JP2003275167A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope that has improved durability against repeated bending at a portion of a large hardness difference in a hard state where the hardness of a hardness adjusting means is set hard. <P>SOLUTION: A connecting coil 108 is disposed as a joint part about the boundary between a variable hardness portion and an invariable hardness portion at a tip end of a wire 35 whose base end is positioned on an control section, and a tip wire 111 constituting a wire extension part 30 whose tip end is brazed to a connecting pipe 38 is connected via the connecting coil 108. A tip end of a coil 36 is securely fixed at a fixing part 100 provided at the tip end of the wire 35, and one end of the connecting coil 108 is securely fixed to the tip end of the wire 35 at a fixing part 109 such as soldering. The other end of the connecting coil 108 is securely fixed at a fixing part 110 set on the tip wire 111. The portion where bending concentrates has a member, such as the connecting coil 108, without plastic deformation even in a small bending form. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope insertion portion.
Equipped with a hardness adjustment means that makes it possible to adjust the hardness of the soft part
Relates to the obtained endoscope. In recent years, an elongated insertion portion is inserted into a body cavity.
By examining the body cavity without the need for an incision
Observe the target area and use treatment tools as necessary.
Endoscopes capable of medical treatment have been widely used. The insertion portion of the endoscope has a bent insertion path.
Flexible so that it can be inserted inside
However, due to this flexibility, the orientation of the tip side with respect to the hand side is
Uncertain and difficult to introduce in the target direction
There is a case. In order to cope with this, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-
No. 91971 discloses a sheath 1 in the insertion portion of an endoscope.
Hardness varying means comprising a coiled pipe and a wire
A device provided with (flexible variable means) is disclosed. This
According to the configuration of the conventional example, the operator who performs endoscopy is easy
By adjusting the flexibility of the insertion part with a simple operation
It becomes easy to insert into a bent path such as. [0005] However, the hardness control
If the adjustment means is used repeatedly in many inspections, the coil
By gradually shrinking due to plastic deformation, the maximum hardness is
There was a risk that the desired function would be impaired by lowering. When the hardness adjusting means is in a hard state,
Depending on the axial portion of the soft part, the hardened part and the hard part
When there is a part that does not disappear and the hardness difference is large
Is attached when the vicinity of the part where the hardness difference occurs is bent.
Nearly the soft part and the hardness adjusting means are smaller than the front and rear parts
Bend at the bending radius. In other words, bending concentrates on this part
Tend to be small bends
Durability of parts, especially durability against repeated bending is weak
There was a problem of becoming. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.
Yes, even when the hardness adjusting means is used repeatedly, the hardness
Prevents the adjustment function from greatly deteriorating and increases hardness
Bending of parts with large hardness difference in the hard state
The aim is to provide an endoscope with improved durability against
I am doing it. The endoscope according to the present invention is an endoscope.
Hardness can be changed in the soft part of the mirror insertion part
Elongated hardness adjustment with part and part with unchanged hardness
An endoscope provided with means, comprising the hardness adjusting means
Near the boundary between the hardness changeable part and the part where the hardness does not change
By the side, it is plastic even in a smaller bending shape than its both ends
A joint that does not deform is provided. According to this configuration, the hardness adjusting means is in the hard state.
Is provided before and after parts with a large hardness difference.
When bent by a joint member
Endurance against bending when bending concentrates on areas with large differences
Improves. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The embodiment will be specifically described. 1 to 6 show the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the endoscope specifically.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views taken along line AA in FIG.
Fig. 4 (A) and 4 (B) show a specific example of the cam body.
An example is shown, and FIG. 5A illustrates the relationship between the coil and the wire.
Figure 5 (B) shows the coil compression state and coil stop.
FIG. 6A is a view for explaining the relationship between the wire stopper and the wire stopper.
(C) to (C) are explanatory views of the operation of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope apparatus 1 performs imaging.
The electronic endoscope 2 according to the first embodiment incorporating the means and the electric endoscope
A light source device 3 for supplying illumination light to the child endoscope 2, and an electronic endoscope
A signal processing device that performs signal processing on the imaging signal output from the mirror 2
4 and the video signal output from the signal processing device 4
It consists of a color monitor 5 that displays on the screen.
