JP2000126119A - Endoscof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope that can be adjusted so as to allow an operator whose hands are small or an operator who holds uniquely the control section, to curve comfortably. SOLUTION: In an endoscope where pulleys 33a and 33b rotated by a bending control lever 9 are provided, bending control wires 21a and 21b are wound around the pulleys 33a and 33b, the bending portion 5 of an insertion portion is bent by drawing the bending control wire 21a and 21b by rotating the pulleys 33a and 33b, the radius of winding at a time when the bending control wires 21a and 21b are wound around the periphery of the pulleys 33a and 33b can be changed in relation to the rotational center of the pulleys 33a and 33b, and the manipulated variable of rotation of the bending control lever 9 at a time when the bending portion 5 of the insertion portion 3 is bent, is made adjustable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a bending portion of an insertion portion is bent by a remote operation using a bending operation lever of an operation portion, and in particular, a pulley is rotated by the bending operation lever. And an endoscope configured to bend the bending portion via a wire wound around the pulley.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an operator inserts an insertion part of an endoscope into a body cavity and observes and diagnoses a portion to be inspected, the operator grasps the operation portion with one hand, searches for the portion to be inspected, and performs a wide range of inspection. In order to observe or treat the examination part, place the other hand on the insertion part of the endoscope to guide the insertion part, or insert a treatment tool such as biopsy forceps from the forceps insertion port, and Perform biopsy operation, injection of drug solution, etc. Because of the use of both hands in this manner, a bending device for bending the bending portion must be operated only by the hand that grips the operation unit body. That is, the operation of the bending device is performed by an operation only with the hand holding the operation unit.

A common method of gripping the operation unit of the endoscope is a gripping method as shown in FIG. 9, in which the belly of the thumb of the hand holding the grip of the operation unit is operated by touching the bending operation lever. To In this case, the moving distance of the bending operation lever is determined by the size of a general operator's hand.
As shown in the publication, it was set to about 40 to 50 mm.

On the other hand, in a conventional bending device of an endoscope, an operation wire for operating a bending portion is wound around a pulley in the operation portion and an end thereof is fixed to the pulley, and a rotating shaft of the pulley and the operation wire are connected. The distance to the towing fulcrum was fixed, and the distance was not adjustable.

[0005]

When an operator with a small hand rotates the bending operation lever with one hand while holding the operating portion with one hand, the operator moves the bending operation lever. Since the distance is too long, it is difficult to perform a desired amount of bending operation, and it is easy to be tired. When such an operator uses the endoscope for a long period of time, extreme fatigue increases mainly at a site near the thumb. In addition, there is a possibility that the moving operation distance of the bending operation lever is limited to a short range, and the bending portion cannot be bent sufficiently to a desired bending angle.

On the other hand, even if the size of the hand is a general surgeon, even if the surgeon holds the upper part of the operation section, the bending operation lever is operated by the belly of the second joint of the thumb. Will be. In this case, the general moving distance of the bending operation lever is too long, and in this case, there is the same problem as described above.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention that an operator having a small hand or a method of holding an endoscope operation unit is unique. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can be adjusted so that a bending operation can be performed comfortably by an operator.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a bending operation lever provided on an operation portion, a pulley rotated by the bending operation lever, and one end portion wound around the pulley and the other end. A bending operation wire connected to a bending portion of the insertion portion, and the pulley is rotated by the bending operation lever, the bending operation wire is wound, and the bending operation wire is pulled; An endoscope configured to bend the bending portion of the pulley, comprising means for changing a winding radius when the bending operation wire is wound around the winding periphery of the pulley, and the bending of the insertion portion is performed by the means. The amount of turning operation of the bending operation lever when the portion is bent can be adjusted. Therefore, the operating range of the bending operation lever can be adjusted so that the bending operation can be performed comfortably even by an operator with a small hand or an operator who has a unique way of holding the endoscope operation unit.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. (Construction) As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 has an operation section 2 and an insertion section 3, and the insertion section 3 has a flexible tube section 4, a bending section 5, and a distal section 6 from its proximal end side. , And is configured as a long member that can be inserted into the body cavity. The bending portion 5 is configured to be bendable and is bent by an operation of the operation portion 2 via a bending operation mechanism described later. The distal end portion 6 has a built-in objective optical system and the like.

The operating portion 2 has a grip portion 8 formed on the outer periphery of the main body 7 and a bending operation lever (angle operation lever) 9 is provided at a proximal portion adjacent to the grip portion 8 so as to be rotatable. Have been. An eyepiece 10 is provided at the proximal end of the operation unit 2. The operation unit 2 is provided with operation buttons 11 and the like.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the bending operation mechanism. The bending portion 5 has a plurality of bending pieces 15 arranged in the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion section 3, and adjacent bending pieces 15 are rotatably connected to each other by pins 16. It is connected to the body member of the part 6. A braided tube (not shown) in which an element wire such as metal is braided is fitted outside these bending pieces 15, and an elastic resin layer (not shown) is laminated on the braided tube. It is exterior.

