The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 19, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 14, 1991
Mitsugu Nagayoshi, Hachioji, JP;
Atsushi Miyazaki, Hachioji, JP;
Hirofumi Miyanaga, Hachioji, JP;
Sakae Takehana, Machida, JP;
Hideyuki Adachi, Hachioji, JP;
Yasuhiro Ueda, Kokubunji, JP;
Eiichi Fuse, Hachioji, JP;
Yoshisada Aoki, Hachioji, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An endoscope comprises an insertion section, and this insertion section has a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a bendable portion located between the distal and proximal end portions. A fluid-pressure actuator is coupled to the insertion section, so as to bend the bendable portion. The fluid-pressure actuator is made up of an extensible body and an expansion-restricting member. The extensible body defines an internal space and has an extension axis along which it extends or contracts. The expansion-restricting member causes the extensible body to extend in the direction of the extension axis when a fluid is supplied into the internal space, and causes the extensible body to contract in the direction of the extensible axis when the fluid is discharged from the internal space. The bendable portion of the insertion section is bent in accordance with the extension or contraction of the extensible body.