The The electronic endoscope 2 includes an elongated insertion portion 6 and
A thick operation section 7 connected to the rear end side of the insertion section 6;
Universal cable 8 extending from the side of the operation unit 7
And a connector at the end of the universal cable 8
9 is provided, and this connector 9 is attached to the light source device 3.
It can be connected freely. The insertion portion 6 has a rigid distal end portion 11 from the distal end side.
And bendable at the rear end of the tip 11
It is formed at the rear end of the curved portion 12 and the curved portion 12, and can be long.
And a flexible portion 13 having flexibility.
The rear end is connected to the front end of the operation unit 7. This soft part 1
3 The outer periphery of the rear end has a taper shape to prevent folding
An anti-bending member 10 is provided. Insert section 6, operation section 7, universal cable
There is a flexible student in the 8 and has a function of transmitting illumination light.
A light guide 14 consisting of a bundle of fibers is inserted and connected.
Light guide connector fixed so as to protrude from the connector 9
The light source device 15 is connected to the light source device 3 by connecting the
The illumination light of the lamp 16 in the device 3 is condensed by the lens 17
It is supplied to the end face of the light guide connector portion 15. Transmitted by the light guide 14
The illumination light is forward from the tip surface fixed to the illumination window of the tip portion 11.
To illuminate a subject such as an affected part. Illuminated
The subject is an observation provided at the tip 11 adjacent to the illumination window.
Light is applied to the image formation position by an objective lens 18 attached to the window.
Connect the academic image. This imaging position has a photoelectric conversion function.
As an image pickup device, a charge coupled device (abbreviated as CCD) 19 is provided.
Arranged to convert the optical image into an electrical signal. This CCD 19 is connected to one end of a signal cable 21.
The signal cable 21 is inserted into the insertion portion 6 and the like.
And the rear end is connected to the electrical connector 22 of the connector 9.
External cable connected to this electrical connector 22
Connected to the signal processing device 4 via the cable 23. This signal
CCD driver generated in the drive circuit 24 in the processing device 4
When the Eve signal is applied to the CCD 19,
The converted imaging signal is read out and the signal in the signal processing device 4 is read.
Is input to the signal processing circuit 25 and converted into a standard video signal.
Process. This standard video signal is the color monitor 5
Is connected to the CCD 19 in the endoscope image display area 5a.
The imaged image is displayed in color. The bending portion 1 provided adjacent to the tip portion 11
2 is a ring-shaped bending piece 26, adjacent bending pieces.
26 with each other with rivets etc. at positions corresponding to the top and bottom, left and right
It is configured to be pivotably connected, the most advanced bending piece 26 or
Is the operation of the rear end of the bending wire 27 fixed to the tip 11
This sprocket is connected to the sprocket 28 in the section 7.
A bending operation knob 29 for performing a bending operation is attached to the axis of the G
(For simplicity, in FIG. 1, up and down, or
The outline of the bending mechanism only in the left-right direction is shown). Then, the bending operation knob 29 is rotated.
By performing the operation, along the vertical direction or the horizontal direction
Pull one of the pair of bending wires 27 placed
The bending portion 12 is bayed on the side of the bending wire 27 that is pulled relaxed.
You can make it tune. The operation section 7 is provided with a bending operation knob 29.
A grasping portion 31 is provided on the front side from the position where the surgeon is positioned.
Thumb that is not used to hold one hand holding the holding part 31
The bending operation knob 29 can be operated with a finger).
I try to do it. Further, on the front end side of the grip portion 31, there is a process.
A placement tool insertion port 32 is provided.
Internal treatment tool channel by inserting the treatment tool
33 (see FIG. 3)
Protruding the distal end of the treatment tool and removing the polyp
To be able to do that. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, folding prevention
At the front end of the operation unit 7 adjacent to the member 10 is a hardness adjustment operation.
