US 11,937,773 B2
Endoscope with a suction valve having a sealing button
David Busch, Weyarn (DE)
Assigned to AMBU A/S, Ballerup (DK)
Filed by AMBU A/S, Ballerup (DK)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/453,398.
Claims priority of application No. 102020129208.2 (DE), filed on Nov. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0133131 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/015 (2006.01); A61B 1/05 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/00068 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00045 (2013.01); A61B 1/015 (2013.01); A61B 1/05 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An endoscope comprising:
a handle;
an endoscope shaft extending from the handle, the endoscope shaft having a distal end;
a working channel provided in the endoscope shaft and extending from the handle towards the distal end of the endoscope shaft; and
a suction valve configured to control a suction through the working channel and having a valve closed state and a valve open state, the suction valve comprising:
a housing having an upper end, an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening connected to the working channel; and
a piston unit inserted in the housing, the piston unit comprising:
a movable piston;
a spring surrounding the piston and biasing the valve to the valve closed state; and
a one-piece part comprising a button and a sealing portion, the button attached to the piston and including a button cover portion and a shell portion extending longitudinally from the cover portion, the button defining an internal button cavity configured to accommodate the upper end of the housing, the shell portion including an upper end connected to the button cover portion and a lower end surrounding the upper end of the housing in the valve closed state, the lower end of the shell portion translating longitudinally over the upper end of the housing as the piston translates longitudinally to transition the suction valve from the valve closed state to the valve open state, and the sealing portion surrounding the piston and contacting the housing in the valve open state to provide a sealing between the button and the housing in the valve open state.