JP2005318982A - Endoscope, method of fitting thin-walled pipe to channel in endoscope and method of replacing channel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which has a structure of preventing scraping of a channel due to contact with a treatment implement on the premise of the reduction of the diameter of an insertion part and where an incorporated matter in the insertion part can be assembled with a minimum assembling margin, and to provide a method of fitting a thin-walled pipe to a channel constituting the endoscope and a method of replacing the channel. <P>SOLUTION: An endoscope main body K is provided with an insertion part 1 and an operation part 2. The insertion part consists of a tip constitution part 1A, a curved part 1B and a flexible tube part 1C. The channel 10 which the treatment implement such as forceps is put through is provided extending from the operation part to the tip constitution part of the insertion part. The thin-walled pipe 12 formed to have an inner diameter size equal to the inner diameter of the channel or larger than that is internally fitted to the channel positioned at the tip constitution part. An outer diameter size at the internally fitting part of the thin-walled pipe of the channel is set to be equal to the outer diameter of channel tube material 10a in a state when it is formed as the channel or smaller than that. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a channel for inserting forceps and the like, and more particularly to a channel structure, a method for attaching a thin pipe in a channel, and a method for replacing a channel.

Endoscopes frequently used in the medical field include inserting an insertion part formed at the distal end of the operation part into the body cavity from outside the body, observing and diagnosing the body cavity, or administering a drug solution directly into the body cavity, etc. A therapeutic treatment can be performed. In particular, there is a demand for a flexible endoscope in which the insertion portion has a portion that is connected to the distal end configuration portion as a bendable bending portion and a flexible flexible tube portion is excluded except the bending portion.
Moreover, in order to perform insertion smoothly, it is also an important specification that the outer diameter of an insertion part is as thin as possible. In recent years, endoscopes having an insertion portion with an outer diameter of 4 mm or less have been developed. The outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion is determined by the settings for the image guide, light guide, channel, and the like built therein. That is, the minimum outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion is the case where the image guide outer shape (or the outer shape necessary for CCD placement), the light guide outer shape, and the channel outer shape are each formed in a circle, and until the three circles touch each other. At the same time, the size of the circle surrounding these outsides is ideal.

However, in actuality, the thickness of each part, tolerance range, or allowance for assembly must be considered, and the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion section must be larger than the ideal minimum outer diameter. I do not get. In particular, it is necessary for the channel to secure the minimum necessary wall thickness in consideration of the resistance when the treatment tool is inserted from the functional aspect. In the conventional structure, in order to prevent scraping due to contact with the treatment instrument, a device is provided in which a metal member is provided at the distal end portion of the channel and connected to the distal end constituting portion.
Alternatively, as in the endoscope disclosed in [Patent Document 1], a channel is formed from a resin channel tube that is inserted through the insertion portion, and a metal protection pipe provided on the inner periphery of the distal end portion of the channel tube. Is configured. The channel tube, the protective pipe, and the front end surface of the front end portion body are aligned and abutted against the rear surface of the insulating cover so that the protective pipe and the front end portion main body do not come into contact with each other.
JP 2000-237127 A

However, when a metal member is provided at the distal end portion of the channel as in the above-described prior art, the hard portion at the distal end becomes long, so that the insertion property into the body cavity is sacrificed. And the channel tube raw material of the part which arrange | positions a metal pipe is expanded outside, and the outer diameter of an endoscope will expand as a result. There is also a problem of how to fix the inserted pipe, which is unsuitable for a small-diameter insertion portion having no dimensional allowance inside.
However, on the other hand, there is a problem of shaving due to the contact with the treatment tool. For this reason, in a small-diameter endoscope having an outer diameter of 4 mm or less, for example, a jaw-shaped protrusion is integrally provided on the distal end configuration portion, and the connection portion with the metal pipe is fixed in a channel tube material state. In some cases, the channel opening is prevented from being scraped by the treatment tool.
However, the channel tube assembly part of the tip component must be designed with a margin so that it can be assembled with allowance for the channel tube material dimensions and dimensional tolerances, for the purpose of further reducing the diameter. It is desirable to improve the margin. In the structure in which the jaw-shaped protrusions are integrally provided, when the channel is replaced due to breakage or the like, the protrusions interfere with each other, and the work of peeling the adhesive portion that fixes the channel cannot be performed. If the inside of the insertion portion is not disassembled until it is exposed, the fixing portion of the channel cannot be removed, and there is a problem in repairability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a structure for preventing abrasion due to contact with a treatment instrument in a channel, and to be built in the insertion portion, on the premise that the diameter of the insertion portion is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that enables assembling with a minimum assembling allowance of an object, a method for attaching a thin pipe to a channel constituting the endoscope, and a channel exchanging method.

