JPH0440009B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope with an improved mounting structure for a wire guide that guides an operating wire inserted through an insertion section.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, there has been a technique for attaching a wire guide for guiding a bending operation wire in an insertion section of an endoscope, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-69024. The endoscope will be explained below.
FIG. 8 shows the entire endoscope 1. This endoscope 1 includes an operating section 2, an insertion section 3 inserted into a body cavity, a light guide cable 4 connected to the operating section 2,
and a light source connection part 5 connected to a light source (not shown).

As a method of assembling the insertion section 3 in the conventional endoscope 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the insertion section 3 is constructed by dividing each section into a unit and connecting these sections. This assembly procedure is as follows:
First, the light source side on the rear end side of the assembly shown at the top in FIG. Base 1
1 into the curved tube 12 of the section shown in the middle row of FIG. 9, and then into the flexible tube 13 of the section shown in the top row of FIG. 9, and finally glue these units together. This was done by fixing it in place by means of, etc.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, conventionally, when performing this assembly process, the diameter A, which is the sum of the outer diameter of the light source side cap 11 and the thickness of the covering tube 14 in FIG.
..., 19..., that is, a portion of the connecting tube 16 that is smaller than the diameter B of the minimum diameter portion and that connects the curved tube 12 and the flexible tube 13 in the insertion section 3 shown in FIG. , wire guides 17, 17
It must be smaller than the diameter C of the smallest diameter part of the part that fixes the tip of the part. In this portion, the ends of the wire guides 17, 17 are aligned and fixed at the same location in the axial direction, so the diameter C inevitably becomes small. Incidentally, the portion of the diameter A in the light source side cap 11 is a hard portion, and the other portion covered with the covering tube 14 is a soft portion, and can be deformed in the radial direction. Therefore, the insertion portion 3 can be assembled if the hard portion (diameter A) can be inserted. Therefore, the problem here is the diameter C part, and as shown in FIG. This is the part that was fixed.

That is, as long as it is assembled using the above-described assembly method, the wire guide 17 must be made thinner in order to reduce the diameter of the insertion portion 3. However, this wire guide 17 requires a certain degree of wall thickness in order to impart incompressibility to resist the pulling operation of the operating wires 10, 10, and there is a limit to reducing the diameter. Therefore, the limit for reducing the diameter of the insertion section 3 depends on the diameter C of the portion to which the distal end of the wire guide 17 is fixed.

Therefore, in order to reduce the diameter of the insertion section 3, the diameter C of the portion where the tip of each wire guide 17 is fixed must be made as small as possible. For this reason, the diameter C of the above portion is usually set as small as possible.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the fixed ends of the wire guides 17 protrude in such a way that they face each other.
etc.) moves in the axial direction within that portion, it interferes with the fixed end portion of the wire guide 17 and is susceptible to damage such as breakage. For this reason as well, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient diameter C of the above-mentioned portion, and it has been difficult to further reduce the diameter of the insertion portion 3.

The present invention was made with attention to the above circumstances, and
The purpose is to provide an endoscope with a wire guide connection structure that prevents damage to built-in components, improves durability, and allows the insertion portion to be made smaller in diameter.

[Means and actions for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has an insertion section configured by connecting a bending tube and a tubular member in the axial direction with a connecting member in between, which is bent by the operation of an operating wire. , at least 2
In an endoscope in which wire guides for guiding the operating wire of the book are arranged in the insertion section and the tips of the wire guides are fixed to the connection member, the tip fixation position of each wire guide to the connection member is inserted. The parts are arranged so that there is no overlap in the longitudinal axis direction of the parts.

In this way, the positions where the tip of each wire guide is fixed to the connecting member are not aligned in the same axial location, but are shifted in the axial direction of the insertion section, making it easier for internal objects to move in this area and making it less susceptible to damage due to interference. . Further, within this range, the diameter of the insertion portion can be reduced.

〔Example〕

1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an insertion section 20 of an endoscope. This insertion section 20 is connected to a flexible tube (tubular member) on the proximal side via a connecting tube 21 as a connecting member.
22 and the curved tube 23 on the tip side, and the curved tube 23
The tip is configured by connecting a tip forming portion 24 to the tip. The curved pipe 23 has a plurality of node rings 2.
5... are arranged side by side in the axial direction, and these adjacent ones are pivotally connected to each other by a shaft 26 so as to be curved in the vertical direction. Also, this node ring 2
The outer periphery of 5... is covered with an outer skin tube 27a. The distal end portion of this outer skin tube 27a reaches the outer periphery of the proximal end portion of the distal end component 24 and is fitted therein,
It is fixed with thread 28 and adhesive 29. The distal ends of an image guide fiber 30 and a light guide fiber 31 inserted into the insertion section 20 as built-in components are connected to the distal end forming section 24 . That is, the image guide fiber 30 is connected to the rear side of the objective lens 32 via the distal image guide fiber base 33, and the light guide fiber 30
1 are formed into a shape having a cylindrical inner cavity and are connected to each other via a light guide fiber base 34 on the distal end side. That is, the image guide fiber 30 is disposed within the light guide fiber 31.
The image guide fiber 30 is connected to the eyepiece section of the operation section 2, and the light guide fiber 31 is connected to the operation section 2 and the light guide cable 4 up to the light source connection section 5 at the extending end of the light guide cable 4. I am guided through this process. Further, the image guide fiber 30 and the light guide fiber 31 are housed together in the insertion section 20 by a covering tube 36, and the image guide fiber 30 and the light guide fiber 31 are separated in the operating section 2. and are housed in separate sheathed tubes (not shown). The image guide fiber 30 is attached to the base 37 on the eyepiece side.
The light guide fiber 31 is fixed to the eyepiece through the light source connection part 5 through the base 38 on the light source side.
It is becoming fixed.

The most advanced node ring 25 of the curved tube 23 is fitted onto the proximal end portion of the distal end component 24 and is fixed with adhesive, wax, or the like.

Furthermore, the tips of bending operation wires 41 and 42 are connected to the upper and lower portions of the most advanced node ring 25, respectively. These bending operation wires 41, 42
are arranged along the upper and lower inner surfaces of the insertion portion 20, respectively. Further, inside the curved tube 23, the node ring 25... is inserted and guided by a guide ring 43 formed by narrowing it down, and inside the flexible tube 22, a first
and second wire guides 45 and 46 for insertion and guidance.

The tips of each of the wire guides 45 and 46 are fixed to the connecting tube 21 as described later. This connecting pipe 21 is connected to the first connecting pipe part 7 and the fourth connecting pipe part 7 shown in FIG.
It consists of a second connecting pipe section 48 shown in the figure. The outer periphery of the tip end of the first connecting tube portion 47 is formed as a small diameter portion 50 into which the rearmost node ring 25 of the curved tube 23 is fitted. Further, the inner periphery of the rear end of the first connecting tube 47 is formed as a large inner diameter section 52 into which the distal end portion of the distal side small diameter section 51 of the second connecting tube section 48 is fitted. Further, the rear end portion of the second connecting tube portion 48 is formed as a small diameter portion 56 that fits into a blade 55 that fits into a spiral tube 54 as a core material of the flexible tube 22. Further, a ring-shaped collar 57 is formed on the outer periphery of the intermediate portion of the second connecting pipe portion 48 .

Then, as shown in FIG.
7 and the second connecting tube section 48 are connected, and the node ring 25 and the flexible tube 22 are connected, the outer circumference has the same diameter as the intermediate collar 57 and the rear end section 58 of the first connecting tube section 47. The other circumferences also have the same diameter. The outer skin tube 27a of the curved tube 23 and the outer skin tube 27b of the flexible tube 22 abut against each other at an annular groove portion formed between the collar 57 and the rear end 58 of the first connecting tube section 47, and the thread 59 They are fastened together and hardened with an adhesive 60.

Furthermore, the first connecting pipe portion 47 has a first notch portion 61 that opens in its upper wall portion,
This first notch portion 61 is formed across the small diameter portion 50 and the rear end portion 58, and overlaps with the rearmost node ring 25 that fits into the small diameter portion 50. A first connecting pipe portion 47 is connected to this node ring 25.
is fixed with a fixing agent 62 such as adhesive or wax poured into the notch 61. and,
As shown in FIG. 3, the lower operating wire 42 in FIG. 1 is inserted into a first wire guide 45 fixed to the first connecting tube portion 47 thereof. Further, the upper operating wire 41 is connected to the second connecting pipe portion 48
The second wire guide 46 is inserted into a second wire guide 46 which is connected and fixed to the second wire guide 46 . On the other hand, in the bending pipe 23, the operating wires 41 and 42 are connected to a guide ring 41 provided on the node ring 25 as shown in FIG.
It is inserted inside. The proximal end sides of each of the operating wires 41 and 42 are connected to a bending operation mechanism (not shown) provided in the operating section 2, respectively.

By the way, the first connecting pipe section 47 and the first wire guide 45 are fixed as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the notch 61 on the first connecting pipe section 47 is filled with a fixing agent 62 such as a wax adhesive together with the node ring 25 at the rearmost end, and the first wire guide 45 is closed.
A fixing agent 62 such as a wax adhesive is formed so as not to protrude outward and increase the outer diameter.

