JPS647778B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an endoscope device that can perform operations such as bending by pulling or loosening an operating wire fixed to a drive device. The present invention relates to a wire loosening removal device for an endoscope device, which enables a wide range of bending operations without buckling the wire by being housed in a moving coil.

In recent years, medical endoscopes have been widely used for observation, diagnosis, treatment, etc. inside body cavities, and industrial endoscopes have been widely used for lumens, boilers, chemical plants, etc. There is also an endoscope that can be attached with a device having an ultrasonic diagnostic function. Hereinafter, these endoscopes will be collectively referred to as an endoscope device.

In these endoscopic devices, an observation window and a channel outlet for a treatment tool such as forceps are provided at the tip or the side of the tip of the elongated insertion section, so that observation or treatment can be performed using the inserted treatment tool. It is constructed so that it can be bent on the hand side so that it can be used over a wide range of areas.

This bending operation means or device generally consists of a single piece inserted from the proximal operation part to the distal end of the insertion part.
It is constructed so that it can be operated by pulling or loosening one or several wires.

As a means for the above-mentioned bending operation,
There is an apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 82388.

In these figures, for example, a forceps raising mechanism working wire 1 and a coil 2 having flexibility and elasticity through which the wire 1 is inserted are connected from the operation wire attachment part at the tip of the insertion section 3 to the respective fixed points in the operation section 4. The length of the coil is longer than the length of the coil, and the remaining part is left loose inside the operating section 4. For example, it is curved backwards inside the operating section 4, then returned to the insertion section 3 side, and the 2nd end of the coil is inserted into the operating section 4. , and connect the rear end of the operating wire 1 to the drive device A (Fig. 1). Alternatively, the coil 2 and the operating wire 1 may be directly guided into the operating section 4, and the rear end of the coil 2 may be connected to the drive device A (Fig. 1). It has a structure (FIG. 2) in which the rear end is fixed to the operating section 4 by forming a curve into a chevron shape, and the end of the operating wire 1 is connected to the drive device A.

The drive device A has a structure in which, for example, a rack 5 is attached to one end of the operating wire and operated by a pinion 6, or a bridge body 7 is attached to the end of the operating wire 1,
There is a structure in which the operating wire 1 is operated by rotating the rotor 8 by fitting the piece body 7 into a spiral groove of a rotor 8 rotatably attached to the operating section 4.

In the conventional example configured in this way, the rear ends of the operating wire 1 and the coil 2 are not directly connected to the operating device of the operating section 4, but are loosened within the operating section 4 and then connected to the drive device A. Therefore, when the operating wire 1 comes to the inner circumferential side due to bending of the insertion section 3 and becomes slack, the slack inside the operating section 4 increases to eliminate the slack inside the insertion section 3, and when the operating wire 1 comes to the outer circumference side. When it is pulled, the slack in the operating part 4 is extended to compensate for the tension, thereby improving operability and preventing pressure on other conductive pipes and the like.

However, for example, the operation means using the rack 5 and pinion 6 shown in FIG. 1 is bulky, and the end of the coil 2 is fixed in the operation means using the rack 5 or the rotor 8 shown in FIG. Therefore, the range for absorbing the slack of the operating wire 1 is limited to approximately the inner diameter portion of the coil 2, so the bending operation range becomes narrow, and the operating wire 1 buckles at the inner diameter portion of the coil 2 during a slightly large bending operation. It's inconsiderate.

On the other hand, there is a conventional example as shown in FIG. That is, the wires 13a and 13b, which are guided by the guide plate 11 on the inside and the guide walls 12a and 12b provided on both sides of the guide plate 11 on the outside, are guided by the slack removers 14a and 13b provided in the middle, respectively. The pulley 15 is connected via the pulley 14b so as to come into contact with the semicircular portion of the circumferential groove of the pulley 15 which is rotationally driven. The wire 13c connecting the two slack removers 14a and 14b is fixed by brazing or the like at a location generally in the center where it comes into contact with the pulley 15, for example, indicated by the symbol B, and is removed from the groove of the pulley 15. A semicircular wire stopper 16 is provided on the semicircular outer periphery to prevent the wire from coming off. (Instead of fixing the wire 13c to the pulley 15 as described above, the wire 13c may be made into two wires and each end may be fixed to the pulley 15 by brazing or the like as shown by the dashed line.) When the pulley 15 to which a part of the wire 13c is fixed in a spot is rotated, the wire 13c in contact with the groove moves in the direction of rotation, and one end of the wire 13c and One connected slack remover (in case of rotation in the direction of the arrow) 14a is pulled, and the other end side of the wire 13c is connected to the gap in the other slack remover 14b connected thereto. It is configured to be accommodated in

The structure of each of the relaxation removers 14a (14b is the same) is as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4.