The distal end of a pair of upper and lower bending operation wires 21a and 21b is attached to the bending piece 15 located at the most distal end by connecting means shown in FIG. That is, guide grooves 23 are formed at respective positions above and below the bending piece 15 so that the slide member 22 is slidably fitted in the axial direction. Collars 24 are formed at both left and right ends of the slide member 22 so as to extend to the outer peripheral surface of the bending piece 15. At the center of the slide member 22, a concave portion 25 that enters the guide groove 23 is formed. The distal ends of the bending operation wires 21a and 21b are firmly fixed with solder or the like in a state of being fitted into the recess 25. The bending operation wire 2 connected to the slide member 22
Since both 1a and 21b extend from the groove 23 through the inside of the bending piece 15, the slide member 22 does not fall out of the bending piece 15.

A wire guide ring 26 is formed in a portion of the peripheral wall portion of the bending piece 15 which is located closer to the operation portion 2 than the guide groove 23 in the axial direction, and the bending operation wires 21a and 21b are connected to the wire guide ring. 26, it is guided to the operation unit 2 side. The wire guide ring 26 is formed in a ring shape by cutting a part of the peripheral wall of the bending piece 15 inward.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a coil spring 2 is provided at a portion of the bending operation wires 21a and 21b between the slide member 22 and the wire guide ring 26.
7 are wound. The coil spring 27 is located closer to the operation section 2 than the slide member 22, and constitutes a means for constantly pressing and biasing the slide member 22 toward the distal end. With such an urging structure, it is possible to prevent the bending operation wires 21a and 21b, to which no tension is applied, from bending in the operation section 2 and the insertion section 3 during a bending operation as described later. . The urging means need not be a spring member, but may be an elastic member such as an elastic resin.

The bending operation wires 21 a and 21 b are guided into the operation section 2 through the bending section 5 and the flexible tube section 4 of the insertion section 3. These bending operation wires 21a,
The base end of 21b is individually connected to the corresponding pulling wires 32a, 32b via connecting members 31a, 31b, respectively. These traction wires 32
a and 32b are a kind of a bending wire, and constitute a part of the bending operation wire. And each said pulling wire 3
2a and 32b are wound around separate pulleys 33a and 33b, respectively.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing components around the pulleys 33a and 33b. Here, the bending operation mechanism includes a first pulley 33a that winds a pulling wire 21a that performs an upward bending operation, and a second pulley 33b that winds a pulling wire 21b that performs a downward bending operation. With two pulleys. The first bending wire 21a is wound around the first pulley 33a from above, and its tip (end) is firmly fixed to the periphery of the first pulley 33a with solder or the like. Further, the second bending wire 21b is connected to the second pulley 33.
b and wrap it around from below, and its tip (end)
Are firmly fixed to the periphery of the second pulley 33b with solder or the like.

Each of the pulleys 33a and 33b is formed with long holes 35a and 35b including the center position thereof. Then, the pulley shaft 36 is inserted into both the long holes 35a, 35b of the pulleys 33a, 33b. A large-diameter flange (head) 37 is formed at one end of the pulley shaft 36, and a male screw portion 39 with which a large-diameter pulley pressing member 38 is screwed is formed at the other end of the pulley shaft 36. Then, with the pulley shaft 36 passing through the elongated holes 35a and 35b, the pulley pressing member 39 is connected to the male screw portion 38.
The two pulleys 33a and 33b are sandwiched between the flange 37 and the pulley pressing member 39 by being screwed in, and both are pressed down and fixed.

A so-called D-cut is made in the middle of the pulley shaft 36, which is fitted into the long holes 35a and 35b, that is, the portion in contact with the pulleys 33a and 33b. As shown in the figure, the width is a flat shape or a rectangular shape having a width corresponding to or slightly smaller than the width of the long holes 35a and 35b. For this reason, after assembling the pulleys 33a and 33b to the pulley shaft 36, the pulleys 33a and 33b can move in the longitudinal direction of the long holes 35a and 35b, but the pulley shaft 3
No rotation around 6.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, long holes 35a, 3b provided in each pulley 33a, 33b are provided.
5b extends in the circumferential direction from the center position, and the respective pulleys 33a, 33b are assembled in a state where the elongated holes 35a, 35b extend in a symmetrical position where the extending direction is inverted by 180 °. I have.

