JPH04141127A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain a longer life of a product by connecting a manipulating section and an inserting section through a highly water absorbable polymer molded product to check the permeation of a liquid when infiltration of the liquid occurs into an endoscope containing an electronic endoscope with a CCD and a fiber scope. CONSTITUTION:A highly water absorbable polymer molded product 30 is tapered on a side 30a thereof and, for example, a manipulating section 3 is connected to an upper end 30b thereof while an inserting section 2 is connected to a lower end 30c thereof. A plurality of holes 31 which are formed piercing from the upper end 30b to the lower end 30c are provided to insert objects to be inserted being introduced into channels of the inserting section 2. In the structure, other parts of an electronic endoscope, namely, the inserting section, the manipulating section and a connector section remain unchanged from those of the conventional type. If infiltration of water should occurs into the manipulating section from the connector section at a medical care field, the highly water absorbable polymer molded product 30 absorbs water exceeding its dead load thereof. Furthermore, the molded product stops the holes 31 against an infiltration of water by swelling itself even surpassing an absorbing can be absorbed thereby enabling the prevention of the permeation or a liquid into the inserting section almost completely.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to endoscopes, and in particular, to prevent water from entering the wire rope stored in the insertion section of the endoscope to extend the product life. Concerning endoscopes that can extend the length of time.

(Prior Art) An electronic endoscope that is inserted into a body cavity and transmits image data inside the body cavity has a structure shown in FIG.

That is, the electronic endoscope 1 includes an insertion section 2 that is inserted into a body cavity, an operation section 3 located outside the body cavity that is connected to the insertion section 2 and controls the insertion section 2, and an operation section 3 that is connected to the operation section 3 and that controls the insertion section 2. It consists of a connector part 4 that serves to connect the equipment in part 2 and peripheral equipment.

The insertion section 2 includes an observation window 5 that takes in an image inside the body cavity, an objective lens 6 that forms an image that enters through the observation window 5, and a CCD that serves as an imaging means to record the path of the image that has passed through the objective lens 6. (Charge-coupled device) A prism 8 directed toward 7 is housed. In addition, the insertion section 2 has a wire rope (not shown) built in along the axial direction, and is made of a flexible material (for example, made of rubber).
It is made of metal and can be curved to fit the body cavity.

On the other hand, the operation unit 3 is a CCU electrically connected to the CCD 7.
(Camera control unit) 9, copy switch 10, suction switch 11, and two-stage air/water supply switch 1
2.

The connector section 4 also includes a light guide plug 13 for obtaining light from a light source for illumination, and an electrical connector section 14 for connecting to a processor.

Since this electronic endoscope 1 is inserted into a body cavity, immersed in a chemical solution or water, or washed in a washing machine, it has a completely waterproof mechanism to prevent liquid from penetrating inside.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed structure of the operating section 3.

Components common to those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted. That is, since the electronic endoscope 1 can also insert forceps into the body cavity via the insertion section 2, the operation section 3 has a forceps port 15 for introducing the forceps into the insertion section 2, and a forceps port 1.
It has a forceps collar 16 forming a 4. Operation unit 3
has a complicated structure, but O
A ring etc. prevents water from entering.

The operating section 3 also includes an up-down angle knob 17 and a left-right angle knob 18. These are connected to a wire rope built into the insertion section 2, and these knobs 17 and 18
When the wire rope is turned, the wire rope is unwound or unwound, and the insertion portion 2 is curved as the wire rope moves. When these knobs 17 and 18 are turned and fixed at a certain angle, the angle lock indicator 19 lights up.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the bending mechanism of the insertion section 2 described above. A wire rope 20 is built into the insertion portion 2 and extends in the axial direction near the opposing sides, and is hooked onto the angle knob 17 (and 18).

Therefore, when the vertical angle knob 17 is turned clockwise as shown by the arrow, the upper portion 20a of the wire rope 20 is pulled (taken up) and the lower portion 20b is pushed out (unrolled). As a result, the upper side of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2 is pulled in the axial direction and the lower side is pushed in the axial direction with the movement of the wire rope 20, so that the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2 curves upward. This mechanism is the same when the left and right angle knobs 18 are used to curve left and right.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5. Several channels are conducted along the axial direction in the curved insertion part 2, and in addition to the wire rope 20 for driving the curve, C
A CCD connection line 21 that connects the CD7 and CeO2 and a light guide 22 that connects to the light guide plug 13 are housed. In addition, the air/water channel 23 and the forceps port 1
A forceps and suction channel 24 leading to 5 is also provided.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) After the electronic endoscope 1 having the above-described structure is used in a body cavity, the entire electronic endoscope 1 is immersed in a chemical solution or water to be sterilized, or washed in a washing machine. However, if you forget to attach a waterproof cap to the above-mentioned electrical connector 14 at this time, or if the waterproof cap comes off during disinfection or cleaning, the electrical connector 14 may become air-permeable, no matter how waterproof the exterior is. Therefore, water and other liquids enter the electronic endoscope 1.

