JP2002345741A - Flexible variable endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flexible variable endoscope involving no increase in diameter of a flexible tube part. SOLUTION: In this endoscope having the flexible tube part in an insert part, an airtight space keeping the airtightness to the external space is formed on the inside of the flexible tube part. This endoscope comprises a pressure regulating means for changing the internal pressure of the airtight space to change the flexibility of the flexible tube part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible endoscope capable of changing the flexibility of a flexible tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Medical and industrial endoscopes are provided with a flexible tube at the insertion portion to facilitate insertion of a bent path into an observation object. However, in order to further improve the insertion workability, an endoscope of a type in which the flexibility (flexural rigidity, flexural hardness) of the flexible tube portion is made variable has been proposed. This type of endoscope, for example,
When the sigmoid colon is inserted into the large intestine, the flexible tube is hardened when passing through the sigmoid colon, and the flexible tube is softened after passing through the sigmoid colon.

As means for changing the flexibility of the flexible tube portion, for example, there is known a device in which a coil having a straight cylindrical shape is inserted into the flexible tube portion in a free state and the coil is expanded and contracted. Have been. This kind of coil is hard to bend when compressed, and is easy to bend when stretched. Therefore, by providing the coil inside the flexible tube in a state where it can be expanded and contracted from the outside, the flexibility of the flexible tube portion is made variable. be able to.
However, in this type of flexible endoscope, a dedicated coil is built in for adjusting the flexibility, and thus the diameter of the flexible tube may be increased. Further, the change in flexibility given by the expansion and contraction of the coil is uniform throughout the flexible tube portion, and the flexibility cannot be varied for each desired region.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a variable-flexibility endoscope which does not involve an increase in the diameter of a flexible tube. Another object of the present invention is to provide a variable flexibility endoscope capable of changing the flexibility of a flexible tube portion in a desired region.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for achieving the above objects has the following objects.
In an endoscope having a flexible tube portion having flexibility in an insertion portion, an airtight space that is kept airtight with respect to an external space is formed inside the flexible tube portion, and the internal pressure of the airtight space is reduced. It is characterized in that a pressure adjusting means for changing the flexibility of the flexible tube portion is provided.

In the variable flexibility endoscope according to the present invention, the airtight space is divided into a plurality of independent airtight spaces having different positions in the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube portion. It is preferable that the internal pressures of the plurality of hermetic spaces be individually adjustable. This makes it possible to vary the flexibility of the flexible tube for each desired region.

The hermetic space can be formed, for example, by a non-breathable flexible tube constituting the outer surface of the flexible tube portion, and at least one pair of hermetic partition walls for airtightly closing the front and rear ends of the flexible tube. Further, another hermetic partition for dividing the hermetic space into a plurality may be provided between the pair of hermetic partitions. In addition, for the penetrating body penetrating the airtight space, it is preferable to provide a through hole through which the penetrating body is inserted, and a seal member that hermetically seals between the through hole and the penetrating body, in the airtight partition.

Further, it is preferable that the pair of hermetic partitions closing the front and rear ends of the flexible tube constitute connection means for connecting the flexible tube to the curved portion and the rigid tube portion of the endoscope.

[0009] The pressure adjusting means is constituted by, for example, a pump provided outside the endoscope; a tube connecting the pump to the airtight space; and a valve controlling air flow between the tube and the airtight space. Is preferred.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a flexible endoscope according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
An electronic endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a medical endoscope, and has an insertion section 11 inserted into a body cavity and an operation section 12 connected to a base side thereof. The insertion portion 11 has a distal end portion 13, a bending portion 14, and a flexible tube portion 15 in this order from the distal end side.
2 connected.