In order to satisfy the above-described object, the endoscope of the present invention is as claimed in claim 1, wherein the endoscope main body includes an insertion portion and an operation portion, and the insertion portion is constituted by a distal end configuration portion, a bending portion, and a flexible tube portion, A channel through which a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted is provided from the operation unit to the distal end configuration portion of the insertion portion, and a thin pipe formed with an inner diameter dimension equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the channel is located at the distal end configuration portion. The outer diameter of the thin pipe in the channel is set to be the same as or less than the outer diameter of the channel tube material in a state before being formed as a channel.
As a second aspect, in the endoscope of the first aspect, the thin-walled pipe is provided with a thinned portion, and a part of the channel tube material is protruded from the thinned portion to be engaged with each other.
As a third aspect, in the endoscope of the second aspect, a plurality of lightening portions are provided, and the positions of the respective lightening portions are provided by selecting a range other than the bending direction of the insertion portion.

  In order to satisfy the above-mentioned object, the method of attaching the thin pipe to the channel in the endoscope of the present invention is as follows. In the first step, the cored bar is formed to have the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the channel tube material The channel tube material is pressed into the channel tube material, and the end of the channel tube material is heated in the second step and a jig formed into a taper shape is pressed into the channel tube material end. The end is expanded into a taper shape, and the heating action is continued while the taper-shaped jig is removed from the channel tube material in the third step and the thin pipe is fitted into the expanded end of the channel tube material. The die is pushed into the outer periphery of the channel tube material fitted with the thin pipe in the fourth step, and the outer peripheral surface of the channel tube material is pressed. The outer diameter of the thin pipe in the channel is set to the same or less than the outer diameter of the channel tube material, and after the die is embossed over the entire length of the thin pipe in the fifth step, the die is Pull out the channel tube material from the channel tube material, cut the channel tube material along the end face of the thin pipe, and pull out the core.

  In order to satisfy the above-mentioned object, the method of attaching the thin-walled pipe to the channel in the endoscope of the present invention is as described in claim 5, wherein the core metal is formed with the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the channel tube material in the first step. The end of the channel tube is pressed into the channel tube material, the end of the channel tube material is heated in the second step, and a taper-shaped jig is pressed into the channel tube material to end the channel tube material. In the third step, the taper jig is removed from the channel tube material in the third step, and the heating action is continued while fitting the thin pipe into the enlarged end of the channel tube material. Cut the outer circumference of the channel tube material fitted with the thin pipe in the process 4 and change the outer diameter of the thin pipe inside fitting part of the channel. Set below the outer diameter and the same dimensions or the same dimensions Ruchubu material, the combined channel tube material to the end face of the thin pipe withdrawing the cut core metal in the fifth step.

  In order to satisfy the above-mentioned object, the channel exchange method in the endoscope of the present invention is as claimed in claim 6 in which the tip fixing portion of the old channel to be exchanged is removed from the tip of the insertion portion in the first step, and The insertion portion is pressed from the endoscope main body at one end of the old channel, the other end is pushed out from the insertion portion end, and the root of the new channel is fitted into the old channel end pushed out in the third step. Pull out one end of the old channel and pull the new channel into the insertion part in step 5, apply adhesive to the outer peripheral surface of the end exposed from the insertion part of the new channel in the fifth step, and adjust the position of the new channel In the sixth step, the new channel is pulled into the insertion unit until the end of the new channel is flush with the tip of the insertion unit, and the old channel is removed from the new channel. In the seventh step, the insertion unit is connected to the operation unit. To complete the exchange of the new channel Te.

According to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, in the channel constituting the endoscope, a thin pipe is attached to the inner diameter of the end of the channel in order to obtain resistance when the treatment instrument is inserted. As a means for attaching a thin pipe, by arranging a thin pipe provided with one or more thinned portions, press-fitting the thin pipe while applying heat to the channel tube material, and applying pressure to the tube outer shape with a die, for example, The tube is thermally deformed to form a protrusion at the thinned portion of the thin pipe, and is fixed by a combination of the thinned portion and the protruding portion. Or you may cut the outer peripheral part of a channel tube raw material.
When the treatment tool is inserted through the insertion portion channel, the distal end of the treatment device hits in the bending direction of the insertion portion. Therefore, the position of the lightening portion provided on the thin pipe is provided so as to avoid the bending direction of the insertion portion. . The outer diameter of the tube in the range where the thin pipe is placed is processed to the same dimension as the dimension of the tube material or smaller. Also, in the assembly range of the tip component and channel, the outer diameter is reduced by precisely machining to the same size as the fitting dimension tolerance by precision machining, and there is a margin of the assembly hole with the tip component. Is made as small as possible to reduce the outer diameter of the tip component.

