Patents by Inventor J. Charles Elmore

J. Charles Elmore has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Endoscope with sterile sleeve
    Patent number: 5569161
    Abstract: An endoscope has a fiber optic image bundle which is insertible into a separate sterile sleeve such that the fiber optic image bundle need not be sterilized prior to use. A window formed proximate the distal end of the sleeve facilitates viewing through the fiber optic image bundle. A contractile member urges the fiber optic image bundle into abutment with the window to facilitate proper optical alignment of the distal end of the fiber optic image bundle with the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Wendell V. Ebling
    Inventors: Wendell V. Ebling, J. Charles Elmore, Carl A. Swindle
  • Sterilizable endoscope and method for constructing the same
    Patent number: 5443057
    Abstract: A gas sterilizable endoscope has a cannula having proximal and distal ends and a fiber optic imaging bundle disposed within the cannula. A first attachment, e.g., a first thermally curable epoxy bond, is formed at the proximal end of the cannula so as to attach the fiber optic imaging bundle to the cannula at the proximal end thereof. A second attachment, e.g., a second thermally curable epoxy bond, is formed at the distal end of the cannula so as to similarly attach the fiber optic imaging bundle to the cannula at the distal end thereof. A bow is formed in the fiber optic imaging bundle such that tensile stress formation in the fiber optic imaging bundle resulting from thermal expansion of the cannula during gas sterilization is mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: International Bioview, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Charles Elmore
  • Endoscope with sterile sleeve
    Patent number: 5347990
    Abstract: An endoscope has a fiber optic image bundle which is insertible into a separate sterile sleeve such that the fiber optic image bundle need not be sterilized prior to use. A window formed proximate the distal end of the sleeve facilitates viewing through the fiber optic image bundle. A biasing means urges the fiber optic image bundle into abutment with the window to facilitate proper optical alignment thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Wendell V. Ebling
    Inventors: Wendell V. Ebling, J. Charles Elmore