JP2002253483A - Length measurement tool for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a durable and practical length measurement tool for an endoscope at a low cost. SOLUTION: A cut groove 3 which crosses a flexible tube 1 in a diameter direction is formed at a tip part in the neighborhood of the flexible tube 1, degrees 5 are marked in a part 1a at least at a tip side from the cut groove 3 of the flexible tube 1 and an operation wire 2 is put through and arranged inside the flexible tube 1 so as to be freely movable forward and backward in an axial direction. The tip of the operation wire 2 is fixed to the flexible tube 1 at the tip side from the cut groove 3 and the operation wire 2 is operated to move forward and backward from the side of hands so that the tip part 1a of the flexible tube 1 is bent at the part of the cut groove 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a length measuring instrument for an endoscope which is passed through a treatment instrument insertion channel of an endoscope and measures the size of an ulcer or the like of a mucous membrane in a body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to measure the size of an ulcer or the like by projecting a length measuring instrument forward from a treatment instrument insertion channel of an endoscope, a scale is provided on the projecting portion and the portion is observed from the front. Need to be folded to the side.

Therefore, as a conventional length measuring instrument for an endoscope, a link-shaped member that bends around a support shaft is provided near a distal end of a flexible shaft, and the link-shaped member is operated by advancing and retreating operation wires. In some cases, the tip of a graduated flexible shaft can be bent laterally.
However, since such a link-shaped member becomes precise, there is a disadvantage in that it is very expensive and easily broken.

[0004] Therefore, two cuts that cross the flexible tube in the radial direction are formed at an interval, and the operation wire is pulled from the hand side, so that the tip portion of the scaled flexible tube is provided. Is bent in a T-shape (for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-44401).

[0005]

However, when the distal end portion of the flexible tube is bent in a T-shape as described above, the flexible tube becomes one at one of the cuts.
Since it is bent at an angle of 80 °, the portion is easily damaged in a short period of time due to repeated bending and stretching operations.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, durable, highly practical endoscope measuring instrument.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a length measuring instrument for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises a cutting groove radially traversing a flexible tube in a portion near a distal end of the flexible tube. The flexible tube is provided with a scale on at least a portion ahead of the cutting groove, and an operation wire is inserted through the flexible tube so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction, and the tip of the operation wire is cut. The distal end portion of the flexible tube is fixed at the cutting groove portion by being fixed to the flexible tube on the front side of the groove and operating the operating wire forward and backward from the hand side.

[0008] The cross-sectional shape of the cutting groove may be substantially V-shaped, and a liquid injection port communicating with the inside of the flexible tube may be provided on the base end side of the flexible tube.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a length measuring instrument for an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible tube which is inserted into and removed from a treatment tool insertion channel of an endoscope (not shown), and has an outer diameter of about 1.5 to 2.5 mm and a length of about 1 to 2 m. A tetrafluoroethylene resin tube or a polyethylene resin tube is used.

[0011] 10 to 50 m from the tip of the flexible tube 1
A cutting groove 3 having a substantially V-shaped cross-section that crosses the flexible tube 1 in the radial direction is formed in a rear portion of about m.
In the flexible tube 1, an operation wire 2 made of, for example, a stranded wire made of stainless steel is inserted and arranged over the entire length so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction.

At the distal end of the flexible tube 1, a metallic cylindrical distal tip 4 having a through hole in the axial direction is fixed. Then, the distal end of the operation wire 2 is fixed to the distal end tip 4 by silver brazing or the like, whereby the distal end of the operation wire 2 is fixed to the distal end portion of the flexible tube 1. However, the distal end of the operation wire 2 only needs to be fixed to the flexible tube 1 somewhere before the cutting groove 3.

Scales 5 are provided on the outer surface of a portion of the flexible tube 1 on the front side of the cutting groove 3 (front side portion 1a) at regular intervals of, for example, about 5 mm. Note that the scale 5 may be a color (for example, blue) that is clearly different from the color of the mucous membrane surface so that the scale can be easily seen in the body.

In the operating section 10 connected to the base end (hand side end) of the flexible tube 1, a connecting tube 12 is connected to the side of the main body tube 11 to which the base end of the flexible tube 1 is connected and fixed. Is formed so as to protrude, and the protruding end forms a liquid inlet 12 a communicating with the inside of the flexible tube 1.

