JPH0421487B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bending operation device for bending a distal end bending portion of an endoscope using a manual operation section.

"Prior art and its problems" The bending operation device for an endoscope basically guides one or two pairs of operation wires connected to the distal end bending section to the hand operation section, and then guides the pair of operation wires to the hand operation section. By pulling one end and letting out the other end, the curved portion is bent in a desired direction. Various types of such bending operation devices have been known in the past, but one type of bending operation device is a rotating cylinder fitted to a fixed shaft that is fixed upright in the operating section, and an operating unit attached to the inner end of the rotating cylinder. A type is known in which an operating knob is provided at the outer end of the interlocking part with the wire. In this type, it is necessary to use appropriate means to prevent the rotary tube from coming off after it is fitted onto the fixed shaft, but the problem with conventional devices is that the mechanism for preventing it from coming off is complicated. In particular, in order to enable vertical and horizontal curvature of the curved section, when fitting the inner and outer rotating tubes that are concentric with the fixed shaft so that they can rotate relative to each other, the locking structure becomes even more complicated and the operating section becomes larger. It turns into Moreover, the recent airtight construction of endoscopes has made these problems more complicated.

``Object of the Invention'' The present invention solves the problems of these conventional bending operation devices for endoscopes. An object of the present invention is to provide a bending operation device of a type in which a rotary tube provided with a rotary tube is fitted, which can prevent the rotary tube from coming off with a simple structure.

"Summary of the Invention" The endoscope bending operation device of the present invention includes a fixed shaft provided in the operating section, a rotary tube rotatably fitted to the fixed shaft, and an operating wire attached to the inner end of the rotary tube. At the same time, an operating knob is provided on the outer end, and an annular locking groove is formed on the fixed shaft corresponding to the outer end of the rotating cylinder. It is characterized in that a retaining ring that can be inserted and removed from the radial direction is fitted, and a retaining ring removal prevention ring that restricts the movement of the retaining ring in the radial direction is fitted around the outer periphery of the retaining ring.

"Embodiments of the Invention" The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. 8 and 9 are general views of an endoscope incorporating a bending operation device according to the present invention, in which the operation section 11 is provided with a central operation section 12, and this central operation section 12 includes:
A left-right curved lock knob 13, a left-right curved operation knob 14, a vertically curved operation knob 15, and a vertically curved lock lever 16 are located in order from the top. The operation section 11 further includes an eyepiece section 18 and a suction operation valve 1.
9. Well-known elements of an endoscope, such as an air supply operation valve 20, a water supply operation valve 21, and a forceps insertion port 22, are provided, and a light guide cable 23 and a suction tube 24 are extended.

A rear end portion of a flexible body insertion portion 25 is connected to the operating portion 11, and a curved portion 26 is further connected to a distal end portion of the body insertion portion 25. Curved portion 26
As is well known, the joint element is made up of a large number of pins connected together, and at its tip there are a pair of operation wires 28 and 29 (eighth
10) are connected, and by rotating the vertical bending operation knob 15, the pair of operation wires 2
By pulling one side of 9 and letting out the other side, the bending part 26 bends in the vertical direction, and the left/right bending operation knob 1
4 is rotated to pull one of the pair of operating wires 28 and let out the other, thereby bending the bending portion 26 in the left-right direction.

Inside the body insertion section 25 and the curved section 26, there is an optical fiber bundle for image observation whose front end faces the objective lens at the front end of the curved section 26 and whose rear end faces the eyepiece section 18; An illumination optical fiber bundle facing the illumination window and whose rear end is guided by the light guide cable 23, and a forceps channel that allows the forceps inserted through the forceps mouth 22 to protrude from the tip of the curved portion 26 are inserted. The illustration of the elements is omitted.

A board 31 as shown in FIG.
is fixed. The fixed shaft 32 is made by integrating a central solid fixed shaft 33 and an outer fixed cylinder 34 with a fixing screw 35. The cylinder 36 and the vertically rotating cylinder 37 are fitted concentrically inside and outside so as to be relatively rotatable. The left and right rotation cylinder 36 is connected to the left and right bending operation knob 14 by a fixing screw 38.
Furthermore, the vertical rotation cylinders 37 are each fixed to the vertical bending operation knob 15 by fixing screws 39.

The inner ends of the left and right rotation tubes 36 and the upper and lower rotation tubes 37 are located inside the casing 30, and are arranged at different axial positions so that the pulleys 40, 41
is fitted. Left and right rotating tube 36 and pulley 4
0. The vertical rotation cylinder 37 and the pulley 41 are each connected with square holes as shown in FIG. 2, and both are integral in the rotation direction. The operating wire 28 is fixed to the pulley 40, and the operating wire 29 is fixed to the pulley 41. At the position where the pulley 40 contacts the bottom wall of the solid fixed shaft 33, the inner end of the left and right rotating cylinder 36 is fixed. is regulated.

