JPS619615A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit the easy advance of an endoscope into a soft object to be inspected as well by providing a means for transmitting reaction to apply the force for advancing the endoscope to the top end of the endoscope and receiving the reaction thereof in a holding part on the outside of the operator side control part of the endoscope. CONSTITUTION:The operator removes a cap 18 of a dehydrating port 19a and pushes an insertion tube 25 of the means 1 for transmitting reaction into a guide tube 15 until the top end 17 thereof contacts with a metallic fitting 4 at the top end of the endoscope then the operator closes the cap 18 of the dehydrating port prior to starting of the inspection with the endoscope. The operator detaches the hand from the operator side control part 3 of the endoscope and treads a foot switch 23 in the stage of advancing the endoscope. Then a water pump 21 is operated and the water in a water reservoir 22 is fed into the tube 25 of the means 10. The fitting 4 at the top end of the endoscope is pushed forward by the water pressure. When the operator holds the holding part 14 by hand, propulsive force is applied to the top end itself of the endoscope, by which the endoscope is surely advanced even if the object to be inspected is soft.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope, particularly an endoscope insertion assisting device, and more particularly to a self-blade advancement device for an endoscope inserted into a soft body cavity.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, endoscope insertion assisting devices or automatic insertion devices have been proposed, for example, in Utility Model Application No. 1983-68542 (Utility Model Application No.
16762), an endoscope has been proposed in which a highly extensible cuff is provided on the outer periphery of the distal end of the endoscope, and the cuff is deformed and moved forward.

This is a mechanical interaction between the object to be examined and the endoscope, that is, friction, which moves the object forward, but when the object to be examined is soft and easily deformed, such as the large intestine, it causes the intestinal wall to deform. It has the disadvantage that the endoscope cannot be advanced by itself.

(Objective) In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can easily advance the endoscope even in a soft specimen, and that has an insertion assisting device that is safe and reliable for the living body. is to provide.

(Summary) A force is applied from inside to the tip of the endoscope insertion section in the direction of advancing the endoscope, and the reaction force is transmitted by a reaction force transmission means, which is provided outside the endoscope operation section. Since the receiver is configured to stop by holding the holding part, a propulsive force is applied to the tip itself that is not due to friction with the object to be inspected, and when you release your hand from the endoscope operation part, the endoscope body The robot moves forward safely and reliably in the distal direction along the reaction force transmission means.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an endoscope having an insertion assisting device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

The endoscope main body 1 is composed of a flexible insertion section 2 and a hand operation section 3 as shown in FIG. The subject is observed through a sexual image guide 6 and an eyepiece 7 provided on the hand operation section 3 of the endoscope.

The reaction force transmission means 10 in the present invention transmits mechanical force in the axial direction of the endoscope, and forms a water conduit.
It is formed of an insertion tube 25 consisting of a flexible tube 11 and a coil pipe 12 densely arranged around the tube. This flexible tube 11 also has fiber braid 1'
It is reinforced with 5. In addition.

The insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmitting means 10 is not limited to a tube and a coil pipe, but may be only a tube formed by chaping a metal braid.

The portion of the insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmitting means 10 that extends from the endoscope hand operation section 3 and located outside the operation section 3 is the holding section 1.
4 so that you can hold it in your hand. This holding portion 14 may also be formed into a shape that is easy to hold by hand, if necessary.

Between the tip fitting 4 of the endoscope insertion section 2 and the outer wall of the hand operation section 3 of the endoscope, there is an insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmission means 10 for transmitting the reaction force to the hand side. A flexible guide tube 15 is provided to be inserted therethrough. This guide tube 15 is composed of a flexible watertight tube 26 and a coil pipe 27 in the same way as the insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmitting means 10 described above.

This may also be reinforced with a blade or the like if necessary.

The insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmitting means 10 is inserted into the guide tube 15 from the hand control section 5, and a reaction force transmitting means distal end fitting 17 having an O-ring 16 for maintaining watertightness is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube 25. There is. This hardware 17 is provided with a through hole 17a in its center. Therefore, the space formed by the endoscope end fitting 4, the reaction force transmitting means distal fitting 17, and the guide tube 15 is watertight, and the guide tube 15 forms a cylinder 28. At the outer end of the insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmitting means 10 on the proximal side outside the endoscope operating section, a dehydration port 19a and a dehydration palate 18 are provided.
A reaction force transmitting means rear end member 19 having a rear end member 19 is attached to one end side, and a water conduit 20 is attached to the other end side, and the water conduit 20 is connected to a water pump 21. This water pump 21 is connected to a water reservoir 22, and its operation is controlled by a soft switch 26.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, before starting the endoscopy.

