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Publication Number
US-12582295-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
An endoscope tubular connector includes: a connection joint including a through-hole; and a tubular portion that is formed of a material softer than the connection joint and that has one end arranged in the through-hole of the connection joint. The through-hole of the connection joint and a through-hole of the tubular portion are formed such that the through-holes are connected to each other, and an outer circumference of the tubular portion is arranged on an inner side with respect to an inner circumference of the connection joint.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an endoscope tubular connector in which a connection joint includes a first through-hole and an inner step with a first inner diameter greater than a second inner diameter. The connection joint further includes at least one cylindrical protrusion extending into the inner step, the cylindrical protrusion having a cylindrical-ring shape with a third inner diameter between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter. The flexible tube has a first end arranged in the first through-hole, and the flexible tube includes a second through-hole fixed to the first through-hole.
The flexible tube has at least one groove separately formed from the at least one cylindrical protrusion and offset longitudinally from the first end, with the at least one cylindrical protrusion disposed in the at least one groove. In this connector, an outer diameter of the flexible tube is arranged radially outward relative to the second inner diameter. The inner step comprises a first inner step disposed at one end of the connection joint, and the connection joint further includes a second inner step at an other end with a second cylindrical protrusion disposed at the second inner step.
A further inventive concept is embodied in an endoscope including a distal end portion with a first through-hole, a bendable part, and a connection joint connecting the distal end portion to an insertion portion, where the connection joint includes an inner step with a first inner diameter greater than a second inner diameter. A flexible tube is provided in the insertion portion, with a third end connected to the connection joint, and a third through-hole fixed to the second through-hole. The outer diameter of the flexible tube is arranged radially outward relative to the second inner diameter, and the flexible tube includes at least one groove offset longitudinally from the third end for receiving the at least one cylindrical protrusion.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims. Across them, the main inventive features are concentrated in a connection-joint inner step with diameter transition, cylindrical-ring protrusions, offset grooves in a flexible tube matched to the protrusions, and a radially outward outer diameter arrangement relative to the connection joint second inner diameter.
Connection joint with through-hole inner step and cylindrical-ring protrusions
The connection joint includes a first through-hole and an inner step having a first inner diameter greater than a second inner diameter, and at least one cylindrical protrusion extending into the inner step, the cylindrical protrusion having a cylindrical-ring shape with a third inner diameter between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter.
Flexible tube with fixed through-hole and offset groove receiving cylindrical protrusion
A flexible tube has a first end arranged in the first through-hole of the connection joint, the flexible tube including a second through-hole fixed to the first through-hole, and at least one groove separately formed from the at least one cylindrical protrusion and offset longitudinally from the first end, the at least one cylindrical protrusion being disposed in the at least one groove.
Radially outward arrangement of flexible tube outer diameter relative to connection joint inner diameter
An outer diameter of the flexible tube is arranged radially outward relative to the second inner diameter.
Endoscope connection joint integrated with distal end portion and flexible tube in insertion portion
An endoscope includes a distal end portion with a first through-hole and a bendable part, and a connection joint with a first end connected to the distal end portion and a second end arranged in the bendable part, the connection joint having a second through-hole connected to the first through-hole of the distal end portion, the second through-hole having an inner step with a first inner diameter greater than a second inner diameter.
Endoscope flexible tube with radially outward outer diameter and offset longitudinal groove receiving protrusion
A flexible tube provided in the insertion portion has a third end connected to the second end of the connection joint, the flexible tube having a third through-hole fixed to the second through-hole, wherein the outer diameter of the flexible tube is arranged radially outward relative to the second inner diameter, and the flexible tube has at least one groove separately formed from the at least one cylindrical protrusion and offset longitudinally from the third end, the at least one cylindrical protrusion being disposed in the at least one groove.
The independent-claim coverage is directed to an endoscope tubular connector/endoscope where a connection-joint inner step provides a larger-to-smaller inner diameter transition, at least one cylindrical-ring protrusion extends into that inner step, and the flexible tube provides at least one longitudinally offset groove that receives the protrusion while the flexible tube outer diameter is arranged radially outward relative to the connection-joint second inner diameter.
Stated Advantages
Enables a smaller treatment tool channel while reducing sticking during insertion/removal.
Documented Applications
An endoscope including an insertion portion and a distal end portion, using the connector arrangement in relation to treatment-tool use (maintenance when cracks occur under repeated treatment-tool use).
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