The left and right rotating tube 36 is set longer than the vertical rotating tube 37, and protrudes outward from the vertical rotating tube 37. The solid fixed shaft 33 has an annular locking groove 42 corresponding to the outer end position of the left and right rotating cylinder 36.
A retaining ring 43, shown as a single unit in FIG. 3, is fitted into this annular locking groove 42. This retaining ring 43 has a central part,
A U-groove 44 with one end open is formed, and it can be inserted into and removed from the annular locking groove 42 of the solid fixed shaft 33 from the radial direction. Therefore, although the left and right rotating cylinder 36 is prevented from falling off by this retaining ring 43, there is a possibility that the retaining ring 43 may fall off in the radial direction. Removal prevention ring 45
is fitted on the outside of the retaining ring 43 and restricts movement of the retaining ring 43 in the radial direction by means of a regulating surface 49 which is the inner circumferential surface thereof. This retaining ring detachment prevention ring 45 is provided. This structure for preventing the right and left rotation tubes 36 from coming off is a feature of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the brake pad ring 46 is connected to the solid fixed shaft 33 with a square hole and is fixed thereto in the rotational direction, and a brake pad 47 is fixed to the lower surface of the brake pad ring 46. A brake plate 48 is located below the brake pad 47 and is similarly connected to the left and right rotating tubes 36 through square holes and rotates together with the rotating tubes 36.

A thread 50 of pitch A is cut on the outer periphery of the brake pad ring 46, and a female thread ring 51 forming a part of the left-right curved lock knob 13 is attached to this thread 50.
are interlocking. On the other hand, left and right curved lock knob 13
The threaded ring 52 at the center and the solid fixed shaft 33 are engaged by a screw 53, but the pitch of this screw 53 is pitch B (pitch B) in the opposite direction from the pitch A of the screw 50. . Therefore, when the left-right curved lock knob 13 is rotated, the brake pad ring 46 moves with a pitch stroke of pitch A+B, and the brake pad 47 approaches and separates from the brake plate 48, causing the brake plate 48 to rotate, that is, to curve left and right. Rotation of the operation knob 14 is restricted. This configuration is effective for obtaining a large stroke of the brake pad 47 with a small rotation angle of the left-right curved lock knob 13, and the threaded ring 52 of the left-right curved lock knob 13 and the solid fixed shaft 33 must be engaged with the small diameter screw 53. It is suitable as a brake device for this type of endoscope that does not have to be used. By loosening the left-right bending lock knob 13 and separating the brake pad 47 from the brake plate 48, the left-right rotating cylinder 36 can be freely rotated via the left-right bending operation knob 14, and by tightening the left-right bending lock knob 13, both can be rotated freely. If the contact is made strong, the rotation of the left/right bending operation knob 14 will be braked.

A liquid-tight ring 54 is interposed between the internally threaded ring 51 of the left-right curved lock knob 13 and the left-right rotating cylinder 36. Since this liquid-tight ring 54 is in contact with the female thread ring 51 and the left and right rotating tubes 36 at the same time through the O-ring R, there is a possibility that rotational force is transmitted between the left and right curved lock knob 13 and the left and right rotating tubes 36. There is.
In particular, if the left and right curved lock knob 13 is in the unlocked state, but the left and right curved lock knob 13 is rotated to the locked position along with the rotation of the left and right curved operation knob 14, the curved portion 26 will be held in the curved position. This is very dangerous as there is a risk of it being pulled out of the body. In order to avoid this danger, the left and right curved lock knob 13 is provided with a rotation resistance imparting mechanism and a click stop mechanism as shown in FIG.

A click pin 55 is attached to the brake pad ring 46 which is fixedly fitted in the solid fixed shaft 33 in the rotating direction.
are implanted in the notches 56 and 57 formed in the threaded ring 52, and a click stop spring 58 and a resistance imparting spring 59 that engage with the click pin 55 are provided.
is fitted. The click stop spring 58 has peaks 58a and 58b at both ends to increase rotational resistance with respect to the click pin 55.
b corresponds to both rotation ends of the left and right curved lock knob 13. On the other hand, the resistance imparting spring 59 simply comes into elastic contact with the inner periphery of the brake pad ring 46. According to this configuration, careless rotation of the left-right curved lock knob 13 can be prevented, and the above-mentioned accident can be reliably prevented.

