JP2013162979A - Composite tube member, medical tube, and channel tube for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite tube member, a medical tube, and a channel tube for an endoscope in which the resistance of a surface can be decreased without ruining flexibility even when having a metal coil on an outer periphery.SOLUTION: A composite tube member includes a main tube 9 made of a synthetic resin, a coil 10 arranged as being wound around the outer periphery of the main tube 9, and a mesh tube 11 made of mesh formed into a tube covering the outer periphery of the coil 10 and fixed so that a portion thereof is movable with respect to the outer periphery of the coil 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite tube member, a medical tube, and an endoscope channel tube.

Conventionally, a medical tube is reinforced by spirally winding a metal linear body around a flexible tube so that a through-hole provided therein is not closed even when an external force is applied due to a bending operation or the like. It is known that
For example, although it is not a tube but a rod-like body, Patent Document 1 discloses that a metal wire contacts more than half of the outer periphery of a continuous strip made of a plastic material and has a circular shape and extends in a longitudinal direction or a spiral shape. An improved catheter reinforced core is described.
In Patent Document 2, a rigid body made of a metal wire is arranged along the axial direction on the outer peripheral portion of the inner layer on the tube constituting the lumen, and is buried in the inner layer, and its surface approximates the material of the inner layer. There is described a catheter in which an intermediate layer and an outer layer are formed by coating with a synthetic resin having the above-mentioned properties and good adhesion to the inner layer.

JP 54-133780 A JP-A-3-141958

However, such conventional medical tubes have the following problems.
In order to increase the reinforcing effect of the tube using the technique described in Patent Document 1, the wire diameter of the metal linear body may be increased. However, since the bending rigidity increases as the rigidity of the linear body increases, it is necessary to wind the linear body in a spiral shape in order to ensure the possibility of the tube.
In such a configuration, unevenness due to the linear body occurs on the outer peripheral surface of the tube along the axial direction of the tube, and the unevenness increases as the strand diameter of the linear body increases.
For this reason, when it contacts with another member and moves another member relatively, an unevenness | corrugation is hooked on another member, there exists a problem that resistance arises and a movement may be inhibited.
If the linear body wound around the tube is covered with a synthetic resin as in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the unevenness on the surface is eliminated, so that the resistance during relative movement is eliminated. However, there is a problem that the outer diameter of the tube including the coating layer is increased and the flexibility of the tube is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a composite tube member capable of reducing surface resistance without impairing flexibility even when a metal coil is provided on the outer periphery. An object of the present invention is to provide a medical tube and an endoscope channel tube.

  In order to solve the above problems, a composite tube member of the present invention includes a synthetic resin main body tube, a metal coil wound around the outer peripheral portion of the main body tube, and a tubular covering the outer peripheral portion of the metal coil. And a covering member fixed in a state in which a part of the metal coil is movable with respect to the outer peripheral portion of the metal coil.

  In the composite tube member of the present invention, it is preferable that the mesh body is a knitted fabric knitted with a filamentous body or a woven fabric woven with a filamentous body.

  In the composite tube member having the filamentous body of the present invention, the filamentous body is preferably composed of multifilaments.

  In the composite tube member having the filamentous body of the present invention, the filamentous body is preferably made of a synthetic fiber.

  In the composite tube member having the filamentous body of the present invention, the filamentous body is preferably knitted or woven at a pitch smaller than the pitch of the metal coil.

  In the composite tube member of the present invention, it is preferable that the net-like body formed in the tubular shape is formed as a tube member.

  In the composite tube member of the present invention, it is preferable that the net-like body formed in the tubular shape is formed by spirally winding a net-like tape around the outer peripheral portion of the main body tube.

  In the composite tube member of the present invention, it is preferable that the mesh body is formed of a resin material including one or more of a polyester resin, a polyamide resin, a polyurethane resin, and a fluororesin.

  The medical tube of the present invention is configured using the composite tube member of the present invention.

  The channel tube for an endoscope of the present invention is configured using the composite tube member of the present invention.

  According to the composite tube member, the medical tube, and the endoscope channel tube of the present invention, since the covering member is made of a mesh body and is fixed in a state where a part thereof is movable with respect to the outer peripheral portion of the metal coil. Even if the metal coil is provided on the outer periphery, the surface resistance can be reduced without impairing flexibility.

