JPH0622905A - Endoscope curing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To curve a curved part easily and surely even in case of a a long insertion part, by installing an electromagnet in the curved part connected with the top edge of the insertion part and allowing the curved part to be curved. CONSTITUTION:An endoscope 1 is equipped with an operation part 2 and a long insertion part 3, and the insertion part 3 consists of a flexible pipe part 4, curved pipe part 5 connected at the top edge of the flexible pipe part 4, and a top edge constitution part 6. The curved pipe part 5 is formed by arranging a curved core member inside an elastic tube 35, and constituted so that a plurality of curved pieces 17 are arranged, and the contiguous curved pieces 17 are connected by a rivet 18 and curved in the upper and lower directions, and an electromagnet 22 is installed on the inner peripheral surface 12 of each curved piece 17. Since the winding direction of the coil of the electromagnet 22 is same, each polarity of the contiguously opposed magnetic bodies 19 is made different, and an attractive force acts between the electromagnets 22. Accordingly, the curved pipe part 5 can be curved to the max. angle upward and downward.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is an endoscope for observing, treating, and treating the inside of a body cavity or duct by inserting a long insertion portion into the body cavity or duct. The present invention relates to an endoscope bending apparatus that bends the insertion portion of the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bending tube portion in an insertion portion of a conventional endoscope is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-188701, but generally, a plurality of bending pieces are arranged in series along the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion portion. It is arranged, and the adjacent bending pieces are rotatably connected to each other. Inside the bending piece row, one end is fixed to the tip forming portion (or the most advanced bending piece) of the insertion portion. The other end of the bending operation wire extends through the insertion section to the operation section. The operation wire has one end fixed to the rear end of the bending piece row and the other end guided through a guide coil extending to the operation portion. When the operation wire is pulled in the operation section of the endoscope, the bending tube section bends in the direction of the pulling side through the operation wire. At the time of this operation, the guide coil serves to suppress the compressive force applied to the insertion portion and to directly apply the force applied by the operation portion to the bending tube portion.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional endoscope as described above, the longer the insertion portion is, the longer the operation wire and the guide coil for guiding the operation wire are. Turn into. The longer the operating wire and the guide coil are, the greater the frictional force between them and the larger the amount of bending operation force, and the heavier the operation becomes. Therefore, there is a problem that the bending operation becomes difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of easily and surely bending the bending portion of a long insertion portion. An object is to provide a mirror bending device.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an insertion portion, and the insertion portion is provided with a long flexible tube portion and a bending portion connected to the distal end thereof. Of the region divided into at least two parts by the boundary surface parallel to the long axis of the part, one region side is shortened in the long axis direction of the insertion part, and at the same time, the other region side is bent to bend the endoscope. In the apparatus, a plurality of electromagnets are installed along at least one of the two regions inside the curved portion and divided by the boundary surface along the long axis direction of the insertion portion, and the power supply conductor is attached to the electromagnets. By supplying an exciting current from a DC power source to the selected electromagnet through the conductor, the region side where the selected electromagnet is located is shortened or extended to bend the bending portion.

