JP2001231745A - Suction controller for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suction controller of an endoscope which is capable of regulating suction pressure immediately when needed and has excellent cleanability. SOLUTION: A valve member 130 is internally provided with a pressure- regulating valve 150 and is capable of communicating a lower passage 40 and an upper space or shutting off the communication by opening and closing of the pressure-regulating valve 150. A screw member 152 to be screwed to the pressure-regulating valve 150 is connected to a button 160 and a pressure- regulating spring 154 is disposed between the screw member 152 and a step part 138. The screw member 152 is axially moved by rotating the button 160, by which the shrinkage quantity of the pressure-regulating valve 150 is changed and the opening degree of the valve of the pressure-regulating valve 150 screwed the screw member 152 may be regulated. The pressure-regulating valve 150 is so constituted that the valve descends automatically to open the valve and to release the pressure when the pressure in the space to which a valve part 151 belongs drops down to the prescribed pressure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope used for medical purposes and the like, and more particularly to a suction control device for controlling suction of body dirt and tissues.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A suction mechanism of an endoscope mainly includes a suction port opened at a distal end of an insertion section, a suction control device provided in a main body operation section, a suction pump serving as a negative pressure source, and a suction pump. A suction passage having an opening as an opening and connected to a suction pump via a suction control device. The suction control device is provided with a valve for controlling suction, and this valve is used to switch the connection destination of the suction pump and to connect the suction pump to an open air path or to the suction passage. The state in which the suction pump is connected to the open-to-atmosphere path is called a no-load state. In this state, the suction pump only sucks the atmosphere and does not suck in the suction passage. The state in which the suction pump is connected to the suction passage is called a suction state. In this state, the suction pump performs suction in the suction passage, so that the inside of the suction passage becomes a negative pressure and suctions internal dirt and tissues from the suction port. can do. The control of this valve is performed by a button provided in the control device.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show sectional views of the structure of a conventional suction control device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the device in a no-load state. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the device in a suction state. In addition,
In the following description and the accompanying drawings, components having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The valve that controls the suction
It mainly comprises a valve casing 10 and a valve member 30. The lower end of the valve casing 10 is opened to communicate with a suction pump (not shown) that is a negative pressure generating source, and a suction port 90 is connected to a side of the valve casing 10 with a suction passage 90 having a suction port 92 as one end. A mouth communication chamber 12 is provided. Suction port communication room 1
A partition 14 is provided on the upper part of the partition 2, and the upper part of the partition 14 is an open part 16 which is opened to communicate with the atmosphere. The valve casing 10 is a housing (not shown) of a main body operation unit.
And a ring member 20 is provided at the upper end of the valve casing 10.
Are connected.

A valve member 30 is mounted in the valve casing 10 so as to be able to move up and down while sliding within the valve casing 10. The valve member 30 has an enlarged diameter portion 32 whose diameter is increased in the axial direction. The moving range of the valve member 30 is determined by the upper and lower surfaces of the enlarged diameter portion 32 contacting the ring member 20 and the partition wall 14, respectively. The inside of the valve member 30 is hollow from the lower end to the middle and forms a passage 40, and the passage 40 communicates with a suction pump as a negative pressure generation source. The valve member 30 has the enlarged diameter portion 3
2, a side opening 34 which is an opening communicating with the passage is formed in the lower side portion, and a through hole 36 is formed in the enlarged diameter portion 32. An O-ring 80 for maintaining airtightness is disposed on a side surface of the valve member 30 near the side opening 34.

A button 60 is connected to the upper part of the valve member 30, and a spring 62 is provided between the button 60 and the ring member 20.
Is provided. Under normal conditions where no external force is applied,
The button 60 and the valve member 30 connected to the button 60 by the elastic force of the spring 62 are in an upper position as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when the valve member 30 moves upward and the enlarged diameter portion 32 contacts the ring member 20,
Part of the side opening 34 is located above the side wall. At this time, the suction port communication chamber 12 and the passage 40 are formed by the side wall of the valve member 30.
Is shut off, so that the suction pump communicates with the atmosphere through the side opening 34 and the through hole 36. This state is a no-load state.

