JP2007330676A - Manufacturing method of endoscope insertion part - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of an endoscope insertion part that facilitates insertion of a built-in element such as a tube or cable without turning node rings when the endoscope insertion part is manufactured, can reduce the manufacturing cost by facilitating the assembling and reducing work man-hours, and can supply it inexpensively. <P>SOLUTION: The manufacturing method of an endoscope insertion part comprises an assembling process of sequentially inserting a plurality of node rings 31 into a guide needle 46 and assembling them in a state of inserting a wire guide 37 of the node rings 31 into the guide needle 46 disposed in an assembly stand 41 of the endoscope insertion part 2, in manufacturing a bent section 5 where the plurality of node rings 31 are arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion part 2 and the front and rear node rings 31 are interconnected turnably around a rivet 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion including a bending portion in which a plurality of node rings are arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion portion.

  Generally, in a flexible endoscope, a proximal side operation portion is disposed at a proximal end portion of an insertion portion to be inserted into the body. Further, the insertion portion has an elongated flexible tube portion, a bendable bending portion continuously provided at the distal end of the flexible tube portion, and a distal end rigid portion disposed at the most distal end portion of the insertion portion. And the base end part of the flexible tube part is connected with the operation part by the side of hand.

  The bending portion has a plurality of node rings arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the insertion portion. The front and rear node rings arranged side by side are connected so as to be rotatable by a support shaft such as a rivet. Further, on the distal end side of the bending portion, the distal end portions of four bending operation wires for bending the bending portion in, for example, four directions of up, down, left, and right are fixed. The proximal end portions of these bending operation wires are extended to the operation portion on the proximal side through the inside of the flexible tube portion.

  The operation section on the hand side is provided with a bending operation mechanism section for bending the bending section in, for example, four directions, up, down, left, and right. The bending operation mechanism is connected to the base ends of the four bending operation wires, and is provided with an up / down bending operation knob and a left / right bending operation knob. Then, any of the four bending operation wires is pulled in accordance with the rotation operation of the up / down bending operation knob or the left / right bending operation knob, and the bending portion is moved up / down / left / right through the bending operation wire thus pulled. The bending operation is performed in any direction by pulling operation of one of the directions or a plurality of bending operation wires.

  Patent Document 1 shows an example of a conventional bending portion structure of an endoscope. Here, a pair of front projecting portions projecting forward on the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of each node ring project at a position of 180 °, respectively, and a pair of rear portions projecting rearward on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of each node ring Protrusions project from the 180 ° positions. These front protrusions and rear protrusions are disposed at positions shifted by 90 ° in the circumferential direction. Then, the rear projecting portion of the front node ring and the front projecting portion of the rear node ring are overlapped (hereinafter referred to as polymerization), a steel ball is inserted into this superposed portion, and the steel ball is drilled in the superposed portion. The nodes are slidably held by the holes so that the node rings are rotatably connected. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of the bending tube in which a plurality of node rings are arranged side by side is covered with an outer skin such as a protective net made of stainless steel or a rubber tube.

  In addition, the distal end rigid portion is connected to an imaging device such as a light guide fiber disposed behind the illumination lens of the illumination optical system, an image guide fiber disposed behind the objective lens of the observation optical system, or a CCD. The tip of the cable such as the cable of the signal line and the tube such as the forceps insertion channel is fixed. These light guide fibers, image guide fibers, cables such as CCDs, and built-in items such as tubes such as forceps insertion channels pass through the inside of the bending portion and the flexible tube portion and extend to the operation portion side. ing.

Then, when manufacturing the conventional endoscope insertion portion, a plurality of node rings are previously arranged in parallel in the insertion direction (axial direction) of the insertion portion to form a node ring coupling body, and then this node ring connection It is assembled by inserting internal components such as tubes and cables and bending operation wires into the body.
JP 7-128599 A

  In the conventional method of manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion, the node ring coupling body formed by connecting a plurality of node rings in parallel in the axial direction of the insertion portion and linearly connecting each other is rocked. It can be freely rotated freely. Therefore, after assembling the node ring assembly, each node ring of the node ring assembly rotates during the process of inserting a built-in object such as a tube or cable into the node ring assembly or inserting the bending operation wire. In addition, there is a possibility that the entire joint of the node ring is irregularly curved. In such a case, it is difficult to insert a built-in object into the node ring coupling body. In particular, the wire receiver projecting from the inner peripheral surface of the node ring has a small opening area and a long distance between the front and rear wire receivers, so that it is difficult to insert the bending operation wire into the wire receiver. Therefore, fine work with skill is required.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and its purpose is to facilitate insertion of built-in objects such as tubes and cables without rotation of the node rings during manufacture of the endoscope insertion portion, and easy assembly. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion that can reduce the number of work steps, reduce the manufacturing cost, and can be supplied at low cost.

The invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a plurality of node rings are juxtaposed along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion part, and the inner ring is manufactured at the time of manufacturing a curved part in which the front and rear node rings are respectively connected rotatably. A curve in which a plurality of node rings are arranged side by side by sequentially inserting the plurality of node rings through the position holding member in a state where the node rings are inserted into a position holding member provided on an assembly base of an endoscope insertion portion. It is the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part characterized by providing the assembly | attachment process of assembling a part unit integrally.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the bending portion is manufactured, the plurality of node rings are sequentially placed in the position holding member in a state where the node rings are inserted into the position holding member provided on the assembly base of the endoscope insertion portion. The bending portion unit in which a plurality of node rings are arranged side by side is integrally assembled (assembly process). Thereby, in a state in which the swing of the node ring is restrained, a plurality of node rings are arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion portion, and the front and rear node rings are respectively connected so as to be rotatable. As a result, the assembly work of the unit units can be easily performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the position holding member is a coupling body in which a guide needle that can be inserted into a wire receiver of the node ring through which the operation wire of the bending portion is inserted, or the operation wire itself. At least one of the wire bodies is used, and the assembling step temporarily inserts the plurality of node rings through the wire bodies in a state where the wire bodies are inserted through the wire receivers of the node rings. The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1, further comprising a step of:
In the invention of claim 2, at least one of the connecting body in which the guide needle that can be inserted into the wire receiver of the node ring through which the operation wire of the bending portion is inserted is connected to the operation wire, or the operation wire itself. In the state where the body is inserted into the wire receiver of the node ring, the assembly process is performed by the process of inserting the plurality of node rings sequentially into the wire body and temporarily assembling.

In the invention of claim 3, the position holding member is either a core material that can be inserted into the inner space of the node ring, or a built-in object that is attached to the inner space of the node ring. 2. The assembly step according to claim 1, further comprising a step of temporarily assembling the plurality of node rings by sequentially inserting the plurality of node rings into the insertion member in a state where the node rings are inserted through the insertion member. It is a manufacturing method of an endoscope insertion part.
And in invention of this Claim 3, in the state which inserts a node ring in the insertion material of either the core material which can be inserted in the internal space of the said node ring, or the built-in thing with which the internal space of a node ring is mounted | worn The step of inserting a plurality of node rings sequentially into the insertion member and temporarily assembling is performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the position holding member is a coupling body in which a guide needle that can be inserted into a wire receiver of the node ring through which the operation wire of the bending portion is inserted, or the operation wire itself. At least one of the wire body, and a core member that can be inserted into the inner space of the node ring, or an insertion member that is a built-in member that is attached to the inner space of the node ring. The step includes the step of temporarily assembling the plurality of node rings sequentially through the wire body and the insertion member in a state where the node rings are inserted through the wire body and the insertion member. It is a manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part according to claim 1.
In the invention of claim 4, at least one of a coupling body in which a needle-shaped guide needle that can be inserted into a wire receiver of a node ring through which the operation wire of the bending portion is inserted is connected to the operation wire, or the operation wire itself. One wire body and a core member that can be inserted into the inner space of the node ring or a built-in member that is mounted in the inner space of the node ring are used. In the state where the ring is inserted, the step of inserting the plurality of node rings sequentially into the wire body and the insertion member and temporarily assembling is performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the position holding member is a connection body in which a needle-shaped guide needle that can be inserted into a wire receiver of the node ring that passes through the operation wire of the bending portion is connected to the operation wire. The assembly step includes a step of inserting the wire receiver of the node ring into the guide needle in a state where a distal end portion of the operation wire is fixed to a proximal end portion of the position holding member formed by the guide needle. A step of inserting the operation wire into the wire receiver by pulling out the guide needle inserted through the wire receiver from the wire receiver of the node ring, and a step of releasing the guide needle from the distal end portion of the operation wire The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1, comprising:
In the invention of claim 5, at the time of the assembly process, first, a step of inserting the nodal ring wire receiver into the needle-shaped guide needle that can be inserted into the nodal ring wire receiver for inserting the operation wire of the bending portion is performed. Subsequently, the step of inserting the operation wire connected to the guide needle into the wire receiver by pulling out the guide needle inserted through the wire receiver from the wire receiver of the node ring is performed, and then the operation is performed. A step of removing the guide needle from the tip of the wire is performed. Thereby, in a state in which the swing of the node ring is restrained, a plurality of node rings are arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion portion, and the front and rear node rings are respectively connected so as to be rotatable. As a result, the assembly work of the unit units can be easily performed.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the bending is performed at the time of manufacturing a bending portion in which a plurality of node rings are arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion portion, and the front and rear node rings are rotatably connected to each other. A wire setting step of setting a plurality of operation wires for bending the portion in advance in a state of protruding on the assembly base of the endoscope insertion portion, and the operation wires protruded on the assembly base as wires of the node ring An endoscope insertion portion manufacturing method comprising: an assembling step of sequentially inserting the plurality of node rings through the operation wire in a state of being inserted into the receiver.
In the invention of claim 6, at the time of manufacturing the bending portion, a plurality of operation wires for bending the bending portion are set in a state of protruding in advance on the assembly base of the endoscope insertion portion (wire setting step), Thereafter, in a state where the operation wire projected on the assembly base is inserted into the wire receiver of the node ring, a plurality of node rings are sequentially inserted into the operation wire and assembled (assembly process). Thereby, in a state in which the swing of the node ring is restrained, a plurality of node rings are arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion portion, and the front and rear node rings are respectively connected so as to be rotatable. As a result, the assembly work of the unit units can be easily performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the assembling step, the operation wire that protrudes on the assembly base in accordance with the progress of the insertion operation of the node ring during the operation of sequentially inserting the plurality of node rings through the operation wire. The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 6, further comprising a protrusion amount adjusting step of adjusting the protrusion position of the endoscope.
In the invention of claim 7, the protruding position of the operation wire that protrudes on the assembly base in accordance with the progress of the insertion operation of the node ring during the operation of sequentially inserting the plurality of node rings through the operation wire during the assembly process Is adjusted (protrusion amount adjusting step), so that the operation wire protruding on the assembly table is prevented from being bent and the operation of inserting the node ring into the operation wire can be performed smoothly.