The distal end portion 13 has a distal end main body (not shown) made of a rigid member. The distal end main body has an objective lens holding hole (not shown), a light distribution lens holding hole, an air / water channel outlet, and a treatment tool. An insertion channel outlet and the like are formed. An objective lens for imaging and a light distribution lens for illumination are held in the objective lens holding hole and the light distribution lens holding hole.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of node rings (bending pieces) connected so as to be relatively rotatable are provided in the bending portion 14.
22 forms a node ring assembly. A pair of bending operation wires 23 are stretched between the bending operation knob 20A and the above-described distal end body, and a pair of bending operation wires 24 are stretched between the bending operation knob 20B and the distal end body. In addition, a corresponding pair of bending operation wires are pulled or relaxed by the rotation operation of each bending operation knob. Each bending operation wire is inserted through a wire guide provided on the node ring assembly, and when one of the pair of bending operation wires is pulled and the other is relaxed, the node ring assembly is rotated accordingly. , The bending portion 14 is bent. Specifically, when the bending operation knob 20A is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the bending portion 14 bends in the left and right direction via the pair of bending operation wires 23, and the bending operation knob 20B is rotated in the forward and reverse directions. Then, the bending portion 14 bends up and down via the pair of bending operation wires 24. Further, the bending portion 1
The curved state of the lock knob 21A and the lock lever 21
B can be fixed by operating B. By rotating the lock knob 21A in the locking direction, the rotation operation of the bending operation knob 20A is restricted,
By turning the lock lever 21B in the locking direction, the turning operation of the bending operation knob 20B is restricted.

In the flexible tube portion 15, a pair of bending operation wires 23 are respectively inserted through a cylindrical guide coil 25, and a pair of bending operation wires 24 are respectively inserted into the cylindrical guide coil 26. Has been inserted.

From the operation unit 12, the universal tube 2
7 is extended, and an end of the universal tube 27 has a connector portion 28 for connecting to a processor (not shown).
Is provided. The connector portion 28 includes the signal transmission cable 30 and the light guide 3 shown in FIGS.
1, the inlet of the air supply channel 32 and the inlet of the water supply channel 33, etc., and by connecting the connector section 28 to the processor, the signal transmission cable 30, the light guide 31, the air supply channel 32 and the water supply channel 3 are connected.
Reference numerals 3 are respectively connected to an image processing device, a light source, an air supply source, and a water supply source on the processor side.

In the tip portion 13, there is a C behind the objective lens.
A CD is provided, and the image of the observation target that has entered the light receiving surface of the CCD from the objective lens is photoelectrically converted. The signal transmission cable 30 provided from the CCD to the connector 28 at the end of the universal tube 27 is connected to the CD. Via an electronic image to the processor. In the processor, the electronic image can be displayed on a monitor or recorded on an image recording medium. The operation unit 12 is provided with a plurality of remote operation button switches 35 for performing image processing-related remote operations. Further, the light distribution lens is supplied with illumination light from a light source provided in the processor via the above-described light guide 31 disposed from the connector portion 28 of the universal tube 27 to the distal end portion 13.

The operation unit 12 is provided with an air / water supply button 36 near the remote operation button switch 35. When the air / water supply button 36 is pressed, the water supply source provided on the processor side communicates with the water supply channel 33, and water is supplied into the water supply channel 33. A nozzle is provided at the outlet of the water supply channel 33 provided at the distal end portion 13 toward the objective lens, and liquid such as washing water sent to the water supply channel 33 is ejected from the nozzle toward the objective lens, Wash the objective lens. In addition, the air / water button 3
A hole (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of 6, and when this hole is closed, the positive pressure of the air supply source provided on the processor side acts on the air supply channel 32 to send air. As with the water supply channel 33, the air supply channel 32 provided at the distal end portion 13
A nozzle is provided at the exit toward the objective lens, and when air is sent to the air supply channel 32, air is blown out from the nozzle toward the objective lens, and water droplets of washing water adhered to the objective lens and , Water droplets of other liquids such as body fluids can be removed.

