JP2000102505A - Connecting structure of endoscope insertion portion - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting structure of an endoscope insertion portion which can connect an inserting part whose outer diameter is different to a handle of the endoscope main body by the working of the thickness of an adjusting ring to make the handle widely usable and which can stably hold the insertion portion as being connected to the handle by connecting the adjusting ring with a through hole to a connecting ring on the insertion portion side, inserting a fixing screw into the connecting ring on the main body side through the through hole, and holding the point of the fixing screw inside the adjusting ring even when the screw is loosened. SOLUTION: An adjusting ring 40 is fixed to a connecting ring 23 on the insertion portion side, and a connecting ring 31 on the main body side is screwed into the adjusting ring 40. A screw hole 34 and a through hole 41 are formed at prescribed positions in the connecting ring 31 on the main body side and in the adjusting ring 40 respectively, and a fixing screw 35 is screwed into a screw hole 34 facing to the through hole 41. The thickness of the adjusting ring 40 is larger than the gap between the connecting ring 31 on the main body side and a cover rubber attaching part 32, and the base of the fixing screw 35, being in contact with the outer surface of the connecting ring 23 on the inserting part side, nearly faces to the outer surface of the connecting ring 31 on the main body side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a connecting portion for connecting an insertion portion into a body cavity or the like to an operation portion of a main body in an endoscope used for medical use or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope is provided with an insertion portion which is inserted into a body cavity or the like connected to a main body operation portion. For example, there is a configuration as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body operation unit, 2 denotes an insertion unit inserted into a body cavity or the like, and 3 denotes a universal cord. The main body operation section 1 is used by an operator to operate the entire endoscope while being held by one hand, and various mechanisms are provided in a casing having a predetermined shape.
Various operation members such as an angle knob 4 are provided outside the housing.
Are attached, and the forceps port 5 is attached as needed. Further, when configured as an optical endoscope, an eyepiece 6 is connected to the main body operation unit 1. The insertion portion 2 is a flexible portion 2a that bends in an arbitrary direction along the insertion path from the connection portion to the main body operation portion 1 along an insertion path, and an angle portion 2b is provided at the tip of the flexible portion 2a. Further, a tip end body 2c is continuously provided at the tip of the angle portion 2b. Here, the angle portion 2b can be bent in each of up, down, left and right directions by operating an angle knob 4 provided on the main body operation portion 1, whereby the tip portion main body 2c can be directed in a desired direction. I can do it. Although not shown, the distal end body 2c is provided with an illuminating unit, an observing unit, and the like. In addition, Universal Code 3
Is detachably connected to a light source device (and a processor) (not shown), has a flexible structure substantially over its entire length, and is provided with a connector at the tip.

The insertion section 2 is connected to the main body operation section 1,
The insertion portion 2 is not only required to be reduced in diameter because of being inserted into a body cavity, but the flexible portion 2a including the base end portion has flexibility. On the other hand, the main body operation section 1 is a hard member because it has a casing made of resin or the like. Therefore, when the examination is performed by the endoscope, the insertion portion 2 is bent in a desired direction.
The hardness changes abruptly at the transition from the base end of FIG. For this purpose, the root portion of the insertion portion 2,
That is, there is a possibility that stress concentrates in the vicinity of the portion where the flexible portion 2a is connected to the main body operation portion 1 and breaks. Therefore, the degree of hardness change of the base end portion of the insertion portion 2 is suppressed,
In order to protect the insertion section 2, the cover rubber 7 is extended from the main body operation section 1 side to the insertion section 2 side to protect the relevant portion.

In the insertion portion 2, an optical fiber, an angle operation wire, a treatment instrument insertion channel, an air supply tube, a water supply tube, and the like are inserted as necessary.
In order to maintain these members, the insertion section 2 is detachably connected to the main body operation section 1. Therefore, FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a connecting portion between the main body operation unit 1 and the insertion unit 2. In FIG. 8, illustration of each member inserted into the above-described insertion portion 2 is omitted.

