Dinh T Ha

US Patent:

20030069473, Apr 10, 2003

Filed:

Oct 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/972812

Inventors:

Thomas Barthel - Becker MN, US
Scott Sundet - Edina MN, US
Craig Riedl - Long Lake MN, US
Dinh Ha - Blaine MN, US

International Classification:

A61B001/267

US Classification:

600/139000, 600/120000

Abstract:

An optical fiber viewing assembly for an endoscope has a light guide with an elastically flexible portion and a substantially rigid pre-curved distal portion. The viewing assembly is particularly suited for traversing bends of relatively small radii in an endotracheal breathing tube without scraping accumulated biological material from the inner surface of the breathing tube that could collect on the distal end of the light guide and obscure the endoscopic view.