JP2005111278A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve insertion property into the large intestine or the like by changing the outer diameter of a soft part to make it easy for an operator to operate. <P>SOLUTION: A first endoscope 1A has a small diameter part 10a provided on the endoscope tip part 8 side, and a large diameter part 10b provided on the hand side rather than the small diameter part 10a and larger in outer diameter than the small diameter part 10a. In a second endoscope 1B, the soft part 45 has almost the same outer diameter over the whole length. In a third endoscope 1C, the soft part 46 has almost the same outer diameter over the whole length and has the outer diameter smaller than that of the second endoscope 1B. The first endoscope 1A is formed so that the outer diameter of at least the large diameter part 10b is almost the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the soft part 45 of the second endoscope 1B and almost the same as or larger than the outer diameter of the soft part 46 of the third endoscope 1C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus capable of improving insertion into a large intestine or the like.

  Generally, a flexible portion having flexibility is provided in an insertion portion of an endoscope, and a distal end portion is continuous with a distal end of the flexible portion via a bending portion. An observation window, an illumination window, a treatment instrument insertion channel opening, and the like are provided on the distal end surface of the distal end.

  It is known that the soft part is easily bent flexibly by increasing the flexibility of the portion near the tip, while the insertability is improved by reducing the flexibility of the portion near the base end. .

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-190494, by gradually increasing the outer diameter of the soft portion from the distal end side to the proximal end side, the flexibility of the portion closer to the proximal end compared to the portion closer to the distal end side. A technique is disclosed in which the flexibility is reduced to ensure flexibility near the distal end, and the insertion property is improved.
JP 2001-190494 A

  However, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication only describes that the outer diameter of the soft part gradually increases from the distal end side to the proximal end side over the whole. For example, the insertion target is the large intestine. In some cases, there is no specific description of how the thickness of the outer diameter changes with respect to the large intestine, which is good for the operator's operability. There are limits to improvement.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an endoscope apparatus that can change the outer diameter of a soft part so that an operator can easily operate it, improve insertability into the large intestine, and obtain good insertability. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a flexible portion having a narrow diameter portion provided on the distal end side, a thick diameter portion provided closer to the proximal side than the small diameter portion and having a larger outer diameter than the small diameter portion. A first endoscope having a portion, a second endoscope having the same outer diameter as the first endoscope, and the same light source device or video processor as the first endoscope, and the flexible An endoscope apparatus comprising: a third endoscope having a substantially equal overall outer diameter and a smaller outer diameter than the second endoscope; and at least an outer portion of the first endoscope at the outer diameter The diameter is substantially the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the soft part of the second endoscope and is substantially the same or larger than the outer diameter of the soft part of the third endoscope. To do.

  In such a configuration, the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion provided in the flexible portion of the first endoscope is the same as the outer diameter of the second endoscope used in the same endoscope apparatus. If it is within the range of the outer diameter of the endoscope, the operator does not feel extreme discomfort when grasping the large-diameter portion, and the insertability into the large intestine is improved and good insertability is obtained. be able to.

  According to the present invention, the outer diameter of the soft part is changed so that it is easy for the operator to operate. Therefore, the insertion property into the large intestine and the like is improved, and good insertion property can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First form)
1 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the distal end side of the endoscope insertion portion.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 41 according to the present embodiment can be commonly connected to a plurality of endoscopes 1A, 1B, and 1C having different functions and the endoscopes 1A, 1B, and 1C. A light source device 42, a video processor 43, and a monitor 44.

  Each of the endoscopes 1A, 1B, and 1C is selectively connected to the light source device 42 and the video processor 43 by connecting the connector portion 5 provided at the distal end of the universal cord 4 extending from the operation portion thereof. use. In the figure, three types of endoscopes 1A, 1B, and 1C are shown, but four or more types of endoscopes may be provided.

  First, the configuration of the first endoscope 1A will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the first endoscope 1A is connected to an insertion portion 2 that incorporates a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD at the distal end, and a proximal end side of the insertion portion 2, and is held by an observer in various ways. And an universal cord 4 extending from the operation unit 3.

  A connector portion 5 is provided at an end portion of the universal cord 4, and a light guide connector 6, a camera connector 7, and the like that are connected to peripheral devices such as a light source device and a camera control unit are provided in the connector portion 5.

