US 11,786,112 B2
Endoscope control system
Martin Refslund Nielsen, Birkerød (DK); Martin Johst Christensen, Copenhagen (DK); and Günter Wilhelm Schütz, Augsburg (DE)
Assigned to AMBU A/S, Ballerup (DK)
Filed by AMBU A/S, Ballerup (DK)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/241,882.
Application 17/241,882 is a continuation of application No. 17/239,372, filed on Apr. 23, 2021.
Application 17/239,372 is a continuation of application No. 17/239,373, filed on Apr. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20172237 (EP), filed on Apr. 30, 2020; application No. 20172238 (EP), filed on Apr. 30, 2020; and application No. 20172242 (EP), filed on Apr. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0338051 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/58 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/0052 (2013.01) [A61B 1/0011 (2013.01); A61B 1/0057 (2013.01); B29C 65/58 (2013.01); B29L 2031/753 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An endoscope control system for performing a bending operation in a disposable insertion endoscope, the endoscope control system comprising:
a first control wheel connected to a first wire drum for connection to a steering wire of the endoscope, whereby rotation of the first control wheel controls the bending operation, the first control wheel including a radially inwardly extending longitudinal groove; and
a rotation member and a sliding member, the rotation member and/or the sliding member including an inclined portion or ramp so that rotation of the rotation member pushes the sliding member toward the first control wheel;
a disc holder including a radially outwardly facing longitudinal groove; and
a multi-disc brake comprising a stack of at least three brake discs, the stack including a first brake disc, a second brake disc and a third brake disc, the first brake disc positioned between the second brake disc and the third brake disc, and the stack positioned between the sliding member and the first control wheel,
the second brake disc and the third brake disc each including a radially inwardly extending protrusion configured to engage the radially outwardly facing longitudinal groove of the disc holder,
the first brake disc including a radially outwardly facing protrusion configured to engage the radially inwardly extending longitudinal groove of the first control wheel,
wherein rotation of the rotation member pushes the sliding member toward the first control wheel and causes the sliding member to exert a compressive force onto the stack and change the multi-disc brake from a released state to a braking state, a brake torque generated by the multi-disc brake in the braking state preventing rotation of the first control wheel, the brake torque in the released state being at least partially released.