JP2007282693A - Curving device in endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and simply structured curving device of an endoscope which facilitates adjustment of the proximal fixing position of a guide coil within an operation part. <P>SOLUTION: A female screw ring 16 having a female screw on its inner peripheral surface is arranged within the operation part 10 such that the female screw ring rotates freely around an axis while its movement in the axial direction is restricted, whereas a male screw pipe 17 having a male screw on its outer peripheral surface is fixed to the proximal end of the guide coil 5. With such a configuration, the proximal end of the guide coil 5 is fixed within the operation part 10 by screwing the female screw ring 16 and the male screw pipe 17 together. By rotating the female screw ring 16 around the axis to move the proximal end of the male screw pipe 17 axially with respect to the female screw ring 16, the proximal position of the guide coil 5 fixed within the operation part 10 is adjusted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope bending apparatus.

In general, a bending device for an endoscope is configured such that a bending portion bent by an operation wire is disposed at a distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube, and an operation portion in which an operation mechanism for moving the operation wire forward and backward is disposed. The base end of the guide coil connected to the base end side of the flexible tube and inserted in the insertion portion flexible tube to guide the operation wire is fixed in the operation portion (for example, a patent) Reference 1).
JP-A-10-276966

  In the conventional endoscope bending device, the proximal end of the guide coil is fixed in the operation portion by soldering. Therefore, in order to adjust the tension of the guide coil in the insertion tube flexible tube, The process has to be performed again and again, and the adjustment is troublesome. At the same time, the flux used for soldering remains and corrodes surrounding members.

  In particular, when autoclaving (high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization) is performed after clinical use of the endoscope, steam permeates into the operation section, and if there is residual flux, corrosion of internal parts will be significant. There was a case of progress.

  Therefore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the position of the member that fixes the guide coil to the operation portion can be adjusted with respect to the moving direction of the operation wire. Since it is structured to be moved in the operation section and fixed with screws, the operation section becomes large and the adjustment work is troublesome.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a bending device for an endoscope, in which the proximal end fixing position of the guide coil in the operation portion is small and simple, and can be adjusted by an easy operation. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the bending apparatus for an endoscope according to the present invention has an operation for moving the operation wire forward and backward by arranging a bending portion bent by the operation wire at the distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube. The operation portion where the mechanism is arranged is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion flexible tube, and the proximal end of the guide coil inserted through the insertion portion flexible tube to fix the operation wire is fixed in the operation portion. In an endoscope bending apparatus having a configuration, an internal thread ring having an internal thread formed on an inner peripheral surface is disposed in an operation portion so as to be rotatable about an axis while being prevented from moving back and forth in the axial direction. A male screw tube with a male screw formed on the part is fixed to the base end of the guide coil, and the female screw ring and the male screw tube are screwed together so that the base end of the guide coil is fixed in the operation unit. And rotate the female screw ring around the axis. Proximal end of the male threaded tube is moved axially relative to the female screw ring by a, in which to be able to adjust the base end position of the guide coils are fixed to the operation portion.

  The male screw tube may be arranged in a state of surrounding the proximal end outer peripheral portion of the guide coil without extending from the proximal end of the guide coil, and the male screw tube surrounding the proximal end outer peripheral portion of the guide coil And may extend from there to a position beyond the proximal end of the guide coil.

  Moreover, the tool engagement means for engaging with the tool which rotates an internal thread ring to the surroundings of an axis line may be formed in the internal thread ring.

  According to the present invention, the female screw ring is disposed in the operation portion so as to be rotatable around the axis in a state where the advancement and retreat in the axial direction is restricted, and the male screw tube is fixed to the proximal end of the guide coil. The base end of the guide coil is fixed in the operation portion by screwing the ring and the male screw tube, and the base end position of the guide coil fixed in the operation portion is adjusted by rotating the female screw ring around the axis. Therefore, the base end fixing position of the guide coil in the operation unit can be adjusted with an easy operation with a small and simple structure.

  A bending portion bent by the operation wire is arranged at the distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube, and an operation portion where an operation mechanism for advancing and retracting the operation wire is arranged is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion flexible tube In the bending device of the endoscope having a configuration in which the proximal end of the guide coil inserted and arranged in the insertion portion flexible tube for guiding the operation wire is fixed in the operation portion, a female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface The internal threaded ring is arranged in the operation part so as to be rotatable around the axial line in a state in which the advancement and retraction in the axial direction are restricted, and a male threaded tube with a male thread formed on the outer periphery is fixed to the proximal end of the guide coil Then, by screwing the female screw ring and the male screw tube, the base end of the guide coil is fixed in the operation portion, and by rotating the female screw ring around the axis, the base of the male screw tube is fixed. End moves axially relative to female thread ring Te, which make it possible to adjust the base end position of the guide coils are fixed to the operation portion.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 shows the entire configuration of the endoscope. A bending portion 2 that can be bent at an arbitrary angle in an arbitrary direction by a remote operation is provided at the distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube 1 inserted into the body. A distal end body 3 is connected to the distal end of the bending portion 2 and is connected to an observation window (not shown).

  The bending portion 2 is bent by selectively pulling the four operation wires 4 having one end connected to the distal end portion thereof, for example, at intervals of 90 ° in the axial direction. Four guide coils 5 for individually guiding each operation wire 4 are arranged through the entire length. The distal end portion of the guide coil 5 is fixed to the most distal portion of the insertion portion flexible tube 1 (that is, the rear end portion of the bending portion 2).