A cylindrical hardness adjustment knob 34 is provided,
By rotating the hardness adjustment knob 34
Hardness forming hardness varying means arranged in the flexible part 13
Change wire (hereinafter simply abbreviated as wire) 35 and sheet
Coil pipe for hardness change (hereinafter simply referred to as coil)
(Abbreviation) Hardness which can change the hardness of the flexible part 13 via 36
An adjustment mechanism is formed. FIG. 2 shows an insertion portion 6 and an operation portion of the electronic endoscope 2.
7 shows a more specific structure. Forms the outer skin of the soft part 13
When the hardness adjustment knob 34 is operated in the flexible tube 37
Wire 35 for transmitting the combined force, and this wire 35 is inserted
The coil 36 in a state close to the tight winding is provided.
The The wire 35 inserted through the coil 36 is connected to the coil 35.
It is firmly fixed to the tip of the cylinder 35 by brazing or the like.
A coil rotation restricting member extended from the tip of the cylinder 36 is formed.
The distal end of the formed wire extension portion 30 is soft with the bending portion 12.
A hard, ring-shaped connecting pipe 38 for connecting the portion 13
It is firmly fixed by attaching. The connecting pipe 38 is fixed to the bending piece 26 at the rearmost end.
It is worn. Alternatively, the last bending piece 26 is connected to the connecting pipe 38.
You may make it also serve as a function of. Including this connection pipe 38
The bending piece 26 has an elastic outer shell 39 such as a rubber tube.
Covered with. In the present embodiment, the coil 36 is thus formed.
The tip is the torsional rigidity of the coil 36 in the natural state.
Rather than a wire extension with strong (large) torsional rigidity
By fixing to the connecting pipe 38 via 30, the coil
Anti-rotation function that regulates or suppresses 35 rotation
Like to do. This wire extension 30 is resistant to bending.
Soft elasticity and moderate elasticity against twisting
To do. The end on the hand side of the coil 36 is the operation unit 7.
Against the coil stopper 40 located inside the front end of
It is fixed with solder, solder, adhesive, etc.
The rearward movement and rotation are restricted (blocked). The wire 35 inserted through the coil 36 is
Extends through the hole of the coil stopper 40
As a result, the wire 35 is movable with respect to the coil 36.
Yes. Note that the coil 36 does not rotate significantly.
It has become. The coil stopper 40 is provided at the rear end of the flexible tube 37.
Is fixed to the rear end cap 41 for fixing the screw to the operation unit 7 with screws 42.
It is. The rear end cap 41 is a circle disposed on the outer periphery thereof.
A nut 44 is fixed near the front end of the tube 43. one
On the other hand, there is a ring at the proximal end of the wire 35, that is, the rear end.
Shaped wire stopper 45 is firmly fixed by brazing etc.
It is. Also, the coil stopper 40 and the wire stopper
A pulling member 46 movable in the front-rear direction is provided between the pads 45.
The pulling member 46 is arranged to place the wire 35 in the groove 48.
It is fixed to the moving ring 47 so as to pass therethrough. That is, as shown in FIG.
A pulling member 46 having a groove 48 through which the wire 35 passes is
Fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the circular-shaped moving ring 47 by the screw 49
Has been. This moving ring 47 is arranged inside the cylindrical tube 43.
Can be moved in the axial direction (front-rear direction). So this
The pulling member 46 moves rearward together with the moving ring 47.
Then, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
It will abut against the stopper 45. Further towing part
By performing the operation of moving the material 46 to the rear side,
The ear stopper 45 is also moved rearward. The wire stopper 45 is not moved rearward.
In the state where it is not, the coil stopper 40 moves backward
The coil 36 that is regulated is the most flexible state, i.e.
It is a soft state with a low hardness that is most easily bent. On the other hand, the coil stopper 40 is on the rear side.
And the rear end of the wire 35 moves to the rear side at the same time.
The coil stopper 40 relatively moves the coil 36 forward.
Compressive force that presses against is applied. That is, the rear end of the wire 35 is moved backward.
The compression force is applied to the coil 36 by applying the force
Because of this compressive force, the coil has elasticity
The flexibility of 36 is low, that is, it is hard to bend.
