IP Library Granted Patent US 12,433,476
Granted Patent B2
US 12,433,476 · App. 17/860,527 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Endoscope having fastener for bundling wire sheaths in flexible portion and endoscope system

Inventors: Shun Inoue (Hachioji, JP); Kosuke Kishi (Hachioji, JP)
Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
A61B1/0057A61B1/00006A61B1/00009A61B1/00042A61B1/00064A61B1/00105A61B1/00121A61B1/00128A61B1/00133A61B1/00154A61B1/0016A61B1/005A61B1/0052A61B1/0055A61B1/008A61B1/009A61B1/01A61B1/045A61B5/062A61B90/37A61B1/00066A61B1/018A61B2034/105G02B23/2476G06T2207/10068
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,433,476
App. No.
17/860,527
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscope includes: an insertion portion having a joint; a first wire and a second wire fixed on both sides of a central axis in a longitudinal direction of the joint at a distal end of the joint; a first wire sheath which is inserted through an internal path of the insertion portion and through which the first wire is inserted; and a second wire sheath which is inserted through the internal path of the insertion portion and through which the second wire is inserted, wherein the first wire sheath is bundled by a first fastener so as to be close to the second wire sheath, and the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating by the first fastener.

Claims (48)

1. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion portion having an articulating joint and a passively bent flexible portion, the joint is disposed at a distal end of the flexible portion;

a first wire and a second wire for articulating the joint, the first wire and the second wire being fixed on both sides of a central axis in a longitudinal direction of the joint at a distal end of the joint;

a first wire sheath which is inserted through an internal path of the insertion portion and through which the first wire is inserted; and

a second wire sheath which is inserted through the internal path of the insertion portion and through which the second wire is inserted,

wherein the first wire sheath is bundled by a first fastener so as to be close to the second wire sheath, the first fastener is disposed in an internal path of the flexible portion, and

the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating by the first fastener.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third wire and a fourth wire which are fixed on both sides of the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the joint and are fixed at different positions from the first wire and the second wire at a distal end of the joint;

a third wire sheath which is inserted through the internal path of the insertion portion and through which the third wire is inserted; and

a fourth wire sheath which is inserted through the internal path of the insertion portion and through which the fourth wire is inserted,

wherein the first wire sheath is bundled by the first fastener so as to be closest to the second wire sheath in an entire length of the insertion portion as compared with the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath.

3. The endoscope according to claim 2 , wherein the first fastener is formed in a ring shape, and is fixed to only one of the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath, and is inserted without being fixed to the other, so that the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating.

4. The endoscope according to claim 3 , wherein the first fastener comprises a plurality of first fasteners each bundling the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath.

5. The endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath are fixedly bundled by a plurality of second fasteners.

6. The endoscope according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of first fasteners and the plurality of second fasteners are each arranged in a large curved region where the insertion portion is curved at a large angle at a smaller interval than an interval at which the plurality of first fasteners and the plurality of second fasteners are arranged in a small curved region where the insertion portion is curved at a small angle.

7. The endoscope according to claim 5 , wherein the first wire and the second wire are a pair of opposing wires for bending the joint in a vertical direction.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the third wire and the fourth wire are a pair of opposing wires for bending the joint in a left-right direction.

9. The endoscope according to claim 2 , wherein

the third wire sheath is bundled by a second fastener so as to be closest to the fourth wire sheath as compared with the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath in the entire length of the insertion portion, and

the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating by the second fastener.

10. The endoscope according to claim 9 , wherein the second fastener is formed in a ring shape, and is fixed to only one of the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath, and is inserted without being fixed to the other, so that the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating.

11. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope including

an insertion portion having an articulating joint a passively bent flexible portion, the joint is disposed at a distal end of the flexible portion,

a first wire and a second wire for articulating the joint, the first wire and the second wire being are fixed on both sides of a central axis in a longitudinal direction of the joint at a distal end of the joint,

a first wire sheath which is inserted through an internal path of the insertion portion and through which the first wire is inserted, and

a second wire sheath which is inserted through the internal path of the insertion portion and through which the second wire is inserted; and

a drive device that bends the joint by relaxing and pulling the first wire and the second wire,

wherein the first wire sheath is bundled by a first fastener so as to be close to the second wire sheath, the first fastener is disposed in an internal path of the flexible portion, and

the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating by the first fastener.

