JP2000316797A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which is capable of preventing the barrel dropping phenomenon that curving barrels largely deviate from a prescribed curving angle and turn with each other and preventing the breaking of the interior equipment. SOLUTION: The endoscope which is connected with a manipulation part on the base end side of an insertion part to be inserted into the celom and has a curving part successively connected with the plural curving barrels along the axial direction of the insertion part on the front end side of the insertion part is provided with projecting parts 16 with which one end edges of the adjacent curving barrels 11 come into abutment on each other at the other curving barrels 11 near the end edges of the adjacent curving barrels 11 when the end edges do not come into abutment on each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having a flexible insertion portion which is inserted into a body cavity, and which has a bending portion which can be bent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a bending portion of an endoscope, one having a configuration disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 51-141888 is known. The bending portion of a general endoscope is such that a plurality of bending pieces are linearly arranged in the axial direction of an insertion portion inserted into a body cavity, and the edges of adjacent bending pieces are pivotally connected to each other by a rivet pin. Thus, the respective bending pieces are connected to each other. Further, a pair of bending operation wires for bending the bending portion are disposed in the insertion portion of the endoscope at upper and lower portions and left and right portions.

A bending operation wire is pulled by a bending drive operation at a proximal operation portion connected to a base end portion of the insertion portion, whereby each bending piece rotates around a rivet pin in a pulling direction. The entire bending piece can be bent until the edges of the adjacent bending pieces come into contact with each other.

[0004]

In recent years, endoscopes have been reduced in diameter in order to make patients less invasive. For this reason, the bending piece constituting the bending portion has been reduced in diameter, and its thickness has also been reduced. Therefore, depending on the processing error, the edges of the adjacent curved pieces do not contact each other, and the curved pieces rotate more than the design value.

[0005] In addition, the curved portion deteriorates due to long-term use,
This phenomenon may also occur when looseness occurs in the connection between the bending pieces. When this phenomenon occurs, the optical fiber and the treatment tool insertion tube that transmit the image and illumination light disposed in the bending portion are also sharply bent at that site,
It may be damaged. In addition, since the curved shape of the entire curved portion is not smooth and unnatural, the observation operability may be impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to be able to bend greatly deviating from a predetermined bending angle even when the edges of adjacent bending pieces do not abut. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can prevent a piece drop phenomenon in which pieces turn, and can prevent damage to built-in components.

[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 a distal end side of the insertion section is provided. In an endoscope having a bending portion in which a plurality of bending pieces are sequentially connected along the axial direction of the insertion portion, in the vicinity of the edge of an adjacent bending piece, when the edges of adjacent bending pieces do not abut. A convex portion with which the edge of one bending piece abuts is provided on the other bending piece.

As described above, when the edges of the adjacent bending pieces do not come into contact with each other near the edges of the adjacent bending pieces,
By providing the convex portion with which one edge is in contact, it is possible to prevent a falling piece in which the bending pieces are rotated so as to largely deviate from a predetermined bending angle, and to prevent damage to the built-in components. And the durability of the endoscope is improved,
The user does not have to worry about excessive handling.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show a first embodiment, and FIG.
1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope 1. FIG. Endoscope 1 is insertion section 2
And an operation unit 3. The operation section 3 is provided with an eyepiece section 4, a detachable forceps insertion / perfusion base section 5 and an operation lever 6, and a light guide cable 7 is connected thereto.

The insertion portion 2 comprises an annular flexible portion 8, an annular curved portion 9 connected to the distal end, and a distal end portion 10 provided at the foremost end of the curved portion 9. Although not shown, a fiber for image transmission, a fiber for illumination, a tube for a forceps insertion channel, and the like are inserted, and these are fixed to the distal end component 10 at the distal end side.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the bending portion 9. In the bending portion 9, a plurality of substantially ring-shaped bending pieces 11 are sequentially arranged in series along the axial direction of the insertion portion 2 inside an outer tube (not shown). It is rotatably connected by a rivet-shaped shaft pin 12.

3 and 4 show the bending piece 11 in an enlarged manner. An ear-shaped connecting portion 13 is provided at two positions on the left and right sides around the distal end edge and the proximal end edge of the bending piece 11,
It is formed symmetrically by projecting integrally. Each of these connecting portions 13 is provided with a shaft hole 14. The shaft pin 12 is inserted into each of the sets of the shaft holes 14 of the corresponding connecting portions 13 of the adjacent bending pieces 11 and is riveted.

