JP2002204778A - Multilayer tube reinforcing structure of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multilayer tube reinforcing structure of an endoscope having good durability and not bringing about peeling off or the like between an inner layer and an outer layer causing buckling even when the multilayer tube inserted into and disposed in the endoscope is repeatedly bent in a small radius of curvature. SOLUTION: A spiral material 10 made of a metal and having springiness is wound in an elastically deformed state in a radially enlarging direction so that a clamping force is applied to a plurality of flexible tubes 11a and 11b constituting the multilayer tube 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for reinforcing a multilayer tube of an endoscope used for a treatment tool insertion channel tube or the like of an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various flexible tubes such as a treatment instrument insertion channel tube and an air supply / water supply tube are inserted and disposed in an endoscope. In order to obtain the above characteristics, it is effective to use a multilayer tube having a configuration in which a plurality of flexible tubes made of different materials are stacked.

[0003] Therefore, for example, a multilayer tube described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-91973 has a flexible inner layer tube made of a fluororesin material or the like and is provided with a fluororesin material and a polyimide resin material. It has a configuration in which a flexible outer tube made of a composite material is fused.

Further, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-9917 and JP-A-8-142151, a tube is formed by laminating a fluororesin on an inner layer of a tube and a urethane resin on an outer layer, for example, by extrusion molding or the like. A two-layer tube may be used.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned multilayer tube, the inner layer and the outer layer have different characteristics such as flexibility and hardness. Therefore, the multilayer tube has a small radius of curvature in a curved portion of an endoscope or the like. If it is bent, separation or the like occurs between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a break may occur from that portion.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a durability in which even if a multi-layer tube inserted through an endoscope is repeatedly bent with a small radius of curvature, separation between the inner layer and the outer layer, which may result in breakage, does not occur. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-layer tube reinforcing structure for an endoscope which is good.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a multilayer tube reinforcing structure for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises a multilayer tube in which a plurality of flexible tubes made of different materials are stacked. A springy metal helical material is inserted through the endoscope and spreads over at least a part of the entire length of the multilayer tube so that a tightening force is applied to the plurality of flexible tubes constituting the multilayer tube. It is wound in a state of being elastically deformed in the radial direction.

If the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube around which the metal spiral member is wound is formed so as to be recessed only at the portion around which the metal spiral member is wound, it is possible to reduce the hooking to other internal components. At the same time, it is possible to alleviate a decrease in the flexibility of the portion where the metal spiral material is wound.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows the endoscope and the flexible tubes inserted therein.

The proximal end of the flexible insertion section 1 of the endoscope is
The bending portion 3 provided at the distal end portion of the flexible insertion portion 1 can be bent in an arbitrary direction and at an arbitrary angle by remote operation from the operation portion 2.

The flexible insertion portion 1 including the bending portion 3
Inside, flexible tubes such as a treatment instrument insertion channel tube 11 and an air / water supply tube 12 for inserting the treatment instrument are inserted through the entire length.

The operation unit 2 and the light guide connector 4
Flexible tubes such as a suction tube 13 and an air supply / water supply tube 14 are inserted through the entire length of the flexible connection tube 5 connecting between the tubes.

FIG. 3 is a half sectional view of the treatment instrument insertion channel tube 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The treatment instrument insertion channel tube 11 is a flexible inner layer made of a fluororesin material or the like. A multilayer tube in which a flexible outer layer tube 11b made of a composite material of a fluororesin material and a polyimide resin material is fused to the outer peripheral surface of the tube 11a is used.

However, the flexible inner tube 11a and the flexible outer tube 11b may be formed of other materials, respectively, and the flexible inner tube 11a and the flexible outer tube 11b are fused. It is not necessary to use a configuration in which the components are bonded or simply overlapped.

On the outer peripheral surface of the flexible outer tube 11b,
For example, a metal spiral member 10 made of a spring-like stainless steel strip or the like is wound in a state of being elastically deformed in the radially expanding direction. As a result, the flexible outer tube 11b and the flexible inner tube 11a are wound. The clamping force of the metal spiral member 10 is applied to both tubes.

