JP2000126118A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently observe the inside of a wide body-cavity under an optional curved shape by providing a second traction means which tows a first operation wire being passed through a first guide tube when a second operation wire being passed through a second guide tube is towed by a traction means, on an operation section. SOLUTION: When an operation lever is rotated counterclockwise further by a portion for a specified angle, a pin member provided on a hook section, comes into contact with a first curved wire 12a. When the rotation is further advanced, the pin member tows the first wire 12a, and the first curved wire moves to the right. The tip end of a first coil pipe 13a which passes in the first curved wire 12a, is fixed to the base end side by a knotted ring 9c, and by the movement of the first curved wire 12a, a curved section 6 is further curved into two stages in the opposite direction from the base end side of the curved section 6, while keeping a state wherein the tip end side is curved in a small scale to the side of a second curved wire 12b. For example, the curved section 6 curves into two stages in a bladder, and a ureteral opening can be observed by a proper observation distance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having an operation section having a bending operation means for pulling a bending wire connected to a base end of an insertion section and performing a bending operation on the bending section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a flexible endoscope such as a cystoscope is provided with a bending portion that can be bent and operated at a part of a flexible insertion portion inserted into a body cavity. In a narrow space such as the bladder, the curved portion needs to be curved as small as possible in order to efficiently observe an object to be observed such as the ureteral opening located near the internal urethral opening. As a bending portion of this type of endoscope, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-30003
Gazette, JP-A-1-303121 and JP-B-63
-62213 is known.

[0003]

However, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-30003, only the distal end side of the curved portion is arbitrarily bent. For example, in the case of a flexible cystoscope, in the case where the inner urethral opening and the ureteral opening are close to each other, even if only the tip is small, the endoscope endoscope is anatomically anatomical when trying to observe the ureteral opening. It may be difficult to observe the ureter orifice from the front, or the tip lens may be too close to the target, and may deviate from the observation range in which focus is normally focused. is there.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-3303121 discloses that, although the bending portion bends in two steps in opposite directions on the same plane, the same angle is applied to the bending operation on either side because the angle wires intersect. In this way, it bends in two steps. Therefore, for example, like a normal flexible cystoscope, observing the front wall of the bladder and the vicinity of the inner urethral opening with a curvature of 180 degrees or more, so-called inverted vision cannot be performed, and the degree of freedom of observation is small in a wide body cavity turn into.

In Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-62213, an arbitrary bending operation can be performed by disposing a shape memory alloy in each bending piece tube. Since an electric heating means for heating the shape memory alloy is required, there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention that one direction side can be largely bent and the other side is in a direction in which a distal end side and a base end side of a curved portion are opposite to each other. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can be bent and that can sufficiently observe a wide body cavity with an arbitrary curved shape.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an operation section is connected to a base end side of an insertion section inserted into a body cavity, and the insertion section is connected to the insertion section. A bending portion in which a plurality of bending pieces are sequentially connected along the axial direction of the insertion portion is provided at the distal end side of the portion, and the distal end of the bending wire is attached to the distal end side of the bending portion, and the base end of the insertion portion. The bending wire is inserted into the flexible guide tube inserted into the side so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the bending wire is bent by the first pulling means provided on the operation unit to bend the bending portion. In the endoscope, the first guide tube is fixed to the base end of the bending portion, the opposing second guide tube is fixed to the bending piece in the middle portion of the bending portion, and the second guide tube is fixed. The second operation wire inserted through the Upon traction, characterized in that the second traction means for pulling the first operating wire is inserted into the first guide tube provided on the operation unit.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the second traction means of the first aspect comprises a hook provided on the first traction means. An insertion section having a bending section, a plurality of bending wires each having one end connected to the bending section, and a bending operation that is connected to a base end of the insertion section and pulls the bending wire to bend the bending section. In the endoscope provided with the operation unit having the bending operation means, the bending portion is bent by a plurality of bending pieces on the distal end side and the first bending state is bent by a plurality of bending pieces constituting the bending portion. While forming the second bending state, the bending operation means pulls one of the bending wires to hold the bending portion in the first bending state,
An operating means for pulling the other bending wire and performing a bending operation to the second bending state is provided.