Thus, the adjacent bending pieces 11 are connected in series. At both the distal end edge and the proximal end edge of the bending piece 11, cutouts 15 are formed on the upper side and the lower side with respect to the central axis, respectively, to form linear end faces. The end face of each notch 15 is inclined outward toward the center of the bending piece 11 toward the outside, and the extension of the inclined end face is formed so as to pass through the center of the shaft hole 14 or its vicinity. .

In the vicinity of the distal end edge and the proximal end edge of the bending piece 11, a convex part 16 protruding toward the outer surface thereof is provided at an upper and lower position which is shifted from the connecting part 13 by about 90 degrees. I have. The convex portion 16 is provided in a belt shape in the circumferential direction between the left and right connecting portions 13.

Also, two bending operation wires 17 (see FIG. 2) are disposed inside the bending portion 9 so as to be vertically shifted by about 90 degrees from the connecting portion 13 about the axis of the insertion portion 2. It is arranged. The distal end of the bending operation wire 17 is fixed to the distal bending piece 11a by brazing or the like, and the base end of the bending operation wire 17 is driven by a bending operation lever 6 provided in the operation section 3. (Not shown).

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the bending operation wire 17 is pulled by the surgeon operating the bending operation lever 6 of the hand-side operation section 3, the tip bending piece 11a to which the tip of the pulled bending operation wire 17 is fixed is fixed. Each bending piece 11 is pulled toward the base end direction of the bending portion 9, and at this time, each bending piece 11 rotates around the shaft pin 12 due to a rotating moment generated around the shaft pin 12. When each bending piece 11 is processed to a predetermined size, each bending piece 11 rotates until the end faces of the cutouts 15 of the adjacent bending pieces 11 abut against each other.

When the inner diameter of a certain bending piece 11 is slightly larger than the predetermined dimension or is slightly deteriorated,
When rattling occurs between the shaft pin 12 and the shaft hole 14 in the connecting portion 13, the end surfaces of the notch portions 15 of the bending pieces 11 do not abut with each other, and the edge of one bending piece 11 is adjacent. And the so-called dropping phenomenon begins to occur. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the edge on the side on which the vehicle runs has come into contact with the convex portion 16 of the adjacent bending piece 11, and the bending pieces 11 do not rotate any further.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a falling piece in which the bending pieces are rotated so as to largely deviate from a predetermined bending angle, and to prevent damage to the built-in components. As a result, the durability of the endoscope is improved, and the user does not have to worry about excessive handling.

FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bending piece 11.

Therefore, the convex portion 16 of the bending piece 11 on the riding side comes into contact with the end face of the notch 15 of the adjacent bending piece 11. According to the present embodiment, since the convex portion 16 is not on the outer peripheral side, the curved portion 9 itself has no effect on the outer diameter, and there is an effect that the insertability to the patient is not impaired.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the bending piece 11, and a convex part 16 projecting to the outer diameter side is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the bending piece 11. The convex portion 16 is provided in a substantially hemispherical shape at a vertical position shifted from the connecting portion 13 by about 90 degrees. Therefore, bending piece 1
1 is easy to process and has an effect that it can be provided at low cost.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the bending piece 11, in which one side in the outer peripheral portion is a small diameter portion 11a and the other side is a large diameter portion 11b.
Thus, the step portion 20 is provided. Accordingly, the end surfaces of the cutouts 15 do not abut each other during bending, and the large-diameter portion 11b of one bending piece 11 comes into contact with the step 20 of the other bending piece 11, thereby defining the bending angle.

According to the above embodiments, the following configuration is obtained.

(Supplementary Note 1) An operation unit is connected to a base end side of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity, and a plurality of bending pieces are provided at a distal end side of the insertion portion in an axial direction of the insertion portion. In the endoscope having the curved portions sequentially connected along the edge, in the vicinity of the edge of the adjacent curved piece, when the edges of the adjacent curved pieces do not abut, the convex portion with which the edge of one curved piece abuts the other. An endoscope provided on a bending piece.

(Supplementary Note 2) The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the convex portion protrudes in an outer radial direction of the bending piece.