That is, the relaxation remover 14a is the elongated hollow container 1.
Wires 13a, 1 inserted through each hole into 7a
Each moving member 18a, 18 accommodates each end side of 3c and is fixed by inserting each end thereof.
It houses ca. A lid part 19a is connected to one end of the hollow container 17a by screwing into a threaded opening, and by adjusting the length of this screwed part, the gap in the hollow container 17a can be adjusted. It is formed so that the length of the section can be changed.

Moving member 1 accommodated in this hollow container 17a
8a and 18ca are formed to be able to slide and move on the side wall of the hollow container 17a.

In the conventional example configured in this way, the third
As shown in the figure, when the pulley 15 is rotated, for example, as shown by the arrow, the wire 13c also moves together. Then, one of the slack removers 14a is also pulled in the direction of the arrow, and the wire 13a connected to this slack remover 14a is also pulled in the direction of the arrow, fixing the other end of the wire 13a on the side of the insertion section (not shown). Pull the part that is attached to your side.

On the other hand, the other end of the wire 13c is configured such that a moving member 18cb at this end moves in a gap in the hollow container 17b to absorb slack in the wire 13c.

In this way, the insertion portion is configured to be able to perform a bending operation of the distal end side bending portion and the like. However, in this conventional example, in order to perform a sufficient bending operation, the wire 13a in a relaxed state,
A slack remover 14 that absorbs the slack of 13b and 13c.
The length of the elongated gaps a and 14b and the length of the guide groove in which these slack removers 14a and 14b can move must be made sufficiently long.

For example, in this conventional example, the wire 13
The range to absorb the slack of a, 13b, 13c is approximately 10
[mm], the movement range of the relaxation removers 14a, 14b is about 50 to 60 [mm], which has the drawback that the shape of the operating section becomes large, making it difficult for the operator to operate it.

This invention was made in view of these circumstances, and it is possible to eliminate the buckling of the wire without taking up a large space in the operation section, and the member that slides when the wire is indexed or loosened is installed inside the guide body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wire loosening removal device for an endoscope device that is housed and not exposed in an operating section so that there is no risk of damaging other internal components.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention fixes an operating wire extending from the distal end of the insertion section to a drive device provided in the proximal operation section that indexes and loosens the wire, and at the same time fixes the operation wire extending from the distal end of the insertion section. The coil is inserted into a flexible and elastic coil disposed inside the operating section, and an absorbing section is formed in the coil inside the operating section, and the end of the coil is fixed to a sliding member. The moving member is slidably housed in a guide body fixed to a fixed member, and a wire is slidably extended from the sliding member to which an end of the coil is fixed and fixed to the drive device. ing.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of the main part of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the bending device shown in the figure, each operating wire 22a, 22b inserted through coils 21a, 21b having flexibility and elasticity is bent into a substantially L-shape within an operating section 23, and is attached to a cylinder fixing plate 24. Both ends of the guide cylinders 25a and 25b are fixed as shown by the broken line, or a single guide cylinder is fixed as shown by the solid line, so as to come into contact with the groove on the circumference of the pulley 26, which is rotatably driven through the through holes provided in each of the fixed guide cylinders 25a and 25b. has been made into

When the wires 22a and 22b are integrated, they are fixed to the pulley 26 at least in one place by brazing or the like, and when the pulley 26 is rotated, the wires 22a and 22b are configured to move together. ing. A semicircular wire stopper 27 is provided along the outer periphery of the wire 22 that comes into contact with the pulley 26, and is fixed with screws or the like.

In each recess of the guide cylinders 25a, 25b, the outer peripheral surface of sliding members 28a, 28b provided to cover each end of the coils 21a, 21b is connected to the inner peripheral surface of each recess of the guide cylinders 25a, 25b. It is constructed so that it can be moved by sliding.

