JP2004049754A - Capsule endoscope holding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capsule endoscope holding mechanism which can hold a capsule endoscope so as to be arranged as desired by users at a desired first application site. <P>SOLUTION: A medium-wide engaging hole 12 for linking with a narrow opening part is formed at the rear end part of a hermetic capsule container 11 of the capsule endoscope 10 and four link plates 158a to 158d are linked with four shafts 159a to 159d in a ring to the tip part of a forceps pipe 153 protruding from the tip part of an in vivo insertion tube of an electronic scope 101. One shaft 159a is fixed on the forceps pipe 153, the shaft 159c facing it is housed into the forceps pipe 153 and fixed on a drive plate 155 which is moved in the direction of rising or falling from the tip part of the forceps pipe 153 with a cable 157 operable from outside the body to be treated. An engaging holder 151 comprising a drive plate 155 is mounted and inserted into the engaging hole 12 for linking with a reduced diameter thereof. It can be extended in the diameter during the insertion thereof to be engaged with the engaging hole 12 for linking and reduced in the diameter to allow the withdrawing thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a capsule endoscope holding mechanism that can hold and guide a capsule endoscope at a distal end portion of the endoscope or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
A so-called capsule endoscope developed in recent years captures an image with an electronic camera equipped with an image sensor such as a built-in CMOS image sensor while illuminating the lumen with a light source built in a sealed capsule container. The captured image signal is wirelessly transmitted outside the body. The transmitted image signal is received by a capsule observation processor installed outside the body, and is displayed on a screen of a television monitor or the like (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-2425844). The user observes and examines the state in the body cavity of the patient by watching the television monitor screen. Electronic components such as a light source and an imaging device in the capsule endoscope operate using a battery built in the capsule container as a power supply.
[0003]
Such a capsule endoscope is orally inserted by the patient's own swallowing action, and moves from the esophagus to the stomach, duodenum, and small intestine. In the body cavity, the body moves by peristaltic motion of the intestine and the like, and in the process of moving, an image is taken by an electronic camera under illumination from a light source, and the taken image signal is wirelessly transmitted.
[0004]
However, with a capsule endoscope without a self-propelling function and a posture control function, after entering a patient's body cavity, the user cannot control which direction and how to proceed. For example, as shown in the human body diagram in FIG. 9, when the first application site to be imaged, observed, examined, and the like by the capsule endoscope is away from the mouth, how to reach the application site and in what state It was unknown and could not be reliably reached in the state desired by the user. In addition, when the first application site is far from the mouth, the capsule endoscope wastes time until it reaches the application site, and the internal battery is wasted by imaging, transmission, and the like. Must be as large as possible.
[0005]
[Object of the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional capsule endoscope, and has a capsule endoscope holding mechanism that can hold the capsule endoscope and arrange it at a first application site desired by a user in a state desired by the user. The purpose is to provide.
[0006]
Summary of the Invention
In order to achieve this object, the present invention is directed to a capsule endoscope having an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end with respect to an engaging portion formed on a capsule of the capsule endoscope. And an engaging mechanism that protrudes from the engaging portion and engages with the engaging portion of the capsule so as to be capable of being disengaged and disengaged. According to this configuration, it is possible to hold the capsule endoscope at the other end of the member having an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end and inserted into the body. The capsule endoscope can be transported to a desired position in the body using various members.
[0007]
Another aspect of the present invention is a capsule endoscope holding mechanism for holding a capsule endoscope having a narrower opening and a connection hole extending toward the back formed in the capsule, the bending end being freely operated from one end. An expandable and contractable engagement mechanism is provided at a distal end of a member that can be inserted from the other end of a member that can be inserted into the body and has an elongated flexible portion, and the engagement member is inserted into the connection hole in a reduced state. And it is characterized in that it is expanded in the connection hole and connected so that it cannot be inserted and removed from the connection hole, and is reduced and made detachable from the connection hole.
The present capsule endoscope holding mechanism is inserted into a member that can be inserted into the body having an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end, and is inserted into a flexible pipe protruding from the other end and into the pipe. A cable that is slidably inserted and driven by a moving operation member provided outside the body of the pipe, and an engagement mechanism that is attached to a distal end of the pipe and is driven to expand and contract by relative movement between the cable and the pipe. Can be provided.
An endoscope such as an electronic scope can be used as a member that can be inserted into a body having an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end.