  The insertion portion 2 has a distal end portion 8, a bendable bending portion 9 and a flexible flexible portion 10 from the distal end side, and a proximal end of the flexible portion 10 is connected to the operation portion 3. Note that an observation window, an illumination window, a treatment instrument insertion channel opening, an air supply / water supply nozzle, and the like are disposed on the distal end surface of the distal end portion 8 in a predetermined manner.

  On the other hand, the operation unit 3 includes a bending operation lever 11 for remotely controlling the bending operation of the bending unit 9, a treatment instrument insertion port 12 for inserting a treatment instrument such as forceps, and a plurality of switches for performing freeze, release, etc. of the image. 13 etc. are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible portion 10 is provided on the distal end side and has a small diameter portion 10a having an outer diameter substantially the same over the entire length, and a small diameter portion 10a provided on the proximal side of the small diameter portion 10a. A thicker portion 10b having a larger outer diameter, and a tapered portion 10c that smoothly and continuously connects between the small-diameter portion 10a and the large-diameter portion 10b. In FIG. 3, the boundary between the small diameter portion 10a and the tapered portion 10c is indicated by an arrow A, and the boundary between the tapered portion 10c and the large diameter portion 10b is indicated by an arrow B.

  The length from the distal end surface of the distal end portion 8 which is the distal end of the insertion portion 2 to the position of the rear end of the small diameter portion 10a indicated by the arrow A is 30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm, or the like of the first endoscope 1A to be used. There are various types depending on the application, but there is usually no one that reaches 70 cm. Therefore, the rear end of the small-diameter portion 10a indicated by the arrow A is disposed forward of 70 cm from the distal end surface of the distal end portion 8.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a part of the internal structure of the flexible portion 10.
A flexible tube 20 that is an outer shell of the flexible portion 10 includes spiral tubes 21a and 21b, mesh tubes 22, and a sheath resin 24 that are wound in opposite directions from the inside. The spiral tubes 21a and 21b and the mesh tube 22 have substantially constant inner and outer diameters over the entire length, and the small diameter portion 10a and the large diameter portion 10b are connected by changing the thickness of the outer resin 24. A tapered portion 10c is formed. In this embodiment, the spiral tubes 21a and 21b are two layers, but the spiral tube may be one layer or three or more layers.

  As a method for forming the flexible tube 20, for example, there is a method in which the spiral tubes 21 a and 21 b and the mesh tube 22 that are assembled in a predetermined manner are used as cores, and the outer resin 24 is molded on the mesh tube 22 by extrusion molding. At this time, the thin-diameter portion 10a, the tapered portion 10c, and the large-diameter portion 10b are formed by changing the drawing speed of the core mold.

  That is, the narrow diameter portion 10a is formed by increasing the core mold drawing speed, and the large diameter portion 10b is formed by decreasing the core mold pulling speed. The taper portion 10c is formed by continuously changing the drawing speed to 10b or from the large diameter portion 10b to the small diameter portion 10a.

  However, since this molding method is performed using dies having the same inner diameter, it is difficult to accurately set the outer diameters of the portions 10a to 10c.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, by applying centerless polishing using a plurality of tapered polishing grindstones 23 to a rod-shaped flexible tube material 20 ′ manufactured with a single outer diameter, a small diameter is obtained. If the portion 10a and the tapered portion 10c are formed, the outer diameters of the portions 10a to 10c can be formed with high accuracy.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), first, a plurality of tapered grinding wheels 23 having a flexible tube material 20 ′ having the same outer diameter as that of the large diameter portion 10b are arranged on the circumference. Next, the flexible tube material 20 ′ is pressed relatively to the plurality of tapered polishing grindstones 23 as shown in FIG. The surface of the material 20 ′ is polished to a shape that follows the plurality of tapered polishing grindstones 23, and as shown in FIG. 5C, the small diameter portion 10a and the tapered portion 10c are formed at the tip of the flexible tube material 20 ′. Are formed in a predetermined manner.

  According to this centerless polishing, the small diameter portion 10a, the tapered portion 10c, and the large diameter portion 10b can be formed with high accuracy.

  Alternatively, the small diameter portion 10a, the tapered portion 10c, and the large diameter portion 10b can be formed with high accuracy by extrusion molding as shown in FIG.