In the invention according to claim 8, in the protrusion amount adjusting step, one node ring can be inserted through the protruding position of the operation wire protruding on the assembly base in accordance with the progress of the insertion operation of the node ring. The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 7, further comprising a wire protrusion amount adjusting step of adjusting the protrusion amount of the operation wire.
In the invention of claim 8, when the protruding position of the operation wire protruding on the assembly base is moved in accordance with the progress of the insertion operation of the node ring in the protrusion amount adjusting step, one node ring is moved. By adjusting the protrusion amount of the operation wire that can be inserted (wire protrusion amount adjustment process), the operation wire protruding on the assembly base is prevented from being bent, and the work of inserting the node ring into the operation wire can be performed smoothly. It is what I did.

  According to the present invention, it is easy to insert a built-in object such as a tube or a cable without rotation between nodes when manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion, and it is easy to assemble and reduce the number of work steps, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. The manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part which can be supplied cheaply can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an example of a flexible endoscope 1 such as a colonoscope manufactured by applying the method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion of the present embodiment. The endoscope 1 includes an elongated insertion portion 2 that is inserted into the body, and an operation portion 3 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 2. The main body 2 </ b> A of the insertion portion 2 includes an elongated flexible tube portion 4, a curved portion 5 having a proximal end portion coupled to the distal end of the flexible tube portion 4, and a proximal end portion coupled to the distal end of the curved portion 5. And the distal end rigid portion 6. As shown in FIG. 2, an illumination lens 7 of the illumination optical system, an objective lens 8 of the observation optical system, a distal end opening 9a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 9, and an air supply (not shown) are provided on the distal end surface of the distal rigid portion 6. A water supply nozzle is disposed.

  The distal end portion of the light guide fiber 10 is fixed to the distal end rigid portion 6 behind the illumination lens 7. Further, an imaging element 11 such as a CCD and its connection circuit board 12 are fixed behind the objective lens 8. In addition, it replaces with the image pick-up element 11, and the front-end | tip part of the image guide fiber which is not shown in figure may be fixed, and the endoscope 1 is not limited to an electronic scope but may be a fiber scope. Further, the distal end rigid portion 6 includes a distal end portion of the treatment instrument insertion channel 9, an air supply tube 13 (see FIG. 3) connected to an air / water supply nozzle, and a distal end portion of the water supply tube 14 (see FIG. 3). Etc. are fixed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a light guide fiber (built-in) 10, a cable (built-in) 15 such as a signal line of an image sensor 11 such as a CCD, an image guide fiber (not shown) in the case of a fiberscope, and a treatment The instrument insertion channel (built-in object) 9, the air supply tube (built-in object) 13, the water supply tube (built-in object) 14, etc. pass from the inside of the bending portion 5 to the inside of the flexible tube portion 4, and the base of the flexible tube portion 4. It extends to the end side.

