JP2001321333A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of separately selecting water feeding and sucking, improving operability by conducting the selection with fingers. SOLUTION: In this endoscope having a fluid control means provided on an operation part 3 disposed on the base end side of an insert part to conduct fluid control such as feeding gas, feeding water, and sucking to a subject to observation through a channel conduit inserted into the insert part provided at a tip of the endoscope, and opened at one end in a tip part of the insert part, the control means comprises a fluid control module composed of a valve unit 9 for suction, a valve unit 10 for feeding water, and a suction/water feeding valve unit 11 for conducting control for feeding water, suction, or suction and feeding water, and these units 9, 10 and 11 are detachably provided on the operation part 3.

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 fluid control means for controlling fluid such as air supply, water supply, suction, and the like to an object to be observed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an endoscope is inserted into a body cavity of a patient to observe and treat the inside of the body cavity, a saline solution or the like is usually supplied to secure a visual field. The visual field of the endoscope may be turbid due to tissue floating substances and the like. in this case,
Usually, a method of removing body fluid and tissue suspended matter in a body cavity by suction or the like to clarify the visual field of the endoscope is adopted.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-93921 and Utility Model Registration No. 2541523, water is supplied and sucked using a single channel provided in an insertion portion of an endoscope. It is configured such that a button provided on the operation unit of the endoscope can be operated to supply and suck water from the distal end component of the insertion unit.

[0004]

However, conventionally, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-93921, delicate adjustment operations are difficult because the opposite functions of water supply and suction are controlled by a single button press operation. Is performed in the second stage of the series of pushing operations, there is a problem that the water supply in the first stage is always performed.

On the other hand, in Utility Model Registration No. 2541523, since water supply and suction are performed by lever operation, the lever operation must be performed using another hand holding the operation unit, which is complicated. There was a problem that a complicated operation was required.

[0006] Further, the surgeon does not always need both the suction and the water supply functions, but may need only the water supply function, for example. However, in the prior art, it was not possible to select either of the two functions, so that unnecessary functions were added, so that a cost investment for a complicated valve mechanism was unavoidable, and additional functions were added. Therefore, there is a problem that extra washing time is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object that only necessary flow control means can be selected according to the operator's preference, and when suction and water supply are necessary, water supply is required. To provide an endoscope capable of independently selecting the function of suction and suction, and performing the adjustment by a reciprocating operation with the finger of the hand holding the operation unit, thereby improving operability. .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscope having a single end which is inserted into an insertion portion provided at a distal end of the endoscope and has one end opened at the distal end of the insertion portion. Air supply, water supply,
In an endoscope in which control means for controlling a fluid such as suction is performed by a fluid control means on an operation unit disposed on a base end side of the insertion portion, the control means may be "water supply", "suction" or " It is characterized by comprising a plurality of types of fluid control modules for performing control such as "suction and water supply", and having a mounting portion to which the fluid control modules can be attached and detached is provided in the operation portion.

According to the above configuration, the flow control means required by the operator is appropriately selected by selecting the module, and when the "suction and water supply" module is used, the suction and the water supply are switched. Is controlled by the control means.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope according to a first embodiment. An endoscope 1 is provided at an insertion portion 2 to be inserted into a body cavity and at a base end of the insertion portion 2. It comprises an operation unit 3 and an eyepiece unit 4 provided in the operation unit 3.

The operation section 3 is provided with a channel opening 5 of a channel tube (not shown) housed in the insertion section 2. Through the channel opening 5, treatment tools such as biopsy forceps are inserted into the insertion section 2. A water supply / drain port 6 is provided near the eyepiece 4 of the channel opening 5. The water supply / drain port 6 communicates with a channel tube, and several types of valve units 7 as a fluid control module are appropriately set therein.

A light guide cable 8 containing a light guide fiber is connected near the water supply / drain port portion 6. The light guide cable 8 extends in a direction perpendicular to the UP / DOWN direction of the operation unit 3 in the drawing, but is bent at the root in the DOWN direction. The light guide cable 8 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the UP / DOWN plane of the operation section 3 around the connection section 8a.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operation unit 3. The valve unit 7 includes a suction valve unit 9, a water supply valve unit 10, and a suction / water supply valve unit 11.
There are types. The suction valve unit 9 and the water supply valve unit 10 are provided without the function of the suction / water supply valve unit 11. In each unit, the respective functions are operated by the pressing operation of the button 12 provided on the upper part. Only for the suction / water supply valve unit 11, the function selection lever 1 provided above the button 12
By rotating the button 3, a function that operates by pressing the button 12 is selected. It goes without saying that the function selection lever 13 may be a dial type.