(Accurately, the hardness against bending is high)
I can do it. In this case, the wire stopper 45
Large compression force on the coil 35 according to the amount of movement of the coil to the rear side
Can be changed, and therefore its flexible size (high hardness
Can be changed. A cam cylinder 51 is provided outside the cylindrical tube 43.
Covered. The cam cylinder 51 includes a cylinder portion.
Cam grooves 52a and 52b are provided in two spiral positions
It is The cylindrical tube 43 is also long in the longitudinal direction.
A hole 53 is provided. The transfer ring 47 has this transfer.
Two pins 54 that move together with the moving ring 47 are cam grooves 5.
Screw part 2a or 52b and the long hole 53 outside thereof
It is fixed with. The elongated hole 53 is formed at the rear end of the wire 35 or
Or the range of movement of the wire stopper 45 (symbol E in FIG. 2)
The cover length is set. The cam cylinder 51 has a hardness adjustment knob on its outer side.
34 is fixed by a plurality of pins 55 in the circumferential direction.
ing. In other words, the hardness adjustment knob 34 has an inner cam.
A pin hole reaching the cylinder body 51 is formed, and the pin 55 is inserted.
Therefore, the filler 56 is closed. The front end of the hardness adjustment knob 34 has an annular shape.
Abutting against the contact member 57, the forward movement is restricted.
Yes. This abutting member 57 is located outside the front end of the cylindrical tube 43.
And a support portion that supports the rear end of the folding preventing member 10.
The outer periphery of the material 58 is fixed with screws 59. Further, on the rear end side of the hardness adjusting knob 34,
The inner peripheral surface of the front end of the gripping cylinder 61 on the outer peripheral surface of the cam cylinder 51
And the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the gripping portion cylinder 61 is hard.
The degree adjustment knob 34 is fitted to the notched inner peripheral surface of the rear end.
The In other words, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is restricted from moving back and forth.
In the restrained state, outside of the cylindrical tube 43 through the cam cylinder 51
It is in sliding contact with the peripheral surface and can be rotated (around the cylindrical tube 43).
Has been. Thus, the hardness adjustment knob 34 can be rotated.
The screw 59 prevents the contact member 57 from rotating.
It is fixed with. The inner peripheral surface of the front end of the hardness adjusting knob 34 and the inside thereof
O-ring 62 between the outer peripheral surface of cylindrical tube 43 facing
Is arranged, and the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the hardness adjustment knob 34 is an O-ring.
62 is in pressure contact. In addition, outside the rear end of the cam cylinder 51
A peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the gripping part frame 61 fitted to the outer peripheral surface;
In between, for example, the O-ring in the circumferential groove provided on the cam body 51 side
63 is accommodated, and the inner peripheral surface of the gripping part frame 61 is the O-ring 6.
3 is in pressure contact. That is, watertightness is achieved by the O-rings 62 and 63.
To secure the cam cylinder 51 and the hardness adjustment knob 34.
A frictional force is applied to the
Even if you release the hand that operated the degree adjustment knob 34, it will remain in that state.
(Or keep). Thus, in this embodiment, the hardness adjustment
A state in which the knob 34 is rotated to apply a compressive force to the coil 36.
Release the hardness adjustment knob 34 in the set state.
Also, the hardness of the O-rings 62 and 63 due to the frictional force
The state of the adjustment knob 34 can be maintained (locked)
Yes. In other words, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is rotated by hand.
A state in which an operation to increase the hardness of the soft part 13 is performed.
Even if you take your hand off the hardness adjustment knob 34, the hardness adjustment knob
By locking 34 to its operating state
The coil 36 can be locked in a hardness state corresponding to the state.
I make it. In order to lock the hardness adjustment knob 34,
The O-ring that generates frictional force is where water-tight sealing is performed.
You may make it provide in addition to. FIG. 4A shows a cam cylinder.
The shape of the cam grooves 52a and 52b of the body 51 is shown. Cam groove 5
Reference numerals 2a and 52b denote two-row cams, one of which is connected to the cam groove 52.
aThe other is indicated by 52b. The cam grooves 52a and 52b have the same shape.