  The bending portion 5 can be bent as shown by a solid line or a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 from a normal straight line extending straight as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  The operation unit 3 is connected to the base end of the flexible tube unit 4. The operation unit 3 is provided with a gripping portion 17 that is held by an operator. A base end portion of the universal cord 18 is connected to the grip portion 17. A connector portion 19 connected to a light source device (not shown), a video processor, or the like is connected to the distal end portion of the universal cord 18.

  Further, the operation section 3 includes an up / down bending operation knob 20 and a left / right bending operation knob 21 for bending the bending section 5, a suction button 22, an air / water supply button 23, and various switches 24 for endoscopic photography. And a treatment instrument insertion portion 25 are provided. The treatment instrument insertion portion 25 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion port 26 connected to the base end portion of the treatment instrument insertion channel 9 disposed in the insertion section 2. An endoscope treatment tool (not shown) is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 9 from the treatment instrument insertion port 26 of the endoscope 1 and pushed into the distal end rigid portion 6 side, and then the treatment instrument insertion channel 9 is inserted. It protrudes outside from the front end opening 9a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the bending portion 5 of the present embodiment has a plurality of node rings 31 arranged in parallel along the insertion direction (axial direction) of the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1. As shown in FIG. 5, each node ring 31 has a cylindrical node ring body (tubular portion) 32.

  At the tip of the node ring main body 32, two projecting pieces 33 in which a part of the outer peripheral surface of the node ring main body 32 protrudes forward are disposed at positions 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction. Further, at the rear end portion of the node ring main body 32, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the node ring main body 32 protrudes rearward and is provided with a step corresponding to a substantially plate thickness of the protruding piece 33. The projecting piece 34 is disposed at a position 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction. Here, the two front projecting pieces 33 and the two rear projecting pieces 34 are arranged at positions shifted by 90 ° in the circumferential direction.

  The plurality of node rings 31 arranged in parallel with the bending portion 5 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable as follows. Here, a gap between the two protruding pieces 34 on the rear side of the front node ring 31 and the two protruding pieces 33 on the front side of the rear node ring 31 is formed in each of the protruding pieces 33 and 34. The rivets (support shafts) 35 inserted into the holes are connected to each other. Thus, the front node ring 31 and the rear node ring 31 are pivotally supported around the rivet 35, and a bearing portion is formed between them.

  Further, the two projecting pieces 33 on the front side of the node ring 31 at the foremost end position of the curved portion 5 are respectively rivets similarly to the two projecting pieces 6a projecting rearward from the rear end portion of the distal end hard portion 6. 35, and is pivotally supported around a rivet 35 so as to be rotatable. In addition, the two projecting pieces 34 on the rear side of the node ring 31 at the rearmost end position of the bending portion 5 are projected forward from the cylindrical connecting member 4 a disposed at the distal end position of the flexible tube portion 4. Similarly, the two projecting pieces 4a1 are connected to each other via rivets 35, and are pivotally supported around the rivets 35.

  And in the bending part 5 of this Embodiment, the direction of the rivet 35 used as the rotation support shaft which connects between the several node rings 31 is shifted 90 degrees between the front and rear of each node ring 31, respectively. Has been placed. Thereby, the whole bending part 5 is comprised so that it can each bend in four directions of an up-down and left-right.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the bending portion 5 is provided with four operation wires 36 for bending the entire bending portion 5 in four directions, up and down and left and right. The distal end portions of these four operation wires 36 are fixed to the rear end portion of the distal end rigid portion 6 or the node ring 31 at the foremost end position.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, two wire guides (wire receivers) 37 protrude inward from the peripheral wall portion of the node ring main body 32 of each node ring 31 while part of the peripheral wall portion is cut off by pressing. Has been formed. Then, either the vertical operation wire 36 or the horizontal operation wire 36 is inserted into these wire guides 37.

