JP2013141521A - Flexible tube for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flexible tube for an endoscope, in which an arbitrary area where a plurality of tubular members are superposed, can be made softer and harder than a non-processed state, a desired flexibility change can be easily obtained, and superior characteristics can also be obtained in point of durability.SOLUTION: An area where lubrication processing to reduce friction resistance between both the tubular members 11, 12 is applied to the outer surface of an inner tubular member 11 and to the inner surface of the outer tubular member 12 out of two tubular members 11, 12 which are superposed on each other, and an area where friction processing for increasing friction resistance between both the tubular members is applied, are provided in series.

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible tube of an endoscope.

  A flexible tube of an endoscope is generally covered with a plurality of tubular members having different diameters, that is, a spiral tube made of a metal strip and a mesh tube made of a thin metal wire, and the like, and covered with an outer skin made of a synthetic resin material. And formed into one flexible tube.

  And in the insertion part flexible tube etc. which are inserted in a body, in order to improve insertion property, the structure which changed flexibility (= softness | flexibility) on the way is taken. Specifically, the region near the distal end of the insertion portion is formed to be flexible and flexible, and the region on the hand side is formed to be less flexible and difficult to bend.

  In order to change the flexibility of one flexible tube on the way, various configurations are employed. In such a conventional flexible tube, there is a type in which a net-like tube or a spiral tube that is overlapped is hardened to reduce the flexibility of the portion (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). .

JP-A-63-249537 Shokai 57-79501 Open 2000-300510

  However, in the configuration in which the netting tube or the spiral tube that is overlaid as described above is hardened, the flexible tube cannot be made softer than the untreated state. The degree of freedom is low, and there are many cases where a desired flexibility change cannot be obtained as a flexible tube of an endoscope. Although there is a configuration in which outer skins having different hardnesses are joined together, there are cases where problems are likely to occur in terms of durability such as waterproofness and buckling resistance.

  In the present invention, an arbitrary region where a plurality of tubular members are superimposed can be made softer or harder than an untreated state, and a desired flexibility change can be easily obtained, and durability can be obtained. Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope that can obtain excellent characteristics.

  In order to achieve the above object, the flexible tube of the endoscope of the present invention is a flexible tube of an endoscope which is formed into one flexible tube by overlapping a plurality of tubular members having different diameters. In the tube, a region in which the outer surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member of the two tubular members overlapping each other are each subjected to a lubrication treatment for reducing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members, The region where the friction treatment for increasing the frictional resistance between the tubular members is performed is provided in series.

  In addition, the area | region where the lubrication process which reduces the frictional resistance between both the tubular members and the area | region where the frictional process which increases the frictional resistance between both the tubular members were given were provided continuously in series. Also good.

  And a highly flexible portion in which a region where the outer surface of the inner tubular member is lubricated and a region where the inner surface of the outer tubular member is lubricated overlap each other, and the inner tube A low-flexibility portion in which a region where the friction treatment is applied to the outer surface of the member and a region where the friction treatment is applied to the inner surface of the outer tubular member overlap, and a high-flexibility portion and a low flexibility In the boundary region with the flexible part, a region in which one of the outer surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member is lubricated and the other is subjected to friction treatment is arranged in an overlapping manner. A flexible part may be provided.

  In addition, the tubular members are overlapped at least in a triple shape to form a single tubular member, and the tubular member located between the tubular member located in the middle and the tubular member located inside the tubular member, and the tubular member located in the middle and the tubular member located outside the tubular member. A region where the lubrication treatment for reducing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members and a region where the friction treatment for increasing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members are performed are continuously connected in series between It may be provided.

  In that case, a lubrication treatment is performed between a surface where the tubular member located in the middle and the tubular member inside thereof are overlapped, and a surface where the tubular member located in the middle and the tubular member outside thereof are overlapped. The boundary between the region that has been subjected to the friction process and the region that has been subjected to the friction processing may be provided by shifting the position in the axial direction.

  In addition, the two tubular members that overlap each other are spiral tubes having different winding directions, and at least two spiral members in a region in which friction treatment that increases frictional resistance is performed on both surfaces of the spiral tubes. Perforations may be formed in the outer spiral tube of the tubes.

  In addition, the two tubular members that overlap each other are spiral tubes having different winding directions, and at least two spiral members in a region where a friction treatment is performed to reduce frictional resistance on both surfaces of the spiral tubes. Perforations may be formed in the inner spiral tube of the tubes.

