JP6180679B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope having a bending portion in an insertion portion.

  In recent years, medical devices that are inserted into a subject, such as endoscopes, have been widely used in the medical field and the industrial field.

  In particular, an endoscope used in the medical field observes an organ in a body cavity by inserting a long and thin insertion portion into a body cavity as a subject, and a treatment tool provided in the endoscope as necessary. Various treatments can be performed using the treatment tool inserted into the insertion channel.

  For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-282893, an endoscope having a curved portion is known so that the viewing field direction can be changed to an arbitrary direction.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-282893 discloses a technique in which a fixed position in an operation portion of a guide coil for inserting an operation wire for bending the bending portion can be adjusted.

  By the way, the conventional endoscope has a characteristic of bending from the proximal end portion of the bending portion during the bending operation. In such a conventional endoscope, there is a problem in that it is difficult to make a small turn because the proximal end portion of the bending portion bends first, especially during insertion into a body cavity in a complicated living body and during treatment. For this reason, there are problems that insertion into an intricate body cavity is deteriorated and observation of a test site and treatment are difficult.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can easily switch the bending length of the bending portion to improve the insertability into the complicated body cavity and observe the test site. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that facilitates treatment and the like.

An endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first bending portion and a second bending portion in order from the distal end, a bending portion that is bent by pulling and loosening a bending operation wire, and the second bending portion. A distal end is fixed to a distal end portion of the flexible tube portion provided continuously to the proximal end, an operation portion provided continuously to the proximal end of the flexible tube portion, and the second bending portion, and the bending operation is performed inside. A first guide coil having a wire inserted therein, a distal end fixed to the distal end portion of the flexible tube portion, a proximal end fixed in the operation portion, and a first guide coil inserted therein. Two guide coils, a movable body provided so as to be movable back and forth within the operation portion, and connected to a proximal end of the first guide coil, and provided in the operation portion, the movable body being moved forward and backward, The rigidity of the first guide coil can be varied by compressing and extending the first guide coil. Te, comprising a curved length switch mechanism having a switching lever for switching to the state in which the whole of the second of said curved portion in a state that bend the bending portion is only the first bending portion so as not to bend bends .

  According to the endoscope of the present invention, the bending length of the bending portion can be easily switched to improve the insertion property into the complicated body cavity, and the observation site, the treatment, etc. can be easily performed. Can do.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the endoscope of 1 aspect of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure in an insertion part similarly Same as above, a plan view showing the configuration inside the operation unit The top view of the state which showed the structure in the operation part and the switching lever was operated Sectional drawing which shows the state where the whole bending part curved Sectional drawing which shows the curved part in which only the 1st curved part curved similarly Sectional drawing which shows the state which concerns on the 1st modification and the curved part meandered the S-shape. Sectional drawing which shows the structure in the insertion part of a 1st modification same as the above Sectional drawing which shows the state in which only the 1st bending part of the 1st modification was curved similarly The top view which shows the structure in the operation part of a 2nd modification same as the above

  Hereinafter, the endoscope of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the drawings based on each embodiment are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the thickness ratio of each part, and the like are different from the actual ones. It should be noted that the drawings may include portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios between the drawings.

  FIGS. 1 to 10 relate to an endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the endoscope, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in an insertion portion, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the switching lever is operated, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the entire bending portion is bent, and FIG. 6 is a first bending portion. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a curved portion in which only the curved portion is shown, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the curved portion is meandering in an S shape, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which only the first bending portion of the first modified example is curved, and FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the configuration inside the operation unit of the second modified example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope) 1 according to the present embodiment exemplifies a bronchial endoscope. The endoscope 1 is not limited to a bronchoscope, but is introduced from the oral cavity and is inserted into the stomach, duodenum, etc., so-called upper endoscope, so-called lower endoscope, which is introduced from the anus and inserted into the large intestine. It may be a mirror.

