JPH07303601A - Slack remover for curving operation wire in endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a loosening / removing device for a bending operation wire capable of enhancing the operability of an endoscope. [Structure] Spring receiving portion 19 for supporting coil spring 25 at its tip
A pipe portion 19 is provided which is provided with a and which is provided with a dish-shaped stopper portion 19b by inserting the other end opposite to the pipe guide 17 so as to be slidable only forward from the pipe guide 17.
And a bending operation wire 27 is inserted into the operation portion main body 3 from the tip of the pipe portion 19 and fixed to the other end, and is bent between the spring receiving portion 19a provided at the tip of the pipe portion 19 and the base tip portion 23. A coil spring 25 provided by inserting the operation wire 27 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing loosening of a bending operation wire caused by a bending operation in an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an endoscope 1 used for observing the inside of a body such as the stomach or small intestine is shown in FIG. The insertion portion includes a flexible tube portion 5 connected to the main body 3, a bending portion 7, and a tip forming portion 9 provided with an objective lens and the like. In the endoscope 1, the bending portion 7 is bent by rotating an operation knob 3a connected via a bending operation portion (for example, a pulley) and a total of four bending operation wires, one pair of upper and lower sides and one pair of left and right sides. Then, the tip forming portion 9 is swung to observe the inside of the body.

However, in order to perform a bending operation, when the operation knob 3a is rotated and one of the bending operation wires is pulled, the other bending operation wire is loosened, and the operation portion main body 3
There is a case where buckling occurs inside and a smooth bending operation cannot be performed.

Therefore, conventionally, a mechanism for removing the relaxation has been developed.

As the slack removing mechanism, a chain is used to operate the bending operation wire, and a space for relaxing the chain is provided in the operation portion main body 3, and the bending operation wire is operated by relaxing the chain in this space. In order to absorb the relaxation (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Nos. 56-166004 and 57-10801), the bending operation wire is operated by rotating the pulley so that the bending operation wire can be relaxed on the outer peripheral portion of the pulley. It absorbs the looseness of the bending operation wire (refer to Shokai 56-158204) and absorbs the relaxation of the bending operation wire using a take-up pulley (refer to Shokai 56-89229).

[0006]

However, each of the conventional relaxation removing devices for endoscopes only absorbs the relaxation of the bending operation wire and retains the distal end forming portion 9 in a biased state. That is, it does not have a function of giving an appropriate sense of rigidity when the insertion portion is made straight. Therefore, especially when it is necessary to insert the distal end forming portion 9 of the endoscope into a narrow portion, the rigidity is insufficient and the insertability is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a loosening / removing device for a bending operation wire capable of enhancing the operability of an endoscope.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an operating portion main body, a flexible tube portion connected to the operating portion main body, a bending portion and a tip forming portion, one of which is provided. An endoscope that is connected to the tip of the bending portion and the other is connected to a pair of bending operation wires provided in the operation portion main body through the inside of the flexible tube portion and performs a bending operation by the bending operation wire. In one of the above, one is connected to the tip of the bending portion, and the other is provided in the operation portion main body through the inside of the flexible tube portion to perform a bending operation. A pair of rack gears extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body of the operation portion, and a pair of rack portions that move forward and backward by rotating the gear portion, and a sprocket and both ends of the sprocket over approximately half the circumference Curved exercise Engage a chain to which wires are connected and move the bending operation wire back and forth through this chain, or wind the bending operation wire around an operation pulley, attach it so that it can be rewound, and rotate the operation pulley. And a pipe-shaped rigid body that is slidable in the axial direction from the fitting point, by fitting the bending manipulation wire into the bending manipulation portion such as one that moves back and forth by the above, and providing a dish-shaped stopper portion at the other end. An elastic body receiving portion provided at the tip of the pipe-shaped rigid body by inserting the bending operation wire from the tip of the pipe-shaped rigid body in the operation portion main body and fixing the bending operation wire to the other end of the pipe-shaped rigid body An elastic body, such as a spring or a rubber, preferably a coil spring, provided by inserting the bending operation wire in a state of being contracted from the normal state between the main body and the operation section body. It is characterized in.