The structure of the flexible portion 2a includes a spiral tube 8 provided by winding at least a metal strip called a blade in a spiral shape, and a net (not shown) and a urethane resin or the like on the outer periphery of the spiral tube 8. And an outer skin layer 10. At the base end of the helical tube 8, an insertion portion side connection ring 11 is provided.
Are connected by means of welding or the like, and a screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion side connection ring 11. On the other hand, a main body side connection ring 12 extends on the main body operation section 1 side, and the insertion section side connection ring 11 is connected to the main body side connection ring 1.
2 is screwed. In order to prevent the insertion portion side connection ring 11 from loosening after mounting, the main body side connection ring 12 has one or more screw holes 1 at one or more locations.
3 is drilled so as to penetrate the peripheral body, and a set screw 14 is screwed into the screw hole 13 so that the set screw 1
4 is made to bite into the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion side connection ring 11. Thus, even if a force or the like that causes the insertion portion 2 to rotate around the axis by an external force acts, the screwing between the two connection rings 11 and 12 is prevented from being loosened. In addition, the pointed end of the set screw 14 is screwed in a direction away from the insertion portion side connection ring 11 so that the insertion portion side connection ring 1
After releasing the restriction in the screwing direction of 1, the insertion section 2 can be separated from the main body operation section 1 by screwing it to the main body side connection ring 12, and maintenance of each member in the insertion section 2 can be performed. Becomes possible.

[0006]

In the connection structure of the insertion portion of the prior art described above, a set screw substantially fixes the insertion portion in a state of being connected to the main body operation portion.
Even if the set screw is slightly loosened, the regulation of the insertion portion side connection ring 11 is lost. For this reason, set screws are usually provided at about three places, but all set screws may be loosened over a long period of time, and it cannot be said that the stability of the connecting portion is also perfect.

[0007] The diameter of the insertion portion of the endoscope differs depending on the site to be inserted. A scale indicating the insertion length is formed on the outer surface of the insertion portion by silk printing or the like. For this purpose, the entire length of the insertion portion must have a substantially uniform outer diameter including the insertion portion side connection ring. . That is, the outer diameter of the insertion portion side connection ring depends on the outer diameter of the entire insertion portion. Accordingly, the inner diameter of the main body side connection ring into which the insertion portion side connection ring is screwed also depends on the insertion portion. Although the outer diameter of the insertion portion differs depending on the inspection site or the like, the structure of the main body operation unit that is not inserted into the body cavity can be shared regardless of the inspection site or the like. However, since the outer diameter of the insertion portion side connection ring, that is, the inner diameter of the main body side connection ring must be changed according to the outer diameter of the insertion portion, the insertion portions having different outer diameters can be used for the main body operation portion having the same structure. The reality is that they cannot be connected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to connect an insertion portion having a different outer diameter to a main body operation portion, thereby providing a versatility to the main body operation portion. And stably holding the insertion portion connected to the main body operation portion.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a rigid insertion portion side connecting ring is provided at a base end of an insertion portion provided with an observation means at a distal end portion thereof. A structure in which the insertion portion side connection ring is provided on the main body operation portion and detachably connected to the main body side connection ring arranged in the cover rubber attachment portion, and a plurality of through holes are provided on the outer periphery of the insertion portion side connection ring. The formed adjustment ring is fixedly provided, and this adjustment ring is screwed into the main body side connection ring. The plurality of transparent rings are inserted into the main body side connection ring regardless of the relative rotation position between the adjustment ring and the adjustment ring. A plurality of screw holes are provided so as to face any part of the hole, and a set screw is screwed into a screw hole of a part corresponding to the through hole, and a tip is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion side connection ring through the through hole. With or without screw-in configuration, It is an its features that it has a configuration larger than the gap between the through hole forming portion and the cover rubber attachment portion at least the inner surface of the body side coupling ring the thickness of the adjusting rings.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Thus, first, FIG.
2 shows a cross section of a connecting portion between the insertion portion and the main body operation portion, and FIG.
1 shows an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1 with the cover rubber removed, FIG. 3 shows an outer shape of a base end portion of the insertion portion, and FIG. 4 shows a cross section XX of FIG. .

