Surgery – Endoscope – Having flexible tube structure
Patent
1997-12-15
1999-11-02
Dvorak, Linda C. M.
Surgery
Endoscope
Having flexible tube structure
600106, 600112, A61B 100
Patent
active
059760753
ABSTRACT:
An endoscope system according to the present invention is characterized by an imaging assembly that a user can alternatively attach to a first deployment assembly and to a second deployment assembly. The image assembly has a distal end configured for detecting image information and a proximal end configured for delivering the image information to a location remote from the imaging assembly distal end. The deployment assembly for deploying the imaging assembly includes a support member and a connecting member. The connecting member is carried on the support member and is removably and replaceably mountable with the imaging assembly housing for connecting the support member to the imaging assembly. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support member includes a shaft member, a handle element connected to the proximal end of the shaft member for manual engagement of the deployment assembly, an articulating portion connected to the distal end of the shaft member and movable between undeflected and deflected positions for deflecting the tip of the imaging assembly, and a deflecting element. The deflecting element is attached in selected proximity to the distal end of the articulating portion for deflecting the articulating portion. The deployment assembly can include an imaging assembly guide element slidably and removably and replaceably mountable with the imaging assembly. Thus, an operator can use her hand to slidably extend the imaging assembly from the deployment means so as to position the imaging assembly's distal end in selected proximity to a target site.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3270641 (1966-09-01), Gosselin
patent: 3776222 (1973-12-01), Smiddy
patent: 4195624 (1980-04-01), Douglas
patent: 4593679 (1986-06-01), Collins
patent: 4688554 (1987-08-01), Habib
patent: 4911148 (1990-03-01), Sosnowski
patent: 5140975 (1992-08-01), Krauter
patent: 5275151 (1994-01-01), Shockey
patent: 5325845 (1994-07-01), Adair
patent: 5531687 (1996-07-01), Snoke
patent: 5569292 (1996-10-01), Scwemberger
patent: 5634466 (1997-06-01), Gruner
patent: 5711756 (1998-01-01), Chikama
patent: 5749828 (1998-05-01), Solomon
patent: 5810716 (1996-11-01), Mukherjee
WO 96/27991, Oz, Dan, Sep. 12, 1996.
Beane Richard
Ek Steven W.
Lucey Paul
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Hatton Ira
Smith & Nephew Inc.
University of Massachusetts
LandOfFree
Endoscope deployment apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Endoscope deployment apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Endoscope deployment apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2127945