[0009]

According to the above construction, the elastic body receiving portion for supporting the elastic body is provided at the tip, the opposite other end is fitted into the bending operation portion, and the dish-shaped stopper portion is provided at the other end. To the pipe-shaped rigid body slidable in the axial direction from the distal end of the bending operation wire inside the operation portion main body and fixed to the other end of the pipe-shaped rigid body, and the tip of the pipe-shaped rigid body. Since an elastic body such as a spring, rubber, preferably a coil spring is provided between the elastic body receiving portion provided on the body and the operation portion main body, the bending operation wire is moved in the direction opposite to the subject side. In this case, the bending operation wire moves, and when the bending operation wire moves to the subject side, the pipe-like rigid body remains as it is because of the elastic body. Further, the elastic body gives a proper sense of rigidity to the insertion portion of the endoscope even when the tip forming portion side of the endoscope is inserted into a narrow portion.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram (a configuration diagram when viewed from the upper side in the state shown in FIG. 1) showing an example of a loosening device for a bending operation wire in an endoscope according to the present invention. Further, FIG. 3 is a side view of the loosening removal device for the bending operation wire in the endoscope shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, FIG.
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a coil spring portion of a bending operation wire in the endoscope shown in FIG. 2 (FIG. 4A) and a cross-sectional view of a stopper portion portion of a pipe portion (FIG. 4B).

In addition, in the endoscope shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, the bending portion 7 is bent by a pair of left and right, two steps vertically, that is, a total of four bending operation wires. However, since the above-mentioned upper and lower configurations are the same, only the configuration of the upper surface will be described here.

A loosening / removing device 10 for a bending operation wire in an endoscope according to this embodiment includes an operation part main body 3, a flexible tube part 5 connected to the operation part main body 3, a bending part 7, and a tip forming part 9. Is provided in the operation section body 3 of the endoscope 1 (see FIG. 1), and the fixed shaft 11 of the operation section body 3 as shown in FIG.
A pair of racks that are formed by extending in the longitudinal direction of the operation portion main body 3 in a pair on the left and right of the gear portion 11 on the drum that is pivotally supported by a, and that move forward and backward by rotating the gear portion 11. Rack gear 15 including parts 13R and 13L
And a pipe guide 17 which is provided at the subject-side tips (hereinafter referred to as the tips) of the rack portions 13R and 13L, is formed to project upward, and has a through hole in the central portion, and a through hole of the pipe guide 17. A cylindrical rigid body, which is slidably inserted and has a disc-shaped spring receiving portion 19a at the tip and a dish-shaped stopper portion 19b at the end portion (hereinafter referred to as the other end) facing the tip, such as iron. Between the pipe portion 19 made of aluminum, aluminum, etc., the pipe receiving portion 21 for holding the pipe portion 19, the spring receiving portion 19a of the pipe portion 19 and the base front end portion 23 juxtaposed on the front end side inner wall of the operation portion main body 3. And a coil spring 25 that is biased to absorb the relaxation of the bending operation wire 27, and also provides a sense of rigidity.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a protective spiral guide 29 is provided on the outer circumference of the bending operation wire 27.
It is fixed so as not to move by a spiral guide stopper 31 screwed into a female screw of a through hole provided in the central portion of 3.

The spiral guide 29 is fixed by the spiral guide stopper 31.
Is moved to a desired position (the position where the tip of the spiral guide 29 contacts the bottom of the spiral guide stopper 31), and the bolts 33a and 33b are screwed to the screw on the outer periphery of the spiral guide stopper 31 so as to sandwich the base tip 23. Is done by doing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the rack portion 13R,
A rack space 13R is formed by passing an idle space 35 adjacent to the pipe guide 17 (gear portion 11 side) and two rack movement guide shafts 37 projecting from the base of the operation portion main body 3 through 13L. , 13L on the elliptical rack movement guide holes 39 for moving the 13L to predetermined positions are provided.

Next, the operation of making the relaxation removing device 10 for the bending operation wire in the endoscope will be described with reference to FIGS. The fixing operation of the spiral guide 29 by the spiral guide stopper 31 has been described above, and will be omitted.