12. The endoscope system according to claim 11 , wherein

the endoscope further includes

a third wire and a fourth wire which are fixed on both sides of a central axis in a longitudinal direction of the joint and are fixed at different positions from the first wire and the second wire at a distal end of the joint,

a third wire sheath which is inserted through the internal path of the insertion portion and through which the third wire is inserted, and

a fourth wire sheath which is inserted through the internal path of the insertion portion and through which the fourth wire is inserted,

the drive device relaxes and pulls the third wire and the second wire to bend the joint, and

the first wire sheath is bundled by the first fastener so as to be closest to the second wire sheath in an entire length of the insertion portion as compared with the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath.

13. The endoscope system according to claim 12 , wherein the first fastener is formed in a ring shape, and is fixed to only one of the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath, and is inserted without being fixed to the other, so that the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating.

14. The endoscope system according to claim 13 , wherein the first fastener comprises a plurality of first fasteners each bundling the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath.

15. The endoscope system according to claim 14 , wherein the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath are fixedly bundled by a plurality of second fasteners.

16. The endoscope system according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of first fasteners and the plurality of second fasteners are each arranged in a large curved region where the insertion portion is curved at a large angle, at a smaller interval than an interval at which the plurality of first-fasteners and the second plurality of fasteners are arranged in a small curved region where the insertion portion is curved at a small angle.

17. The endoscope system according to claim 15 , wherein the first wire and the second wire are a pair of opposing wires for bending the joint in a vertical direction.

18. The endoscope system according to claim 17 , wherein the third wire and the fourth wire are a pair of opposing wires for bending the joint in a left-right direction.

19. The endoscope system according to claim 12 , wherein

the third wire sheath is bundled by a second fastener so as to be closest to the fourth wire sheath as compared with the first wire sheath and the second wire sheath in the entire length of the insertion portion, and

the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating by the second fastener.

