JP2002330917A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which makes the maximum external diameter and effective length of an insertion portion exactly and easily visually recognizable. SOLUTION: The endoscope 10 having the tubular in vivo insertion portion 11 having flexibility is provided with display sections (30a and 30b) for displaying the effective length and maximum external diameter size of the in vivo insertion portion 11 at the flank of the in vivo insertion portion 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope having a tubular insertion portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopy (endoscopic treatment) has been widely performed in many medical departments. Various endoscopes have been developed depending on the application site such as digestive organs, respiratory organs, otolaryngology, etc. Even endoscopes with the same application site can appropriately respond to inspection purposes and patients (patient condition) A plurality of models are provided so as to be able to do so. The operator (endoscope operator) selects and uses the various types of endoscopes in accordance with the procedure, the purpose of the examination, the condition of the patient, and the like. For example, in the colon examination, when observing the entire colon, select the one with a long effective length of the insertion tube. When observing, select one with an effective length in the middle. In addition, when performing a treatment by inserting an insertion tube through a trocar (mantle tube), it is necessary to select an insertion tube whose outer diameter is smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the trocar.

[0003] However, with the conventional endoscope, it is not possible to accurately know only by visually recognizing the outer diameter and the effective length of the insertion tube, and the surgeon must select which endoscope when selecting the endoscope. It was hard to determine if it was optimal.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope capable of visually confirming the maximum outer diameter and effective length of an insertion portion accurately and easily.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized in that an endoscope having a tubular insertion section is provided with a display section for displaying the effective length of the insertion section. According to this configuration, the operator (endoscope operator) can visually recognize the effective length of the insertion section accurately and easily.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that an endoscope having a tubular insertion section is provided with a display section for displaying a maximum outer diameter of the insertion section. According to this configuration, the operator (endoscope operator) can visually recognize the size of the maximum outer diameter of the insertion portion accurately and easily.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that an endoscope having a tubular insertion portion is provided with a display portion for displaying an effective length and a maximum outer diameter of the insertion portion. According to this configuration, the operator (the endoscope operator) can accurately and easily visually recognize the effective length of the insertion portion and the size of the maximum outer diameter.

It is preferable that the display section is provided on the insertion section or the grip operation section of the endoscope so that the operator (endoscope operator) can easily view the display section. Alternatively, it may be provided in the vicinity of the connecting part located between the insertion part and the grip operation part. Further, the insertion portion may be a flexible tube having flexibility.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an endoscope 10 to which the present invention is applied. The endoscope 10 includes a flexible tubular insertion portion 11, a gripping operation portion 12 that is gripped by an operator of the endoscope 10, and a universal tube extending from a side portion of the gripping operation portion 12. 13. The distal end of the universal tube 13 is provided with a light source insertion portion 14 for connecting a light source device that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 10.

The body insertion portion 11 includes a tip portion 11a, a bending portion 11b, and an insertion portion flexible tube 11c in order from the tip side (right side in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 3, an objective lens 15, an illumination lens 16, an air supply nozzle 17a, a water supply nozzle 17b, and a treatment instrument insertion channel outlet 18 are arranged at the distal end portion 11a. The body cavity image formed by the objective lens 15 is transmitted to the eyepiece 2 via an optical fiber bundle extending from the body insertion section 11 to the grasping operation section 12.
It can be observed from zero. The illumination lens 16 includes
Illumination light from a light source device connected to the light source insertion unit 14 is provided from the universal tube 13 via a light guide fiber bundle passing through the grip operation unit 12 and the body insertion unit 11. The bending section 11b is operated to be bent by a bending operation knob 19 provided on the gripping operation section 12.

The grasping operation section 12 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion inlet projection 21 which constitutes an entrance communicating with the treatment instrument insertion channel outlet 18. In addition, the outside of the part adjacent to the body insertion part 11 of the connecting part 22 located between the body insertion part 11 and the gripping operation part 12 is covered with a rubber tube 22a.

The endoscope 10 has a maximum outer diameter display 30 on the side of the body insertion portion 11.
a and the effective length display 30b (FIG. 2). That is, the in-vivo insertion section 11 itself functions as the display section 30 that displays the maximum outer diameter and the effective length of the in-vivo insertion section 11. Here, the effective length of the body insertion section 11 refers to the length from the tip of the body insertion section 11 to the end of the rubber tube 22a. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the body insertion portion 11. In the present embodiment, a joint 23 between the flexible tube 11c and the curved portion 11b, a joint 24 between the curved portion 11b and the distal end 11a, and a lens hood engaging portion 25 formed on the distal end 11a. The diameter is the maximum outer diameter of the body insertion portion 11.

The display unit 30 allows the endoscope operator to
The maximum outer diameter and the effective length of the in-vivo insertion portion 11 can be accurately and easily known, and an appropriate endoscope can be selected according to a site to be examined or a purpose of the examination. For example, for patients with stenosis or adhesions, select one with a small insertion part outer diameter.If the patient is a young child, use a small insertion part outer diameter with a short effective length for infants only. Select In the case of performing a treatment by inserting the body insertion portion 11 through a trocar (mantle tube) as in laparoscopic surgery or thoracoscopic surgery, the outer diameter of the insertion portion is smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the trocar. Select When selecting an endoscope that is a child scope of the parent-child scope, the outer diameter of the insertion portion is smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the forceps channel because the forceps channel of the parent scope becomes the guide conduit of the child scope. Select

In this embodiment, the display section 30 is provided on the body insertion section 11 itself. However, the display section 30 may be provided on the grasping operation section 12 as shown in FIG. 5, and as shown in FIG. It may be provided. In other words, any position may be used as long as it is easy for the endoscope operator to visually recognize.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the endoscope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the present invention is also applicable to an electronic endoscope using a CCD or the like instead of the optical fiber or the eyepiece 20.

[0016]

According to the present invention, in an endoscope having a tubular insertion portion, the maximum outer diameter and the effective length of the insertion portion can be accurately and easily visually recognized, which is suitable for an inspection purpose or a patient condition. An appropriate endoscope can be selected accordingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the insertion part in the body, seen from the direction of arrow I in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the body insertion portion as viewed from the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a body insertion portion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an endoscope in which a display unit is provided in a grip operation unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an endoscope in which a display unit is provided near a connection unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 11 Internal insertion part 11a Tip part 11b Bending part 11c Flexible part of insertion part 12 Grasping operation part 13 Universal tube 14 Light source insertion part 15 Objective lens 16 Illumination lens 17a Air supply nozzle 17b Water supply nozzle 18 Treatment tool insertion Channel outlet 19 Bending operation knob 20 Eyepiece 21 Treatment tool insertion inlet projection 22 Connecting portion 22a Bend-preventing rubber tube 23 24 Joining portion 25 Lens hood engaging portion

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having a tubular insertion portion,
An endoscope comprising a display section for displaying an effective length of the insertion section. 2. An endoscope having a tubular insertion portion,
An endoscope comprising a display for displaying a maximum outer diameter of the insertion portion. 3. An endoscope having a tubular insertion portion,
An endoscope comprising a display section for displaying an effective length and a maximum outer diameter of the insertion section. 4. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the display section is provided in the insertion section. 5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is provided in a grip operation unit of the endoscope. 6. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is provided near a coupling unit located between the insertion unit and a grip operation unit of the endoscope. Endoscope. 7. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the insertion section is a flexible tube having flexibility.