When liquid enters from the electrical connector 14 and reaches the operating section 3, it flows to the CCD 7 through the gaps between the various axially extending channels of the insert 29 shown in FIG. 6 and the inserts into these channels. may be reached. Then, although an optical filter is bonded to the surface of the CCD 7, this bond becomes defective due to contact with liquid, and the properties of the CCD 7 deteriorate, making it impossible to obtain a good image. Further, the CCD connecting wire 21 may be corroded by the liquid, resulting in poor images.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned waterproof function of the operation unit 3 has a shorter lifespan than that of normal components, so when the waterproof component reaches the end of its lifespan, other expensive components such as C0D7 that are stored in the insertion section 2 A situation may occur where the equipment malfunctions due to flooding. In this case, since the entire insertion section 2 is replaced, the repair cost exceeds half of the price of the entire electronic endoscope 1, resulting in a large economic loss.

In addition, the insertion portion 2 made of a rubber product is also susceptible to pinholes when it enters a living body and is exposed to high-grade acids or is subjected to external force, and there is a risk that liquid may infiltrate through these pinholes. In addition, the above-mentioned forceps/suction channel 2
When the treatment instrument passes through the insertion portion 4, the channel wall may be worn due to contact with the treatment instrument, or a hole may be formed in the side wall of the insertion portion 2 due to the treatment instrument being penetrated.

In addition, the wire rope 20 buried in the insertion section 2 is
Since the wire rope 20 is made of multiple turns of thin stainless steel wire, if the wire comes into contact with chemical solution or water, the wire will corrode and the wire rope 20 will become frayed. In this case, the frayed wire rope 20 may become entangled with the rotation mechanism of the angle knob 17.18, which may impair the rotation function of the angle knob 17.18. Therefore, if the insertion section 2 is bent inside the body and the rotation function of the angle knobs 17 and 18 is lost, it becomes impossible to pull out the insertion section 2 from the body, which not only shortens the life of the product but also necessitates open surgery. It could become a problem.

As described above, there are various possibilities for liquid to infiltrate into the electronic endoscope 1, and when liquid intrudes, various adverse effects occur.

In order to prevent this, it is conceivable to fill the gaps between the various channels of the insertion part 2 and the insert with a structure, but if this structure is hard, the insertion part 2 can be connected to the wire rope 20. It will no longer be possible to curve it. Furthermore, since the interior of the electronic endoscope 1 is periodically sterilized with EOG (ethylene oxide gas), ventilation is required between the channel and the insert.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if liquid infiltrates into the interior of an endoscope including an electronic endoscope or fiber scope equipped with a CCD, the present invention prevents the liquid from penetrating and extends the product life. The aim is to provide an endoscope that can be maintained for a long time.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention incorporates a wire rope along the axial direction, and unwinds or unwinds the wire rope, thereby making it possible to bend the insertion portion. an endoscope having an operation section connected to the insertion section and provided with an angle knob for unwinding and unwinding the wire rope; and a connector section connected to the operation section; Provided is an endoscope characterized in that the insertion portion is connected to the insertion portion via a super absorbent polymer molded article.

(Function) The endoscope of the present invention expands by absorbing water several times to several tens of times its own weight at least at the connection point between the operating section and the insertion section, and furthermore, the endoscope expands by absorbing water weighing several times to several tens of times its own weight. A super absorbent polymer molded product that does not emit water is used. Therefore, even if liquid infiltrates from the electrical connector and reaches the operating section, it will be absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer as it travels from the operating section toward the insertion section. Even if the water absorption limit is exceeded, this superabsorbent polymer expands, so even if there is further water ingress, the water will stop at this point. Furthermore, since the liquid once absorbed does not leak out, the penetration of the liquid from the operation part to the insertion part is almost completely prevented, and a decrease in the life of the endoscope due to water intrusion can be prevented.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2(A) to (G).

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a super absorbent polymer molded product 30 used to connect an operating section and an insertion section in an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configurations of the other parts of the electronic endoscope according to this embodiment, that is, the insertion section, the operation section, and the connector section, are the same as those of the conventional one, so please refer to those shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 above. I will explain.