Next, the retaining mechanism and locking mechanism of the vertically rotating cylinder 37 for vertically curving will be explained. The upper end of the vertical rotation tube 37 faces the radial flange 60 of the left and right rotation tube 36 and is prevented from coming off. The lower end of the flange 37a is in contact with and regulated by the upper end of the outer fixed cylinder 34. Up and down rotating tube 3
7, that is, the locking mechanism of the vertical bending operation knob 15 is provided between a positioning flange 61 protruding from the outer periphery of the outer fixed cylinder 34 and a flange 62 at the upper end of the vertical rotation cylinder 37. A lock position setting ring 63 of the vertically curved lock lever 16 and a lock screw ring 64 are rotatably fitted in order on the positioning flange 61, and the vertically curved lock lever 16 is fixed to the lower outer periphery of the lock screw ring 64. An intermediate ring 66 fixed with screws 65 is fitted. The intermediate ring 66 and the lock screw ring 64 are fixed by an annular V groove 67 formed in the lock screw ring 64 and a fixing screw 68 that is screwed onto the intermediate ring 66 and enters the annular V groove 67. . In addition, the lock position setting ring 63 and the outer fixed cylinder 34
Similarly, the annular V formed in the outer fixed cylinder 34
It is fixed by a fixing screw 70 that is screwed into the groove 69 and the lock position setting ring 63 and enters the annular V-groove 69.

The structure for preventing the lock screw ring 64 from coming off from the outer fixed cylinder 34 is similar to the structure for preventing the lock screw ring 64 from coming off from the solid fixed shaft 33 of the left and right rotating cylinder 36. That is, an annular locking groove 71 is formed on the outer periphery of the outer fixing cylinder 34, and a retaining ring 72 that engages with the upper surface of the locking screw ring 64 is fitted into the annular locking groove 71 from the radial direction. A retaining ring slip-off prevention ring 73 is fitted on the outside of the retaining ring 72. The shape of the retaining ring 72 is the third
It is similar to the retaining ring 43 shown in the figure, and has a U groove 74 formed in the center. The retaining ring detachment prevention ring 73 is fitted into the annular groove 75 of the lock screw ring 64 and is always located on the outer periphery of the retaining ring 72.

Inside the large diameter part at the top of the lock screw ring 64,
A thread 76 is formed, and a brake pad ring 77 is threaded onto this thread 76. Brake pad ring 7
7 is connected to the outer fixed cylinder 34 through a square hole so that it is fixed in the rotational direction but can be moved in the axial direction, and a brake pad 78 facing downward is fixed to this brake pad ring 77. On the other hand, a brake plate 79 which is also connected to the vertically rotating cylinder 37 through a square hole is fitted onto the outer periphery of the vertically rotating cylinder 37.
9 faces the brake pad 78. This lock mechanism is different from the brake mechanism on the left and right curved lock knob 13 side, and is not a double screw mechanism. This is because the diameter of the screw 76 can be increased, and therefore the screw pitch can be increased.

The lock mechanism includes a vertically curved lock lever 16.
When the lock screw ring 64 is rotated, the lock screw ring 64 is rotated via the intermediate ring 66. Then, the brake pad ring 77, whose rotation is restricted by the square hole connection with the outer fixed cylinder 34 but can be moved in the axial direction, moves up and down according to the screw 76, so that the brake pad 78 is moved relative to the brake plate 79. come into contact and separate. brake pad 7
8 strongly contacts the brake plate 79, the rotation of the brake plate 79, that is, the rotation of the vertical rotation tube 37 and the vertical bending operation knob 15, is restricted and locked, and the brake pad 7 is removed from the brake plate 79.
8 is separated, the vertical rotation cylinder 37 and the vertical bending operation knob 15 are free to rotate, and the bending part 2
6 vertical bending operations are possible.

A liquid-tight ring 80 is interposed between the vertical rotation cylinder 37 and the lock screw ring 64, and this liquid-tight ring 80 connects to the vertical rotation cylinder 37 via an O-ring R.
and the lock screw ring 64. For this reason, as with the front-back bending operation mechanism, there is a risk that the rotation of the vertical rotation tube 37 (vertical bending operation knob 15) will be transmitted to the lock screw ring 64 and be inadvertently locked. The click stop mechanism and rotation resistance imparting mechanism to prevent this are shown in Figure 5.
FIG. 6 will be explained. One end of a leaf spring 82 is fixed to the outer periphery of the intermediate ring 66 to which the vertically curved lock lever 16 is fixed with a fixing screw 81.
This leaf spring 82 extends on the side surface of the lock position setting ring 63, and has a locking portion 83 bent inwardly formed at its tip. The intermediate ring 66 has
A notch 84 into which this locking portion 83 enters is formed. On the other hand, the circumferential surface of the lock position setting ring 63 includes two stages of lock grooves 85a and 85b, a rotational resistance reducing portion 85c in the middle thereof, and a lock groove 85b.
A rotational resistance increasing portion 85d is formed between the rotational resistance reducing portion 85c and the rotational resistance reducing portion 85c. The rotational resistance of the vertically curved lock lever 16 (lock screw ring 64) is greatest when the locking portion 83 is in the locking grooves 85a, 85b, and when the locking portion 83 is in contact with the rotational resistance reducing portion 85c. It is the smallest when it is present.
When the locking portion 83 moves from the rotational resistance reducing portion 85c to the locking grooves 85a, 85b,
Since it always passes through the rotational resistance increasing portion 85d, the transition to the locked state, which is performed by moving the locking portion 83 of the leaf spring 82 via the vertically curved lock lever 16, is detected by an increase in rotational resistance. It's summery.