As a means for facilitating repair work for channel replacement, the use of the channel having the above structure makes it possible to eliminate the jaw-shaped protrusion that has been provided so that the treatment tool hits the distal end component first, and the channel is used for the endoscope. It is arranged so as to be aligned with the distal end surface and bonded and fixed so that the channel can be accessed from the distal end of the endoscope.
Thereby, even if it does not decompose | disassemble to the state which exposes the inside of an insertion part, the adhesion part of a channel and a front-end | tip structure part can be scraped off with a drill, a mill, etc., and a fixing | fixed part can be removed comparatively easily. After removing the fixed part, the old channel that has been installed can be pushed forward from the end face of the tip, and the rear end of the new channel tube material can be connected to the tip and the rear end of the old channel can be pulled out to replace the new channel. .

  The present invention prevents channel scraping due to hitting when inserting a treatment instrument into a channel constituting the insertion portion, and enables assembly to the tip component portion with a minimum assembling margin with other built-in objects. In addition, there is an effect that the diameter of the insertion portion can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view of an endoscope according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of an insertion portion 1 constituting the endoscope, and FIG. 3 is a method of attaching a thin pipe 12 to the distal end constituting portion 1A. It is explanatory drawing shown in order.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope body K is formed in a long shape along the longitudinal axis. The distal end side of the endoscope body K is composed of a flexible insertion portion 1 that can be inserted into the lumen of a subject, and an operation portion 2 is integrally connected to the proximal side of the insertion portion 1.
The operation unit 2 includes an eyepiece 3 on the most end side, and an operation lever 4 is rotatably supported at a position adjacent to the eyepiece 3 with a support shaft d as a fulcrum. An air / water supply valve 5 is provided at a position close to the operation lever 4, and a channel cap 6 is provided at the distal end side away from the air / water supply valve 5. In addition, a light guide cable 7a is connected to a portion of the operation unit 2 in the vicinity of the operation lever 4, and a connector 7 for connecting to a light source device (not shown) is provided at the tip of the light guide cable 7a.

The insertion portion 1 includes a distal end configuration portion 1A that constitutes the distal end, and a bending portion 1B and a flexible tube portion 1C that are integrally connected to the distal end configuration portion 1A. The distal end constituting portion 1A is a straight rigid body, as will be described later, and the bending portion 1B is bent and deformed in a predetermined direction by operating a bending drive mechanism (not shown) by operating the operation lever 4 of the operation portion 2. It is like that. The flexible tube portion 1 </ b> C is a portion that exhibits flexibility by applying an external force of a certain level or more, and has flexibility, and can be freely deformed following the shape of the inserted lumen.
As shown in FIG. 2, an image guide fiber 9 that transmits an image, a light guide fiber (not shown) that transmits illumination light via the light guide cable 7a, forceps, and the like are inserted into the distal end configuration portion 1A. For this purpose, a channel 10 is accommodated, and these are extended to the operation unit 2. A lens group 11 of the objective optical system is disposed at the tip of the image guide fiber 9.

A thin-walled pipe 12 made of a rigid body is attached to the tip of the channel 10 by a method described later. The distal end edge of the thin pipe 12 is formed with the same position as the distal end surface a of the distal end configuration portion 1A.
In particular, as shown only in FIGS. 3C and 3D, a plurality of (in this case, two) thinned portions 13 are provided in the circumferential direction in order to securely fix the thin pipe 12 to the channel 10. Is provided. The thinned portion 13 of the thin-walled pipe 12 is arranged avoiding the direction in which the insertion portion 1 is bent so that the treatment tool is not caught when the treatment tool is inserted into the channel 10.

Next, a method for attaching the thin pipe 12 in the channel 10 of the endoscope main body K configured as described above will be described.
FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams sequentially illustrating a method of attaching the thin pipe 12 in the channel 10.
First, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), a channel tube material 10a that becomes a channel 10 in a molded state is prepared, and a core metal formed to have the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the channel tube material 10a. G, a jig Za formed into a tapered shape, a heating element N, and a holding jig Zb are prepared.

As a first step, the cored bar G is inserted (press-fit) from the end of the channel tube material 10a, and both side ends of the cored bar G are projected from the channel tube material 10a. This can prevent the channel tube material 10a from being carelessly crushed.
Next, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), as the second step, the tip of the core bar G is once retracted from the tip of the channel tube material 10a and immersed, and instead the tip of the channel tube material 10a. While the part is heated using a heating body N such as a dryer, a jig Za formed in a tapered shape is press-fitted.

