JP2002236260A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which can naturally return a bending section to an approximately straight state simply by putting control means into a free state and can improve operability. SOLUTION: This endoscope has an insertion portion 2 which has plural built-in objects and has the bending section 4 in at least a portion, a control section which indirectly connects a traction wire 38 attached to the bending section 4 and has a control knob to bend the bending section 4 by pulling the traction wire 38 and a guide member 44 which inserts the traction wire 38 into the bending section 4 and the insertion portion 2. The bending resistance force which is the resultant force of the operating resistance of the control knob, the bending resistance of the bending section 4 alone and the friction force between the traction wire 38 and the guide member 44 is smaller than the sum total of the bending reaction generated by the built-in objects in bending of the bending section 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having a bending portion for bending an endoscope end portion in an insertion portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An insertion portion of an endoscope comprises a distal end portion, a curved portion and a flexible tube portion. The insertion portion includes an image guide fiber, a light guide fiber, a forceps channel, an air supply / water supply tube, and the like. Is interpolated. Further, in the electronic endoscope, a solid-state imaging device is incorporated in a distal end portion of the endoscope instead of the image guide fiber, and a signal cable connected to the solid-state imaging device is inserted in an insertion portion.

[0003] In the endoscope configured as described above,
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 3-56405 discloses an endoscope in which the natural length of the forceps channel is longer than the length of the forceps channel attached to the endoscope body, and the endoscope is assembled in an axially compressed state.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63-35222 discloses an endoscope in which a bending portion can be bent by inserting a bent elastic member into a forceps channel of the endoscope. It has been disclosed.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 62-54701 discloses an endoscope in which the thickness of a wire receiver in a direction having a maximum bending angle is larger than that of a wire receiver in another direction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-38325 discloses an endoscope in which a wire receiver other than a direction having a maximum bending angle is arranged at a position shifted from a bending direction passing through the center of a bending piece.

On the other hand, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-37101 discloses that
There is disclosed a cleaning brush in which a brush portion and a sheath portion are connected via a soft connection member.

JP-A-8-103410 discloses a cleaning brush in which a brush portion and a sheath portion are connected via a connecting member made of resin, and the sheath portion and the connection are fixed by fusion. It has been disclosed.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-371012 discloses an endoscope apparatus for restricting illumination light based on a displacement amount of a luminance distribution of a video signal.

[0010] In Japanese Patent Application No. 11-304281,
1 shows an endoscope apparatus system provided with a means for recognizing a connection state of components of an endoscope system and determining whether or not a signal transmission means is disconnected, and a means for notifying a result of the determination.

Japanese Patent Application No. 9-192085 discloses that a curved tube having a wide shoulder opening is disposed near the center of the curved portion and narrow objects are disposed at the distal end and the proximal side of the curved portion. An endoscope in which the radius of curvature in the vicinity is larger than that of the distal end or the proximal side is shown.

[0012]

By the way, the outer diameter of the insertion portion of the endoscope is required to be further reduced, and accordingly, each built-in component located in the insertion portion is also reduced in diameter. In general, the material of each built-in object used in an endoscope is rarely changed even if the diameter is reduced, and even if a different material is used, it may affect the other built-in materials. Materials with significantly different material properties, such as hardness, are not used. For this reason, when the diameter of the built-in object is reduced, the bending reaction force generated when each built-in object is bent as the bending portion of the endoscope curves is reduced. The bending reaction force referred to here is a reaction force that tends to return to the original straight state when an object that is in a substantially straight state in a natural state is bent by an external force.

A pulling member such as a wire for bending attached to the bending portion of the endoscope is directly or indirectly fixed to the operating means of the operating portion on the hand side. Normally, a member that generates a frictional force for operation such as an O-ring for waterproofing is attached to the operation means, so an operation force amount for operating the operation unit alone is required.

The bending portion is generally formed by connecting a plurality of bending pieces via rivets so as to be rotatable, and is further covered with an elastic member for a watertight structure. In order to bend even in a single body, an amount of bending force that overcomes those resistances is required. Further, since a traction member such as a wire attached to the bending portion is usually inserted through the guide member in the bending portion and the insertion portion, a frictional force is generated between the traction member and the guide member also here.

When the bending reaction force of the built-in object is smaller than the sum of the operating force of the operating portion, the resistance of the bending portion, and the frictional force between the traction member and the guide member, the operator manually operates the operating knob of the endoscope. There is a problem that the angle of the curved portion does not return in a so-called free state where the angle is released. In general, in the free state, when the bending portion is straight, it is not necessary to intentionally operate the operation knob at the time of insertion and removal to make the bending portion straight, thereby improving operability.

Due to the required function of the endoscope, the bending angle is set to be different depending on each bending direction. Normal,
Since the tension applied to the wire in the direction in which the bending angle is maximized is maximized, there is a problem that friction with the wire receiver is most severe and the wire is easily broken.

In general, bending stress occurs most near the center of the curved portion, which is the peak of the curved portion when the curved portion is curved, and the built-in component tends to buckle. In the past, the bending radius was increased by reducing the shoulder opening size of the bending piece, but with this structure, the bending angle of each bending piece becomes smaller, so the number of bending pieces increases and the cost increases. There has been a problem that the assembling is complicated or the assembly is complicated.

On the other hand, in an endoscope cleaning brush in which the hairy brush portion and the insertion portion are separated from each other, the brush portion and the insertion portion are fixed by soldering. The fixing portion has to be placed at a certain distance from the brush portion, and as a result, the fixing portion having rigidity has been lengthened. When the fixing portion is long, there is a problem that the length of the hard portion is long and the penetrability is poor.

When a problem occurs that an image cannot be seen during an inspection, an instruction manual or the like instructs the user to carefully remove the scope with the bent portion in a free state. However, at the time of inspection, it is not necessary to sequentially read the instruction manual, so that there is a problem that the content of the instruction manual must be confirmed when trouble occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to straighten a curve by freeing an operation means of an operation section for bending a bending section of an insertion section. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can be moved in any direction and can improve operability.

[0021]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an insertion portion having a plurality of built-in components and having at least a part having a curved portion, and a traction device attached to the curved portion. An operation unit having an operation unit for indirectly connecting members and operating the bending portion by towing the traction member, and a guide member for inserting the traction member into the bending portion and the insertion portion. In the endoscope, when the bending portion bends, a built-in object is generated when a bending resistance force, which is a resultant force of the operation resistance of the operation means, the bending resistance of the bending portion alone, and the frictional force between the traction member and the guide member, is generated. It is characterized by being smaller than the sum of the bending reaction forces.

