JP2005006720A - Curving part of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the curving part of an endoscope capable of suppressing a phenomenon that internal organs are hooked with rivets for connecting node rings and damaged without thicknening the curving part and therefore without increasing the pain applied to a patient receiving endoscopic examination. <P>SOLUTION: Only the final end node ring 11 on the side connected to an insertion part flexible tube 1 among a large number of node rings 11, 12, 13, etc. is made diametrically larger than the other node rings 12, 13, etc. and formed into a short cylindrical shape large enough to be externally fitted to the node ring 12 adjacent on the front side thereof to be superposed on the nodce ring 12 adjacent on the front side thereof without depressing the leading side part of the node ring 11. Then, the superposed parts of the node rings are connected in a freely ravolvable manner by a rivet 141. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bending portion of an endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The curved part of an endoscope is generally composed of a plurality of node rings formed in the shape of a short cylinder arranged on the same axis so that adjacent node rings are partially overlapped with each other, and the overlapped part is rotatably connected with a rivet. And it is connected with the front-end | tip part of an insertion part flexible tube so that it can be bent by remote operation (for example, patent document 1).
[0003]
A so-called built-in object such as a signal cable or optical fiber is inserted through the bending portion of the endoscope into the insertion portion flexible tube, and when the bending portion is bent, the curve of the bending portion is changed. The built-in object arranged on the outer peripheral side is drawn into the bending part from the insertion part flexible tube, and the built-in object arranged on the inner peripheral side is pushed out from the bending part into the insertion part flexible tube.
[0004]
Therefore, if the built-in object does not move in the axial direction in the vicinity of the connecting part between the bending part and the insertion tube flexible tube, the built-in object is damaged as the bending operation is repeated, and the life of the endoscope is shortened. It may shrink significantly.
[0005]
Therefore, in general, when the bending portion is bent by forming the inner diameter dimension of the bending portion bent with a much smaller radius of curvature than the insertion portion flexible tube slightly larger than the inner diameter size of the insertion portion flexible tube. The built-in objects are easy to move in the axial direction.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-142033 [0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the bending portion of the endoscope configured as described above, the head of the rivet that connects adjacent node rings protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the node ring that constitutes the bending portion. Even if the node ring is formed to have a sufficient inner diameter with respect to the built-in object, the built-in object may be caught by the head of the rivet and damaged.
[0008]
Such a phenomenon is likely to occur particularly near the rear end of the curved portion near the connecting portion with the insertion portion flexible tube, and such a problem can be solved if the diameter of the curved portion is significantly increased. There is, however, greater pain for patients undergoing endoscopy.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention suppresses a phenomenon in which a built-in object is caught and damaged by a rivet connecting a node ring without increasing the bending portion and therefore without increasing the pain given to a patient undergoing endoscopy. An object of the present invention is to provide a bending portion of an endoscope that can be used.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the bending portion of the endoscope of the present invention has a plurality of node rings formed in a short cylinder shape each having the same diameter arranged on the same axis, and the front side portion of each node ring is arranged. Insert part so that it can be bent by remote operation by partially recessing inward so that it overlaps with the rear part of the adjacent node ring, and connecting the overlapping part with a rivet. In the bending portion of the endoscope connected to the distal end portion of the flexible tube, only the last node ring on the side connected to the insertion portion flexible tube has a larger diameter than the other node rings among the plurality of node rings. It is formed in the shape of a short tube that fits outside the node ring adjacent to the front side, and the node ring at the end is overlapped with the node ring adjacent to the front side without denting the front side part. The overlapping parts are connected by a rivet so as to be rotatable.
[0011]
Note that the distal portion of the connecting tube for connecting the bending portion and the insertion portion flexible tube is fitted and fixed to the node ring at the end, and the node at the end is rotated by the rotation around the rivet. If the rear edge of the node ring adjacent to the front side of the ring is in contact with the front edge of the connecting tube, the bending portion operates very well.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the endoscope. A distal end body 2 incorporating an objective optical system and the like is coupled to the distal end of a bending portion 10 coupled to the distal end of the insertion section flexible tube 1. Yes.
[0013]
A bending operation lever 4 for bending the bending portion 10 by remote operation is disposed on the operation portion 3 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the bending operation lever 4 is rotated. As a result, the operation wire not shown in FIG. 5 is pulled, and the bending portion 10 can be bent at an arbitrary angle in the vertical direction.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged front sectional view showing the vicinity of the connecting portion between the insertion portion flexible tube 1 and the bending portion 10, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of that portion, and FIG. It is III sectional drawing.