The bending operation lever 9 is fixed to an end of the pulley shaft 36 by a screw 40. Therefore, by rotating the bending operation lever 9, the pulley shaft 36 and the pulley 33 locked with the bending operation lever 9 are rotated.
a and 33b rotate integrally, and pulleys 33a and 33b
And one of the pulling wires 32a, 32b whose ends are fixed to the pulleys 33a, 33b. Then, the towed pulling wires 32a, 32
b, the bending operation wires 21a and 21b connected to the bending operation wires 21a and 21b are also pulled, and the bending piece 15 located at the foremost end connected to the bending operation wires 21a and 21b, and the tip body connected thereto are also pulled, The bending portion 5 is bent in the pulling direction about the pin 16 of each bending piece 15.

The flexible tube section 4 of the insertion section 3 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, a braided tube 42 in which a wire such as metal is braided is provided outside the spiral tube 41 formed by spirally winding a spiral metal band-shaped member. A resin layer 43 made of hard polyurethane or the like is formed on the region portion by a dipping method in order to change the hardness of the flexible tube portion 4. Further, the knitted tube 4
2 and the outer periphery of the resin layer 43, a thermoplastic elastomer 44 is laminated and externally provided.

When the flexible tube portion 4 is formed in this manner, the operation portion 2 side portion of the flexible tube portion 4 becomes relatively hard and the distal end portion thereof becomes relatively soft. The properties are excellent. Further, since the distal end portion is soft, the insertability into a complicated portion such as a bronchus or a curved portion such as the intestine becomes excellent.

(Operation) Normally, the surgeon rotates the bending operation lever 9 with his / her thumb while holding the grip 8 of the operation unit 2 with one hand as shown in FIG. In this case, the movement (operation) distance of the bending operation lever 9 is too long for an operator with a small hand size, and it may be difficult to perform a desired amount of bending operation. In this case, the following adjustment is performed.

That is, a first pulley 33a for winding the pulling wire 21a for performing the upward bending operation and a second pulley 33a for winding the pulling wire 21b for performing the downward bending operation.
Pulley holding member 38 fixing pulley 33b of
And pulleys 33a and 33b are displaced relative to the pulley shaft 36 and the shaft portion of the bending operation lever 9 by a necessary amount along the longitudinal direction of the long holes 35a and 35b provided therein. Thereafter, the pulley holding member 38 is tightened and fixed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the upward pulley 33a and the downward pulley 33b are each denoted by "a".
In the state where the pulleys 33a and 33b are moved from the rotation center axis by the length of the bending operation lever 9, the diameter of an imaginary rotating circle passing through the actual winding periphery of the pulleys becomes "B".
Assuming that the amount of movement of the bending operation wires 21a and 21b required for setting the bending portion 5 to a certain bending angle is "1", the rotation (operation) of the bending operation lever 9 for obtaining the amount of movement of "1". The angle is “β”. As shown in FIG. 7B, the rotation angle “β” is the same wire movement amount “l” when the pulley shaft 36 is aligned with the center position of the upward pulley 33a and the downward pulley 33b. Is smaller than the rotation angle “α” of the bending operation lever 9 when issuing “”. That is, the bending operation wire 2 is attached to the pulleys 33a, 33b with respect to the rotation center of the pulleys 33a, 33b.
The radius of the winding periphery when 1a and 21b are wound is changed to be larger. Thus, the bending operation wire 21
The winding radius when a and 21b wind around the pulleys 33a and 33b can be changed to a value that allows a comfortable bending operation. That is, in the present embodiment, the pulleys 33a,
The operating range of the bending operation lever 9 can be adjusted by changing the relative distance between the center of 33b and the fulcrum that pulls the bending operation wires 21a and 21b.

(Effect) As described above, the pulleys 33a, 3
The amount of movement (operation) of the bending angle of the bending operation lever 9 can be reduced by adjusting the relative distance between the rotation center of 3b and the fulcrum for pulling the pulling wires 32a, 32b. In this way, even a person with a small hand or a person who holds the operation unit 2 differently can adjust the amount of rotation of the bending operation lever 9 suitable for the person.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. (Structure) FIG. 10 shows a pulley 51a for the upward direction and a pulley 51b for the downward direction. The upward bending operation wire 52a is wound around the upward pulley 51a from the upper side, and the pulley 51a
Is firmly fixed to the peripheral portion with solder or the like. Also, a downward bending operation wire 5 is attached to the downward pulley 51b.
2b is wound from below, and the end is firmly fixed to the periphery of the pulley 51b with solder or the like.