The engagement mechanism includes a fixed shaft attached to a tip end of the pipe, a drive shaft protruding from the inside of the pipe, and attached to a rod-shaped member that is driven by the cable in a protruding and retracting direction from the pipe; Each of the shafts includes a connecting member forming a four-bar rotating chain in which both ends of a pair of connecting members connected by a moving shaft are connected to each other, and the rod-shaped members oppose each other by moving in a protruding and retracting direction with respect to the pipe. The moving shaft is configured to move toward and away from the bar-shaped member in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction.
Further, the engagement mechanism is configured such that, when the rod-shaped member is relatively moved in the immersion direction with respect to the pipe after being inserted into the engagement hole, the connection member connected across the fixed shaft is moved in the opposite direction. When the shaft is opened in a direction away from the pipe to be in a connected state, and in the connected state, the rod-shaped member relatively moves in the protruding direction with respect to the pipe, the connecting member connected with the fixed shaft interposed therebetween moves the opposed moving shaft. It is desirable that the rod is closed in the approaching direction and the tip of the rod-shaped member presses the bottom of the engagement hole to press the pipe in a direction away from the connection hole.
According to this configuration, when the capsule endoscope is left at a desired position, it is possible to easily and reliably remove the connecting member from the connecting hole.
If the cable or the rod-shaped member is configured to be moved and biased by a spring member in a direction in which the engagement member expands, the user can release his hand in the engaged state.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a basic system configuration of a capsule endoscope to which the present invention is applied. The capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope 10, a capsule observation processor 50 installed outside the patient, and a television monitor TV1 for observation.
[0009]
In the capsule endoscope 10, a CMOS image sensor 13 as an image pickup unit, an image pickup device drive circuit 15 for driving the CMOS image sensor 13 to perform an image pickup operation, and a CMOS image sensor 13 take an image in an oval hermetic capsule container 11. A signal transmission unit 17 that wirelessly transmits an image signal, a light source (LED) 19 that illuminates an imaging target, and a built-in power supply 21 that supplies power to these electronic members are provided. The CMOS image sensor 13 and the light source 19 are arranged on the short side of the sealed capsule container 11, and two or three or more light sources 19 are provided around the CMOS image sensor 13. As the light source 19, a light emitting diode (LED) is usually used, and as the built-in power supply 21, a primary battery or a rechargeable secondary battery is used.
The capsule endoscope 10 is inserted into the body cavity from the front end side where the CMOS image sensor 13 and the light source 19 are provided.
[0010]
On the other hand, the capsule observation processor 50 includes a signal receiving unit 53 for receiving an image signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit 17 and a capsule observation image processing circuit 55 in the processor cabinet 51. The visualized video signal is visualized on the television monitor TV1.
[0011]
The above is the basic structure of the capsule endoscope and the capsule endoscope observation processor. Next, a capsule endoscope holding mechanism that is a feature of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The embodiment of the present invention holds the capsule endoscope as an example of a member having an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end thereof, at the distal end of the body insertion portion of the scope of the electronic endoscope, It is characterized by having a releasable capsule endoscope holding mechanism. According to this embodiment, the capsule endoscope is held at the distal end of the electronic scope, releasably held, and in the held state, an image captured by the capsule endoscope or the electronic endoscope is displayed on the screen of the television monitor. While observing, the bending portion of the insertion portion of the body of the electronic scope can be guided to the application portion by performing a bending operation with the extracorporeal operation portion. That is, the user operates the electronic endoscope while watching the image on the TV monitor TV1 screen, and guides the capsule endoscope to a target portion. Note that members having the same functions as those of the capsule endoscope and the capsule observation processor shown in FIG.
[0012]
This capsule endoscope guidance system includes a scope unit 100 and an endoscope processor unit 200, in addition to the capsule endoscope 10 and the capsule observation processor 50. The scope unit 100 includes a flexible scope 101, an operation unit 103 for performing a bending operation on a bending portion of the scope 101, and a connection cable unit 105 connected to the endoscope processor unit 200. An electronic camera 107 as an imaging unit, an emission end face of a light guide 109 for illumination, and a forceps port 111a are provided at the distal end of the insertion part of the scope 101 in the body.