In order to adopt such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, a metal spiral member 10 whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible outer tube 11b is reduced in diameter within the range of elastic deformation. It is necessary to spread and attach to the outer peripheral surface of the flexible outer tube 11b. The metal spiral member 10 can be easily attached by being twisted in the radially expanding direction or compressed in the axial direction. Work can be done.

As shown in FIG. 3, the metal spiral member 10 is attached to the outer periphery of the treatment instrument insertion channel tube 11 because, for example, the treatment instrument insertion channel tube 11 is repeatedly bent with the smallest radius of curvature in the curved portion 3. The flexible insertion portion 1 may be near the connection portion with the operation portion 2 where the flexible insertion portion 1 is sharply bent, or may be a metal spiral member 10 over the entire length of the treatment instrument insertion channel tube 11. May be attached.

With such a structure, the fastening force of the metal spiral member 10 directly acts on the flexible outer tube 11b, and the flexible inner tube 11
The tightening force of the metal spiral member 10 acts on a through the flexible outer tube 11b.

As a result, even if the treatment tool insertion channel tube 11 formed by the multilayer tube is bent with a small radius of curvature, the flexible inner tube 11a and the flexible outer tube 11b do not peel off, and the treatment tool insertion No buckling of the channel tube 11 occurs.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the space formed between the outer peripheral surface of the flexible outer layer tube 11b and the metal spiral member 10 can be reduced. If the adhesive 19 or the like is filled, it is possible to alleviate the hooking to other internal components such as the optical fiber bundle or the like in the curved portion 3 or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flexible outer tube 1 is provided only in a range where the metal spiral member 10 is wound.
The outer surface of the outer tube 1b may be recessed, or as shown in FIG. 6, a metal spiral member 10 formed of a wire may be loaded into a spiral groove 20 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flexible outer tube 11b. .

With this configuration, it is possible to alleviate the hooking on the other internal components, and at the same time, it is possible to alleviate the decrease in the flexibility of the portion around which the metal spiral member 10 is wound. However, in any case, the point is that the spring metal spiral member 10 is wound in a state of being elastically deformed in the radially expanding direction.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the air supply / water supply tube 12 other than the treatment instrument insertion channel tube 11 and the suction tube 1.
3 or may be applied to reinforcement of the air supply / water supply tube 14 or the like, and the fastening force of the metal spiral member 10 may be applied to three or more layers of flexible tubes.

[0024]

According to the present invention, a state in which a metal spiral material having spring properties is elastically deformed in a radially expanding direction so that a tightening force is applied to a plurality of flexible tubes constituting a multilayer tube. When the multilayer tube inserted into the endoscope is repeatedly bent with a small radius of curvature, peeling between the inner layer and the outer layer does not occur, and the multilayer tube does not break.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a state in which a multilayer tube reinforcing structure of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention is being assembled.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the entire configuration of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention and flexible tubes inserted and arranged inside the endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a partial side half-sectional view of the multilayer tube reinforcing structure of the endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial side half view of a multilayer tube reinforcing structure of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial side half-sectional view of a multilayer tube reinforcing structure of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial side half-sectional view of a multilayer tube reinforcing structure of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible insertion part 3 Bending part 10 Metal spiral material 11 Treatment tool insertion channel tube (multilayer tube) 11a Flexible inner layer tube 11b Flexible outer layer tube

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-layer tube having a structure in which a plurality of flexible tubes of different materials are superimposed is inserted through an endoscope, and the multi-layer tube is formed on at least a part of the entire length of the multi-layer tube. Characterized in that a helical spring material having elasticity is wound in a state of being elastically deformed in a radially expanding direction so that a tightening force is applied to a plurality of flexible tubes. Construction. 2. The multi-layer tube reinforcement of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube around which the metal spiral material is wound is formed only at a portion where the metal spiral material is wound. Construction.