According to the first and second aspects, the entire curved portion is largely bent in the same direction in one direction, and when bent to the other side, only the distal end is bent in that direction, and the proximal end is opposite. It bends in two directions in the direction.

According to the third aspect, one of the bending wires is pulled and held in the first bending state in which the bending wires are bent by the plurality of bending pieces on the distal end side, and the other bending wire is pulled to hold the second bending wire. Bending operation can be performed to the state.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show a first embodiment, and FIG. 1 shows an overall view of an endoscope 1. The endoscope 1 includes an insertion section 2, an operation section 3, and an eyepiece section 4 from the distal end side. The insertion portion 2 includes a distal end portion 5, a bending portion 6, and a flexible portion 7. The bending portion 6 is bent by an operation lever 8 provided on the operation portion 3.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the bending portion 6. The bending portion 6 has a plurality of articulation rings 9 connected to the inside of an outer tube (not shown) by rivets 10 so as to be rotatable around the rivets 10. The rearmost node ring 9 a is connected to a connection member 11 provided at the tip of the flexible portion 7. Two curved wires 12 are fixed to the foremost node ring 9b at positions substantially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis by brazing or the like.

The bending wire 12 is inserted through each closely wound coil pipe 13 so as to be movable in the axial direction.
A first coil pipe 13a as a first guide pipe through which a first bending wire 12a on one side of the bending wire 12 passes is fixed at the leading end to the connection member 11 or the rearmost node ring 9a. The distal end of a coil pipe 13b as a second guide tube through which the other second bending wire 12b passes is fixed to a node ring 9c located substantially at the center of the bending portion 6. The proximal end of the coil pipe 13 is fixed inside the operation unit 3 (not shown).

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the internal structure of the operation unit 3. FIG. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The proximal end of the bending wire 12 is fixed so as to be wound around a disk-shaped drum 14.
The bending wire 12 and the drum 14 are not directly fixed.
4 through a wire fixed in advance to the bending wire 12
May be connected and fixed. The drum 14 is fixed to the casing member 15 of the operation unit 3 by an O-ring or the like (not shown) through a shaft 16 that is rotatably penetrated in a watertight state and coaxially with the operation lever 8. I have.

A hook 17 is provided on the circumference of the drum 14. The hook portion 17 is provided with a pin member 18 parallel to the shaft 16. The pin member 18 is connected to the drum 1
4 is at a position where it contacts the bending wire 12a when rotated by the angle θ.

Therefore, when the operation lever 8 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3, the drum 14 is also rotated in the same direction by the shaft 16. Thereby, the first bending wire 12a moves rightward in FIG. Since the distal end of the first bending wire 12a is fixed to the node ring 9b on the distal end side of the bending portion 6, all the node rings 9 rotate clockwise around the rivets 10, respectively. Will be greatly curved over its entire length, like a normal endoscope.

On the other hand, FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) to 6 show the case where the operation lever 8 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. By operating the operation lever 8, the second bending wire 12b moves rightward in FIG. Since the distal end of the tightly wound second coil pipe 13b through which the second bending wire 12b passes is fixed to the node ring 9c, the node ring 9 proximal to the node ring 9c is provided.
Cannot rotate counterclockwise due to the tension of the second coil pipe 13b. Therefore, only the node ring 9 located on the distal side from the node ring 9c rotates, and the bending portion 6 is slightly curved only on the distal side as shown in FIG. 4B.

Further, the operating lever 8 is turned counterclockwise at an angle θ.
When rotated by a distance, the pin member 18 provided on the hook portion 17 is rotated.
Abuts on the first bending wire 12a. When the rotation further proceeds, the pin member 18 pulls the first bending wire 12a as shown in FIG.
a moves rightward in FIG. First bending wire 12a
The distal end of the first coil pipe 13a through which the first bending wire 12a is fixed is located on the proximal side from the node ring 9c. While being slightly curved to the side, it bends in a two-stage manner from the base end side of the bending portion 6 in the opposite direction. FIG.
Is an example of observing the inside of the bladder. Since the bending portion 6 is bent in a two-stage manner in the bladder 19, it is possible to observe the ureteral opening 20 at an optimum observation distance.