According to the above construction, the bending resistance, which is the sum of the operating force of the operating means alone, the bending resistance of the bending portion alone, and the frictional force between the traction member and the guide member, is calculated from the bending reaction force of each built-in member. After bending the bending section, if the operator releases the operating means, the reaction force of the built-in object will overcome the bending resistance, and the endoscope end will naturally become almost straight. Return. Since the built-in component is usually a tube-like Teflon (registered trademark) forceps channel or a light guide composed of a collection of glass fibers, the bending reaction force generated when bent is larger than the bending resistance force. But small enough. Even if the operator removes his / her hand from the operating means, the body wall is not damaged by the bending reaction force of the built-in object.

[0023]

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

1 to 8 show a first embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video endoscope system. As shown in FIG. 1, an insertion portion 2 of an electronic endoscope 1 (hereinafter, referred to as an endoscope 1) is provided with a distal end configuration portion 3, a bending portion 4, and a flexible tube portion 5. A universal cord 7 is connected to the operation unit 6 of the endoscope 1 and a treatment instrument insertion port 8 is provided.

FIG. 2 is a view of the distal end component 3 as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along a cross section ABCD in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a cross section EOF in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an illumination lens 11, an observation lens 12, a cleaning nozzle 13 for cleaning the observation lens distal end surface, and a treatment instrument insertion channel 14 are provided on the front surface of the distal end component 3. ing. A number of optical fibers are bundled at the rear end of the illumination lens 11, and a cable-like light guide fiber 15 coated on the outside with a coating such as a silicon tube is connected.

The light guide fiber 15 extends from the distal end component 3 to the light source device 16 through the bending portion 4, the flexible tube portion 5, and the operation portion 6, via the universal cord 7 and a connector (not shown). ing. Light generated by the light source device 16 can be transmitted to the illumination lens 11.

At the rear end of the observation lens 12, a solid-state image pickup device 17 for converting an image of light passing through the observation lens 12 into an electric signal is connected, and further, a cable 18 is connected to the rear side. The cable 18 is inserted into the universal cord 7 through the bending section 4, the flexible tube section 5, and the operation section 6 from the distal end constituting section 3 similarly to the light guide fiber 15.

The cable 18 has connectors 20 at both ends.
It is connected to a video processor 21 via a scope cable 19 having a and 20b, and transmits an electric signal from the solid-state imaging device 17 to the video processor 21. An air / water supply pipeline 22 is connected to the rear end of the cleaning nozzle 13. Video processor 21
Is a monitor 21a, VTR deck 21b, video disc 2
1c and the video printer 21d.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the insertion axis from the insertion portion 2 to the operation portion 6, and shows each pipe. The air / water supply pipe 22 connected to the rear end of the cleaning nozzle 13 passes through the bending section 4 and the flexible pipe section 5 from the distal end component 3, and the air / water supply pipe inside the flexible pipe section 5. The air supply pipe 24 and the water supply pipe 25 are bifurcated through a passage branching section 23 and are connected to an air supply / water supply cylinder 26 in the operation section 6.

An air / water supply button 27 is attached to the air / water supply cylinder 26 so as to be interlocked. The operator operates the air / water supply button 27 so that the cleaning nozzle 13 is operated.
From the air supply. The water supply pipe 25 passes through the air supply / water supply cylinder 26 in the operation unit 6, passes through the universal cord 7, and is connected to a water supply tank mounting port 28 provided in the connector 9 as shown in FIG. 6. I have.

A water tank (not shown) is attached to the water tank mounting port 28 so that water can be supplied at the time of water supply. As shown in FIG. 4, a channel tube 29 is connected to the rear end side of the treatment instrument insertion channel 14. The channel tube 29 extends from the distal end component 3 through the bending portion 4 and the flexible tube portion 5 to the operation portion 6, and passes through the branch portion 30 in the operation portion 6 as shown in FIG. And forked. One is the operation unit 6
Is connected to a treatment instrument insertion port 8 provided on the outer surface of the instrument.

The treatment tool can be inserted from the treatment tool insertion port 8 and protruded to the distal end from the treatment tool insertion channel 14 via the channel tube 29. The other end of the channel tube 29 after the branching section 30 passes through the universal cord 7 after passing through the suction cylinder 31 in the operation section 6 and is connected to the suction port 32 of the connector 9 as shown in FIG. ing. By connecting a suction pump (not shown) to the suction port 32, the surgeon operates a suction button 33 linked to the suction cylinder 31 to remove the liquid sucked from the treatment instrument insertion channel 14 provided in the distal end component 3. , Lesions and the like can be transported from the suction port to an external tank.

The channel tube 29 is generally formed of a resin material such as PTFE. The inside diameter through which the treatment tool can pass is ensured, and the tube has a thin wall in order to make the outside diameter as small as possible. However, there is a limit in making the channel tube 29 thin so that the channel tube 29 is not pierced by the outer shape of the treatment tool when passing through the treatment tool.

Since the light guide fiber 15 is a bundle of optical fiber fibers among the internal components other than the channel tube 29, the light guide fiber 15 is weak and soft in the direction bent with respect to the insertion axis. The cable 18 is also composed of several core wires or coaxial wires, and has a small outer diameter and is soft in the bending direction like the light guide fiber 11.

The air / water supply conduit 22 is formed of a resin tube similarly to the channel tube 29, but generally has a smaller outer diameter than the channel tube 29, and a treatment tool is provided inside. Because there is no need to pass
It is formed with a thinner wall. All internal components are formed and attached in a straight shape along the endoscope insertion axis in a natural state where no external force is applied.

The operation section 6 includes a UD operation knob 34 for bending the bending section 4 in the vertical direction with respect to the insertion axis, an RL operation knob 35 for bending the bending section 4 in the left and right direction, and an air / water supply button 27 interlocked with the air / water supply cylinder 26. , A suction button 33 interlocked with the suction cylinder 31, and a plurality of scope switches 36 for sending a signal to the video processor 21 are arranged. A rear end side of a pulling wire 38 having a front end fixed to the bending portion 4 is attached to each of the operation knobs 34 and 35, and when the operator turns each of the operation knobs 34 and 35, the bending portion 4 bends. It has a structure.

The scope switch 36 is constituted by an electric switch, and is turned on / off by a switch.
Each function of the video processor 21, for example, an image still or photographing function can be operated. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a base plate 40 formed of a metal member.
The UD shaft 41 and the RL shaft 42 are attached to the.

A UD sprocket 43 and a UD operation knob 34 are fixed to the UD shaft 41. A traction wire 38 as a traction member is connected to the UD sprocket 43 via a chain (not shown).
When the operator operates the operation knob 34, the UD sprocket 43 moves via the UD shaft 41, and the traction wire 38
, The bending portion 4 can be bent in the vertical direction. The same applies to the left-right direction.

Since each shaft rotates with respect to the operation section main body, a plurality of O-rings 47 are mounted on each shaft mounting section of the operation section main body in order to maintain waterproofness. The clearance between the operating portion 6 and each shaft at the mounting portion of the O-ring 47 is smaller than the thickness of each O-ring 47. Therefore, at the time of mounting, the O-ring 47 is crushed and deformed between the operation portion main body and each shaft.
In this state, the O-ring 47 is always in contact with the operation unit main body and each shaft and is formed of an elastic member. Therefore, when each shaft rotates with respect to the operation unit 6, the shaft rotates. A friction force is generated in the direction opposite to the moving direction.

