JP2001299688A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope allowing a user to use a treatment instrument safely with a prescribed projection length without any adjustment of the endoscope when the endoscope is changed to a new one in using the instrument if the new endoscope is of the same model and allowing the user to set the projection length of, the treatment instrument according to the user's preference if necessary. SOLUTION: Instrument insertion passages 30, 35 and 40 are divided and connected inside an operating part 20 of the endoscope, and the total length of the instrument insertion passages 30, 35 and 40, located between a treatment instrument inlet 31 and a treatment instrument protrusive outlet 33, can be changed in both directions of extension/contraction without moving the positions of the instrument inlet 31 and the instrument protrusive outlet 33.

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 treatment instrument insertion passage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an endoscope has a treatment instrument insertion channel inserted and arranged over the entire length thereof in an insertion portion which is mainly provided with a flexible tube, and a treatment for inserting the treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion channel. The instrument insertion port is disposed on the operating section connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and the treatment instrument protrusion port from which the distal end of the treatment instrument that has passed through the treatment instrument insertion channel projects is disposed at the distal end of the insertion section.

[0003]

However, even if the endoscope has the same model, the flexible tube constituting the insertion portion of the endoscope has a non-uniform overall length due to manufacturing variations and the like. As a result, the distance between the treatment tool insertion port and the treatment tool protrusion port also varies.

For this reason, even when using a treatment tool such as an endoscope injection tool that requires a strictly constant protruding length from the treatment tool protrusion port, the protruding length at the distal end is determined on the hand side. Therefore, a length adjusting mechanism is provided in the treatment instrument, and a length adjustment adapter is attached to the treatment instrument insertion port to compensate for the disadvantage.

[0005] However, even if the length of the treatment tool is adjusted in this manner, the adjustment must be performed again each time the endoscope using the treatment tool is replaced, so that handling is extremely complicated and troublesome. there were.

Therefore, the present invention can safely use a treatment tool with a predetermined projection length without any adjustment, even if the endoscope used when using the treatment tool is replaced, if the same model is used. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that allows the user to set the protruding length of the treatment tool as desired.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscope in which a treatment instrument insertion passage is inserted and arranged over an entire length in an insertion portion provided with a flexible tube. The treatment tool insertion port for inserting the treatment tool into
In an endoscope in which a treatment tool protruding port, which is disposed on the operation unit connected to the base end of the insertion unit and through which the distal end of the treatment tool protrudes through the treatment tool insertion passage, is disposed at the distal end of the insertion unit, The passage is divided and connected in the operation unit, and the entire length of the treatment tool insertion passage located between the treatment tool insertion port and the treatment tool ejection port is formed so as to be variable in both directions, without moving the respective positions of the treatment tool insertion port and the treatment tool protrusion port. It is.

The proximal end of the treatment instrument insertion tube which forms the treatment instrument insertion passage in the insertion portion can move in and out of the treatment instrument insertion hole formed so as to directly communicate with the treatment instrument insertion port. May be connected.

Further, a treatment instrument insertion passage full length fixing member for fixing the entire length of the treatment instrument insertion passage may be provided, and the entire length of the treatment instrument insertion passage may be arbitrarily adjusted from outside the operation section. An adjustment mechanism may be provided.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an ultrasonic endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which an insertion portion 10 inserted into a body cavity has a distal end of a portion (flexible tube portion 11) covered with a flexible tube. A curved portion 12 that bends by remote operation is connected to the portion, and a distal end body 13 is connected to a distal end portion of the curved portion 12.

The distal end body 13 includes an ultrasonic scanning unit block 13b for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image and an optical observation objective unit block 13a for obtaining an optical observation image. And are connected in series in the axial direction on the side.

The proximal end of the flexible tube section 11 is connected to an operation section 20, and an eyepiece section 21 for optical observation is connected to the operation section 2.
0 protrudes from the upper end. The operating section 20 includes the bending section 1
A bending operation knob 22 and the like for performing the bending operation 2 are arranged.