  That is, in this molding method, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), first, the outer diameter of the entire length composed of the spiral tubes 21a and 21b, the mesh tube 22, and the first outer resin 24a is the same as that of the small diameter portion 10a. A flexible tube material 20 '' having a size is manufactured by extrusion, and then a tube body 25 such as a heat shrinkable tube is attached to a portion corresponding to the small diameter portion 10a as shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5C, the die is changed again to perform extrusion molding, and the tube body 25 and the outer circumference of the flexible tube material 20 ″ have the same outer diameter as the large diameter portion 10b. A second outer resin 24b is formed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4D, the tube body 25 is peeled off from the flexible tube material 20 ″ and removed, and a portion corresponding to the tapered portion 10c of the second outer resin 24b is indicated by a broken line. Further, by polishing with a polishing machine or the like, the flexible tube 20 having the small diameter portion 10a, the tapered portion 10c, and the large diameter portion 10b as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is formed.

  Next, the flexible tube 20 is heated, and the first outer resin 24a, the second outer resin 24b, and the mesh tube 22 are heat-welded, so that the respective members are brought into close contact with each other.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, in the next step, the index 26 may be printed on the surface of the flexible tube 20, and a thin film top coat 27 may be coated thereon. By coating the index 26 with the top coat 27, the boundary between the first outer resin 24a and the second outer resin 24b can be further smoothed.

  Further, in FIG. 7, the tapered portion 10 c is set so as to face between the indexes 26 that are provided at almost equal intervals over almost the entire length of the flexible portion 10. In this embodiment, the index 26 represents the distance from the distal end surface of the endoscope distal end 8, and “40” means 40 cm from the distal end surface, and “50” means 50 cm from the distal end surface.

  In this embodiment, the tapered portion 10c is formed at a position of about 43 to 48 cm from the tip surface. By providing the tapered portion 10c between the plurality of indicators 26 provided at equal intervals, it is not necessary to print the indicators 26 on the tapered portion 10c. Since printing on the taper portion 10c is complicated, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by omitting the printing.

  By the way, the thin diameter portion 10a has such a length that it can be bent by 180 ° or more as shown by a broken line in FIG. In this case, the minimum radius is a state where, when the small-diameter portion 10a is naturally curved, any one of the strips of the spiral tubes 21a and 21b shown in FIG. 4 abuts each other and cannot be further curved. Point to.

  On the other hand, the flexible portions 45 and 46 of the second and third endoscopes 1B and 1C have substantially the same outer diameter over the entire length. The soft part 45 of the second endoscope 1B has a relatively thick outer diameter, while the soft part 46 of the third endoscope 1C has a relatively thin outer diameter.

Here, the relationship between the endoscopes 1A, 1B, and 1C will be described.
The outer diameter of at least the large-diameter portion 10b provided in the flexible portion 10 of the first endoscope 1A is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible portion 45 of the second endoscope 1B (within ± 5%). Or less. Alternatively, the outer diameter of the flexible part 46 of the third endoscope 1C is substantially the same (within ± 5%) or more. That is, the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 10b is set within a range between the outer diameter of the flexible portion 45 of the second endoscope 1B and the outer diameter of the flexible portion 46 of the third endoscope 1C.

  In this case, the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 10a provided in the flexible portion 10 of the first endoscope 1A is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible portion 46 of the third endoscope 1C. You may set so that the outer diameter of the large diameter part 10b may be made substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible part 45 of the 2nd endoscope 1B.

Next, an operation for inserting the first endoscope 1A into the large intestine will be described.
FIG. 8 shows a state where the insertion portion 2 of the first endoscope 1A is inserted into the large intestine. The large intestine mainly consists of an anus 28, rectum 29, sigmoid colon 30, descending colon 31, splenic fold 32, transverse colon 33, liver fold 34, ascending colon 35, and cecum 36.

FIG. 8A shows a state in which the insertion portion 2 of the first endoscope 1A is inserted into the sigmoid colon 30. FIG.
In general, the sigmoid colon 30 is the most complicated winding in the large intestine, and is soft and has mobility. When the insertion portion 2 is inserted while being moved to conform to the shape of the sigmoid colon 30 to some extent, it is desirable that the distal end side of the flexible portion 10 be as soft as possible and be curved as small as possible. Therefore, when inserting into a complicated and winding site such as the sigmoid colon 30 or the like, the small diameter portion 10a is formed at the tip of the flexible portion 10 as in the first endoscope 1A shown in this embodiment. The insertion portion 2 can be smoothly guided even in a complicated and winding portion such as the sigmoid colon 30.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the distal end portion 8 of the insertion portion 2 passes through the descending colon 31 and enters the splenic curvature 32, if the insertion portion 2 is operated to be pulled once, it is soft, Moreover, the sigmoid colon 30 having mobility is folded and shortened, and is substantially straightened.