The operation unit 6 includes operation knobs 34 and 35.
The RL engagement knob 46a and the UD engagement knob 46b for restricting the rotation of the RL are provided. For example, when the RL engagement knob 46a is rotated, the RL friction plate 45 is pressed against the RL operation knob 35, and the rotation of the RL operation knob 35 is stopped. In the disengaged state, the RL engage knob 46a and the RL operation knob 35 are rotatable with each other, and an O-ring 47 is provided between both for waterproofing. The same applies between the UD engagement knob 46b and the UD operation knob 34.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the bending portion 4 and the flexible tube portion 5 in the insertion axis direction. The bending portion 4 includes a plurality of bending pieces 48, and each bending piece 48 is assembled via a rivet 49 so as to be rotatable with respect to each other. The front end of the pulling wire 38 is fixed to the leading end piece, and a plurality of pipe-like guide members 50 are attached to the bending piece 48 other than the tip so that the axial direction thereof is parallel to the insertion axis. It is fixed to the inner circumference. Similarly, a coil pipe 51 formed by spirally winding a metal wire to form a coil is provided on the inner periphery of the flexible tube portion 5. The pulling wire 38 is inserted into the guide member 50 inside the bending section 4, through the coil pipe 51 inside the flexible tube section 5, and attached to the operation section 6.

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

As described above, the pulling wire 38 is fixed to the bending portion 4 on the front side and to the operation knobs 34 and 35 via the chain and the like at the rear end side. 38 is pulled, and slides back and forth in the insertion axis direction between the inside of the guide member 50 and the inside of the coil pipe 51.

When the bending portion 4 bends, all built-in components
It is bent along the curved portion 4. Since all built-in components are formed straight in the natural state, when bent, they generate a reaction force that attempts to return to the original straight state. The reaction force is maximum when the built-in object is bent most, and the bending force is reduced, that is, the reaction force is reduced as the bending is reduced.

In order for the bending portion 4 to return straight from the bending state, the pulling wire 38 must slide back in the guide member 50 and the coil pipe 51 in the direction opposite to the bending direction. Therefore, the pulling wire 38 and the guide member 5
0 and a coil pipe 51 generate a frictional force. Further, since the towing wire 38 is connected to the operation knobs 34 and 35 via a plurality of members on the rear end side, the operation knobs 34 and 3
5 must also rotate in the direction in which the curvature returns.

When the operation knobs 34 and 35 rotate, the O-ring 47 provided between the operation section main body, each shaft, and each engagement knob functions as a friction member. Further, the bending portion 4
Has a structure in which a plurality of bending pieces 48 are rotatable with respect to each other via rivets 49, and is covered with an elastic member to ensure watertightness of the bending portion 4. When it does, it creates resistance.

As a result, when the operator releases his / her hand from the operation knobs 34 and 35, the bending portion 4 tries to return to the straight direction due to the reaction force of the built-in member at the distal end. As the bending resistance returns, the turning resistance of the operation knobs 34 and 35 due to the frictional force, the friction between the pulling wires due to the sliding between the pulling wire 38, the guide member 50, and the coil pipe 51, and the resistance of the bending portion alone occur, and the bending returns. The bending stops at a position where the decreasing reaction force of the built-in object balances the resultant force of the turning resistance of the operation knobs 34, 35, the friction between the pulling wires, and the resistance of the bending portion alone.

Hereinafter, the above-described resultant force is described as a bending resistance.

If the internal component reaction force is always larger than the bending resistance force when the bending portion 4 of the insertion portion 2 is bent, the surgeon releases his / her hands from the operation knobs 34 and 35 so as to be in a so-called free state. The bending portion 4 naturally returns to the straight state.

At the time of maximum bending, if the reaction force of the built-in object is larger than the bending resistance, the bending section 4 is moved in the straight direction by releasing the hand from the operation knobs 34 and 35 after applying the maximum bending. Return. By observing the surgeon's movement of the visual field caused by the return of the curvature, it is possible to know the visual field direction in which the bending portion 4 becomes straight.

At the time of insertion into the large intestine, when passing through the sigmoid colon,
The intestine is curved and the intestine is dragged to straighten the S-shape. At the time of straightening, in order to straighten the curved portion 4 while searching for a lumen, it is sufficient to release the hand from the operation knobs 34 and 35, check the direction in which the curved portion 4 is straightened, and return the curve to that direction.

When the reaction force of the built-in object and the bending resistance force are balanced when the bending portion 4 is 180 ° or less, the operation knobs 34 and 35 are used.
When the user releases his / her hand, the bending portion 4 returns to a position where the force is balanced, that is, a position where the bending is 180 ° or less. If the bend returns to 180 ° or less, the bendable part 4 bends in a direction in which the bend is always straightened by receiving a force from the body wall when it comes into contact with the body wall at the time of removal. Can be removed without returning straight.

When the reaction force of the built-in object is balanced with the bending resistance and when the bending portion 4 is substantially straight, the operation knobs 34 and 35 are used.
When the user releases his / her hand, the bending portion 4 returns to a substantially straight position, and when the endoscope 1 is inserted into the bent lumen, the bending portion 4 is bent and pushes the endoscope 1 to disable insertion. The bending section 4 can easily catch the lumen at the end of the endoscope 1 in a straight state, and can be easily inserted.

According to this embodiment, if the reaction force of the built-in object is greater than the bending resistance during bending, the operation knobs 34, 3
The curve can be moved in the straight direction only by releasing the hand from 5.

When the reaction force of the built-in object is larger than the bending resistance when the bending is maximum, the straight direction of the bending portion 4 can be known from the movement of the visual field. It is possible to grasp whether it should be done and operability is improved.

If the balance position is equal to or less than 180 °, the curved shape is such that it can be removed simply by releasing the hand from the operation knobs 34 and 35, and the operability is improved.

If the balance position is substantially straight, the curved portion 4 becomes substantially straight just by releasing the hand from the operation knobs 34 and 35, and the operability is improved.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in the insertion axis direction when the bending section 4 of the insertion section 2 of the endoscope 1 is straight. A channel tube 29 is connected to the rear end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 14 provided in the distal end component 3. The rear end of the channel tube 29 is connected to the branch portion 30 in the operation section 6. The branch portion 30 is formed of a hard member, and the operation portion 6
Is fixed to the inner wall.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the insertion axis when the bending portion 4 of the insertion section 2 of the endoscope 1 is bent to the maximum in the direction in which the maximum bending angle is the largest. Channel tube 29
Is located closer to the insertion axis than the outer periphery of the curved shape in the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction in the bending portion 4. From the rear end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 14 to the front end of the branch portion 30, the trajectory drawn by the axis of the channel tube 29 is longer than the trajectory drawn by the endoscope bending center axis.