Since each valve unit 7 is located immediately above the operation unit 3, the surgeon can extend and push the index finger or the middle finger while holding the grip unit 18 of the scope.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the suction / water supply valve unit 11 is mounted on the operation unit 3. The valve unit 11 is connected to the water supply line in the same direction as the light guide cable 8 extends. 14 and a suction line 15 are provided in parallel.

On the extension of the water supply line 14 and the suction line 15, there is a connector 1 in which the two lines are integrally connected.
6 are provided. At the base end of the connector 16, the cable 17 is bent in the same direction as the light guide cable 8.

FIG. 3 shows the movable direction of the light guide cable 8.
It is provided so as to be movable in the DOWN plane in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Therefore, when the operation unit 3 is gripped, the light guide cable 8 hangs in a direction in which the weight of the light guide cable 8 is applied depending on the angle of the operation unit 3. FIG.
Then, connect the light guide cable 8 to the ball joint 1
9 is connected to the operation unit 3. In this case, since the light guide cable 8 operates not three-dimensionally but three-dimensionally, the light guide cable 8 hangs vertically by its own weight regardless of the spatial position of the operation unit 3.

In other words, the endoscope 1 may move the operation unit 3 in the upward and downward tilt directions in the operation, but the base of the light guide cable 8 is conventionally fixed to the operation unit 3. In addition, the weight of the light guide cable 8 causes a feeling of resistance to operation. However, as mentioned above,
By connecting the light guide cable 8 to the operation unit 3 with the ball joint unit 19, the light guide is always held even when the endoscope 1 is operated in the tilting direction while holding the operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1. Since the cable 8 hangs vertically, light operation is possible.

Next, the structure of the suction / water supply valve unit 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. The other suction valve unit 9 and water supply valve unit 10 have a configuration in which some of the functions are deleted from the suction / water supply valve unit 11, and a description thereof will be omitted.

First, a configuration when the "water supply" is made to function by a pushing operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a state when the suction / water supply valve unit 11 is viewed from directly above, and the function selection lever 13 is in the “water supply” position. In the figure, two pipes, a water supply pipe 14 and a suction pipe 15, are provided on the right side.
Is connected to a water supply source, and the suction line 15 is connected to a suction source.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the suction / water supply valve unit 11 taken along line AA in FIG. 5 (the button 12 is not depressed). Suction / water supply valve unit 11
Is composed of an inner cylinder 20 and an outer cylinder 21. Inner cylinder 2
Numeral 0 is made of a plastic resin such as a fluororesin, has a slightly larger outer diameter with respect to the inner circumference of the outer cylinder 21, and is set to a size capable of returning in a water-tight and air-tight state.
The relative position of the inner cylinder 20 in the rotation direction with respect to the outer cylinder 21 is determined in conjunction with the direction of the function selection lever 13. And
The suction / water supply valve unit 11 is removably housed in a cylinder section 22 corresponding to a receiving section on the scope operation section 3 side.

A groove 23 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the outer cylinder 21, and a C-ring 24 is engaged with the groove 23. The outer periphery of the C-ring 24 is fitted into the groove 25 corresponding to the C-ring 24 at the lower end of the cylinder portion 22 and is fixed in a form with a click feeling. Although not shown, a rotation restricting means such as a dovetail groove is provided so that the outer cylinder 21 does not rotate with respect to the cylinder portion 22 but only moves backward.

A spring 26 for generating a repulsive force when the button 12 is pressed is provided between the bottom surface of the inner cylinder 20 and the outer cylinder 21. The lower part of the outer cylinder 21 has a larger inner diameter than the upper part and has a step. Inner cylinder 2
The outer periphery of 0 is also provided with a step caused by a difference in diameter, and the step is provided with a stopper member 27 made of an elastic member such as rubber.

