JP2001292958A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope in which a water injection tube, even if connected to the injection port of a sub-water conveying pipe, never obstructs the operation of the endoscope. SOLUTION: The injection port 43 for injecting a liquid to the sub-water conveying pipe 16 is arranged on a light guide connector 4, and a check valve 44 for passing the liquid only in the injecting direction is continuously provided on the injection port 43.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a sub-water supply line for flushing dirt and the like when the dirt adheres to a mucosal surface in a body cavity and obstructs endoscopic observation. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art During endoscopic observation, when dirt such as food residue adheres to a mucous membrane in a body cavity and obstructs observation, an opening in a distal end is observed to wash away dirt. A sub-water supply line oriented in the direction is provided.

Conventionally, such a water injection into the sub-water supply line has been performed using a manual syringe or the like. Therefore, the water injection port of the sub-water supply line is provided so that the operator can easily perform the water injection operation using the syringe. And an operation unit connected to the base end of the insertion unit.

[0004]

However, the operation of water supply by the syringe requires a considerable amount of force, and it is a great burden for the operator of the endoscope to perform this operation. It is not uncommon for an observation site to be lost.

[0005] Therefore, if a water injection tube is connected to the water injection port of the sub water supply pipe so that the cleaning liquid can be injected from a position distant from the operation unit, the water transmission operation can be performed by an assistant or an electric motor. Can be used, and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

However, if the water inlet of the sub water supply pipe is arranged in the operation part as in the prior art, the water injection tube extends from the operation part of the endoscope, so that the insertion operation of the endoscope is performed. The water injection tube is entangled with the operation unit whose direction is frequently changed with the operation, or clings to the arm or the like of the operator, which hinders the operation of the endoscope.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which the water injection tube does not hinder the operation of the endoscope even when the water injection tube is connected to the water injection port of the sub water supply conduit.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the endoscope of the present invention is arranged such that a sub water supply pipe with a distal end opening directed in the observation visual field direction is inserted into the insertion section and is internally provided. A flexible light guide connecting tube in which a lighting light guide is inserted is provided extending from an operation unit connected to the base end of the insertion unit, and a light guide connector connected to the light source device is connected to the light guide. In the endoscope provided at the end of the pipe, a water injection port for injecting liquid into the auxiliary water supply conduit is arranged in the light guide connector, and a check valve that allows liquid to pass only in the injection direction is connected to the water injection port It was done.

[0009] A pressure valve for opening the sub-water supply line only when water is injected from the water inlet at a pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure may be provided in the middle of the sub-water supply line.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an endoscope, in which a flexible tubular light guide connecting pipe 3 is provided extending from an operating section 2 connected to a proximal end of a flexible tubular inserting section 1. A light guide connector 4 that is connected to a light source device (also a video processor) that is not connected is attached to the distal end of the light guide connecting tube 3. An incident end of the light guide fiber 40 is arranged at a protruding end of the light guide connector 4 inserted into the light source device.

At the distal end of the insertion section 1, an objective optical system is arranged inside an observation window (not shown), and an image pickup surface of a solid-state image pickup device (or an image guide fiber) is located at an image forming position of a subject by the objective optical system. Incident end face)
An endoscope observation image is transmitted as an electronic signal.

An emission end face of the light guide fiber 40 is arranged inside an illumination window (not shown) arranged side by side with the observation window so that the observation field can be illuminated. .

An air supply / water supply nozzle 13 protruding from the distal end of the insertion section 1 toward the surface of the observation window is connected to the respective distal ends of an air supply pipe 11 and a water supply pipe 12 inserted through the insertion section 1. Thus, air or water can be jetted from the air / water supply nozzle 13 toward the surface of the observation window.

A treatment instrument insertion channel / suction tube 14 and an auxiliary water pipe 16 which are opened at the distal end of the insertion section 1 are inserted through the insertion section 1 so that the sub-water pipe 16 is oriented in the viewing direction. Water can be spouted from the tip opening toward the subject.

The base ends of the air supply pipe 11 and the water supply pipe 12 are both connected to an air supply / water supply operation device 21 arranged in the operation unit 2. Further, an air supply pipe 31 and a water supply pipe 3 connected to an air supply / water supply base 41 arranged on the side of the light guide connector 4.
2 are connected to the air / water operation device 21.