When the user wants to perform suction, he pushes the button 60. This causes the button 60 and the valve member 30 connected to the button 60 to move downward as shown in FIG.
As described above, when the valve member 30 moves downward and the enlarged diameter portion 32 is in contact with the partition wall 14, the side opening 34 overlaps with the suction port communication chamber 12, and the suction pump and the suction passage communicate with each other. Since the airtightness is maintained by the O-ring 80 on the side surface of the valve member 30, the suction pump cannot communicate with the opening 16, and the suction passage 90 enters a suction state in which a suction force acts. In the suction state, it is possible to suction body fluids, dirt, and the like in the body cavity. To release the suction state, if the force applied to push the button 60 is released, the button 60 moves upward by the elastic force of the spring 62 and returns to the no-load state.

[0007]

However, the button 60 is depressed to bring it into a suction state, and the polyp 9 is pushed from the tip.
As shown in FIG. 5, when trying to suck the sample 4, the polyp 94 may stick to the tip and cover the entire surface of the suction port 92 at the tip, thereby closing the suction passage 90. In such a state, the negative pressure in the suction passage 90 increases, and the button 60 does not return upward and the suction state cannot be released even if the force pressing the button 60 is released. If the suction state lasts longer than necessary, the tissue on the body surface may be destroyed, which is dangerous.

[0008] Some users may want to take out a polyp or the like separated from the body surface while sucking it to the tip. In this case, it is sufficient if there is a weak suction pressure that does not separate the polyp or the like, but in the conventional apparatus, the suction pressure is controlled by a suction pump. Therefore, there was a problem that the suction pressure could not be controlled immediately, and it was difficult to perform appropriate treatment.

In addition, the endoscope is cleaned each time it is used, and particularly the suction passage needs to be carefully cleaned. If the cleaning liquid enters the inside of the ring member 20 having the spring 62 during cleaning, it is difficult to completely discharge the cleaning liquid. If the inside of the ring member 20 is not completely cleaned, the apparatus cannot be kept clean, and a hygienic problem occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to adjust the suction pressure as soon as necessary, and to provide an endoscope having excellent cleaning properties. The present invention provides a suction control device.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an endoscope having a suction port at the distal end of an insertion portion provided in the middle of a suction passage of an endoscope. A valve unit for switching between a no-load state in which a negative pressure source connected to the suction passage is connected to the atmosphere and a suction state in which the negative pressure source is connected to the suction port; A button provided on the main body operation section of the endoscope for performing operation of the section, and pressure adjusting means provided in connection with the button section and capable of adjusting the pressure in the suction passage in the suction state. , A suction control device for an endoscope. By means of pressure regulation,
Since the suction pressure in the suction passage can be adjusted to a desired pressure, it is possible to appropriately cope with various treatments. Further, by providing the pressure adjusting means in relation to the button portion, the operation is easy, the pressure can be changed in a timely manner, and a very accurate treatment can be performed.

At this time, as described in claim 2, when the pressure in the suction passage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined negative pressure value in the suction state, the pressure adjusting means controls the inside of the suction passage. If it is configured to be forcibly opened to the atmosphere, a leak path is formed and it is possible to return to a no-load state. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the pressure adjusting means is capable of adjusting the predetermined negative pressure value for forcibly opening the inside of the suction passage to the atmosphere by operating the button. Is preferred. As pressure adjustment means,
A pressure regulating valve or the like that allows the suction passage to communicate with the atmosphere and release the pressure when the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure is conceivable.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the valve section includes an opening communicating with the negative pressure source, a chamber communicating with the suction port, and the chamber separated by a partition. A cylinder member having an open portion arranged at a different position in the axial direction and communicating with the atmosphere, and a piston member fitted into the cylinder and provided with a side opening on the side surface and movable in the axial direction. The piston member moves in the axial direction, and the side opening selectively overlaps with the chamber or the opening, thereby switching between the suction state and the no-load state. It may be formed to have a tapered shape tapering toward the partition. By making the inner wall of the opening portion tapered toward the partition wall, the piston member moves slightly to reach the tapered tip when the suction member shifts from the suction state to the no-load state. Leakage can be made from the tip of the shape, and it is possible to return to the no-load state more quickly.