It is a typical front view showing composition of an endoscope provided with a medical tube using a composite tube member of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is the typical front view which shows the structure of the composite tube member of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its AA sectional drawing. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the mesh body which comprises the composite tube member of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a typical enlarged view of the B section in FIG. It is typical operation explanatory drawing explaining an effect | action of the composite tube member of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a typical front view which shows the structure of the composite tube member of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the evaluation method of flexibility.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In all the drawings, even if the embodiments are different, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and common description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
First, the composite tube member, the medical tube, and the endoscope channel tube according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a configuration of an endoscope including a medical tube using the composite tube member according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2: is the typical front view which shows the structure of the composite tube member of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its AA sectional drawing. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are schematic views showing examples of a mesh body constituting the composite tube member of the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the channel tube 7 (composite tube member, medical tube, endoscope channel tube) of the present embodiment is inserted inside the endoscope 1 so that the treatment instrument 8 can be advanced and retracted. It is an installed composite tube member.
The endoscope 1 is a device that is inserted into a patient's body cavity and performs observation, treatment, and the like in the body cavity. From the distal end side toward the patient's body cavity, the distal end portion 2, The bending portion 3, the insertion portion 4, the treatment instrument insertion portion 5, and the operation portion 6 are connected in this order.

Although not shown in detail, the distal end portion 2 is composed of a hard portion in which an objective lens for observing the inside of the body cavity, an imaging means, a light projecting portion and the like are housed, and the treatment instrument 8 can be advanced and retracted on the distal end surface A tip opening 2a is provided for insertion.
The bending portion 3 is connected to the proximal end portion of the distal end portion 2 and includes therein a tubular assembly including a plurality of bending pieces and an operation wire for operating the bending amount of the bending piece assembly.
The insertion portion 4 is a long shaft-like member having a tubular flexible tube connected to the base end portion of the bending portion 3 at the outermost portion, and inside the imaging means and the light projecting portion of the distal end portion 2. A through-hole through which electric wiring for supplying electric power, an operation wire of the bending portion 3 and the like are inserted is provided.
The treatment instrument insertion portion 5 is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 4 and inserts the treatment instrument 8 outside the body cavity, and includes an insertion opening 5a.
The operation unit 6 is connected to the proximal end side of the treatment instrument insertion unit 5 and is operated by the operator to operate the endoscope 1. For example, the operation of the bending amount of the bending portion 3 and the operation of the imaging means and the light projecting portion at the distal end portion 2 can be performed.

The channel tube 7 connects the distal end opening 2a and the insertion opening 5a, and is inserted into the bending portion 3, the insertion portion 4, and the treatment instrument insertion portion 5, whereby the distal end portion 2 and the treatment instrument insertion portion 5 are inserted. And is a member that forms a duct in the endoscope 1.
Inside the endoscope 1, there are various axes such as an electrical wiring that supplies power to the imaging means of the distal end portion 2, a light guide that guides illumination light to the light projecting portion, and an operation wire that drives the bending portion 3. And linear members are arranged in the axial direction, and members that support these members are arranged on the inner peripheral portion. The bending portion 3 and the insertion portion 4 of the endoscope 1 are bent during use or receive various external forces when sliding inside the body cavity.
For this reason, the channel tube 7 is a conduit through which only the treatment instrument 8 is inserted in order to prevent various members in the endoscope 1 and the treatment instrument 8 from interfering with each other and hindering a bending operation or the like. Is forming.
In addition, the channel tube 7 needs to have strength to maintain a conduit through which the treatment instrument 8 can advance and retract even when the bending portion 3 and the insertion portion 4 are bent or receive external force.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the schematic configuration of the channel tube 7 is a composite of a body tube 9, a coil 10 (metal coil), and a mesh tube 11 (covering member, mesh). At both ends, a distal end opening 7b disposed on the distal end opening 2a side and a proximal end opening 7c disposed on the insertion opening 5a side are formed at both ends.
A through hole 7a having a uniform circular cross section is formed between the distal end opening 7b and the proximal end opening 7c.
The inner diameter of the through hole 7 a is larger than the outer diameter of the treatment instrument 8.

