United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 4,715,360
Akui et al. [45] Date of Patent: Dec. 29, 1987
[54] ENDOSCOPE FORCEPS STOPCOCK
[75] Inventors: Nobuaki Akui; Yasuhiro Ueda; Akira Suzuki, all of Tokyo, Japan
[73] Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 1,157
[22] Filed: Jan. 7,1987
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of Ser. No. 773,122, Sep. 6, 1985, Pat. No. 4,653,477.
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Sep. 13, 1984 [JP] Japan 59-139279
Oct. 5, 1984 [JP] Japan 59-209455
May 22, 1985 [JP] Japan 60-109573
[51] Int. CI.* A61B1/00
[52] U.S. CI. 128/4; 128/912;
604/256
[58] Field of Search 128/4, 6, 912, 348;
604/256, 280
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,000,739 1/1977 Stevens 604/280
4,177,814 12/1979 Knepshied et al 128/348
4,240,411 12/1980 Hosono 128/4
4,416,273 11/1983 Grimes 128/912 X
4,436,519 3/1984 O'Neill 604/256 X
4,653,477 3/1987 Akui et al 128/4
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
2623511 2/1977 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
Primary Examiner—William H. Grieb
[57] ABSTRACT
An endoscope forceps stopcock has a cylindrical body. The body has a lower engagement section detachably fitted to an insertion mouthpiece of an endoscope, and an upper engagement section to which a cap is detachably fitted. The body and cap are connected to each other by a coupling member. A valve section is formed in the body between the engagement sections to close an insertion channel and provided with a pushing section and an insertion section allowing for the insertion of medical operation instruments. The pushing section presses the cap in accordance with the extent of the deformation of the valve section when the pressure in the insertion channel is increased, thereby holding the cap in cooperation with the upper engagement section.
12 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures