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

In the straight state of the bending portion 4, the bending portion 4
And the length L1 of the locus of the axis of the channel tube 29 is the same. At the time of maximum bending in the direction of maximum bending, the trajectory L2 drawn by the axis of the channel tube 29 is
L1 <L2, which is longer than the trajectory drawn by the endoscope bending center axis.

Therefore, the channel tube 29 fixed to the distal end portion 3 on the distal end side and the branch portion 30 on the rear end side.
Tries to draw a long trajectory, and a pulling force acts. As a reaction, a compressive force acts on the insertion portion 2 from the distal end configuration portion 3 to the branch portion 30.

This compressive force acts in a direction in which the channel tube 29 returns to the original length, that is, in a direction in which the curve returns to the straight. When the hands are released from the operation knobs 34 and 35, the bending returns to a position where the reaction force of the built-in object and the bending resistance balance as described in the first embodiment. The reaction force of the built-in object becomes larger due to the compressive force exerted on the bending portion 4 by 29, and the balance position is on the side with a smaller bending.

According to this embodiment, the operation knobs 34, 35
When you take your hand off, to the position where the curvature becomes smaller,
That is, the bending returns to a state closer to straightness, and the operability is improved.

FIGS. 11 and 13 are comparative examples of the third embodiment, and FIGS. 12 and 14 show the third embodiment.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views in the insertion axis direction when the bending portion 4 is bent.

The bending portion 4 shown in FIG. 12 is composed of a plurality of bending pieces 48 that can rotate with respect to each other. Each bending piece 48
, A pipe-shaped guide member 50 is attached to the inner periphery. The pulling wire 38 passes through the inside of the guide member 50 and travels in the curved portion 4. In the figure, the upper side is the upward direction of the curve. Usually, the maximum bending angle in the upward direction is larger than the bending in the other direction and is the maximum. The number of the guide members 50 located on the upper side is larger than the other bending directions, and therefore, the guide members 5 adjacent to each other in the insertion axis direction are provided.
The distance between zeros is shorter than in other directions.

In the curved portion 4 of the comparative example shown in FIG. 11, the number of upper guide members 50 and the number of lower guide members 50 are the same. FIG. 12 shows a configuration in which the number of upper guide members 50 is larger than that of the lower guide members. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion G in FIG. 11, in which the center of the pulling wire 38 is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and the center of the guide member 50 in the figure is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The angle between the two is θ1. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion H in FIG. 12. Similarly to FIG. 13, the center of the pulling wire 38 is indicated by a one-dot chain line and the guide member 5 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.
The center of 0 is shown, and the angle between them is θ2. θ1
> Θ2.

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

When the maximum bending angle bends in the largest upward direction, the force generated by the reaction force of the built-in object is maximized, and the force for pulling the pulling wire 38 is also maximized. At this time, since the pulling force of the pulling wire 38 is maximum,
The resulting frictional force between the guide member 50 and the pulling wire 38 is also maximized.

The frictional force generated between the guide member 50 and the pulling wire 38 is determined by the magnitude of the component force exerted on the guide member 50 by the pulling wire 38 and perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide member 50. Since the number between the guide members 50 is larger in the direction where the maximum bending angle is the largest than in the other directions, the distance between the respective guide members 50 is short.

Therefore, the angle between the axis of the pulling wire 38 and the axis of the guide member 50 at both ends of the guide member 50 can be smaller than the case where the number of the guide members 50 is small and the distance between the guide members 50 is large.

When the angle between the axis of the guide member 50 and the axis of the pulling wire 38 is small, the component force received by the pulling wire 38 from the guide member 50 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the guide member 50 also becomes small. Since the frictional force generated between the guide member 50 and the pulling wire 38 is proportional to the magnitude of the component force that the pulling wire 38 receives from the guide member 50 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the guide member 50, the component force is small. Thus, the frictional force at the position where the pulling wire 38 comes into contact with each guide member 50 is small, and the wear of the pulling wire 50 can be reduced.

At this time, since the number of guide members 50 is increased only in the direction in which the maximum bending angle is the maximum, the number of guide members 50 does not increase unnecessarily, and the assemblability is not impaired.
Instead of increasing the number of the guide members 50, the axial length of the guide members 50 may be increased only in the direction in which the maximum bending angle is the maximum.

The following effects can be obtained even if the inner diameter of the guide member 50 is made larger than the others only in the direction in which the maximum bending angle is the maximum.

Usually, the guide member 50 and the pulling wire 38
The frictional force between the shaft of the guide member 50 and the pull wire 38
When the clearance between the guide member 50 and the pulling wire 38 is small to some extent, the size of the clearance also depends. When the clearance is increased, the outer diameter of the guide member 50 increases, so that in the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the curved portion 4, the filling rate increases due to the increase in the outer diameter of the guide member 50, and the built-in component has There is less space to move and less resistance to built-in objects when bending. By increasing the clearance only in the direction in which the maximum bending angle is the maximum, it is possible to prevent wear of the pulling wire 38 while maintaining the resistance of the built-in components.

According to this embodiment, the wear of the pulling wire 38 can be reduced and the durability can be improved without impairing the assembling property.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning brush in the endoscope channel in the axial direction, showing the first disclosed example. The cleaning brush includes a brush section 60 and a flexible sheath section 61. The sheath part 61 and the brush part 60 are connected via a metal connection part 63. The sheath portion 61 is formed in a sheath shape by coating the outer periphery of a wire 62 as a core material formed by twisting a thin metal wire with a resin such as Teflon.

The brush portion 60 has a large number of resinous bristle members 64 interposed between holding wires 65 to be screwed together. The tip of the holding wire 65 is used to prevent damage to equipment using the same. Tip tip member 66 for protection
Are fixedly mounted.

From the rear end side of the connecting portion 63 formed in the shape of a pipe, a distal end portion of a wire 62 protruding from a resin from the distal end side of the sheath portion 61 is inserted into the connecting portion 63, and the connecting portion 63 has a wire having an inner diameter from the outside. The connecting portion 63 and the sheath portion 61 are fixed by squeezing until the outer diameter becomes the same, that is, crimping. On the front side of the connecting portion 63, the holding wire 65 of the brush portion 60 is connected to the connecting portion 6.
3, the connecting portion 63 and the brush portion 60 are fixed by caulking similarly to the rear end side.

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

The bristle member of the brush portion 60 is made of resin. When the connecting portion 63 and the brush portion 60 are fixed by a method using heat such as brazing, the fixing portion to be brazed is used. It has to be separated from the brush part 60, and as a result, the so-called hard length, which is the length having rigidity from the front end to the rear end of the connection part 63, becomes longer, and is inserted into the conduit of the endoscope. , It was difficult to insert when trying to pass through the bent part of the pipeline.

In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, since the crimping is performed without using heat, the connecting portion 63 can be shortened, and the distance from the front end of the connecting portion 63 to the hair-like member can be reduced.
As a result, the distance from the tip of the cleaning brush to the rear end of the connecting member can be reduced, and the tip hard length can also be reduced. Therefore,
Improving the insertability of the cleaning brush by shortening the hard tip.

FIG. 16 shows Disclosure 2 and is a modification of Disclosure 1. FIG. 16 is a view showing a procedure for assembling the cleaning brush.

The connecting portion 63 has a forked shape having one opening 63a on the rear side and two openings 63b and 63c on the front side. Holding wire 65 of brush part 60
Are inserted into the connecting portion 63 from the front side, which is bifurcated. The wire 62 of the sheath portion 61 is connected to the opening 6 at the rear end of the connection portion 63.
3a is inserted through one of the front openings 63b and 63c. The wire 62 of the sheath portion 61 has a bifurcated opening 6
3b and 63c, the holding wire 65 of the brush part 60
Is inserted toward the opening on the side different from the side where the is inserted. Similarly to the disclosure example 1, the connection portion 63 is caulked to fix the brush portion 60 and the connection portion 63, and the connection portion 63 and the sheath portion 61.

Next, the operation of Disclosure 2 will be described.

At the time of normal assembling, a wire 62 protruding from the resin is inserted into the connecting portion 63 at the end of the sheath portion.
After that, it is fixed by caulking. In the present disclosure, the side connecting the connecting part 63 and the brush part 60 is forked, so the wire 62 of the sheath part 61 is connected to the opening 63a of the connecting part 63.
63c on the side where the brush part 60 is not inserted
It can be inserted toward.

For this reason, after the brush part 60 is fixed to the connection part 63, the wire 62 of the sheath part 61 is connected to the forked opening 63 of the connection part 63 when the sheath part 61 and the connection part 63 are assembled.
After the wire is inserted and fixed by caulking until the tip protrudes from c, it is only necessary to cut the protruding wire 62, so that assembling is facilitated and the assemblability is improved.

FIG. 17 shows Disclosure Example 3 and shows a screen display on the monitor 21a. In a normal video scope, an electric signal from the solid-state imaging device 17 mounted on the distal end component 3 of the endoscope 1 is transmitted to a video processor 21 via a connector 20a, a scope cable 19, and a connector 20b.
To be transmitted. The video processor 21 converts the transmitted electric signal into an image signal and displays the image signal on an image display area 68 on the monitor 21a. In the video processor 21, an image signal is used, and for example, about 95% or more of the image display area 68 on the monitor 21a is occupied by a dark portion signal such as black or gray, for several seconds or more, for example, 3 seconds. When a certain degree has passed, a program for recognizing an abnormal image is installed.

After a signal for recognizing an abnormal image is output, a program for displaying a notice 70 in an area 69 outside the image display area 68 on the monitor 21a by using the output as a switch is installed. The precautionary statement 70 is usually described in an instruction manual such as “Please make the angle free.” “Do not perform air / water / suction.” “Remove the treatment tool.” Note.

Next, the operation of Disclosure 3 will be described.

Normally, the surgeon looks at the image, feels an abnormality in the image, stops the device, and takes measures such as removal. In the present disclosure, the image abnormality can be automatically notified to the operator based on the ratio of the dark portion signal in the image signal, and a cautionary statement, an instructional statement, and the like are displayed on the monitor 21a accordingly. However, it is difficult to overlook an image abnormality, and it is not necessary to search for another document for a theory or the like even when the image is abnormal. Therefore, oversight prevention at the time of image abnormality and handling at the time of abnormality become easy.

FIGS. 18A and 18B show Disclosure Example 4.
(A) is a side view and a sectional view in the axial direction of the tip piece 71 located at the tip of the bending portion 4, and (b) is a section II of (a). A wire fixing portion 7 having a side wall cut and bent at the tip piece 71.
3 is provided, and the tip of the pulling wire 38 is fixed by, for example, solder.

Four wire fixing portions 73 are provided at intervals of about 90 ° in the circumferential direction with reference to the UP direction, and fix the wires in the UP, DOWN, RIGHT, and LEFT directions, respectively. Two cutouts 72 are provided in the front end piece 71 in the axial direction from the front end to communicate the inner circumference with the outside.

The notch 72 is provided, for example, at one position at 45 ° counterclockwise from the front direction with respect to the UP direction, and at another position 180 ° from the base as a base point. For the notch 72 at the 45 ° position, DO
The wire fixing portion in the WN direction is provided at a position approximately 135 ° counterclockwise from the front direction, and the wire fixing portion 73 in the LEFT direction is provided at a position approximately 135 ° clockwise. With respect to another notch 72 that is 180 ° opposite to the notch 72 at the 45 ° position, the wire fixing portion 73 in the UP direction is at a position separated by approximately 135 ° counterclockwise,
The wire fixing part 73 in the RIGHT direction is about 1 clockwise.
It is provided at a position 35 degrees apart.

The rear end of the notch 72 is located immediately before the front end of each wire fixing portion 73 in the axial direction. The width of the notch 72 is, for example, a tip piece 7 having a diameter of about 6 mm.
It has a size of about 1.5 mm with respect to 1 and the wire fixing part 73 on the inner periphery of the tip piece 71 can be confirmed from the outside through the notch 72.

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

The wire fixing work is usually performed by inserting the wire into the wire fixing portion 73 and flowing the solder. Since the two notches 72 are provided at positions separated by about 135 ° clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the two wire fixing parts 73, the operator can remove the tip piece 71 from outside. Through the notch 72, the wire fixing part 73 can be confirmed. Therefore, it is possible to easily check the flow of the solder and the work of removing excess solder after the solder is hardened.

[0098] The rear end of the notch 72 is a wire fixing portion 73.
The notch 72 does not limit the position of the wire fixing portion 73 because it is located before the front end of the wire fixing portion 73. Further, as the number of the notch portions 72 increases, the tip piece 71 is easily deformed and the strength is reduced. However, since the two wire fixing portions 73 can be confirmed with one notch portion 72, the notch portion 72 Only two places are required in total, and the workability can be improved without the strength being significantly reduced.

FIG. 19 shows a comparative example of Disclosure Example 5, FIG. 20 shows Disclosure Example 5, and FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views of the bending portion 4 in the insertion axis direction. As shown in FIG. 19, the bending portion 4 has a plurality of bending pieces 48 rotatably connected to each other via rivets 49. A single piece (hereinafter referred to as a two-way piece) that operates vertically, a bending piece 48 that operates vertically, and a bending piece 48 that operates horizontally are combined with the endoscope insertion axis direction. UP, DOWN, R by combining a plurality of 4-way pieces that can be operated in both directions in the insertion axis direction.
They are combined so as to bend by a desired bending angle in each of the four directions of IGHT and LEFT.

