JPS6264330A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to endoscopes.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an endoscope, a stop is provided at the connection portion between the flexible tube and the operating section. The bending stop prevents the flexible tube from suddenly bending and breaking. This type of clasp is made of rubber and is formed into a tapered shape with a thinner wall on the flexible tube side and a thicker wall on the operating section side, and is installed on the outer circumference of the flexible tube to serve as a clasp for the flexible tube. Alternatively, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58-188473, a heat-shrinkable tube is provided around the outer periphery of the flexible tube to secure it.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the former type of clasp has a large change in hardness due to the gradual increase in wall thickness, so it does not bend when the flexible tube is suddenly bent against the operating part, preventing breakage at that part. I had a problem that I couldn't do. In particular, in endoscopes with small diameter flexible tubes used for observing thin luminal organs such as blood vessels, the flexible tube itself is thin and weak against bending, so There was a situation in which a sufficient bending prevention effect could not be obtained. In addition, when molding the former, a mold corresponding to the rough shape is required, which is costly, and since it is an integrally molded product, the molding materials are NBR, boiling rubber, etc. However, there was also the problem that it was not possible to use a material with more appropriate flexibility and stronger chemical resistance.

In addition, in the case of the latter method, which is made by shrinking the heat-shrinkable tube, the heat-shrinkable tube is tightly packed with the flexible tube and does not slip against each other, so when the flexible tube is bent, it forms a smooth arc. The problem is that it does not bend, and its anti-bending properties are weak. Moreover, in addition to being inferior in durability, heat-shrinkable tubes are expensive and, as mentioned above, are limited to some extent in terms of materials. In addition, the diameter of the flexible tube becomes slightly smaller due to the shrinkage of the heat shrink tube, and the diameter changes at the end of the shrink tube, causing this problem when the flexible tube is bent. The object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can sufficiently prevent bending of a flexible tube at a low cost, regardless of the material used.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] This endoscope has an elastic stopper 12 on the outer circumferential side of the flexible tube 5 so that the end on the flexible tube 5 side is exposed in a stepped manner. It is constructed by overlapping and covering a plurality of tubular keys 25 made of a material. In addition to being able to be molded using a simple mold, the tubular member 25 can be made of a variety of materials. In order to smooth the change and prevent mutual slippage (displacement) of the tubular members 25, the bending stop 12 can be bent in a smooth shape according to the bending of the flexible tube 5, thereby absorbing the bending.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 shows the entire endoscope 1, with reference numeral 2 an operating section including a grip section 3, 4 an eyepiece section provided on the upper part of the operating section 2, and 5, which will be described later.
6 is a universal cord connected to the side of the operating section 2. An objective lens 7, illumination lenses 8, 8, and a channel outlet 9 are provided at the tip of the flexible tube 5, and a connector 10 is provided at the tip of the universal cord 6. Although not shown inside the flexible tube 5, there is an image guide that connects the eyepiece 4 and the objective lens 7, a light guide that connects the connector 10 and the illumination lenses 8, 8 through the universal cord 6, Each channel has a built-in channel connecting the channel outlet 9 and the channel population 11 provided in the operating section 2, so that it is possible to see the front of the device 5 and to perform treatment using the channel. It looks like this.

On the other hand, a break stop 12 is provided at the connection portion between the flexible tube 5 and the grip portion 3. The structure of this clasp 12 is shown in FIG. 1 together with the connection structure of the flexible tube 5 and the structure of the lower end side of the grip portion 3.

First, the connection structure of the flexible tube 5 will be explained. 15 is a cap attached to the tip of the flexible tube 5 using thread and adhesive, and 16 is a cap provided inside the grip 3. It is a cylindrical support. Of course, the support column 16 leads to the operating section 2. Then, the cap 15 and the support column 16 are fastened together using a fixing nut 18 so that the stepped portions formed at each tip are brought into close contact with each other. Note that 19a is a preventive O-ring for sealing the close contact surface between the base 15 and the support 16.

Next, the structure of the lower part of the grip part 3 will be explained.
20 is a snap cap, 21 is a grip cover, and 22 is a decorative ring. The stopper cap 20 has a small diameter part on the front end side and a large diameter part on the rear end side, and a stepped part 23 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter part.