The superabsorbent polymer molded product 30 has a tapered side surface 30a, and, for example, the operating portion 3 is connected to the upper end 30b, and the insertion portion 2 is connected to the lower end 30c. A plurality of holes 31 (four holes in this example) formed in the super absorbent polymer molded product 30 from the upper end 30b to the lower end 30c are inserted into the various channels of the insertion section 2 described above. It is used to pass things through. The number of holes is not limited to this example; one hole may be provided for each insert, or one hole may be provided for the entire insert, and all inserts may be passed through this one hole. good.

A superabsorbent polymer can be obtained, for example, by polymerizing corn starch with acrylonitrile and hydrolyzing it with sodium hydroxide. Figures 2 (A) to (G) show the water absorption properties of Aqualic CA (registered trademark; crosslinked sodium polyacrylate), which is a type of super absorbent polymer.

That is, according to Plan 2 (A), it has excellent water absorbency, absorbing more than several times its weight of water within a few minutes of being immersed. Further, according to FIG. 2(B), it is possible to absorb several times to several tens of times the amount of NaCl and CaCl at a salt concentration of 10% or less, so it can be seen that the infiltration of physiological saline can be adequately countered. Furthermore, according to FIG. 2(C), the absorption characteristics are several times higher even for mixtures of various water-soluble solvents and water, so even if various medical fluids are immersed in water, penetration can be prevented.

Furthermore, according to Figures 2 (D) and (E), it is recognized that water absorption is stable against changes in pH and water temperature, respectively, and according to Figure 2 (F), it is observed that water absorption is stable in response to changes in pH and water temperature. Water absorbency does not deteriorate under the above-mentioned superheat treatment at 200° C. or less. Furthermore, according to FIG. 2 (G), it can be seen that the hygroscopicity is almost commensurate with the relative humidity.

Therefore, from these characteristic diagrams, as in this example, the operation part and insertion part of the electronic endoscope are made of super absorbent polymer molded product 30.
If they are connected together, even if water intrudes from the connector part to the operating part in a medical field, the super absorbent polymer molded product 30 will absorb more water than its own weight, and will not expand even if water intrudes beyond its absorption capacity. Since the hole 31 is closed and the unabsorbed water is prevented from advancing, it is possible to almost completely prevent liquid from penetrating into the insertion portion. The absorbed water gradually evaporates when the surrounding area is dry, but does not leak out even when pressure is applied. Therefore, in the electronic endoscope of this embodiment, the parts stored in the insertion section, such as the CCD, do not break down due to water intrusion, and the product life can be extended to improve economic efficiency.

In addition, in the electronic endoscope of this embodiment, since the channel of the insertion part maintains ventilation, the rubber forming the insertion part does not rupture even during sterilization where EOG is ventilated after the channel is degassed. There isn't.

In addition, in order to protect optical components such as the CCD from water intrusion from the insertion tube due to abrasion with the wire rope, a similar superabsorbent polymer molded product should be placed at the tip of the insertion tube in front of the optical components. Bye.

The present invention also extends the product life of endoscopes in general, including conventional fiberscopes that are not equipped with a CCD, by preventing corrosion and failure due to water intrusion of wire ropes and other stored items that curve the insertion portion into body cavities. It will help you fulfill your goals.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the endoscope of the present invention, even if liquid infiltrates from the connector part and reaches the operating part, water is prevented from entering beyond the operating part, thereby preventing breakdowns and longevity due to corrosion of the wire rope. decline can be avoided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a super absorbent polymer molded article used in an example of the present invention, Figures 2 (A) to (G) are graphs showing each water absorption characteristic of the super absorbent polymer, and Figure 3 is a A sectional view of a conventional electronic endoscope, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electronic endoscope operating section, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the electronic endoscope insertion section, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic endoscope insertion section.
It is a sectional view taken along the line I-VI. 2... Insertion section, 3... Operation section, 4... Connector section, 7... CCD, 9... CCU, 14... Electrical connector, 17... Up and down angle knob, 18 ...Angle knob for left and right, 20...Wire rope, 30...
・Super absorbent polymer molded product.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A wire rope is built in along the axial direction, and an insertion part that can be bent by unwinding or rolling the wire rope is connected to the insertion part and is used for unwinding or rolling the wire rope. An endoscope having an operating section including such an angle knob and a connector section connected to the operating section, characterized in that the operating section and the insertion section are connected via a super absorbent polymer molded product. Endoscope.