  According to the present invention, among the two tubular members that overlap each other, the outer surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member are each subjected to a lubrication treatment that reduces the frictional resistance between the two tubular members. And a region subjected to friction treatment that increases the frictional resistance between the two tubular members is arranged in series, so that any region where a plurality of tubular members are superimposed is more flexible than an untreated state. In addition, the desired flexibility of the flexible tube can be easily obtained, and excellent characteristics can be obtained in terms of durability.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the state which the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on 1st Example of this invention bent. FIG. 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flexible tube of the endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the inner spiral tube and the outer spiral tube are disassembled and shown along with a characteristic diagram of flexibility change. FIG. 6 is a schematic side sectional view of a half of a flexible tube of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an outer spiral tube and a mesh tube are disassembled and shown together with a characteristic diagram of flexibility change. FIG. 10 is a schematic side half sectional view showing an exploded view of an inner spiral tube, an outer spiral tube, and a mesh tube of a flexible tube of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a characteristic diagram which shows the flexibility change of the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the modification of the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the 2nd modification of the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on the Example of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an endoscope. A flexible insertion portion inserted into a body can be bent by an external force received from the surroundings and a flexible tube portion 1 by remote operation. The bending portion 2 is connected to the distal end of the flexible tube portion 1, and the distal end portion body 3 is connected to the distal end of the bending portion 2 by arranging an observation window or the like.

  The proximal end of the flexible tube portion 1 is connected to the lower end of the operation portion 4, and the bending portion 2 is bent at an arbitrary angle in an arbitrary direction by rotating the bending operation knob 5 disposed on the operation portion 4. Can be made. Reference numeral 6 denotes a connecting flexible tube having a connector portion connected to a video processor (not shown) attached to the tip.

  FIG. 2 shows the flexible tube 10 that covers the flexible tube portion 1. Optical fiber bundles, signal cables, piping tubes, and the like, which are so-called built-in objects, are inserted and arranged in the flexible tube 10, but illustration thereof is omitted.

  The flexible tube 10 is formed into a single flexible tube by overlapping a plurality of tubular members having different diameters. In this embodiment, double spiral tubes 11 and 12 having different winding directions are arranged as tubular members in the inner layer portion. Each of the spiral tubes 11 and 12 is formed by winding a metal material such as a stainless steel strip having a spring property in a spiral shape with a certain diameter.

  Further, as a tubular member of the outer layer portion of the flexible tube 10, a mesh tube 13 formed by braiding a thin metal wire is covered on the outer peripheral surface of the double helical tubes 11, 12, and the outer surface thereof is flexible. The outer skin 14 made of the above synthetic resin material is covered without a gap by extrusion molding or the like. For the outer skin 14, hatching display on the cross section is omitted so that the mesh tube 13 is not easily seen.

  The synthetic resin material forming the outer skin 14 is in a state filled with the mesh of the mesh tube 13, and further, a minute amount is formed inside the inner peripheral surface of the mesh tube 13 from the mesh of the mesh of the mesh tube 13. The protrusion 14a protrudes irregularly.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the above-described flexible tube 10 is bent. The axial lines are relatively between the inner spiral tube 11 and the outer spiral tube 12 and between the outer spiral tube 12 and the mesh tube 13. Sliding in the direction. The mesh tube 13 and the outer skin 14 are changed to a state in which the inner peripheral side of the curve is compressed and the outer peripheral side is expanded.

  Lubrication that reduces the frictional resistance between the inner spiral tube 11 and the outer spiral tube 12 on the outer surface of the inner spiral tube 11 and the inner surface of the outer spiral tube 12 of the flexible tube 10 configured as described above, respectively. The treatment and the friction treatment for increasing the frictional resistance are performed in divided regions.

  As the lubrication treatment, for example, fluororesin coating, fluororesin lubrication plating, flowable molybdenum fine powder coating and other various means can be adopted, and as the friction treatment, for example, satin finish, rubber coating, chemical polishing and other various types Can be used.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an area in which the inner spiral tube 11 and the outer spiral tube 12 are disassembled and the lubrication treatments 21 and 31 are performed, and the region in which the friction treatments 22 and 32 are performed. Both the inner spiral tube 11 and the outer spiral tube 12 are provided in series with a region near the front end where the lubrication treatments 21 and 31 are performed and a region near the rear end where the friction treatments 22 and 32 are performed. Yes.