The main body tube 9 is a tubular member made of a synthetic resin that has good flexibility and good sliding characteristics with the treatment instrument 8.
Examples of synthetic resins include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene copolymer (ETFE), and tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoro. Fluorine resins such as propylene copolymer (FEP) and tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene / vinylidene fluoride copolymer (THV), polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester and the like can be employed. Resins obtained by synthesizing natural components can also be used.
However, the main body tube 9 is not limited to a single layer configuration, and may include a plurality of resin layers, reinforcing layers, and the like. In the case of a multi-layer configuration, only the innermost layer in contact with the treatment instrument 8 needs to have good sliding characteristics.

The coil 10 is a metal linear member disposed in a spiral manner around the outer periphery of the main body tube 9. The metal type, wire diameter, and winding pitch of the coil 10 may be appropriately set from the strength and flexibility required for the channel tube 7.
In the present embodiment, the winding pitch is set to a substantially constant (including a constant case) pitch over the entire length.
As the metal type, for example, stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, iron and the like are suitable.
The wire diameter and winding pitch of the coil 10 depend on the material and size of the body tube 9, but in the medical endoscope 1, in the case of stainless steel, for example, the wire diameter is 0.05 mm. ˜0.3 mm is preferable, and the winding pitch is preferably 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm.

The mesh tube 11 is a covering member that is made of a mesh-like body formed in a tubular shape that covers the outer periphery of the coil 10, and is fixed in a state where a part of the mesh tube 11 can move with respect to the outer periphery of the coil 10.
The fixing position of the mesh tube 11 is not particularly limited in both the axial direction and the circumferential direction. However, in order for the mesh tube 11 to smoothly move relative to the coil 10, it is preferable that the number of fixing points is as small as possible. For example, when the fixed part is fixed to the entire outer periphery of the coil 10, relative movement with the coil 10 becomes difficult, so it is necessary to fix at least two or more spaced apart parts.
In the present embodiment, as an example, fixing portions 12 are provided and fixed at two locations near the distal end opening 7b and the proximal end opening 7c.
As the fixing portion 12, for example, adhesion or fusion can be employed. In this embodiment, the fixing | fixed part 12 is formed by adhere | attaching with an adhesive agent. If the adhesive strength is sufficient, the fixing portion 12 may adopt dot bonding at a plurality of locations separated in the circumferential direction.

As a kind of mesh-like body, for example, as schematically shown in FIG. 3A, an example of a mesh-like body 20 composed of blades that are woven by weaving yarns 13a and 13b (filamentous bodies) can be given. .
In the case of the mesh body 20, when an external force is applied, the mesh 15 formed by being surrounded by the weaving yarns 13a and 13b is deformed into a rhombus shape, so that the expansion and contraction in the in-plane direction (the in-plane direction of FIG. 3A) (See the arrows in the figure).
Further, in the case of the mesh body 20, the weaving yarn intersections 14 where the weaving yarns 13a and 13b intersect are only in contact with each other and overlap each other, so that the relative movement of each other is easy. The magnitude | size of can change and it can also deform | transform by this.

As another example of the net-like body, as schematically shown in FIG. 3 (b), a net-like shape in which the linear portions 16a and 16b intersect with the mesh crossing portion 16c by the knitting yarn 16d (yarn-like body). An example of the net-like body 21 made of knit which is a knitted fabric can be given. For example, a knit lace or a torsion lace can be used.
In the case of the net-like body 21, when an external force is applied, the mesh 17 formed by being surrounded by the linear portions 16a and 16b is deformed into a rhombus shape, so that an in-plane direction (direction in the plane of FIG. 3B). Can be expanded and contracted (see arrow in the figure).
In the case of the mesh-like body 21, since the mesh intersection 16c is entangled with the knitting yarn 16d, the linear portions 16a and 16b do not move through the mesh intersection 16c.
However, when the linear portions 16a and 16b are constituted by a plurality of meshes, the linear portions 16a and 16b can be expanded and contracted in the longitudinal direction by the expansion and contraction of the meshes.

Each filamentous body in the net-like bodies 21 and 21 may be a monofilament made of single-wire fibers or a multifilament in which a plurality of single-wire fibers are assembled.
In the case of a multifilament, since the stretchability of the filamentous body itself is increased, flexibility and ease of deformation can be improved in a woven or knitted state, which is preferable.