Each guide cylinder 25a, 25b is inserted into each fitting hole of the cylinder fixing plate 24.
Insert the step side with the smaller diameter of the outer periphery of a and 25b,
They are screwed together and fixed by respective cylinder stoppers 29a and 29b. The above cylinder fixing plate 24
is fixed at both ends with screws or the like.

Each of the cylinder stop members 29a, 29b is provided with a through hole through which each coil 21a, 21b is inserted, and is configured to also function to restrict the movement of each of the slide members 28a, 28b.

A case will be described in which this embodiment configured as described above is used as a bending means for a bending portion of an endoscope apparatus having an ultrasonic diagnostic function shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example.

In these figures, a (ultrasonic) probe head 33 having a window 32 for transmitting and receiving ultrasound from the front to the side, and a curved part 34 are connected to the tip of a probe 31 inserted into the abdominal cavity. , these probe 31, ultrasound probe head 33, and curved portion 34 are configured to have approximately the same diameter. A cutout window 35 cut out in the viewing direction is formed on the outer periphery of the probe 31 behind the curved portion 34, and this cutout window 3
An endoscope guide hole is drilled from 5 to the rear end of the probe 31, and a perspective endoscope 37 having a small diameter endoscope insertion portion 36 that can be freely inserted into and removed from the endoscope guide hole is indicated by the broken line in the figure. It is installed as shown. The cutout window 35 formed in the probe 31 is inserted into the cutout window 35 in the normal use state.
7, and when the operator observes from the eyepiece 38 on the proximal side, the oblique front of the observation cutout window 35 enters the field of view of the endoscope.

An operating section 23 is connected to the rear end of the probe 21, and a grip section 39 whose longitudinal direction is substantially perpendicular to the ultrasonic transmission/reception window section 32 is integrally connected to the operating section 23. It is designed so that it can be held with one hand. This is because even when the axis of the probe 31 is set in a substantially horizontal direction, especially when the probe 31 is inserted into the abdominal cavity to diagnose abdominal organs, the grip part 39 does not come into contact with the body wall and get in the way. There is. A bending operation lever 40 is provided in a protruding manner on the gripping portion 39, and the gripping portion 39 can be used to manipulate the bending portion 30 with the index finger or middle finger of the hand gripped.
It is now possible to perform curved operations.

The operation unit 23 includes a flexible drive cable that transmits rotation for scanning the ultrasonic waves in sectors from the transmitting/receiving window unit 32 by a motor (not shown) for ultrasonic scanning, and a drive cable that transmits the ultrasonic waves. A signal cable for transmitting and receiving drive pulses and received (converted) signals to and from a signal processing device (not shown) is connected (these are indicated by a cable 41). When the scanning motor is housed in the ultrasound probe head 33, the drive cable can be a cable for transmitting drive signals.

The signal processing device is configured to perform brightness modulation or the like on the received signal and display it on a display cathode ray tube in synchronization with each scan (signal).

A flexible light guide cable 43 for transmitting illumination light is connected to the endoscope main body 42 in front of the eyepiece 38 of the oblique view endoscope 37, and is connected to a light source device (not shown). There is.
This light guide cable 43 and the cable 41 improve operability so as not to interfere with the insertion of the insertion section 31 into the abdominal cavity, the operation of bringing the ultrasound probe head 33 into contact with a predetermined organ, and the ultrasound diagnostic operation. In order to do this, in the normal operation state (FIG. 7), the endoscope body 42 and the gripping part 39 are connected to each other so as to extend in the same lateral direction from the head in the longitudinal direction.

The rotating part 44 of the bending operation lever 40 is configured to interlock with the operating part 23 or the pulley 26 in the gripping part 39, and each end of each wire 22a, 22b inserted into the probe 31 is connected to the bending part 34. The tips of the coils 21a and 21b, which are fixed to and guide and accommodate the wires 22a and 22b, are connected to the tip portion 3.
It is fixed at 3.

