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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7789826 | Manually controlled endoscope A control handle for use with a steerable endoscopic device. The endoscopic device having a pair of control wires to effect steering. The control handle includes a steering mechanism that includes an actuator, such as a control knob, drivingly connected to a drive m... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7338441 | Superelastic/shape memory tissue stabilizers and surgical instruments A surgical instrument is used for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body. The surgical instrument is configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling. The instrument includes a first member, a secon... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7331924 | Endoscope apparatus having electric bending endoscope An electric bending endoscope apparatus includes an electric bending endoscope, a bending control device for controlling a bending direction and the amount of bending of a bending portion based on a bending instructing signal outputted from a portion for instructing... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7326176 | Endoscope angle portion An endoscope angle portion comprises an angle portion structure. The angle portion structure includes angle ring units each of which comprises pivoting joint portions extending from its both ends and has a shape that is notched obliquely in directions away from the ... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7300373 | Power transmission mechanism and manipulator A power transmission mechanism comprising: a flexible power transmission element; a pair of a drive pulley and a driven pulley on which the flexible power transmission element is wound, each the pulley having a pin-embedding hole formed to extend from the outer circ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7294102 | Method and apparatus for providing depth control or z-actuation A position control apparatus for controlling position along an axis, comprising: an extensible member that can be extended and contracted along said axis, comprising shape memory alloy locatable to expand and contract along said axis, heating means for controlling s... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7285088 | Endoscope apparatus An endoscope apparatus comprises: an endoscope in which a bending section is provided in its elongated insertion section; control wires stretching out of the bending section; a drive unit, which is attached to and removed from the endoscope; a pulling apparatus, whi... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7276062 | Deflectable catheter with hinge A deflectable device, such as a catheter, is provided that includes a hinge that enhances the ability of the device to deflect or bend within a predetermined plane. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at leas... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7232434 | Catheter A catheter according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a flexible tubular insert section having, in the outer surface of the distal end side of the insert section, a plurality of notches arranged in the longitudinal direction of the insert section on o... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7214183 | Endoscope apparatus having an insertion channel A structure having a proximal open end for inserting a treatment instrument into a channel of the insertion portion that opens to a display panel side, and is provided on the frame of the display portion, wherein the treatment instrument inserted from the proximal o... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7172552 | Catheter introducer system for exploration of body cavities A self propelling catheter introducer system for exploring a body cavity is disclosed which includes a flexible tubular catheter, an everting tube and a steering section located near the distal end of the catheter that is introduced in a body cavity. The steering se... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7150752 | Endoscopic instrument A fitting hole portion of a shaft portion fitted to a mouth ring portion of an endoscope is provided to an attachment portion of a ligation band operation band, and an operation to switch between a flange portion insertion position at which the flange portion of the... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7140398 | Sports equipment having a tubular structural member A tubular structural member that provides directional resistance. The tubular structural member has a flexural resistance that is greater in one direction than in another. The tubular structural member can be employed in variety of devices or structures so as to eff... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7134993 | Method and apparatus for improving the operation of a remote viewing device by changing the calibration settings of its articulation servos The present invention features a remote viewing device that is capable of improving its operation by removing slack in its control cables and/or by increasing the range of motion of its viewing head. In one embodiment, the method for improving the operation involves... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7121737 | Light emitting unit operative at high coupling efficiency, optical sensor system and musical instrument using the same A light emitting device includes an optical fiber plug formed with a through-hole into which a bundle of optical fibers is inserted and a light-emitting device holder formed with a through-hole in which a condenser lens and a light emitting device are accommodated, ... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7074182 | Videoendoscope A videoendoscope comprising an inspection probe comprising an inspection tube and a distal endpiece secured to one end of the inspection tube and housing an imaging device; a video processor for processing the electrical signal delivered by the imaging device and fo... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7066880 | Catheter introducer system for exploration of body cavities A catheter introducer system for endoscopy is disclosed which includes a steering section and a propulsion section located near the end of the catheter that is introduced in body cavity, and a non-collapsible sheath defining a working channel, disposed inside the ca... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7004957 | Actuating and locking mechanism for a surgical tool An actuating mechanism for actuating a surgical tool of a surgical instrument including an actuating device having an actuator surface. The actuating device is operable by applying a force to substantially any part of the actuator surface for placing the actuating d... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6925323 | System for enhancing visibility in the epidural space A system for enhancing visibility in the epidural space is provided that improves visibility in the epidural space of a patient for more effectively conducting therapeutic surgery therein. The method includes the steps of distending a portion of the epidural space o... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6905461 | Bending control mechanism for endoscope Disclosed is a bending control mechanism for an endoscope according to the invention, which is characterized in that the bending control mechanism includes a bending portion provided in an insertion portion of the endoscope; a bending wire extended out from the bend... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6793622 | Electric bending endoscope An electric bending endoscope having a traction-member operating device according to the present invention has traction members each of whose one end portion is fixed to and extends from a distal end portion of a long and narrow inserting portion, a pulley forming m... | 09/21/2004 |