As a result, an external air / water supply device is connected to the air / water supply base 41 and the air / water supply operation device 21 is operated to selectively supply air or water to the air / water supply nozzle 13. Can be sent.

The proximal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel / suction tube 14 is connected to a treatment instrument insertion port 15 protruding from the lower part of the operation section 2 and is branched and connected to a suction operation device 22. . Further, the tip of a suction tube 33 connected to a suction base 42 arranged on the side of the light guide connector 4 is connected to the suction operation device 22.

As a result, the external suction device is connected to the suction base 42.
And by operating the suction operation device 22,
Suction can be arbitrarily performed from the distal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel / suction tube 14.

The sub water supply pipe 16 is formed of a flexible tube such as a polyethylene resin tube, passes through the insertion section 1 through the operation section 2 and the light guide connection pipe 3, and has a base end at the light guide connector. 4 and is connected via a check valve 44 to a water inlet 43 arranged on the side of the light guide connector 4. The water injection port 43 is formed in a shape that is clearly different in appearance from the air / water supply base 41 and the suction base 42.

FIG. 2 shows the water inlet 43 and the check valve 44. The water inlet 43 is provided with a rubber stopper 431 which is manually removable from the outside. Check valve 4
Inside the cylindrical body 4, a liquid passage hole 441 is formed in the side wall.
42 from the outer surface, a check valve body 44 in the form of a rubber cap.
3 is attached.

With such a configuration, the rubber stopper 431 is removed from the water inlet 43 provided in the light guide connector 4, and a water injection tube or the like (not shown) is attached to the water inlet 43, and the cleaning liquid is sub-supplied from the water inlet 43. By injecting the cleaning liquid into the water pipe 16, the cleaning liquid is ejected from the outlet opening of the sub water supply pipe 16 at the distal end of the insertion section 1 toward the subject in the observation visual field, and the reverse flow of the liquid is prevented by the check valve 44.

Therefore, even if the endoscope is operated while the water injection tube or the like is connected to the water inlet 43 of the sub water pipe 16, the water injection tube extends from the light guide connector 4, so that the operation of the endoscope is hindered. Water supply line 16
The same operability as that of the endoscope of the type not provided with can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the check valve 44 of the first embodiment, water can be supplied from the water supply port 43 at a pressure higher than a predetermined pressure. The pressure valve 25 for opening the sub water pipe 16 only when the
(For example, in the operation unit 2).
By doing so, since water is supplied only at a certain pressure or higher, there is no leak water when water supply starts and ends.

FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically show the cross section of the pressure valve 25. When the differential pressure between the upstream side and the downstream side of the sub water supply pipe 16 exceeds a certain level, as shown in FIG. When the elastically deformable member 251 formed by a spring or the like is elastically deformed and the pressure valve 25 is opened, and when the vertical differential pressure is lower than a predetermined pressure, as shown in FIG. This brings the pressure valve 25 into a closed state.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the water injection port for injecting the liquid into the sub water supply conduit is arranged in the light guide connector, so that the endoscope operation can be performed with the water injection tube connected to the water injection port. Even if it is performed, the water injection tube does not hinder the operation of the endoscope, and excellent operability similar to that of an endoscope having no auxiliary water supply conduit can be obtained.

[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 sectional view of a water inlet and a check valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an open state of a pressure valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a pressure valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a closed state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part 2 Operation part 3 Light guide connection pipe 4 Light guide connector 16 Secondary water supply pipe 25 Pressure valve 43 Water inlet 44 Check valve

Continuation of the front page F term (reference) 2H040 CA09 CA11 CA12 CA22 CA27 DA03 DA15 DA18 DA21 DA57 GA02 4C061 FF42 HH04 JJ06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flexible light guide connecting pipe having a sub-water supply pipe whose tip opening is directed in the direction of an observation visual field is inserted through an insertion portion and a light guide for illumination is inserted therein. A light guide connector, which is provided to extend from an operation unit connected to the base end of the insertion unit and is connected to the light source device, is provided at an end of the light guide connection pipe. An endoscope wherein a water injection port for injecting a liquid is arranged in the light guide connector, and a check valve for allowing the liquid to pass only in the injection direction is connected to the water injection port. 2. A pressure valve for opening the sub-water supply line only when water is supplied from the water inlet at a pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure is provided in the middle of the sub-water supply line. The endoscope as described.