Endoscope and endoscope system
Inventors
SASAGUCHI, Kazuya • Ikuma, Soichi • Sato, Eijiro • Kazuno, Hiroki
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12605054-B2
Publication Date
2026-04-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
An endoscope includes an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and a suction channel that suctions a liquid along with a crushed calculus. The suction channel includes a channel main body, which is inserted in the insertion portion, and a small-diameter channel portion that is provided on a distal end side of the channel main body and has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the channel main body. The suction channel is configured to satisfy the relational expression R1/R2>1.27, where R1 represents the inner diameter of the channel main body and R2 represents the inner diameter of the small-diameter channel portion.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an endoscope having an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject and a suction channel configured to suction liquid together with crushed calculus from a distal channel opening. The suction channel includes a channel main body inserted in the insertion portion and a small-diameter channel portion provided on a distal end side of the channel main body, and the small-diameter channel portion has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the channel main body.
The suction channel also serves as a treatment instrument channel, such that a treatment instrument inserted into the channel main body and extending into the small-diameter channel portion crushes calculus while the suction channel suctions a liquid along with crushed calculus from the channel opening. The suction channel is constrained by diameter relationships using R1 as the inner diameter of the channel main body and R2 as the inner diameter of the small-diameter channel portion, and the suction channel is configured to satisfy the relational expression R1/R2>1.27.
The suction channel is further configured to satisfy a relational expression with respect to the treatment instrument including a treatment instrument main body with outer diameter R3 and a distal-end-side shaped portion with outer diameter R4, i.e., R1−R3≥2(R2−R4). The disclosed embodiments address clogging of calculus by using these diameter-ratio constraints and by ensuring a gap-based flow path between the suction channel and the treatment instrument.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across them, the inventive features center on a suction channel geometry using R1 and R2, additional dimensional constraints involving a treatment instrument using R3 and R4, and an endoscope or endoscope-system configuration that includes a calculus crushing device and pump behavior.
Suction channel configured to suction liquid with crushed calculus while serving as treatment instrument channel
The suction channel includes a channel main body and a small-diameter channel portion with a distal channel opening and an inner diameter smaller than the channel main body; the suction channel also serves as a treatment instrument channel, and is configured to suction, from the channel opening, a liquid along with crushed calculus.
Suction-channel diameter ratio constraint for reduced clogging
The suction channel is configured to satisfy the relational expression R1/R2>1.27, where R1 represents an inner diameter of the channel main body and R2 represents an inner diameter of the small-diameter channel portion.
Suction-channel and treatment-instrument dimensional relationship
The suction channel is configured to satisfy the relational expression R1−R3≥2(R2−R4), with respect to a treatment instrument including a treatment instrument main body that is inserted into the channel main body and has an outer diameter R3, and a distal-end-side shaped portion that is inserted into the small-diameter channel portion and has an outer diameter R4.
Endoscope system integrating calculus crushing device and suction pump behavior
An endoscope system includes an endoscope with the suction channel as configured to suction liquid along with a crushed calculus from the channel opening, a calculus crushing device comprising a probe protruding from the insertion portion and a generator configured to supply energy to the probe, a pump configured to suction the liquid or cause the liquid to flow backward, along with the calculus through the suction channel, and a treatment instrument comprising a treatment instrument main body inserted into the channel main body and a distal-end-side shaped portion inserted into the small-diameter channel portion.
Pump suctions crushed calculus through the gap between small-diameter portion and distal-end-side shaped portion
The treatment instrument is configured to be inserted in the suction channel and to extend from the channel opening to crush the calculus, and the pump suctions the liquid along with the calculus from between the small-diameter channel portion and the distal-end-side shaped portion through the channel opening.
Across the independent claims, coverage centers on a suction channel geometry defined by R1/R2>1.27 and a relationship R1−R3≥2(R2−R4) with respect to a treatment instrument inserted into the suction channel. In the system claim, the geometry constraints are combined with a calculus crushing device, a pump configured to suction or cause reverse flow with the calculus through the suction channel, and a treatment instrument extending from the channel opening to crush calculus while the suction occurs through the region between the small-diameter channel portion and the distal-end-side shaped portion.
Stated Advantages
Reduces calculus clogging by configuring the suction channel and treatment instrument with specified diameter relationships.
Achieves near-zero clogging as indicated by an experimentally determined practical threshold.
Documented Applications
Endoscopic treatment of calculus, where the suction channel suctions liquid together with crushed calculus from a distal channel opening while a treatment instrument crushes calculus under endoscopic operation.
Use of a laser-based calculus crushing device in an endoscope system in which a laser probe crushes calculus and the pump suctions the liquid along with the calculus through the suction channel.
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