Remove the lid 18 of the dehydration port 19a, fully insert the insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmitting means 1o into the guide cheep 15 until its tip abuts the endoscope tip fitting 4, and then open the dehydration port 19a.
Close the lid 18 completely.

When moving the endoscope forward, release your hand from the hand control section 3 of the hand control and press the 7-way switch 23 to activate the water pump 21 and send water from the water reservoir 22 into the insertion tube 25 of the reaction force transmission means 10. The water pressure pushes the endoscope tip fitting 4 forward. If the holding portion 14 is held by hand, the endoscope will move forward.

Therefore, unlike conventional methods that utilize friction between an object to be inspected and an endoscope, the present invention utilizes the interaction between the endoscope body and the reaction force transmission means provided inside the endoscope body, that is, the reaction force transmission means. By holding the holding part, the reaction force is stopped, so the propulsion force is applied to the tip of the endoscope itself, and even if the object to be inspected is soft or curved, the endoscope can be held securely. can move forward.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. In this embodiment, the observation optical system, image guide, eyepiece lens, and other members that are the same as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

A stopper 31 having an O-ring is swung at the tip of the distal end fitting 4 of the endoscope insertion section 2, and inside the fitting 4,
A cylinder 32 is formed in which a reaction force transmitting means tip fitting 17 having a watertight O-ring makes a piston movement. and,
A flexible tip 11 whose one end is fixed to the metal fitting 17 is inserted through the insertion section 2 and the operation section 3. A large number of guide rings 33 are arranged around the flexible tube 11 between the endoscope tip fitting 4 and the endoscope hand control section 3 to prevent the tube from sagging. has been done. Also,
Each guide ring 33 is provided with an insertion opening 35 into which the image guide 6 is inserted.

A holding member 14 is attached to the proximal side of the flexible chain 11, and the member 14 is slidably held on a bearing 36 fixed to the endoscope proximal operating section 3. . A cylinder 37 and a piston 38 for forward operation are attached to the holding member 14.

Next, the operation of this second embodiment will be explained.

First, remove the stopper 31 from the endoscope tip fitting 4, fill the flexible tube 11 and cylinder 32 with water, and remove the stopper 31 from the endoscope tip fitting 4.
close. Next, when the operating piston 37 of the cylinder 37 at one hand is pushed in, water pressure is transmitted to the cylinder 32 at the tip, pushing the endoscope tip fitting 4 forward. Here, holding member 1
If you hold 4 in your hand, the endoscope will move forward. Note that if the chain 11 of the guide ring 33 is bent within the flexible tube of the endoscope insertion section 20, the relative movement between the reaction force transmitting means 10 and the endoscope body will be absorbed, and the endoscope will no longer move forward. This is to prevent

In this embodiment, the amount of advance is limited by the strike date of the tip cylinder 32 provided in the tip fitting 4. Therefore, it is not possible to use this device alone to insert an endoscope over the entire length of the large intestine for colon examinations, etc.; This is a point where it is difficult to advance the endoscope by simply pushing the proximal side of the endoscope insertion part, so by using this, the endoscope can be easily inserted without requiring any skill.

Note that this embodiment has the advantage of being able to be used repeatedly. To do this, hold the endoscope hand control section 3, release your hand from the cylinder 37, and then use the reaction force transmitting means 10.
All you have to do is push in the flexible tube 11. Then, the water pressure in the tip cylinder 32 will be five in the cylinder 37 on the proximal side.

Since the propulsion force of the endoscope is water pressure times the cross-sectional area of the tip cylinder 32, the cylinder 32 should be as large as possible. Also, in order to increase the water pressure, it is better to use small-volume cylinders with a small cross-sectional area.

Furthermore, this embodiment has a simpler structure than the one shown in FIG. 1, and is suitable for minute movements.

Note that the member indicated by the reference numeral 34 in FIG. 2 is a stopper member when the tip metal fitting 17 is retreated.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. This embodiment also uses an observation optical system.