  Further, the base end portions of the vertical operation wire 36 and the horizontal operation wire 36 extend from the bending portion 5 into the operation portion 3 through the inside of the flexible tube portion 4. In the operation unit 3, a vertical bending operation mechanism (not shown) driven by the vertical bending operation knob 20 and a horizontal bending operation mechanism (not shown) driven by the left and right bending operation knob 21 are disposed. . The proximal end portion of the vertical operation wire 36 is connected to the vertical bending operation mechanism. Similarly, the base end portion of the operation wire 36 in the left-right direction is connected to the bending operation mechanism in the left-right direction. Then, the operation wires 36 are pulled and driven in accordance with the turning operation of the up / down bending operation knob 20 and the left / right bending operation knob 21. As a result, the bending portion 5 is remotely operated to bend from a normal linear state (non-curved state) in which the bending angle straightly extends to 0 ° to a curved shape in which the bending operation is performed at an arbitrary bending angle in the vertical and horizontal directions. It has become so.

  Further, on the outer peripheral portion of the assembling unit 30 including the bending portion unit 48 including the plurality of node rings 31 incorporated in the bending portion 5, a braided tube in which a thin wire (not shown) is braided in a tubular shape, tubular rubber, or the like A flexible outer tube 38 formed of an elastic body is covered. As a result, the entire outer surface of the bending portion 5 is covered with the braided tube and / or the skin tube 38.

  FIG. 7 shows an assembly base 41 of the assembly unit 30 including the bending portion unit 48 of the bending portion 5 used in the endoscope insertion portion manufacturing method of the present embodiment. A base 42 is provided at the bottom of the assembly table 41. At the center portion of the base 42, a concave-shaped node ring receiving portion 43 for holding the node ring 31 is formed by fitting an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral surface of one end of the node ring 31 together. A circular hole for inserting a built-in object is provided in the center of the node receiving part 43 to facilitate the assembly of the assembly unit 30 of the bending part 5 and to easily insert the built-in object into the assembled assembly unit 30. 44 is formed. In this circular hole 44, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11E, an inscribed circle diameter inscribed from the lower side of the base 42 to the bottom of the inwardly projecting end of the wire guide 37 formed in pairs. A cylindrical rod-shaped core member (position holding member) 45A having an outer diameter of the same dimension as that shown in FIG. 12, or a built-in object incorporated in the insertion portion 2 as shown in FIG. A cable 15 such as a guide fiber 10 or a signal line of an image sensor such as a CCD, an image guide fiber (not shown) in the case of a fiberscope, a treatment instrument insertion channel 9, an air supply tube 13, a water supply tube 14, etc. A built-in bundle (position holding member) 45B or the like bundled in the state is inserted. The rod-shaped core material may be made of metal.

  Further, four guide needles (position holding members) 46 are erected on the base 42 of the assembly base 41 around the circular hole 44. The four guide needles 46 are arranged at equal intervals (90 ° intervals) along the circumferential direction of the circular hole 44.

  For this reason, four needle insertion grooves 47 are formed in the peripheral wall portion of the circular hole 44 of the base 42. In the four needle insertion grooves 47, four guide needles 46 are engaged and fixed so as to be engageable and disengageable.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the distal ends of the operation wires 36 are fixed to the proximal ends of the four guide needles 46 by means such as soldering. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the four guide needles 46 are engaged and fixed in the respective needle insertion grooves 47 of the assembly table 41 in a state where the distal end side of the guide needles 46 protrudes on the base 42 of the assembly table 41. Has been erected. The guide needle 46 may be omitted, and the distal end portion of the operation wire 36 may be erected on each needle insertion groove 47 in a state of protruding directly on the base 42 of the assembly base 41.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the endoscope insertion portion 2 of the present embodiment using the assembly base 41 of the bending portion 5 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 11A, the core material 45A is inserted into the circular hole 44 of the assembly base 41 that is erected with the four guide needles 46 protruding. In this state, with the four guide needles 46 and the core material 45A as guides, the node rings 31 of the bending portion 5 are assembled on the assembly table 41 one by one as follows.

