JP2006334271A - Fixing structure of housing tube for curved part of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fixing structure of a housing tube for a curved part of an endoscope where sufficient fixing strength is secured by binding and fixing the end of the housing tube and which can be assembled into a smooth surface state by simple operation without requiring much skill. <P>SOLUTION: Cover cylinders 6 and 7 consisting of a nearly cylindrical thermoplastic material surrounding the whole peripheries of the binding and fixing parts A and B of the housing tube 24 are provided. On one end sides of the cover cylinders 6 and 7, protrusion parts 6a and 7a projecting inward are formed through the whole peripheries of the inner peripheral surfaces. The protrusion parts 6a and 7a are engaged so as to bite into the outer peripheral part of the shell tube 24. The other end sides of the cover cylinders 6 and 7 are provided welded portions P and Q on the outer faces of members 3 and 13 adjacent to a curved part 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for fixing an outer tube of a bending portion of an endoscope.

  In an endoscope, the bending portion connected to the distal end of the insertion portion flexible tube so as to be bent by remote operation is generally configured to be able to bend in any direction with a small radius of curvature, so that it is flexible and elastic. It is covered with a rubber-based outer tube that is rich in nature.

  In general, the outer tube of the curved portion is fixed by tightly fixing the vicinity of the end from the outer peripheral side. It may be possible.

  If such a smooth step is formed on the outer surface of the insertion portion of the endoscope, the mucosal surface may be damaged during insertion into and removal from the body. It was necessary for a person to perform it carefully over time, and the manufacturing cost was extremely high.

Therefore, without using tight binding to fix the outer tube, a locking recess is formed in the mating member located on the inner surface side of the outer tube, and the end of the outer tube is locked to the locking recess and fixed. (For example, Patent Document 1).
JP 7-8444 A

  However, since irregular and large pulling force is repeatedly applied to the outer tube of the curved portion, the above-described structure described in Patent Document 1 may have insufficient fixing strength, and sufficient durability can be obtained. Absent. It seems that there is nothing better than tight binding to secure the fixing strength of the outer tube of the curved part.

  Therefore, the present invention secures sufficient fixing strength by tightly fixing the end portion of the outer tube, and further, the bending portion of the endoscope that can be assembled into a smooth surface state by a simple operation that does not require much skill. An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for an outer tube.

  In order to achieve the above object, the outer tube fixing structure of the bending portion of the endoscope of the present invention has a flexible bending portion connected to the distal end of the insertion portion flexible tube so as to be bent by remote operation. In an outer tube fixing structure of a curved portion of an endoscope, which is sheathed with an outer tube and at least one end of the outer tube is tightly fixed from the outer peripheral side, a substantially cylindrical heat that surrounds the tightly fixed portion of the outer tube over the entire circumference. A cover tube made of a plastic material is provided, and a protrusion projecting inward is formed on one end of the cover tube over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface, and the protrusion is bitten into the outer periphery of the outer tube. The other end side of the cover tube is welded to the outer surface of the member adjacent to the curved portion.

  The cover tube may be formed in a shape that does not have a corner in the portion exposed to the outer surface in a state of being attached surrounding the end portion of the outer tube, and the inner peripheral surface is on the outer surface of the binding fixing portion of the outer tube. It may be formed in a close size.

  Further, the cover tube may be arranged at a non-flexible portion of the boundary portion between the bending portion and the insertion portion flexible tube, and in this case, the other end side of the cover tube is covered with the outer layer of the insertion portion flexible tube. The cover tube may be formed of a material similar to the outer layer coating of the insertion portion flexible tube.

  In addition, the cover tube may be arranged at a non-flexible portion of the boundary portion between the distal end body connected to the distal end of the bending portion and the bending portion, and in this case, the other end side of the outer tube is the distal end. It may be welded to the outer surface of the part main body. The cover tube may be made of a material similar to the tip body.

  Further, a circumferential groove that engages with the protrusion of the cover tube may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube, and in this case, even if the protrusion of the cover tube elastically bites into the bottom surface of the circumferential groove. Alternatively, the protrusion of the cover tube may be directly elastically cut into the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube.