  In this way, the distal end portion 8 of the insertion portion 2 is advanced further than the splenic curvature 32 in a state where the sigmoid colon 30 is shortened and straightened. When the distal end portion 8 of the insertion portion 2 is advanced to the back, the entire insertion portion 2 moves in the traveling direction and the flexible portion 10 bends. Therefore, the shortened / straightened sigmoid colon 30 is again bent. Try to restore shape.

  Due to the restoring force of the sigmoid colon 30, the operation on the operator's hand side is hardly transmitted to the distal end portion 8 side, and the insertability of the insertion portion 2 is lowered. For this reason, in the state shown in FIG. 8B, the portion of the soft portion 10 that has entered the large intestine is relatively thick, and the harder one is less likely to bend, so it is easier to operate. Therefore, if at least a part of the taper portion 10c connecting the narrow diameter portion 10a provided on the distal end side of the soft portion 10 and the large diameter portion 10b provided on the proximal side penetrates into the large intestine, Since the outer diameter of the flexible portion 10 gradually increases, the operator's operation on the hand side performed near the anus 28, for example, is easily transmitted to the distal end portion 8 side of the insertion portion 2 and the operability is improved.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the endoscope distal end 8 enters the spleen curve 32 and the sigmoid colon 30 is shortened and straightened, the length from the anus 28 to the endoscope distal end 8 is the length. Is known to be about 40-45cm, such as “Total colonoscopy by one-person operation method-About the passage of the left and right colons-” (Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Vol.5 No.5 1993 pages 629-633) ing. Therefore, if at least a part of the tapered portion 10c is ahead of the position 45 cm from the distal end surface of the endoscope distal end portion 8, the operation on the hand side performed near the anus 28 is performed. It is possible to convey smoothly to the side.

  As shown in FIG. 8C, when the endoscope distal end 8 reaches the cecum 36, not only the sigmoid colon 30 but also the transverse colon 33 are shortened and straightened. As described above, when the insertion portion 2 is inserted from the anus 28 to the cecum 36 at the shortest distance, the flexible portion 10 in the anus 28 may be approximately 60 to 70 cm from the endoscope distal end portion 8. Is known.

  Therefore, the proximal side of the flexible portion 10 is made thicker, making it more difficult to bend, and making it possible to twist the required amount with less force, and the operator's such twisting operation is transmitted to the endoscope distal end portion 8 side. In order to make it easier, at least a part of the tapered portion 10c is not in front of 70 cm from the distal end portion 8 of the endoscope, and depending on the patient, the tapered portion 10c and the large diameter portion 10b hardly enter the large intestine. The expected effect will not be obtained.

  Therefore, by setting at least a part of the tapered portion 10c in front of the position 70 cm from the distal end surface of the endoscope distal end portion 8, in most patients, the endoscope distal end portion 8 is placed in the back of the large intestine. When invaded, the tapered portion 10c and the large diameter portion 10b can be invaded into the shortened sigmoid colon 30, so that the flexible portion 10 becomes more difficult to bend and returns to the original shape of the sigmoid colon 30. It is possible to prevent a restoring operation to be attempted. In addition, since the hand gripped by the surgeon is the tapered portion 10c or the large diameter portion 10b of the flexible portion 10, the twisting operation can be easily performed, and the twisting operation is easily transmitted to the endoscope distal end portion 8. .

  In this way, at least a part of the tapered portion 10c connecting the distal-side thin-diameter portion 10a and the proximal-side large-diameter portion 10b provided in the flexible portion 10 is 45 cm from the distal end surface of the endoscope distal end portion 8; Alternatively, the operability at the time of insertion of the endoscope can be improved by optimally setting the formation position of the tapered portion 10c, such as by setting it ahead of 70 cm.

  FIG. 8D shows a state where a part of the sigmoid colon 30 is bent at an acute angle. As shown in the figure, when the intestinal walls are bent at an acute angle to the extent that they contact (or adhere to) each other, the bending angle of the bent portion reaches about 180 ° at the maximum.