Position where one side is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the axis of the cam cylinder 51
Provided in symmetrical positions such that the other overlaps each other.
It is. In FIG. 4A, the cam grooves 52a and 52b are simple.
It has a smooth groove shape (smooth spiral shape). In place of the structure shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), for example, a recess 64 is provided in the middle of the groove 52b.
a or a recess 64b is provided at the end of the groove 52b.
Pin 54 is set at these positions.
It is also possible to give the operator a click when
Yes. As shown in FIG. 2, adjacent to the grip portion 31.
Insert port frame body 65 that forms the treatment instrument insertion port 32 at the front position.
Is provided. The insertion port frame 65 is provided in the operation unit 7.
Divided into the treatment instrument insertion port 32 side and the suction conduit 66 side.
This branch member 67 is connected to the branch member 67
The treatment instrument channel 3 provided in the insertion portion 6 at the front end of
3 is connected by a connecting portion 68. Further, this branching member 67 is cylindrical with screws.
It is fixed to the tube 43. The cylindrical tube 43 is
The bending operation mechanism of the operation unit 7 is attached by a screw at the rear end.
Connected to the frame body 60. This cylindrical tube 43 is hard.
Even if the degree adjustment knob 34 side is rotated, it does not rotate.
ing. As shown in FIG.
Various built-in items are arranged. In other words, the vertical and horizontal
Four bending wires 27 arranged at corresponding positions, with center
Two signal cables 21 arranged close to each other
Two light guides 14 arranged on the bottom, arranged on the lower side
Treatment instrument channel 33, carp arranged on the left
Air 36 and wire 35, air supply arranged adjacent thereto
Air supply tube 69 for water supply and water supply for water supply
A tube 70 is built in. Also in the operation unit 7
Built-in objects as shown in FIG. 3B are arranged. this
The arrangement of the built-in objects is almost the same as that in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, the traction member 46 is more or less
This traction part takes up a certain amount of space
As shown in FIG. 2, the material 46 is positioned in front of the connecting portion 68.
Yes, even if this pulling member 46 moves most backward
68 so that it is at the front position from 68
Comparator in a smaller space than the rear position side
Can be stored in the product. Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG.
The assembly of the il 36 will be described. Wire 35
And the coil 35 before assembling to the insertion portion 6, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the wire 35 and the tip side of the coil 36 are
It is firmly fixed by a fixing part 100 such as attachment.
A coil stopper 40 is provided on the proximal end side of the coil 36.
It is physically fixed. The coil 36 has an external force
Natural length when there is no tension is L0 in a straight state
It is. In the present embodiment, the wires 35 and
Before assembling the coil 36, the coil 36 is plastically deformed.
The Therefore, first, the coil stopper 40 is held to
Pull the ear 35 once or multiple times with a predetermined amount of force to
The compression force is applied to the pile 36, and as shown in FIG.
The length dimension of the coil 36 is shorter than the L0, the length L1
Change. In other words, to pull the wire 35
Therefore, compressive force is applied to the coil 36, and the natural length is as much as the dimension G.
An operation to make it shorter than L0 is performed. Next, with the dimension L1 held, the wire
The stopper 45 is attached to the wire 35 by brazing or the like.
Fix it physically. At this time, the wire stopper 45 and
The distance from the coil stopper 40 is set to the dimension F. this
Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
The wire 35 and the coil 36 are assembled. Thus, the wire 35 and the coil 36 are connected.
Before assembling to the insertion portion, the coil 36 is used with a predetermined amount of force.
While applying a predetermined tension once or several times against
Assembly with a constant amount of tension applied
As a result, the electronic endoscope 2 reaches the user's hand.
The natural length for the assembled coil 36
It is possible to continue applying a load in the direction of shrinking. this
As a result, the coil 36 is formed immediately after being manufactured.