The end portion of the channel tube material 10a is softened by the heating action of the heating element N, and the end portion of the channel tube material 10a is expanded into a taper shape by press-fitting the jig Za therein. The press-fitting depth of the jig Za into the channel tube material 10a may be about 10 mm from the end surface, and the tip (rear end side) beyond this is contracted by heat shrinkage.
After the channel tube material 10a is sufficiently enlarged, the tapered jig 11 is removed from the tip of the channel tube material 10a as a third step. And as shown in FIG.3 (C), the thin pipe 12 is engage | inserted in the front-end | tip part by which the expansion molding of the channel tube raw material 10a was carried out. At this time, the work is performed on the channel tube material 10a after the holding jig Zb is fitted into the end of the thin pipe 12, so that the substantial total length of the thin pipe 12 becomes long and the work is easy to grip.

The heating operation for the tip of the channel tube material 10a is continuously performed to make the end flexible. Since the end portion of the channel tube material 10a is already formed in a tapered shape by the jig Za, the thin pipe 12 can be smoothly fitted without any trouble. Even if the entire length of the thin pipe 12 is inserted into the tip of the channel tube material 10a, the thin pipe 12 is still inserted.
When the rear end of the thin-walled pipe 12 is positioned at a sufficient distance (about 10 mm) from the leading edge of the channel tube material 10a, the insertion of the thin-walled pipe 12 and the heating action by the heating element N are stopped.

As a fourth step, the pushing jig Zb is removed from the thin pipe 12, and the tip of the channel tube material 10a protruding from the thin pipe 12 is forcibly pulled while the channel tube material 10a is flexible due to the residual heat due to the heating action. Then, as shown in FIG. The cored bar G is moved in the distal direction and inserted into the thin pipe 12, and the leading end of the cored bar G is projected from the thin pipe 12.
Furthermore, the thin pipe 12 fitting portion of the channel tube material 10a is heated again while the cored bar 10 is fitted in the thin pipe 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, a separately prepared die 15 is pushed into the outer periphery of the channel tube material 10a and embossed. The die 15 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and its inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the thin pipe 12 and smaller than the outer diameter of the channel tube material 10a. At this time, the tapered tip portion of the channel tube material 10 a serves as a guide for the die 13.

By moving and energizing the die 15 toward the rear end side of the channel tube material 10a in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, the outer peripheral surface of the channel tube material 10a is pressed and squeezed to be in an extended state. As a result, a part of the channel tube material 10 a is pushed into the thinned portion 13 provided in the thin-walled pipe 12 and becomes a protrusion 16. Therefore, the thinned portion 13 and the protrusion 16 are engaged with each other, and the anchoring effect is surely fixed.
When the tip of the die 15 in the moving direction moves to a position beyond the rear end of the thin pipe 12, as a fifth step, the die 15 is retracted and pulled out of the channel tube material 10a. And the tip part is cut from the thin pipe 12 which is the tapered shape of the channel tube material 10a. At this time, the cut position of the channel tube material 10a is accurately determined in accordance with the end surface of the thin pipe 12. After the cutting, the cored bar G is pulled out from the channel tube material 10a and the thin-walled pipe 12.

  By adopting the above attachment method, the attachment structure of the thin pipe 12 to the channel 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is obtained again. Here, a PTFE material is used as the channel tube material 10a, and has an inner diameter φ1.2 mm, an outer diameter φ1.5 mm (+0.03 mm / −0.02 mm), a nominal dimension, and a thickness t of 0.15 mm. Then, a thin pipe 12 having an inner diameter of φ1.2 mm and a thickness of t0.05 mm or less is press-fitted into the distal end of the channel tube material 10 a, and then the outer diameter of the channel tube material 10 a is φ1.4 mm (0 / −0.05 mm) with a die 15. ). Due to the presence of the thin pipe 12, even when the combination is made at the upper limit of the component tolerance, the dimension is equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the channel 10.

  For example, when the channel tube material 10a is assembled as it is, the diameter of the hole of the tip constituting portion 1A is a material size although the size is restricted, so that the margin is about φ1.6 mm (see FIG. 2). It must be the dimension of the channel diameter Da). However, with this structure, it is possible to reliably guarantee the dimension of the channel tube material 10a in the assembly portion, and the hole diameter of the tip configuration portion 1A is φ1.4 mm (+0.03 mm / 0) (the assembly channel in FIG. 2). The diameter Db) can be set. That is, it contributes to the reduction in diameter of 0.2 mm (margin Y), and the outer diameter of the tip component 1A can be reduced by the margin (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2).