One end of the signal cable for transmitting signals input / output to / from the ultrasonic scanning unit block 13b is connected to the ultrasonic scanning unit block 13b, and the other end is connected to the connector 50. Then, it is connected to an external ultrasonic signal controller via the connector 50. 51
Is a light guide connector connected to the illumination light source device.

A treatment instrument insertion channel 30 made of, for example, a tetrafluoroethylene resin tube is inserted through the entire length of the insertion section 10, and a treatment instrument insertion port for inserting the treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion channel 30. A projection 31 is arranged at a lower end portion of the operation unit 20 so as to protrude. A forceps stopper 32 is detachably attached to the treatment instrument insertion port 31.

In the optical observation objective section block 13a of the distal end body 13, a treatment tool projecting opening 33 from which the distal end of the treatment tool projects through the treatment tool insertion channel 30 is formed obliquely forward.

FIG. 1 shows the structure in the vicinity of the treatment instrument insertion port 31, in which the forceps plug 32 is removed. A suction pipe 36 branches from the middle to a connection pipe 35 made of a metal pipe to which the base end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 30 is connected and fixed.

The treatment instrument insertion base 38 having the treatment instrument insertion port 31 formed at the protruding end is held by the operating portion 2 by a holding nut 39.
0, the connection pipe inlet side end 35a is axially movable in and out of the treatment tool insertion hole 40 formed in the treatment tool insertion base 38 so as to communicate directly with the treatment tool insertion port 31. Is plugged in.

Reference numeral 48 denotes an O-ring for sealing a fitting surface between the connection pipe inlet side end 35a and the treatment tool insertion hole 40. The pointed screw 4 attached to the treatment tool insertion base 38 is provided.
By tightening 1, the connection pipe inlet side end 35a is fixed to the treatment tool insertion hole 40. 42
Is a small screw for blindfold.

A treatment tool insertion passage between the treatment tool insertion port 31 and the treatment tool protrusion port 33 is formed by the treatment tool insertion channel 30, the connection pipe 35, and the treatment tool insertion hole 40. By changing the insertion depth of the connection pipe inlet end 35a with respect to the length of the treatment instrument insertion path as shown by the two-dot chain line, the length can be expanded and contracted.

Therefore, when manufacturing the endoscope, a flexible linear measure is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion passage, and the distance between the treatment instrument insertion port 31 and the treatment instrument ejection port 33 is increased. By setting to a predetermined length and tightening the pointed screw 41,
The treatment instrument insertion passage is assembled in an extremely accurate state without variation in the overall length.

The axially movable cylinder 25 having the base end of the flexible tube portion 11 fixed by the holding nut 15 is formed by the screw coupling portion 2.
At 6, it is connected to the operation unit body 20 a via a rotary cylinder 24 around an axis that is screwed.

A small screw 28 projecting inward from the operating portion body 20a is engaged with a long groove 27 formed in the axially movable cylinder 25 in a direction parallel to the axis. Thereby, the axially movable cylinder 25 is movable in the axial direction with respect to the operation unit body 20a and does not rotate around the axis. By tightening the pointed screw 29, the rotating cylinder 24 around the axis is rotated. The operation unit body 20a is fixed and cannot be rotated.

With such a configuration, the rotary cylinder 2 around the axis
When the tube 4 is rotated around the axis, the movable tube 25 in the axial direction advances and retreats in the axial direction. Therefore, the total length of the flexible tube portion 11 varies, and when the total length of the treatment tool insertion passage is set to a predetermined length, the treatment tool insertion channel is set. Such a state can be eliminated when the member 30 is largely bent or pulled.
However, such adjustment is not always necessary.

FIG. 3 shows the vicinity of a treatment tool insertion port 31 of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a connection pipe inlet end 35a is fixed to a treatment tool insertion hole 40, Connection pipe 35
Is inserted into the treatment tool insertion channel 30 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction.

