JPH0332329Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an endoscope having a long flexible tube section.

[Conventional technology]

An endoscope is normally constructed as shown in FIG. The figure is a side view, and in the figure, 1 is the endoscope main body, and 2 is a light source/power supply device.

The endoscope body 1 includes an angle operation knob, air supply and
A handle part 3 has various operating means such as a water supply/suction valve, an eyepiece lens, etc. as required, and is connected to this handle part 3, and has an objective lens, air/water outlet, forceps port, etc. as required. A flexible tube section 7 consisting of an angle section 5 and a flexible section 6 following the head section 4, and a connecting tube 8 connected to the flexible tube section 7 via the handle section 3. There is. A light guide, an air/water supply pipe, a suction pipe, wiring, etc. are conducted through the connecting pipe 8, and a connector 9 is connected to the end.

Further, the connecting pipe 8 has a spiral tube made of a metal band covered with a metal braided tube, and furthermore, this metal braided tube is covered with an outer covering made of synthetic resin or the like.

The light source/power supply device 2 is a device that connects the connector 9 of the endoscope body 1 to supply observation illumination light, air, water, and electricity, and sucks body fluids etc. with a suction pump. .

In such an endoscope body 1, the connecting tube 8 has the above-mentioned structure in order to prevent it from twisting relative to the handle 3 and from stretching against tensile force. The blades are there to prevent twisting and stretching. This is to prevent accidents such as cutting, closing, short circuiting, etc. due to unnecessary tension or twisting of conductive objects such as light guides, air/water supply pipes, wiring, etc. in the connecting pipe 8.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

When observing the inside of a body cavity using such an endoscope, especially when inserting a long body cavity such as the large intestine, the loop formed in the sigmoid colon must be changed into a straight line as the flexible tube section is inserted. Usually, the correction is performed by rotating the entire endoscope around the flexible tube portion into which it is inserted. At this time, the connecting tube also rotates, but as mentioned above, the connecting tube has a structure that does not twist, and the connector at the end is fixedly connected to the light source/power supply device.
The above-mentioned rotation is transferred to the connecting pipe, and the continuous operation becomes very poor.

Furthermore, when inserting a flexible tube, it is often rotated to select the insertion operation and field of view, and the twist is transmitted to the connecting tube, and if it does not become a loop, it becomes a undulation and the direction is opposite to the twist. A reaction force is generated.

Therefore, in order to eliminate these loops and undulations, it was necessary to disconnect the connector of the connecting pipe from the light source/power supply device, untwist it, and then reconnect it.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is characterized in that the connecting tube is rotatably coupled to the handle portion by a predetermined angle, and alignment marks indicating reference positions are attached to the connecting portions on the connecting tube side and the handle side.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, conductive objects such as light guides, air/water supply pipes, suction pipes, wiring, etc., which are conducted in the connecting pipe, will be cut, closed, or shorted if they are rotated without limit with respect to the rotation of the handle. Although it is not possible to give a large angle of rotation because it would cause
If the angle is not large, the twist can be absorbed by the entire length of the connecting pipe, so an angle that can absorb the twist is set as a predetermined angle in the above structure to enable rotation between the connecting pipe and the handle. Moreover, it is possible to visually confirm how much the connecting pipe is rotated relative to the handle using the alignment mark, and furthermore, by looking at this alignment mark, the connection can be confirmed. To enable rotation at a predetermined angle by confirming that the connecting tube is in the correct position relative to the handle without being connected in a twisted state when connecting a tube connector to a light source/power supply device. I can do it.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the handle, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the main part. In the figure, 10 is the endoscope body;
It is composed of a handle portion 11, a flexible tube portion 12, and a connecting tube 13.

The handle portion 11 is provided with various operating means, such as an angle operating knob, a bulb, and an eyepiece, as required.

The flexible tube section 12 includes an objective lens, an illumination window, an air
This is similar to the prior art described above, and consists of a head having a water outlet, a forceps opening, etc. as necessary, an angled portion following the head, and a flexible portion.

The connecting pipe 13 is connected to the flexible tube part 12 via the handle part 11, and is connected to the light guide connected to the lighting window, the air/water supply pipe, wiring, etc., and is connected to the flexible pipe part 12 through the handle part 11. The tube is covered with a metal braided tube, and this metal braided tube is further covered with an outer jacket made of synthetic resin or the like. A connector for connecting to a light source/power supply device is attached to the rear end of this connecting tube 13.

At the connection part 14 between the connecting pipe 13 and the handle 11, the end cover 15 of the connecting pipe 13
and the outlet 16 of the handle 11 are rotatably connected to prevent the light guide, air/water supply pipe, wiring, etc. running through the connecting pipe 13 from being cut, closed, or short-circuited. It is designed to be able to rotate repeatedly within a range of angles.

Further, positioning scales 17 and 18 are provided on the end cover 15 of the connecting tube 13 and the outlet 16 of the handle 11, respectively, so that it is possible to visually check how much the connecting tube 13 has rotated.

According to the above configuration, since the connecting tube 13 is rotatable by a predetermined angle with respect to the outlet 16 of the handle 11, when inserted into the large intestine, the flexible tube section 1
Insert tube 2 by twisting it, but insert the twist into connecting tube 1.
3 and the handle 11 at the connecting part 14.

Further, the rotation angle of the connecting tube 13 can be visually checked by the alignment scales 17 and 18, and when connecting the connector of the connecting tube 13 to the light source/power supply device, the alignment scales 17 and 18 must be aligned with each other. By connecting, the connecting pipe 13 will not be connected in a twisted state, and if it is connected in a twisted state, the rotation angle will be reduced in the twisting direction, but it should always be connected in a neutral state. As a result, it is possible to respond equally to twists in both left and right directions.

Furthermore, twisting can be reduced by pre-twisting in a direction with a large number of twists using a scale.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention described in detail above, the connecting part between the outlet of the handle and the end cover of the connecting pipe is made rotatable, and alignment scales are attached to the outlet and the end cover, respectively. For example, if the flexible tube part is inserted into the large intestine while being rotated, the rotation can be transmitted to the connecting tube and the connecting tube can be rotated at the connecting part to make it flexible within a range that does not interfere with the conductive material that is conducted inside. It is possible to absorb twisting of the pipe portion, reduce the acting force due to the reaction of twisting, and improve operability.

Furthermore, by attaching alignment scales to the outlet and the connecting tube, it is possible to visually check the twisted state of the connecting tube, and when connecting the connector to the light source/power supply device, it is possible to align the alignment marks with each other. This prevents the connecting pipe from being connected in a twisted state, and can always respond equally to twisting in either the left or right direction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main parts, and FIG. 3 is an overall side view of the endoscope. 11...Handle part, 12...Flexible tube part, 13...Connection pipe, 14...Connection part, 15...End cover,
16... Outlet, 17, 18... Positioning scale.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an endoscope that consists of a flexible tube part that integrates a head, an angle part, and a flexible part following it, a handle part, and a connecting tube that connects to a light source and power supply device, the outlet of the handle part and the end of the connecting tube. An endoscope characterized in that the cover is rotatable within a range that does not interfere with the conductive material passed therein, and the end cover is provided with positioning scales on the outlet and the end cover.