Moreover, as a material of each filamentous body in the net-like bodies 21 and 21, although synthetic fiber is preferable, vegetable fiber, inorganic fiber, and metal fiber can also be employ | adopted. These fibers are not limited to a single type, and may be woven or knitted by mixing a plurality of types, or a blended yarn-like body may be used.
Examples of synthetic fibers include polyester fiber, polyamide fiber, polyurethane fiber, fluorine fiber, acetate fiber, acrylic fiber, vinylon fiber, polyethylene fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyvinylidene fluoride fiber, aramid fiber, polyarylate fiber, rayon, cupra, etc. Can be mentioned. Of these, particularly preferred synthetic fibers are polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, polyurethane fibers, and fluorine fibers.
Examples of plant fibers include silk, cotton and hemp.
Examples of inorganic fibers include glass fibers and carbon fibers.
Examples of metal fibers include fibers such as gold, silver, copper, iron, stainless steel, and tungsten.

As another example of the net-like body, as schematically shown in FIG. 3C, a plurality of through holes 19 are provided in a flexible sheet-like member at an appropriate pitch, and the linear portions 18 are arranged in a net shape. An example of the reticulated body 22 can be given.
In the case of such a net-like body 22, when an external force is applied, the through-hole 19 is deformed in a rhombus shape so that the in-plane direction (direction in FIG. 3C) can be expanded and contracted (see the arrow in the drawing). It is.
As the material of the net-like body 22, a synthetic resin material similar to the fiber material suitable for the filamentous body can be employed.

Further, since the mesh tube 11 has elasticity, the inner diameter of the tube may be approximately the same diameter (including the same diameter) as the outer diameter of the coil 10 as shown in FIG. In order to perform the relative movement smoothly, it is preferable that the diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the coil 10 in a natural state where no external force is applied.
The pitch of the mesh of the mesh body tube 11, the pitch P _N in the longitudinal direction of the mesh body tube 11 preferably is smaller than the winding pitch P _C of the coil 10.
4 corresponds to the weaving yarns 13a and 13b in the case of the net-like body 20, corresponds to the linear portions 16a and 16b in the case of the net-like body 21, and linear in the case of the net-like body 22. This corresponds to part 18.

Next, the operation of the channel tube 7 having such a configuration will be described.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic operation explanatory views for explaining the operation of the composite tube member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the reticular tube 11 of the present embodiment, the coil 10 is wound around the main body tube 9, and thus is firmly adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the main body tube 9.
For this reason, the main body tube 9 and the coil 10 are integrated, and when receiving an external force, the main body tube 9 and the coil 10 are deformed integrally. For this reason, in the radial direction, the coil 10 is reinforced by the radial rigidity. Thereby, the resistance force with respect to the external force which acts on a radial direction and crushes the main body tube 9 improves.
On the other hand, since the rigidity of the coil 10 is low with respect to the external force that bends the main body tube 9, it is easily bent together with the main body tube 9. For this reason, the fall of the flexibility of the main body tube 9 is small.

The reticulated tube 11 is fixed to the main body tube 9 and the coil 10 thus integrated at the fixing portions 12 at both ends, but in all regions between the respective fixing portions 12, FIG. As shown, it is in contact with the outer periphery of the coil 10 or slightly spaced.
For this reason, the mesh tube 11 is in a state of being covered on a rod-shaped member separated in the axial direction of the mesh tube 11 (left and right direction in FIG. 4). Since the mesh tube 11 is a mesh body and has a mesh, it spreads in a planar shape and is linearly supported by the coil 10.
For this reason, for example, if the body tube 9 is curved as shown by an arrow C in FIG. 4 and the coil 10 moves so that the adjacent pitch of the coil 10 is reduced, the coil 10 moves along the inner surface of the mesh tube 11. Can slide and move with little resistance.
At this time, since the mesh tube 11 is not caught with the coil 10, it hardly receives external force from the coil 10. Thereby, the mesh tube 11 can maintain a planar state without being bitten between the coils 10.