The connecting portion 16 of the electronic endoscope 10 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion port projection 37 for inserting a treatment instrument such as a forceps or a high-frequency cautery treatment instrument. The treatment instrument insertion channel 34 (FIGS. 4, 7, and 9) extends toward the inside of the endoscope. The treatment tool insertion channel 34 communicates with a treatment tool insertion channel outlet formed in the distal end portion 13, and the treatment tool insertion port projection 3
7 is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 34.
Through the treatment instrument insertion channel outlet. The treatment instrument insertion channel 34 is also connected to a negative pressure source (suction source) (not shown) provided outside the electronic endoscope 10. Therefore, the treatment instrument insertion channel 34
In this case, it is possible to insert a treatment tool such as forceps via the treatment tool insertion port projection 37 and apply a negative pressure via a negative pressure source. When using the treatment instrument insertion channel 34 as a suction conduit, the suction button 38 provided on the operation unit 12 is pressed. Then, the conduit on the negative pressure source side and the treatment instrument insertion channel 34 are communicated with each other, and the negative pressure acts on the treatment instrument insertion channel 34, so that fluid such as body fluid can be sucked from the exit of the treatment instrument insertion channel.

As described above, the bending portion 14 can be arbitrarily bent by operating the bending operation knobs 20A and 20B, and the flexible tube portion 15 also has flexibility. This curved part 1
4 or the flexible tube portion 15, ie, the signal transmission cable 30, the light guide 31, the air supply channel 32, the water supply channel 33, and the treatment tool insertion channel 34, perform the bending operation of the bending portion 14. It has flexibility so as to respond to deformation of the flexible tube portion 15. In the electronic endoscope 10 of the present embodiment, as described below, the flexibility (bending rigidity) of the flexible tube portion 15 can be changed.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Is formed by a flexible tube (surrounding tube) 39 having flexibility. The flexible tube 39 includes an outermost flexible tube outer cover 40, a mesh tube 41 positioned inside thereof,
The spiral tube 42 and the inner tube 43 made of resin are stacked. The outer tube 40 of the flexible tube is formed of an elastomer such as polyurethane, and the inner tube 43 is formed of a resin material, each of which has non-ventilation (and non-water-permeability) and non-conductivity. The spiral tube 42 disposed between the flexible tube outer skin 40 and the inner tube 43 gives the flexible tube 39 a certain bending rigidity. Further, the mesh tube 41 is formed by braiding a stainless metal wire, and mainly prevents the flexible tube 39 from extending in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 3 shows the distal end portion of the flexible tube 39 (the flexible tube portion 1).
5 and the vicinity of the connecting portion between the curved portion 14 and the curved portion 14 are enlarged. As shown in the figure, a connection pipe 46 is fixed to a distal end portion of the flexible pipe 39, and an inner peripheral surface of the connection pipe 46 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical first connection partition (airtight partition). Fixed. Specifically, the first connection partition 45 and the connection pipe 46
Are fixed by three fixing screws 47 provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (FIG. 4). The first connection partition 45 also has a connection base 45 a protruding forward, and the inner peripheral surface of the connection base 45 a is the rearmost joint ring 2 provided on the curved portion 14.
2 and fitted and fixed. As described above, the distal end portion of the flexible tube portion 15 is connected to the bending portion 14 via the first connection partition 45. The curved portion 14 is covered with an outer tube 50 made of rubber, and the outer tube 50 is
The outer surface of the connection tube 46 on the side of the flexible tube portion 15 is covered, and a part of the connection tube 46 overlaps the flexible tube outer skin 40 of the flexible tube 39.

As described above, in the insertion portion 11, the bending operation wires 23 and 24 and the guide coils 25 and 26 outside the bending operation wires 23 and 24 are provided as internal components penetrating the flexible tube portion 15 in the longitudinal direction.
A signal transmission cable 30, a light guide 31, an air supply channel 32, a water supply channel 33, and a treatment instrument insertion channel 34 are provided. The first connection partition 45 has nine through-holes 48a to 48i penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 11 in order to allow these built-in components to pass therethrough, and portions other than the through-holes 48a to 48i are solid. Has become. Specifically, four through holes 48a to 48d
Guide coils 25, 26 (bending operation wires 23, 2)
4), the signal transmission cable 30 for the through hole 48e, the light guide 31 for the through hole 48f, the air supply channel 32 for the through hole 48g, the water supply channel 33 for the through hole 48h, and the treatment tool insertion for the through hole 48i. Channel 34
Are inserted respectively. 2 and 3, the treatment instrument insertion channel 34 is shown as a representative example as a built-in thing penetrating the first connection partition 45. The gap between each of the through holes 48a to 48i and each built-in component inserted into the through hole is hermetically closed by a sealing material S1. The space between the inner peripheral surface of the connection pipe 46 and the outer peripheral surface of the first connection partition 45 is also hermetically closed. Further, the connection pipe 46
Is airtightly fixed to the flexible tube 39 as well.