The upper part of the cylinder part 22 is
The suction pipe 28 is open, and this pipe line is connected to a channel tube extending from the insertion section 3 in the operation section 3. An opening 29 is provided in the outer cylinder 20 at a position corresponding to the water supply / suction pipe 28. This opening 29
The fluid flows into and out of the suction / water supply valve unit 11 via the.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
Shown in The outer cylinder 21 has an opening 30 at a position in the 180 ° direction.
Is a water supply line 1 leading to a water supply source at a position of 330 ° direction.
4 are provided. On the other hand, the inner cylinder 20 is provided with an opening 31 at a position of 90 ° and an opening 32 at a position of 300 °. The opening 32 is a long hole in the vertical direction. That is, the water supply pipe 14 is closed on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 20.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section taken along line CC in FIG. In this cross section, there is no opening in the inner cylinder 20 and the outer cylinder 21
Is connected to the water / suction pipe 28 only.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the suction / water supply valve unit 11 taken along the line AA in FIG. 5, showing a state in which the button 12 is pressed. As described above, D in this state
A cross section along the line -D is shown in FIG. 10, and a cross section along the line EE is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 10, when the button 12 is pushed, an opening 33 appears at a position of 300 ° in the inner cylinder 20. The water supply pipe 14 provided at the same position
Communicate with

In FIG. 11, the water / suction pipe 28 and the opening 29
, A side groove 34 appears. The side groove 34 is 90 °
It is a groove that is opened at 180 ° from the window.

Next, a configuration when "suction" is made to function by pressing the button 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 shows a state when the suction / water supply valve unit 11 is viewed from directly above, as in FIG. 5, but the function selection lever 13 is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise with respect to FIG. Has become. Function selection lever 13 is inner cylinder 2
Since it is interlocked with the rotation angle position of 0, the holes described above are similarly rotated by 90 °.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line FF in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. The outer cylinder 21 has an opening 3 at a position in the 180 ° direction.
0 is a suction line 1 leading to a suction source at a position in the 30 ° direction
5 are provided. On the other hand, the inner cylinder 20 rotated by 90 °
In the figure, an opening 33 is provided at a position of 60 °, and an opening 32 is provided at a position of 30 °. That is, the suction conduit 15 communicates with the opening 32 of the inner cylinder 20.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line H--H in FIG.
It is shown in FIG. In this cross section, there is no opening in the inner cylinder 20, and the opening 29 provided in the outer cylinder 21 is merely connected to the water supply / suction pipe 28.

FIG. 16 shows the suction / water supply valve unit 11.
12 is a state in which the button 12 is depressed in a cross-sectional view along the line FF in FIG. Similarly to the above, a cross section along the line II in this state is shown in FIG. 17, and a cross section along the line JJ is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 17, when the button 12 is pressed, the opening 31 of the inner cylinder 20 disappears from the cross section along the line II. That is, there is no communication path with the opening 30.
On the other hand, the oblong opening 32 is still in communication with the suction line 15.

In FIG. 18, the side groove 34 is rotated by 18 degrees.
The window has been changed from 0 ° to 270 °.

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

When the surgeon pushes the suction / water supply valve unit 11 into the cylinder portion 22, the stopper member 27 is elastically deformed and locked on the step on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. In this state, the pressing force of the button 12 causes the inner cylinder 20 to return with a stroke in the outer cylinder 21. With a certain level of competence,
Suction / water supply valve unit 11 from cylinder section 22
Is pulled out, the stopper member 27 is elastically deformed and the entire valve unit is removed from the cylinder portion 22.

When the function selection lever 13 is set to the state shown in FIG. 5 (water supply control state) and the button 12 is not pushed, the state is changed to the state shown in FIGS. The water supply line 14 connected to the water supply source and receiving the water supply pressure is provided with an inner cylinder 20 as shown in FIG.
And does not flow into the inner cylinder 20.
When the button 12 is pressed, the state shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is obtained. That is, since the water supply pipe 14 communicates with the opening 33, the fluid flows into the inner cylinder 20. Then, the fluid flows into the water supply / suction pipe 28 through the side groove 34 and the opening 29.

Next, when the function selection lever 13 is set to the state shown in FIG. 12 (suction control state) and the button 12 is not pushed, the state is changed to the state shown in FIGS. That is, the suction pressure applied to the suction pipe 15 is applied to the lumen of the inner cylinder 20 through the opening 32. Since the opening 30 and the opening 31 communicate with each other, the negative pressure is released by the outside air suction.