The rotatable range of the vertically curved lock lever 16 is as follows:
A rotation range regulating groove 87 is formed by cutting out the circumference of the lock position setting ring 63, and a stopper screw 88 (fifth (see Figure 7). That is, the vertically curved lock lever 16 is rotatable within the range in which the stopper screw 88 abuts both ends of the rotation range regulating groove 87 . The angular position of the lock position setting ring 63 with respect to the lock screw ring 64 can be adjusted by loosening the fixing screw 70 and rotating the lock position setting ring 63 with respect to the outer fixed cylinder 34. 16 operating positions can be adjusted.

Furthermore, the stroke for applying the lock, that is, the rotation angle of the vertically curved lock lever 16, can be adjusted by loosening the fixing screw 68 and rotating the lock screw ring 64 with respect to the brake pad ring 77. That is, when the lock screw ring 64 is rotated with respect to the brake pad ring 77, the brake pad 78 and the brake plate 79 come into contact with each other according to the screw 76, so that the vertically curved lock lever 16 rotates until the brake pad 78 contacts the brake plate 79. The angle can be adjusted.

This endoscope has a watertight structure so that the entire endoscope can be immersed in disinfectant for cleaning after examination. The symbol R in FIG. 1 indicates an O-ring inserted between each component for watertightness.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, the endoscope bending operation device of the present invention has a fixed shaft provided in the operation section, an interlocking section with the operation wire at the inner end, and an operation knob at the outer end. In order to fit the rotating tube and prevent it from coming off, an annular locking groove is formed corresponding to the outer end of the rotating tube, and a retaining ring that can be inserted into and removed from the fixed shaft from the radial direction , and a retaining ring removal prevention ring that restricts the movement of the retaining ring in the radial direction is fitted to the outer periphery of the retaining ring, so it is a very simple structure that can be used to rotate the rotating cylinder. can be prevented from falling off. Therefore, it is suitable for making the endoscope operating section more compact and airtight, and since it can be easily assembled and disassembled, maintenance and inspection are easy. Furthermore, the strength of the retaining ring can be easily addressed by increasing the strength of the retaining ring by adjusting the material and thickness.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 9, showing an embodiment of the bending operation device for an endoscope according to the present invention;
The figure is a sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the retaining ring, Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along the - line and - line in Fig. 1, and Fig. 6. , and Fig. 7 are the - lines and - lines of Fig. 5, respectively.
8 is a sectional view taken along the line, FIG. 8 is a front view showing an example of the external appearance of an endoscope incorporating the bending operation device of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a side view of the same, and FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of the operating wires at the tip of the curved part. 11...Operation unit, 12...Intensive operation unit, 13...
...Left and right curved lock knob, 14...Left and right curved operation knob, 15...Vertical curved operation knob, 16...Vertically curved lock lever, 25...Body insertion part, 26...
Curved portion, 28, 29... Operating wire, 30... Casing, 33... Solid fixed shaft (fixed shaft), 34
...Outer fixed tube (fixed shaft), 36... Left and right rotating tube, 37... Up and down rotating tube, 40, 41... Pulley, 42... Annular locking groove, 43... Retaining ring, 45... Retaining ring removal prevention ring, 46...
...Brake pad ring, 47...Brake pad,
48... Brake plate, 50... Screw, 71... Annular locking groove, 72... Retaining ring, 73... Retaining ring removal prevention ring, 77... Brake pad ring, 78... Brake pad, 79... brake plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 At least one pair of operating wires are connected to a bending section provided at the distal end of the body insertion part, and the bending section is bent by pulling or letting out the pair of operating wires by rotating an operating knob provided on the operating section. In the bending operation device for an endoscope, a fixed shaft is provided in the operating section, a rotating tube is rotatably fitted to the fixed shaft, and an interlocking section with an operating wire is provided at the inner end of the rotating tube. and the operating knob is provided at the outer end, an annular locking groove is formed in the fixed shaft corresponding to the outer end of the rotary cylinder, and a ring of the fixed shaft is formed in the annular locking groove. An internal view characterized by fitting a retaining ring that can be inserted and removed from the radial direction, and further fitting a retaining ring removal prevention ring on the outer periphery of the retaining ring to restrict movement of the retaining ring in the radial direction. Mirror bending control device.