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an insertion portion;
Indicates a main body operation unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the proximal portion of the insertion portion 20 is formed by attaching an outer layer 22 made of a soft resin and a net (not shown) to the outer periphery of the spiral tube 21, and is flexible in the bending direction. A flexible part having a structure having At the base end of the insertion section 20, a main body operation section 30 is provided.
An insertion-portion-side connection ring 23 that forms a connection portion to the connection portion is provided so as to be connected. The distal end side of the insertion portion side connection ring 23 is a thin portion 23a. The thin portion 23a is fitted to the spiral tube 21 and fixed by welding or the like, and the outer skin layer 22 covers the upper portion thereof. Has been extended. On the other hand, the base end side of the insertion portion side connection ring 23 is the thick portion 2
3b, and the outer diameter of the thick portion 23b is
Are substantially the same as the outer diameter of the insertion portion 20 which is the outer diameter of the insertion portion 20.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, a screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the thick portion 23b of the insertion portion side connecting ring 23, and an adjusting ring 40 having a predetermined thickness is formed on the thick portion 23b. This adjusting ring 40 is screwed
Are firmly fixed to the insertion-portion-side connecting ring 23 by means such as adhesion or welding. The adjusting ring 40 is formed with a screw on the inner peripheral surface so as to be screwed to the insertion portion side connection ring 23, and a screw is also formed on the outer peripheral surface. Further, a plurality of through holes 41 extending in the circumferential direction are formed at predetermined positions in the circumferential body of the adjustment ring 40. The reason why the adjusting ring 40 is screwed to the insertion portion side connecting ring 23 is to increase the fixing strength. If the strength such as welding is high, it is only necessary to perform a simple fitting and then fix them together. good.

The adjustment ring 4 is provided on the insertion portion side connection ring 23.
In a state where 0 is screwed, the adjustment ring 40 is screwed into the main body side connection ring 31 provided in the main body operation section 30. A cover rubber attachment portion 32 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the main body side connection ring 31 with a predetermined gap,
A cover rubber 33 is attached to the cover rubber attachment portion 32 to protect a portion on the base end side of the insertion portion 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main body side connection ring 31 is formed with a ridge 31a projecting toward the outer peripheral surface, and the ridge 31a penetrates in the thickness direction thereof. A plurality of screw holes 34 are formed in the radial direction. A set screw 35 is screwed into one of the screw holes 34. Here, the set screw 35
The penetrating hole 41 of the adjusting ring 40 penetrates, and its sharp end comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion side connecting ring 23. Here, in the present embodiment, as is apparent from FIG. 4, three threaded holes 34 are formed in the main body side connection ring 31 in the circumferential direction, and the adjustment ring 40 has a predetermined length. One in which four holes 41 are formed is shown. The reason is that in the relative positional relationship between the screw hole 34 and the through hole 41 in the rotation direction, one screw hole 34 is always required regardless of the position of the adjustment ring 40 in the rotation direction with respect to the main body side connection ring 31. Is completely exposed in the through hole 41. It is desirable that the dimension of the through hole 41 in the width direction is slightly wider than the screw hole 34.

Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 4, the screw hole 34 at the position A where the set screw 35 is screwed completely faces the through hole 41, but the adjusting ring 40 and the main body side connecting ring 3
5 and FIG. 6, respectively, the screw holes 34 at the positions B and C are inserted through the through holes 4 respectively.
1 is completely faced, and set screws 35 are screwed into these screw holes 34. In short, by appropriately setting the angle and the number of the through holes 41 in the adjustment ring 40 in the longitudinal direction and the number of the screw holes 34 provided in the main body side connection ring 31, one screw hole 34 can be surely formed. And set screws 35 in the screw holes 34 thereof. Further, the dimension of the through hole 41 in the width direction is the screw hole 3.
4 slightly larger than the diameter. As a result, even if the adjustment ring 40 and the body side connection ring 31 are slightly displaced in the axial direction, the set screw 3
The pointed end of 5 can be reliably brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion side connection ring 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the thickness T of the adjusting ring 40 is determined by the connecting ring 31 on the main body side and the cover rubber attaching portion 32.
Is larger than the gap D between them. The length of the set screw 35 is such that the pointed end thereof is
In a state in which the base ring 3 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface, its base end is located substantially at the outer peripheral surface of the main body side connection ring 31. Thereby, even if the set screw 35 is loosened and separated from the main body side connection ring 31, the cover rubber mounting portion 32
, The point of which is always located inside the through hole 41. As a result, even if an external force is applied to the insertion portion 20 in the direction of rotation about the axis, only the portion corresponding to the circumferential length of the through hole 41 rotates, but the set screw 35 is It is restricted by the end of it and does not rotate any further.

