JPH07265257A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an endoscope having no fear such that a removing jig is lost or misused, and capable of surely removing a tip cap from a tip section main body with the removing jig. CONSTITUTION:This endoscope is provided with a tip cap 50 removably from a tip section main body 1 connected to the tip of an insertion section. A removing jig 100 coupled with the tip cap 50 for removing the tip cap 50 from the tip section main body 1 is protruded from the outer faces of rigid sections 60, 70 other than the insertion portion of the endoscope.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a tip cap is detachably attached to a tip body connected to the tip of an insertion portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of endoscope, the tip cap is generally made of an elastic material such as rubber, and the exposed outer surface of the tip body is made of plastic. It is designed to be attached so as to cover the part body from the tip side.

[0003]

In the distal end portion of such an endoscope, the outer diameter of the distal end cap is larger than the outer diameter of the distal end portion main body, as shown, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-22101. It tends to become difficult to insert, resulting in a great deal of distress to the patient.

Therefore, if the outer diameter of the tip end body and the outer diameter of the tip end cap are formed to have the same size as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-804, the insertability is improved, but the tip end cap is formed. There is no place to catch your fingertips when removing it from the main unit.

Therefore, when removing the distal end cap from the distal end body, unnatural and large force may be applied to the distal end portion of the endoscope to damage the distal end portion of the insertion portion such as the distal end body.

Therefore, it is conceivable to prepare a removal jig for engaging the tip cap when removing the tip cap from the tip body, and to remove the tip cap safely and surely by using the removal jig. .

However, such a removal jig may be lost while it is placed on a desk or in a drawer. In addition, since there are various types of endoscopes, there is a risk that the removal jig may be mistakenly used to remove the tip caps of other models and the tip portion of the insertion portion may be damaged.

Therefore, the present invention provides an endoscope in which there is no risk of the removal jig being lost or misused, and the tip cap can be reliably removed from the tip body by using the removal jig. To aim.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope in which a tip cap is detachably provided to a tip body connected to a tip of an insertion portion. In the above, in order to remove the distal end cap from the distal end portion main body, a removing jig that engages with the distal end cap is provided on the outer surface of the rigid portion other than the insertion portion of the endoscope.

The removal jig may be provided so as to project from the outer surface of the operation portion of the endoscope.
The projection may be provided on the outer surface of the connector portion of the endoscope connected to the light source device.

The tip cap may be made of an elastic material.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a front view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope, and FIG.
The CDEFGH cross section is shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tip body 1 is
The distal end of an insertion portion formed by an elongated flexible tube is connected to a distal end portion of a bending portion 2 that is provided to be bendable by remote control.

The bending portion 2 has a large number of node rings 3 rotatably connected by rivets (not shown), the outer periphery of which is covered with a mesh tube 4, which is further covered with a rubber tube 5 or the like, and its end portion. Is bound and bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion main body 1.

The tip body 1 is made of a stainless steel metal block 1a which is connected to the tip of the curved portion 2 and is not exposed to the outside, and a plastic block which is fixed to the front side of the metal block 1a and is exposed to the outside. And 1b.

The endoscope of this embodiment is a so-called front-viewing type endoscope for observing the front of the tube axis, and as shown in FIG. 11, an illumination window 12 and a forceps channel outlet hole 13 are arranged, and an air / water supply port 14 that opens toward the observation window 11 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the observation window 11, an objective optical system 16 is fixedly arranged in a metallic lens frame 17. The first lens 16a on the surface is fixed to the lens frame 17 by caulking at a step portion formed midway on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Reference numeral 18 is an aperture stop, and 19 is a spacer.

An insulating ring 21 made of an electrically insulating plastic material is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the front half of the lens frame 17, and is detached in a recess formed so that the front end portion of the lens frame 17 is not exposed. It is filled with the foamed epoxy adhesive 22. The outer peripheral surface of the insulating ring 21 is fitted in the hole formed in the plastic block portion 1b of the tip body 1,
An O-ring 23 for sealing is attached to the fitting portion.

A shield pipe 25 made of metal is fitted and joined to the outer periphery of the rear portion of the lens frame 17, and a solid-state image pickup device 26 made of, for example, a charge coupled device (CCD) serves as an image receiving surface in the shield pipe 25. It is fixed facing forward.

A transparent cover glass 27 is arranged in close contact with the front side thereof, and a YAG laser light cut filter 28 is further attached to the front surface thereof. An observation light image is formed on the image receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor 26 by the objective optical system 16 through the transparent members 27 and 28. Two
Reference numeral 9 is a light-shielding mask.

