JP2002191549A - Structure for connecting angle part of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To put tubes, or the like, to the inside of a notch for the purpose of securing a large space within a tip ring and to protect the tubes, or the like, from damage. SOLUTION: In order to connect a sleeve 32 consisting of a tip hard part 30 with a tip ring 45 constituting an angle part 40, a connection part 32c of the sleeve 32 is inserted and fitted to the inner side of a connection part 45c of the ring 45, the end face of the sleeve 32 faces a level difference between the cylinder part 45b of the body of the ring 45 and the connection part 45c, and a recessed groove part 32b is formed at the sleeve 32. In the sleeve 32, a notch 46 is formed at the arranging position of a fixed ring 39 fitted into a treatment tool insertion tube 38 and the notch 46 is positioned in the inside of the level difference of the recessed groove part 32b and a level difference between the cylinder part 45b and the connection part 45c to prevent an edge part from being exposed in an insertion part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope connection structure for connecting an angle portion and a hard distal end portion in an insertion portion of the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope generally has a structure shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a main body operation unit, 2 is an insertion unit, and 3 is a universal cord. The main body operation unit 1
It is intended for an operator or the like to hold and perform an operation, and is provided with an angle knob 4, an air / water supply valve 5, a suction valve 6, a treatment instrument introduction unit 7, and the like. The insertion portion 2 is a flexible portion 2a that is bent in a free direction along the insertion path for most of the length from the side where the main body operation portion 1 is drilled. Further, a distal end hard portion 2c is provided to be connected to the distal end of the angle portion 2b. The distal end hard portion 2c has an illumination portion,
An endoscope observation mechanism including an observation unit and the like is mounted, and the angle part 2b is used to insert the insertion part 2 into a body cavity so that the tip is oriented in the insertion direction. When observing the inside of a body cavity, it can be curved in the vertical direction or in the vertical and horizontal directions to change the observation field of view. The bending operation of the angle section 2b is performed by rotating an angle knob 4 provided on the main body operation section 1.

As a connection structure between the angle portion 2b and the hard distal end portion 2c, for example, a structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-23522 is conventionally known. Therefore, FIG. 5 shows a connection structure between the angle portion 2b and the distal end hard portion 2c according to the conventional technique. In FIG.
c has a distal end main body 10, and a predetermined number of through holes for mounting various members are provided in the distal end main body 10 in the axial direction. FIG. 5 shows a lens barrel 1 provided with an objective lens 11.
2, the entrance end of the image guide 13 faces the image forming position of the objective lens 11 in the lens barrel 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a treatment instrument insertion pipe. The base end of the treatment instrument insertion pipe 14 projects from the distal end body 10 toward the angle portion 2b by a predetermined length. The distal end portion of the treatment instrument insertion tube 15 having flexibility is fitted. And the objective lens 1
In order to clean the surface of the objective lens 11 when the surface of the objective lens 11 is contaminated at a position opposite to the position where the treatment instrument insertion pipe 14 is provided with respect to the arrangement portion 1, a cleaning liquid and A nozzle 16 for injecting pressurized air is provided. A fluid supply pipe 17 is connected to the nozzle 16, and a fluid supply tube 18 is fitted to the fluid supply pipe 17. Although not shown, a light guide for illuminating at least the inside of the body cavity is provided in addition to the above-described members.

On the other hand, the angle portion 2b has a node ring structure in which an angle ring 20 is sequentially connected by a pivot pin 21, and the angle portion 2b is moved in a desired direction by pushing and pulling an operation wire (not shown). Bending operation can be performed. The outer periphery of the angle ring 20 having the node ring structure is covered with a mesh tube 22 and a skin layer 23. The members such as the image guide 13, the treatment instrument insertion tube 15, the fluid supply tube 18, and the light guide are inserted from the angle portion 2b to the flexible portion 2a. The distal end ring 20a of the angle ring 20 is fitted to the distal end body 10 and is fixed in a connected state by means such as screwing.

[0005] The insertion section 2 of the endoscope needs to be as small as possible in diameter in order to improve the insertion operability and reduce the pain of the patient, since it is inserted into the body cavity. Each of the members inserted into the insertion portion 2 described above has flexibility in the bending direction, and therefore has a certain degree of flexibility in the arrangement space thereof. However, the angle part 2b
The position of each insertion member is limited by the arrangement of each mechanism in the distal end body 10 at the connection portion between the distal end hard portion 2c and the connecting portion. That is, the image guide 13 is connected behind the position where the objective lens 11 is provided on the distal end body 10, the treatment instrument insertion tube 15 is located behind the treatment instrument insertion pipe 14, and the fluid supply tube 18 is located behind the nozzle 16. Each is arranged. That is, at the inner position of the distal end ring 20a, the distal end of each flexible insertion member is in the distal end main body 1
Since it is fixedly held at 0, it is not possible to provide flexibility in arrangement, and it is impossible to prevent the occurrence of dead space. Therefore, of the entire insertion portion 2, the distal end ring 20
a requires the largest space inside, and the tip ring 2
How to effectively utilize the space inside Oa is extremely important in reducing the diameter of the insertion portion.