In the present technology, the channel tube material 10a can be formed with a thickness of t0.1 mm if a thickness of the channel tube material 10a is allowed after adopting a PTFE material. If the material is used, the bending force in the bending portion 1B cannot be withstood and may be damaged.
If the thickness is simply reduced, a new material such as PEEK or polyimide can be used. However, if the thickness is reduced as described above, the bending force in the bending portion 1B cannot be withstood. Therefore, in the present invention, the thickness of the channel tube material 10a remains in the portion that needs to be bent. Then, a thin-walled pipe 12 made of a rigid body is press-fitted into the inner diameter of the channel 10 in order to prevent scraping due to hitting when the treatment tool is inserted into the channel 10. Further, in order to suppress the expansion of the outer diameter of the channel 10 due to the press fitting of the thin pipe 12, the outer diameter of the channel 10 is reduced using a die 15 after the thin pipe 12 is press fitted.

In the process of reducing the outer diameter of the channel 10, the channel tube material 10 a is heated and thermally deformed, and then the channel tube material 10 a is pushed into the thinned portion 13 provided in the thin pipe 12 to create the protrusion 16. Therefore, the lightening portion 13 and the protrusion 16 are engaged with each other, and an anchor effect is obtained and fixed securely. For example, there is no need to fix the thin tube using an adhesive or the like.
In this way, not only the thickness of the channel tube material 10a is reduced, but also the strength is increased by inserting the thin pipe 12. When processing a thin wall, it is possible to drive down to a machining tolerance in a minus range, thereby narrowing a hole tolerance to be assembled to the tip structure portion 1A.

As a process of reducing the outer diameter of the channel tube material 10a, thermal deformation by heating action and die 15 drawing are carried out. However, the thin pipe 12 is fitted into the channel tube material 10a to increase the strength. Since it is the purpose, it is possible to process to the same dimension by cutting such as a lathe instead of the die 15 in the fourth step described above.
Note that the structure of the present invention is not provided with a jaw-shaped protrusion on the distal end configuration portion as in the prior art, but a thin pipe 12 is fitted into the distal end of the channel 10, and the ends of the distal end configuration portion 1 </ b> A are the distal ends of the distal end configuration portion It is set as the structure arrange | positioned according to a. Therefore, when the channel 10 is exchanged as necessary, the following method is used.

4 (A) and 4 (B) are explanatory diagrams showing channel exchange work in order, and FIG. 4 (C) is a diagram explaining channel exchange work in the order of steps.
As a first step S1, as shown in FIG. 4A, a cutting tool 20 such as a drill or a mill is applied from the distal end of the insertion portion 1 to the distal end fixing portion of the channel 10, and the bonding portion between the channel 10 and the exciting portion is set. Remove the tip fixing part of the channel 10 by scraping. As the second step S2, the insertion portion 1 is removed from the endoscope body K, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the rear end portion of the channel 10 (hereinafter referred to as the old channel) 10 that has been used so far is used. The tip is pushed out and pushed out from the tip of the insertion portion 1.
As a third step S3, the root of the new channel 10A is fitted into the tip of the old channel 10 that has been pushed out. The thin pipe 12 is already attached to the tip of the new channel 10A, and the end to which the thin pipe 12 is not attached is fitted into the extruded old channel 10. As a fourth step S <b> 4, the rear end portion of the old channel 10 is pulled out from the insertion portion 1, and the new channel 10 </ b> A is pulled into the insertion portion 1. However, not all of the new channels 10A are drawn into the insertion portion 1, but only the tip portion of the channel to which the thin pipe 12 is attached is exposed from the insertion portion 1.

As 5th process S5, an adhesive agent is apply | coated to the front-end | tip part outer peripheral surface of the new channel 10A exposed from the insertion part 1. FIG. The position of the thinned portion 13 of the thin tube 12 at the tip of the new channel 10A is adjusted so as to avoid the bending direction range of the bending portion 1B. In a sixth step S6, the new channel 10A is pulled into the insertion section 1 until the distal end of the new channel 10A is flush with the distal end surface a of the insertion section 1, and then the old channel 10 is removed from the new channel 10A. As the seventh step S <b> 7, the insertion unit 1 is connected to the operation unit 2. In this way, the old channel 10 can be replaced with the new channel 10A.
In the above embodiment, the thinned pipe 12 is provided with the thinned portion 13 to obtain the anchor effect for the channel tube material 10a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the thin-walled pipe 12 may have a straight shape with no step from the tip, a tapered shape with a wide tip, or a counterbore shape. The channel 10 may also have a straight shape with no protrusions on the outer periphery, or a tubular shape with a large tip or a stepped shape, and a structure in which the channel 10 is inserted and assembled from the tip.

