JPH0133042Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention is designed for use with endoscopes that incorporate optical fibers and other components and are primarily used for medical purposes such as observation, examination, diagnosis, or treatment of living body cavities. The present invention relates to improvements in flexible tubes, particularly tube shells for configuring flexible tube sections.

As is well known, this type of endoscope, which is commonly used these days, has an optical system such as an eyepiece, various operating members, and connections for air and water supply pipes, as shown in Figure 2. The hand control unit 1, also referred to as the main body of the hand control unit, is equipped with not only a mouth but also a forceps insertion port, etc., a lighting window, air supply, water supply, etc.
A tip part 3, also called a hard tip part, which has a suction port, a forceps outlet, etc. on the end surface or peripheral surface, and an optical fiber bundle, air supply, water supply, A flexible tube 2 for insertion into the body, also called a soft part, which is made up of a suction tube, various parts such as a forceps channel, and a tube shell body that houses and protects them, and further connects a manual operation part 1 and a light source device. It is composed of a flexible tube 9. In order to meet the intended use of endoscopes, improvements have been made not only to each component but also to the details.

One of the areas that has been improved is the tube shell bodies of the flexible tubes 2 and 9 in the endoscope. The main purpose of this improvement is to reduce the diameter of the flexible tube and extend its service life. One of the causes of damage to the envelope that prevents this is airborne mold spores (bacteria,
Cracks may occur during use due to actinomycetes (actinomycetes) adhering to the outer tube, propagating, and causing deterioration of the outer tube.In particular, mold, etc. attached to the outside of the outer tube should be removed by disinfection, cleaning, etc. However, mold that adheres to the inside of the jacket tube after it is assembled cannot be removed, causing deterioration of the jacket tube and causing unexpected cracks when bent during use. This is a serious factor that makes it unusable.

In view of the current situation, the present invention has been developed by knitting or weaving thin wires in a mesh shape on the outer periphery of a spiral tube, which is provided with rigidity against bending by winding an elastic ribbon in a spiral shape, to prevent twisting. A mold-proofing agent is contained at least on the inner surface of the shell tube forming member that is wrapped around the outer periphery of the mesh tubes with or without an adhesive. As a result, it has become possible to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope that can prevent deterioration due to the growth of mold from the inside of the flexible tube, and the present invention will be described below as shown in FIG. This will be explained in detail according to the following.

4 shows a tube shell body of a flexible tube for an endoscope according to the present invention, which is a helical tube in which elastic ribbon is spirally wound to provide rigidity against bending. 5, a mesh tube 6 which is knitted or woven with thin wires into a mesh shape to provide rigidity against torsion, and outer skin tube forming members 7 and 8. This tube shell body 4 is made by applying adhesive or dipping to the outside of a reticular tube 6 disposed around the outer periphery of the helical tube 5, and then inserting it into a resin tube 8, which is one of the members for forming the outer skin tube. The mesh tube 6 and the resin tube 8 are integrally bonded via the adhesive layer 7 by external heating, or the outer periphery of the helical tube 5 is inserted. It is manufactured by repeatedly applying a resin liquid for forming a sheath tube to the outside of the reticular tube 6 arranged in the mesh tube 6 and drying it to integrally form a member for forming a sheath tube.

The adhesive used for the adhesive layer 7 is a resin tube 8.
It is desirable that the material be made of a material that has good compatibility with, for example, polyurethane resin, etc., and it is desirable to use it in a state in which about 5 to 10% of these are dissolved in an appropriate solvent. Note that the adhesive may be either thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, and a solvent does not necessarily need to be used.

The adhesive layer 7 or at least the innermost resin layer made of the resin liquid for forming the outer skin tube contains an antifungal active ingredient of 20 ppm or more based on the weight of the solid component of the adhesive, and can be used therein. As a fungicide, 10,10′-oxybisphenoxyarsine,
10,10'-quinolinolate, 2,2-methylene-
Bis[4-chlorophenol], Copper-8-
Examples include quinolinolate, hexachlorophene, kunimen, and durotex. In particular, 10,
Epoxide of 10'-oxybisphenoxyarsine: Epoxide using sorbine oil as a carrier is preferred.

As is clear from the above description, in the flexible tube for an endoscope according to the present invention, a mesh tube is provided on the outer periphery of the spiral tube, and at least the inner surface of the outer skin tube forming member wrapped around the outer periphery of the mesh tube. Contains an anti-mold agent, which prevents the growth of mold that adheres to the inside, which is an important cause of damage to the outer skin tube forming member.
It has practical benefits such as avoiding the occurrence of cracks during use due to deterioration from the inside of the outer skin tube forming member, ensuring safe examinations, treatments, etc., and significantly increasing the service life of expensive endoscopes. It has excellent utility in

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the flexible tube for an endoscope according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional endoscope. 1: Hand operation part, 2: Flexible tube, 3: Tip part,
4: Tube shell body, 5: Spiral tube, 6: Reticular tube, 7: Adhesive layer, 8: Resin tube.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] On the outer periphery of the helical tube, which is made by winding an elastic ribbon in a helical manner to give it rigidity against bending, there is a mesh tube which is made by knitting or weaving thin wires in a mesh shape to give it rigidity against torsion. for an endoscope, characterized in that an antifungal agent is contained at least on the inner surface of the outer skin tube forming member that is coated on the outer periphery of the reticular tube with or without an adhesive. flexible tube.