[0013]
Although not shown in detail, the electronic camera 107 includes a photographing lens as an imaging optical system and a CCD image sensor as an image sensor, as is well known. The electronic camera 107 operates by a drive signal transmitted from the endoscope processor unit 200 via the image sensor drive signal line 113, and the captured video signal is transmitted to the endoscope processor unit via the video signal line 115. Output to 200. In addition, the light guide 109 guides the illumination light emitted from the light source 209 incorporated in the endoscope processor unit 200 to the insertion part in the body, and emits the light from the distal end surface on the insertion part side.
[0014]
The scope unit 100 is connected to the endoscope processor unit 200 via the connection cable unit 105. An endoscope processor unit 200 is input into a processor cabinet 201 via a system controller 203 that controls the entire endoscope system, a timing controller 205 that generates a timing signal, and a video signal line 115. A video signal processing circuit 207 that performs color adjustment and contour emphasis processing on the obtained video signal and converts the video signal into a video signal that can be visualized by the television monitor TV2 and a video signal that can be processed by a data system, etc .; a light source 209; A power supply unit 211 that supplies power to members and electronic components of the entire system is provided.
[0015]
The system controller 203 controls the operations of the electronic camera 107, the video signal processing circuit 207, and the like based on the timing signals (clock, pulse) generated by the timing controller 205. For example, an image pickup device drive signal is generated based on a timing signal, and the image pickup operation of the electronic camera 107 is controlled by the image pickup device drive signal.
[0016]
The light generated by the light source 209 is incident from the end face of the light guide 109, exits from the end face of the light guide 109 located at the tip of the scope 101, and illuminates the inside of the body cavity. The electronic camera 107 is driven under this illumination, and a video signal captured by the electronic camera 107 is input to the endoscope processor unit 200 via the video signal line 115.
The video signal input to the endoscope processor unit 200 is subjected to predetermined correction and conversion processing by a video signal processing circuit 207, and is output as a video signal to a television monitor TV2 via a video signal line 208. It is visualized on the screen of the monitor TV2.
[0017]
The forceps port 111a communicates with a forceps insertion port 111b provided outside the body of the scope 101 via a pipe (not shown). An engagement holder 151 for connecting and holding the capsule endoscope 10 is attached to the distal end of the capsule connection forceps 150. The engagement holder 151 inserted from the forceps insertion port 111b protrudes from the forceps port 111a, and the capsule endoscope 10 is connected to the protruded engagement holder 151. That is, the capsule endoscope 10 is held at the distal end of the body insertion portion of the scope 101. FIG. 3A shows a front view of a state in which the capsule endoscope 10 is held at the distal end of the scope 101 via the capsule connecting forceps 150, and FIG. 3B shows the capsule endoscope 10 and the capsule connecting forceps 150. The enlarged view of the connecting part of FIG. The connection and release operations of the capsule endoscope 10 by the engagement holder 151 are performed by operating the operation unit 161 outside the body.
[0018]
Next, the connection structure between the capsule connection forceps 150 and the capsule endoscope 10 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.
In the sealed capsule container 11 of the capsule endoscope 10, a coupling engagement hole 12 is formed at the center of the rear end face opposite to the end face provided with the CMOS image sensor 13 and the light source 19. The coupling engagement hole 12 is formed of a widened (diameter-enlarged) hole 12b whose opening 12a is narrowed and narrowed toward the back. Between the opening 12a and the widening hole 12b, there is formed an inclined surface 12c extending from the opening 12a toward the back. In addition, in the coupling engagement hole 12 of the present embodiment, when the opening 12a is capable of inserting and inserting the forceps pipe 153, the edge of the opening 12a and the outer peripheral surface of the forceps pipe 153 are sealed. That is, the forceps pipe 153 is formed so as to be a sealing plug for the opening 12a.
[0019]
On the other hand, in the capsule connecting forceps 150, a cable 157 is slidably inserted into the forceps pipe 153 as a means for connecting and holding the capsule endoscope 10, and the capsule endoscope 10 is connected to the distal end of the forceps pipe 153. An engagement holder 151 to which a four-bar rotation chain mechanism is applied is provided as a holding device. The engagement holder 151 includes four connection plates 158a, 158b, 158c, and 158d having the same width and length as main connection members. In each of the connection plates 158a to 158d, two adjacent plates are connected to each other by a pair of shafts 159a, 159b, 159c, and 159d in an annular shape. The shaft 159a is a fixed shaft fixed to a protruding piece 154 protruding from the tip of the forceps pipe 153. A shaft 159c opposed to the fixed shaft 159a is a distal end of a drive plate 155 as a rod-shaped member that is slidably housed in the forceps pipe 153 and protrudes from the distal end of the forceps pipe 153 so as to be movable in a protruding and retracting direction. And becomes a drive shaft (drive shaft). The shafts 159b and 159d facing each other between the shafts 159a and 159c become moving axes whose widths change narrowly in conjunction with the change in width of the spaces between the shafts 159a and 159c, and are engaged with the connecting plates 158a and 158d. Is composed.