[0006]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A schematically shows the entire endoscope 1 of this embodiment. The endoscope 1 has an operating section 2 and an elongated insertion section 3, and the insertion section 3 is provided at the tip of the operating section 2.
Are connected. The insertion section 3 includes a flexible tube section 4, a bending tube section 5 connected to the tip of the flexible tube section 4, and a tip forming section 6 connected to the tip of the bending tube section 5. Operation part 2
An eyepiece portion 7 accommodating an eyepiece lens (not shown) is provided at the rear end. Further, a dial 8 for bending operation is provided on a side portion of the operation portion 2, and a light guide cable 9 accommodating a light guide fiber for transmitting illumination light is connected from this side portion. A light guide connector 10 is provided at a free end of the light guide cable 9, and the light guide connector 10 is detachably connected to a socket portion of the light source device 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image guide fiber 12 and a light guide fiber 13 each formed of an optical fiber bundle are inserted into the insertion portion 3. The peripheral portion of the tip of the image guide fiber 12 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the objective lens 15 is housed on the front end side in the cylindrical objective lens frame 14, and the front end of the image guide fiber 12 is fitted on the rear end side. Then, the image guide fiber 1 fitted inside the objective lens frame 14
The front end of 2 is fixed by a transparent adhesive 16, and the transparent adhesive 16 is filled between the front end surface and the rear end surface of the objective lens 15 to which the front end surface and the rear end surface are joined. It is supposed to do. Then, the tip surface of the image guide fiber 12 and the objective lens 15
Even if there are irregularities on the rear end face, since the irregularities are leveled by the adhesive 16, there is no optical problem. Therefore, the rear end surface of the objective lens 15 is left only for grinding (rough surface) by omitting the polishing step after grinding. Since this is sufficient, the cost can be reduced.

The rear end side of the image guide fiber 12 is guided to the operating section 2 and is optically connected to the eyepiece lens of the eyepiece section 7 provided in the operating section 2. On the other hand, the tip of the light guide fiber 13 is guided to a portion opened to the tip surface of the tip forming portion 6 as shown in FIG. 1, and the transparent adhesive 16 is filled in the opening to keep watertight. ing. The rear end side of the light guide fiber 13 is guided to the light guide connector 10 through the above-mentioned light guide cable 9, and is detachably connected to the light source device 11 via this.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), a light guide connector 23 for bundling the rear end portions of the light guide fibers 13 is provided inside the tip portion 28 of the light guide connector 10. On the outer circumference of 23,
A light guide receiving member 24 for holding this is provided. Inside the tip portion 28 is a cover glass 27, and the peripheral portion of the cover glass 27 is inside the tip portion 28,
It is gripped by the two cover glass pressing rings 25a and 25b. In this case, cover glass retainer ring 2
5a and 25b are made of permanent magnets, and non-evaporable (oil base) in the portion covering the entire circumference of the cover glass 27.
Of magnetic fluid 26. As a result, it is possible to have watertightness that does not damage even if it receives radiant heat from the light source.

Therefore, the illumination light emitted from the light source device 11 is transmitted through the cover glass 27 to the light guide fiber 1.
The illumination light that is incident on the light source 3 and transmitted through the light guide fiber 13 is emitted from the front end surface of the front end forming portion 6 and illuminates an observation site in front of it. The image of the observation site illuminated by this illumination light is formed on the tip surface of the image guide fiber 12 by the objective lens 15, and can be observed by the eyepiece 7.

In the tip forming portion 6, the image guide fiber 12 and the light guide fiber 13 are concentrically bundled with the image guide fiber 12 inside and one cylindrical light guide fiber frame 2 is formed.
It is housed inside 9. Further, the light guide fiber frame 29 is fitted and fixed in the main body 30 of the tip forming section 6. In the main body 30, among the plurality of cylindrical bending pieces 17 that configure the bending tube portion 5 as described later,
The front end portion of the most advanced bending piece 17 is fitted. The exterior of the curved tube portion 5 is formed of an exterior elastic tube 35 having flexibility and predetermined elasticity, such as rubber. The tip portion of the elastic tube 35 is fastened with the thread 31 on the outer periphery of the main body 30 of the tip forming portion 6, and the adhesive 2
It is fixed by 1.

The bending tube portion 5 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, a curved core material is arranged inside the elastic tube 35, and the curved core material is composed of a plurality of bending pieces 17.
Are arranged in the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion portion 3, and each adjacent bending piece 17
Are connected by rivets 18 and curved in two directions, that is, upper and lower directions. Here, it is preferable that the bending piece 17 is made of a non-magnetic material.

