US 12,256,899 B2
Overtube, insertion apparatus having overtube attached and detached thereto, and method for attaching overtube to and detaching overtube from insertion apparatus
Robert E. Ailinger, Norwood, MA (US)
Assigned to OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/081,436.
Prior Publication US 2022/0125279 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/0016 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00071 (2013.01); A61B 1/00121 (2013.01); A61B 1/00135 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An overtube attachable to an insertion section of an endoscope, the overtube comprising:
a connector body defining a lumen through which the insertion section is insertable along a longitudinal axis extending through a distal opening and a proximal opening of the lumen; and
a connecting mechanism comprising:
a connector comprising a locking surface and a hinge configured to movably attach the locking surface to the connector body,
wherein the connector is configured to have a resting open first position radially away from the longitudinal axis such that the locking surface does not contact the endoscope during insertion of the insertion section through the lumen of the connector body, and the locking surface is configured to be moved by a radial force to pivot along the hinge from the resting open first position to a second position radially closer to the longitudinal axis than the resting open first position,
wherein, in the second position, the locking surface is configured to engage the endoscope to limit relative movement of the connector body and the insertion section along the longitudinal axis while allowing the connector body to be rotated by a drive force relative to the insertion section along the longitudinal axis, and
wherein the hinge is configured to bias the locking surface to return to the resting open first position radially.