AN ENDOSCOPE WHEREIN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED FROM PATIENT-ENGAGING COMPONENTS

Title:

AN ENDOSCOPE WHEREIN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED FROM PATIENT-ENGAGING COMPONENTS

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO1998020787

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

An endoscope comprises inner and outer tubes, the inner metal tube containing electrical an objective unit components including a solid state video imaging unit. An electrically insulative sleeve is disposed around the inner tube for electrically isolating the inner tube and electrical components from the outer tube. In a preferred embodiment, an electrically insulative ring is disposed between a major portion of the inner tube and distal end portion of the inner tube to electrically isolate the inner tube distal end portion from the inner tube major portion and the electrical components. Thus, those endoscope components which are likely to contact a patient, i.e., the outer tube and the inner tube distal end portion, are electrically isolated from the inner tube and the electrical components therein, thereby preventing injurious electrical current flow to the patient.

Inventors:

CRAWFORD JOHN O

Application Number:

PCT/US1997/017092

Publication Date:

November 05, 1998

Filing Date:

September 30, 1997

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

VISTA MEDICAL TECH (US)

International Classes:

A61B1/00; G02B23/24; (IPC1-7): A61B/

Foreign References:

US4879992A	1989-11-14
US5372587A	1994-12-13
US5634881A	1997-06-03
US4993405A	1991-02-19

Other References: