US 12,324,566 B2
Bending operation mechanism for endoscope and endoscope
Motohiko Suzuki, Sagamihara (JP); Takuto Yoshinaga, Hino (JP); Tsukasa Ota, Hachioji (JP); Wataru Matsuura, Fuchu (JP); and Keita Mitsuhashi, Hachioji (JP)
Assigned to OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/843,464.
Application 17/843,464 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2019/050583, filed on Dec. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0313063 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 1/005 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/0057 (2013.01) [A61B 1/0052 (2013.01); A61B 1/0058 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bending operation mechanism for use with an endoscope, the bending operation mechanism comprising:
a pulley configured to rotate in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pulley including a cavity provided within a confines of the pulley;
a first wire configured to rotate the pulley in the first direction and to bend a bending portion;
a second wire configured to rotate the pulley in the second direction and to bend the bending portion; and
a spring having a first end connected to a proximal end of the first wire and a second end connected to the pulley, the second end being a spirally wound portion of the spring disposed in the cavity, the spring configured to pull the first wire toward the pulley when the pulley rotates in the second direction.