Next, the relationship with other members in the endoscope 1 will be described.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the other member 23 in the endoscope 1 is in contact with the mesh tube 11 and relatively moved in the axial direction to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line as indicated by an arrow D. And
In this case, the mesh tube 11 may move in the same direction as the other members 23 due to frictional force. However, since the mesh tube 11 and the coil 10 can slide, the mesh tube 11 can move. Only the tube 11 slips, and the action of the other member 23 is hardly transmitted to the coil 10. For this reason, even when the coil 10 and the main body tube 9 move relative to each other in the axial direction, the action from the coil 10 is hardly transmitted to the other members 23.
For this reason, even if the other member 23 is in contact with the mesh tube 11, the movement of the coil 10 and the main body tube 9 is performed smoothly.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, it is assumed that the other member 24 in the endoscope 1 is pressed against the coil 10 in the radial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 5B).
In this case, if the mesh tube 11 does not exist, the other member 24 is depressed between the coils 10 as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure, and obstructs the movement of the coils 10 in the axial direction.
However, in the present embodiment, the net-like tube 11 suppresses the depression of the other member 24. Furthermore, since the mesh tube 11 can be slid between the other member 24 and the coil 10, the relative movement in the axial direction can be achieved as compared with the case where the other member 24 and the coil 10 are in direct contact. Becomes easy.

The action of the mesh tube 11 as described above is more effective as the friction with respect to the coil 10 is smaller. For this reason, it is preferable that the wire diameter of the mesh wire portion 11 a is smaller than the wire diameter of the coil 10.
Further, in order to mesh body tube 11 acts as a planar member with respect to the coil 10, the pitch P _N of the hatched portion 11a in the meshwork tube 11 is preferably smaller than the adjacent pitch P _C of the coil 10.

  Moreover, although the above demonstrated in the example in the case of the relative movement of an axial direction, since the mesh body tube 11 is movable also in the circumferential direction except the fixing | fixed part 12, the slip property of the circumferential direction is also the same. It becomes good.

  As described above, according to the channel tube 7 of the present embodiment, the mesh tube 11 is fixed in a state in which a part of the mesh tube 11 is movable with respect to the outer peripheral portion of the coil 10. Even if it has, it can reduce surface resistance, without impairing flexibility.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the composite tube member and medical tube of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing the configuration of the composite tube member according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the channel tube 30 (composite tube member, medical tube, endoscope channel tube) of the present embodiment is replaced with the endoscope 1 instead of the channel tube 7 of the first embodiment. It is the composite tube member which can be used for.
The channel tube 30 includes a mesh tape 31 instead of the mesh tube 11 of the channel tube 7 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given centering on differences from the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the mesh tape 31 is formed of a belt-like mesh having a width W, is provided with an overlapping portion 31 a on the coil 10, and is wound spirally at a winding pitch _PT .
For the sake of clarity, FIG. 6 shows the state of the mesh tape 31 on the base end opening 7c side in the middle of winding. The coil 10 is fixed by two fixing parts 12 of the part.
With such a configuration, the mesh tape 31 forms a tubular body on the coil 10.
The overlapping portion 31a may be simply wound in an overlapping manner, but may be fixed by adhering the mesh tapes 31 to each other at an appropriate position of the overlapping portion 31a.
As the mesh used for the mesh tape 31, the same configuration as that of the meshes 20, 21, and 22 described in the first embodiment can be appropriately selected and used.

According to the channel tube 30 having such a configuration, the mesh tape 31 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the coil 10 to form a tubular mesh, and the coil is formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 10, since a part of the net-like tape 31 formed in a tubular shape is fixed in a movable state, even if the coil 10 is provided on the outer peripheral portion, the surface of the tape is not impaired. Resistance can be reduced.
According to the mesh tape 31 of the present embodiment, it can be used in common even when the outer diameter of the coil 10 is different.

  In the description of each of the above embodiments, the endoscope 1 is a medical endoscope, and the channel tubes 7 and 33 are endoscope channel tubes and medical tubes. As described in the example, the channel tubes 7 and 30 may be used for an industrial endoscope.

  In the description of each of the above embodiments, the medical tube is described as an example of an endoscope channel tube. However, the present invention is not limited to an endoscope channel tube. It may be used for other medical tubes that need to reduce surface resistance without damage. For example, it can be used as an endoscopic air supply or water supply tube, a treatment instrument tube, or the like.

  Moreover, in the description of each of the above embodiments, an example in which the covering member covers the entire coil 10 has been described. However, a place where the amount of bending is large or interference with other members is likely to occur. May be partially provided.