It is in a state of plastic deformation with respect to the natural length of the loaded state. It should be noted that the above-mentioned predetermined amount of force means that the user
When the hardness is settable (operation),
Any value can be used as long as it is strong enough, but the maximum
Equivalent to the force applied to the coil 36 when the hardness is set,
It is desirable to set the above strength. Also, tension is applied to the coil 36.
The wire extension 30 is fixed so as not to rotate during
It is desirable that Furthermore, in this embodiment, a sheath is used.
The coil 36 to be used is a coil in a state close to dense winding
There is a resin sheath (tube) instead of this coil
Body). In this embodiment, the plastic deformation is not assembled.
In FIG. 5B, the wire stopper 45 is fixed.
2 is set to the length of dimension F-dimension G,
After assembling, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is operated to
In a state (ie, tension is applied to the coil 36)
The coil 36 is shrunk and set to a length L1 for plastic deformation.
You may make it make it. At this time, dimension F-dimension G is
It becomes the dimension F of FIG. Here, the electronic endoscope configured as described above.
Refer to Fig. 6 for the procedure to insert 2 insertion part 6 into the large intestine.
To explain. As shown by the solid line in FIG.
In the state where it does not hit the ear stopper 45,
Since the tension is not applied to the ya 35, the coil 36 is also soft.
Yes. Therefore, the soft portion 13 is in a soft and easy to bend state.
ing. As shown in FIG. 6A, the flexible portion 13 is
While pushing the insertion part 6 in a soft state
The inside of the sigmoid colon 92 that is winding is inserted. At this time, the soft part 13 is in a soft state.
So even the tortuous sigmoid colon 92 is given to the patient
Can be inserted in a small state. FIG.
As shown in (A), the distal end of the insertion portion 6 of the electronic endoscope is the descending colon.
93 and pull the insertion part 6 when it reaches the vicinity of the splenic curve 94
Perform the tensioning operation. Then, as shown in FIG.
The colon 92 is shortened substantially linearly. And inside the electronic
The insertion portion 6 of the endoscope is substantially linear. In this state, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is moved as shown in FIG.
The direction indicated by the reference numeral C (in FIG. 4 (A), the left side is the insertion portion side.
Shown in the state. ), It is rotated as shown in FIG.
As shown by the solid line of FIG.
And move in the cam groove 52a as shown by the arrow D.
The pin 54 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical tube 43.
Since it penetrates into the long hole 53, the moving ring 47 is a pin.
54 moves rearward along the elongated hole 53 together with 54. Tsuma
The pin 54 is actually horizontal (right side) in FIG.
Move to. By this movement, the moving ring 47 is fixed.
The pulled pulling member 46 also moves rearward, and this movement causes FIG.
If you move from the position of the solid line to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line,
It hits the ear stopper 19. Further, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is rotated to pull it.
Pull the wire 46 to the wire 35 by moving the member 46 backward.
The tension is applied and the compression force is applied to the coil 36.
Ill 36 is hardened, thereby softening the soft part 13
can do. Then, when the insertion portion is as shown in FIG.
6 is hardened, and the transverse colon is pushed while pushing the insertion part 6 there.
Endoscope to 95, liver curvature 97, ascending colon 96, cecum 98
The insertion part 6 is inserted. Thus, as shown in FIG.
As shown, the distal end of the insertion part 6 of the electronic endoscope reaches the cecum 98.
To be reached. At this time, the soft portion 13 is hard.
Therefore, it is unlikely to bend slightly along the way.
While drawing a gentle curve like (C),
One can easily insert up to the cecum 98. As described above, the insertion portion 6 is smoothly performed.
Therefore, if the hardness adjustment operation is used repeatedly in many cases,
Gradually, the natural length of the coil 36 shrinks due to plastic deformation. on the other hand,
The natural length of the wire 35 extends due to plastic deformation. And
The wire 35 and the coil 36 at this time,
The rate of deformation is the size and material of the wire 35 and coil 36.
It depends on quality and manufacturing method. However, over time due to this repeated use
The initial deformation amount is relatively large. In other words,
After deformation, the amount of deformation tends to be relatively small
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the coil 36 and the wire 3 are previously stored.
