Endoscope System and Suction Unit - Olympus Medical Systems

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Diagnosis & Surgery (A61B)

Published April 7th, 2026

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

USPTO granted patent US12593961B2 to Olympus Medical Systems Corp. for an endoscope system with an integrated suction unit. The patent covers a design where the suction button, opening, and angle knob are arranged in a specific geometric configuration on the endoscope operation portion. Medical device manufacturers developing endoscopic equipment should consider this patent when designing new products.

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What changed

USPTO issued patent grant US12593961B2 covering an endoscope system and suction unit designed by Olympus Medical Systems Corp. The patent protects a specific spatial arrangement where the center of the suction button top surface, the center of the opening, and the angle knob are collinear in a side view perpendicular to the angle knob's axis of rotation. The suction unit includes a protrusion inserted into the opening and a suction button for controlling suction through a lumen in the endoscope.

Manufacturers developing endoscopic or laparoscopic suction systems should review this patent to ensure their designs do not infringe on the protected geometric configuration. While the patent grant does not create immediate compliance obligations, it establishes enforceable intellectual property rights that may affect product development timelines or require licensing discussions with Olympus Medical Systems Corp.

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Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Endoscope system and suction unit

Grant US12593961B2 Kind: B2 Apr 07, 2026

Assignee

Olympus Medical Systems Corp.

Inventors

Soichiro Shimizu

Abstract

An endoscope system includes an endoscope and a suction unit. The endoscope includes an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject, an operation portion provided on a proximal end side of the insertion portion, and an angle knob provided on the operation portion for operating the bending portion; and an opening provided in the operation portion, wherein the opening is connected to a lumen provided in the endoscope. The suction unit includes a suction conduit, a protrusion inserted into the opening, and a suction button. In a side view perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the angle knob, a center of a top surface of the suction button, a center of the opening, and the angle knob are arranged along an imaginary straight line with the center of the opening located between the center of the top surface of the suction button and the angle knob.