  In order to pass such a portion bent at the most acute angle through the endoscope distal end portion 8 and the bending portion 9 continuous thereto, the bending portion 9 can be bent by about 180 °, and the bending thereof can be performed. It is desirable that the small-diameter portion 10a, which is the distal end side of the flexible portion 10 provided continuously to the portion 9, is also curved as much as possible by receiving an external force up to 180 °.

  In this embodiment, when the small-diameter portion 10a is bent with a minimum radius, it has a length sufficient to bend 180 °, so that the most acute colonic bent portion can also pass through relatively easily. Can be made.

  In this case, since the tapered portion 10c and the large diameter portion 10b are harder than the small diameter portion 10a, if the small diameter portion 10a is too short, the flexible portion 10 cannot be bent up to 180 °, and the acute angle in the large intestine is sharp. It becomes difficult to pass the bent portion.

  Accordingly, by appropriately setting the axial length relationships of the small diameter portion 10a, the taper portion 10c, and the large diameter portion 10b, the sharpest bent portion can be passed relatively easily. Insertability of the insertion portion 2 is improved.

  By the way, in order to smoothly insert the insertion portion 2 of the first endoscope 1A into the large intestine, not only depends on the structure of the insertion portion 2 itself, but also the operator who operates it has less fatigue. It is also important.

  In general, when operating a large intestine endoscope (for example, the first endoscope 1A), the insertion part 2 is grasped with the right hand and the operation part 3 is grasped with the left hand, and the insertion, observation, and treatment are performed by the cooperative operation. I will do it. Although the right hand pushes and pulls and twists the insertion portion 2, generally, the softer portion 10 having a thicker outer diameter can perform necessary twisting operations with less force, particularly in twisting operations, and therefore less fatigue.

  On the other hand, each operator has an outer diameter of the soft part 10 that is familiar to him. When the outer diameter of the soft part 10 is thicker, the feeling of fatigue is less, so when operating the extremely thick soft part 10 that has not been handled so far, the sense of incongruity becomes stronger and leads to fatigue. .

  In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 10b of the first endoscope 1A is set to be the thickest outer diameter and the thinnest outer diameter of the flexible portions 45 and 46 of the other first and second endoscopes 1B and 1C. Since it is set within the range of the diameter, it is difficult for the surgeon to feel uncomfortable when operating the first endoscope 1A. In this case, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 10b of the first endoscope 1A is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible portion 45 of the second endoscope 1B, so No operations can be performed.

  In addition, when the tapered portion 10c and the large-diameter portion 10b provided on the flexible portion 10 of the first endoscope 1A have more than half of the total length (effective length) of the insertion portion, Most of them are the tapered portion 10c and the large-diameter portion 10b. Therefore, even if the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 10a is smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible portion 46 of the third endoscope 1C, at least the tapered portion. By setting the outer diameter of the soft part 45 of the second endoscope 1B and the outer diameter of the soft part 46 of the third endoscope 1C by setting the outer diameter of 10c and the large diameter part 10b, A sense of incongruity for the surgeon can be reduced.

  Of course, since the small-diameter portion 10a may be grasped at the initial stage of insertion or at the end of removal, the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 10a is also determined by the flexible portion 45 and the ascending colon 35 of the second endoscope 1B (see FIG. 8). If the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 10a is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible portion 46 of the third endoscope 1C, an operation without a sense of incongruity is achieved. Can be done.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above, it is possible to significantly reduce the sense of discomfort when the operator operates the insertion portion 2 of the first endoscope 1A.

(Second form)
FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the endoscope distal end portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, since the shape of an insertion part is the same structure as the insertion part 2 demonstrated in the 1st form, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this embodiment, the connecting portion outer skin connecting each part to at least one of the distal end portion 8 and the bending portion 9 of the insertion portion 2 and the narrow diameter portion 10 a provided on the distal end side of the bending portion 9 and the flexible portion 10. 48 and 49 are arranged. In the figure, a state in which both connecting portion outer skins 48 and 49 are disposed is shown. As the connection portion outer skins 48 and 49, various types such as a hard tubular portion, an adhesive, a soft heat shrinkable tube, and the like can be applied.

  In the endoscope according to this embodiment, the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 10b provided on the proximal side of the flexible portion 10 is substantially the same (± 5%) or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the connecting portion outer skins 48 and 49. Set to dimensions. For example, when the outer diameters of the connecting portion skins 48 and 49 are 12.8 mm, the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 10b is set to 12.8 mm, and the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 10a is set to 11.5 mm.