(Supplementary Note 3) The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the convex portion protrudes in an inner diameter direction of the bending piece.

(Supplementary note 4) The endoscope according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the convex portion is formed in a band shape along the circumferential direction of the bending piece.

(Supplementary note 5) The endoscope according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the convex portion is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape.

According to the above construction, when the edges of the adjacent bending pieces do not contact each other near the edges of the adjacent bending pieces, a convex portion with which one of the edges touches is provided, so that the predetermined bending can be achieved. It is possible to prevent a falling piece in which the bending pieces are rotated so as to deviate greatly from the angle, and to prevent damage to the built-in components. As a result, the durability of the endoscope is improved, and the user does not have to worry about excessive handling.

Next, the case of observing the inside of an organ, such as the inside of the bladder or the uterus, with an endoscope in the areas of ureterology, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, etc. will be described. The field of view may become cloudy due to factors such as the following. Therefore, a method is usually employed in which a liquid is sent from a channel provided in an endoscope to make the visual field clear.

However, in recent years, in order to reduce the pain of patients,
Although thinner flexible endoscopes have been used, thin endoscopes are limited in the size of the channel provided, so it is not sufficient to clarify the field of view simply by feeding liquid from the channel opening. Often difficult.

In order to eliminate such turbidity in the visual field,
In a rigid endoscope, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 183813/1987, a sheath is provided around the insertion portion of the endoscope, and liquid is sent from the clearance between the insertion portion of the endoscope and the inner diameter of the sheath. As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-36602, a double sheath is provided around the insertion portion of the endoscope to simultaneously perform liquid supply and suction, actively promote perfusion, and clarify the visual field. ing.

However, in the case of the conventional sheath system, since water is supplied and drained from the clearance between the endoscope insertion portion and the sheath, if the clearance is small, a sufficient perfusion effect cannot be obtained. Also, if the clearance is increased, it is necessary to increase the outer diameter of the sheath,
As a result, there is a problem that it causes pain to the patient at the time of insertion into the patient, and the insertability into the patient is greatly reduced.

Therefore, a flexible fin member is provided radially along the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the sheath insertion portion substantially equal to the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion to extend the length of the patient. When inserting the fin member along the circumferential direction, the fin member can be inserted without causing pain to the patient, and when necessary, the sheath is rotated to raise the fin member in the sheath radial direction, and between the body wall and the sheath. By ensuring the clearance, a sufficient perfusion effect can be obtained.

The specific configuration will be described below.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope 21. The endoscope 21 includes an insertion unit 22 and an operation unit 23. The insertion portion 22 includes a curved portion 24 and a flexible portion 25 on the distal end side, and a channel opening 26 is opened on the distal end surface. A luer taper base 27 is provided on the distal end side of the operation unit 23. The luer taper base 27 has a forceps insertion adapter 29 having a base 28 to which an existing water supply means or suction means (not shown) can be connected. It is detachably connected.

Although not shown, an image transmitting fiber, an illuminating fiber, and a tube 30 for inserting a forceps insertion tube are inserted into the inside of the insertion portion 22. The base end side of the tube 30 for inserting the forceps insertion tube is connected to the luer taper base. The distal end side communicates with the channel opening 26.

The operating section 23 is provided with an eyepiece 31 and an illumination connector 32 connectable to an external light source (not shown). The insertion section 22 is provided with a perfusion sheath 33 that can advance and retreat in the longitudinal direction. The perfusion sheath 33 includes a sheath body 34 and a grip 35 provided on the base end side thereof. The outer diameter of the sheath body 34 is the same as that of the endoscope 21.
Has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the insertion portion 22, and a tapered portion 36 is formed at the tip thereof. An expansion portion 37 is provided on the base end side of the tapered portion 36.

As shown in FIG. 10, the extension portion 37 is formed by a plurality of fin members 38. The fin member 38 has a triangular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the extended portion 37 and is formed of an elastic member such as silicon that can bend in the circumferential direction of the extended portion 37. Also,
A chamfer 39 is formed at the distal end and the proximal end of the fin member 38.

The extension portion 37 is composed of a plurality of fin members 38 provided radially in the longitudinal direction. The length of the extension portion 37 in the longitudinal direction is at least 10 mm or more, and extends over the entire length of the sheath body 34. May be formed.