When the button 12 is depressed, FIG.
The state is as shown in FIG. Since the relative positions of the openings 30 and 31 change, the negative pressure is not released to the atmosphere. The negative pressure is supplied to the water / suction pipe 2 through the side groove 34 and the opening 29.
Hang on 8.

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

(Supplementary Note 1) Insert the end of the endoscope into the insertion section provided at the tip of the endoscope, and open one end at the tip of the insertion section.
Air to the observation object through the channel of the book,
In an endoscope in which control means for controlling fluid such as water supply and suction is performed by a fluid control means on an operation unit disposed on the base end side of the insertion portion, the control means may be "water supply", "suction" Alternatively, an endoscope comprising a plurality of types of fluid control modules for controlling “suction and water supply” and the like, and a mounting unit to which these fluid control modules can be attached and detached is provided in the operation unit.

(Supplementary Note 2) Using a single channel provided in the insertion section of the endoscope, the flow rate control of the air supply and suction fluids is performed by a single return type on the operation section of the endoscope. An endoscope provided by said control means, wherein a rotary switching means for switching between a suction function and a water supply function is provided in the vicinity of said return control means.

(Supplementary Note 3) Using a single channel provided in the insertion portion of the endoscope, the flow rate control of the fluid such as air supply and suction is performed by a return-type control on the operation portion of the endoscope. In the endoscope performed by means, a plurality of types of fluid control modules for controlling “suction”, “water supply”, or “suction and water supply” are selectively mounted on the mounted portion of the operation unit of the endoscope. And an endoscope provided with a rotary switching means for switching between the suction and water supply functions in the vicinity of one return-type flow control means in the module for controlling "suction and water supply". .

(Supplementary Note 4) The endoscope operating section has a movable section at least with respect to its vertical surface, and a cable connection section in which the cable follows the movable section by its own weight. Endoscope.

(Supplementary note 5) The endoscope according to supplementary note 4, wherein a ball joint is provided at the cable connection portion.

According to Supplementary notes 1 to 3, a plurality of fluid control modules for controlling "water supply", "suction" or "suction and water supply" are detachably provided in the operation unit, so that water supply and suction are controlled. Can be selected independently, and the adjustment can be performed with the fingers holding the operation unit, and the operability can be improved.

In the operation of the endoscope, the operation unit may be moved in the upward and downward tilt directions. However, conventionally, since the root of the cable is fixed to the operation unit, the weight of the cable is reduced. It was a feeling of resistance. However, note 4.5
According to the configuration, even when the endoscope is operated in the tilting direction while holding the operation unit of the endoscope, the cable always hangs vertically, so that there is an effect that the operation can be performed lightly.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of types of fluid control modules for controlling "water supply", "suction" or "suction and water supply" are detachably provided on the operation unit. Thereby, the functions of water supply and suction can be selected independently, and the adjustment can be performed with the fingers holding the operation unit, and the operability can be improved.

Further, since the necessary flow control function can be selected by the operator by selecting the module, no extra work is required at the time of maintenance such as cleaning, and it is unnecessary to invest in extra high functions. effective.

[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 an exploded perspective view of the operation unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary side view of the endoscope for explaining the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view of an endoscope showing a modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the suction / water supply valve unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 5, showing a state in which a button is not pressed.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 5, illustrating a state in which a button is pressed.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 9;

12 shows the same embodiment, and shows the suction / removal state in which the function selection lever is rotated by 90 ° counterclockwise with respect to FIG.
The top view of a water supply valve unit.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line FF of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line HH in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of FIG. 12, showing a state in which a button is pressed.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line JJ of FIG. 16;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 9 ... Suction valve unit 10 ... Water supply valve unit 11 ... Suction / water supply valve unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air supply, a water supply, and a suction to an object to be observed are inserted through an insertion portion provided at a distal end of an endoscope, and through one channel pipe having one end opened at the distal end of the insertion portion. In an endoscope in which control means for controlling a fluid such as a fluid control means on an operation unit disposed on the base end side of the insertion portion is provided, the control means may be "water supply", "suction" or "suction". An endoscope comprising a plurality of types of fluid control modules for performing control such as "water supply and water supply", and a mounting portion to which these fluid control modules can be attached and detached is provided on the operation portion.