engaging means set in a state in which the rotation of said distal cover is started, an angle at which said distal cover and main distal part are in contact with each other exceeds 180
As shown in FIG. 5A, in this state, the hook 37 is inserted in the hook inserting section 40 (the main distal cover is not shown). The main distal part 9 and reinforcement member 34 are engaged with each other. An angle θ defined with the engaged circumferential portions is set to a large angle exceeding 180 190 and x2, a clearance in a horizontal direction that affects a backlash in the direction of rotation between the hook 37 and reinforcement member 34 is x1+x2.
In areas P and Q defined with an alternate long and two short dashes line and a solid line, the main distal cover 32 is not molded in line with the contour of the reinforcement member 34. As apparent from FIG. 5B that is an A--A sectional view of FIG. 5A, there is a space between the reinforcement member 34 and main distal cover 32 in the areas P and Q. As seen from FIG. 5B, when the head of the hook 37 is in contact with the main distal cover 32, a distance from a mounting surface 51 for the hook 37 (See FIG. 3) to the locking convex part 38, L1, and a distance from the mounting surface 51 to a claw abutment surface 52 formed on the distal side of the claw 42, L2, have a relationship of L1&lt;L2. An arrow drawn with a bold line in FIG. 5B indicates a route along which the claw 42 moves at the time of attachment.
In other words, when the head of the hook 37 is in contact with the main distal cover 32, the relationship of L1&lt;L2 is established. In this state, even if the distal cover 10 is rotated clockwise relative to the distal side, the claw 42 acts as a stopper and prevents the locking convex part 38 of the hook 37 from fitting in the locking ditch 41 of the reinforcement member 34.
In other words, in the state shown in FIG. 6A, positioning in the direction of rotation and in the axial direction is completed. Even in this state, there is a slight backlash in the direction of rotation. A clearance in the horizontal direction resulting in the backlash is x3+x4 where x3 and x4 are right-hand and left-hand gaps in the drawing. Herein, x1+x2&gt;x3+x4 is established. That is to say, the backlash in the direction of rotation is set to become smaller after attachment. Prior to a rotation, since the clearance is large, the hook 37 can be inserted in the hook inserting section 40 easily. After the rotation, since the clearance becomes smaller, the distal cover 10 can be positioned exactly in the distal cover 9.
As shown in FIG. 6B that is a B--B sectional view of FIG. 6A, assuming that a distance from the claw abutment surface 52 to the main distal cover 32 is M and a distance from an abutment surface 53 to the head of the hook is m, the distances are set to have a relationship of M&lt;m. Since M&lt;m is established, when attachment is completed, as shown in FIG. 6B, the head of the hook is constrained to move in the axial direction by means of the main distal cover 32 formed with an elastic member and the claw 42. The locking convex part 38 of the hook 37 is therefore fitted firmly in the locking ditch 41, whereby the hook 37 will not come off unexpectedly. Safety is thus guaranteed. An arrow drawn with a bold line in FIG. 6B indicates a route along which the claw 42 moves at the time of detachment.
e&gt;y/4
As shown in FIG. 7, the height of a lateral wall 56 of the locking ditch of the reinforcement member 34, h, is set to have a relationship h&gt;L1. Since h&gt;L1, the locking convex part 38 of the hook 37 will not ride on the lateral wall 56 of the locking ditch. The lateral wall 56 acts as a stopper for rotation.
The annular tightening section 10a that is the proximal portion of the distal cover 10 tightens the insulator 29 along the whole outer circumference of the insulator. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the distal cover 10 is in a natural state before attachment, a distance from an end surface 61 on the proximal side to an abutment surface 52 of the claw, L11, and a distance from a hit surface 52 of the insulator hit by the end surface 61 on the proximal side of the distal cover 10 to the abutment surface 53 of the hook, L12 are set to have a relationship L11&gt;L12. Since L11&gt;L12 is established, the distal cover 10 is constrained to move in the axial direction at the time of attachment. Since the distal cover 10 is constrained to move toward the distal side, the locking convex part 38 of the hook 37 is firmly fitted in the locking ditch 41. The distal cover 10 will therefore not come off unexpectedly. Thus, safety is guaranteed.
Even when external force is applied, since the insert 228 acts as a member for protecting the therapeutic instrument stand 215, damaging the therapeutic instrument stand 215 can be prevented. As shown in FIG. 33, a circumferential length c by which the insert 228 engages with the main distal part 208 is larger than a length defined with 180 Therefore, even when external force is applied radially, since the insert 228 overhangs the main distal part 208, the insert 228, that is, the distal cover 209 will not come off from the main distal part 208.
As shown in FIG. 34, a distance in the axial direction between the locking wall 234 and back end 235 of the distal cover 209, L1, and a distance in the axial direction between a hit surface 250 of the locking convex part 232 of the main distal part 208, on which the locking wall 234 abuts, and the abutment surface 236, L2, have a relationship of L1&gt;L2.