At the time of bending, the adjacent bending pieces 48 come into contact with each other to form a curved shape. The bending radius is large at the portion where the length in the axial direction of each bending piece 48 is long, and small at the portion where the length is short. FIG. 19 shows a configuration of the bending portion 4 of the comparative example, in which a four-direction piece in which two-way pieces having a long axial length are combined is arranged on the near side of the bending portion 4 in the axial direction, and has a large bending radius. R2. At the tip end, a four-way piece in which two short pieces in the axial direction are combined is arranged to form a small radius of curvature R1, and R2> R1.

FIG. 20 shows a disclosure example 5. In the central part of the curved portion 4 in the axial direction, a four-way piece in which two long pieces in the axial direction are combined is arranged to form a large bending radius R3. ing. At the proximal side of the curved portion 4, a four-way piece is formed by a combination of a two-way piece having a long axial length and a short two-way piece, and the total length of the four-way piece is equal to the length of the four-way piece formed by two long pieces. It is shorter than the total length and longer than the total length of the four-way piece formed by two short pieces. The bending radius at the center of the bending portion 4 is R2. A four-way piece in which two short-length pieces are combined is disposed at the distal end side of the curved portion 4, and the total length is the shortest. The bending radius at the distal end side of the bending portion 4 is R1, and R3>R2> R1.

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

By changing the combination of the bending pieces 48 having the two axial lengths, the axial length of the four-way
It can be formed in stages. Therefore, the bending radius can also be formed in three stages. Usually, when the bending portion 4 is bent to the maximum, the bending shape is determined by the flexibility of the built-in component and the arrangement of the bending pieces 48. At a portion where the radius of curvature is extremely different from other portions, the inner wall of the channel tube 29 is sharply cut when the treatment tool is inserted, and a hole is easily generated.

Normally, at the apex of the curved portion 4, the inner wall of the channel tube 29 of the treatment instrument tends to be shaved.
For this reason, if the radius of curvature near the center of the curved portion 4 that is the vertex of the curved portion 4 is increased, scraping can be prevented. In addition, it is desirable that the treatment tool be easily contacted with the inner wall of the channel tube 29 at the hand side of the bending portion 4, that is, at the position where the treatment tool starts to be inserted into the curved channel tube 29, and it is desirable that the bending radius be large.

However, since the channel tube 29 is less likely to be scraped at the vertex of the bending portion 4, if the bending radius is increased by using the bending piece 48 having the same length as the vicinity of the center of the bending portion 4, the bending radius becomes unnecessary. The length of the part 4 becomes long, which hinders observation. In the present disclosure example, by forming a four-way piece having an intermediate length using two-way pieces having different lengths, without unnecessarily increasing the bending length,
Since the bending radius at the proximal side of the bending portion 4 can be increased, the channel tube 29 at the proximal side can be prevented from being scraped, and the durability can be improved.

Since the types of the bending pieces 48 do not increase,
There is no need to identify various pieces,
There is no loss of assemblability. Also, there is little increase in cost.

Therefore, without increasing the cost or deteriorating the assemblability, and without unnecessarily increasing the bending length,
FIGS. 21 and 22 show the disclosure example 6 in which the types of the lengths of the four-direction pieces in the axial direction are increased, the radius of curvature of each part is optimized, and the resistance of the channel is improved. FIG. 22 shows a connection portion between the unit 5 and the operation unit 6, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing to which the J section of 1 was expanded. The flexible tube portion 5 has flexibility so that it can be freely bent in the function at the time of insertion. On the other hand, since the operation part 6 is hard, the flexible tube part 5 and the operation part
When the flexible tube portion 5 is bent during the operation at the connection portion, stress is concentrated at the connection portion, and the flexible tube portion 5 is easily buckled.

For this reason, it is covered with a folding stopper 75 made of elastic rubber so that the sectional area in the axial direction gradually decreases from the operation section 6 to the flexible tube section 5. The rear end of the channel tube 29 is connected to the branch portion 30 that passes through the inside of the flexible tube portion 5 and is located inside the connection portion between the operation portion 6 and the flexible tube portion 5. A helical groove is provided on the outer surface of the channel tube 29 at a portion located inside the buckling stopper 75. The spiral coil has a metal coil 7
4 are wound. The channel tube 29 is
As shown in FIG. 22, two members having a portion where a metal coil was wound around one end were connected via a metal channel connecting member 67 as shown in FIG. It is formed as a book channel. In the portion where the channel connecting member 67 is located, the channel tube 29 is made thin so that the outer diameter does not increase even if the channel connecting member 67 is attached.

Next, the operation of Disclosure 6 will be described.

When the flexible tube portion 5 is bent with respect to the operation portion 6, the bending radius of the flexible tube portion 5 is regulated by the buckling stopper 75. 75 may be bent. The channel tube 29 located inside the buckling stopper 75 buckles when bent with a small radius, but since the channel tube 29 is provided with a groove so as to be thin,
Since it is easy to bend with a smaller radius and is reinforced with a metal coil, it does not easily buckle.

[0111] Before the coil is wound, stress is easily concentrated in the part where the groove is thinned and the part where the normal thick part is continuous is easily broken and easily broken. Therefore, if a groove is formed at both ends and a metal coil is to be wound, damage is likely to occur in the groove on the side opposite to the winding operation. That is, the formation is facilitated by connecting two members each having a metal coil wound on only one side. Therefore, buckling of the channel tube at the bend preventing portion is prevented, and the durability is improved.

According to the above embodiments and the disclosed example, the following configuration is obtained.

(Supplementary Note 1) An insertion portion having a plurality of built-in components and having at least a part having a curved portion is indirectly connected to a traction member attached to the curved portion to pull the traction member. In an endoscope having an operating portion provided with operating means for bending the bending portion, and a guide member for inserting the traction member into the bending portion and the insertion portion, the operation resistance of the operating means and the bending portion The bending resistance, which is the resultant force of the bending resistance of a single body and the frictional force between the traction member and the guide member, is smaller than the sum of the bending reaction forces generated by the internal components when the bending portion is bent. Endoscope.

(Supplementary Note 2) The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the bending resistance when the bending portion bends to the maximum is smaller than the sum of the bending reaction forces of the internal components.

(Supplementary Note 3) The bending angle of the bending portion is approximately 180
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the sum of the bending resistance and the bending force of the built-in object is balanced at a bending angle smaller than the degree position.

(Supplementary Note 4) The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the bending angle of the bending portion is approximately 30 degrees or less, and the sum of the bending resistance and the bending force of the built-in object is balanced.

(Supplementary Note 5) The natural length of the tubular member of the built-in component is shorter than the length of travel of the tubular member when the curved portion is maximally curved.
The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

(Supplementary note 6) The endoscope according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 5, wherein the natural length of the forceps channel among the built-in components is shorter than the length of the forceps channel traveling when bending.