An electromagnet 22 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of each bending piece 17. The electromagnet 22 is formed by winding a conducting wire 20 insulated in a coil shape around a rod-shaped magnetic body 19 arranged in the longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 3. The electromagnet 22 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the bending piece 17 with an adhesive 21. In this case, the positions where the electromagnet 22 is fixed to the bending piece 17 are the shoulder openings 37 of the upper and lower bending pieces 17 as shown in FIG. 1 and the upper and lower sides of the rivet 18 as shown in FIG. The points are 90 ° off to the side. The electromagnets 22 on the upper side are all in the same direction.
0 is wound in a coil. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the number of conductors 20 is one, and they are connected in series by one circuit. Similarly, regarding the lower electromagnet 22,
A conductor wire 20 is wound in a coil shape in the same direction, and the conductor wire 20 is a single wire and is connected in series in one circuit. Each of the conductive wires 20 passes through the inside of the insertion portion 3, the operation portion 2, the inside of the light guide cable 9, and the electric power source 34 provided in the light source device 11 through the electric contact provided in the light guide connector 10. It is designed to be connected to.

A bending operation dial 8 provided on the operation portion 2
In the operating section 2, an encoder 32 is attached coaxially therewith. The encoder 32 is connected to a control device 36 provided in the light source device 11. The control device 36 is connected to the DC power source 34 in the light source device 11.

Next, the operation of this endoscope bending apparatus will be described. As an operation for bending the bending tube portion 5 in the insertion portion 3 of the endoscope 1, first, the bending operation dial 8 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
When rotated in one direction of the middle B direction, it is integrated with this,
The shaft of the encoder 32 rotates, and its rotation direction and rotation amount are sent to the control device 36 as an electric signal. Control device 3
6 receives the signal from the encoder 32, and sends a command to the DC power source 34 to energize the electromagnet 22. For example, when the bending operation dial 8 is fully rotated so as to be bent upward, the control device 36 receives this and instructs the DC power supply 34 to energize only the upper electromagnet 22. When a current flows through each electromagnet 22 on the upper side,
It is magnetized and the polarity shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 appears. Here, since the winding directions of the coils of the electromagnet 22 are all the same,
The polarities of the magnetic bodies 19 facing each other become different, and an attractive force acts between the electromagnets 22. As a result, the shoulder openings 37 of the bending pieces 17 to which the electromagnets 22 are attached respectively abut, and the bending tube portion 5 is bent upward at the maximum angle. On the other hand, when bending downward to the maximum angle,
It can be bent by the same action as the upper side.

Further, when bending at an arbitrary angle in the upward or downward direction, the arbitrary bending angle is designated by adjusting the rotation amount of the bending operation dial 8.
That is, a command is sent from the encoder 32 to the control device 36 by the same operation as described above. The controller 36 commands the DC power supply 34 to send appropriate amounts of electricity to the upper and lower electromagnets 22 in consideration of the upward bending force and the downward bending force. As a result, the upward and downward bending forces are kept parallel at an arbitrary angle, and are bent at an arbitrary angle. For example, if the amount of electricity supplied to each of the upper side and the lower side is made equal, the forces for bending in the respective directions of the upper side and the lower side become equal, and it is possible to maintain equilibrium in a neutral state (a straight state without curving). Thus, according to the above configuration, the bending tube portion 5 can be bent in two directions at an arbitrary angle by remote operation.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section near the distal end portion of the insertion portion 3 of the endoscope 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the winding directions of the coils of the electromagnets 22 fixed to the adjacent bending pieces 17 on both the upper and lower sides are reversed. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

In the above-described first embodiment, the adjacent electromagnets 22 fixed to the shoulder openings 37 of the respective bending pieces 17 generate attractive forces attracting each other, but in the configuration of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. As shown, the poles of the electromagnets 22 facing each other become the same pole, and a repulsive force is generated. Therefore, the shoulder openings 37 of the respective bending pieces 17 recede. That is, when it is desired to bend the upper side, the lower electromagnet 22 is energized. Then, the shoulder openings 37 of the lower bending pieces 17 repel each other, and the bending tube portion 5 bends upward. Other functions and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment described above.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the bending piece 17 is located at one of the upper side and the lower side, and the position of the rivet 18 is approximately 9
Two electromagnets 22, 22 arranged adjacent to each other in parallel are arranged at positions offset by 0 °, and the electromagnets 22 in each row are arranged.
The coils are wound in the same winding direction, and the coils of adjacent electromagnets 22 are wound in different directions. That is, the two electromagnets 22, 22 attached to the respective bending pieces 17 are fixed in the reverse direction using the adhesive 21. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