As described above, in the above-mentioned prior art, the distal end ring 20a is configured such that a plurality of notches 24 as shown in FIG. 6 are formed in the circumferential direction. Thereby, as is clear from FIG. 5, the connection portion of the treatment tool insertion tube 15 to the treatment tool insertion pipe 14 and the connection portion of the fluid supply tube 18 to the fluid supply pipe 17 are positioned in these notches 24. None
Thus, a space for the tubes 15 and 18 to go around is secured.

[0007]

By the way, the angle portion 2b is curved, and the tip ring 20a of the angle portion 2b has the tip end main body 10 constituting the hard tip portion 2c.
, The tip ring 20a,
The portion up to the connection portion to the next angle ring 20 is a hard portion on the distal end side. Therefore, when the angle portion 2b is curved, the space between the distal end ring 20a and the next angle ring 20 bends at a sharp angle, and becomes curved from the base end side. In addition, since the distal ends of the treatment instrument insertion tube 15 and the fluid supply tube 18 are fitted to the treatment instrument insertion pipe 14 and the fluid supply pipe 17 that have been inserted into the distal end body 10, respectively, when the angle operation is performed, Tubes 15 and 18 are end rings 20
a.

A notch 24 is formed in the distal end ring 20a, and an edge E is formed in the notch 24. In addition, the treatment instrument insertion tube 15 and the fluid supply tube 18 enter the notch 24. Therefore, at the time of the above-mentioned angle operation, these two tubes 15, 18 are used.
Slides while being pressed against the edge E of the notch 24. That is, in FIG.
Is bent upward, the fluid supply tube 15 is pressed against the edge E of the notch 24, and when bent downward, the treatment instrument insertion tube 15 is pressed against the edge E. As a result, if the angle operation is repeatedly performed, there is a disadvantage that the tubes and the like are damaged or worn.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to allow tubes and the like to enter the inside of the notch in order to secure a wide space in the distal end ring. And to protect such tubes and the like from being damaged.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a distal end hard portion formed by fitting a sleeve to a distal end body on which an endoscope observation mechanism is mounted, and a predetermined rigid portion. An endoscope insertion portion comprising a node ring structure in which a number of angle rings are sequentially pivoted, and an angle portion serving as a tip ring connected to the tip rigid portion, wherein the most advanced angle ring is the endoscope. The distal end portion of the distal end ring is a connecting portion whose inner diameter is enlarged at least the thickness dimension of the sleeve, and the distal end ring is connected by fitting the sleeve into the sleeve within the connecting portion, In the sleeve, one or more circumferential cutouts for accommodating at least a part of the insertion member in the insertion portion are formed in a portion where the sleeve is inserted into the distal end ring. It is an its characterized in that the the.

If a reduced diameter portion is provided at a position on the distal end side of the notch forming portion of the sleeve and the step of the reduced diameter portion is made larger than the thickness of the sleeve, the edge formed by the notch is formed. Is no longer affected. And the member to be accommodated in the above-mentioned notch is not particularly limited, but at least a treatment tool insertion tube connected to the treatment tool insertion pipe attached to the hard distal end portion has a fitting portion to the treatment tool insertion pipe. Desirably, it is configured to face the notch of the sleeve.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. In addition,
The overall configuration of the endoscope is not particularly different from that shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the distal end portion of the insertion portion.
In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a hard tip portion, and reference numeral 40 denotes an angle portion.

The structure of the distal end hard portion 30 includes a distal end main body 31 and a sleeve 32 fitted to the distal end main body 31. In the sectional position shown in FIG. 1, two through-holes 31a and 31b are formed in the distal end body 31 so as to penetrate in the axial direction, and the lens barrel 34 of the objective lens 33 is inserted into the through-hole 31a. It is fitted. And the lens barrel 3
A prism 35 is fixedly provided at the base end of the prism 4, and a solid-state imaging device 36 and its substrate 36 a are connected to an end surface of the prism 35. Here, the reason why the prism 35 is provided is that the optical axis of the objective lens 33 is set at 90 °.
This is because the solid-state imaging device 36 is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the insertion portion by bending the lens. The distal end portion of the treatment instrument insertion pipe 37 is inserted into the through hole 31b by a predetermined length, and the portion of the treatment instrument insertion pipe 37 that is led out from the through hole 31b is bent inward. The treatment instrument insertion tube 37 is fitted with a treatment instrument insertion tube 38, and a fixing ring 39 for fixing the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 in a state of being connected to the treatment instrument insertion pipe 37 is fitted. I have.