| 6702737 | Bending manipulation device for endoscope A bending manipulation device for endoscope wherein a pair of control wires are taken up by a pulley provided in and given a rotary motion by the main control portion of the endoscope, and one of control wires extended out from the pulley corresponding to... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6699183 | Quick-acting closure for an endoscope The invention relates to an endoscope comprising a first quick-acting closure (3) for a traction wire (13) of a Bowden wire device, which closure is arranged at the proximal end to be pivotable or displaceable, with a locking position of the quick-acting ... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6673060 | Drainage catheter and method for forming same The present invention is directed to a drainage catheter including an elongated hollow drainage tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a tip, a flexible region adjacent the tip, a filament routing channel, a hub associated with the proximal end of the ... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6641528 | Bending part of endoscope The bending part of an endoscope is constructed in which plural joint rings are connected with each other. The adjacent joint rings are rotatably connected with rivets after overlapping a connecting part with another connecting part. A guide hole is forme... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6595982 | Tubular medical device A tubular medical device comprises a tubular body, a lumen, a compression-resisting member inserted in the lumen so that it cannot move in the direction of the axis of the tubular body, with its distal end located at a predetermined distance from the dist... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6522933 | Steerable catheter with a control handle having a pulley mechanism A steerable catheter is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough and a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body. The control handle comp... | 02/18/2003 |
| 6491627 | Manipulation mechanism for an angle section of an endoscope A manipulation mechanism for an angle section of an endoscope includes at least one pulley provided within a main operation unit, with the base ends of a pair of operating wires wound thereupon, a pulley rotating shaft extended externally from a casing of... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6482148 | Optical scope with measuring system An optical scope for viewing a feature at an inaccessible location includes a tube having a distal end which is insertable in use into an inaccessible location and a proximal end connected to a housing. The tube contains an optical system for gathering an... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6398776 | Tubular medical device A tubular medical device comprises a tubular body, a lumen, a compression-resisting member inserted in the lumen so that it cannot move in the direction of the axis of the tubular body, with its distal end located at a predetermined distance from the dist... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6236876 | Navigable probe and motor control apparatus A motor control apparatus (1) for articulating a probe (3) is constructed with a reversible motor (10) and at least one tension adjusting cable (4) to articulate the probe (3).... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6203494 | Endoscope capable of varying hardness of flexible part of insertion unit thereof An endoscope capable of varying the hardness of a soft part of an insertion unit thereof includes a hardness adjustment unit and a location changing mechanism. The hardness adjustment unit includes an elongated coil and a wire lying through the coil, and ... | 03/20/2001 |
| 6030360 | Steerable catheter A steerable catheter (310) having a handle, a manifold strain relief (314) securely mounted at a front distal end of the handle, a steering dial (316) rotatably mounted within the handle, the steering dial (316) comprises a steering dial left fastener (31... | 02/29/2000 |
| 6013024 | Hybrid operation system A hybrid operation system that manipulates an object with the tip of a conduit inserted into said object comprising a conduit having inside multiple tubes that are inserted into the object, a driving mechanism that drives the multiple tubes, an analysis m... | 01/11/2000 |
| 5960145 | Optical fiber image conduit and method using same The image-receiving end of a flexible image conduit, which includes an optical fiber bundle enclosed in a flexible sheath, is movable throughout a generally dome-shaped area in response to movement of an actuator by a user. Additional fiber bundles illumi... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5938588 | Superelastic control wire sheath for flexible endoscope An endoscope comprising a handle and a flexible shaft connected to the handle. The flexible shaft has an active deflection section and a passive deflection section with a control wire support member therein. The endoscope also has a control wire connected... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5916147 | Selectively manipulable catheter A remotely steerable catheter having an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a remotely manipulable length, and a wall defining a lumen and first and second wires slidably retained by the wall and extending proximally beyond the pr... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5752912 | Manipulator for flexible portion of an endoscope A manipulator for a flexible portion of an endoscope includes a rotatable pulley provided in an operating portion of the endoscope, and a pliable pull rope which is wound about the pulley. One end of the pull rope is connected to the pulley. The flexible ... | 05/19/1998 |
| 5681263 | Endoscope for ultrasonic echography The endoscope comprises a probe for ultrasound echography, a manual control housing (12) carrying adjustment members that are connected by cables to the base, a tube (50) fixed to the housing and having cables passing therealong, and a mechanical coupler ... | 10/28/1997 |
| 5667476 | Endoscope articulation system to reduce effort during articulation of an endoscope An endoscope having an articulation system that provides a mechanical advantage and facilitates articulation of the distal section of the endoscope insertion tube. The endoscope includes a handle held by a user during an endoscopic procedure and an insert... | 09/16/1997 |
