Suction control unit for an endoscope having two working channels

Abstract

A suction control unit placed on an endoscope to control application of suction through at least one of two working channels of the endoscope. The suction unit has first and second valves with first and second valve openings, at a proximal end, that lead through to a distal end, which is adapted to be placed on the first and second ports of the two working channels. The suction unit has a channel extending between the first and second valves, an opening extending from a front wall to a rear wall of the housing and through the channel, and a switcher having a handle and a shaft with a through hole. When the shaft is placed within the opening and in a first position, suction is applied to both the working channels. When the shaft is placed within the opening and in a second position, suction is applied to only one of the two working channels.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of applying suction through at least one of two working channels of an endoscope, the method comprising:
 installing a suction control unit on the endoscope, the suction control unit comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a first valve and a second valve on either side of a longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein a proximal end of the first and the second valve has respective first and second valve openings that lead through to a distal end of the first and the second valve, and wherein the distal end of the first and the second valve is aligned with first and second ports of the two working channels; 
 a channel extending between the first and the second valve within the housing, wherein a channel axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing; 
 an opening extending from a front wall to a rear wall of the housing and through the channel between the first and the second valve; 
 
 a switcher having a handle and a shaft extending from the handle along a long axis, wherein the shaft has a through hole such that a hole axis is substantially perpendicular to the long axis, and wherein the shaft is placed within the opening; 
   generating suction using a pump connected to the endoscope; and   manipulating the switcher between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the switcher opens the channel enabling suction to be applied through both the working channels while in the second position the switcher closes the channel enabling suction to be applied through only one of the two working channels.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein switcher tracks are located on the front and the rear wall of the housing to restrict rotation of the switcher beyond said first and second positions. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the handle of the switcher has an open ring to hold two stoppers configured for the first and the second valve openings. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein in the first position the hole axis is substantially parallel to the channel axis while in the second position the hole axis is substantially perpendicular to the channel axis. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a surgical tool is inserted in one or both of the first and the second valve openings while suction is applied through one or both of the two working channels. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the suction control unit is fixedly installed on the endoscope. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the suction control unit is removably installed on the endoscope. 
     
     
         30 . A suction control unit configured to be detachably attached to at least two working channels of an endoscope and control application of suction through at least one of the two working channels, the suction unit comprising:
 a housing, defined by a central longitudinal axis, comprising:
 a first valve and a second valve; 
 a channel extending between the first and the second valve within the housing; 
 an opening extending from a front wall to a rear wall of the housing and through the channel between the first and the second valve; and 
   a switcher having a handle and a shaft extending from the handle along a long axis.