JP2002125915A - Tip part of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the tip part of an endoscope by which a nozzle made from elastic material can easily be fitted into a nozzle fit-in port without the occurrence of spatial restriction. SOLUTION: As for the nozzle fit-in port, a center axis 19a is formed at a position deviated in a direction opposite to the ejecting direction of a fluid with respect to the center axis 9a of a fluid pass hole 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distal end of an endoscope provided with a nozzle for ejecting a fluid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a nozzle for selectively blowing air and water toward a surface of an observation window is provided at a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope.

[0003] Such nozzles have various structures. In the case where the nozzle is detachably attached to the distal end of the insertion portion, a counterbore is formed at the distal end opening of the fluid passage hole through which the fluid is sent. A nozzle made of a resilient material is removably fitted into a nozzle fitting opening formed in the nozzle.

[0004]

However, at the distal end of the endoscope having such a structure, when the nozzle is inserted into the nozzle insertion port after cleaning and disinfection after use of the endoscope, the elasticity of the endoscope is reduced. There is a tendency that the fitting portion of the nozzle made of the material is deformed only by being pressed against the nozzle fitting opening, so that it takes much trouble to fit the nozzle.

As a countermeasure, if the thickness of the fitting portion of the nozzle is made sufficiently thick, the stiffness becomes strong and the fitting operation can be easily performed. However, it is often difficult to realize the distal end of the endoscope, which has many space restrictions.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a distal end portion of an endoscope in which a nozzle made of a resilient material can be easily fitted into a nozzle fitting port without any space restriction.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a distal end of an endoscope according to the present invention is provided with a nozzle formed in a counterbore shape at a distal end opening of a fluid passage hole to which a fluid is sent. At the distal end of the endoscope in which a nozzle made of a resilient material for ejecting a fluid laterally with respect to the axial direction of the fluid passage hole is removably fitted into the fitting port, the nozzle fitting port is connected to the center axis. Are formed at positions eccentric in the direction opposite to the direction in which the fluid is ejected with respect to the center axis of the fluid passage hole.

[0008] The portion of the nozzle fitted into the nozzle fitting opening may be formed in a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional shape that opens in the fluid ejection direction over the entire length. Further, a cylindrical member made of a resilient material which is detachable may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end body in which the fluid passage hole is formed, and the nozzle may be formed integrally with the cylindrical member,
Two nozzles, an air supply nozzle and a water supply nozzle, formed integrally with the tubular member may be used.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

An observation window 3, an illumination window 4, a treatment tool outlet 5, and the like are arranged on a distal end surface of a distal end main body 2 connected to a distal end portion of an insertion portion 1 of a flexible tubular endoscope. Air nozzle 11
And the water supply nozzle 12 are arranged so as to open toward the surface of the observation window 3.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a distal end portion of an endoscope. An objective optical system 6 and a solid-state imaging device 7 are disposed behind an observation window 3. An air supply tube 8 from which air is sent is connected to the distal end portion main body 2 from behind.

Although FIG. 1 does not show the structure of the water supply nozzle 12 and the flow path for sending water to the water supply nozzle 12, the structure is the same as the structure of the air supply nozzle 11 and the flow path for sending air to it. The same is true.

The air supply nozzle 11 and the water supply nozzle 12 are integrally formed on a cylindrical member 10 made of a rubber-based elastic material which is detachable on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end body 2 and is also shown in FIG. As described above, the protruding portion 10b formed along the distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 2 from the distal end portion of the tubular member 10 is formed side by side.

The cylindrical member 10 is engaged with the distal end main body 2 by fitting a projection 10 a protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the rear half thereof into a groove 2 a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end main body 2. The cylindrical member 10 can be attached to and detached from the distal end body 2 by elastically deforming the tubular member 10 itself.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air supply tube 8 and the air supply nozzle 11 communicate with each other through an air supply passage hole 9 formed in the distal end body 2. Then, a nozzle fitting port 19 formed in a counterbore shape at the front end opening of the air supply passage hole 9.
On the other hand, the fitting portion 13 of the air supply nozzle 11 is detachably fitted therein, and the air passing through the air supply passage hole 9 is turned sideways by the air supply nozzle 11 and blows onto the surface of the observation window 3. Can be

FIGS. 3 and 4 show such an air supply nozzle 11.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the entire cylindrical member 10 and a front view from the nozzle opening side, showing the shape of the fitting portion 13 of the water supply nozzle 12 (and the water supply nozzle 12). In FIG. Are shown in a cross section perpendicular to. 10c
Are projections for positioning in the rotation direction that fit into grooves (not shown) formed in the distal end body 2.

Returning to FIG. 1, the nozzle fitting port 19 is
The center axis 19a is formed to be eccentric to the center axis 9a of the air supply passage hole 9 in the direction opposite to the direction in which air (water) is ejected, and the air supply nozzle 11 (water supply nozzle 12 As shown in FIG. 3, the fitting portion 13) is formed to have a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional shape in which a portion in the direction in which air is blown out opens. 11a (12
a) is the opening.

As shown in FIG. 1, the central axis 19a of the nozzle fitting port 19 is eccentric with respect to the central axis 9a of the air supply passage hole 9 in the direction opposite to the direction in which air (water) is jetted out. Utilizing the fact that the mouth 19 has a shape that expands substantially only outward, the fitting portion 13 is formed to be thicker by the extent of the expansion.

As described above, the thickness of the fitting portion 13 of the air supply nozzle 11 is increased without increasing the diameter of the nozzle insertion port 19 and while ensuring the cross-sectional area of the flow path leading to the air supply nozzle 11. can do.

As a result, the fitting portion 1 of the air supply nozzle 11
Since the stiffness of 3 becomes hard to deform, the cylindrical member 10
When the is attached to the distal end body 2, the fitting portion 13 can be smoothly fitted into the nozzle fitting opening 19, and the air supply nozzle 11 can be assembled to the distal end body 2.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the nozzle fitting port is
Since the center axis is formed at a position eccentric to the center axis of the fluid passage hole in the direction opposite to the direction in which the fluid is ejected, the thickness of the fitting portion of the nozzle that is fitted therein without increasing the size of the nozzle fitting port is increased. Since it can be formed, the nozzle made of an elastic material can be easily fitted into the nozzle fitting opening and assembled without causing a space restriction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the tubular member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a nozzle opening according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 tip end part 3 observation window 9 air supply passage hole (fluid passage hole) 9a central axis line 10 cylindrical member 11 air supply nozzle 11a opening part 12 water supply nozzle 12a opening part 13 fitting part 19 nozzle fitting opening 19a center axis

Claims (4)

[Claims] The present invention is characterized in that the fluid is ejected laterally with respect to the axial direction of the fluid passage hole into a nozzle fitting opening formed in a counterbore shape at a distal end opening of the fluid passage hole to which the fluid is sent. At the distal end portion of the endoscope in which the nozzle made of the elastic material is detachably fitted, the nozzle fitting port is positioned such that the center axis is in the direction opposite to the direction in which the fluid is ejected with respect to the center axis of the fluid passage hole. A distal end portion of an endoscope formed at an eccentric position. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the nozzle fitted into the nozzle fitting opening is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross-section that opens in the direction in which the fluid is ejected over the entire length. Tip. 3. A tubular member made of a resilient material is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end body in which the fluid passage hole is formed, and the nozzle is formed integrally with the tubular member. 3. The end portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein 4. A distal end portion of an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said nozzles are two nozzles of an air supply nozzle and a water supply nozzle formed integrally with said tubular member.