  A bending operation knob 11 of an operation mechanism for selectively pulling the operation wire 4 is disposed on the operation unit 10 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes a slack absorber for absorbing slack on the loose side of the operation wire 4, and 13 denotes a stopper for regulating the maximum pulling amount of each operation wire 4.

  FIG. 4 shows the internal configuration of the operation unit 10, and the base end of the guide coil 5 is attached to the end of the main frame 14, which is a stationary member in the insertion unit flexible tube 1, near the insertion unit flexible tube 1. A pedestal 15 for fixing is fixedly attached.

  16 is a female screw ring held on the base 15 so as to be rotatable around the axis, 17 is a male screw pipe fixed to the proximal end of the guide coil 5, and 18 is a female screw ring 16 laterally from the base 15. It is a side plate that regulates falling off, and is detachably fixed to the base 15.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of the pedestal 15 viewed from the insertion tube flexible tube 1 side, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. Is fixed to the base end of each guide coil 5 by soldering or brazing.

  In addition, since the soldering or brazing operation is performed in the state of a single component, cleaning of the flux and the like can be performed completely. The male threaded tube 17 of this embodiment is arranged so as not to extend from the proximal end of the guide coil 5 but to surround the outer peripheral portion of the proximal end of the guide coil 5. However, it may be formed in other shapes.

  The pedestal 15 is formed by bending, for example, a stainless steel plate material into a rectangular shape, and the four female screw rings 16 are restricted to move in the axial direction inside thereof and loosen in parallel while being rotatable around the axial line. It is inserted.

  Grooves 15a having a U-shaped cross section formed in two rows on both the left and right sides of the base 15 are formed to have a width that allows the male threaded tube 17 to pass loosely but not allow the female threaded ring 16 to pass. Screw tubes 17 are individually passed through the grooves 15a.

  On the inner peripheral surface of the female screw ring 16, a female screw that is screwed into the male screw tube 17 is formed over the entire length. Then, since the female screw ring 16 and the male screw tube 17 are screwed together, the proximal end of the guide coil 5 is fixed to the operation unit 10 in a state where slight movement is allowed. It is in a state.

  Each female thread ring 16 is formed with a tool engaging means for engaging a tool (not shown) for rotating the female thread ring 16. In this embodiment, a so-called knurled groove 16a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the female screw ring 16, and this is a tool engaging means.

  Therefore, when the tool is engaged with the knurled groove 16a and the female screw ring 16 is rotated about the axis, the male screw tube 17 screwed with the female screw ring 16 is axially moved as shown in FIG. Therefore, the fixed position of the proximal end of the guide coil 5 in the operation unit 10 can be easily adjusted arbitrarily in the axial direction.

  FIG. 6 shows a bending apparatus for an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a male screw tube 17 is formed long so as to extend to a position beyond the proximal end of the guide coil 5. The portion 17a surrounding the base end outer peripheral portion of the guide coil 5 is fixed to the guide coil 5, and a male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the extending portion beyond the base end of the guide coil 5.

  In this embodiment, a hole 16b formed in the side surface of the female screw ring 16 serves as a tool locking means. As described above, the present invention can take various embodiments, and the cross-sectional shape of the female screw ring 16 may be a polygon or the like as tool locking means.

It is side surface sectional drawing (II sectional drawing in FIG. 5) of the bending apparatus of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the state after adjustment work of the bending apparatus of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. 1 is an external view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a plane sectional view showing partially the structure in the operation part of the endoscope of the 1st example of the present invention. It is a front view of the base part of the bending apparatus of the endoscope of the 1st example of the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the bending apparatus of the endoscope of the 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part flexible tube 2 Bending part 4 Operation wire 5 Guide coil 10 Operation part 11 Bending operation knob 15 Base 15a Groove 16 Female thread ring 16a Knurled groove (tool locking means)
16b hole (tool locking means)
17 Male threaded tube

Claims (4)

The bending portion bent by the operation wire is arranged at the distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube, and the operation portion where the operation mechanism for advancing and retreating the operation wire is arranged is the proximal end side of the insertion portion flexible tube In an endoscope bending apparatus having a configuration in which a proximal end of a guide coil that is connected to and inserted into the insertion portion flexible tube to guide the operation wire is fixed in the operation portion.
A male screw ring in which a female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface is disposed in the operation portion so as to be rotatable around the axis while being prevented from moving back and forth in the axial direction. The tube is fixed to the proximal end of the guide coil, and the female screw ring and the male screw tube are screwed together so that the proximal end of the guide coil is fixed in the operation portion, and the female By rotating the screw ring about the axis, the base end of the male screw pipe moves in the axial direction with respect to the female screw ring, and the base end position of the guide coil fixed in the operation unit can be adjusted. An endoscopic bending apparatus characterized by being made capable of.   The bending apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the male screw tube is disposed so as not to extend from a proximal end of the guide coil but to surround a proximal end outer peripheral portion of the guide coil.   2. The bending apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the male screw tube is fixed in a state of surrounding a base end outer peripheral portion of the guide coil and extends from there to a position beyond the base end of the guide coil.   The endoscope bending apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein tool engaging means for engaging a tool for rotating the female screw ring about an axis is formed on the female screw ring.

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