[0015]
The insertion portion flexible tube 1 covers a mesh tube formed by braiding a stainless steel fine wire on the outer surface of a spiral tube formed by spirally winding a stainless steel strip with a constant diameter, for example. The outer surface is covered with a skin.
[0016]
The frame portion of the bending portion 10 includes a plurality of (for example, about 10 to 20) node rings 11, 12, 13,... Formed in a short cylinder shape on the same axis, and adjacent node rings 11, 12, 13,. The two overlapping portions are partially overlapped, and the overlapping portions are connected by rivets 141, 142, 143,.
[0017]
Of the nodes 11, 12, 13..., The nodes 12, 13... Other than the end are formed of a stainless steel pipe material having the same diameter, and only the node 11 at the end has a diameter larger than that of the other nodes. It is made of a stainless steel pipe material having a large diameter and fitted on the node ring 12 adjacent to the front side thereof.
[0018]
The overlapping portions of the node rings 11, 12, 13... Are short cylinders as shown in FIG. 4 which is shown by separating the three node rings 11, 12, 13 on the rear end side of the bending portion 10. Tongue pieces 11a, 12b, 12a, 13b, 13a,... Projecting in a direction parallel to the axis at positions 180.degree.
[0019]
Therefore, only one pair of tongue pieces 11a are formed on the front side of the node ring 11 at the end of the bending portion 10 adjacent to the distal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the other node rings 12, 13,. A pair of tongue pieces 12b, 12a, 13b, 13a... Are formed at both front and rear ends.
[0020]
And in the node rings 12, 13 ... other than the node ring 11 at the rearmost end, the rear tongue pieces 12b, 13b ... are flush with the short cylindrical portion of each node ring 12, 13 ... (i.e., material pipe material). The front tongue pieces 12a, 13a,... Are recessed inward with respect to the short cylindrical portion, and the tongue pieces 12a of the adjacent node rings 12, 13,. 13b, 13a are overlapped and connected to each other by rivets 142, 143,.
[0021]
Therefore, in the portion where the tongue pieces 12a, 13b, 13a,... Of the node rings 12, 13... Other than the node ring 11 at the rearmost end are overlapped, the one tongue piece 12a, 13a is recessed inward one step from the short cylindrical portion. , And the heads of the rivets 142, 143,.
[0022]
On the other hand, the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the end is formed on the same surface as the short cylindrical portion (that is, the diameter of the material pipe material fitted to the other node rings 12, 13,...) The tongue piece 11a is superimposed on the outer surface of the tongue piece 12b on the same surface as the short cylindrical portion of the adjacent node ring 12, and both the tongue pieces 11a and 12b are rotatably connected by the rivet 141 at the rear end.
[0023]
Therefore, at the portion where the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end and the tongue piece 12b of the node ring 12 adjacent to the front side thereof are overlapped, the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end is one step higher than the short cylindrical portion. The head of the rearmost rivet 141 protrudes outward and protrudes inward from the tongue 12b on the rear side of the second node ring 12 from the rear (same surface as the short cylindrical portion). .
[0024]
In this way, the portion where the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end and the tongue piece 12b of the node ring 12 adjacent to the front side thereof are overlapped is the node ring 12, 13,. The tongue pieces 12a, 13b, 13a ... are deviated outwardly compared to the overlapping portions of the overlapping pieces, and the amount of protrusion of the head of the rivet 141 at the end of the head into the curved portion 10 is other than that. It is smaller than the protruding amount of the rivets 142, 143.
[0025]
The outer surface of each node ring 11, 12, 13... Thus configured is covered with a mesh tube 15 formed by braiding a stainless steel fine wire, for example, and the outer surface is made of a rubber tube having elasticity. The outer skin 16 is covered.
[0026]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a connecting cylinder that connects the rearmost node ring 11 and the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the tip portion thereof is substantially the same diameter as the node rings 12, 13... Other than the rearmost node ring 11. And is inserted into the rearmost node ring 11 and fixed to the rearmost node ring 11 by soldering or the like. 11b is a hole for soldering.