By the way, a lens for light distribution is arranged at the tip of the light guide. However, since light diffuses in the lens, there is light that is lost. In addition, there is light that is lost due to diffusion between the tip of the light guide and the lens. In this way, the adhesive that fixes the lens may be burned by the light diffusing to the side surface of the lens, and some necessary measures must be taken. In the present invention, the following improvements are added.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the light guide portion 30 at the distal end of the insertion portion 1.
The light guide fiber 31 constituting the light guide part 30 is extended to the vicinity of the distal end surface a of the insertion part 1. The lens 32 is disposed at a position substantially in close contact with the tip surface of the light guide fiber 31.

Here, the side peripheral surface of the lens 32 is covered with a metallized film 33 having a characteristic of reflecting light. Further, the lens 32 has a tapered shape that widens in the light exit direction, and the space between the light guide portion 30 and the lens 32 also has a tapered shape that widens in the light exit direction. .
Due to the presence of the metallized film 33, loss of light emitted from the tip of the light guide fiber 31 through the lens 32 can be suppressed, and almost all light is emitted from the tip of the light guide portion 30. Therefore, the adhesive applied to fix the side surface of the lens 32 to the insertion portion 1 is securely prevented from being burned.

In the endoscope of the conventional structure, the filling area for the built-in object such as the channel is reduced in a part of the insertion part (such as the tsugikan part and the curved first frame part), and the interference of the built-in object is biased to a part and becomes extremely high. Have a problem. In the present invention, this point is improved.
6A is a partial perspective view of the outer tube 40 of the image guide and the light guide, FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6A, and FIG. Sectional drawing in alignment with a line, (D) is sectional drawing which shows the modification from which the envelope tube 40 mutually differs.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the outer tube 40 of the image guide and the light guide arranged in the insertion portion 1 has a circular section 40a in the most cross-sectional shape and an elliptical shape in a part of the cross-sectional shape. It is comprised from the large diameter part 40b.
As shown in FIG. 6 (B), a circular cross-section channel 10 and a circular cross-sectional image / light guide outer tube 40a are accommodated in an insertion section 1Z having a circular cross section, and a bending wire 41 is inserted. Is done. This portion has a relatively large margin for filling the built-in objects such as the channel 10 in the insertion portion 1, and the built-in materials do not slide in contact with each other when the insertion portion 1 is inserted into the lumen.

As shown in FIG. 6 (C), a circular cross-section channel 10 and a large-diameter image / light guide outer tube 40b having a cross-sectional ellipse shape are accommodated in the insertion cross-section 1Z having a circular cross section. The bending wire 41 is inserted. This portion has a small margin for filling a built-in object such as the channel 10 in the insertion portion 1, for example, a portion corresponding to the first bending piece or a portion corresponding to the connecting pipe portion.
That is, the large diameter portion 40b is formed by inflating the image guide / light guide outer tube in a portion where the filling rate of the built-in objects such as the channel 10 in the insertion portion 1 is high. This eliminates the mutual interference between the channel 10 in the insertion portion 1 and the built-in object composed of the image / light guide outer tube 40b and the like while the insertion portion 1 is inserted into the lumen. Can be prevented from being biased to a part of the insertion portion 1 and becoming extremely high, and the built-in objects do not slide against each other.

Note that the cross-sectional shape of the large-diameter portion 40b in the outer tube of the image / light guide may be a simple elliptical shape 40b, a deformed elliptical shape 40b1, or a deformed circular or flat shape 40b2, as shown in FIG. Various are conceivable.
Further, in a conventional endoscope, when the forceps or laser probe is inserted into the channel after the insertion portion is bent, the tip of the forceps or laser probe comes into contact with the curved portion of the insertion portion. There is a problem that the channel is scraped and a hole is made by the impact of. In the present invention, this point is improved.

FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view of the channel 10, and FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the insertion portion 1 including the channel 10.
That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, on the up side and the down side along the curve direction of the channel 10, for example, a hard and excellent wear-resistant resin material such as PEEK or polyimide material, or a hardness of SUS thin plate or the like. Reinforcing pieces 50a and 50b made of a high metal material are integrally attached. These reinforcing piece portions 50a and 50b are provided at different portions, and a position to be a bending point at the up point and the down point in a state where the insertion portion 1 is curved is selected.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the treatment tool W such as forceps or a laser probe is inserted into the curved channel 10 in a state where the insertion portion 1 is inserted into the lumen and the tip is bent. Then, from the setting of the positions of the reinforcing piece portions 50a and 50b, the distal end of the treatment instrument W reliably comes into contact with either one of the reinforcing piece portions 50a and 50. For example, when the distal end of the insertion portion 1 goes down, the distal end of the treatment instrument W comes into contact with the reinforcing piece portion 50a on the front side as shown in FIG. When the deformation is such that the distal end of the insertion portion 1 is raised, the distal end of the treatment instrument W comes into contact with the reinforcing piece portion 50b on the rear side. Therefore, even if the treatment tool W such as a forceps or a laser probe is inserted into the curved channel, the channel 10 is not broken.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the channel 10 configured for the same purpose.
For example, there is a tube made of a synthetic resin material and the blade is integrally molded, and it may be applied to the channel. However, if bending is applied, the tube will break at the boundary between the blade and endurance. There is no sex.
Therefore, in the present invention, the inner wall is provided with a coil 60 having a thickness of t0.12 mm, limited to a range corresponding to the bending point of the channel 10 in a curved state, and the outer side of the coil 60 is a silicon tube having a thickness of t0.02 mm. It consists of a thin-walled tube with a two-layer structure of E.
With such a configuration, since the portion where the treatment tool such as a forceps or a laser probe hits first is reinforced, the silicon tube E extends in the bent state of the channel 10 so that no tearing occurs. . Further, if the two-layer structure is formed over the entire length of the channel 10, not only the resistance is improved but also the watertight effect by the silicon tube E can be obtained.

As described above with reference to FIG. 7, the structure for reinforcing the up side and the down side along the bending direction of the channel 10 may be described below.
FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the channel 10 constituted by a connecting body of a plurality of bending pieces m, and FIGS. 9B and 9C are cross-sectional views of the channel 10 in a state of being bent in different directions.
As described above, the bending portion 1B constituting the insertion portion 1 is formed by rotatably connecting a plurality of bending pieces m to each other via the pin p, and this and the channel 10 have substantially the same configuration. And However, among the plurality of bending pieces m constituting the channel 10, a predetermined number of adjacent bending pieces ma and mb from the front end are integrally connected at one side (upper side in the figure) and shifted by one piece. The other side portions (lower side in the figure) of the bending pieces mb and mc at the positions are connected together.
Thus, when a treatment instrument such as a forceps or a laser probe is inserted even when the distal end portion of the channel 10 is bent in either the up or down direction, the distal end of the treatment instrument is connected to the connecting bending pieces ma-mb, mb- It hits either one of mc and makes sure reinforcement. In other words, by restricting the arrangement of the bending pieces m, the bending points are different at the up side and the down side during bending.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Next, other characteristic technical matters of the present application are added as follows.
Record
(Additional item 1)
In an endoscope having a channel, with respect to the distal end constituting portion and the fixed portion of the channel, a thin pipe having an inner diameter equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the channel is disposed in the channel, or a range where the thin pipe is disposed, or An endoscope configured with a channel in which the outer diameter of the range used for fixing the channel is the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the tube material of the channel.
(Appendix 2)
With regard to the channel in Additional Item 1, a thin pipe having the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tube or an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the tube is press-fitted while applying heat to the distal end portion of the tube to be the channel, and further the press-fitted range or the tube is fixed. Endoscope channel manufacturing method in which the outer diameter of the tube is stamped with a die while being used in the process, and processed to the same or less than the outer diameter of the tube material.
(Appendix 3)
With regard to the channel in Additional Item 1, a thin pipe having the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tube or an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the tube is press-fitted while applying heat to the distal end portion of the tube to be the channel, and further the press-fitted range or the tube is fixed. Endoscope channel manufacturing method in which the tube outer diameter is cut to the same or less than the outer diameter of the material by cutting in the range used at the time.

(Appendix 4)
In Additional Items 2 and 3, at least one thinned shape is provided in the thin pipe disposed at the tip of the tube serving as the channel, the thin pipe is press-fitted while heating the tube, and pressure is further applied to the outer diameter of the tube. Thus, a channel structure for an endoscope, characterized in that a convex portion is formed in the thinned portion of the thin pipe by thermal deformation of the tube, and the thinned portion and the convex portion are combined.
(Appendix 5)
Item 5. The endoscope according to item 4, wherein one or more positions of the hollow shape provided on the thin pipe disposed at the distal end portion of the tube serving as the channel are provided in a range other than the bending direction of the endoscope. Channel structure.
(Appendix 6)
In the endoscope according to appendix 1, the channel fixing portion is scraped off from the distal end portion of the endoscope with a drill, a mill, etc., and the channel that has been installed in a state where the fixing portion has been removed is pushed out from the rear side toward the distal end. A method for replacing a channel tube of an endoscope, characterized in that the rear end of a tube of a new channel is connected, and the rear end of the installed channel is pulled to replace the channel with a new channel.