  In the above description of each embodiment, an example in which the covering member is fixed only at both ends has been described. However, the covering member is fixed at a portion where the amount of bending is small or where interference with other members is unlikely to occur. You may do it.

  In addition, all the constituent elements described in the above embodiments and modifications can be implemented by being appropriately combined or deleted within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

  Next, examples of the channel tubes 7 and 30 of the first and second embodiments will be described together with comparative examples.

[Examples 1 to 9]
The manufacturing conditions and evaluation results of Examples 1 to 9 are shown in Table 1 below.

Examples 1 to 9 are examples of the channel tube 7, and the conditions of the main body tube 9 and the coil 10 are the same.
As the main body tube 9, a PTFE tube having an inner diameter of 3.2 mm, an outer diameter of 3.8 mm, and a total length of 1500 mm was employed.
As the coil 10, a stainless steel wire having a strand diameter of 0.2 mm was spirally wound at a winding pitch of 0.2 mm.

  For each of the Examples, the network tube 11 was obtained by changing the type of network, the pitch of the network, the fiber type of the thread, the fiber diameter, and the fiber material. Here, in the case of a multifilament, the fiber diameter is not a single fiber diameter but a fiber diameter as a multifilament.

In Examples 1 to 3, the mesh body employs a blade of the type of mesh body 20, and the thread body has a fiber type of multifilament (indicated as “multi” in Table 1) and a fiber material of 6 nylon (friction coefficient μk). = 0.2) is common. Here, the friction coefficient μk represents a dynamic friction coefficient with respect to the stainless steel plate.
In Examples 1 to 3, the pitch of the mesh is 0.1 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.5 mm, and the fiber diameter of the filament is 0.08 mm, 0.08 mm, and 0.12 mm, respectively.
In Example 4, the fiber material is replaced with PTFE fiber (friction coefficient μk = 0.04) in Example 1.
The fifth embodiment is obtained by replacing the type of the net-like body with the knit knitting of the net-like body 21 in the second embodiment.
Example 6 is the same as Example 1 except that the mesh pitch was changed to 0.2 mm, and the fiber type of the filamentous body was changed to a monofilament having a fiber diameter of 0.05 mm (indicated as “mono” in Table 1). is there.
In Example 7, the fiber diameter of the filamentous body is changed to 0.3 mm in Example 1.
In Example 8, the pitch of the mesh body in Example 1 is changed to 0.2 mm.
In Example 9, the fiber material is replaced with polyester fiber (friction coefficient μk = 0.2) in Example 1.

[Comparative Examples 1 and 2]
In Comparative Example 1, only the main body tube 9 and the coil 10 are the same as those in Example 1, and the reticulated body tube 11 is not provided.
The comparative example 2 coat | covers the whole outer peripheral part of the comparative example 1 with the polyester elastomer (D hardness 30) of thickness 0.3mm.

[Evaluation]
Evaluation for measuring the friction coefficient μk as a channel tube and flexibility evaluation were performed.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a flexibility evaluation method.
As shown in FIG. 7, the flexibility evaluation is performed by placing the channel tube sample S on the fulcrum 40 arranged at an interval of 100 mm and pressing it with the pressing part 41 at the intermediate part of the fulcrum 40 to perform three-point bending. The pressing force (N) required for bending the channel tube sample S by 25 mm was measured and used as an evaluation value for flexibility.
As the channel tube 7, the smaller the friction coefficient μk, the better. The smaller the pressing force, the better the flexibility.

As shown in Table 1, in Examples 1 to 9, the friction coefficient μk was 0.03 to 0.26, and a good value close to the friction coefficient μk of the filament was obtained. The body friction coefficient μk itself was Example 4 that was remarkably small, and then Example 5 of knit knitting was good.
Compared to 0.41 in Comparative Example 1, both values are significantly smaller.
Compared to 0.91 in Comparative Example 2, the results other than Example 8 were good. Regarding Example 8, the difference from Comparative Example 2 is considered to be the measurement error range, and the result is equivalent to Comparative Example 2.