  An endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an insertion portion 2 formed in an elongated tubular shape, an operation portion 3 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion 2, and an endoscope cable extending from the operation portion 3. The universal cord 4 and the endoscope connector 5 disposed at the tip of the universal cord 4 are mainly configured.

  The insertion portion 2 is formed by connecting, in order from the distal end side, a distal end portion 6 provided with an observation window, an illumination window, and a treatment instrument channel opening (all not shown), a bending portion 7 and a flexible tube portion 8. And a flexible tubular member.

  Among these, the distal end portion 6 is directed toward the subject with illumination light transmitted from an imaging unit having a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, which is an imaging device (not shown) provided with imaging means inside, an illumination transmission means (not shown), and the like. An illumination optical system for irradiating is housed and arranged.

  The endoscope 1 is not limited to an electronic endoscope, and may be a fiberscope in which an image guide fiber that does not include an imaging unit is disposed in the insertion portion 2.

  The bending portion 7 is a mechanism portion configured to be able to bend actively in two directions (UP-DOWN) by rotating the bending operation lever 13 described later among the operation members of the operation portion 3.

  Note that the bending portion 7 is not limited to this type, and includes four directions including the left and right directions in addition to the up and down direction (up-down / left / right operation, all-around direction around the axis, UP-DOWN / RIGHT) -LEFT) may be of a type that can be bent.

  The flexible tube portion 8 is a tubular member formed with flexibility so as to be passively flexible. In addition to a treatment instrument insertion channel (not shown), the flexible tube portion 8 extends from an imaging unit built in the distal end portion 6 and further extends from the operation portion 3 into the universal cord 4. A light guide (not shown) for guiding the illumination light from the light source device and emitting it from the tip 6 is inserted.

  The operation unit 3 is provided on the distal end side, covers the base end of the flexible tube unit 8 and is connected to the flexible tube unit 8, and the operation unit 3 is connected to the folding unit 9 and is internally viewed by the user. Consists of a gripping part 10 that is gripped by hand when using the mirror 1, operating means for operating various endoscope functions provided on the outer surface of the gripping part 10, a treatment instrument insertion part 11, a suction valve 15, and the like Is done.

  As the operation means provided in the operation unit 3, for example, a bending operation lever 13 for performing a bending operation of the bending unit 7, a plurality of operations for performing each corresponding operation such as an air supply / water supply operation or suction operation, an imaging unit, an illumination unit, etc. There is an operation member 14 or the like.

  Further, a switching lever 21 serving as a bending length switching unit for switching the bending movable length of the bending portion 7 to the long bending or the short bending is provided on the rotation axis of the bending operation lever 13 at the base portion of the bending operation lever 13. Yes. The switching lever 21 will be described in detail later.

  The treatment instrument insertion portion 11 includes a treatment instrument insertion port for inserting various treatment instruments (not shown), and is a component that communicates with the treatment instrument insertion channel through the branch member inside the operation section 3.

  The treatment instrument insertion portion 11 is provided with a forceps plug 12 that is a lid member for opening and closing the treatment instrument insertion port and is configured to be detachable (replaceable) with respect to the treatment instrument insertion portion 11. ing.

  The universal cord 4 passes through the insertion portion 2 from the distal end portion 6 of the insertion portion 2 to the operation portion 3, and further passes various signal lines and the like extending from the operation portion 3 to the inside. This is a composite cable through which a light guide or the like for transmitting illumination light from (not shown) is inserted.

  The endoscope connector 5 has an electrical connector portion 16 to which a signal cable for connection with a video processor (not shown) of an external device is connected on a side surface, and is connected to a light source device that is an external device And a light source connector portion 17 to which an after-mentioned light guide bundle and an electric cable (not shown) are connected.

Next, based on FIG. 2, the structure of the bending part 7 of the insertion part 2 is demonstrated in detail below.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the insertion portion 2, a plurality of annular bending pieces 31 are rotatably connected to each other by a pivotal support portion 25 such as a rivet in a bending portion 7 which is a bending tube here. .

