Multi-camera endoscope having fluid channels
There is provided a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising a unitary fluid channeling component adapted to channel fluid for insufflations and/or irrigation, the unitary fluid channeling component comprising: a proximal opening adapted to receive a fluid tube, the proximal opening being in fluid flow connection with a front fluid (I/I) channel and a side fluid channel.
1. A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising:
a unitary fluid channeling component adapted to channel fluid, said unitary fluid channeling component comprising:
a proximal section having a proximally-facing surface, a side surface extending distally from the proximal-facing surface, and a cylindrical shape;
a distal section having a partial cylindrical shape, wherein said distal section is integrally formed as a unitary block of material with the proximal section, and wherein the distal section has a distal-facing surface;
a proximal opening located on the proximal-facing surface of the proximal section, said proximal opening being in fluid flow connection with a first fluid channel, wherein the first fluid channel is a passage extending through the unitary block of material from the proximal section, through the distal section, and to a distal opening in said distal-facing surface;
a second fluid channel, wherein said second fluid channel is a passage extending through the unitary block of material and leading to a side opening on the side surface; and
a working channel, wherein the working channel is a passage extending through the unitary block of material from the proximal section, through the distal section, and to a distal opening in the distal-facing surface.
2. The tip section according to claim 1 , wherein the side opening is on a first side of the side surface, and wherein the unitary fluid channeling component further comprises a third fluid channel, wherein said third fluid channel is a passage extending through the unitary block of material and leading to a side opening on a second side of the side surface opposite the first side.
3. The tip section according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said second fluid channel extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of said unitary fluid channeling component.
4. The tip section according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal opening is a first proximal opening and the distal opening is a first distal opening, and wherein said unitary fluid channeling component further comprises a second proximal opening located on the proximal-facing surface of the proximal section, said second proximal opening being in fluid flow connection with third fluid channel, wherein the third fluid channel is a passage extending through the unitary block of material from the proximal section, through the distal section, and to a second distal opening in said distally-facing surface.
5. The tip section according to claim 1 , wherein said unitary fluid channeling component further comprises a groove formed in the side surface for guiding a cable.
6. The tip according to claim 1 , wherein the unitary block of material is made entirely of metal.
7. A tip section of an endoscope, the tip section comprising:
a fluid channeling component, comprising:
a proximal section having a proximal-facing surface, a distal-facing surface, a side surface extending between the proximal-facing and distal-facing surfaces, and a cylindrical shape;
a distal section having a partial cylindrical shape, wherein said distal section extends distally from the distal-facing surface, wherein the distal section has a distalmost end, and wherein a first distance between the proximal-facing surface and the distal-facing surface is less than a second distance between the distal-facing surface and the distalmost end;
a fluid opening on the proximal-facing surface, said fluid opening being in fluid flow connection with a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel is a passage extending distally from the fluid opening; and
a working channel opening on the proximal-facing surface, said working channel opening being in communication with a working channel, wherein the working channel is a passage extending distally from the working channel opening.
8. The tip section according to claim 7 , wherein the working channel opening is larger than fluid opening.
9. The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein the working channel passage terminates at a distal opening at the distalmost end.
10. The tip section according to claim 9 , wherein the fluid channel passage terminates at a distal opening at the distalmost end.
11. The tip section according to claim 9 , wherein the fluid channel passage terminates distally at an opening proximal to the distal-facing surface.
12. The tip section according to claim 7 , wherein the proximal-facing surface is planar.
13. The tip section according to claim 7 , wherein the fluid channel has a proximal section and a distal section, and wherein a central longitudinal axis of the proximal section is transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the distal section.
14. A tip section of an endoscope, the tip section comprising:
a fluid channeling component, comprising:
a proximal section having a proximal-facing surface, a distal-facing surface, a side surface extending between the proximal-facing and distal-facing surfaces, and a cylindrical shape;
a distal section having a partial cylindrical shape, wherein said distal section extends distally from the distal-facing surface, wherein the distal section has a distalmost end;
a longitudinally extending groove formed in the side surface;
a plurality of openings on the proximal-facing surface, the plurality of openings including:
a fluid opening, said fluid opening being in fluid flow connection with a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel is a passage extending distally from the fluid opening; and
a working channel opening, said working channel opening being in communication with a working channel, wherein the working channel is a passage extending distally from the working channel opening.
15. The tip according to claim 14 , wherein the fluid channeling component further comprises a proximalmost end, the proximal-facing surface being at the proximalmost end, and wherein the fluid opening is one of a plurality of fluid openings on the proximal-facing surface.
16. The tip according to claim 14 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of a proximal portion of the fluid channel extends transverse and non-perpendicular to the proximal-facing surface.
17. The tip according to claim 14 , wherein the fluid channel has a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a central longitudinal axis parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the fluid channeling component, and the distal portion having a central longitudinal axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the proximal portion.
18. The tip according to claim 14 , wherein the fluid channel terminates at an opening in the side surface.
19. The tip according to claim 14 , wherein a length of the distal section is greater than a length of the proximal section, and wherein the groove extends the full length of the proximal section.
20. The tip according to claim 14 , wherein an entirety of the fluid channeling component is made of metal.