The angle section 40 can be bent in two to four directions by remote control from the main body operation section.
The angle portion 40 has a node ring structure formed by sequentially connecting an angle ring 41 with a pivot pin 42 as a structure thereof, and a coating layer formed of a mesh tube, a skin layer, and the like is provided on the outer periphery thereof. 43 are formed.
A signal cable 44 connected to the treatment tool insertion tube 38 and the substrate 36a of the solid-state imaging device 36 is inserted into the angle portion 40, and a light guide and an objective lens 33 for transmitting illumination light (not shown). A fluid supply tube for supplying a cleaning fluid for cleaning the surface of the device is also inserted.

The angle section 40 is connected to the distal end hard section 30. Here, among a number of angle rings 41 constituting the angle portion 40, the one indicated by reference numeral 45 is a distal end ring, and the distal end ring 45 is connected to the sleeve 32 constituting the rigid distal end portion 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve 32 on the distal end hard portion 30 side has a predetermined diameter on the distal end side, and is a main body cylindrical portion 32a into which the distal end main body 31 is inserted. An annular groove 32b is formed on the base end side of 32a. Further, a portion between the formation portion of the concave groove portion 32b and the base end portion is a connecting portion 32c to which the distal ring 45 is fitted. on the other hand,
The tip ring 45 on the angle part 40 side has a pivot part 45a for the next angle ring 41, and this pivot part 45
The main cylinder portion 45b having substantially the same diameter as that of the other angle ring 41 is provided by a predetermined length from a, and the distal end side of the main cylinder portion 45b is expanded in diameter to connect the connecting portion 32c of the sleeve 32. The connecting portion 45c is fitted and fixed to the connecting portion 45c.

At least the connecting portion 3 of the sleeve 32
The outer diameter of the sleeve 32 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the connecting portion 45c of the tip ring 45.
After being fitted with the tip ring 45, the two rings 32, 45 are fixed in a connected state by spot welding at an appropriate position or by means such as brazing or soldering. Further, of the covering layer 43 in the angle portion 40, the portion of the outer skin layer extends to the concave groove portion 32b of the sleeve 32, and is fixed to the concave groove portion 32b by means of thread winding, bonding, or the like. .

FIG. 3 shows a distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 30. As is apparent from this figure, the distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 31 constituting the distal end hard portion 30 has a through hole 31a in which the lens barrel 34 of the objective lens 33 is mounted, and the treatment instrument insertion pipe 3
8 into which the through hole 31b is inserted. Therefore, in the hard distal end portion 30, the through-hole 31a is the observation window 50, the through-hole 31b is the treatment tool lead-out portion 51, and other than these, an illumination window 52 provided with a divergent lens facing the emission end face of the light guide is provided. Have been. Here, two illumination windows 52 are provided on the left and right sides of the observation window 50, and the treatment tool lead-out portion 51 is opened at a position deviated to the outer peripheral side of the distal end hard portion 30.

A path for inserting a treatment instrument, that is, a treatment instrument insertion channel includes a treatment instrument insertion tube 38 having flexibility in a bending direction from the angle portion 40 to the flexible portion;
The treatment instrument insertion tube 38 is connected to the distal end of the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 and is connected to the distal end main body 31 of the rigid distal end portion 30.
Hole 31b opening as a treatment instrument outlet 51 in the distal end surface of
Consists of The treatment instrument insertion tube 38 has a thickness necessary for giving strength so as not to cause buckling when pressed against another insertion member or an operation wire for bending the angle portion 40 when the angle portion 40 is bent. It is composed of one having a thickness. Further, a fixing ring 39 is further fitted to the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 in order to fix the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 connected to the treatment instrument insertion pipe 37. Therefore, the outer diameter of the portion where the fixing ring 39 is mounted in the treatment tool insertion channel is the largest.

As is apparent from FIG.
Since the treatment instrument insertion pipe 37 extends in the axial direction of the distal end hard portion 30 because the treatment instrument insertion pipe 37 is located at a position deviated to the outer peripheral side in the distal end hard portion 30, the thick treatment instrument insertion tube 3
8 and the fixing ring 39 cannot be fitted. It is for this reason that the treatment instrument insertion pipe 37 is bent, so that a space for fitting the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 inside the insertion portion, particularly at the connecting portion between the distal end hard portion 30 and the angle portion 40, must be ensured. No. The connecting portion of the treatment tool insertion tube 38 to the treatment tool insertion pipe 37 is located at the connection portion between the hard distal end portion 30 and the angle portion 40. Further, the connecting portion 32c of the sleeve 32 is provided with a notch 46 at a position where the fixing ring 39 fitted to the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 is provided. The notch 46 functions as a housing for the fixing ring 39.

