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:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1997
Michael J Pollack, Lansdale, PA (US);
Guy M Atkinson, Telford, PA (US);
Eugene J Kelly, Bayville, NY (US);
Three E Laboratories, Inc., Lansdale, PA (US);
Abstract
An endoscope contains no adhesives, epoxies, or other organic materials. The endoscope includes a set of lenses held in position by cylindrical spacers. A pair of windows seal the ends of the endoscope, and prevent the lenses and spacers from falling out. The windows are brazed to the endoscope. Due to the use of brazing, no adhesives are needed to hold the lenses or windows in place. Thus, one can sterilize the endoscope in the high temperature environment of an autoclave, without risking damage to the optical components. The brazing produces a hermetic seal which enables the endoscope to function properly in an environment of high temperature or high pressure, or in chemically abusive environments.