(Supplementary note 7) The endoscope according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 5, wherein a position of the forceps channel in the built-in object is located on a side opposite to a direction having a maximum bending angle. mirror.

(Supplementary Note 8) A bending portion composed of a plurality of rotatable bending pieces, a traction member fixed to the foremost piece of the bending piece, and a rear end of the traction member fixed. In an endoscope having an operating portion for bending the bending portion by operating a surgeon, and a plurality of guide members serving as guides for the traction member attached to the inner periphery of the bending piece, the bending direction is maximized. An endoscope wherein the total length of the guide member on the side of the endoscope is longer than the total length of the guide member in the other direction.

(Supplementary note 9) The endoscope according to supplementary note 8, wherein the number of guide members in the direction in which the bending angle is maximized is maximized.

(Supplementary note 10) The endoscope according to supplementary note 8, wherein the axial distance between the guide members in the direction in which the bending angle is maximized is smaller than in other directions.

(Supplementary note 11) The endoscope according to supplementary note 8, wherein the inner diameter of the guide member in the direction in which the bending angle is maximized is made larger than the other.

(Supplementary Note 12) A brush portion composed of a plurality of bristle members and a sheath-shaped insertion portion separately connected to a rear end of the brush portion, and a pipe-shaped portion is provided between the brush portion and the insertion portion. In the endoscope brush provided with the connecting member, the rear end of the brush portion and the front end of the insertion portion have a columnar shape, and are located inside the connecting member from the front end or the rear end of the pipe-shaped connecting member. The brush, wherein the brush portion and the insertion portion are connected and fixed to the connection member by caulking fixing in which after the insertion, the connection member is plastically deformed in a direction to reduce the inner diameter by an external force.

(Supplementary note 13) The brush according to supplementary note 12, wherein the connecting member has one end formed in a forked shape.

(Supplementary note 14) The brush according to supplementary note 12, wherein the insertion portion has a structure in which a core wire is covered with a sheath, and the side to which the brush portion is connected is forked.

(Supplementary note 15) The brush according to Supplementary note 12 or 13, wherein a circumferentially threaded groove is formed on an inner periphery of the connection member.

(Supplementary Note 16) A supplementary feature of the present invention is characterized in that a convex groove is provided on the inner peripheral side in the axial direction of the inner periphery of the connection member.
Or the brush according to 13.

(Supplementary Note 17) In a processor that processes an image signal from a solid-state imaging device of an electronic endoscope and can display an endoscope observation image on a monitor, the ratio of black of the image signal in the monitor display is reduced. A processor having a function of recognizing that the state has exceeded a certain level and that the state has continued for a certain time or more.

(Supplementary Note 18) A function is provided to display a sentence or an instruction on the monitor when it is recognized that the black ratio of the image signal in the monitor display exceeds a certain value and that the state has been continued for a certain time or more. Appendix 17
Processor as described.

(Supplementary Note 19) A bending portion composed of a plurality of mutually rotatable bending pieces is provided, wherein the bending portion shifts the two-way pieces rotatable vertically and the two two-way pieces by 90 °. An endoscope comprising a four-way piece rotatable up, down, left and right combined with at least one four-way piece, wherein two types of two-way pieces having different axial lengths are combined. .

(Supplementary Note 20) The two-way pieces having the two long and short axial lengths are the sum of combinations of short two-way pieces, long two-way pieces, and long and short two-way pieces having different lengths. 20. The endoscope according to attachment 19, wherein a four-way bending piece having three types of lengths is provided.

(Supplementary Note 21) The four-way piece of the combination of the long two-way pieces is near the center of the curved portion, the four-way piece with the combination of pieces of different length is near the hand side, and the short two-way piece is near the hand side. 20. The endoscope according to claim 19, wherein the four-way pieces of the combination of the endoscopes are located near the distal end side of the curved portion.

According to Appendix 1, the bending resistance, which is the sum of the operating force of the operating means alone, the bending resistance of the bending portion alone, and the frictional force between the traction member and the guide member, is calculated from the bending reaction force of each built-in member. After bending the bending section, if the operator releases the operating means, the reaction force of the built-in object will overcome the bending resistance, and the endoscope end will naturally become almost straight. Return. In addition, for example, in a so-called red ball state in which the end of the endoscope is too close to the body wall and the entire field of view is blurred in red, in which case the field of view cannot be secured, the direction to be curved cannot be known. However, as described above, when the operator releases the hand from the operation means and puts it in the free state, the curved portion can be naturally moved in the straight direction, that is, in the direction away from the body wall, and the visual field can be easily secured.

According to appendix 2, when the operator releases his / her hand from the operating means when the bending portion is bent to the maximum, the bending reaction force of the built-in object exceeds the bending resistance, and the bending reaction force of the built-in object is reduced. The bending portion bends in the direction in which it becomes smaller, that is, in the straight direction. Even if the endoscope end is too close to the body wall and becomes a red ball state and the field of view cannot be secured, the operator releases the hand from the operating means and sets the curved part to the free state, and the field of view becomes straight. Move in the direction Therefore, the operator can know which direction is the straight direction by observing the visual field, and if necessary, can further advance the bending in that direction to bring the bending portion into the straight state.

According to appendix 3, the bending angle of the bending portion is 18
In the range larger than 0 degrees, the bending reaction force of the built-in object is larger than the bending resistance force. Therefore, when the surgeon releases the operating means and leaves the bending portion in a free state, the bending resistance force and the bending reaction force of the built-in object become larger. The bending of the bending portion returns to 180 degrees or less, which is the balance position. If the bending angle of the bending portion is 180 degrees or less, the endoscope can be pulled out while being bent back in the straight direction by contacting the body wall even at the time of removal, and the bending portion is bothersomely operated. Therefore, operability can be improved. At this time, since the bending portion is in a free state, the bending portion contacts the body wall and returns in the straight direction, so that the force exerted on the body wall is small and the body wall is not damaged.

According to appendix 4, since the bending angle returns to a substantially straight state in the free bending state, when straightening is required at the time of insertion and removal, it is easy to straighten simply by freeing the bending, and operability is improved. good.

According to appendices 5 to 7, the bending portion of the endoscope is
A plurality of tubular bending pieces are connected to each other so as to be rotatable in the horizontal or vertical direction with respect to the axial direction of the bending portion. For example, when the bending portion bends upward, the built-in component located below the axis of the bending portion is located on the outer peripheral side of the curved shape. In this case, the length of the built-in object located in the curved portion needs to be longer according to the travel line drawn by the outer peripheral side of the curved portion.