Inside the shield pipe 25, an electronic component 31 for processing a signal input / output to / from the solid-state image pickup device 26 is mounted on a wiring board 32 behind the solid-state image pickup device 26, and a signal cable 33 is arranged. Has been pulled backwards from there.

Insulating tapes 34 and 35 are respectively wound around the outer peripheral surface of the components arranged inside the shield pipe 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the shield pipe 25 to electrically insulate the shield pipe 25 from the inside and outside thereof. ing. Further, the rear end of the insulating tape 35 on the outer surface side of the shield pipe 25 continuously covers the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the signal cable 33.

The present invention is directed to such a solid-state image pickup device 2
Instead of the electronic image transmitting means using 6, the present invention may be applied to a flexible endoscope using an optical image transmitting means using an image guide fiber bundle.

The illumination window 12 is used to widen the light distribution angle of the illumination light.
The exit end of the illumination light guide fiber bundle that is passed through the endoscope insertion portion is disposed inside the concave lens 37 attached to.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a tip cap made of a material having no elasticity such as polyurethane rubber, which is not electrically conductive. The tip cap 50 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plastic block portion 1b of the tip body 1. It is attached from the tip side.

The tip cap 50 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having an outer diameter dimension substantially the same as the outer diameter dimension of the tip portion main body 1, and a rear end thereof is opened in a cylindrical shape, but a front end thereof is an air supply. The water supply port 14 portion is formed on the end face portion and covers the front end face of the tip portion main body 1. Further, all the ridge lines of the tip cap 50 are smoothly rounded so as not to damage the mucous membrane in the body cavity of the patient.

On the inner peripheral surface of the rear half of the tip cap 50, there is provided a protrusion 51 which is sized to fit into a groove 9 formed in the outer circumferential surface of the plastic block portion 1b of the tip body 1 in the circumferential direction. Is projected toward.

Therefore, when attaching the tip cap 50 to the tip body 1, the protrusion 51 on the inner surface of the tip cap 50 is elastically deformed so that the tip cap 50 is pushed and spread along the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 1. In this state, push it into the tip body 1 from the tip.

Then, when the tip body 1 enters the tip cap 50 and the projection 51 on the inner surface of the tip cap 50 fits into the groove 9 on the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 1, the tip cap 50 is self-supported. The elastic force returns to the original shape as shown in FIG. 2, and the tip body 1 does not come out. In this state, there is almost no step between the outer surface of the tip cap 50 and the outer surface of the tip body 1.

As shown in FIG. 4 showing the IJ cross section, the air feeding tube 41 and the water feeding tube 4 inserted into the insertion portion.
The tip of 2 is inserted into and fixed to the tip body 1 from the rear in a straight hole formed in the tube axis direction.

Both tubes 41, 42 are made of a tetrafluoroethylene resin tube, and spiral grooves are formed on the outer circumferences of the tubes in the bending portion 2, and thin spring wires 43 for preventing buckling are used. 44 is wound along the spiral groove.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 showing the EK section, the portion of the air / water supply port 14 shown in FIG.
The tip body 50 is formed so as to project in front of the tip cap 50 and communicates with the air supply tube 41 and the water supply tube 42.
The air supply hole 46 and the water supply hole 47 formed therein are joined together and communicated with the air supply / water supply passage 53 in the tip cap 50 connected to the air supply / water supply port 14.

The tip cap 50 is used for the air / water supply channel 5.
The portion where 3 is formed projects rearward and is fitted into the hole on the side of the tip portion main body 1. Therefore,
Water and air will not leak from this part.

With this structure, the air supply tube 41
Air and water selectively sent through the water supply tube 42 are sprayed from the air supply / water supply port 14 toward the surface of the observation window 11.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of recesses 55, 55 are formed in the rear half of the outer peripheral surface of the tip cap 50 at intervals in the circumferential direction. This each dent 5
When viewed from the front, the shapes of 5, 55 are L-shapes with smoothly rounded corners, and when viewed from the side, as shown in FIG.
Wall surface 55a forming a step substantially perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface of 0
Is formed, and the rear end remains concave, and the front end cap 5
It has reached the end of 0.

The tip cap 50 is attached to the tip body 1.
In order to prevent the recesses 55, 55 from interfering with the tip body 1 when attaching and detaching to and from the tip body 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the tip body 50 has the same cross-sectional shape as the depressions 55, 55 of the tip cap 50. 8 and 8 are formed straight rearward from the tip surface.

Although the recess 55 is not formed in the front half portion of the tip cap 50, the inner peripheral surface of the tip cap 50 is fitted into the recess 8 on the surface of the tip body 1,
It is formed in the same shape as the recessed portion 55 so as to project inward.