FIG. 7 shows the second embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. FIG. 7A shows the internal structure of the operation unit 3. FIG.
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. The operation portion 3 of the bending wire 12 is provided with a second operation lever 21 coaxial with the operation lever 8 and at a position opposite to the operation member 8 with the casing member 15 interposed therebetween. The second operation lever 21 is connected to a second drum 23 via a second shaft 22 that rotatably penetrates the casing member 15 of the operation unit 3 in a water-tight manner. The hook 17 in the first embodiment is provided on the second drum 23.

Therefore, when the operating lever 8 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 7, the bending portion 6 at the distal end is largely bent over the entire length of the bending portion 6, and when the operating lever 8 is rotated in the opposite direction, the bending portion 6 is only slightly bent at the distal end. I do. If the second operation lever 21 is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction as needed, the bending portion 6 is bent in the opposite direction while the base end of the bending portion 6 is bent in the opposite direction while the distal end is bent slightly.

According to the present embodiment, since the two-stage bending operation can be operated by the independent operation lever, the surgeon can select the bending shape according to the observation site and the form. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment, in which the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 8 shows the internal structure of the operation unit 3. Here, a state is shown in which the operation lever 8 has already been operated counterclockwise in FIG. 8 and the second bending wire 12b has already been pulled to the right.

The casing member 15 is provided with a through hole 24 at a position facing the first curved wire 12a, and a projection 25 is provided around the through hole 24. A rod member 26 is inserted through the through hole 24. One of the bar members 26 is in contact with the first bending wire 12a, and the other is provided with a button portion 27. A biasing unit 28 made of a cylindrical rubber or the like is provided between the projection 25 and the button 27. One of the urging means 28 is connected to the convex portion 25 and the other is connected to the button portion 27 in a watertight manner. The bar member 26 is urged by the urging means 28 toward the button 27.

Accordingly, similarly to the second embodiment, after the operation lever 8 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 8, the button 27 is pushed in the direction of the casing 15. The operation unit 26 is the first
Is pushed in the direction of the second bending wire 12b, and as a result, the first bending wire 12a is pulled rightward in FIG. When the finger is released from the button portion 27, the rod member 26 returns to the initial state by the urging means 28, whereby the first bending wire 12a is also released from the pulled state.

According to this embodiment, since the second wire pulling operation is a push button operation, the two-stage bending operation can be reliably performed without being mistaken for a normal bending lever. In addition, unlike the bending lever, the operation is a pushing operation toward the center of the operation unit, so that the operation unit does not shake during the operation, and the operation can be performed safely.

According to the above embodiment, the following configuration is obtained. (Supplementary Note 1) An operation unit is connected to a base end side of an insertion unit to be inserted into a body cavity, and a plurality of bending pieces are sequentially arranged along a distal end side of the insertion unit along an axial direction of the insertion unit. A connected bending portion is provided, and a distal end of the bending wire is attached to a distal end side of the bending portion, and the bending wire is inserted through a flexible guide tube inserted into a proximal end side of the insertion portion so as to be able to advance and retreat, By pulling the bending wire by a first pulling means provided in the operation section, in an endoscope configured to bend the bending section, a first guide tube is fixed to a base end of the bending section, When the opposing second guide tube is fixed to the bending piece at the intermediate portion of the bending portion, and the second operation wire inserted through the second guide tube is pulled by the pulling means, Pulls the first operation wire inserted through one guide tube Endoscope the second traction means, characterized in that provided in the operation portion that.