  Moreover, the adhesive agent may be apply | coated to the engaging part of the projection part of a cover cylinder, and an outer tube | pipe.

  According to the present invention, the cover tube made of a substantially cylindrical thermoplastic material surrounding the tightly fixed portion of the outer tube over the entire circumference is provided, and the projecting portion projecting inward is provided on one end side of the cover tube. The end of the outer tube is formed by engaging the projection of the entire circumference of the surface and biting into the outer periphery of the outer tube, and welding the other end of the cover tube to the outer surface of the member adjacent to the curved portion. It is possible to secure a sufficient fixing strength by tightly fixing the parts, and to assemble it into a smooth surface state by a simple operation that does not require much skill.

  An endoscope in which a bending portion connected to the distal end of a flexible tube is inserted with a flexible outer tube so as to be bent by remote operation, and at least one end of the outer tube is tightly fixed from the outer peripheral side. In the outer tube fixing structure of the curved portion, a cover cylinder made of a thermoplastic material having a substantially cylindrical shape surrounding the tight binding portion of the outer tube over the entire circumference is provided, and a protrusion projecting inwardly on one end side of the cover cylinder Is formed over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface, and the protrusion is engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the outer tube, and the other end of the cover tube is welded to the outer surface of the member adjacent to the curved portion.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the endoscope. A distal end main body 3 in which a bending portion 2 is connected to the distal end of an insertion portion flexible tube 1 to be inserted into the body and an observation window, an illumination window and the like are arranged. It is connected to the tip of the bending portion 2.

  A bending operation knob 5 for remotely operating the bending portion 2 is rotatably disposed on the operation portion 4 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the bending operation knob 5 is appropriately rotated. Thus, as illustrated by a two-dot chain line, the bending portion 2 can be bent in an arbitrary direction by an arbitrary angle.

  FIG. 1 shows the vicinity of the bending portion 2, and the insertion portion flexible tube 1 covers the outer periphery of a metal spiral tube 11 with a mesh tube 12 and an outer layer coating 13 made of polyurethane resin or the like on the outermost layer. The flexible tube connection cap 14 is attached to the most advanced portion.

  The bending portion 2 is formed by connecting a plurality of (for example, about 5 to 20) node rings 21 having a short cylindrical shape with a rivet 22 so as to be rotatable, covering an outer surface with a mesh tube 23, and forming an outermost layer with flexibility and elasticity. The outer tube 24 made of a rubber-based material is covered, and a bending portion connection base 25 is attached to the rear end portion. An operation wire 26 is pulled from the operation unit 4 side.

  The insertion portion flexible tube 1 and the bending portion 2 are coupled by bending and connecting the flexible tube connection base 14 and the bending portion connection base 25 and fixing the state with a fixing screw 15 to bend. The portion 2 and the tip portion main body 3 fix the most advanced node ring 21 a of the bending portion 2 to the locking piece 8 that engages with the hole formed in the outer peripheral portion of the tip portion main body 3 with the fixing screw 9. Are connected.

  Both end portions of the outer tube 24 that covers the curved portion 2 are mechanically fixed by, for example, binding with a thread or a monofilament from the outer peripheral side (rear end side binding fixing portion A, front end side binding fixing portion B). ) Each of the binding portions A and B is surrounded by cover cylinders 6 and 7 made of a substantially cylindrical thermoplastic material.

  FIG. 3 shows a state before the outer tube 24 is coated on the bending portion 2 in the manufacturing process. The insertion portion flexible tube 1 and the bending portion 2 are connected to each other, and the distal end portion main body 3 is connected to the bending portion 2. It is not attached to the tip. However, there may be a step of attaching the tip body 3 to the tip of the bending portion 2.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer tube 24 is covered with the bending portion 2, and the two cover cylinders 6, 7 are engaged with the middle position of the outer tube 24. A protrusion 6a that protrudes inward is formed on the entire circumference at the tip of the inner peripheral surface of the rear cover cylinder 6, and a circumferential groove 24a with which the protrusion 6a engages is an outer tube. The outer peripheral surface of 24 is formed over the entire circumference.

