Kabushiki Kaisha Medos Kenkyusho

Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Kiyoshi Chikashige

Teruo Ouchi

Nagashige Takahashi

Hirohisa Ueda

A device for preventing the observing objective lens window of an endoscope from collecting moisture by directing a small flow of air over the front surface of the observing objective lens window to form a layer of air which has the same temperature as the ambient atmosphere thereby stabilizing the temperature of the window. A control valve is provided which shuts off the flow of air in the event that the pressure within the body cavity in which the endoscope is inserted becomes too high due to the flow of air. A first embodiment of the control valve includes a cylinder and piston arrangement in which at a first position of the piston air is allowed to flow through the tube to the endoscope end. At a second position of the piston, air is vented directly to the atmosphere. In a second embodiment, a lateral hole is provided in the piston with the area of the hole and hence flow of air controlled by a screw the position of which determines the area of the lateral aperture.

Device for preventing the observing objective lens window of an

A device for changing a direction of the top end part of an endoscope in which a manual operating section is coupled to a top end part curving section through wires and the top end part curving section is curved vertically and horizontally by pulling the wires. A pair of wires are adapted to drive the top end part curving section vertically and horizontally, respectively, and a pair of drive members pull the wires directly or through intermediate members. Rotating knobs are integrally coupled to the pair of drive members so as to control the top end part curving section vertically and horizontally. A pair of brake drums confront one another, and a frictional member or brake shoe is mounted on a stationary member of the device in such a manner that it is movable with respect to the pair of brake drums. An external operating lever controls the movement of the brake shoe and the brake shoe abuts against the pair of brake drums by operation of the external operating lever so that simultaneous braking occurs.

Mechanism for direction changing of endoscope top end

A suction device for an endoscope in which there is no need for the operator to close a suction pipe with his finger and in which cleaning and sterilizing are readily implemented. A suction path extends from a forceps insertion hole in a forceps receiver. A plug assembly is detachably inserted in the suction path in close contact therewith. The plug assembly includes a piston at least a portion of which is made of an elastic material and a cylinder member into which the piston is loosely fitted. The cylinder member has valve seats formed at first and second ends thereof while the piston is furnished with corresponding first and second abutting portions. An elastic extended member biases the piston outwardly. A suction hole is formed in the cylinder member through which suction pressure is communicated.

Suction device for endoscope

A device for bending a medical instrument inserted into the body cavity having a flexible cylindrical coil formed by winding an elastic thin wire. The flexible cylindrical coil has a coarsely wound portion at one end portion thereof, that is designed by changing configuration or material so that one side of the coarsely wound portion is different in cross sectional area from the other side which is diametrically opposite. When a pulling string directly or indirectly fastened to the coarsely wound portion of the flexible cylindrical coil is operated, the turns of said flexible cylindrical coil are brought closer to each other on the side of the coarsely wound portion greater in torsional strength to thereby bend the one end portion of the flexible cylindrical coil towards the side of the coarsely wound portion.

Device for bending a medical instrument inserted into the body cavity

An end plug or fitting for an endoscope includes a mouthpiece member 1 having a central passage therethrough for the insertion of a medical instrument, such as a forceps, into a guide tube 5. The upper portion of the passage receives a sealing member 2 having a nozzle section 2a whose oblique end face confronts the mouth of a suction pipe 4 and whose inner diameter is smaller than that of the guide tube and approximately the same as the outer diameter of the instrument(s) to be inserted. Such a construction provides for ease of instrument insertion and withdrawal, good suction during insertion, and very low suction after withdrawal.

Growing community of inventors

Tsurugashima, Japan

Kiyoshi Chikashige