Further, as set forth in claim 5, it is preferable that the button section is configured to be detachable from the endoscope main body together with the pressure adjusting means. Thus, the button portion can be removed from the endoscope body, the periphery of the button portion can be reliably cleaned, and the device can be kept clean.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope used for medical use or the like. The endoscope can be roughly classified into an insertion portion 1 inserted into a body cavity, a main body operation portion 3 having a base end portion of the insertion portion 1 continuously provided, and a light source and a power source drawn out of the main body operation portion 3. Cord part 6 connected to
Consists of The distal end of the insertion section 1 is provided with a distal end 1a in which an observation optical system for observing the inside of the body is disposed, and at a position adjacent to the distal end 1a, a bend is formed at a predetermined angle in two or four directions. The configured angle portion 1b is provided. A forceps channel (not shown), which is a conduit through which the forceps are inserted, and a suction passage 190 are provided inside the insertion portion. Here, the forceps channel and the suction passage 19 are used.
0 merges and opens at the tip 1a to form a suction port. Suction of body dirt and tissue is performed through the suction passage 190 from the suction port.

The main body operating section 3 is mainly composed of a forceps port branching section 3a and a grip section 3b for gripping the main body operating section 3.
And an operation unit 3c. A forceps insertion port 102 is provided on a side surface of the forceps port branching portion 3a, and a forceps insertion port 1 is provided inside the forceps insertion port 102.
Forceps port branch channel with opening 02 (not shown)
Is provided. The forceps opening branch channel is a conduit through which forceps are inserted, and is connected to the forceps channel inside the insertion section 1.

The operation unit 3c is provided with an angle knob 104 and a button 160. Angle knob 104
Is for remotely controlling the bending of the angle portion 1b. By rotating the angle knob 104, the angle portion 1b can be bent by a desired amount in a predetermined direction. The button 160 is used to operate a valve for controlling suction in the suction passage.
By operating 0, it is possible to switch between the suction state and the non-load state. The suction passage is connected to a suction pump via a fluid pipe 106 provided near the outlet of the cord section 6.

2 and 3 are sectional views showing the structure of the suction control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The valve for controlling suction mainly includes a valve casing 110 and a valve member 130. As in the case of the above-described conventional valve casing 10, also in the present embodiment, the lower end of the valve casing 110 is opened so as to communicate with a suction pump (not shown) that is a negative pressure generating source. Has a suction port (not shown)
Port communication chamber 1 communicating with a suction passage 190 having one end
12 are provided. A partition 114 is provided above the suction port communication chamber 112, and an upper portion of the partition 114 is an open portion 116 which is opened to communicate with the atmosphere.
The valve casing 110 is fixed to a housing (not shown) of the main body operation unit, and a ring member 120 is connected to an upper end of the valve casing 110. The difference between the valve casing 110 of the present embodiment and the conventional one is that
16 is that a tapered portion 118 is formed such that the inner wall below 16 has a tapered shape tapering toward the partition 114.

In the valve casing 110, a valve member 130 is provided.
Are mounted so as to be movable up and down while sliding with the valve casing 110. Like the conventional valve member 30, the valve member 130 has an enlarged diameter portion 132 whose diameter is increased in the middle in the axial direction.
have. The upper and lower surfaces of the enlarged diameter portion 132 abut on the ring member 120 and the partition wall 114, respectively, so that the moving range of the valve member 130 is determined.
Further, a side opening 134 which is an opening is formed in a side portion below the enlarged diameter portion 132, and a through hole 136 is formed in the enlarged diameter portion 132.
Are formed. The side opening 134 is configured to communicate with a lower passage 140 described later. The side surface of the valve member 130 near the side opening 134 is provided with O
A ring 180 is arranged.

In the valve member 130 of the present embodiment,
The following points are different from the conventional one. The valve member 130 has a passage communicating therewith from the upper end to the lower end, and a step 138 having a narrow passage in the middle of the passage. Step 1 for explanation
The passage above 38 is referred to as an upper space, and the passage below the step 138 is referred to as a lower passage 140. Lower passage 14
Numeral 0 communicates with a suction pump that is a negative pressure source. On the side surface above the enlarged diameter portion 132 of the valve member 130, a side surface through-hole portion 142, which is a through-hole communicating with the upper space, is provided. The position of the side surface through-hole 142 is determined by the pressure adjusting spring 15 described later.
4 is located at a desired position.

A pressure regulating valve 150 is provided inside the valve member 130, and the pressure regulating valve 150 is provided at the upper end of the lower passage 140.
Is located in the step 138 and the upper space,
It is mounted so that the shaft of the pressure regulating valve 150 is located. The diameter of the passage of the step 138 is larger than the diameter of the shaft of the pressure regulating valve 150, and a gap is formed between the step 138 and the shaft. By opening and closing pressure regulating valve 150,
The lower passage 140 can be communicated with the upper space, or the communication can be cut off. A screw member 152 is provided in the upper space so as to screw with the pressure adjusting valve 150. A pressure adjusting spring 154 is provided between the screw member 152 and the step 138. A button 160 is connected to the upper part of the screw member 152. The button 160 and the screw member 152 are detachable from the endoscope main body. The button 160 is rotatable around a central axis. When the button 160 rotates, the screw member 152 moves in the axial direction, and the amount of contraction of the pressure adjusting spring 154 changes. Thus, the degree of opening of the pressure adjusting valve 150 screwed to the screw member 152 can be adjusted. In addition, the pressure regulating valve 150
Is configured such that when the pressure in the space to which the valve portion 151 belongs reaches a predetermined pressure, the valve is automatically lowered and the valve is opened to release the pressure.

A spring 162 is provided between the button 160 and the ring member 120. In a normal state in which no external force is applied by the elastic force of the spring 162, as shown in FIG.
50, the valve member 130 is integrally positioned upward, and the enlarged diameter portion 132 comes into contact with the ring member 120. In this state, the side opening 134 is located higher than the side wall, and the suction port communication chamber 112 and the lower passage 140 are shut off by the side wall of the valve member 130. Therefore, the suction pump uses the side opening 134 and the through hole 136 as paths. Communicate with atmosphere.
This state is a no-load state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the button 160 is depressed, the button 160, the screw member 152, and the pressure regulating valve 1 are pressed.
50, the valve member 130 descends integrally, and the enlarged diameter portion 132 comes into contact with the partition wall 114. In this state, the side opening 134 overlaps the suction port communication chamber 112, and the suction pump communicates with the suction passage 190. If the pressure regulating valve 150 is not open, the O-ring 18 on the side of the valve member 130
Since the airtightness is maintained by 0, the suction pump cannot communicate with the opening 116, and a suction force is applied to the suction passage 190, so that a suction state is established.

In the suction state, it is possible to suck body fluids, dirt and the like in the body cavity. In the suction state, a polyp or the like may stick to the distal end portion and cover the entire suction port at the distal end portion, thereby closing the suction passage. In this case, when suction continues and the negative pressure increases and the pressure in the passage reaches a predetermined pressure,
As described above, the pressure regulating valve 150 is automatically lowered, and the valve is opened. As a result, the lower passage 140, the step 13
8. The pressure adjusting spring 154 and the side surface through-hole 142 serve as a leak path, and the suction pump can communicate with the atmosphere, and the suction state can be released. As described above, even when the suction passage 190 is closed and the negative pressure continues to increase, the pressure regulating valve 150 functions as a safety device and forms a leak path, so that it is possible to return to a no-load state. Therefore, there is no danger of the tissue on the body surface being destroyed, and it is safe.

Further, when the button 160 is rotated, the degree of opening of the pressure regulating valve 150 changes. This gives
The predetermined pressure value at which the pressure control valve is automatically opened can be changed, and the pressure value can be set to be optimal for each case. Further, the pressure in the suction passage can be adjusted by changing the degree of opening of the pressure adjustment valve 150. Therefore, the inside of the suction passage can be set to a desired pressure. This is the case where you want to actively suck out the polyp at the tip and take it out.
Available in various cases. In addition, since the pressure in the suction passage 190 can be adjusted by the button 160 provided in the main body operation unit, the suction pressure can be immediately controlled when necessary, and appropriate measures can be taken.