  Although not shown, the outer periphery of the plurality of bending pieces 31 is covered with a blade as a net tube and a bending rubber.

  Further, in the bending portion 7, the first bending portion 7 a is formed from the most advanced bending piece 31 a connected to the distal end portion 6 to the intermediate bending piece 31 b provided in the middle portion. Up to the most proximal bending piece 31c constitutes the second bending portion 7b.

  In addition, regarding the 1st bending part 7a and the 2nd bending part 7b, the length of each longitudinal direction, the number of the bending pieces 31 arrange | positioned inside, etc. respond | correspond according to the intended purpose of using the various inserted biological lumens. Can be set as appropriate.

  The most advanced bending piece 31a is provided with two wire fixing portions 32 for fixing the distal ends of the first bending operation wire 41 and the second bending operation wire 42 at relative positions that are substantially symmetric with respect to the center point. Yes.

  The first bending operation wire 41 and the second bending operation wire 42 are inserted from the insertion portion 2 to the operation portion 3, and in the first bending portion 7 a, wire guides 24 provided on the respective bending pieces 31 are connected. It is inserted and held.

  In addition, the intermediate bending piece 31b provided at the distal end portion of the second bending portion 7b has two first wires for fixing the respective distal ends of the two first guide coils 43 that are thin metal coils. The guide fixing portion 33 is provided at a relative position that is substantially symmetric with respect to the center point.

  The two first guide coils 43 are inserted from the insertion portion 2 to the operation portion 3 and are inserted and held in the wire guides 24 provided in the respective bending pieces 31 in the second bending portion 7b.

  Then, the first bending operation wire 41 or the second bending operation wire 42 is inserted through the two first guide coils 43, respectively.

  In addition, the most proximal end bending piece 31 c provided at the proximal end portion of the second bending portion 7 b is connected to the bending portion connecting pipe 26 a at the distal end of the spiral tube 26 provided in the flexible tube portion 8. .

  In the bending portion connecting pipe 26a, two first wire guide fixing portions 33 for fixing the tips of the two second guide coils 44, which are large-diameter metal coils, are substantially symmetrical with respect to the center point. In the position.

  A first guide coil 43 is inserted through each of the two second guide coils 44.

  That is, the insertion portion 2 of the present embodiment has a single wire structure in which only the first bending operation wire 41 and the second bending operation wire 42 are disposed in the first bending portion 7a. In the second bending portion 7b, a double wire coil structure in which two first guide coils 43 into which the first bending operation wire 41 or the second bending operation wire 42 is inserted is provided. In the flexible tube portion 8, two second guide coils 44 through which the first bending operation wire 41 or the second bending operation wire 42 and the two first guide coils 43 are inserted are disposed. It has a triple wire coil structure.

Next, based on FIG. 3, the internal structure of the operation part 3 is demonstrated in detail below.
As shown in FIG. 3, a metal frame 51 such as aluminum or stainless steel is provided in the operation unit 3.

  On the base end side of the frame 51, a bending operation lever 13 is pivotally supported, and a bending operation pulley 45 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation operation (tilting operation) of the bending operation lever 13 is provided. Yes.

  The bending operation pulley 45 is connected to the proximal ends of the first bending operation wire 41 and the second bending operation wire 42, and the bending operation pulley 45 rotates to turn the first bending operation wire 41. The second bending operation wire 42 is relatively pulled and relaxed.

  The first bending operation wire 41 and the second bending operation wire 42 are respectively provided with turnbuckles 41a and 42a for length adjustment.

  As described above, in the endoscope 1, the bending portion 7 is bent in the vertical direction by the turning operation of the bending operation lever 13, and the first bending operation wire 41 and the second bending operation wire 42 are relatively pulled. Based on the amount of relaxation, the bending portion 7 can be bent to a bending amount (bending angle) in the vertical direction.

