Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7431694 | Method of guiding medical devices A guide system for use with an endoscope, and a method of use is disclosed. The guide system can include a track, in the form of a rail, and a mating member for engaging the rail. The guide system can also include an accessory, such as an accessory guide tube throug... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7367939 | Rotational, translational and torqueing control members for an endoscopic instrument A flexible endoscopic dip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is arranged adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is arranged adjacent to the store of clips. ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7311659 | Endoscope shaft An endoscope shaft comprising a working conduit and a number of supply and/or functional conduits. The supply and/or functional conduits have an excessive length with respect to the endoscope shaft and are arranged in spirals, in serpentine and/or zigzag shape aroun... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7220227 | Adapter for endoscope and endoscope An adapter for an endoscope of the present invention includes: a locking device for attaching and detaching that attaches and locks this adapter for an endoscope onto a predefined position on an endoscope control part; and a first treatment tool locking device that ... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7201731 | Treatment device with guidable needle A medical treatment device comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities. The elongate probe member has a longitudinal axis and at least one passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A guide is mounted in ... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7198599 | Endoscope apparatus A connecting device is designed releasably to connect a control section of an endoscope and a catheter control portion in a manner such that a channel opening portion in the control section of the endoscope and the catheter control portion are located close to each ... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7150713 | Endoscopic device An endoscopic device for use at a site within a body includes an inner portion and a sheath surrounding the inner portion. The inner portion defines an operative channel and an optical channel. The operative channel provides a path for fluid to or from the body site... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7081097 | Endoscope sheath assemblies having an attached biopsy sampling device Apparatus and methods for obtaining biopsy samples using an endoscope assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, an assembly adapted for use with an endoscopic insertion tube includes a sheath having a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate a distal ... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7056284 | Endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance Apparatus and methods for endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endoscope assembly includes a sheath having a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate an endosco... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7041050 | System for performing a surgical procedure inside a body A surgical system comprising a cannula for an elongate surgical tool that enables a physician to operate on a surgical site within a body from outside the body is described. The cannula supports a pin that is locked and unlocked from a J-shaped channel provided in t... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7025720 | Hysteroscope with a shank exchange system An endoscope has an optics housing provided at a proximal end, with an outer shank releasably connected to the optics housing, and with an inner shank which is arranged inside and parallel to the outer shank and is releasably connected to the optics housing. A corre... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6997867 | Flexible sleeve slidingly transformable into a large suction sleeve A sleeve is provided for placing over a flexible endoscope. The sleeve has a port between its distal and proximal openings and the port is connected to a vacuum source. Once the endoscope is retracted proximal to the suction port, the sleeve's proximal opening is se... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6955645 | Universal modular glottiscope system having intra-wall channels for vocal fold microsurgery or orotracheal intubation An element for a phonomicrosurgical modular glottiscope system comprises a proximal end; a distal end; a pair of opposing curved sides intersecting at an apex line; a substantially planar base, and internal channels disposed within the base. The base plate is remova... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6951568 | Low-profile multi-function vessel harvester and method A cannula comprises a main body for accommodating both an endoscopic lumen and a working lumen. The main body of the cannula ends at a point proximal to the distal end of the cannula. Extending distally from the point at which the main body end is an endoscopic diss... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6932824 | Three-needle closure device The present invention relates to a three-needle type vascular closure system. The closure system utilizes three needles in the form of a guiding device, an expandable needle, and a hooking device. The guiding device is used to make the initial opening in the vessel,... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6929601 | Endoscopic sheath assembly and associated method An endoscope sheath includes a web member disposable in a tubular configuration in engagement with an endoscope insertion member, the member being provided with a tear string in the form of a tensile member. The tear string preferably extends longitudinally along th... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6911005 | Endoscope with detachable sheath Combination of an endoscope and a sheath for covering an inserting tube of the endoscope, the sheath includes an elastic tubular member having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, and the endoscope is provided with an air feeding tube for feeding air from a... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6908428 | Sleeve for endoscopic tools Apparatus for sheathing an endoscopic tool includes a sheathing assembly, which includes a sleeve dispenser and a port adapter for mating with a proximal port of an endoscopic working channel so as to permit the endoscopic tool to be advanced through the sheathing a... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6899672 | Endoscopic imaging system including removable deflection device A steerable endoscopic sheath has a proximal end, a distal end and a working channel lumen disposed therein. A plurality of solid state light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes are positioned near the distal end of the sheath and are selectively energize... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6860516 | Channel tube coupling structure for anti-pollution type endoscope A channel tube coupling structure for an anti-pollution type endoscope which can easily and smoothly couple a multi-lumen type channel tube extending from a base end of an outer sheath with tubes on a side of the endoscope and separate the multi-lumen type channel t... | 03/01/2005 |
