Surgery – Instruments
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-06
2001-07-17
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
C600S121000, C600S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261284
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connecting structure for an endoscopic treatment tool, and in particular to a connecting structure capable of fixing the connection between a flexible sheath and a connection member to be connected to the base end of the flexible sheath.
Common forms of the flexible sheath of an endoscopic treatment tool are tightly wound coil pipes that are formed by winding many turns of stainless steel wire on close pitches to have a specified diameter. The base end of the coil pipe is connected and fixed to the hand-operated manipulating section of the endoscopic treatment tool by soldering, spot welding, silver brazing or any other suitable securing means.
However, connecting and fixing the base end of the flexible sheath to the hand-operated manipulating section by soldering, spot welding or silver brazing involves cumbersome operations. In addition, if a manipulating wire is already passed through the flexible sheath, troubles may occur in which the wire is undesirably fixed, twisted or damaged. Further, the disassembly and repair work is not easy to perform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a connecting structure for an endoscopic treatment tool, with which the connection between a flexible sheath and a connection member can be fixed in an easy, positive manner without using common solder, silver solder or any other securing materials.
The stated object of the invention can be attained by the following arrangement. A thick portion is provided on the flexible sheath. The thick portion of the flexible sheath and a portion of the connection member are disposed in series and pressure-inserted into a soft coupling tube. This arrangement makes it possible to fix the connection between the flexible sheath and the connection member in an easy, positive manner without using common solder, silver solder or any other securing materials.
In a preferable embodiment, a connecting structure for an endoscopic treatment tool has a flexible sheath to be inserted into or removed from a treatment tool insertion channel of an endoscope. The flexible sheath has a thick portion that is formed locally adjacent its base end and that has a larger outside diameter than the other portions. The base end of said flexible sheath is inserted into a connection member which is to be connected to the base end. The thick portion and an adjacent portion of said connection member to the thick portion are disposed in series and pressure-inserted into a soft coupling tube, to thereby fix the connection between said flexible sheath and said connection member.
The thick portion may be formed by securing a tubular member around the flexible sheath. Alternatively, the thick portion may be formed by increasing the outside diameter of the flexible sheath locally.
The thick portion may be in contact with an end face of the connection member. Alternatively, the thick portion may partly be inserted into the connection member.
The outer surface of that portion of the connection member which is to be pressure-inserted into the coupling tube is formed in such a shape that said portion engages the inner circumference of the coupling tube in a direction opposite to the direction of the pressure-insertion. The flexible sheath may be a tightly wound coil pipe or a flexible tube.
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application No. Hei. 10-98868 (filed on Apr. 10, 1998), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5140975 (1992-08-01), Krauter
patent: 5499985 (1996-03-01), Hein et al.
patent: 5707342 (1998-01-01), Tanaka
patent: 6113586 (2000-09-01), Ouchi
patent: 54-10796 (1979-05-01), None
patent: 62-14810 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 1-33048 (1989-10-01), None
patent: 2-1499 (1990-01-01), None
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Ram Jocelyn Debra
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