When the bending operation lever 40 of the endoscope apparatus having the ultrasonic diagnostic function configured as described above is rotated, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the pulley 26 rotates as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5. As the pulley 26 rotates, the wires 22a and 22b also move together, and at this time, the wire 22a presses the inner diameter surface of the coil 21a like an arrow to swell the L-shaped bent part, and guides the wire 22a and 22b. A moving member 28a fixed to the end of the coil inside the cylinder 25a is slid and moved. In this way, the slack of the wire 22a is absorbed by the coil 21a that moves together with the wire 22a.

On the other hand, the other wire 22b is
a, and at this time the guide cylinder 25
The coil end in b moves upward (in FIG. 5) with the sliding movement of moving member 28b. . In this way, the wire 22b and the wire 21b on the tip side of the probe 31 are pulled, and the bending part 34 is curved so that the side on which the wire 22b is disposed is on the inside (in FIG. 7, the upper side is on the inside). Become.).

According to this embodiment, during the bending operation, the guide cylinders 25a, 25b do not move, unlike the slack removers 14a, 14b shown in FIG. 3, but are configured so that the coil ends move. The external size can be made smaller. Further, unlike the conventional example in which the end portion of the coil 2 in the operating portion 4 shown in FIG. 1 or 2 is fixed, the coil 21a is
Since the wire 22a and the wire 22a (or the coil 21b and the wire 22b) are configured to be movable together, the wires 22a and 22b are not alone, and during the bending operation, the wire 22a or 22b is
A wide range of bending operations is possible without bending within the coil 21a or 21b.

On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment in which one of the wire 22a and coil 21a (or wire 21b and coil 21b) sides is wound one turn instead of the L-shaped bent portion described above. This embodiment can be applied to an ordinary endoscope (widely used) that can be bent by an operation knob provided on an operation section 52 along the axial direction of the probe or insertion section 51. .

The rotated wire 22a and coil 21a
For example, the wire 22a is swelled around the outer periphery of the guiding disk-shaped or cylindrical member 53.
It is constructed to be able to remove the relaxation of the This effect is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

Note that the above-described embodiment includes a pair of coil 21a and wire 22a, and a pair of coil 21b and wire 22b.
It goes without saying that it is also effective for several pairs of coils and wires.
It is also possible to make it effective even if only one side is used.
Furthermore, the wire 21a and the coil 22a (or the wire 21b and the coil 22b), for example, are not limited to the L-shaped or rotational bent portion in each of the above embodiments.
It may be possible to curve (bend) it into an S-shape or other shape. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, instead of forming an L-shaped bent part in the plane of the paper, the pulley 26 in the plane of the paper is perpendicular (or nearly perpendicular) to the plane of the paper.
It may be formed so as to be bent in the direction.

Further, as described above, it is effective not only in the bending operation of the bending portion but also in the case of removing the slack of the wire in the bending operation of the treatment instrument.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the buckling of the wire without taking up a large space in the operation section, and the members that slide when the wire is indexed and loosened are housed in the guide body and operated. It has the advantage that there is no risk of damaging other internal organs since it is not exposed inside the body.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 are schematic explanatory diagrams showing conventional operating means using wires, and Figures 3 and 4 show the structure of the main part of a device that performs operations such as bending using other wires. , FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the entire device, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the relaxation remover shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 shows the structure of the main part of the first embodiment of the invention. A sectional view, FIG. 6 is a front view showing an overview of an endoscope device having an ultrasonic diagnostic function provided with the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a bending operation of the endoscope device shown in FIG. 6. Schematic front view showing the situation when
The figure is a sectional view showing the structure of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention. 21a, 21b...Coil, 22a, 22b...
... wire, 23, 52 ... operation section, 24 ... cylinder fixing plate, 25a, 25b ... guide cylinder,
26...Pulley, 28a, 28b...Sliding member,
34...Bending part, 39...Gripping part, 40...Bending operation lever.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operating wire extending from the distal end of the insertion section is fixed to a drive device provided in the proximal operation section that indexes and loosens the wire, while the wire is arranged from the insertion section into the operation section; It is inserted into a coil having elasticity, and after forming an absorbing part on the coil in the operating part, the end of the coil is fixed to a sliding member, and this sliding member is fixed to a fixed member. It is slidably stored inside the guide body, and
A wire loosening removal device for an endoscope apparatus, characterized in that a wire is slidably extended from a sliding member to which an end of the coil is fixed and is fixed to the drive device.