Next, the operation of the endoscope configured as described above will be described.

Here, the scope for obstetrics and gynecology will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. As shown in FIG. 11, the operator puts the perfusion sheath 33 on the insertion portion 22 of the endoscope 21 and moves the cervix 42 of the patient. Insert At this time, the chamfered portion 39 at the tip of the fin member 38 of the extended portion 37 at the tip of the perfusion sheath 33
The grasping part 35 is rotated before entering the cervix 42.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the extension portion 37. This causes the fin member 38 of the extension 37 to bend in the circumferential direction, so that the outermost diameter of the extension 37 is smaller than before rotating the grip 35 and inserted without excessively expanding the cervix 42. To go.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the surgeon performs water supply from the water supply means connected to the mouthpiece 28 of the forceps insertion adapter 29 via the forceps insertion channel tube 30 of the endoscope 21. Secure the field of view. During observation, if the visual field becomes turbid due to bleeding or the like, when the grip 35 is rotated to the opposite side as described above, the top of the fin member 38 hits the wall surface of the cervix 42 as shown in FIG. It returns to a radially standing configuration, resulting in a clearance 41 between the cervix 42 and the fin 38. The perfusate is discharged out of the uterus through the clearance 41.

The fin member 38 of the extension 37 is provided in a curved shape along the circumferential direction of the extension 37 from the beginning. The surgeon does not need to rotate the gripping part more than necessary at the time of insertion, and the fin member 38 may have a square cross-sectional shape in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. The top may be curved.

According to the above embodiment, the following configuration is obtained.

(Supplementary Note 6) In the perfusion sheath for an endoscope used by being externally mounted on the insertion portion of the endoscope, at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the sheath insertion portion substantially equal to the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion is provided.
A perfusion sheath for an endoscope, wherein fin members having elasticity in the circumferential direction are provided radially in the longitudinal direction.

(Supplementary Note 7) The perfusion sheath for an endoscope according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein the fin member is provided in a radial direction of the sheath insertion portion.

(Supplementary note 8) The perfusion sheath for an endoscope according to Supplementary note 6, wherein the fin member has a shape curved along the circumferential direction of the sheath insertion portion.

(Supplementary note 9) The perfusion for an endoscope according to any one of Supplementary notes 6 to 8, wherein the fin member has a substantially triangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sheath insertion portion. sheath.

(Supplementary note 10) The perfusion sheath for an endoscope according to any one of Supplementary notes 6 to 8, wherein the fin member has a quadrangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sheath insertion portion. .

According to the above configuration, a fin member having flexibility along the circumferential direction is provided on the outer periphery of the sheath insertion portion substantially equal to the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, when inserted into the patient, the fin member is tilted down in the circumferential direction, and when necessary, the sheath is rotated to raise the fin member in the sheath radial direction, and the clearance between the body wall and the sheath can be secured, As a result, the patient can be inserted without causing any pain and a sufficient perfusion rate can be obtained when necessary, so that the operator can operate the endoscope easily and safely.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the vicinity of the edge of an adjacent curved piece, when the edges of the adjacent curved pieces do not abut, the convex portion with which one edge abuts is provided. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent the falling pieces in which the bending pieces are rotated so as to largely deviate from the predetermined bending angle, and to prevent the built-in components from being damaged. As a result, the durability of the endoscope is improved, and the user does not have to worry about excessive handling.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a vertical side view of the bending piece of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bending piece of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bending piece according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bending piece according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal side view showing a modification of the bending piece.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope provided with a perfusion sheath.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an extension part of the endoscope.

FIG. 11 is a use state diagram of an endoscope provided with a perfusion sheath.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an extension of the endoscope.

FIG. 13 is a use state diagram of an endoscope provided with a perfusion sheath.

FIG. 14 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an extension part of the endoscope.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the expansion section of the endoscope.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2. Insertion section 3. Operation section 9. Bending section 11. Bending piece 16. Protrusion section

Claims (1)

[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. In an endoscope having a curved portion sequentially connected, in the case where the edges of adjacent bending pieces do not contact each other in the vicinity of the edge of the adjacent bending piece, the convex portion with which the edge of one bending piece abuts is bent to the other side. An endoscope provided on a piece.