(Supplementary Note 2) The second traction means according to supplementary note 1 is characterized in that it comprises a hook provided on the first traction means. (Supplementary Note 3) An insertion portion having a bending portion, a plurality of bending wires each having one end connected to the bending portion, and a bending operation of the bending portion by being connected to a base end of the insertion portion and pulling the bending wire. In an endoscope provided with an operation section having a bending operation means, the bending section is bent by a plurality of bending pieces on a distal end side and a second bending state is formed by a plurality of bending pieces constituting the bending section. And the bending operation means pulls one of the bending wires and holds the bending portion in the first bending state while pulling the other of the bending wires to form the second bending wire. An endoscope comprising operating means for performing a bending operation in a state.

(Supplementary Note 4) The endoscope according to supplementary note 1, wherein the second traction means operates independently of the first traction means. (Supplementary Note 5) The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the second traction means includes a lever member coaxial with the first traction means and a hook member interlocked with the lever member. .

(Supplementary Note 6) The endoscope according to Supplementary note 1 or 2, wherein the second pulling means comprises a rod member for moving the first operation wire in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. .

According to the first to third embodiments, the entire curved portion is largely bent in the same direction in one direction, and when bent to the other side, only the distal end is bent in that direction. The side is curved in two steps in opposite directions to cover a wide observation range with a large bending angle like a conventional endoscope, and to optimize the part close to the insertion part if necessary Observation can be performed from a short observation distance, and the lesion can be observed without overlooking it.

10 to 12 show Disclosure Example 1, and FIG.
The endoscope disinfecting case 50 is shown in FIG. Endoscope disinfection case 50
Is composed of a main body 51 and a frame part 52. The main body 51 has a box-shaped or cylindrical case portion 53 having substantially the same depth as the entire length of the endoscope, and has a slide rail portion 54 on its side surface along the longitudinal direction.

The frame section 52 is composed of a shaft 55 movably engaged along the slide rail section 54, an endoscope hook section 56, and an insertion section guide 57. The endoscope hook portion 56 projects at a position perpendicular to the shaft 55, and the insertion portion guide 57 is parallel to the shaft 55,
When the slider 5 moves along the slide rail portion 54, it has a positional relationship such that it fits in the case portion 53. An end of the insertion portion guide 57 is provided with a ring-shaped tip support portion 58 having a diameter sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion of the endoscope in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction.

According to Disclosure Example 1, as shown in FIG.
After the endoscope procedure has been completed and the basic cleaning has been completed, the disinfectant is stored in the case 53. Next, the insertion section 2 of the endoscope 1 is inserted into the distal end support section 58, and the operation section 3 is connected to the endoscope hook section 56.
Then, the shaft 55 is moved along the slide rail portion 54, and the insertion portion guide 57, the distal end support portion 58, and the insertion portion 2 and the operation portion 3 of the endoscope 1 are immersed in the disinfecting liquid in the case portion 53. I do.

After a sufficient disinfection time has elapsed, the shaft 55 is pulled up along the slide race portion 54 as shown in FIG. Then, the endoscope 1 is removed from the frame section 52. At this time, since the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 is in the distal end support portion 58, it does not swing and accidentally touch the vicinity of the opening of the case portion 53 where the disinfectant is not stored. While maintaining the state, the case 53
It is possible to remove from. Further, even if the insertion portion 2 is slightly shaken and touches the insertion portion guide 57, the disinfection state of the insertion portion 2 is not spoiled because the insertion portion guide 57 is also immersed in the disinfecting solution.

In this way, the person in charge of cleaning the endoscope can take it out of the cleaning case without worrying that the long insertion portion touches a dirty area after cleaning.

In the case where the endoscope has a configuration including an insertion section, an operation section held by an operator, and a light guide cable for guiding illumination light of a light source, the light guide cable is detachably attached to the operation section. The freely provided technology is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-297249 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 63-24.
882 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-67702. That is, FIG. 13A shows a state before the light guide cable is connected, and FIG. 13B shows a state after the connection.

However, in the above-mentioned publication, the connection bases of the operation part and the light guide cable are exposed at the connection part. Therefore, dirt enters the concave and convex portions of the mouthpiece, and post-operative cleaning is complicated. In addition, the transmission loss of the illumination light is transmitted to the base as heat, and the connection portion may generate heat, which may adversely affect the operator.

FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) show disclosed example 2 in which the above-mentioned problem is solved, in which the light guide cable can be easily attached and detached without any adverse effect on the operator. 1 shows an endoscope of a type.

FIG. 14 shows the operation section 61 of the endoscope and the connection section 63 of the light guide cable 62. This is the state before connection. In the operation unit 61, a light guide fiber bundle 65 having an illumination light incident end 64 is fixed to a base 66 in a watertight manner with an adhesive or the like. The base 66 is screwed and fixed to the operating portion outer shell 67 through an O-ring 68 in a watertight manner with a nut 69.

On the other hand, a light guide fiber bundle 70 for guiding illumination light from the light source to the operation section 61 is inserted into the light guide cable 62. Reference numeral 71 denotes an emission end of the illumination light to the operation unit 61 side. On the emission end 71 side, the light guide fiber bundle 70 is fixed to the base 72 with an adhesive or the like. The base 72 is connected and fixed to a flexible tube 73. A flange 74 is provided at the end of the base 72, and an annular elastic member 75 is provided on the soft tube 73 side. A cover member 76 having an elastic member such as synthetic rubber is provided on the outer periphery of the base 72, and is tapered toward the flexible tube 73. The end is a soft tube 73
Are formed slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the.

An insert-molded base 77 is provided on the inner periphery of the cover member 76 on the operation portion 67 side, and has the same end surface as the outer peripheral elastic member 78. An annular protrusion 79 is provided on the outermost peripheral portion of the elastic member 77 toward the operation portion 67 side. An elastic member 75 is provided on the soft tube 73 side of the base 77.
A protrusion 80 is provided for locking the flange 74 to the operation unit 67 via the.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 14B in a state where the light guide cable 62 is connected to the operation section 67. The surgeon grasps the elastic member 78 and holds the base 66 and the base 7.
7 are screwed together, first, the input end 64 and the output end 77.
Abuts. Further, the elastic member 75 is elastically deformed by being sandwiched between the flange portion 74 and the convex portion 80, and the incident end 64 and the output end 77 are pressed and brought into close contact. On the other hand, the projection 79 is elastically deformed by being pressed by the operation portion outer shell 67. That is, the connecting portion 6
No. 3 is completely covered with the cover member 76, so that it is easy to clean after the operation and does not adversely affect the operator.

Although the projection 79 is provided at the end of the elastic member 78 of the cover member 76, it does not matter if the elastic member 78 and the operating portion outer shell 67 abut upon completion of the connection. According to the disclosed example, the following configuration is obtained.

(Supplementary Note 7) An input end of a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject is disposed on the operation unit, and an output end of a light guide cable for supplying the illumination light to the light guide. When the light guide cable is connected, the connecting portion is covered with an outer surface or a cover member covered with an elastic member, and the entire peripheral surface at one end of the elastic member is operated when the light guide cable is connected. A light guide cable detachable endoscope, wherein the light guide cable detachable endoscope is abutted against the outer peripheral surface of the light guide cable.

(Supplementary Note 8) The endoscope according to supplementary note 7, wherein the cover member is a part of the connection means. According to the above configuration, the connecting portion between the operation unit and the light guide cable is covered with the rubber member having a low heat transfer coefficient. It is easy to wash later.

Further, even if the connecting portion generates heat due to the loss of illumination light, the rubber member reduces the heat conduction to the operator.
Does not burn the surgeon. In addition, since the portion that needs to be touched during the connection work is made of rubber, the finger can be easily gripped, does not slip, and the connection work can be performed reliably. Further, when using the endoscope, the surgeon wears rubber gloves, but there is an effect that there is no possibility that the rubber gloves will be broken.

On the other hand, the insertion portion of the conventional endoscope is provided with a bending tube between the flexible tube and the distal end member, and the bending tube is pulled by a hand through an operation wire. Is forcibly bent. In a general bending tube, a plurality of articulation rings are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope insertion portion, and the ear pieces of the adjacent articulation rings are superimposed on each other, and are rotatably pivoted with rivets. .