First, the rack gear 15 is provided at a predetermined position of the operation portion main body 3, and the pipe portion 19 (without the stopper 19b) is inserted into the pipe receiver 21 and the pipe guide 17 of the rack gear 15 from the other end side. Then, the spring receiving portion 19
The coil spring 25 is biased to a and the other end of the bending operation wire 27 whose tip is connected to the tip of the bending portion 7 is inserted through the through hole of the base tip portion 23, the coil spring 25, and the pipe portion 19 so that the pipe portion 19 Connect to the other end of.

In this connection, a stopper portion 19b is screwed into a screw provided on the outer periphery of the operation side of the pipe portion 19, and an insertion hole 19 is formed in the screw portion of the pipe portion 19 from above.
The bending operation wire 27 is passed through c, and the bending operation wire 27 is pulled until there is no looseness when the endoscope is in a neutral state (the bending section 7 is in a straight line state), and the screw provided on the pipe section 19 is pulled. This is done by screwing the bolt 19d.

At this time, the coil spring 25 causes the bending operation wire 27 to be in a normal state (no expansion / contraction) or a slightly contracted state when the bending operation wire 27 is pulled to the maximum in the direction opposite to the subject side, and the endoscope When is set to the neutral state (the state where it is not curved), the coil spring 25 is in a contracted state.
The strength of the coil spring 25 is set so that the bending portion 7 is not bent by the coil spring 25 when the endoscope is in the neutral state.

Next, the operation of the loosening / removing device for the bending operation wire in the endoscope of this embodiment will be described. Here, the case where the drum portion 11 of the bending operation wire relaxation removing device 10 in the endoscope is fully rotated in the direction shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 (see FIG. 5) will be described as an example.

When the drum portion 11 is rotated in the direction shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the rack portion 13R is in the direction opposite to the subject side (hereinafter referred to as the operator side, as shown in FIG. 5). right)
Move to. At this time, the stopper portion 1 is attached to the pipe portion 19.
Since there is 9b, the pipe portion 19 and the bending operation wire 27
Moves to the operator side at the same time. At this time, the coil spring 25 on the rack portion 13R side returns to the normal state.

On the other hand, the rack portion 13L moves to the subject side (left in FIG. 5), but the urging force of the coil spring 25 causes the pipe portion 19 to stop in the guiding space 35, that is,
Since the rack portion 13L slides on the outer circumference of the pipe portion 19, the position of the pipe portion 19 does not change (when the bending operation wire 27 is loosened, the urging force of the coil spring 25 operates only the amount of the looseness. Move to the person side). Therefore, the bending operation wire 27 is not loosened.

Thus, in this embodiment, the rack gear 15
The pipe portion 19 is inserted into the pipe guide 17 from the side facing the spring receiving portion 19a, and the coil spring 2 is inserted into the spring receiving portion 19a.
5 is urged, and the other end of the bending operation wire 27 whose tip is connected to the tip of the bending portion 7 is inserted into the through hole of the base tip portion 23, the coil spring 25, and the pipe portion 19 to be connected to the pipe portion 19. There is. Therefore, when the rack portions 13R and 13L are moved to the operator side, the stopper portion 19 is attached to the pipe portion 19.
Since there is b, the pipe portion 19 and the bending operation wire 27 simultaneously move to the operator side, and when the rack portions 13R and 13L are moved to the subject side, the biasing force of the coil spring 25 causes
The position of the pipe portion 19 moves only by the amount of relaxation of the bending operation wire 27. This prevents the bending operation wire 27 from being loosened.

Further, since the coil spring 25 is provided between the spring receiving portion 19a provided on the pipe portion 19 and the base tip portion 23, the endoscope 1 is inserted even in a narrow portion. It is possible to give a proper sense of rigidity to the insertion portion of No. 1.

Therefore, the bending operation wire 27 does not meander, and the bending operation wire 27 can be linearly removed by preloading by the coil spring 25. In the neutral state (non-curved state), UP / DOWN, RIGHT
Since appropriate tension is applied in the four directions of / LEFT, the rigidity of the bending portion 7 is increased, and the insertability and operability are improved.

Although the rack gear 15 is used as the bending operation portion of the relaxation removing device 10 for the bending operation wire 27 in the endoscope of the present embodiment, the bending operation portion is not limited to this, and another bending operation portion, for example, a sprocket and this. A chain in which a bending operation wire 27 is connected to both ends of the sprocket is engaged over almost half the circumference, and the bending operation wire 27 is moved back and forth through the chain, or the bending operation wire 27 is wound around an operation pulley. It is also possible to use a device that is attached so that it can be rewound and that moves the bending operation wire 27 back and forth by rotating the operation pulley.