5 is a predetermined amount (a predetermined amount of force, a predetermined number of times, a predetermined time).
The initial deformation, that is, the user starts using it
The coil is plastically deformed by applying a compressive force in advance before starting
The user can use the hardness adjustment function repeatedly.
Minimize the deterioration of this function when used
be able to. For this reason, the user can adjust the hardness adjustment function.
It can be used for a long time with the same feeling of use. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show a coil assembly.
FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining an example of plastic deformation before application.
A diagram explaining the shape of the deformed coil in the hard state
Fig. 8 (B) shows the natural state of the plastically deformed coil.
Coil 36 and wire 3 with reference to the figure explaining the shape
5 will be described. In the embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the coil 36 is in a substantially straight state.
I was trying to plastically deform with tension,
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
When the coil 36 is bent, the coil 36 is
Is running. In FIG. 7A, the pulley 101 has a coil.
Make a part of 36 along one turn, and
The coil 101 is moved back and forth as indicated by the arrow.
The plastic deformation operation is performed over a predetermined length of 36. In FIG. 7B, the pulley 102,
103 and 104 can be attached to the column 105 to be rotatable.
The coil 36 is connected to each pulley 102, 103, 10
4 in a zigzag shape as shown in the figure
And move the column 105 back and forth as shown by the arrows.
The plastic deformation operation is performed over a predetermined length of the coil 36.
The As a result, it is shown in FIG.
The coil 36 is plastically deformed under tension.
The part where the operation is performed becomes a gentle meandering state. this
The meandering state occurs whether the coil 36 is in a soft state or a hard state.
May be more noticeable when operated in a hard state.
There may be cases where the soft state is hardly understood. Izu
Even in this case, the meandering state of the coil
It means that sexual deformation has been applied. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
For example, the coil 36 is firmly held between the blocks 106 and 107.
And measure the coil length in a substantially straight state.
The natural length L2 of the coil 36 is shown in FIG.
It is shorter than L0. In addition, as shown in FIG.
It is shorter than L1. This is because the phenomenon of initial deterioration of the coil 36 is
Mainly, contact of many wires constituting the coil 36 with each other
The part (contact point) is slightly crushed and between the strands of each other
The position is slightly shifted before and after applying tension (Coil 3
6) The inner and outer diameters are slightly bumpy.
The However, in any case, these phenomena are
It is a series of minute phenomena that cannot be confirmed.
In the embodiment, the former is mainly based on the contact of the wire contact point.
However, in this embodiment, the latter element
The above-mentioned implementation is also possible due to the occurrence of minor deviations
The initial deformation is larger than the shape and can be made sure.
The Therefore, during actual inspection, it is inserted
Even if the portion 6 is in a hard state, as shown in FIG.
This embodiment is used in a bent state to some extent.
A state where the coil 36 is bent with tension as in the state
Is more appropriate for the actual use
This can be said to be a plastic deformation. It should be noted that the initial plastic deformation of the coil 36 has so far been described.
The shape is mainly described, but the final initial deformation amount is the coil
For the shrinkage caused by the initial deformation of 36 and the initial deformation of the wire 35
It is the total with the growth. The coil 36 is hardened, and this coil
FIG. 5 shows a case where a bent shape is formed near the tip of 36.
It is hardened which is the wire extension part 30 in the vicinity of the fixed part 100.
Between the coil 36 and the flexible wire extension 30
In particular, bending is concentrated and small bent parts are formed.
Yeah. The bending operation in such a hard state is repeated many times.
When turned back, it will eventually break at the small bent shape
There is a fear. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
On the distal end side of the wire 35 whose proximal end portion is located on the operation portion side.
Near the boundary between the hardness changeable part and the part where the hardness does not change
A connecting coil 108 to be a joint portion is provided beside this,
The tip portion is filtered through the connecting coil 108 to the connecting pipe 38.
Tip wire constituting wire extending portion 30 for brazing and fixing
111 are connected. The tip of the coil 36 is connected to the wire 35.