The image guide, eyepiece lens, and other members that are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

A guide tip 15 is attached between the endoscope tip fitting 4 and the endoscope hand operation section 3 so as to be inserted through the endoscope main body 1. This chain 15 is made of a material with good sliding properties, such as foamed resin. A bushing tube 41 made of a material that is flexible and has a strong compressive force is inserted into the guide tube 15 so that one end thereof is pushed against the inner surface of the endoscope tip fitting 4. A rear end member 43 having a rack 42 is connected to the other end of the rod 41, and the member 43 is pulled out from the endoscope hand operation section 3. And this bushing rod 41
A flexible chain 11 is provided between the guide chain 15 and the bushing rod 41 so as to surround the bushing rod 41, and one end of the chain 11 is locked to an operating section 5o disposed outside the hand operating section 3. This cheep 11 is also made of the same material as the guide chain 15, which has good slippage, such as foamed fluororesin. The rack 42 is a trap so as to mesh with a pinion 44 provided on the operating section 50, and the pinion 44 is driven by a motor 45 of the operating section 5o. The operating section 5° has a control circuit 48, a motor 45, and switches 46 and 47 for forward and backward movement.-1 This control circuit 4
8 is connected to a power source 49.

The bushing rod 41 needs to be made of a material that is flexible and resistant to compressive force; for example, it is made into a rod shape by covering a thin core metal with a tightly coiled pipe and then tubing it with hard polyethylene resin or nylon resin. It is something.

To explain the operation of this embodiment, when the forward switch 46 is pressed while holding the operating section 50, the control circuit 48
The motor 45 rotates through the pinion 44 to extend the rear end member 43 forward, and the end of the bushing rod 41 abuts against the endoscope tip fitting 4 as shown in FIG. The mirror body can be moved forward.

The structure of this embodiment is simpler than that of the first embodiment, the diameter of the endoscope can be made smaller, the pain caused to the patient is lessened, and the operation is easier. It is.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. In this fourth embodiment as well, the observation optical system, image guide, eyepiece lens, and other members that are the same as those in FIG.

Inside the endoscope tip fitting 4 made of ferromagnetic material.

A plunger movement path 4a is provided, and excitation coils 51, 51', which operate for forward and backward movement, are arranged on the inner surface thereof. And reaction force transmission means 10
At the tip of the flexible tube 11 constituting the tube 11, a plunger 52 consisting of a metal fitting at the tip of a reaction force transmitting means also made of ferromagnetic material is attached so that the plunger can slide inside the passage 4a. It is located in Further, a 5VC operating section 54 is attached to the proximal side of the flexible tube 11 so as to extend outside the endoscope's operating section B. This operating section 54 is provided with forward and backward switches 55, 56, and the power source 57 and the coils 51, 51' are connected through the switches 55, 56 by leads 553, respectively, as shown in the figure. .

The operation of this embodiment will be explained. When the operating section 54 is held in the hand and the forward switch 55 is turned on, the coil 51 in the endoscope tip fitting 4 is excited. Then, since the plunger 52, which is the metal fitting at the end of the reaction force transmitting means, is made of a ferromagnetic material, it receives an axial force and moves forward until the axial center positions of the coil 51 and the plunger 52 are equidistant. Since the operating section 54 is held by hand, a propulsive force is applied to the endoscope itself, causing it to move forward. Similarly, when retracting, the coil 51' is energized by turning on the retracting switch 56, and the plunger 52 moves rearward, causing the endoscope body 1 to retract.

This example is easy to operate both forward and backward.
It has the effect of repeatedly making small advances and retreats, and it is easy to make counterattacks.

(Effects) As mentioned above, the present invention provides a holding part for the reaction force transmitting means outside the endoscope operation part, applies a force in the direction of advancing the endoscope to the end part of the endoscope, and also reduces the reaction force. The distal end of the transmission means is configured with a force source inside the endoscope body that applies a reaction force toward the user's hand. Propulsion without friction is provided, allowing the endoscope to move forward or backward reliably even if the object to be inspected is soft or curved, making it easy to operate even for experienced operators. 5. Demonstrates remarkable effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an endoscope having an endoscope insertion assisting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an endoscope having an endoscope insertion assisting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an endoscope having an endoscope insertion assisting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an endoscope having an endoscope insertion assisting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an endoscope having an endoscope insertion assisting device showing an embodiment of the present invention. 2... Endoscope insertion section 3... Endoscope hand operation section 4... Endoscope tip fitting (power source) 10...
...Reaction force transmission means 2B, 32...轡cylinder (force source) 51, 51'・l coil

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope main body consisting of an insertion section having an observation optical system at the distal end and a hand control section; a holding section outside the hand control section; a reaction force transmitting means for transmitting the reaction force to the proximal side through which the reaction force is transmitted to the distal end;
An endoscope comprising: a force source that applies a reaction force toward the hand on a distal end surface of the reaction force transmission means;