To release the suction state, similarly to the conventional device, if the force applied to push the button 160 is released, the elastic force of the spring 162 causes the button 160, the screw member 152, the pressure adjusting valve 150, the valve member 130 moves upward integrally and returns to the no-load state. When returning to the no-load state,
The side opening 134 moves from a position where the side opening 134 overlaps the suction port communication chamber 112 and moves toward the opening 116. Here, since the inner wall below the opening 116 has a tapered shape tapering toward the partition 114, the valve member 1 has a smaller diameter than the conventional one.
30 moves a small distance, and the side opening 13
4 reaches the open portion 116, and the atmosphere flows into the lower passage 140, which is a negative pressure, from the tip of the tapered portion 118. That is, if the button 160 moves up slightly to return to the no-load state, it leaks quickly from the tapered portion 118, helping the device to go into the no-load state. As described above, since the tapered portion 118 functions as a leak inlet,
The suction state can be released faster and more easily than in the conventional case. Thus, it is possible to prevent the tissue from being damaged by an unnecessary suction state. The tapered shape is a shape that is easy to process, and providing the tapered portion 118 as a leak inlet is easy in manufacturing.

Further, the button 160 and the screw member 15
Since 2 is configured to be detachable from the endoscope main body, it is possible to remove the button 160 and the screw member 152 to reliably clean the space inside the ring member 120. As a result, the apparatus can be kept clean, and there is no fear that a sanitary problem occurs.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and it is obvious that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that it belongs to.

[0029]

According to the present invention, as described in detail above, according to the present invention, by providing the pressure adjusting means in the button portion, when the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure, the suction passage communicates with the atmosphere to release the pressure. Even if the suction port is closed by a polyp or the like and the suction passage is closed, the suction state can be released, thereby preventing the tissue from being damaged by excessive suction. By operating the button, the specified pressure value for releasing the pressure can be obtained.
Since it can be adjusted, the optimum pressure value can be set according to the case. And by adjusting the pressure in the suction passage,
Since the suction pressure in the suction passage can be adjusted to a desired pressure, it is possible to appropriately cope with various treatments such as removing the polyp while sucking it to the tip. further,
By providing these pressure adjustment means in the button part,
Operation becomes easy, pressure can be changed immediately when necessary, and appropriate measures can be taken. According to another aspect of the present invention, by making the button part detachable,
The area around the button can be reliably cleaned, and the device can be kept clean.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a structural sectional view of the suction control device according to the embodiment of the present invention in a no-load state.

FIG. 3 is a structural cross-sectional view of the suction control device according to the embodiment of the present invention in a suction state.

FIG. 4 is a structural sectional view of a conventional suction control device in a no-load state.

FIG. 5 is a structural sectional view of a conventional suction control device in a suction state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 110 Valve casing 20, 120 Ring member 30, 130 Valve member 34, 134 Side opening 36, 136 Through hole 60, 160 Button 62, 162 Spring 90, 190 Suction passage 118 Taper portion 150 Pressure adjusting valve 152 Screw member 154 Pressure adjustment spring

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An unloaded state in which a negative pressure source connected to the suction passage is provided in the middle of a suction passage of an endoscope having an inlet at an end of an insertion portion as an opening and connected to the suction passage. A valve section for switching between a suction state in which a negative pressure source is communicated with the suction port, a button section provided on a main body operation section of the endoscope for operating the valve section, and the button section And a pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure in the suction passage in the suction state, the suction control device for an endoscope. 2. The pressure adjusting means for forcibly opening the inside of the suction passage to the atmosphere when the pressure in the suction passage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined negative pressure value in the suction state. The suction control device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The pressure adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined negative pressure value for forcibly opening the inside of the suction passage to the atmosphere can be adjusted by operating the button portion. 3. The suction control device for an endoscope according to claim 1. 4. The valve unit is provided with an opening communicating with the negative pressure generating source, a chamber communicating with the suction port, and a chamber separated from a chamber by a partition wall at a position different from the chamber in the axial direction. And a piston member fitted into the cylinder and provided with a side opening at a side surface and capable of moving in the axial direction, the piston member being axially movable. And the side opening selectively overlaps with the chamber or the opening, thereby switching between the suction state and the no-load state, and the inner wall of the opening is tapered to taper toward the partition. Claim 1, characterized in that it is formed so that
The suction control device for an endoscope according to any one of 2 and 3. 5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the button section is detachable from the endoscope main body together with the pressure adjusting means. Suction control device.