The built-in endoscope usually includes a CCD cable, a light guide, a forceps channel formed of a tubular member, an air supply / water supply line, and the like. Out of all the bending directions, the tubular member is arranged on the side opposite to the direction in which the bending angle is maximized, and the natural length of the tubular member is drawn by the outer peripheral side of the curved portion where the tubular member is located at the time of maximum bending. If it is shorter than the running line, at the time of maximum bending, a pulling force is generated in the tubular member, and conversely, a reaction force is generated in the bent portion to return the bending by the tubular member. Therefore, in addition to the bending reaction force due to the material properties of each built-in component, a reaction force against the pulling force of the tubular member is applied, and after the maximum bending, when the operating means is in a free state, it is possible to reliably return to the straight direction.

According to Supplementary Notes 8 to 10, in the direction in which the bending angle is maximum, each built-in object in the bending portion is bent most, the bending reaction force is maximum, and the tension applied to the traction member for bending is also reduced. Be the largest. The traction member passes through the inside of the tubular guide member in the bending portion and the insertion portion. Generally, the guide member in the bending portion is divided for each bending piece and attached with an interval.

When the length of the guide member in the curved portion is short, the distance from one guide member to the next guide member is long,
Therefore, at the time of bending, it comes into contact with the axial direction of the guide member at a large angle. Therefore, the force in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide member increases, so that the frictional force also increases. When the frictional force increases, the traction member wears due to friction with the guide member, so that the traction member easily breaks.

Conversely, when the entire length of the guide member is increased as in the present invention, the traction member can travel closer to the guide member in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the guide member between the adjacent guide members. -Since the frictional force between the guide members can be small, wear of the traction member can be prevented. If the number of guide members is large, assembly becomes difficult,
Although the filling rate inside the curved tube is increased, the movement of the built-in object is hindered, and the built-in material is easily damaged.

According to Supplementary Note 11, the tension of the traction member is maximum in the direction in which the curvature is maximum, and the frictional force between the traction member and the guide member is maximum accordingly. Since the frictional force can be reduced by increasing the so-called clearance, which is the difference between the outer diameter of the traction member and the inner diameter of the guide member, the inner diameter of the guide member in the direction in which the curvature becomes maximum is increased, and the clearance is increased. By increasing the size, friction can be reduced and wear of the traction member can be prevented. At this time, by increasing the clearance, the outer diameter of the guide member also increases, but since the clearance is increased only in the direction where the bending is maximized, the filling rate inside the bending portion does not increase significantly. , Does not impair the resistance of the internal components.

According to Supplementary Note 12, in an endoscope brush for connecting a brush portion and an insertion portion via a pipe-shaped member,
The brush portion and the insertion portion are fixed to the pipe-shaped member by so-called crimping, which presses and deforms the pipe-shaped member plastically, so that it is not necessary to use heat unlike soldering.

In the fixing method using heat, the bristle-like brush body of the brush portion is melted. However, since heat is not used in the present invention, the brush can be fixed near the brush portion.
Therefore, the length of the rigid fixing portion can be shortened, and the penetrability of the brush into the endoscope can be improved.

According to Supplementary Note 13, since one end of the connecting member is forked, the connecting member has two conduits on the forked side. By inserting the insertion part on the side of the conduit in which the brush part is inserted and on another conduit side, the brush part and the insertion part can be separately fixed to the connecting member by caulking. Because the material and diameter of the brush part and the insertion part are different,
By setting each caulking part separately, caulking conditions can be set individually, so that fixing can be performed more reliably.

According to Supplementary Note 14, the insertion portion is formed by covering the core of the metal with the sheath. However, an opening exists on the distal end side of the connection member. When fixing the insertion portion, the sheath is easily inserted by inserting the metal core wire from the rear end opening to the front end opening and pulling the core wire protruding from the front end opening forward. It can be pulled into the connecting member. The core wire may be easily removed by cutting and removing the part drawn from the connecting member.

According to appendices 15 and 16, when the groove or the protrusion provided on the inner periphery of the connecting member is caulked,
Since it is engaged with and fixed to the brush portion and the insertion portion, it can be securely fixed.

According to Supplementary Note 17, since the processor automatically detects the image abnormality from the image signal, the image abnormality on the monitor can be recognized from the image signal on the monitor without monitoring by the operator. Failure detection is easy.

According to appendix 18, when an abnormality occurs, precautions and instructions to be taken by the operator are displayed on the screen. Because it is possible, it is easy to respond to abnormal situations.

According to Supplementary Notes 19 to 21, the four-way pieces of long curved pieces, the four-way pieces of short curved pieces, and the four-way piece combining short and long pieces are respectively located at the center of the curved portion. By placing it near the end, the tip side, and the hand side, the bending length is not lengthened unnecessarily, and the number of types of bending pieces is not increased,
It is possible to increase the radius of curvature of the central portion of the built-in member which is easily buckled, and to minimize the radius of curvature of the front side where the inner surface of the forceps channel is easily shaved by insertion of the forceps. Since the number of types of bending pieces does not increase, there is no increase in cost and no complicated assembly. Since the bending length does not become long, the observability is not impaired.

[0152]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Just by setting the operating means in the free state, the reaction force of the built-in object overcomes the bending resistance, and the endoscope distal end can be returned to the substantially straight state naturally, and operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view of a distal end component of the endoscope according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line ABCD in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line EOF in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical side view of the operation unit of the endoscope according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary perspective view of the endoscope according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a vertical side view of an operation knob of the operation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the bending portion of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an endoscope showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary side view of the endoscope according to the embodiment in a state where a bending portion is bent;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a curved portion showing a comparative example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a bending portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion G in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion H in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the cleaning brush, showing the disclosure example 1;

FIG. 16 is a side view showing the disclosure example 2 and showing an assembling order of the cleaning brush.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a monitor showing a disclosure example 3;

FIGS. 18A and 18B show a disclosure example 4, in which FIG. 18A is a side view in which an end piece positioned at the end of a curved portion is partially sectioned in the axial direction, and FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a curved portion showing a comparative example of Disclosure 5;

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a bending portion showing a fifth disclosure example.

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating a connection part between the flexible tube part forming the insertion part and the operation part, showing the disclosure example 6.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion J in FIG. 21;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 4 ... Bending part 6 ... Operation part 34, 35 ... Operation knob (operation means) 38 ... Traction wire (traction member) 50 ... Guide member

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shoichi Higashimoto 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H040 DA15 DA19 DA21 4C061 DD03 FF32 FF41 HH31

Claims (1)

[Claims] An indirect connection between an insertion portion having a plurality of built-in components and having at least a part having a curved portion, and a traction member attached to the curved portion, and towing the traction member. In an endoscope having an operation unit having an operation unit for bending the bending unit, and a guide member for inserting the traction member into the bending unit and the insertion unit, the operation resistance of the operation unit and the bending of the bending unit alone An endoscope, wherein a bending resistance, which is a resultant force of a resistance and a frictional force between the traction member and the guide member, is smaller than a sum of bending reaction forces generated by the built-in object when the bending portion is bent. .