As a result, not only can the insertion section 20 be prevented from being separated from the main body operation section 30, but also the main body operation section 30 can be prevented.
And the insertion portion 20 can be prevented from shifting in the rotation direction. That is, an observation unit is provided at the distal end of the insertion section 20, and this observation unit has directionality. Main body operation unit 30
Is provided with an angle knob. By operating the angle knob, an angle portion provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion 20 can be bent in a desired direction. However, when the insertion portion 20 is displaced in the rotation direction, the angle By operating the knob,
For example, when the angle portion is to be bent in the up direction, it may be bent in a direction other than the up direction, for example, in the left direction or the right direction, or in the down direction when the insertion portion 20 is extremely rotated. The insertion portion side connection ring 23 connected to the insertion portion 20 is primarily rotated because the sharp end of the set screw 35 screwed into the main body side connection ring 31 bites into the outer peripheral surface. And even if the setscrew 35 is loosened, it is located in the through hole 41 of the adjusting ring 40.
Although the position may be slightly displaced in the rotation direction with respect to the main body operation unit 30, the displacement can be suppressed to a level that does not hinder practical use.

Although various members such as optical fiber bundles are inserted from the insertion section 20 into the main body operation section 30, it is assumed that the insertion section 20 is displaced in the rotation direction within the extremely limited range as described above. In addition, there is no danger that these insertion members are compressed and damaged.

The connection between the insertion section 20 and the main body operation section 30 is not made by directly screwing the insertion section side connection ring 23 into the main body side connection ring 31, but by an adjustment ring 40 interposed therebetween. Therefore, if the thickness of the adjustment ring 40 is appropriately set, even if the outer diameter of the insertion portion 20 is different, it can be connected to the same main body operation portion 30. Accordingly, the adjusting rings 40 having different thickness dimensions are used.
Can be attached to the insertion portion side connection ring 23 as appropriate, so that the main body operation portion 30 can have versatility, and it is not necessary to connect a separate main body operation portion for each different insertion portion. As a result, the cost can be reduced by mass-producing the main body operation unit.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, an adjusting ring having a plurality of through holes formed in the outer periphery is interposed between the connecting portion side connecting ring and the main body side connecting ring. A plurality of screw holes are formed so as to be fixed to the insertion portion side connection ring, and a plurality of screw holes are formed in the main body side connection ring so as to face any of the through holes of the adjustment ring. The set screw is screwed into the screw hole at the part facing the through hole of, and the thickness of the adjustment ring is made larger than the gap between the cover rubber mounting part and the body side connection ring. By inserting an insertion part with a different outer diameter into the main body operation part by the action, the versatility can be given to the main body operation part.In addition, even if the set screw is loose, it will not escape from the through hole of the adjustment ring, Section The effect of such can be stably maintained in a state of being connected to the part.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a structural explanatory view showing a cross section of a cover rubber of a main body operation part and a mounting part thereof at a connection part between an insertion part and a main body operation part. .

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of FIG. 1 with a cover rubber removed.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a base end portion of an insertion portion and an adjustment ring.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2;

5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing a state in which the positional relationship between the main body side connection ring and the adjustment ring in the rotational direction is different.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a further positional difference in the rotational direction between the main body side connection ring and the adjustment ring.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion between a main body operation unit and an insertion unit according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 20 insertion part 23 insertion part side connection ring 23a thin part 23b thick part 30 main body operation part 31 main body side connection ring 32 cover rubber attachment part 34 screw hole 35 set screw 40 adjustment ring 41 through hole

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A hard insertion portion side connection ring is provided at a base end of an insertion portion provided with an observation means at a distal end portion, and the insertion portion side connection ring is provided on a main body operation portion, and a cover rubber attachment is provided. In a structure for detachably connecting to the main body side connection ring disposed in the portion, an adjustment ring having a plurality of through holes formed in the outer periphery of the insertion portion side connection ring is fixedly provided, and the adjustment ring is provided on the main body side connection ring. The body side connection ring is provided with a plurality of screw holes so as to reach any one of the plurality of through holes regardless of the relative rotation position between the adjustment ring and the adjustment ring. A set screw is screwed into a screw hole at a portion corresponding to the hole, and a tip is screwed in such a manner that the tip comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion side connection ring through the through hole, and the thickness of the adjustment ring is reduced. At least the body side connection ring Wherein the gap between the through hole forming portion and the inner surface of the cover rubber attaching portion is larger than the gap between the insertion portion connecting portion of the endoscope.