  Conventionally, in general, endoscopes are often set such that the outer diameters of the connecting portion skins 48 and 49 are larger than the outer diameter of the flexible portion 10. Therefore, in the process of inserting the endoscope into the large intestine, first, the subsequent soft part 10 passes through the large intestine region where the distal end 8 and the curved part 9 can pass through the lumen observed at the distal end 8. There will be no difficulty.

  However, if the outer diameter of the soft part 10 is clearly larger than the outer diameters of the large-diameter part 10b and the connecting part outer skins 48 and 49, even if the distal end part 8 and the curved part 9 can pass through a certain part of the large intestine. When the gap between the inner wall of the large intestine and the distal end portion 8 or the curved portion 9 is extremely narrow, the subsequent large diameter portion 10b may not pass or may not pass easily.

  For example, in FIG. 8A described above, there is a narrow portion in a part of the sigmoid colon 30, and the distal end portion 8 and the curved portion 9 can be passed, but it is difficult to pass the large diameter portion 10b. In that case, in the state of FIG. 8B, the insertion portion 2 cannot be smoothly advanced. At that time, the surgeon may not be able to appropriately determine the cause of difficulty in moving the insertion portion 2 forward, and may not be able to take appropriate countermeasures.

  In this respect, in the present embodiment, the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 10b is substantially the same as or less than that of the connecting portion outer skins 48 and 49, so that the portion through which the connecting portion outer skins 48 and 49 can pass also passes through the large diameter portion 10b. Therefore, when it becomes difficult to smoothly advance the insertion portion 2, it is known in advance that the cause is not the thickness of the large-diameter portion 10 b. What is necessary is just to cope with the cause estimation similar to the insertion part 2. FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, each part is provided at least between the distal end portion 8 and the bending portion 9 of the insertion portion 2 and between the bending portion 9 and the small diameter portion 10a provided on the distal end side of the flexible portion 10. Are connected, and the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 10b provided on the proximal side of the flexible portion 10 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the connecting portion outer skins 48, 49. Since it is set slightly smaller, insertion is not hindered due to the thickness of the large-diameter portion 10b when the insertion portion 2 is inserted, and good insertability can be obtained.

Schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment Same as above, configuration diagram of endoscope Same as above, enlarged view of the distal end side of the endoscope insertion part The principal part expanded sectional view which shows a part of internal structure of a soft part similarly Explanatory drawing which shows the formation process of the flexible tube which adheres to a soft part similarly Explanatory drawing which shows the formation process of the flexible tube which adheres to the soft part by the same aspect as the above Explanatory drawing of the state where the index is printed on the surface of the flexible tube Same as above, explanatory view showing insertion into the large intestine of the insertion part of the endoscope according to the state Enlarged view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A ... 1st endoscope, 1B ... 2nd endoscope, 1C ... 3rd endoscope, 2 ... Endoscope insertion part, 8 ... End-of-endoscope part, 10 ... Flexible part, 10a ... Small diameter portion, 10b ... large diameter portion, 10c ... taper portion, 41 ... endoscopic device, 42 ... light source device, 43 ... video processor, 44 ... monitor, 45, 46 ... soft portion
Agent Patent Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (3)

A first endoscope comprising a narrow-diameter portion provided on the distal end side and a soft portion provided on the proximal side of the thin-diameter portion and having a large-diameter portion having a larger outer diameter than the thin-diameter portion; ,
The same light source device or video processor as the first endoscope can be used, and the second endoscope having the same outer diameter as the entire length of the soft part and the second length having the same outer diameter as the second length of the soft part. In an endoscope apparatus comprising a third endoscope having an outer diameter thinner than that of an endoscope,
The outer diameter of at least the large-diameter portion of the first endoscope is substantially equal to or less than the outer diameter of the soft portion of the second endoscope, and the soft portion of the third endoscope An endoscope apparatus characterized by being substantially the same as or larger than the outer diameter. The inner diameter according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the small diameter portion of the first endoscope is substantially equal to or greater than an outer diameter of the flexible portion of the third endoscope. Endoscopic device. The outer diameter of the small diameter portion of the first endoscope is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible portion of the third endoscope, and the outer diameter of the large diameter portion of the first endoscope. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible portion of the second endoscope.

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