JP2003325435A - Tip end part of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tip end part of endoscope which has a fluid ejecting nozzle formed in a cap-shaped part that can be correctly and simply mounted and detached to the part composing the tip end of an insertion section. <P>SOLUTION: The tip end part of endoscope comprises the fluid ejecting nozzle 12 which opens toward the surface of an inspection window 2 located at the tip end part of the insertion section and is formed in the cap-shaped part 10 that can be correctly and simply mounted and detached to the part 1 composing the tip end part of the insertion section, wherein a suction hole 8 is formed to face both the surface of the part 1 composing the tip end part of the insertion section and the inner wall of the cap-shaped part 10 so that the suction hole 8 gets a negative pressure to adhere the cap-shaped part 10 to the tip end part of the insertion section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distal end portion of an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an endoscope is provided with a fluid ejection nozzle for cleaning the surface of an observation window arranged at the tip of an insertion portion, the opening being formed toward the surface of the observation window.

[0003] Such a fluid ejection nozzle was generally fixedly provided on the tip end body which constitutes the tip of the insertion portion, but in recent years, due to the cleanability after use, the tip end portion has been recently used. Many are formed on the tip cap that can be attached to and detached from the body.

Such a tip cap is formed of an elastic material so that it can be attached to and detached from the tip end main body, and has a projection formed by projecting inward from the inner peripheral surface thereof. , Can be engaged with and disengaged from the circumferential groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion main body.

[0005]

However, the work of engaging and disengaging the protrusion formed on the tip cap with the circumferential groove formed on the tip body is very small in millimeters. In addition, since it must be done while elastically deforming the tip cap, it is unexpectedly troublesome to engage the protrusion with the circumferential groove in the correct direction, and if it takes a lot of time and effort to redo it, Was not uncommon.

Therefore, the present invention provides a distal end portion of an endoscope in which a cap-shaped member having a fluid ejection nozzle can be accurately and easily attached to and detached from a member constituting the distal end of an insertion portion. To aim.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the distal end portion of the endoscope of the present invention has a fluid ejection nozzle that opens toward the surface of an observation window arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion.
At the distal end of the endoscope formed in a cap-shaped member that is detachable from the member forming the distal end of the insertion section, suction is performed so that the surface of the member forming the distal end of the insertion section faces the inner wall surface of the cap-shaped member. A cap-shaped member is held in a state of being sucked by the tip of the insertion portion by forming a mouth and making a negative pressure in the suction mouth.

If the plug projection engaging with the suction port is formed so as to project inward from the inner wall surface of the cap-shaped member, it contributes to securing the suction force and positioning, and the suction port serves as the fluid ejection nozzle. When adjacently provided in the same direction, it contributes to prevention of lifting of the fluid ejection nozzle due to fluid pressure.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope, and an observation window 2 is formed on a distal end surface of a distal end main body 1 (a member forming the distal end of the insertion portion) formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a metal or plastic block material or the like. Is arranged, and the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 4 is arranged at the projection position of the object by the objective optical system 3 arranged inside. It should be noted that illustration of a lens frame or the like for supporting the objective optical system 3 and the solid-state image pickup device 4 is omitted.

An air supply pipe 6 and a water supply pipe 7 are communicatively connected from the rear to an air / water supply port 5 formed adjacent to the observation window 2 on the front end surface of the front end body 1. However, a structure in which only one of the air supply conduit 6 and the water supply conduit 7 is connected may be used.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a tip cap (cap-shaped member) which is detachably attached to the tip body 1, and which surrounds the tip outer edge of the tip body 1 with a plastic material or a hard rubber material. It is formed in a shape partially facing the tip surface of the tip body 1 so as to cover the air / water inlet 5 and not the observation window 2.

A connection projection 11 is formed on the back surface of the tip cap 10 so as to be fitted into the air / water supply port 5 so as to project inward, and the tip is opened toward the surface of the observation window 2. The air / water supply nozzle 12 formed in the cap 10 communicates with the air / water supply port 5 on the inner end surface side of the connection protrusion 11.

In the distal end body 1 of the distal end portion of the endoscope thus constructed, the suction port 8 facing the inner wall surface of the distal end cap 10 is opened at the position of the distal end face adjacent to the air / water supply port 5. A suction pipe line 9 that is formed and is connected to an external suction device (not shown) communicates with the suction port 8 from the rear.

Therefore, by operating the external suction device continuously to create a negative pressure in the suction port 8, the tip cap 1
Since 0 is held in a state of being sucked by the tip body 1, the tip cap 10 is attached to the tip body 1 only by covering the tip body 1 with the tip cap 10 and sucking the tip cap 10. Tip cap 10 if operation is stopped
Comes off the tip body 1.

Further, since the suction port 8 is formed adjacent to the air / water supply port 5 and in the same direction as the air / water supply port 5, the tip end cap 10 is moved by air pressure or water pressure during air supply or water supply. It also contributes to the prevention of the phenomenon of floating from the surface of the main body 1.

In order to make the inside of the suction port 8 a negative pressure, it is not always necessary to continuously operate the external suction device, and if an operation valve or a check valve is provided in the middle of the suction pipe line 9, Even after the external suction device is stopped, the inside of the suction port 8 can be maintained at a negative pressure as it is.

Further, in this embodiment, a hemispherical plug projection 13 which engages in the suction port 8 is formed so as to project inward from the inner wall surface of the tip cap 10.
The suction force of the tip cap 10 with respect to the suction port 8 can be secured, and the certainty of positioning the tip cap 10 with respect to the tip body 1 can be increased.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the suction port is formed on the surface of the member forming the distal end of the insertion portion so as to face the inner wall surface of the cap-shaped member, and the inside of the suction port is set to a negative pressure to form the cap-shaped member. Since the member is held in a state of being sucked onto the distal end of the insertion portion, the cap-shaped member is attached to the member forming the distal end of the insertion portion only by covering the member forming the distal end of the insertion portion with the cap-shaped member and sucking. When the suction is stopped, the cap-shaped member is removed from the member forming the tip of the insertion portion, so that the cap-shaped member with the fluid ejection nozzle formed on it is attached to the member forming the tip of the insertion portion. It can be attached and removed accurately and easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial side sectional view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Tip body (member that constitutes the tip of the insertion section) 2 Observation window 5 Air / water inlet 8 suction port 9 Suction line 10 Tip cap (cap-shaped member) 12 Air / water nozzle (fluid ejection nozzle) 13 Plug projection

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masahiro Takano             2-36 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahikou             Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naoya Ouchi             2-36 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahikou             Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Motoko Kawamura             2-36 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahikou             Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H040 BA14 DA12 DA57                 4C061 CC06 FF39 FF43

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope in which a fluid ejection nozzle that opens toward the surface of an observation window disposed at the tip of the insertion section is formed in a cap-shaped member that is detachable from the member that constitutes the tip of the insertion section. At the distal end of the cap, a suction port is formed on the surface of the member forming the distal end of the insertion section so as to face the inner wall surface of the cap-shaped member, and the inside of the suction port is negatively pressured so that the cap-shaped member is A distal end portion of an endoscope, wherein the distal end portion of the endoscope is held while being sucked onto the distal end of the insertion portion. 2. The distal end portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a stopper projection engaging with the suction port is formed so as to protrude inward from an inner wall surface of the cap-shaped member. 3. The distal end portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the suction port is provided adjacent to the fluid ejection nozzle in the same direction.