In the evaluation of flexibility, in Examples 1 to 9, the flexibility evaluation value was 0.90 N to 0.96 N, which was a good value. Except for Example 6 using a monofilament, it was 0.90 N to 0.92 N, which was a better result.
Comparative Example 1 is a good value of 0.90 N, but is a natural result because there is no covering member. Considering the measurement error, it can be said that the results of the multifilament excluding Example 6 are extremely close to those of Comparative Example 1, and thus it is understood that the channel tube 7 hardly deteriorates the flexibility.
Since the comparative example 2 is 1.32N, it has shown that the flexibility has deteriorated markedly compared with the case of any of Examples 1-9.

[Examples 11 to 16]
The production conditions and evaluation results of Examples 11 to 16 are shown in Table 2 below.

Examples 11 to 16 are examples of the channel tube 30, and the conditions of the main body tube 9 and the coil 10 are the same as those of the above Examples 1 to 9.
Each of the mesh tapes 30 is a mesh body made of plain weave blades with a cloth width of 12 mm, and the winding pitch _PT was 8 mm. Moreover, all the fiber types of the filamentous body are multifilaments.

The mesh tape 30 changed the pitch of the mesh, the fiber diameter of the filament, and the fiber material for each example.
In Examples 11 and 12, the fiber material of the filamentous body is 6 nylon having a fiber diameter of 0.07 mm, and the pitch of the mesh body is 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
In Example 13, the fiber material is replaced with PTFE fiber in Example 12.
In Example 14, the fiber diameter was changed to 0.4 mm in Example 11.
In Example 15, the fiber diameter was changed to 0.05 mm in Example 12.
In Example 16, the pitch of the mesh body was changed to 0.2 mm in Example 14, and the fiber material was changed to polyester fiber.

As shown in Table 2, in Examples 11 to 16, the friction coefficient μk was 0.03 to 0.22, and a good value close to the friction coefficient μk of the filamentous body was obtained. Example 13 was a body friction coefficient μk itself being remarkably small.
In comparison with Comparative Example 1 (see Table 1), both values are significantly smaller.
Compared to Comparative Example 2 (see Table 1), both are good results.

  In the evaluation of flexibility, in Examples 11 to 16, the flexibility evaluation value was 0.91N to 0.97N, which was a good value, which was the same result as in Examples 1 to 9.

  From the above, the conventional techniques such as Comparative Examples 1 and 2 cannot improve both the friction coefficient μk and the flexibility, whereas according to Examples 1 to 16, the channel tubes 7 and 30 are used. In any of the cases, it can be seen that the friction coefficient μk can be reduced and the flexibility is not impaired.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 5 Treatment tool insertion part 7, 30 Channel tube (Composite tube member, medical tube, endoscope channel tube)
7a Through-hole 7b End opening 7c Base end opening 9 Body tube 10 Coil (metal coil)
11 Reticulated tube (coating member, reticulated body)
11a Mesh part 12 Fixing part 13a, 13b Weaving thread (filamentous body)
15, 17 Mesh 16a Linear part 16d Knitting yarn (filamentous body)
18 Linear part 19 Through-hole 20, 21, 22 Reticulated body 31 Reticulated body tape (covering member, reticulated body)

Claims (10)

A body tube made of synthetic resin,
A metal coil wound around the outer periphery of the body tube;
A covering member formed of a net-like body formed in a tubular shape covering the outer periphery of the metal coil, and fixed in a state where a part of the metal coil is movable with respect to the outer periphery of the metal coil;
A composite tube member comprising: 2. The composite tube member according to claim 1, wherein the mesh body is made of a knitted fabric woven with a filamentous body or a woven fabric woven with a filamentous body. The composite tube member according to claim 2, wherein the filament is made of a multifilament. The composite tube member according to claim 2, wherein the filament is made of synthetic fiber. The composite tube member according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the filament is knitted or woven at a pitch smaller than the pitch of the metal coil. The composite tube member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tubular net-like body is formed as a tube member. The composite tube member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the net-like body formed in a tubular shape is formed by spirally winding a net-like tape around an outer peripheral portion of the main body tube. . 5. The composite tube according to claim 1, wherein the network is formed of a resin material including one or more of a polyester resin, a polyamide resin, a polyurethane resin, and a fluororesin. Element.   The medical tube using the composite tube member of any one of Claims 1-4.   The channel tube for endoscopes using the composite tube member of any one of Claims 1-4.

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