  Note that the mechanism for bending the bending portion 7 by the bending operation lever 13 is the same as that of the conventional configuration, and thus other detailed description is omitted.

  A fixing block 56 as a fixing portion for fixing the base end portions of the two second guide coils 44 is fixed to the distal end side of the frame 51 with screws or the like.

  In addition, a switching lever 21 constituting one of the bending length switching mechanisms is pivotally supported on the frame 51 on the rotation coaxial axis of the bending operation lever 13, and the rotation operation ( A bending length switching pulley 46 that constitutes one of the bending length switching mechanisms that rotates in conjunction with the tilting operation is provided. The bending length switching pulley 46 is disposed so as to overlap the bending operation pulley 45.

  One end of a bending length switching wire 47 is connected to the bending length switching pulley 46, and the bending length switching wire 47 is pulled and loosened by turning the bending length switching pulley 46.

  The bending length switching wire 47 has a proximal end portion of the first guide coil 43 having two other ends via a pulley 48 constituting one of the bending length switching mechanisms pivotally supported by the frame 51. Is connected to a connecting portion 55 of a movable block 53 which is a moving body that constitutes one of the bending length switching mechanisms for fixing the.

  In the movable block 53, shafts 54 are respectively engaged with two guide grooves 52 that constitute one of the bending length switching mechanisms formed in the frame 51, and an operation unit is provided within the length range of the two guide grooves 52. 3 is provided so as to be movable forward and backward in the front and rear direction in the direction of the base end.

  That is, the movable block 53 that is one of the bending length switching mechanisms is formed in the two guide grooves 52 by the bending length switching wire 47 that is pulled and loosened by the rotation of the bending length switching pulley 46 that is interlocked with the operation of the switching lever 21. By being guided straightly, it moves forward and backward on the frame 51.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, when the switching lever 21 is rotated, the bending length switching wire 47 is pulled by the bending length switching pulley 46 that rotates in conjunction with the movable lever 53, and the movable block 53 is moved to the distal end side. Move forward. Then, as the movable block 53 moves toward the distal end side, the two first guide coils 43 are pushed into the distal end side and compressed.

  Further, the switching lever 21 is provided with a well-known lock mechanism (not shown) so that the compressed state in which the two first guide coils 43 are pushed into the distal end side can be maintained.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the two first guide coils 43 in the compressed state are each provided with the first end provided on the intermediate bending piece 31b of the second bending portion 7b. Since the wire guide fixing portions 33 are fixed to the wire guide fixing portions 33, they are cured.

  When the switching lever 21 is returned to the initial state shown in FIG. 3, the bending length switching wire 47 is relaxed, and the movable block 53 receives the extension force of the two first guide coils 43, thereby It is returned to the end side. Thus, the two first guide coils 43 are flexible in a free state where they are not compressed.

  In the endoscope 1 configured as described above, in the state where the switching lever 21 is returned to the initial state shown in FIG. 3, the bending operation lever 13 is rotated in a predetermined direction, and the first bending is performed. For example, when the bending portion 7 is bent in the UP direction by pulling the operation wire 41, as shown in FIG. 5, the first bending portion 7a and the second bending portion are provided as in the conventional endoscope. The portion 7b is bent at substantially the same bending angle (curvature radius).

  On the other hand, in the endoscope 1, when the switching lever 21 is rotated and locked as shown in FIG. 4, the bending operation lever 13 is rotated in a predetermined direction, and the first bending operation is performed. For example, when the bending portion 7 is bent in the UP direction by pulling the wire 41, only the first bending portion 7a is substantially bent as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the endoscope 1 compresses the two first guide coils 43 by moving the movable block 53 in the operation unit 3 to the distal end side by rotating the switching lever 21. Since the two first guide coils 43 are cured, the flexibility on the base end side from the second curved portion 7b to which the distal ends of the two first guide coils 43 are fixed is lowered (hardened). The second bending portion 7b becomes difficult to bend.