The large-diameter portion of this buckle cap 20 is screwed and fixed to a stepped portion 16a formed on the support 16 at the rear of the portion where the flexible tube 5 is fixed, thereby forming the lower end of the grip portion 3. are doing. Of course, the flexible tube 5 is inserted into the stopper cap 20. The grip recoverer 21 is arranged together with a decorative ring 22 so as to cover the periphery of the support column 16. And these grip covers 21. The decorative ring 22 is fixed by being pressed against the operating part 2 side with a retaining nut 24 screwed along the axial direction on the large diameter part of the retaining base 20 , and the decorative ring 22 is fixed by being pressed against the operating part 2 side. It consists of

In addition, 19b is the stop cap 20 and the stepped portion i that is in close contact with it.
6a, 19c is a waterproof O-ring provided between the stopper cap 20 and the decorative ring 22 that is in close contact with it, and 19d is the decorative ring 22 and the grip cover 21.
There is a waterproof barrier between the

Here, to explain the folding stop 12, 25... are a plurality of thin-walled folding tubes (corresponding to the tubular member of the present invention) having different diameters. Each folding tube 25・
... are molded to have the same thickness t, and one end is fixed at each step. 5 ■ Flexible tube 5
The outer peripheral side of the flexible tube 5 is covered, and at the same time, the end portion on the flexible tube 5 side is exposed by evenly shifting the length l in a stepwise manner. Note that some of the shorter folded tubes 25 may have their ends aligned. In addition, each folding tube 25
The inner diameter of ... is the folding tube 2 coated on the lower side.
5 I'm starting to wake up. Furthermore, each folding tube 25 is made of rubber materials such as silicone rubber, fluorocarbon rubber, NBR, urethane rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, Teflon, etc. so as to have appropriate flexibility and hardness. It is molded from synthetic resin. Of course, the hardness of each folded tube 25...
The hardness may be different or the same for each folding tube 25..., and the material of each folding tube 25... may be different or the same for each folding tube 25... good.

It is desirable that the bending tube 25 is closer to the front flexible tube 5 (as the bending tube 25 has a smaller diameter), the flexible tube 5
hardness.

Something close to flexibility is better.

Therefore, since the snap stop 12 is made of a thin polymer and the end on the flexible tube 5 side is exposed in a stepped manner, the hardness changes smoothly.
When the flexible tube 5 is bent, it bends flexibly and smoothly, absorbs the bending, and prevents the flexible tube 5 from breaking. Moreover, since the bending tubes 25 are mutually shifted (moved) by bending the flexible tube 5, a sufficient bending shape can be obtained and bending can be appropriately accommodated. In particular, since the end portion on the flexible tube 5 side can be made to have a hardness close to that of the flexible tube 5, it is excellent in preventing bending of the flexible tube of a small diameter endoscope. Furthermore, since the mutual misalignment can reduce the stress on the clasp 12, durability can be improved. Of course, the flexible tube 5 does not become easily broken unlike when a conventional heat-shrinkable tube is used.

In addition, the structure covering the plurality of folded tubes 25 is as follows:
While various materials can be used and the hardness can be freely changed, a material with more appropriate flexibility and high chemical resistance can be selected, and high performance can be obtained. Moreover, the folding tube 25 has a simple shape of 11t.
Since it can be molded in any size, there is no need for complicated molds for molding, and the cost is low.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, six folding tubes 25 and
... was used, but it is not limited to that number,
At least two or more folded tubes 25 may be used.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention [7, this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in terms of the fixing structure of the flexible tube 5, the structure of the folding tube 25, and the exposed portion. This is different from the example.

That is, to explain how to fix the flexible tube 5, this involves providing a helical groove 30 with a hemispherical cross section on the outer peripheral surface of the base 15, inserting the end of the flexible tube 5 into the base 15, and fixing the flexible tube. A similar structure is used in the shape of the bipedal spiral groove 3o.

In other words, the step part 23 of the stopper cap 20 is provided across the helical groove 32 having a hemispherical cross section, and the stopper tube 25 inserted into each step part 21 is attached to the ring 33 to be tightened. Fixed. In addition, the exposed length of the bent tube 25 at the end on the flexible tube 5 side,
I! t, A2 and 13 are different. In this embodiment, the length of the exposed portion is increased as the folded tube 25 approaches the flexible tube 5 (as the folded tube 25 has a smaller diameter). ).

