IP Library Granted Patent US 8,033,992
Granted Patent B2
US 8,033,992 · App. 12/032,399 · Granted Oct 11, 2011

Electronic endoscope apparatus

Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,033,992
App. No.
12/032,399
Granted
Oct 11, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic endoscope apparatus comprises: an intermediate member attached to a first cable of an electronic endoscope; a connector connected to a light source portion or to a processor portion; a second cable extending from the intermediate member and connecting to the connector; and a flexible outer-sheath for the second cable, the flexible outer-sheath comprising a flexible spiral tube and a resin outer skin provided on an exterior of the flexible spiral tube, wherein the flexible spiral tube is formed by spirally winding a strip body having engaging-projections respectively provided on its both side portions, so as to make the engaging-projections be engaged with each other and form a movable space which allows one of the engaging-projections to move with respect to the other one of the engaging-projections, and wherein an entirety of the flexible spiral tube is bendable with expansion and contraction of a space between the engaging-projections within the movable space.

Claims (12)

1. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

an intermediate member attached to a first cable of an electronic endoscope;

a first connector connected to a light source portion or to a processor portion;

a second cable extending from the intermediate member and connecting to the connector;

a flexible outer-sheath for the second cable, the flexible outer-sheath comprising a flexible spiral tube and a resin outer skin provided on an exterior of the flexible spiral tube; and

a sleeve having a spiral protrusion formed on its periphery and screwed and connected into an inside of the flexible spiral tube,

wherein the sleeve is fixed to the light source portion or to the processor portion,

wherein the flexible spiral tube is formed by spirally winding a strip body having engaging-projections respectively provided on its both side portions, so as to make the engaging-projections be engaged with each other and form a movable space which allows one of the engaging-projections to relatively move with respect to another one of the engaging-projections, and

wherein an entirety of the flexible spiral tube is bendable with expansion and contraction of a space between the engaging-projections within the movable space.

2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the intermediate member is a light source connector to be connected to the light source portion; and

the first connector is an electronic connector to be connected to the processor portion.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Dec 23, 2011
From: FUJINON CORPORATION
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027440/0965 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2008
From: HINO, KAZUHIKO
To: FUJINON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020686/0892 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP P2007-080493 · Mar 27, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080242936A1 · Oct 2, 2008