A technique using laser welding for connection of the node ring with the rivet is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-61239. The technology disclosed in the publication is shown in FIG.
(A) is a rivet 81 used for joining the node ring,
As shown in (b), the rivet 81 passes through a hole 83 provided in one of the ear pieces 82, and the leading end surface thereof is connected to the other of the ear pieces 8.
4 is melt-bonded to the side surface by the laser beam L.

FIG. 8B shows a state after the laser welding. In the fusion joining surface between the end face of the rivet 81 and the ear piece 84, the material of the rivet 81 and the ear piece 84 melted in a liquid state causes a surface tension. A foot part is formed. Since the skirt portion has a larger diameter than the rotation axis of the rivet 81, it is necessary to previously set the gap shown by l in the figure to obtain a smooth rotation state of the node ring. That is, there is a problem that the joint portion of the node ring becomes large in the axial direction of the rivet 81 in order to secure this l.

The disclosure example 3 is made in view of the above situation, and aims at reducing the joint portion of the node ring in the longitudinal direction of the rivet. FIG. 16 shows an endoscope 91. The basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 17 shows the structure of the bending portion 6. Covered rubber 92
A plurality of articulation rings 93 are arranged in the longitudinal direction. Each node ring 93 has ear pieces 94 provided diagonally at both ends.
Are joined by rivets 95 and rivets 9
Each node ring 93 is movable in the bending direction around the fifth rotation axis.

FIG. 18 shows a connection state between the ear pieces 94.
An ear piece 94a is provided at the end of the node ring 93a on the left side in FIG. The turning piece 96 of the rivet 95 is attached to the ear piece 94a.
A hole 97 through which the small-diameter portion of the rivet 95 penetrates is provided, and an ear piece 94b is provided on the opposite node ring 93b with which the tip surface 99 on the opposite side of the large-diameter portion 98 of the rivet 95 abuts. By irradiating the laser beam L to the back surface of the ear piece 94b, the distal end surface 99 and the ear piece 94b are integrated. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, a chamfered portion 100 is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 96 of the rivet 95.

Next, the operation of the present disclosure will be described.
FIG. 20 shows a state in which the joining by the laser is completed. The contact portion between the distal end surface 99 and the ear piece 94b is melt-bonded, and the rivet 95 and the molten piece 1 of the ear piece 94b that have become liquid at the contact portion are formed.
01 flows into a gap formed by the chamfered portion 100 and the ear piece 94b. As a result, the fusion piece 101 is solidified without exceeding the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 96, and the rivet 95 and the lug 94b are fusion-bonded. The shape of the chamfered portion 100 does not depend on the shape, and the peripheral surface of the tip end surface 99 may be rounded.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show a modification of the third disclosed example, in which a step is provided on the rotating shaft 96 of the rivet 95 and a small-diameter portion 103 having a smaller diameter than the rotating shaft 102 is provided. is there. The small diameter portion 103 becomes a gap through which the molten piece 101 flows, solidifies without exceeding the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 102, and the rivet 95 and the ear piece 104 are fusion bonded.

According to the above disclosed example, the following configuration is obtained. (Supplementary Note 9) A plurality of node rings having a rotation axis orthogonal to the bending direction of the endoscope insertion section are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope insertion section, and adjacent node rings are riveted to each other. In a bending tube of an endoscope movably connected, a rivet including a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion is provided, and one of the adjacent articulating rings rotatably connected has a slightly larger diameter than the small-diameter portion. A rotating shaft hole is provided, and the edge of the small diameter portion end face of the shaft member in which the small diameter portion is loosely fitted in the rotating shaft hole is formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than the small diameter portion,
A bending tube for an endoscope, wherein the bending tube is fixed to the other node ring by means of fusion and integration.

(Supplementary Note 10) A curved tube of an endoscope in which a plurality of node rings having a rotation axis are connected to each other has a node ring having a rotation axis hole, and the rotation axis hole having a convex portion and a flange portion. A rotating shaft member that is arranged by loosely fitting the projection into the rotating shaft hole from the inside of the node ring; and the rotating shaft member that covers the rotating shaft hole of the node ring having the rotating shaft hole and is melted. A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising a node ring having a connecting piece formed integrally with the endoscope.