Further, although the coil spring 25 is used as the elastic body in the relaxation removing device 10 for the bending operation wire 27 in the endoscope of the present embodiment, the invention is not limited to this, and the rubber or plate molded into a cylindrical shape is used. An elastic body such as a spring may be used.

[0028]

As described above, according to the loosening / removing device for the bending operation wire in the endoscope of the present invention, the elastic body receiving portion for supporting the elastic body is provided at the distal end, and the opposite other end is used as the bending operation portion. Provide a dish-shaped stopper part by inserting it,
The bending operation wire is inserted in the operation portion main body into a pipe-shaped rigid body that is slidable only in the axial direction from the fitting point, and is fixed to the other end of the pipe-shaped rigid body, and an elastic body is used as the pipe. Since the bending operation wire is inserted between the elastic body receiving portion provided at the tip of the rigid body and the operation portion main body, the bending operation wire is in the direction opposite to the subject side from the neutral state. When moving the bending operation wire to the subject side from the neutral state, the bending operation wire moves only when the bending operation wire is relaxed because the elastic body exists. Therefore, it is possible to remove the relaxation caused by operating the bending operation wire, and even when inserting the distal end component side of the endoscope into a narrow portion, an appropriate sense of rigidity is imparted to the bending portion of the endoscope. Can be given.

Therefore, the bending operation wire does not meander, and further preload by the elastic body (pretension).
Thereby, it becomes possible to linearly remove the relaxation of the bending operation wire. In the neutral state (non-bent state), UP / DOWN, RIGHT / LEFT 4
Since the appropriate tension is applied in the direction, the rigidity of the bending portion is increased, and the insertability and operability are improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an appearance of an endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram (a configuration diagram when viewed from above in the state shown in FIG. 1) showing an embodiment of a loosening device for a bending operation wire in an endoscope according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a loosening / removing device for a bending operation wire in the endoscope shown in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a coil spring portion (FIG. 4A) of a bending operation wire in the endoscope shown in FIG. 2 and a cross-sectional view of a stopper portion portion of a pipe portion (FIG. 4B).

5 is an explanatory view showing a case where the drum portion of the slack removal device for the bending operation wire in the endoscope shown in FIG. 2 is fully rotated in the direction shown by the solid line in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 3 Operation part main body 5 Flexible tube part 7 Bending part 9 Tip forming part 10 Relaxation removing device for bending operation wire in endoscope 11 Gear part 13 Rack part 15 Rack gear (bending operation part) 17 Pipe guide 19 Pipe Part 19a Spring receiving part (elastic body receiving part) 19b Stopper part 21 Pipe receiving 23 Base tip part 25 Coil spring (elastic body) 27 Bending operation wire

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An operating portion main body, and a flexible tube portion connected to the operating portion main body, a bending portion, and a distal end forming portion, one of which is connected to the distal end of the bending portion and the other of which is inside the flexible tubular portion. In the endoscope which is connected to a pair of bending operation wires provided in the operation section main body and performs a bending operation by the bending operation wires, an elastic body receiving portion for supporting an elastic body is provided at the distal end and is opposed to the endoscope. A pipe-shaped rigid body that is slidable in the axial direction from the fitting point, by fitting the other end into a bending operation part that operates the bending operation wire, and providing a dish-shaped stopper part at the other end; The bending operation wire is inserted from the tip of the pipe-shaped rigid body in the operation portion main body and fixed to the other end of the pipe-shaped rigid body, and the elastic body receiving portion provided at the tip of the pipe-shaped rigid body and the The bay between the operation unit body Relaxation removal device of the bending operation wires of the endoscope, characterized by comprising an elastic body provided by inserting the operation wire, the. 2. The loosening removal device for a bending operation wire in an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a coil spring. 3. The bending operation part is formed by a gear part on a drum and a pair of left and right parts of the gear part extending in the longitudinal direction of the operation part main body, and is moved forward and backward by rotating the gear part. It is a rack gear which consists of a pair of rack parts which do. The loosening removal device of the bending operation wire in the endoscope according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by things.