Strong by brazing fixing part 100 provided at the tip
It is fixed to. And the front-end | tip part of the said wire 35
Is in a state protruding from the tip of the coil 36.
One end of the connecting coil 108 is connected to the protruding wire 35
The part is firmly fixed by a fixing part 109 such as soldering.
ing. Further, the other end of the connecting coil 108 is the tip.
The wire 111 is firmly provided with a fixing part 110 such as soldering.
It is fixed to. The connecting coil 108 and the coil 3
6 and the tip wire 111 and the wire 35 are the same material.
The connection coil may be of different quality or different material.
Is difficult to plastically deform at a small bending radius.
It is more difficult to plastically deform than the one end wire 111. In such a portion where bending is concentrated, the connecting connector
No plastic deformation even with a small bent shape like
By providing a material, small bent parts are repeatedly formed.
Even if it is done, the part is prevented from breaking and
Permanence can be improved. As another means, for example, small bending
The wire extension portion 30 using the connection coil 108 which is strong against damage
Make up the whole, that is, do not use the tip wire 111
It is possible to use a different configuration. However, in that configuration, the coupling coil
Since the outer diameter of 108 is thicker than the outer diameter of the tip wire 111,
An outer tube 14a covering the light guide 14 shown in FIG.
Or the connecting coil 108 may be
Since this is easier to twist than Y 111, this connecting coil 108 is
Repeated use of coil 36 tip due to lengthening
There is a risk of malfunction due to twisting. It should be noted that the above-described embodiment is partially assembled.
Embodiments configured by combining them also belong to the present invention.
To do. In each of the above-described embodiments, the distal end of the insertion portion
With an image sensor at the position where the optical image is connected
As described in the case of an endoscope,
Instead, an optical image is transmitted through a fiber bundle, and the transmitted optical
It is called a fiberscope that can observe an image from the eyepiece.
This includes the case of an optical flexible endoscope. [Appendix] (1) It is possible to change the hardness in the flexible part of the endoscope insertion part.
Elongated with a part that can be fixed and a part whose hardness does not change
In an endoscope provided with a hardness adjusting means, the hardness adjustment
Hardness changeable part and hardness unchanged part of the means
Bending shape smaller than both ends near the boundary
Endoscope with a joint that does not deform plastically. (2) The joint is coiled.
The endoscope according to appendix 1. As described above, according to the present invention, hard
Hardness adjustment function even when the degree adjustment means is used repeatedly
Hardness that prevents the material from greatly degrading and has increased hardness
Against repeated bending of parts with large hardness difference
To provide an endoscope with improved durability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus provided with a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA and BB in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a specific example of a cam body. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a wire and a coil. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of plastic deformation of a coil before assembly. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a plastic deformed coil. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of a wire and a coil. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus 2 ... Electronic endoscope 4 ... Signal processing apparatus 5 ... Color monitor 6 ... Insertion part 7 ... Operation part 11 ... Tip part 12 ... Bending part 13 ... Soft part 16 ... Lamp 18 ... Objective Lens 19 ... CCD 21 ... Signal cable 26 ... Bending piece 27 ... Bending wire 29 ... Bending operation knob 30 ... Wire extension part 31 ... Grasping part 32 ... Treatment instrument insertion port 33 ... Treatment instrument channel 34 ... Hardness adjustment knob 35 ... Hardness Change wire (wire) 36 ... Coil for changing hardness (coil) 37 ... Flexible tube 38 ... Connection tube 40 ... Coil stopper 41 ... Rear end cap 45 ... Wire stopper 46 ... Pulling member 47 ... Moving ring 48 ... Groove 51 ... Cam Cylinder 52a, 52b ... cam groove 108 ... coupling coil 111 ... tip wire

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. An endoscope having an elongated hardness adjusting means provided with a portion whose hardness can be changed and a portion whose hardness is not changed in a flexible portion of an endoscope insertion portion. In the mirror, in the vicinity of the boundary between the hardness changeable portion provided in the hardness adjusting means and the portion where the hardness does not change, a joint portion that is not deformed plastically even with a smaller bending shape than both ends thereof is provided. Endoscope.