The treatment tool insertion channel 30 has a bonding portion 49
Is fixed to the axially movable cylinder 25. 44
Is an O-ring for sealing a fitting portion between the treatment instrument insertion channel 30 and the connection pipe 35. For other configurations, the long groove 2
7 is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, except that both ends are closed to limit the axial movement of the movable cylinder 25 in the axial direction.

With such a configuration, the rotary cylinder 2 around the axis is
4 can be rotated only around the axis to move the movable cylinder 25 in the axial direction.
Moves in the axial direction, the insertion depth of the connection tube 35 into the treatment tool insertion channel 30 changes, and the total length of the treatment tool insertion passage changes.

Therefore, in this embodiment, if the pointed screw 29 for fixing is provided as in the first embodiment, the total length of the treatment instrument insertion passage can be easily set to a predetermined length when assembling the endoscope. Alternatively, the pointed screw 29 may be omitted so that the user of the endoscope can adjust the total length of the treatment instrument insertion passage according to his / her preference.

FIG. 4 shows the vicinity of a treatment tool insertion port 31 of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which is inserted into a treatment tool insertion hole 40 as in the first embodiment. A rack 45 is formed at the connection pipe inlet end 35a, and a pinion 46 directly connected to a manual dial 47 exposed to the outside of the operation unit 20 is engaged with the rack 45.

With this configuration, the manual dial 4
7, the connecting pipe inlet side end 35a can be moved in the axial direction to arbitrarily change the entire length of the treatment instrument insertion passage,
The user of the endoscope can adjust the total length of the treatment tool insertion passage to a predetermined length or his / her preference.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the treatment tool insertion passage is divided and connected in the operation section, and the treatment tool insertion port and the treatment tool protrusion port are not moved, and the treatment tool positioned therebetween is not moved. By making the total length of the insertion path variable in both directions, it is easy to set the total length of the treatment tool insertion path of the endoscope of the same model to a predetermined length, so that the endoscope user can use the treatment tool. Even if the endoscope used is changed, the treatment tool can be used safely with a predetermined protrusion length without any adjustment if it is the same model, and if necessary, the protrusion length of the treatment tool can be changed by the user. Can be set to their liking.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of a treatment tool insertion port according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a treatment tool insertion port according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of a treatment tool insertion port according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Insertion part 11 Flexible tube part 20 Operation part 30 Treatment tool insertion channel 31 Treatment tool insertion port 33 Treatment tool protrusion port 35 Connection pipe 35a Connection pipe entrance side end part 40 Treatment tool insertion hole 41 Pointed screw 45 Rack 46 Pinion 47 Manual dial

Claims (4)

[Claims] A treatment instrument insertion passage is inserted through the entire length of an insertion portion covered by a flexible tube, and a treatment instrument insertion opening for inserting a treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion passage is provided at a base of the insertion portion. An endoscope, which is disposed at an operation unit connected to an end thereof and has a treatment tool projecting opening at the distal end of the insertion portion, through which the distal end of the treatment tool projects through the treatment device insertion passage, wherein the treatment tool insertion passage The treatment tool insertion port and the treatment tool insertion port are divided and provided in the operation section without moving the positions of the treatment tool insertion port and the treatment tool protrusion port, respectively, so that the entire length of the treatment tool insertion passage located therebetween is variably extended and contracted in both directions. An endoscope characterized by being formed. 2. A treatment tool insertion tube, which forms the treatment instrument insertion passage in the insertion portion, has a proximal end portion axially oriented with respect to a treatment instrument insertion hole formed so as to directly communicate with the treatment instrument insertion opening. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is connected so as to be able to advance and retreat. 3. The treatment instrument insertion passage full length fixing member for fixing the entire length of the treatment instrument insertion passage is provided.
Or the endoscope according to 2. 4. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting mechanism for arbitrarily adjusting the entire length of the treatment instrument insertion passage from outside the operation section.