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:
May. 16, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 11, 1993
Thomas C Barthel, Becker, MN (US);
Rocky R Campbell, Maple Plain, MN (US);
Craig L Riedl, Long Lake, MN (US);
Clarus Medical Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A flexible endoscope have a force limiting coupler. The endoscope comprises an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a wall defining a lumen extending there through. A handle member is fixed to the proximal end of the tubular member. The handle member has a slidable knob member which is coupled to a force limiting means to limit the travel of the knob member. A deflection wire is coupled at one end to the force limiting means and a second end to the distal end of the tubular member. The force limiting means has a predetermined spring constant. The distal end of the endoscope can be deflected in finer increments and acts to preclude potentially damaging forces to be applied to the endoscope or to tissue.