Further, the second connection pipe portion 48 and the second wire guide 46 are fixed in the same manner. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a notch 65 is provided to open toward the operating section 2 side, and the second wire guide 46 is inserted into the notch 65 and fixed with an adhesive 66. At this time as well, the adhesive 66 is formed so that it does not protrude in the outer circumferential direction.

Next, a procedure for assembling the insertion section 20 will be explained. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the light source side cap 38 is partially covered by the covering tube 36
The process up to passing through the curved pipe 23 is the same as the conventional example. Thereafter, the light source side cap 38 is passed through the first connecting tube section 47 fixed to the first wire guide 45. Thereafter, the flexible tube 22 is connected to the second connecting tube section 48 to which the second wire guide 46 is fixed.
The light source side cap 38 is passed through the inside. Here, the light source side base 38 which is a hard part is connected to the first connecting pipe part 47.
As long as they pass through the light source side cap 38 and the second connecting tube portion 48, the built-in items (optical fibers, etc.) on the tip side from the light source side cap 38 can be bent flexibly, so assembly is possible. First connecting pipe section 47 and second connecting pipe section 48
The fixing is performed after the light source side cap 38 passes over the first and second connecting pipe portions 47 and 48.

Therefore, when the light source side cap 38 is passed through the first connecting tube section 47, the factors that determine whether or not it can pass are the inner diameter of the first connecting tube section 47 and the first wire, as shown in FIG. The only difference is the outer diameter of the guide 45. Similarly, the factors that determine the possibility of passage of the light source side cap 38 into the second connecting tube section 48 are the size of the inner diameter of the second connecting tube section 48 and its notch, as shown in FIG. The depth of section 65 (i.e.
The only difference is the wall thickness of the second connecting pipe portion 48) and the outer diameter of the second wire guide 46. Therefore, if the outer diameter of the insertion portion 20 is the same as that of the conventional example, the relationship of diameter C<diameter E or diameter C<diameter F holds, so the relationship of diameter D>diameter A is established, and the insertion The number of built-in items (optical fibers, etc.) in the section 20 can be increased. On the other hand, if the diameter A=diameter D, the diameter of the insertion portion 20 can be reduced.

In addition, in the structure assembled in this way, each wire guide 45, 4 for the connecting pipe 21
6 is not only divided into a first connecting tube section 47 and a second connecting tube section 48, but also shifts in the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion section 20 as shown in FIG. The tip fixation portions do not overlap in axial position. In other words, the cross section at any position of the insertion section 20 can be viewed at two locations at the same time at the wire guides 45, 46.
There are no fixed parts.

Therefore, when inserting built-in items such as the image guide fiber 30 and the light guide fiber 31 into the inside of the connecting tube 21, which tends to be narrowest on the inside, the wire guide 45, other than the fixed tip portion,
Part 46 is movable, making it easy to insert internal items. In addition, since the fixed ends of the wire guides 45 and 46 do not face each other at the same axial position, there is more space, and
Interference with built-in objects can be reduced. In other words, when the built-in object moves (usually by a bending operation), the degree of interference with the built-in object is significantly reduced and damage to the built-in object is prevented. As a result, its durability can be improved. Further, the diameter of the insertion portion 20 itself can be reduced depending on the above margin.

In the above embodiments, an endoscope having a bending mechanism in two directions is described as an example, but the present invention may of course be applied to an endoscope with a bending mechanism having three or more operating wires.

Furthermore, although the above embodiments have been described with respect to two connecting tubes, the present invention may also be applied to a single connecting tube as in the conventional example.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent damage to built-in objects due to the fixed portion of the wire guide as much as possible, improve the durability of the built-in objects, and achieve a reduction in the diameter of the insertion section.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the insertion section showing the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 1, and FIG. A perspective view of the first connecting pipe section, FIG.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second connecting pipe section in the embodiment of
The figure is a sectional view showing the assembly procedure of the first embodiment, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line Z-Z in FIG. 5. , Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the endoscope, Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the assembled structure of the conventional endoscope, Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the connecting tube part, and Fig. 11 is taken along line Q-Q in Fig. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Endoscope, 20... Insertion part, 21... Connection tube, 22... Flexible tube, 23... Curved tube, 30...
Image guide fiber, 31... Light guide fiber, 41, 42... Operation wire, 45...
First wire guide, 46... second wire guide, 47... first connecting tube section, 48... second connecting tube section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has an insertion section configured by connecting a curved tube and a tubular member, which are bent by the operation of the operation wire, in the axial direction with a connecting member interposed therebetween;
In an endoscope in which wire guides for guiding at least two of the operating wires are disposed within the insertion section and the distal ends of the wire guides are fixed to the connecting member, the distal ends of the wire guides are fixed to the connecting member. An endoscope characterized in that the insertion portions are arranged such that they are shifted in the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion portion so that there is no overlapping range.