[0027]
If the connecting tube 5 is configured to be simply inserted into the node ring 11 at the rearmost end, it will interfere with the tongue piece 12b of the second node ring 12 from the rear, so that interference with the tongue piece 12b is avoided. A notch 5a is formed in the front edge portion.
[0028]
The operation wire 17 having the distal end connected to the distal end portion of the bending portion 10 is loosely inserted into the guide coil 6 in the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the operation wire 17 is pulled from the operation portion 3 side. Each of the node rings 11, 12, 13... Is rotated by a connecting portion formed by the rivets 141, 142, 143, and the bending portion 10 is bent by an angle corresponding to the pulling amount of the operation wire 17.
[0029]
And in the part rotated around the rivet 141 at the rearmost end, the rear edge of the second node ring 12 from the rear and the front edge of the connecting cylinder 5 abut on the portion A shown in FIG.
[0030]
In part A, when the front edge of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end is brought into contact with the rear edge of the node ring 12 adjacent to the front side, the diameters of both node rings 11 and 12 are different. The leading edge of the node ring 11 may bite into the inside of the second node ring 12 and the bending portion 10 may malfunction, but the connecting cylinder 5 and the second node ring 12 are almost the same diameter. , It will come into contact with each other without any problems.
[0031]
Reference numeral 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a so-called built-in object such as a signal cable, an optical fiber, a tube, or the like inserted through the bending portion 10 to the insertion portion flexible tube 1. When the bending operation is performed, the built-in object 20 arranged on the outer peripheral side of the curve of the bending part 10 is drawn into the bending part 10 from the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the built-in object 20 arranged on the inner peripheral side is On the contrary, it is pushed out from the bending portion 10 into the insertion portion flexible tube 1.
[0032]
At that time, in the bending portion of the endoscope of the present embodiment, the amount of protrusion of the rivet 141 at the rear end of the bending portion 10 that is most likely to be damaged by the built-in object 20 is small. The built-in object 20 is not caught on the rivet 141, and even if the bending portion 10 is repeatedly bent, damage to the built-in object 20 is greatly suppressed.
[0033]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the bending portion 10 of the above-described embodiment is a so-called two-way bending portion that bends only in the vertical direction. It can also be applied to a directional curve.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, among the plurality of node rings, the node ring at the rear end on the side connected to the insertion portion flexible tube is formed into a short cylindrical shape having a size to be fitted around the node ring adjacent to the front side. The end node ring is overlapped with the adjacent node ring on the front side without denting the front side part, and the overlapping part is pivotally connected with a rivet without thickening the curved part. Therefore, without increasing the pain given to the patient undergoing endoscopy, the phenomenon that the built-in material is caught by the rivet connecting the node ring and damaged can be greatly suppressed, and the durability of the endoscope is improved. Contribute.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a vicinity of a connecting portion between an insertion portion flexible tube and a bending portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of a connecting portion between an insertion portion flexible tube and a bending portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1 of the bending portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing three node rings on the rear end side of the bending portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention in a separated state.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part flexible tube 10 Bending part 11 Node ring 11a of the last end
12, 13 Node ring 12a, 13a Tongue piece recessed inward (overlapping portion of the node ring)
12b, 13b A tongue piece on the same surface as the short cylindrical part (overlapping part of the node ring)
141 Last rivet 142,143 Rivet 20 Built-in

Claims (2)

A plurality of node rings, each formed in the shape of a short cylinder of the same diameter, are arranged on the same axis, and the front side part of each node ring is partially inward so that it overlaps the rear side part of the adjacent node ring. In the bending portion of the endoscope connected to the distal end portion of the insertion tube flexible tube so that the overlapping portion can be pivotally connected with a rivet and bent by remote operation,
Of the plurality of node rings, only the node ring at the rear end on the side connected to the insertion portion flexible tube is larger in diameter than the other node rings and short enough to be externally fitted to the adjacent node ring on the front side. Formed in a cylindrical shape, the node ring at the rearmost end overlapped with the node ring adjacent to the front side without recessing the front side part, and the overlapping part was connected rotatably with the rivet. A curved portion of an endoscope as a feature. The leading portion of the connecting tube for connecting the bending portion and the insertion portion flexible tube is fitted and fixed to the node ring at the rearmost end, and the last portion is rotated by the rotation around the rivet. The bending portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a rear edge of the node ring adjacent to the front side of the end node ring is in contact with a front edge of the connection tube.

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