  That is, the endoscope 1 can change the hardness of the second bending portion 7 b by the bending length switching mechanism provided in the operation portion 3 only by the switching operation of the switching lever 21.

  Therefore, the bending portion 7 can be easily switched between a state where only the first bending portion 7a is bent and a small turn where only the tip portion is bent is possible, and a state where the entire bending portion 7 is bent as in the conventional case. It becomes a free configuration.

  In the above description, the state where the bending portion 7 is bent in the UP direction is illustrated, but of course, the same operation is performed when the bending portion 7 is bent in the DOWN direction.

  As described above, in the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment, only the first bending portion 7a on the distal end side of the bending portion 7 is substantially bent during the bending operation of the bending portion 7, and the first bending portion 7a. In addition, the user can arbitrarily switch the state in which the second bending portion 7b is bent at substantially the same bending angle only by operating the switching lever 21.

  Therefore, the endoscope 1 bends only the first bending portion 7a on the distal end side of the bending portion 7 particularly when the insertion portion 2 is inserted into a body cavity in a complicated living body or when an affected area is treated. Thus, as in the prior art, the curved portion 7 does not bend from the base end side, and it is easy to make a small turn, improve the insertion property into the complicated body cavity, and easily observe the test site, treat the affected area, etc. Can do.

  In particular, in the bronchial endoscope (1) for the respiratory tract, when inserted into the bronchial periphery or when the bronchial wall is viewed from the front, the first curve on the distal end side of the bending section 7 of the insertion section 2 is advantageous so as to make a small turn. By switching so that only the portion 7a is curved, the distal end portion 6 does not rotate much as compared with the configuration in which the entire bending portion 7 including the second bending portion 7b is curved, and observation and treatment of the bent portion of the bronchus There is an advantage that it becomes easy to perform.

  Further, in the endoscope 1, the mechanism on the insertion portion 2 side that varies the hardness of the second bending portion 7 b on the proximal end side of the bending portion 7 includes the first bending operation wire 41 or the second bending operation wire 42. Since it has a triple wire coil structure in which the two second guide coils 44 through which the two first guide coils 43 are inserted is provided, the insertion portion 2 can be compared with a conventional endoscope. It is the structure which can prevent thickening of this.

  Further, in the endoscope 1, the mechanism on the operation unit 3 side that changes the hardness of the second bending portion 7 b on the proximal end side of the bending portion 7 is a rotation shaft of the bending operation lever 13 and a rotation shaft of the switching lever 21. Are arranged such that the bending length switching pulley 46 is superimposed on the bending operation pulley 45, and the bending length switching wire 47 is pulled and loosened. Since the two first guide coils 43 are compressed and expanded by moving the movable block 53 connected to the front and rear, the size of the operation unit 3 is prevented from being increased as compared with the conventional endoscope. It is the structure which can do.

(First modification)
Incidentally, as described above, the bending portion 7 having a configuration in which a plurality of bending pieces 31 are connected via a pivotal support portion 25 such as a rivet has low rigidity (flexible). The second bending portion 7 b may meander due to the compressive force of the one guide coil 43.

  In this state, for example, when the bending portion 7 is bent (here, bent in the UP direction), the bending portion 7 may meander in an S shape as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable to have a configuration in which a bending pipe 60 as a bending tube is provided in the bending portion 7 of the insertion portion 2.

  More specifically, the curved pipe 60 here is a member mainly composed of a cylindrical superelastic alloy pipe as a curved component. Examples of the superelastic alloy material constituting the curved pipe 60 include Ni-Ti (nickel titanium), titanium alloy, beta titanium, pure titanium, 64 titanium, and A7075 (aluminum alloy). The curved pipe 60 may be formed of a resin pipe as long as it has sufficient rigidity.