With this structure, when the tip cap 50 is attached to the tip body 1, the tip cap 50 is positioned by aligning the recesses 55 and 8 with each other. In the state of being attached to, the tip cap 50 serves as a rotation stopper for preventing the tip cap 50 from rotating around the axis with respect to the tip body 1 by being fitted and engaged with each other.

In the recesses 55, 55 of the tip cap 50, as shown in FIG. 7, the removing jig 10 used to remove the tip cap 50 from the tip body 1.
The zero tips 101, 101 are engaged.

The removing jig 100 is made of metal or hard plastic, and is formed so as to project so that the tips 101, 101 just fit into the recesses 55, 55 of the tip cap 50. 2 and 3 show a state in which the tips 101, 101 of the removal jig 100 are engaged with the concave grooves 55, 55 of the tip cap 50.

In order to remove the tip cap 50 from the tip end main body 1 with such a removing jig 100, the tips 101, 101 of the removing jig 100 are attached to the tip cap 5.
In the state of being engaged in the recesses 55, 55 of 0, the rear half of the tip body 1 may be pinched with a fingertip or the like and pulled backward.

Then, since the tip cap 50 whose movement in the axial direction is restricted by the removing jig 100 does not move, but only the tip body 1 moves backward, the tip cap 50 comes off the tip body 1. .

When the tip cap 50 is detached from the tip body 1, the projection 51 on the inner peripheral surface of the tip cap 50 rides over the outer surface of the tip body 1, so that the tip cap 50 is removed.
Elastically deforms.

FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of the endoscope of this embodiment, in which the proximal end of the flexible tube 6 of the insertion portion is connected to the operation portion 60 which is a rigid body. Reference numeral 61 is a bending operation device for remotely operating the bending portion 2, 62 and 63 are air / water supply and suction operation buttons, 64 ... are remote control switches for electronic image control, and 65 and 66 are forceps insertion ports and their corresponding parts. It is a forceps plug attached to the mouth.

Flexible connecting pipe 6 connected to the operating portion 60
A connector 70, which is a rigid body, is attached to the tip of 9. Since the endoscope of this embodiment is an electronic endoscope, this connector 70 is connected to a light source device / video processor (not shown).

Reference numerals 71 and 72 are a light guide connector portion and an electric signal connector portion, 73 is a suction nipple, and 74 is an internal / external pressure adjusting valve. In this embodiment, a removal jig 100 for the tip cap 50 is provided on the outer surface of the connector 70 so as to project therefrom. Therefore, the tip cap 5
When removing 0 from the distal end body 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion flexible tube 6 is looped and the connector 70
The tip cap 50 at the tip of the insertion portion may be engaged with the removal jig 100 that projects laterally from.

As described above, since the detaching jig 100 is projected on the connector 70, there is no risk of the detaching jig 100 being lost or misused. The removal jig 100
May be fixed to the connector 50 by adhesion, screwing, or the like, or may be formed integrally with the case of the connector 50.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the removal jig 100 is provided on the outer surface of the operating portion 60 so as to project.
The same action and effect as those of the above embodiment are obtained. In this way, the removal jig 100 may be provided on the outer surface of the rigid portion outside the insertion portion of the endoscope so as not to prevent other operations from being hindered.

[0049]

According to the present invention, when the tip cap is removed from the tip body, the tip cap is removed from the tip body by engaging the removal jig with the recess formed in the outer peripheral surface of the tip cap. Since it can be easily removed, the tip cap can be easily and reliably removed from the tip body without damaging the tip of the endoscope. Moreover, since the removal jig is provided in the rigid part other than the insertion part of the endoscope, there is no risk of the removal jig being lost or damage to the tip due to misuse with other models, etc. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view (AB of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a CDEFGH) sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IJ of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an EK sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the distal end portion of the endoscope with the distal end cap removed according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tip part main body 50 Tip cap 60 Operation part (rigid part) 70 Connector (rigid part) 100 Removal jig

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having a distal end cap removably attached to a distal end body connected to a distal end of an insertion portion, wherein the endoscope is detachably engaged with the distal end cap to remove the distal end cap from the distal end body. An endoscope characterized in that a jig is provided on the outer surface of a rigid portion other than the insertion portion of the endoscope. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the removal jig is provided on an outer surface of an operation portion of the endoscope. 3. The detaching jig is provided so as to project from an outer surface of a connector portion of an endoscope connected to a light source device.
The described endoscope. 4. The endoscope according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tip cap is made of an elastic material.