Multi-jet controller for an endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11375885-B2
Application number	US-202016743717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2020
Priority date	Mar 28, 2013
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

The present specification describes a control mechanism to control fluid flow through one or more fluid channels that supply fluid to the distal tip of an endoscope. A pump is provided with an endoscope to control the flow of fluid from an external source to a combination of fluid channels within the endoscope, which supply fluid to front and side jets of a multi-jet endoscope assembly. The pump is preferably dual-direction pump that enables control of fluid to either the front jet or to the front and side jets of the endoscope.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for controlling a flow direction of fluid from a fluid source external to an endoscope into a plurality of fluid channels positioned within the endoscope, comprising:
a tube comprising a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel;
a pump connected to the tube, wherein the pump is adapted to direct fluid from the fluid source to the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel in said tube;
a controller to activate the pump, wherein the controller is configured to cause the pump to direct fluid to the first fluid channel upon a first activation of the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the pump to direct fluid to the second fluid channel upon a second activation of the controller; and
the endoscope comprising a first opening and a second opening;
wherein the first fluid channel is configured to supply fluid to the first opening;
wherein the second fluid channel is configured to supply fluid to the second opening; and
wherein the second fluid channel is configured to supply fluid to an opening positioned at a distal front face of the endoscope and a plurality of side openings positioned at a distal end of the endoscope, wherein a central longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of side openings is angled relative to a central longitudinal axis of the endoscope.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user trigger to control said controller, wherein the user trigger comprises a button, and wherein the button is configured such that pressing the button causes the first activation of the controller and pressing the button twice causes the second activation of the controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user trigger to control said controller, wherein the user trigger comprises a lever, and wherein the lever is configured such that pulling the lever causes the first activation of the controller and pushing the lever causes the second activation of the controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user trigger to control said controller, wherein the user trigger comprises a pedal, and wherein the pedal is configured such that stepping on the pedal causes the first activation of the controller and stepping on the pedal twice causes the second activation of the controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are co-linear and adjacent within the tube, and wherein the tube extends circumferentially around the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are configured to fluidically connect to a proximal portion of the endoscope.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid channel is configured to supply fluid to an opening positioned at a distal front face of the endoscope.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to direct fluid in a first direction through the first fluid channel upon said first activation of the controller, wherein the pump is configured to direct fluid in a second direction through the second fluid channel upon said second activation of the controller, and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first check valve in a third fluid channel positioned between said external source and the pump, and a second check valve in a fourth fluid channel positioned between said external source and the pump, wherein the third fluid channel is separate from the fourth fluid channel.

Assignees

• Endochoice Inc

Inventors

• Aizenfeld Amram
• Salman Golan
• Schwarcz Hadar

Classifications

• A61B1/00101

  the distal tip features being detachable · CPC title

• A61B1/00137

  End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs · CPC title

• F04B43/12

  having peristaltic action · CPC title

• A61B1/00096

  Optical elements · CPC title

• A61B1/00091

  Nozzles · CPC title