  The bending pipe 60 is provided with a plurality of bending slots 61 whose basic shape is a partially arc-shaped long hole extending in the circumferential direction at a predetermined interval (pitch), for example, by laser processing.

  The plurality of bending slots 61 are alternately formed at upper and lower positions in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bending pipe 60.

  The curved pipe 60 is also provided with the wire guide 24, the wire fixing portion 32, the first wire guide fixing portion 33, and the second wire guide fixing portion 34, as in the above-described embodiment.

  In the endoscope 1 having the configuration in which the bending pipe 60 is provided in the bending portion 7 in this way, the bending pipe 60 has higher rigidity than the configuration in which the plurality of bending pieces 31 are connected via the pivotal support portion 25, so that switching is performed. Even when the lever 21 is operated and the two first guide coils 43 are compressed, the second bending portion 7b is prevented from meandering.

  Therefore, in the endoscope 1, when the switching lever 21 is rotated and locked as shown in FIG. 4, the bending operation lever 13 is rotated in a predetermined direction, and the first bending operation is performed. By pulling the wire 41, for example, when the bending portion 7 is bent in the UP direction, only the first bending portion 7a is reliably bent as shown in FIG. It can be set as the structure which does not.

(Second modification)
As shown in FIG. 10, a position adjustment groove 57 drilled in the front-rear direction may be provided in the frame 51 in the operation unit 3 so that the position of the pulley 48 fixed to the frame 51 can be adjusted.

  For example, the pulley 48 is configured to be rotatable around a bolt-shaped rotation shaft 48a, and the rotation shaft 48a is screwed to a nut (not shown) provided on the back side of the frame 51 to adjust the position. It is adjusted back and forth within the range of the groove 57 and fixed to the frame 51.

  With such a configuration, the pulley 48 can be slidably installed back and forth, so that the traction force of the bending length switching wire 47 can be adjusted.

  Thereby, the variation of the compression force of the first guide coil 43 caused by the variation at the time of assembly can be adjusted, and the hardening of the second bending portion 7b of the bending portion 7 can be controlled to be constant.

  The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  This application is filed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-179941 filed in Japan on September 11, 2015 as the basis for claiming priority, and the above-mentioned contents include the present specification, claims, and It is cited in the drawing.

Claims (5)

A bending portion comprising a first bending portion and a second bending portion in order from the tip, and bending by pulling and relaxing the bending operation wire;
A flexible tube portion connected to the proximal end of the second curved portion;
An operation unit connected to the proximal end of the flexible tube unit;
A first guide coil having a distal end fixed to a distal end portion of the second bending portion and having the bending operation wire inserted therein;
A second guide coil having a distal end fixed to the distal end portion of the flexible tube portion and a proximal end fixed in the operation portion, and the first guide coil inserted therein;
A movable body that is provided so as to freely advance and retreat within the operation portion, and to which a proximal end of the first guide coil is connected;
A rigidity of the first guide coil is varied by moving the moving body forward and backward and compressing and expanding the first guide coil, and the second bending portion does not bend. A bending length switching mechanism including a switching lever that switches between a state in which only the first bending portion is bent and a state in which the entire bending portion is bent,
An endoscope comprising: The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the bending portion includes a plurality of bending pieces that are rotatably connected via a pivotal support portion. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the bending portion includes a tubular member having a plurality of slots formed in a circumferential direction. The bending length switching mechanism has a bending length switching wire that pulls the moving body to the distal end side via a pulley provided in a frame by operation of the switching lever.
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes an adjustment groove capable of adjusting a fixed position of the pulley along a longitudinal axis direction of the operation unit. A bending operation lever that is provided in the operation unit and rotates a bending operation pulley to which the bending operation wire is connected to bend the bending unit;
A pivot axis of the switching lever is provided on the pivotal axis of the bending operation lever, and a bending length switching pulley that pulls and loosens the bending length switching wire by the switching lever is disposed to overlap the bending operation pulley. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the endoscope is provided.

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