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:
Mar. 01, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 19, 2006
Sumihiro Uchimura, Sagamihara, JP;
Akira Taniguchi, Hachioji, JP;
Fumiyuki Onoda, Tama, JP;
Toshiaki Noguchi, Tachikawa, JP;
Katsuya Suzuki, Sagamihara, JP;
Sumihiro Uchimura, Sagamihara, JP;
Akira Taniguchi, Hachioji, JP;
Fumiyuki Onoda, Tama, JP;
Toshiaki Noguchi, Tachikawa, JP;
Katsuya Suzuki, Sagamihara, JP;
Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An endoscope is provided wherein a variable rigidity portion is not restricted by a physical mechanism, and which allows a surgeon, in performing a rigidity varying operation, to operate the rigidity varying operation along with other operations without releasing inputting sections. The endoscope of the invention includes an inserting section and an operating section. The inserting section has variable-rigidity actuators. The operating section has a rigidity-variation controlling section, a trackball, and scope switches.