According to the configuration described above, the rivet can be reduced in the longitudinal direction at the joint portion of the node ring, so that the built-in components such as the channel tube, the image guide fiber, and the light guide fiber inserted into the insertion portion can be further densified. And the endoscope performance was improved. On the other hand, in the case where the built-in object is maintained, the present technology can be used for reducing the outer diameter of the endoscope.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cover a wide observation range with a large bending angle, and to observe a part close to the insertion portion from an optimum observation distance as necessary. This has the effect that it is possible to observe the part without overlooking it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the bending portion of the embodiment.

3A and 3B show the operation unit of the embodiment, wherein FIG. 3A is a longitudinal side view, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

4A and 4B show the same embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is a longitudinal side view of an operation unit, and FIG. 4B is a side view of a state where a bending unit is bent.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view showing the operation unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of the same embodiment in a state of being inserted into a body cavity.

FIG. 7 shows an operation unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is a longitudinal side view, (b) is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of (a).

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional side view showing an operation unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional side view showing the operation unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an endoscope disinfecting case showing the first disclosed example.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal side view of the endoscope in a state where the endoscope is immersed in the endoscope disinfecting case according to the first disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a state where the endoscope is pulled up from the endoscope disinfecting case according to the first disclosed example.

13A is a side view showing a state before a light guide cable is connected to an endoscope, and FIG. 13B is a side view showing a state after connection.

14A and 14B show a disclosure example 2, in which FIG. 14A is a half-sectional view of a connection portion showing a state before a light guide cable is connected,
(B) is a half sectional view of a state after connection.

FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view of a rivet used to join a node ring of a curved tube, and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the rivet is fusion-bonded to a side surface of the other ear piece by laser light.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the entire configuration of an endoscope, illustrating Disclosure Example 3;

FIG. 17 is a vertical side view of a curved tube according to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a connection state between ear pieces according to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a rivet according to the embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the connection example of the disclosure example;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of a rivet showing a modification of the embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of a connection state according to a modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Bending part 8 Operating lever 9 Bending piece 12a, 12b Bending wire 13a, 13b Coil pipe

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Nagamizu 24-243 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo F-term in Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (reference) 2H040 BA21 CA11 DA03 DA14 DA19 DA21 EA01 4C061 AA15 BB00 CC00 DD03 FF11 FF21 FF32 FF33 HH35 JJ11

Claims (3)

[Claims] An operation section is connected to a proximal end side of an insertion section to be inserted into a body cavity, and a plurality of bending pieces are provided on a distal end side of the insertion section along an axial direction of the insertion section. A curved portion which is sequentially connected is provided, a distal end of the curved wire is attached to a distal end side of the curved portion, and the curved wire is inserted into a flexible guide tube inserted into a proximal end side of the insertion portion so as to be able to advance and retreat. A first terminal provided with the bending wire in the operation unit;
In the endoscope in which the bending portion is bent by being pulled by the pulling means, a first guide tube is fixed to a base end of the bending portion, and an opposing second guide tube is fixed to the bending portion of the bending portion. When the second operation wire inserted into the second guide tube is pulled by the pulling means, the first wire is fixed to the bending piece at the intermediate portion.
An endoscope, wherein a second pulling means for pulling a first operation wire inserted through the guide tube is provided in the operation section. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second traction means comprises a hook provided on the first traction means. 3. An insertion section having a bending section, a plurality of bending wires having one ends connected to the bending section, and a bending operation of the bending section being connected to a base end of the insertion section and pulling the bending wire. An endoscope provided with an operation unit having a bending operation unit that performs bending in a first bending state in which a plurality of bending pieces configure a bending portion and a first bending state in which the bending portion is bent in a plurality of bending pieces on a distal end side. And the bending operation means pulls one of the bending wires to hold the bending portion in the first bending state, and pulls the other of the bending wires while holding the bending portion in the first bending state. An endoscope comprising operating means for performing a bending operation in a bending state.