The proximal end of the flexible tube 39 (the insertion portion 12)
A part of the region (side) is covered with a conical rubber stopper 44. The portion covered by the rubber tube 44 constitutes the connecting portion 16 which is not inserted into the observation target, and is regulated by the rubber tube 44 so that the flexible tube 39 is not excessively bent. The connecting portion 16 further has an operating portion connecting tube (hard tube portion) 17 made of resin at the base of the flexible tube 39 and the buckling rubber tube 44. The operation section connecting pipe 17 has no flexibility, and supports the flexible pipe 39 and the buckling prevention rubber pipe 44.

FIG. 6 shows a rear end portion of the flexible tube 39 (the flexible tube 39).
And the vicinity of the connecting portion of the operating section connecting pipe 17). As shown in the figure, a connection base 55a of a second connection partition (airtight partition) 55 is hermetically fixed to the rear end of the flexible tube 39. Specifically, the connection base 55a is
The flexible tube 39 is inserted and fixed between the flexible tube outer skin 40 and the mesh tube 41. On the other hand, the connection pipe 5 fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the second connection partition 55 toward the front from the operation section connection pipe 17.
7 are projected. As shown in FIG. 7, the second connection partition 55 and the connection pipe 57 are provided with two fixing screws 5 provided at symmetrical positions in the diameter direction with respect to the center (axial line) of the flexible pipe section 15.
8, the second connection partition 55 and the connection pipe 5
By fixing the tube 7, the flexible tube 39 and the operation unit connecting tube 17 are connected. An O-ring 80 is disposed between the connection pipe 57 and the second connection partition 55, and an O-ring 81 is disposed between the connection pipe 57 and the operation unit connection pipe 17.

The rubber tube 44 for breaking is connected to the second connection partition 55
The connection pipe 57 is attached after the connection with the connection pipe 57. Connection pipe 57
A male screw 57a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male screw 57a, and a connection base 59 having a female screw 59a that can be screwed to the male screw 57a is fixed to the inner surface of the rear end of the rubber tube 44. By screwing the female screw 59a, the break prevention rubber tube 44 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the second connection partition 55 has eleven through holes 6 penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 11.
0a to 60k are formed, and nine of the through holes 60a to 60i are provided with the guide coil 2 described above.
5, 26 (bending operation wires 23, 24), signal transmission cable 30, light guide 31, air supply channel 32,
Built-in components such as a water supply channel 33 and a treatment tool insertion channel 34 are inserted. Specifically, the through hole 60
A total of four guide coils 25 and 26 for a to 60d
(Bending operation wires 23, 24), signal transmission cable 30 for through hole 60e, light guide 31 for through hole 60f, air supply channel 32 for through hole 60g, water supply channel 33 for through hole 60h, through hole. The treatment tool insertion channels 34 are respectively inserted into the 60i. A first pressure regulating tube 61 and a second pressure regulating tube 62 are inserted into two through holes 60j and 60k further provided in the second connection partition 55. Second connection partition 55
Are solid except for the through holes 60a to 60k, and the gaps between the through holes 60a to 60k and the internal components inserted into the through holes are air-tightly closed by the sealing material S2. ing.