As described above, the notch 46 is formed in the sleeve 32.
In the notch 46, the treatment tool insertion pipe 37 and the treatment tool insertion tube 3 of the treatment tool insertion channel are provided.
8 and the fixing ring 39, and a part of the portion having the largest outer diameter is accommodated, so that a space margin can be made inside the insertion portion. In addition, this triple structure portion is a part of the entire length of the treatment instrument insertion channel.
It is extremely short, and the entire length of this portion is located within the notch 46. Therefore, the routing space of the other insertion member is not restricted by the influence of the partial large diameter portion, and the occurrence of a dead space in the insertion portion can be suppressed.

When the notch 46 is formed, the peripheral wall becomes an edge. Further, since the sleeve 32 is inserted into the tip ring 45, the end face of the sleeve 32 also becomes an edge. When the insertion member inside the insertion portion is pressed against these edges, there is a possibility that the insertion member may be damaged. In particular, the problem with the edge is in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion and at a position close to the angle portion 40. The reason is that when the angle portion 40 is bent, the insertion member bends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of the insertion portion. Therefore, by setting the width of the notch 46 to a certain extent, even if there is an edge directed in the axial direction of the insertion portion, the insertion member is not pressed against this edge. Further, if the position of the distal end hard portion 30 is close to the distal end main body 31, even if the angle portion 40 is curved, the movement of the insertion member connected to the distal end main body 31 is extremely small, or It doesn't work at all. Therefore, even if the edge exists at a position close to the distal end portion main body 31, the insertion member is not damaged.

The edge in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion is, first, the end of the sleeve 32. The end wall of the notch 46 formed in the sleeve 32 is also in the direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion. Is the edge of However,
The sleeve 32 has a concave groove 32b, and the tip ring 45 also has a step between the main body cylinder 45b and the connecting part 45c. Therefore, there is a step in front and back near the end of the sleeve 32 including the notch 46, and a portion having an increased inner diameter is sandwiched between the front and rear steps. The height difference between the front and rear step walls is set to be larger than the dimension corresponding to the thickness of the sleeve 32. by this,
The end of the sleeve 32 is covered by the step wall of the enlarged diameter portion that forms the connecting portion 45c. Further, the step formed by the notch 46 provided in the sleeve 32 is also covered by the step located forward, that is, the concave groove 32b. Therefore, the structure has substantially no edges. As a result, when the angle portion 40 is operated to bend, it does not move while being pressed against the end surface of the sleeve 32 or the edge constituting the cutout 46, and there is no inconvenience such as damage to the insertion member. .

[0023]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, in order to secure a wide space in the distal end ring, tubes and the like are inserted into the cutouts. It has various effects such as protection so as not to be damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line AA of FIG. 3 at a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sleeve on a hard distal end side and a distal end ring on an angle side separately.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a distal end surface of the insertion section in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a general endoscope.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion section of an endoscope according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a tip ring of an angle portion according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 30 tip hard portion 31 tip portion main body 32 sleeve 32a main body cylinder portion 32b concave groove portion 33c connecting portion 33 objective lens 37 treatment instrument insertion pipe 38 treatment instrument insertion tube 39 fixing ring 40 angle portion 41 angle ring 45 tip ring 45a pivot portion 45b Body tube part 45c Connecting part 46 Notch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A distal end rigid portion constituted by fitting a sleeve to a distal end main body to which an endoscope observation mechanism is attached, and a node ring structure in which a predetermined number of angle rings are sequentially pivoted. An end portion having an angle portion serving as a distal end ring in which a distal end angle ring is connected to the distal end rigid portion, wherein the distal end portion of the distal end ring has an inner diameter at least a thickness dimension of the sleeve. The connecting portion has a diameter increased as described above, and this tip ring is connected by fitting the sleeve into the connecting portion, and the sleeve is provided with a portion inserted into the tip ring. An angle part connection structure for an endoscope, wherein one or more notches for accommodating at least a part of the insertion member in the insertion part are formed in a circumferential direction. 2. A structure in which a reduced diameter portion is formed in the sleeve at a position on the distal end side of the notch forming portion, and a step of the reduced diameter portion is larger than a thickness dimension of the sleeve. The angle part connection structure for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A treatment instrument insertion pipe is mounted on the distal end hard portion, and a treatment instrument insertion tube is connected to the treatment instrument insertion pipe. The treatment instrument insertion tube is provided at a fitting portion of the treatment instrument insertion pipe to the treatment instrument insertion pipe. The angle part connection structure for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the notch of the sleeve is exposed.