  On the other hand, a protrusion 7 a that protrudes inward is also formed on the entire periphery of the rear end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the front cover cylinder 7. The protruding portion 7a is formed to have a smaller protruding amount than the protruding portion 6a of the rear cover cylinder 6, and the outer tube 24 is not formed with a circumferential groove for engaging with the protruding portion 7a.

  However, a circumferential groove for engaging with the protruding portion 7a may be formed on the outer peripheral portion of the outer tube 24 similarly to the rear cover tube 6 side, and conversely, on the rear cover tube 6 side, Similarly to the cover tube 7 side, a configuration in which a circumferential groove is not formed in the outer peripheral portion of the outer tube 24 may be employed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, after the tip body 3 is connected to the tip of the bending portion 2, both ends of the outer tube 24 are tightly fixed as shown in FIG. 6. The rear end side binding fixing portion A overlaps the end portion of the outer tube 24 on the outer surface of the outer layer coating 13 of the insertion portion flexible tube 1 positioned on the flexible tube connection base 14 that is not flexible. The distal end side binding fixing portion B is configured to bind and fix the end portion of the outer tube 24 to the outer surface of the most inflexible state-of-the-art node ring 21a (or the distal end portion main body 3). Yes.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the rear cover cylinder 6 is slid so as to surround the rear end side binding and fixing portion A of the outer skin tube 24 over the entire circumference. Then, the protrusion 6a on the front end side of the rear cover tube 6 is engaged in a state of biting into the circumferential groove 24a of the outer tube 24, and the rear end portion of the rear cover tube 6 is inserted into the insertion portion flexible tube 1. To the outer surface of the outer layer coating 13 (welded portion P). If the rear cover tube 6 is formed of the same polyurethane resin material as the outer layer coating 13 of the insertion portion flexible tube 1, the weldability is good.

  In addition, the outer surface of the rear cover cylinder 6 is formed in a shape having no corners in a portion exposed when the outer cover tube 24 is attached so as to surround the rear end side binding and fixing portion A. Is formed in a size that is in close contact with the outer surface of the rear end side binding fixing portion A.

  Since the rear cover cylinder 6 attached in such a manner as to surround the rear end side binding fixing portion A is positioned at the rigid portion at the boundary between the insertion portion flexible tube 1 and the bending portion 2, it is inserted. The flexibility of the flexible tube 1 and the bending operation of the bending portion 2 are not hindered.

  In the welded portion P, the rear cover tube 6 and the outer layer coating 13 are joined together in a watertight manner, and the protruding portion 6a side of the rear cover tube 6 bites into the circumferential groove 24a of the outer tube 24. Therefore, the sealing performance of the portion is ensured, and the body sewage or the like does not reach the rear end side binding fixing portion A.

  In addition, if the dimension of each part is set so that the protruding part 6a of the rear cover cylinder 6 can elastically bite into the state where the bottom surface of the circumferential groove 24a is crushed, the sealing performance is further stabilized, and the protruding part 6a and the circumferential groove If an adhesive is applied to the engaging portion with 24a, a more perfect sealing property can be obtained.

  Similarly to the rear cover cylinder 6, the front cover cylinder 7 is attached by sliding the front cover cylinder 7 so as to surround the front end side binding fixing part B over the entire circumference. The protrusion 7 a on the rear end side of the front cover cylinder 7 is in a state of being directly elastically cut into the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 24.

  The front end portion of the front cover cylinder 7 is welded to the outer surface of the front end main body 3 (welded portion Q). If the front cover cylinder 7 is formed of the same material as that of the distal end portion main body 3, for example, a polycarbonate resin material, the weldability is good.

  In addition, the outer surface of the front cover cylinder 7 is also formed in a shape having no corners in a portion exposed when attached in a state surrounding the distal end side binding fixing portion B of the outer tube 24 in such a manner. It is formed in a size that is in close contact with the outer surface of the distal end side binding fixing portion B.

  Since the front cover cylinder 7 attached in such a manner as to surround the distal end side binding fixing portion B is located at the boundary between the most distal node ring 21a of the bending portion 2 and the distal end portion main body 3, The bending operation of the bending portion 2 is not hindered.