As described above, in the flexible tube portion 15, the outer portion is formed by the non-breathable flexible tube 39, and the distal end side of the flexible tube 39 is airtightly closed by the first connection partition wall 45. The rear end side is airtightly closed by the second connection partition 55. That is, in other words, the flexible tube 15
The entire inside of the (flexible tube 39) is an airtight space kept airtight with respect to the external space of the endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the flexible tube 39 is further divided into front and rear airtight spaces C1 and C2 by an intermediate partition (airtight partition) 65 provided at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction. The intermediate partition 65 is supported on the inner surface of the flexible tube outer cover 40 via a partition support ring 67.
The space between the partition support ring 67 and the flexible tube outer cover 40 is airtightly closed. Further, the front and rear airtight spaces C are provided in the intermediate partition 65.
1, 10 through holes 66a to 66 for communicating C2
j is formed (see FIG. 10). Of the nine through holes 66a to 66i, the first connection partition 45
Like the second connection partition 55 and the bending operation wires 23, 2
4 and guide coils 25 and 26 outside thereof, a signal transmission cable 30, a light guide 31, an air supply channel 32,
The water supply channel 33 and the treatment instrument insertion channel 34 are inserted. Further, the second pressure adjusting tube 62 is inserted into the through hole 66j. The intermediate partition 65 is solid except for the through holes 66a to 66j, and the gap between each of the through holes 66a to 66j and each built-in component inserted into the through hole is hermetically closed by a sealing material S3. Is peeling. Therefore, the hermetic space C1 and the hermetic space C2 are separated by the intermediate partition 65 as independent hermetic spaces in which no air flow occurs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first pressure regulating tube 6
1 is that the valve 61a provided at the tip is the second connection partition 5
5 slightly project from the through hole 60k into the hermetic space C2. On the other hand, the second pressure regulating tube 62 is inserted into the hermetic space C2 through the through hole 60j of the second connection partition 55, and the valve 62a provided at the tip is connected to the through hole 66j of the intermediate partition 65. It penetrates and projects a little into the first hermetic space C1. The proximal ends of the first pressure adjusting tube 61 and the second pressure adjusting tube 62 are connected to an external pump 70 provided outside the endoscope 10. The first pressure regulating tube 61 and the second pressure regulating tube 62 can be arranged in, for example, the universal tube 27 and connected to the external pump 70 through the connector 28.

The external pump 70 is connected to the first pressure regulating tube 6.
It is possible to apply a positive pressure and a negative pressure individually to the first and second pressure regulating tubes 62. The operation unit 12 includes four flexible operation buttons 71 for controlling the external pump 70,
72, 73 and 74 are provided (see FIG. 11).
The flexible operation button 71 and the flexibility adjustment button 72
An operation button on the pressure regulating tube 61 side. When one of the buttons is pressed, compressed air is sent from the external pump 70 to the first pressure regulating tube 61 (positive pressure is applied). A suction force acts on the first pressure regulating tube 61 by the pump 70 (a negative pressure is applied). The flexibility adjustment button 73 and the flexibility adjustment button 74 are operation buttons on the second pressure adjustment tube 62 side, and when one of them is pressed, the external pump 70 applies a positive pressure to the second pressure adjustment tube 62. When the other is pressed, a negative pressure is applied to the second pressure regulating tube 62.

As described above, the second pressure regulating tube 62 is
Inserted into the first hermetic space C1 of the flexible tube portion 15,
When a positive pressure or a negative pressure is applied to the second pressure adjusting tube 62 by the external pump 70, the first airtight space C1 is pressurized or depressurized. Similarly, the first pressure regulating tube 61 is inserted into the second hermetic space C2 of the flexible tube portion 15, and when a positive pressure or a negative pressure is applied to the first pressure regulating tube 61 by the external pump 70, The second hermetic space C2 is pressurized or depressurized. The first hermetic space C1 is connected to the external pump 7
The air flow is controlled by a valve 62a provided at the end of the second pressure regulating tube 62 so as to communicate with the second pressure regulating tube 62 only when 0 is driven. Similarly, the air flow of the second airtight space C2 is controlled by a valve 61a provided at the end of the first pressure regulating tube 61 so that the second airtight space C2 communicates with the first pressure regulating tube 61 only when the external pump 70 is driven. ing. Therefore, the external pump 7
When 0 is stopped, the internal pressures of the first hermetic space C1 and the second hermetic space C2 are kept substantially constant.

