Surgery – Truss – Perineal
Patent
1990-01-26
1991-10-22
Grieb, William H.
Surgery
Truss
Perineal
A61B 100
Patent
active
050585681
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a flexible endoscope having at least one outer protective casing, at least one protective mesh including elements arranged in the distal region, which are connected via a series of connecting lines for data and/or energy transmission to a connection element arranged at the opposite end.
2. State of the Art
Flexible endoscopes having at least one outer protective casing and one protective mesh have been known for quite some time. Due to the progress made in recent years in miniaturizing sensor arrays, it has become possible to integrate, by way of illustration an ultrasound array having a plurality of ultrasound transmitters and receivers in the distal end of a flexible endoscope.
Furthermore, it has been suggested a number of times to provide, by way of illustration, CCD video recorders in the region of the distal end of the endoscopes.
Moreover, a great variety of designs of therapy elements, such as coagulation elements of an optical or electric nature, as well as diagnostic elements arranged in the distal end and requiring electric supply and signal lines or lightwave conductors for operation, have been suggested for therapeutic applications.
All flexible endoscopes of this type have in common that the elements arranged in the distal region have to be connected via a series of electric lines to one or several connection elements arranged in the so-called proximal region.
In accordance with the state of the art, these lines, which establish the electric connection between elements arranged in the distal region and the proximal region of the endoscope, are guided in the so-called "free lumen" of the endoscope. The free lumen is the part of the cross-section of the endoscope which is empty space, and is therefore available for the accommodation of useful elements, such as (additional) image transmission fibers, illumination devices, medical instruments and the like.
If a great number of electric lines are required, as is the case, by way of illustration, for the arrangement of a series of ultrasound transducers for recording an ultra sound image, the available "free lumen" is greatly diminished for other elements by the electric lines.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to improve a flexible endoscope, in which a series of connecting lines for data and/or energy transmission are laid between the distal end region and the proximal end region, in such a manner that the available free lumen is practically not restricted, respectively reduced.
A solution and its further embodiments in accordance with the present invention to the aforegoing object is described in the claims hereto.
The present invention is based on the fundamental concept that the elements necessarily present on an endoscope, such as protective mesh, support spirals and/or cable lines, are designed as connecting lines. Connecting lines are understood to be electric lines as well as optical lines.
In endoscopes having a great number of electric lines, it is advantageous to employ the electric lines as the protective mesh between the outer protective casing and, by way of illustration, the support spirals.
Ten to several hundred electric lines can be realized in this protective mesh without much difficulty.
In this event, the electric lines may be normal insulated lines which, by way of illustration, are made of thin copper wire and a teflon insulation.
However, it is advantageous, particularly if HF (high frequency) signals are to be transmitted via the electric lines if the electric lines are co-axial lines.
In any case, however, it is advantageous if the protective mesh is arranged in a known manner between the outer protective casing and a support spiral hose. This design has the advantage that the diameter of the protective mesh is comparatively large. As a result, on the one hand, the radius of curvature of the individual lines is not too small in plaiting and therefore there is no danger of line breakage due to bending. On the other hand, a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4327711 (1982-05-01), Takugi
patent: 4615330 (1986-10-01), Nagasaki et al.
Dittrich Horst
Irion Klaus
Schwarz Hans-Peter
Grieb William H.
Karl Storz GmbH & Co.
LandOfFree
Flexible endoscope does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flexible endoscope, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flexible endoscope will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-102107