By changing the length of the exposed portion in this way, the bending of the flexible tube 5 can be absorbed with a smoother shape, so that the effect of preventing bending is high.

Note that the length of the exposed portion is i1≠12≠I! 3 but 1
2+ -1!2 ≠J! 3 but 11 ≠ J! 2-no-3 is also 1. Further, in this embodiment, folded tubes 25 . . . having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the folded IL tube 25 coated on the lower side are used.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention. This is fold 11
- The thicknesses t1 to t4 of the tubes 25 are made different. The thickness t1 to t4 is tl-t2≠t3-t
4 or tl ≠ t2 ≠ t3 ≠ t4. Although not particularly limited, it is preferable that the inner tube is thinner.
tl<t2<t3<t4). This structure, in which the inner tube is thinner, allows the folding stop 12 to be shorter than that of the second embodiment, which has the advantage of increasing the effective length and shortening the overall length. , operability is also improved. Of course, the exposed lengths of the folded tubes 25 on the flexible tube 5 side may be different as shown in FIG. 4, or may be the same as in the first embodiment.

In addition, the third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in terms of the fixing structure of the flexible tube 5 and the fixing structure of the folding tube 25. That is, to fix the flexible tube 5, the tube receiver 35 is inserted into the end of the flexible tube 5 and fixed with adhesive. Similarly, the connection cap 36 is fixed by adhesive to the attached connection cap 3.
6 is fixed to the support column 16 using screws 37. Note that the grip cover 22 has a threaded portion 3g integrally provided with the decorative ring 22 instead of the locking pad 24 as in the previous embodiment, and the grip cover 21 is attached to the operating portion 2 by screwing the threaded portion 38 into the column 16. It is fixed by pressing it to the side.

On the other hand, in order to fix the folded tubes 25..., each folded tube 25... is stacked on the end portion of the flexible tube 5, which is on the tube receiver 35, and the stacked folded tubes are A structure is used in which the threads 25 are fixed by threading and adhesive, and the fixed portions are covered with a heat shrink tube 39 to prevent the threads from coming loose. Note that the heat shrink tube 39 may be omitted,
Also, it is not necessary to fix the folding tubes 25 only by adhesive and the contraction force of the heat-shrinkable tube 39 without using the thread.

In addition, in both the second example and the third example, the number of folding tubes 25 is the same as in the first example.

The material and hardness are not limited as in the first embodiment, and the inner diameter of each folding tube 25 is also the same as in the first embodiment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the hardness change can be smoothed to a hardness close to that of a flexible tube by the structure in which the tubular portions are overlapped and covered and the stepped exposed portions. can.

As a result, the bending of the flexible tube relative to the operating portion can be absorbed by the smooth shape, and bending of the flexible tube can be sufficiently prevented. Moreover, since the tubular members are shifted from each other when bent, a smooth bending shape can be obtained for the folding stopper, and a sufficient bending prevention effect can be obtained. Moreover, it has the advantage of improving durability by reducing stress due to misalignment. In addition, the structure that covers multiple folded tubes can be made of various materials and the hardness can be changed freely, so it is important to select a material with more appropriate flexibility and high chemical resistance. I can do it. In addition, during molding, it is only necessary to mold a folded tube with a simple shape, so there is no need for a complicated mold.
It is also inexpensive in terms of cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of the folding stopper, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an endoscope to which the structure is applied, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing essential parts of a third embodiment of the invention. 1... Endoscope, 2... Operating unit, 5... Flexible tube, 1
2...Folding stop, 25...Latching tube (tubular member).

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In an endoscope in which a clasp is provided at the connection between the operating section of the endoscope and the flexible tube, the clasp has a step on the outer circumferential side of the flexible tube, and the end on the flexible tube side has a step. 1. An endoscope comprising a plurality of tubular members made of an elastic material stacked on top of each other so as to be exposed in a uniform manner. (2) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein each tubular member has a different exposed length. (3) The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each tubular member has a different hardness. (4) The endoscope according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein each tubular member has a different thickness.