However, according to this structure,
When the rows of the electromagnets 22 in which the winding directions of the coils of the facing electromagnets 22 are made to be the same are energized, the facing poles have different polarities, as in the case of the first embodiment. Working, the shoulder openings 37 of each bending piece 17 try to mate with each other. That is, it tends to bend toward the side where the electromagnet 22 is fixed. On the other hand, when the rows of electromagnets 22 in which the winding directions of the coils of the electromagnets 22 facing each other are reversed are energized, the poles facing each other become the same poles as in the second embodiment described above. A repulsive force acts between 22 and the shoulder opening 37 of each bending piece 17 tries to retract. That is, the electromagnet 22
The side to which is fixed tends to bend toward the reflection side. The force is controlled by controlling the amount of current of the DC power source 34 by the controller 36 to bend the force to an arbitrary angle. Other functions and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a bending tube portion 5 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in addition to the electromagnets 22 provided on the upper side and the lower side of the bending piece 17 in the first embodiment described above, the electromagnets 22 are arranged on the right side and the left side of the bending piece 17, respectively. And the left side can also be curved. The structure and operation thereof are similar to those of the first embodiment described above. According to this, the bending tube part 5 can be remotely bent in four directions.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that a solid-state image pickup device 33 such as a CCD is used instead of the image guide fiber 12 as an observing means for observing.

FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. This has a circuit configuration in which the electromagnets 22 fixed to the respective bending pieces 17 in the first embodiment described above can be individually energized. Although not shown, in addition to the bending operation dial 8, the operation unit 2 is provided with a switch for turning on and off the energization of each electromagnet 22. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

According to this structure, by operating the on / off switch for each electromagnet 22 installed in the operation section 2 and the bending operation dial 8, the electromagnet 22 is selected and driven, and any electromagnet 22 is driven. A curved shape can be created.

FIG. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of the bending piece 17 that forms the bending core material of the bending tube portion 5 in the above-described first embodiment, a spiral tube 38 formed by spirally forming a belt-shaped member is used. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

Then, for example, when a current is passed from the DC power source 34 only to the upper electromagnet 22 shown in FIG. 9, the upper electromagnet 22 is magnetized, and the poles facing each other become different poles to generate an attractive force, which is adjacent to each other. When the electromagnets 22 are attracted to each other, the pitch of the spiral tube 38 is narrowed and the bending tube portion 5 is bent upward. In addition, when a current is passed only through the electromagnet 22 on the lower side shown in FIG. 9, the same action occurs and the curve bends downward.

With this structure, it is not necessary to assemble the bending piece 17 in the first embodiment, and the spiral tube 38 is not required.
By using, the assembly of the bending tube portion 5 is simplified.
Further, the cost is reduced due to the improvement of the assembling property and the reduction of the number of parts.

FIG. 10 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of the bending piece 17 forming the bending core material of the bending tube portion 5 in the first embodiment,
A pair of notched portions 39 that are vertically offset from each other and are offset by about 180 °
The resin tube 40 provided with a plurality of sets of 39 is used. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

Then, for example, when a current is passed from the DC power source 34 only to the upper electromagnet 22 shown in FIG. 10, the upper electromagnet 22 is magnetized, and the poles facing each other become different poles to generate an attractive force, which is adjacent to each other. By attracting the electromagnet 22,
The cutout portions 39 fit together, and the resin tube 40 curves upward. Further, when a current is applied only to the lower electromagnet 22 shown in FIG. 10, a similar action occurs and the lower side bends.

