Surgery – Endoscope – Having auxiliary channel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-08
2001-11-13
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Endoscope
Having auxiliary channel
C600S159000, C600S560000, C137S565180, C417S044200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315716
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an endoscope air sending device for sending air into a body cavity such as the stomach, and more particularly to the arrangement of components including valves and a compressor which are provided for sending air into the body cavity.
An endoscope air sending device is known in the art which is so designed that the air whose pressure is increased by an air compressor is discharged by controlling a valve, and the air thus discharged is sent into the body cavity through a tube. In the device, during discharging, the compressor is operated while a pressure control valve controls the pressure of the air to be discharged. The pressure control valve adjusts the sectional area of the air flowing path, to thereby control the pressure of the air.
The pressure control valve is only able to decrease the pressure of the air to be discharged. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a large compressor of high output type which can send a high pressure air. However, as the compressor is of the higher output type, it generates more noise. Hence, during the medical operation, the compressor operating at all times is noisy. Furthermore, because of the structure of the pressure control valve, the endoscope air sending device cannot discharge the air with fine pressure adjustment. The endoscope air sending device cannot accurately perform the air pressure control over a wide range of from low pressure to high pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an endoscope air sending device in which a closed space is provided to make it possible to discharge a higher pressure air even if a low output type compressor (which outputs a low pressure air) is used, as well as to accurately perform pressure control. Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope air sending device in which elements forming the closed space are appropriately arranged, whereby the pressure control is achieved stably.
The foregoing object of the invention has been achieved by the provision of an endoscope air sending device, which comprises:
a compressor which compresses air and sends the air thus compressed into a closed space;
an air tank which is a part of the closed space;
an air filter adapted to remove dust from the closed space;
a pressure sensor adapted to measure a pressure of the closed space,
a pressure control valve which, in order to adjust the pressure of the closed space according to the pressure of the closed space measured by the pressure sensor, discharges the air from the closed space; and
a discharge valve for discharging the air from the closed space, and
in which the compress or and the air tank are communicated with each other through a first air tube, the air tank and the air filter are communicated with each other through a second air tube, and the air filter, the pressure control valve, the pressure sensor and the discharge valve are communicated with one another through a third air tube, thereby forming the closed space.
In the endoscope air sending device, it is preferable that the air tank is cylindrical.
It is preferable that two connectors are provided on the air tank in order to communicate the air tank with the first and second air tubes, the connectors being L-shaped and mounted on both end surfaces of the air tank, respectively, in such a manner that the two connectors are confronted with each other.
It is preferable that the two connectors are located above the centers of the end surfaces of the air tank.
It is preferable that the first air tube is communicated with one of the two connectors, which is located farther from the compressor than the other.
It is preferable that the first and second air tubes are arranged along the air tank.
It is preferable that the third air tube is a tube for communicating the air filter and the discharge valve with each other, and the tube is branched, extending towards the pressure sensor and towards the pressure control valve.
It is preferable that the pressure control valve and the pressure sensor, being communicated with each other through the third air tube, are arranged near each other.
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application No. Hei. 10-255107 (filed on Sep. 9, 1998), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4863355 (1989-09-01), Odagiri et al.
patent: 4969801 (1990-11-01), Haseley et al.
patent: 4971034 (1990-11-01), Doi et al.
patent: 5377688 (1995-01-01), Aviv et al.
patent: 5515860 (1996-05-01), Aviv et al.
patent: 6193649 (2001-02-01), Takami et al.
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Ram Jocelyn
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