Therefore, by connecting an unillustrated syringe or the like to the connection tube 12, water or other liquid can be sent into the flexible tube 1 via the flexible tube 1, or Suction can be performed through the tube 1.

The operation wire 2 passes straight through the inside of the main body tube 11 to the rear, and a finger hook 14 is connected to a protruding end thereof.
The operation wire 2 is covered with a reinforcing pipe 15 made of a stainless steel pipe for preventing a buckling.

Therefore, the finger hook 1 is
The operation wire 2 moves in the flexible tube 1 in the axial direction by moving the 4 forward and backward. 13 is the main body cylinder 11
The O-ring is disposed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing pipe 15 in order to seal between the inside and the space on the finger hook 14 side.

In the endoscope measuring instrument of the embodiment configured as described above, when the operation of pulling the operation wire 2 by the finger hook 14 is performed, as shown in FIG. The tip portion is bent in the cutting groove 3 toward the cutting groove 3. The maximum bending angle can be set arbitrarily according to the shape of the cutting groove 3.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the distal end portion of the flexible tube 1 is projected forward from the treatment instrument insertion channel 51 of the endoscope 50, and the front portion 1a is bent laterally. Scale 5 in observation field A
Is viewed from the front, and the size of the measurement target 100 such as an ulcer can be measured.

A syringe or the like is connected to the connection tube 12 as necessary, and water or the like is jetted from the tip of the flexible tube 1 as shown in FIG. Can be washed away.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, in a state where the front side portion 1a of the flexible tube 1 is straightened,
Some of the water or the like leaks from the cutting groove 3, but the remaining considerable amount is ejected from the distal end of the flexible tube 1.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the groove bottom of the V-shaped cutting groove 3 is rounded, the durability of the portion against bending can be improved. The performance is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the distal end of the flexible tube 1 may be formed so as to be closed by the distal end tip 4, so that the water injected from the connecting tube 12 is formed. Etc. all jet out from the cutting groove 3.

As shown in FIG. 8, in addition to the scale 5 provided on the front side portion 1a of the flexible tube 1, the scale is also provided on the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube 1 behind the cutting groove 3. 5 ′ may be added, and the length of the lumen behind the cutting groove 3 (on the near side when viewed from the endoscope 50) can be measured with the scale 5 ′ by bending the front side portion 1a. .

In this case, if the shape (number), color, and the like of the scales 5 'are sequentially changed, the determination at the time of measurement becomes easy.

[0026]

According to the present invention, the scale is formed by forming a cutting groove radially traversing the flexible tube in the vicinity of the distal end of the flexible tube so as to advance and retreat the operation wire from the hand side. The end portion of the attached flexible tube can be bent, so it has durability against repeated bending and the like, and can be manufactured at low cost. Tools can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial side sectional view showing an entire configuration of a length measuring instrument for an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view of the endoscope of the first embodiment of the present invention in a state in which a distal end portion is bent.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a use state of the endoscope measuring instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a use state of the endoscope measuring instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a use state of the endoscope length measuring tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a cutting groove of a length measuring instrument for an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial side sectional view of a distal end portion of an endoscope measuring instrument according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a measuring instrument for an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a used state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible tube 1a Tip side 2 Operation wire 3 Cutting groove 4 Tip 5 Scale 10 Operation part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G02B 23/24 G02B 23/24 Z // G01B 3/10 G01B 3/10 Z F term (Reference) 2F062 AA21 BB04 BC19 CC08 CC25 CC30 EE09 EE80 GG90 LL03 2F065 AA22 BB08 CC16 DD00 FF21 JJ12 KK01 PP22 2H040 BA22 DA56 DA57 4C061 AA00 BB00 CC00 DD00 GG11 HH52

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cutting groove which crosses a flexible tube in a radial direction is formed in a portion near a distal end of the flexible tube, and a scale is provided on at least a portion of the flexible tube ahead of the cutting groove. An operation wire is inserted and arranged in the flexible tube so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction, and a distal end of the operation wire is fixed to the flexible tube at a position ahead of the cutting groove. Characterized in that the distal end of the flexible tube is bent at the cutting groove portion by advancing and retracting from the hand side. 2. The length measuring instrument for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of said cutting groove is substantially V-shaped. 3. A liquid injection port communicating with the inside of the flexible tube is provided at a base end side of the flexible tube.
Or the measuring instrument for endoscope according to 2.