1 is an external perspective view of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the endoscope insertion part front-end | tip based on the embodiment. The figure which shows the manufacturing method which attaches a thin pipe to a channel based on the embodiment in order. The figure which shows the exchange method of the channel based on the embodiment in order, and the figure demonstrated in order of a process. Sectional drawing of the light guide part based on the embodiment. The perspective view of the jacket tube of an image guide and a light guide based on the embodiment, Sectional drawing of the different part of an endoscope, and mutually different sectional drawing of the jacket tube of an image guide and a light guide. The perspective view and sectional drawing of the curved part of a channel based on the embodiment. Sectional drawing of the curved part of a channel which shows a modification. Furthermore, the block diagram of the curved part of a channel which shows the modification, and sectional drawing of a mutually different bending direction.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Insertion part, 2 ... Operation part, K ... Endoscope main body, 1A ... Tip structure part, 1B ... Bending part, 1C ... Flexible pipe part, 10 ... Channel, 12 ... Thin-walled pipe, 10a ... Channel tube material, 13 ... Meat removal part.

Claims (6)

An endoscope body including an insertion portion and an operation portion;
A distal end constituting portion, a bending portion and a flexible tube portion constituting the insertion portion;
A channel that is provided from the operation portion to the distal end configuration portion of the insertion portion and through which a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted;
A thin pipe that is internally fitted in a channel located in the tip component, and is formed to have the same dimension as the inner diameter of the channel, or an inner diameter dimension equal to or greater than the same dimension;
An endoscope characterized in that an outer diameter dimension of the channel at a thin pipe inner fitting portion is set to be equal to or less than an outer diameter of a channel tube material in a state before being formed as a channel.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the thin-walled pipe includes a lightening portion, and a part of the channel tube material protrudes from the lightening portion and is engaged with each other.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the lightening portions are provided, and the position of each lightening portion is provided by selecting a range other than the bending direction of the insertion portion. A first step of press-fitting a metal core formed to have the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the channel tube material, leaving an end portion in the channel tube material;
A second step of heating the end portion of the channel tube material and press-fitting a jig formed into a taper shape into the end portion of the channel tube material to enlarge the end portion of the channel tube material into a taper shape;
A third step of removing the taper-shaped jig from the channel tube material and replacing the thin pipe with the enlarged end of the channel tube material and continuing the heating action;
The die is pushed into the outer periphery of the channel tube material fitted with the thin-walled pipe, and the outer peripheral surface of the channel tube material is pressed and extended so that the outer diameter of the channel-fitted thin tube is the same as the outer diameter of the channel tube material. A fourth step of setting the dimension or less than the same dimension;
After pressing the die over the entire length of the thin pipe, the die is retracted and pulled out from the channel tube material, and the channel tube material is cut to fit the end face of the thin wall pipe and the core is pulled out. A method for attaching a thin pipe to a channel in an endoscope. A first step of press-fitting a metal core formed to have the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the channel tube material, leaving the inner end of the channel tube material;
A second step of heating the end portion of the channel tube material and press-fitting a jig formed into a taper shape into the end portion of the channel tube material to enlarge the end portion of the channel tube material into a taper shape;
A third step of removing the taper-shaped jig from the channel tube material and replacing the thin pipe with the enlarged end of the channel tube material and continuing the heating action;
Fourth step of cutting the outer periphery of the channel tube material fitted with the thin-walled pipe and setting the outer diameter dimension of the thin-walled pipe inner fitting portion to the same dimension as or smaller than the outer diameter of the channel tube material. When,
A method of attaching a thin-walled pipe to a channel in an endoscope, comprising: a fifth step of cutting a channel tube material according to an end face of the thin-walled pipe and pulling out a cored bar. A first step of removing the tip fixing portion of the old channel to be replaced from the tip of the insertion portion;
A second step of removing the insertion portion from the endoscope main body, pressing one end of the old channel and pushing the other end from the insertion portion end;
A third step of fitting the root of the new channel into the extruded channel end;
A fourth step of pulling out one end of the old channel and pulling the new channel into the insert;
A fifth step of applying an adhesive to the outer peripheral surface of the end exposed from the insertion portion of the new channel and adjusting the position of the new channel;
A sixth step in which the channel to be replaced is removed from the new channel by pulling it into the insertion portion until the end of the new channel is flush with the tip of the insertion portion;
And a seventh step of completing the replacement of the new channel by connecting the insertion portion to the operation portion, and a channel replacement method in the endoscope.

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