When the internal pressure of the airtight spaces C1 and C2 is equal to the external pressure, the flexible tube 15 has a flexural rigidity in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2). It is determined depending on the bending stiffness of the flexible tube 39 composed of elements such as the outer cover 40, the mesh tube 41, the spiral tube 42, and the inner tube 43. On the other hand, the flexible tube section 15 has an airtight space C1,
When the internal pressure of C2 becomes higher than the external pressure, the flexible tube 39
Since the hardness according to the increase in the internal pressure is added in addition to the inherent bending stiffness, bending becomes difficult. Conversely, airtight space C
1. When the internal pressure of C2 is reduced from the high internal pressure to about the same as the external pressure, the bending rigidity is reduced and the flexible tube portion 15 is easily bent. That is, the flexibility of the flexible tube portion 15 can be changed by adjusting the internal pressures of the hermetic space C1 and the hermetic space C2.

In particular, as described above, the internal pressure of the hermetic space C1 and the hermetic space C2 can be individually adjusted.
By appropriately operating the flexible operation buttons 71 to 74, in the flexible tube portion 15, a region on the distal end side where the airtight space C1 is provided and a region on the proximal end side where the airtight space C2 is provided, respectively. It is possible to vary the flexibility. For example, when it is desired to increase only the bending stiffness on the proximal end side of the flexible tube portion 15 close to the operation portion 12, the air pressure is not applied to the airtight space C <b> 1 and the air is passed through the first pressure adjustment tube 61. To increase the internal pressure of the hermetic space C2. Conversely, when it is desired to increase only the bending stiffness on the distal end side near the curved portion 14, air is sent through the second pressure adjusting tube 62 without pressurizing the airtight space C2 and the internal pressure of the airtight space C1 is increased. Should be raised.

As described above, in the endoscope of the present embodiment,
Airtight spaces C1 and C kept airtight inside the flexible tube portion 15
2, the flexibility of the flexible tube portion 15 can be adjusted by changing the internal pressure of the hermetic spaces C1 and C2. In other words, a space other than the space occupied by built-in components such as various tubes and light guides in the flexible tube portion 15 is used as a means for adjusting flexibility. Therefore, a coil or the like conventionally used for adjusting the flexibility of the flexible tube is unnecessary, and it is possible to prevent an increase in the diameter of the flexible tube. In particular, in the present embodiment, the structure is simple because the flexible tube 39 itself constituting the outer surface of the flexible tube portion 15 is an element forming an airtight space. Further, unlike a tangible object such as a coil, the airtight space as the flexibility adjusting means does not interfere with other endoscope built-in objects.

Further, a first connection partition 61 and a second connection partition 62 for closing the front and rear ends of the flexible tube 39 to make the inside airtight.
Is a flexible tube 39 with respect to the bending portion 14 and the operation portion connecting tube 17.
Since it also functions as a connecting member for coupling the components, the production cost can be suppressed by sharing parts.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inside of the flexible tube portion 15 is divided into two hermetic spaces C1 and C2, but the hermetic space inside the flexible tube portion may be different.
For example, it is possible to divide the inside of the flexible tube into three or more airtight spaces as necessary, and to adjust the flexibility in a finer area. Alternatively, a mode in which only a single hermetic space is provided in the flexible tube portion may be adopted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the external pump 70
Although the pressurization and decompression of the airtight spaces C1 and C2 are performed by the external pump, only the pressurization is performed by the external pump,
It is also possible to separately provide a decompression means for removing air from inside C2. In this case, each pressure regulating tube 61, 62
The tip valves 61a and 62a need only be one-way valves that allow air flow from the external pump 70 side to the airtight spaces C1 and C and do not allow air flow in the opposite direction.