Each of the pulleys 51a and 51b is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, and here is an ellipse having a major axis "a" and a minor axis "b". Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the pulley shaft 53 is connected to the upward pulley 51a.
And through the shaft holes 54a, 54b provided at the center of the pulley 51b for downward direction, respectively. The pulley shaft 53 has a flange (head) 55 formed at one end, and a male screw portion 57 to which a pulley pressing member 56 is screwed is formed at the other end. The pulley holding member 56 is screwed into the male screw portion 57.

Then, the pulley shaft 53 is passed through both the shaft holes 54a and 54b of the respective pulleys 51a and 51b, and the pulley pressing member 56 is screwed into the male screw portion 57 of the pulley shaft 53. Both pulleys 51a and 51b are sandwiched and fixed between the flange 55 and the pulley holding member 56.

At this time, each pulley 51a, 51b
Is the pulley 5 as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG.
The long-diameter direction of 1a, 51b is arranged and fixed so as to coincide with the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion section 3 of the endoscope 1. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Operation / Effect) When adjusting the amount of turning operation of the bending operation lever 9 for an operator with a small hand, the pulley pressing member 56 is loosened to pull up the pulley 5 for upward direction.
The pulley 1a and the downward pulley 51b are made rotatable, and the pulleys 51a and 51b are rotated by a necessary amount in a direction in which the bending operation wires 52a and 52b are stretched. After this adjustment, the pulley holding member 56 is tightened and fixed. As shown in FIG. 12, the diameter of the rotating circle of the pulley 51a is changed from "b" to "a".
Becomes small movement (rotation) of the bending operation lever 9
The desired curvature can be obtained by the amount. Pulley 51a,
In the direction in which the major axis direction of 51b is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion section 3, the moving (operating) distance of the bending operation lever 9 is the shortest.

The same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained by the above. When performing the above adjustment, pulleys 51a and 51b are connected to bending operation wire 52.
a and 52b are rotated in the direction of stretching and fixed.
At this time, the bending operation wire 5 by repeating the bending operation
The decrease in the bending angle due to the elongation of 2a and 52b can be eliminated at the same time.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. According to the description of the above embodiment, at least the following items and items in any combination thereof can be obtained.

<Supplementary Notes> A bending operation lever provided on the operation unit, a pulley rotated by the bending operation lever, and a bending operation in which one end portion is wound around the pulley and the other end portion is connected to the bending portion of the insertion portion. An endoscope having a wire, wherein the pulley is turned by the bending operation lever to pull the bending operation wire, and the bending portion of the insertion portion is bent. Endoscope having means capable of changing a winding radius wound around the bending section, whereby the amount of turning operation of the bending operation lever when bending the bending portion of the insertion section can be adjusted. mirror. 2. The first pulley comprises two pieces, and each of the bending operation wires is connected to each of the pulleys.
The endoscope according to the paragraph. 3. The endoscope according to paragraphs 1 and 2, wherein each of the two pulleys is relatively movable in parallel and can be fixed to the rotation shaft at an arbitrary position. 4. The endoscope according to paragraphs 1 and 2, wherein each of the two pulleys is an elliptical shape, is rotatable around a rotation axis, and can be fixed to the rotation axis at an arbitrary position. mirror.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, a bending operation is performed so that a bending operation can be performed comfortably even for an operator having a small hand or an operator who has a peculiar manner of holding the endoscope operation section. The amount of rotation of the operation lever can be adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an entire endoscope according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing a bending operation mechanism in the endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection portion between a bending operation wire and a bending piece in the endoscope.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a connecting portion between the bending operation wire and the bending piece.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing parts around a pulley portion in the endoscope.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a pulley portion in the endoscope.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the endoscope at the time of operating a pulley.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a flexible tube portion in an insertion portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an operation state of an operation unit of the endoscope.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a pulley portion in the endoscope according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing parts around a pulley portion in the endoscope.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the endoscope at the time of operating a pulley.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 2 ... Operation part, 3 ... Insertion part, 5 ... Bending part, 9
... Bending operation levers, 21a, 21b ... Bending operation wires, 32a, 32b ... Twisting wires (bending operation wires), 33a, 33b ... Pulleys, 35a, 35b ... Elongated holes, 36 ... Pulley shafts, 39 ... Pulley holding members.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A bending operation lever provided on an operation portion; a pulley rotated by the bending operation lever; a pulley having one end portion wound around the pulley; A bending operation wire connected thereto, the pulley is rotated by the bending operation lever, the bending operation wire is wound, the bending operation wire is pulled, and the bending portion of the insertion portion is bent. In the endoscope, there is provided a means for changing a winding radius when the bending operation wire is wound around the winding periphery of the pulley, and the bending operation when bending the bending portion of the insertion portion by the means. An endoscope, wherein an amount of rotation of a lever is adjustable.