[0020]
The drive plate 155 has an end in the forceps pipe 153 coupled to one end of a cable 157 slidably inserted in the forceps pipe 153. The other end of the cable 157 is connected to a handle 163 inserted from the outside end of the forceps pipe 153. An operation unit 161 is slidably mounted outside the body of the forceps pipe 153, and a tubular flange lever 165 is slidably connected to the operation unit 161 at an outer end of the forceps pipe 153 protruding from the operation unit 161. ing. The operation section 161 is fitted and held in the forceps insertion port 111b in a state where the forceps pipe 153 is inserted from the forceps insertion port 111b, and the engagement holder 151 projects from the forceps port 111a. That is, the length of the capsule connecting forceps 150 is set to match the length of the forceps insertion port 111b to the forceps port 111a.
[0021]
Further, the handle 163 and the operation unit 161 are connected so as not to move relative to each other, and the distance between the handle 163 and the flange lever 165 is increased between the operation unit 161 or the handle 163 and the flange lever 165, so that the forceps pipe 153 The spring is biased in a direction in which the drive plate 155 is pulled in. Therefore, the engagement holder 151 is always kept open (FIGS. 4 and 8). In this mounted state, when the flange lever 165 is inserted and removed with respect to the operation section 161, the forceps pipe 153 and the driving plate 155 move relatively, that is, the driving plate 155 moves from the forceps pipe 153 in the protruding and retracting direction. The connecting shaft 159c moves away from and approaching the connecting shaft 159a, whereby the distance between the connecting shafts 159b and 159d is reduced or expanded. When the user puts the thumb into the handle 163, sandwiches the flange lever 165 between the index finger and the middle finger, approaches the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger, and pulls the flange lever 165 toward the handle 163, the forceps pipe 153 is pulled in and the forceps pipe 153 is pulled in. The driving plate 155 is made to protrude from the pipe 153.
[0022]
When the driving plate 155 moves in a direction protruding from the distal end opening of the forceps pipe 153, the interval between the shafts 159a and 159c increases, and the interval between the shafts 159b and 159d decreases (FIGS. 5, 6, and 7). When the driving plate 155 moves in the direction of being drawn into the forceps pipe 153, the interval between the shafts 159a and 159c is reduced and the interval between the shafts 159b and 159d is increased (FIGS. 4 and 8). In this embodiment, since the driving plate 155 is spring-biased in the direction of being pulled into the forceps pipe 153, in a natural state, the driving plate 155 is pulled into the forceps pipe 153 by the urging force of the spring, and is engaged and held. The tool 151 is widened (diameter expanded) (FIGS. 4 and 8).
[0023]
This capsule endoscope connection mechanism is used as follows. The engagement holder 151 is inserted into the scope section 100 connected to the endoscope processor section 200 from the forceps insertion port 111b, and protrudes from the forceps port 111a. At this time, the flange lever 165 is pulled to bring the engagement holder 151 into a reduced diameter (reduced diameter, reduced width) state (FIGS. 5 and 7). Note that when the flange lever 165 is pulled by the operation unit 161, the flange lever 165 is locked so as not to move in a direction protruding from the operation unit 161 by the urging force of the spring. If a lock mechanism that moves the engagement holder 151 in the projecting direction by the urging force is provided, when the capsule endoscope 10 is mounted, once the flange lever 165 is pulled out, the hand can be released. Further, the biasing direction of the spring and the action of the lock mechanism are reversed, and the engagement holder 151 is constantly urged in the direction of projecting and reducing the diameter by the spring, and when the flange lever 165 is pulled out, the lock is locked by the lock mechanism. A configuration may be adopted in which the joint holder 151 is held in an expanded state.