| 6827683 | Endoscope system and medical treatment method An endoscope system comprises: an endoscope main body having an insertion portion in which a lumen is formed, the insertion portion having a proximal end and a distal end, a distal end opening of the lumen being provided to the distal end of the insertion portion, a... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6740030 | Endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance Apparatus and methods for endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endoscope assembly includes a sheath having a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate an endosco... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6315715 | Flexible inner liner for the working channel of an endoscope A tubular member useful as an inner liner for the working channel of a flexible endoscope has a distal portion which is specially treated to make it highly flexible and resistant to kinking or collapsing when it bends with the flexible section of the endo... | 11/13/2001 |
| 6086530 | Adjustable sleeve for endoscopes A sleeve for medical instruments such as endoscopes is disclosed. The sleeve is attachable in any axial or rotational orientation on the endoscope tube. A clamp-like locking means holds the sleeve securely to the endoscope tube without causing damage, whi... | 07/11/2000 |
| 6019720 | System for evulsing subcutaneous tissue A system for evulsing subcutaneous tissue including an endoscope adapted to be inserted into subcutaneous tissue through a skin cut portion to observe tissue to be evulsed and existing under the skin, a dissecting unit adapted to be inserted into the subc... | 02/01/2000 |
| 5938586 | Endoscope biopsy channel liner and associated method A device utilizable with an endoscope to promote cleanliness comprises a substantially thin-walled elongate tubular sheath made of a flexible material, the sheath having a use configuration with an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of an insert... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5938587 | Flexible inner liner for the working channel of an endoscope A tubular member useful as an inner liner for the working channel of a flexible endoscope has a distal portion which is specially treated to make it highly flexible and resistant to kinking or collapsing when it bends with the flexible section of the endo... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5921915 | Directional surgical device for use with endoscope, gastroscope, colonoscope or the like A surgical instrument assembly has an endoscope with an instrument channel and a sheathed elongate tubular member inserted into the instrument channel. The sheath is provided with a distal end portion having at least one resiliently biased, curved portion... | 07/13/1999 |
| 5908381 | Directional surgical device for use with endoscope, gastroscope, colonoscope or the like A surgical instrument assembly has an endoscope with an instrument channel and a sheathed elongate tubular member inserted into the instrument channel. The tubular member is provided with a distal end portion having at least one resiliently biased, curved... | 06/01/1999 |
| 5899850 | Treatment accessories for an endoscope A treatment apparatus for insertion in a forceps channel of an endoscope. The treatment apparatus includes a treatment instrument, a flexible element, and a cover tube. The flexible element is slidable within the cover tube and the treatment instrument is... | 05/04/1999 |
| 5885209 | Endoscopic working channel and method of making same A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) flexible and bendable working channel section which is circumferentially reinforced against kinking and which is adapted to be insertable, in-line, with the rigid section of the ... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5879287 | Endoscope for medical use The endoscope unit 1 includes a flexible tube 3 having a deflectable portion at one end and a proximal housing 4 at the other end. The deflectable portion of the flexible tube 3 has a hard tip 2 at its distal end and the tip 2 has an observation opening 1... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5863286 | Endoscope system including endoscope and disposable protection cover In an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section and an operation section and a disposable protection cover having an insertion section cover having formed therein a forceps channel and a forceps inlet opening through which a forc... | 01/26/1999 |
| 5830126 | Endoscope unit An endoscope unit includes an endoscope having an insertion portion and a fluid supply instrument mounted on the insertion portion. The fluid supply instrument comprises a thin resilient tube. This resilient tube is intimately attached to an outer periphe... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5827177 | Endoscope sheath assembly with isolating fabric sleeve An endoscope sheath assembly usable within an elongated flexible endoscope to isolate a portion of the endoscope from an external environment during a therapeutic or diagnostic endoscopic procedure. The sheath assembly has a sheath with an elongated flexi... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5820546 | Guiding device for treatment accessories of an endoscope A guiding device for treatment accessories of an endoscope includes a guiding tube and a fixing device. The guiding tube is long enough to extend from a forceps channel of the endoscope and is provided with a bent portion at a distal end thereof. The fixi... | 10/13/1998 |
| 5779625 | Endoscope system including endoscope and protection cover An endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and is inserted into a cavity under inspection and an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and a ... | 07/14/1998 |
| 5746694 | Endoscope biopsy channel liner and associated method A device utilizable with an endoscope to promote cleanliness comprises a substantially thin-walled elongate tubular sheath made of a flexible material, the sheath having a use configuration with an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of an insert... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5738630 | Endoscope system including endoscope and protection cover An endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and is inserted into a cavity under inspection and an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and a ... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5733243 | Endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover system for preventing buckling of an endoscope cover A cover system endoscope apparatus in which an insert part cover sheath for isolating the insert part of a cover endoscope is airtightly connected to a distal end constructive part of a tip part of an insert part cover. The insert part cover sheath is com... | 03/31/1998 |