  In the welded portion Q, the front cover cylinder 7 and the tip body 3 are joined in a watertight manner in an integrated state, and the protrusion 7a side of the front cover cylinder 7 bites into the surface of the outer tube 24 elastically. In addition, the sealing performance of the portion is ensured, and the in-body sewage or the like does not reach the distal end side binding fixing portion B. If an adhesive is applied to the engaging portion between the protruding portion 7a of the front cover cylinder 7 and the outer tube 24, a more perfect sealing performance can be obtained.

  In this way, the exposed portions of the rear cover cylinder 6 and the front cover cylinder 7 which are attached so as to surround the rear end side binding fixing part A and the front end side binding fixing part B are smooth and have no corners. Thus, the end portion of the outer tube 24 can be tightly fixed to secure a sufficient fixing strength, and a smooth surface state can be assembled by a simple operation that does not require much skill.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the curved part of the endoscope of the Example of this invention. It is a side view of the endoscope of the Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the process of assembling | attaching the envelope tube of the curved part of the endoscope of the Example of this invention in order. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the process of assembling | attaching the envelope tube of the curved part of the endoscope of the Example of this invention in order. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the process of assembling | attaching the envelope tube of the curved part of the endoscope of the Example of this invention in order. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the process of assembling | attaching the envelope tube of the curved part of the endoscope of the Example of this invention in order.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part flexible tube 2 Bending part 3 Tip part main body (member adjacent to a bending part)
6 Rear cover cylinder 6a Protruding part 7 Front cover cylinder 7a Protruding part 13 Outer layer coating (member adjacent to the curved part)
24 Outer tube 24a Circumferential groove A Rear end side binding fixing part B Front end side binding fixing part P, Q Welding part

Claims (13)

An endoscope in which a bending portion connected to a distal end of a flexible tube is inserted with a flexible outer tube so as to be bent by remote operation, and at least one end of the outer tube is tightly fixed from the outer peripheral side. In the outer tube fixing structure of the curved part of
A cover cylinder made of a thermoplastic material having a substantially cylindrical shape that surrounds the binding fixing portion of the outer tube over the entire circumference is provided, and a protruding portion that protrudes inward is provided on one end side of the cover cylinder. An endoscope characterized in that the protrusion is engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the outer tube and the other end of the cover tube is welded to the outer surface of the member adjacent to the curved portion. Fixed structure of the outer tube of the curved part.   2. The fixing of the outer tube of the bending portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cover tube is formed in a shape having no corners in a portion exposed to the outer surface in a state of being attached so as to surround an end portion of the outer tube. Construction.   The fixing structure of the outer tube of the bending portion of the endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover cylinder is formed in a size such that an inner peripheral surface thereof is in close contact with an outer surface of the binding fixing portion of the outer tube.   4. The outer tube of the bending portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cover tube is disposed in a non-flexible portion of a boundary portion between the bending portion and the insertion portion flexible tube. Fixed structure.   The structure for fixing an outer tube of a bending portion of an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the other end side of the cover tube is welded to an outer surface of an outer layer coating of the insertion portion flexible tube.   The structure for fixing an outer tube of a bending portion of an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the cover tube is formed of a material similar to the outer layer coating of the insertion portion flexible tube.   The endoscope according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the cover tube is disposed at a non-flexible portion of a boundary portion between the distal end body connected to the distal end of the bending portion and the bending portion. Structure for fixing the outer tube of the curved part.   The structure for fixing an outer tube of a bending portion of an endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the other end side of the outer tube is welded to an outer surface of the tip body.   The structure for fixing an outer tube of a bending portion of an endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the cover cylinder is formed of a material similar to that of the distal end portion main body.   The structure for fixing an outer tube of a curved portion of an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a circumferential groove that engages with a protruding portion of the cover tube is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the outer tube. .   The structure for fixing an outer tube of a bending portion of an endoscope according to claim 10, wherein the protruding portion of the cover tube elastically bites into the bottom surface of the circumferential groove.   The fixing structure of the outer tube of the bending portion of the endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the protruding portion of the cover tube directly and elastically bites into the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube.   The structure for fixing an outer tube of a curved portion of an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an adhesive is applied to an engaging portion between the protruding portion of the cover tube and the outer tube. .

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