[0024]
Next, the coupling engagement hole 12 of the capsule endoscope 10 is inserted into the engagement holder 151 in the reduced diameter state. Then, the force for holding the handle 163 in the inserted state in which the tip of the engagement holder 151 is in contact with the bottom of the coupling engagement hole 12 is released, and the engagement holder 151 is enlarged by the biasing force of the spring. (Diameter expansion, width expansion, expansion) (FIG. 8). That is, since the driving plate 155 moves in the direction of being pulled into the forceps pipe 153, the interval between the moving shafts 159b and 159d is widened, and the angle formed by the connecting plates 158a and 158d is greatly widened. The boundary step between the opening 12a and the widening hole 12b is pressed so as to press against the bottom, thereby preventing the opening 12a from falling out. Due to the diameter increasing operation of the engagement holder 151, the connecting plates 158a to 158d expand in the widening hole 12b, and have a diameter larger than that of the opening 12a. The capsule endoscope 10 is connected to and held at the distal end of the insertion portion of the scope 101 in a state in which rattling is prevented by the force of pressing the inner surface of the widening hole 12b by the plates 158a and 158d and the driving plate 155. Note that the coupling engagement hole 12 is formed outside the sealed capsule container 11, and the inside of the capsule maintains a sealed state.
[0025]
In this connected state, the CMOS image sensor 13 performs an imaging operation, and the signal transmission unit 17 wirelessly transmits a captured video signal, and the signal reception unit 53 of the capsule observation processor 50 receives the video signal, and outputs a capsule observation image. A predetermined process is performed by the processing circuit 55, and the image is displayed on the television monitor TV1. The user inserts the capsule endoscope 10 from the patient's mouth, operates the scope 101 while watching the image displayed on the screen of the television monitor TV1, and guides the capsule endoscope 10 to a target site.
[0026]
After guiding the capsule endoscope 10 to the target site, the user pulls the flange lever 165 to release the connection between the engagement holder 151 and the capsule endoscope 10. In other words, when the flange lever 165 is pulled, the driving plate 155 moves in the direction protruding from the forceps pipe 153, the connecting plates 158a to 158d are thinned and the interval between the shafts 159a and 159b is narrowed. The engagement holder 151 comes out of the widening hole 12b while pushing the capsule endoscope 10 by pushing the bottom of the widening hole 12b with the shaft connecting portion (the distal end portion of the driving plate 155). By this operation, the capsule endoscope 10 is left at the target site of the patient (FIG. 9). Thereafter, the capsule endoscope 10 is carried in the discharge direction by peristaltic movement of the intestine while transmitting the video signal captured by the CMOS image sensor 13 and is discharged.
[0027]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the capsule endoscope 10 can be easily and reliably connected to the engagement holder 151 of the capsule connection forceps 150, so that the capsule endoscope 10 is held at the distal end of the scope 101. It can be easily and reliably guided to the target site. In addition, once the capsule endoscope 10 is guided to the target site, the connection with the capsule endoscope 10 can be easily and reliably released simply by operating the handle 163 of the capsule connection forceps 150, and the capsule endoscope 10 can be left alone.
[0028]
In the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electronic scope, which is one of endoscopes. However, the present invention is not limited to an endoscope, and has an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end and has a body. Applicable to members that can be inserted into Such a member can be smaller in diameter than an endoscope.
[0029]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the engagement holder 151 is composed of four connecting plates 158a to 158d, the ends of the wide surfaces are overlapped, and the shafts 159a to 159d orthogonal to the wide surface constitute a thin four-joint rotary chain mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connecting plates 158a to 158d may be connected in an annular manner so as to form a thick four-bar rotating chain mechanism by an axis having wide surfaces facing each other and extending along the wide surface. May be used.
[0030]
The lengths (inter-axis distances) of the connecting plates 158a to 158d are the same in the illustrated embodiment, but the connecting plates 158a and 158d shown on the fixed shaft 159a are shorter than the connecting plates 158b and 158c. When formed, the degree of opening / closing (change rate of the included angle) of the connecting plates 158a and 158d becomes larger than the stroke of the driving plate 155.