With this configuration, however, the parts of the bending tube portion 5 can be manufactured more easily and the assemblability can be improved as compared with the above-described first embodiment, for example. Further, since the number of parts is also reduced, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

FIG. 11 shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The insertion portion 3 of the endoscope 1 of this embodiment is a porous tube 4
1 is used, and a fixed distance is provided along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 3 in the upper and lower lumens of the same diameter which are symmetrically located close to the outer circumference of the perforated tube 41 and are 180 ° apart from each other. Place a plurality of electromagnets 22 while placing the adhesive 2
Use 1 to fix. In addition, a lateral hole 42 penetrating the lumen is opened on the side surface of the perforated tube 41 at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction, and by pouring the adhesive 21 through the hole 42, the electromagnet 2 is introduced into the lumen.
2 can be fixed. Further, a coil is wound so that when the current flows through the electromagnet 22 and is magnetized, the opposing poles of the adjacent electromagnets 22 are different poles.

Further, the opening of the distal end of the lumen is closed with an adhesive 21 in order to secure watertightness inside. An objective lens frame 14 having an objective lens 15 inside is incorporated in the distal end opening portion of the other one lumen. Behind the objective lens 15, the tip of the image guide fiber 12 inserted in the same lumen comes into contact with the objective lens 15 to form an observation optical system. Furthermore, the light guide fiber 13 used as an illumination optical system is incorporated in each of the other lumens. The opening of the distal end of the lumen containing the light guide fiber 13 is filled with a transparent adhesive 16 so as to ensure watertightness of this portion and to transmit light.

Then, for example, when the upper electromagnet 22 is energized and magnetized, the adjacent upper electromagnets 22 attract each other, and the outer skin of the upper porous tube 41 contracts in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 3. , Bend upwards. In addition, when the lower electromagnet 22 is energized, a similar action occurs, and the lower electromagnet 22 bends downward.

According to this structure, the bending can be done remotely, and the bending piece 17 of the first to sixth embodiments, the spiral tube 38 of the seventh embodiment, and the eighth embodiment can be bent. The assembly is relatively simpler than using the curved tube portion 5 using the resin tube 40 with the cutout portion 39.
Further, the assembling can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other modified examples are conceivable.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, even with a long insertion portion, the bending portion can be bent easily and reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a distal end side portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope showing a first embodiment of the present invention, (b) is A- in (a).
The longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the A line.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an electric circuit configuration in the endoscope bending apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.

3A is a side view of an endoscope showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a part of a connector, and FIG. 3C is a sectional view of a part of an objective optical system.

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the distal end side portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

5A is a cross-sectional view of a bending tube portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a cross section of the bending tube portion as seen from below. Fig.

FIG. 6 (a) is a transverse cross-sectional view of a bending tube portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (b) is DD in (a).
FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a bending tube portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a bending tube portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a curved core material showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a curved core material showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a transverse cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope showing the ninth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a front view of the distal end portion thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 3 ... Insertion part, 4 ... Flexible tube part, 5 ... Bending tube part, 6 ... Tip structure part, 17 ... Bending piece, 19 ... Magnetic body, 2
0 ... Lead wire, 22 ... Electromagnet, 34 ... DC power supply.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An insertion portion, which comprises an elongated flexible tube portion and a bending portion connected to the distal end thereof, wherein the bending portion is parallel to the long axis of the insertion portion. In the endoscope bending apparatus, one of the regions divided by the boundary surface is shortened in the long-axis direction of the insertion portion, and at the same time, the other region is extended to bend the region. A plurality of electromagnets are installed along at least one of the two regions divided by the boundary surface along the long axis direction of the insertion portion, and a feeding wire is connected to the electromagnets. By supplying the exciting current from the DC power source through the lead wire,
An endoscope bending apparatus, characterized in that the region where the selected electromagnet is located is shortened or extended to bend the bending portion.