20. The endoscope system according to claim 19 , wherein the second fastener is formed in a ring shape, and is fixed to only one of the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath, and is inserted without being fixed to the other, so that the third wire sheath and the fourth wire sheath are bundled so as to be relatively advancing and retreating.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2022
From: INOUE, SHUN; KISHI, KOSUKE
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060462/0607 →
Priority Claims (1)
WO PCT/JP2020/040874 · Oct 30, 2020 · international
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTJP2021001239 · Jan 15, 2021
Provisional Application 62961872 · Jan 16, 2020
Related Publication 20220338720A1 · Oct 27, 2022
References Cited (177)
US 4762119A · Allred, III · 1988 [cited by examiner]
US 4773395A · Suzuki · 1988 [cited by examiner]
US 5174277A · Matsumaru · 1992 [cited by examiner]
US 5531664A · Adachi · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 5735793A · Takahashi et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 6520908B1 · Ikeda et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6610007B2 · Belson et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6899673B2 · Ogura et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6939294B2 · Abe · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 8939898B2 · Omoto · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9179832B2 · Diolaiti · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9218053B2 · Komuro et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9586323B2 · Diolaiti et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10238837B2 · Duindam et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10524636B2 · OuYang et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10532467B2 · Diolaiti et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10729317B2 · Eggli et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10743750B2 · Hunter et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11684248B2 · OuYang et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20020058858A1 · Ogura et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020103418A1 · Maeda et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20040225185A1 · Obata et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050197536A1 · Banik et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060287576A1 · Tsuji et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070135803A1 · Belson · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070232858A1 · Macnamara · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20080065108A1 · Diolaiti · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080065110A1 · Duval et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080221592A1 · Kawai · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080312503A1 · Masaki · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090012365A1 · Ueno et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090149702A1 · Onoda et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090299344A1 · Lee et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090326322A1 · Diolaiti · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090326553A1 · Mustufa et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100274087A1 · Diolaiti et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110106078A1 · Mueller · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110112361A1 · Ishigami et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110196701A1 · Dusch · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120059392A1 · Diolaiti · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120182409A1 · Moriyama et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130144275A1 · Umemoto · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130150673A1 · Kakehashi · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130211588A1 · Diolaiti · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130211590A1 · Diolaiti et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140213848A1 · Moskowitz et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150005576A1 · Belson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150080658A1 · Chung et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150105615A1 · Kato · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150127019A1 · Komuro et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150282882A1 · Komuro · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150327750A1 · Ogawa et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160128790A1 · Ogawa et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160136810A1 · Wakai et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160174819A1 · OuYang et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160213438A1 · Jogasaki et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160316996A1 · Nakayama · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160345801A1 · Kishi · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160360952A1 · Yamanaka et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170080581A1 · Iida et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170129108A1 · Diolaiti et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170224195A1 · Kubo · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170360519A1 · Yorimoto et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170367771A1 · Tako et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180071029A1 · Srimohanarajah et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180193102A1 · Inoue · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180214007A1 · Yamazaki et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180225420A1 · Buda et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180264655A1 · Kuroda et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190142262A1 · Inglis et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190183321A1 · Teranuma · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201134A1 · Diolaiti et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190246882A1 · Graetzel et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190303000A1 · Furuhata · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190328475A1 · Arai et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200012116A1 · Fuerst et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200030575A1 · Bogusky et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200093553A1 · Nelson et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200110956A1 · Fan et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200178958A1 · Overmyer et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200221932A1 · OuYang et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200222138A1 · Diolaiti · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200315723A1 · Hassan et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210196398A1 · Ye et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210393344A1 · Graetzel et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220175479A1 · Tanaka · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220354600A1 · Tognaccini et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220401070A1 · Schaer · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220409014A1 · Komuro et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230025762A1 · Yu et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230270510A1 · Diolaiti · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230320710A1 · Sholev · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230329530A1 · Lee et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240215802A1 · Lee et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240306895A1 · Graetzel et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240407873A1 · Diolaiti et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
CN 1677445A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
CN 101056572A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
EP 2215960A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
EP 2409634A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 2123211B1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 2484268A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 2517613A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 3025632A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP H0397429A · 1991 [cited by applicant]
JP H03215240A · 1991 [cited by applicant]
JP H0723896A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP H08107875A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP H08286121A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP H11004806A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001095747A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001160106A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002078675A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002177202A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002224016A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003091596A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004041538A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004191911A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005279253A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006314775A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008307331A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009160312A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010000201A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010516412A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010220665A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010252842A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010279688A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 4823697B2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013215515A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013248119A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014533996A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015023950A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018114231A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018121686A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019000351A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019000352A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019165270A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019170853A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
KR 100949998B1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005122034A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008094949A2 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009069395A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011040104A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011114568A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012153646A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013056006A2 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016189646A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017056775A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018136950A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018211859A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019107226A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report dated Dec. 14, 2023 received in 21740850.9. [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated Oct. 22, 2024 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/860,400. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action dated Apr. 4, 2023 received in 2021-571256. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Mar. 30, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001200. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Mar. 30, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001215. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Apr. 6, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001233. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Dec. 15, 2020 received in PCT/JP2020/040874. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Apr. 6, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001199. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Mar. 30, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001203. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Mar. 9, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001217. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Mar. 9, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001239. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Apr. 6, 2021 received in PCT/JP2021/001204. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Notice of Allowance dated Aug. 8, 2023 received in 2021-570652. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action dated Aug. 8, 2023 received in 2021-571250. [cited by applicant]
European Search Report dated Feb. 9, 2024 received in 21 741 163.6. [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated Feb. 5, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/860,267. [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated Feb. 10, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/859,198. [cited by applicant]
US Final Office Action dated Feb. 14, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/860,400. [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated Apr. 11, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/859,211. [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated May 21, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/862,767. [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated Apr. 24, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/863,712. [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated May 7, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/859,471. [cited by applicant]
Data sheet for part# AND-TFT-35VX-KIT sold by Purdy Electronics Corporation AND Displays, (Year: May 6, 2011). [cited by applicant]
US Office Action dated Feb. 27, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/862,872. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Office Action dated Jun. 20, 2025 received in 202080092923.8. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Final Office Action dated Aug. 8, 2025 received in U.S. Appl. No. 17/862,872. [cited by applicant]