As shown in FIG. 35, the outer diameter of the close-contact section 251 formed as a backward portion of the main distal part 208, d, and the inner diameter of a portion of the tightening section 230 of the distal cover 209 covering the close-contact section, e, has a relationship of d&gt;e. In a state in which the distal cover 209 is attached to the main distal part 208, the close-contact section 251 of the main distal part 208 is tightened with the elastic force exerted by the tightening section 230 of the distal cover 209 formed with an elastic member. The distal cover 209 will therefore hardly come off from the main distal part 208.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 32, when the distal cover is attached, the solid part 244 of the main distal cover 226 adheres closely to the surface of the locking convex part 232, which is located on the distal side of the main distal part 208, on the side of the therapeutic instrument stand 215. Besides, as shown in FIG. 34, the distance in the axial direction between the locking wall 234 of the distal cover 209 and the back end 235, L1, and the distance in the axial direction between the hit surface 250, on which the locking wall 234 of the locking convex part 232 of the main distal part 208 abuts, and the abutment surface 236, L2, are set to have the relationship of L1&gt;L2. The locking convex part 232 of the main distal part 208 is therefore constrained with the elastic force of the main distal cover 226 that is an elastic member. This results in intensified locking force.
As shown in FIG. 35, the outer diameter of the close-contact section 251 located as a backward portion of the main distal part 208, d, and the inner diameter of the portion of the tightening section 230 of the distal cover 209 covering the close-contact section 251, e, are set to have the relationship of d&gt;e. In the state in which the distal cover 209 is attached to the main distal part 208, the close-contact section 251 of the main distal cover 208 is tightened with the elastic force of the tightening section 230 of the distal cover 209, which is an elastic member, in an annularly mounted state. This results in the improved ability to prevent drop of the distal cover 209.
As shown in FIG. 36, the inner diameter of the main distal cover 226, which is an elastic member, of the distal cover 209 is uniform over an area coincident with a forward close-contact section 253 and backward close-contact section 254 of the main distal part 208. The outer diameter and thickness, t, thereof are also uniform. The efficiency in molding the distal cover 209 made of, for example, a rubber is good. A step 252 is located between the forward close-contact section 253 and backward close-contact section 249 of the main distal part 208. When the distal cover 209 is attached, the outer diameters of the areas of the distal cover 209 coincident with the forward close-contact section 253 and backward close-contact section 254 of the main distal part 208, f and g, have a relationship of f&lt;g (See FIG. 37).
As illustrated, the outer diameter of the insulator 313 placed on the main distal part 311, D, and the inner diameter of an adhering section 323 that adheres to the insulator 313 along the whole outer circumference of the insulator 313, d, have a relationship of φD&gt;φd. When the distal cover 314 is attached to the main distal part 311, they are, as shown in FIG. 44, always attached to each other with the insulator 313, which is an insulating member, in close contact with the adhering section 323 of the distal cover 314.
Furthermore, the inner and outer diameters of the adhering section 323 are set to be smaller than those of a distal portion 324 of the distal cover 314. Specifically, assuming that the outer diameter of the main distal part 311 drawn as a cylinder with an alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 43 is φD1, and the inner diameter of a main distal part attachment section 325 of the distal cover 314 which is attached to the main distal part 311 and is drawn as a circle with an alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 43 is φd1, the ratio of D1 to d1 (D1/d1) and the ratio of D to d (D/d) are set to have a relationship of (D/d)&gt;(D1/d1). Thus, the tightening ratio of the distal cover on the operator side and the tightening ratio of the other part thereof are made mutually different.
As mentioned above, the outer diameter of the insulator placed on the main distal part, D, and the inner diameter of the adhering section of the distal cover, d, has the relationship of φD&gt;φd. Consequently, when the distal cover is attached to the main distal part, the insulator that is an insulating member and the adhering section of the distal cover can always be brought into close contact with each other.
Moreover, since the outer diameter of the insulator, D, and the inner diameter of the adhering section of the distal cover, d, are set to have the relationship of φD&gt;φd, if at least one of the insulator on the main distal part and the distal cover is made of a rubber material such as silicon rubber, the magnitude of a close contact between the insulator and the adhering section of the distal cover can be increased drastically.
As shown in FIG. 43, the creepage distance of the insulator 313 in the direction of the field of view, L1, is set to be smaller than the creepage distance of the insulator 313 in a direction opposite to the direction of the field of view, L2, on the assumption that the outer surface in the direction of the field of view can be reliably separated from the intracavitary wall. In other words, the creepage distance in the direction of the field of view, L1, and the creepage distance in a direction opposite to the direction of the field of view, L2, has a relationship of L2&gt;L1.
Since the creepage distance in the direction of the field of view, in which it can be seen clearly if the insulator is approached to an intracavitary wall, and the creepage distance in a direction opposite to the direction of the field of view, L1 and L2, are thus set to have the relationship of L2&gt;L1, the risk of leakage of a high-frequency current can be avoided and the distal structure can be designed shorter in length. When the creepage distance on the side of the field of view is made smaller than that on the back side, safety against a leakage current can be guaranteed satisfactorily.