[0031]
In the present invention, the engagement holder 151 of the illustrated embodiment is configured to apply the four-bar rotation chain mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the engagement holder 151 can be inserted into and removed from the engagement hole of the capsule endoscope. A configuration in which the diameter of the capsule endoscope can be connected and held by expanding the diameter, for example, a balloon-shaped configuration may be used.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the present invention allows the capsule endoscope to be removably connected to the other end of a member having an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end and inserted into the body. It is possible to guide the capsule endoscope to a target diseased part or its vicinity and leave it by using a member that can be inserted into the capsule endoscope.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic system configuration of a capsule endoscope to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an electronic endoscope system that holds and guides a capsule endoscope by a capsule endoscope holding mechanism to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a usage example in which the capsule endoscope holding mechanism to which the present invention is applied is applied to an electronic endoscope.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part of the embodiment of the capsule endoscope holding mechanism to which the present invention is applied in a natural state.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part of the embodiment of the capsule endoscope holding mechanism in a capsule endoscope released state.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the periphery of the holding mechanism of the capsule endoscope holding mechanism from another angle.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a state before the capsule endoscope is connected to the capsule endoscope holding mechanism.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the capsule endoscope is connected to the capsule endoscope holding mechanism.
FIG. 9 is a human body diagram showing a use state of the capsule endoscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 capsule endoscope 11 closed capsule container 12 connection engaging hole 12 a opening 12 b widening hole 13 CMOS image sensor 15 imaging device drive circuit 17 signal transmission unit 19 light source (LED)
21 Built-in power supply 50 Capsule observation processor 51 Processor cabinet 53 Signal receiving unit 55 Capsule observation image processing circuit 100 Scope unit 101 Scope 103 Operation unit 105 Connection cable unit 107 Electronic camera 109 Light guide 111a Forceps port 111b Forceps insertion port 113 Image sensor drive Signal line 150 Capsule connecting forceps 151 Engagement holder 153 Forceps pipe 155 Driving plate (bar-shaped member)
157 Cable 158a 158b 158c 158d Connection plate 159a Fixed shaft 159b Connection shaft 159c Drive shaft 159d Connection shaft 161 Operation unit 163 Handle 165 Flange lever (moving operation member)
200 Endoscope processor unit 201 Processor cabinet 203 System controller 205 Timing controller 209 Light source 211 Power supply unit TV1 TV monitor

Claims (7)

An engaging portion formed on the capsule of the capsule endoscope has an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end and protrudes from the other end of a member that can be inserted into the body. A capsule endoscope holding mechanism provided with an engagement mechanism for releasably engaging with the joint. A capsule endoscope holding mechanism for holding a capsule endoscope in which an opening is narrowed and an engagement hole extending toward the back holds a capsule endoscope formed in the capsule,
An expandable and contractable engagement mechanism is provided at a distal end of a member that can be inserted into the body and has an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end and that can protrude from the other end of the member. A capsule inserted into the engagement hole in a contracted state, expanded in the engagement hole and connected so as not to be able to be removed from the engagement hole, and reduced so as to be detachable from the engagement hole. Endoscope holding mechanism. The capsule endoscope holding mechanism is inserted into a member that can be inserted into a body having an elongated flexible portion that can be freely bent from one end, and is inserted into a flexible pipe that projects from the other end and into the pipe. A cable that is slidably inserted and driven by a moving operation member provided outside the body of the pipe, and an engagement mechanism that is attached to a distal end of the pipe and is driven to expand and contract by relative movement between the cable and the pipe. The capsule endoscope holding mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The capsule endoscope holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the member that can be inserted into a body having an elongated flexible portion that can freely bend from the one end is an endoscope. The engagement mechanism includes a fixed shaft attached to a distal end of the pipe, a drive shaft protruding from inside the pipe, and a drive shaft attached to a rod-shaped member that is driven by the cable in a direction in which the pipe protrudes and retracts. Each of the drive shafts includes a connecting member that forms a four-bar rotating chain in which both ends of a pair of connecting members connected by a moving shaft are connected to each other, and the rod-shaped member is moved in and out of the pipe so as to be opposed to each other. The capsule endoscope holding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the moving shaft moves toward and away in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the rod-shaped member. The engagement mechanism is configured such that, when the rod-shaped member is relatively moved in the submerged direction with respect to the pipe after being inserted into the engagement hole, the connection member connected across the fixed shaft is the opposed movement shaft. When the rod-shaped member relatively moves in the protruding direction with respect to the pipe in the connected state, the connecting member connected across the fixed shaft approaches the opposed moving shaft. 6. The capsule endoscope holding mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the rod-shaped member is closed in a direction in which the end of the rod-shaped member presses the bottom of the engagement hole to push the pipe away from the connection hole. The capsule endoscope holding mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the cable or the rod-shaped member is urged to move by a spring member in a direction in which the engagement member expands.

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