[0037]

As is clear from the above, according to the present invention,
Since the flexibility of the flexible tube portion can be adjusted by changing the internal pressure of the airtight space provided inside the flexible tube portion,
An increase in the diameter of the flexible tube can be avoided. In addition, since this airtight space was divided into multiple parts and the internal pressure could be adjusted individually,
The flexibility of the flexible tube portion can be changed in a desired region.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a flexible endoscope to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible tube portion viewed from a side.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the distal end of a flexible tube constituting a flexible tube portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a single unit of the first connection partition shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the base end of the flexible tube.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

8 is a single unit front view of a second connection partition shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the intermediate partition shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of flexible operation buttons in an operation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 electronic endoscope 11 insertion section 12 operation section 13 distal end section 14 bending section 15 flexible tube section 16 connection section 17 operation section connection pipe (hard tube section) 20A 20B bending operation knob 21A lock knob 21B lock lever 22 node ring (bending) Piece) 23 24 bending operation wire 25 26 guide coil 27 universal tube 28 connector 30 signal transmission cable 31 light guide 32 air supply channel 33 water supply channel 34 treatment tool insertion channel 35 remote operation button switch 36 air supply / water supply button 37 treatment tool Insertion port projection 38 Suction button 39 Flexible tube 40 Flexible tube jacket 41 Reticulated tube 42 Spiral tube 43 Inner tube 44 Bend-proof rubber tube 45 First connection partition (airtight partition) 45a Connection base 46 Connection tube 47 Fixing screw 48a to 48i Through-hole 50 skin chew B 55 Second connection partition (airtight partition) 55a Connection base 57 Connection pipe 57a Male screw 58 Fixing screw 59 Connection base 59a Female screw 60a-60k Through hole 61 First pressure regulating tube 61a Valve 62 Second pressure regulating tube 62a Valve 65 Intermediate partition 66a to 66j Through-hole 67 Partition support ring 70 External pump 71 72 73 74 Flexible operation button 80 81 O-ring C1 C2 Hermetic space S1 S2 S3 Sealing material

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akira Sugiyama 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Minoru Matsushita 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo No. Asahi Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H040 BA21 DA12 DA15 DA16 DA17 4C061 AA00 BB02 CC06 DD03 FF25 FF29 FF30 HH02 HH60

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope provided with a flexible tube portion having flexibility in an insertion portion, wherein an airtight space kept airtight with respect to an external space is formed inside the flexible tube portion, A flexible endoscope comprising a pressure adjusting means for changing the internal pressure of the airtight space to change the flexibility of the flexible tube. 2. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the airtight space is divided into a plurality of independent airtight spaces having different positions in a longitudinal direction of the flexible tube portion. The variable pressure endoscope wherein the pressure adjusting means is capable of individually adjusting the internal pressure of the plurality of hermetic spaces. 3. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the airtight space includes a non-breathable flexible tube forming an outer surface of a flexible tube, and a front and rear portion of the flexible tube. A variable flexible endoscope formed by at least a pair of airtight partitions that hermetically close an end. 4. The flexible endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the insertion portion has a bending portion operable to bend at a distal end side of the flexible tube portion, and a base end of the flexible tube portion. A flexible tube portion that supports the flexible tube portion on the side, and a pair of hermetic partitions that close the front and rear ends of the flexible tube, connecting means for connecting the flexible tube to the curved portion and the rigid tube portion. The flexible endoscope which comprises. 5. The flexible endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the airtight space is divided into a plurality of independent airtight spaces between a pair of airtight partitions closing front and rear ends of the flexible tube. A flexible endoscope having another airtight partition to be divided. 6. The flexible endoscope according to claim 3, further comprising: a penetrating body penetrating the airtight space inside the flexible tube portion; A flexible variable endoscope provided with a through-hole through which the penetrating body is inserted; and a sealing material for hermetically closing a space between the through-hole and the penetrating body. 7. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the pressure adjusting means is a pump provided outside the endoscope; and connects the pump to the airtight space. A flexible variable endoscope comprising: a tube; and a valve for controlling air flow between the tube and the airtight space.