  However, the lubrication treatment 31 is applied to the boundary between the region (A) where the outer surface of the inner spiral tube 11 is lubricated 21 (A) and the region (B) where the friction treatment 22 is performed, and the inner surface of the outer spiral tube 12. The boundary between the region (C) where the treatment is performed and the region (D) where the friction process 32 is performed is provided with a position shifted in the axial direction.

  As a result, in the region where the region (A) where the outer surface of the inner spiral tube 11 is lubricated 21 and the region (C) where the inner surface of the outer spiral tube 12 is lubricated 31 overlap, The spiral tube 11 and the outer spiral tube 12 are relatively easy to slide, and the portion near the tip of the flexible tube 10 is a highly flexible portion 101 that is more flexible than the unprocessed state.

  Further, in the region where the region (B) where the outer surface of the inner spiral tube 11 is subjected to the friction treatment 22 and the region (D) where the inner surface of the outer spiral tube 12 is subjected to the friction treatment 32 overlap, The tube 11 and the outer spiral tube 12 are relatively difficult to slide, and the portion near the rear end of the flexible tube 10 is a low-flexibility portion 102 that is less flexible than the untreated state.

  Then, the region (or inner region) where the region (B) where the outer surface of the inner spiral tube 11 is subjected to the friction treatment 22 and the region (C) where the inner surface of the outer spiral tube 12 is subjected to the lubrication treatment 31 overlap. The region (A) where the outer surface of the helical tube 11 is lubricated 21 and the region (D) where the inner surface of the outer tube 12 is subjected to the friction treatment 32 (D) are highly flexible. The intermediate flexible portion 103 between the portion 101 and the low-flexibility portion 102 is used, and the flexibility of the flexible tube 10 is gradually changed at the boundary portion. can get. Further, since it is not necessary to connect the outer skin 14, it is excellent in terms of waterproofness and durability.

  FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the outer spiral tube 12 and the mesh tube 13 of the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12 and the inner surface of the mesh tube 13 are respectively lubricated to reduce the friction resistance between the outer spiral tube 12 and the mesh tube 13 and the friction treatment to increase the friction resistance. In both the outer spiral tube 12 and the mesh tube 13, a region near the front end where the lubrication treatments 41 and 51 are performed and a region near the rear end where the friction treatments 42 and 52 are performed are arranged in series. It is provided continuously.

  However, the lubrication treatment 51 is applied to the boundary between the region (E) where the lubrication treatment 41 is applied to the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12 and the region (F) where the friction treatment 42 is applied, and the inner surface of the mesh tube 13. The boundary between the region (G) and the region (H) on which the friction process 52 has been performed is provided with a position shifted in the axial direction.

  As a result, in the region where the region (E) where the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12 is lubricated 41 and the region (G) where the inner surface of the mesh tube 13 is lubricated 51 overlap, The tube 12 and the mesh tube 13 are relatively slidable relatively, and the portion near the tip of the flexible tube 10 is a highly flexible portion 201 having greater flexibility than the unprocessed state.

  In the region where the region (F) where the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12 is subjected to the friction treatment 42 and the region (H) where the inner surface of the mesh tube 13 is subjected to the friction processing 52 overlap, 12 and the net-like tube 13 are relatively difficult to slide, and the portion near the rear end of the flexible tube 10 is a low-flexibility portion 202 that is less flexible than the unprocessed state.

  And the area | region (or outer spiral) where the area | region (F) to which the friction process 42 was given to the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12, and the area | region (G) to which the lubrication process 51 was given to the inner surface of the mesh tube 13 overlapped. The region (E) where the outer surface of the tube 12 is lubricated 41 and the region (H) where the inner surface of the reticular tube 13 is subjected to the friction treatment 52 are overlapped). The intermediate flexible portion 203 between the low flexible portion 202 and the flexibility of the flexible tube 10 gradually changes at the boundary, so that it is easy to use and excellent insertability is obtained. .

  FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the inner spiral tube 11, the outer spiral tube 12, and the mesh tube 13 of the third embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the first embodiment and the second embodiment are shown in FIG. It is a combination of configurations. Accordingly, the same reference numerals as those in the first and second embodiments are given to the respective portions, and detailed description of the configuration will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, the boundary between the region (A) where the outer surface of the inner spiral tube 11 is lubricated 21 (A) and the region (B) where the friction processing 22 is performed, and the inner surface of the outer spiral tube 12 are lubricated. The boundary between the region (C) on which the treatment 31 has been performed and the region (D) on which the friction treatment 32 has been performed is provided by shifting the position in the axial direction, and the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12 is lubricated 41. Is applied to the boundary between the region (E) subjected to the friction and the region (F) subjected to the friction treatment 42 and the region (G) where the inner surface of the mesh tube 13 is subjected to the lubrication treatment 51 and the friction treatment 52. The boundary between the outer spiral tube 12 and the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12 is not only provided to be shifted in the axial direction but also to the outer surface of the outer spiral tube 12. As shown in FIG. 6, the positional relationship with the above “boundary” formed on the side is also axial. It is sequentially shifted to.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the flexibility of the middle flexible portion 303 formed between the high flexible portion 301 and the low flexible portion 302 is the first and It changes more finely than the second embodiment, and the flexibility of the flexible tube 10 changes smoothly, so that it is easier to use and more excellent insertability can be obtained.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, as FIG. 8 shows, friction resistance is applied to both the outer peripheral surface of the inner spiral tube 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer spiral tube 12 which are overlaid. If the outer spiral tube 12 is perforated 17 in the region where the friction treatment that increases the friction is performed (low flexibility portion), the resin material forming the outer skin 14 is engaged with the perforated 17 so that the flexibility is increased. The flexibility of the tube 10 can be further reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, an area (high flexibility) in which both the outer peripheral surface of the inner spiral tube 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer spiral tube 12 that have been superposed are subjected to a lubrication treatment that reduces frictional resistance. In this case, if the inner spiral tube 11 is perforated 18, lubricating powder applied to a built-in object (not shown) enters the perforation 18, thereby increasing the flexibility of the flexible tube 10. Can do.

  The present invention can be applied not only to the flexible tube portion 1 of the insertion portion, but also to the connection flexible tube 6 and various flexible tubes of other endoscopes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible tube part 10 Flexible tube 11 Inner spiral tube (tubular member)
12 Outer spiral tube (tubular member)
13 Reticulated tube (tubular member)
14 Outer skin 21, 31, 41, 51 Lubrication treatment 22, 32, 42, 52 Friction treatment 101, 201, 301 High flexibility portion 102, 202, 302 Low flexibility portion 103, 203, 303 Medium flexibility portion

Claims (7)

In a flexible tube of an endoscope, a plurality of tubular members having different diameters are overlapped to be formed into one flexible tube,
Of the two overlapping tubular members, the outer surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member are each subjected to a lubrication treatment for reducing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members, and both the tubular members A flexible tube for an endoscope, wherein a region subjected to a friction treatment for increasing a frictional resistance between members is provided in series.   A region subjected to the lubrication process for reducing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members and a region subjected to the frictional process for increasing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members are provided continuously in series. The flexible tube of the endoscope according to claim 1.   A highly flexible portion in which a region where the outer surface of the inner tubular member is lubricated and a region where the inner surface of the outer tubular member is lubricated overlap each other; and A low-flexibility portion in which the region where the friction treatment is performed on the outer surface of the tubular member and the region where the friction treatment is performed on the inner surface of the outer tubular member are overlapped, and the high flexibility In a boundary region between the sexual portion and the low flexibility portion, a region where one of the outer surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member is lubricated and the other is subjected to friction treatment The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 2, further comprising a middle flexible portion disposed so as to overlap each other.   The plurality of tubular members are superposed at least in a triple shape to form a single tube, between the tubular member positioned in the middle and the inner tubular member thereof, and between the tubular member positioned in the middle and the outer tubular member. A region where a lubrication process for reducing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members is provided between each member and a region where a frictional process for increasing the frictional resistance between the two tubular members is provided in series with each other. The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 1, 2 or 3 provided continuously.   A lubrication treatment is performed between the surface where the tubular member located in the middle and the tubular member inside thereof are overlapped, and the surface where the tubular member located in the middle and the tubular member outside thereof are overlapped. The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein a boundary between the region and the region subjected to the friction treatment is provided with a position shifted in the axial direction.   The two tubular members that overlap each other are spiral tubes having different winding directions, and at least in the region where the friction treatment that increases the frictional resistance is performed on both surfaces of the two spiral tubes that are overlapped, The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a perforation is formed in an outer spiral tube of the spiral tubes.   The two tubular members that overlap each other are spiral tubes having different winding directions, and at least in the region where the lubrication treatment is performed to reduce frictional resistance on both surfaces where the spiral tubes are overlapped, The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a perforation is formed in an inner spiral tube of the spiral tubes.

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