  Here, when the first node ring 31 is assembled, any two of the four guide needles 46 arranged at positions 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction of the circular hole 44 are connected to the node ring 31. Are inserted into the two wire guides 37 respectively. As a result, the first node ring 31 is moved downward while being guided along the two guide needles 46 respectively inserted into the wire guide 37. At the same time, the core material 45 </ b> A and the remaining two guide needles 46 not inserted into the wire guide 37 are inserted into the internal space of the node ring 31. Then, the first node ring 31 is moved downward using the core material 45A and the remaining two guide needles 46 not inserted into the wire guide 37 as a guide, and the node ring receiving portion of the assembly base 41 is moved. It is assembled in a state of being placed on 43.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11 (B), the assembly work of the second node ring 31 is performed. During the assembling operation of the second node ring 31, the remaining two guide needles 46 that are not used for guiding the two wire guides 37 of the first node ring 31 out of the four guide needles 46 are second. Are inserted into the two wire guides 37 of the node ring 31, respectively. Then, the second node ring 31 is moved downward while being guided along the two guide needles 46 respectively inserted into the wire guide 37. At the same time, the core material 45 </ b> A and the remaining two guide needles 46 not inserted into the wire guide 37 are inserted into the internal space of the second node ring 31. Then, the second node ring 31 is moved downward using the core material 45A and the remaining two guide needles 46 not inserted into the wire guide 37 as a guide. As a result, the second node ring 31 is assembled on the first node ring 31.

  Further, after the second node ring 31 is arranged on the first node ring 31, the two protrusions 33 on the front side of the first node ring 31 and the two protrusions on the rear side of the second node ring 31 are arranged. An operation of connecting the piece 34 so as to be rotatable through a rivet 35 is performed. At this time, a rivet 35 is inserted into the overlapping portion of the two protruding pieces 33 on the front side of the first node ring 31 and the two protruding pieces 34 on the rear side of the second node ring 31, or the rivet 35 is caulked. Work to be done.

  Thereafter, the assembly work of the third node ring 31 is performed. During the assembly work of the third node ring 31, of the four guide needles 46, the two guide needles 46 used to guide the two wire guides 37 of the first node ring 31 are the third node ring. 31 are inserted into the two wire guides 37 respectively. Then, the third node ring 31 is moved downward while being guided along the two guide needles 46 respectively inserted into the wire guide 37. At the same time, the core material 45 </ b> A and the remaining two guide needles 46 not inserted into the wire guide 37 are inserted into the internal space of the third node ring 31. Then, the third node ring 31 is moved downward using the core material 45A and the remaining two guide needles 46 not inserted into the wire guide 37 as a guide. As a result, the third node ring 31 is assembled on the second node ring 31.

  Further, after the third node ring 31 is disposed on the second node ring 31, the two projecting pieces 33 on the front side of the second node ring 31 and the rear 2 of the third node ring 31. The operation of pivotally connecting the two projecting pieces 34 via the rivet 35 is performed in the same manner as the previous time.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11C, the work of assembling the fourth and subsequent node rings 31 is sequentially and repeatedly performed. Thus, the assembling work (temporary assembling step) of the bending portion unit 48 in which the predetermined number of node rings 31 are assembled as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, the core material 45 </ b> A is pulled upward from the bending portion unit 48. At this time, the work of inserting the built-in bundle 45B into the internal space of each node ring 31 of the bending unit 48 is performed in a state where the core material 45A is replaced.

  Thereafter, the four guide needles 46 are pulled upward from the bending portion unit 48. At this time, the four operation wires 36 are pulled upward together with the four guide needles 46. As a result, the four operation wires 36 are inserted into the wire guides 37 of the node rings 31 of the bending unit 48, respectively. Then, the guide needle 46 is cut from the operation wire 36 in a state where the distal ends of the four operation wires 36 are drawn upward from the bending unit 48.

  Subsequently, for example, the two projecting pieces 33 on the front side of the node ring 31 at the foremost end position of the bending portion 5 are similar to the two projecting pieces 6a projecting rearward from the rear end portion of the distal end hard portion 6 respectively. Are connected to each other via a rivet 35. Thereafter, the distal end portions of the four operation wires 36 are fixed to the rear end portion of the distal end rigid portion 6.

  Thereafter, after the outer peripheral surface of the bending portion unit 48 and the built-in object binding body 45B are gripped by the gripping member, the assembly table 41 is moved downward as shown in FIG. Thereby, the bending unit 48 is detached from the assembly table 41. The two projecting pieces 34 on the rear side of the node ring 31 at the rearmost position of the detached bending unit 48 are in a state where the four operation wires 36 and the built-in bundle 45B are inserted. The two projecting pieces 4 a 1 of the connecting member 4 a of the pipe part 4 are connected to each other through rivets 35. Thereby, the assembly of the assembly unit 30 is also completed.

  Therefore, the configuration described above has the following effects. That is, in the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion portion 2 of the present embodiment, the four guide needles 46 provided on the assembly base 41 of the endoscope insertion portion 2 when the bending portion 5 of the endoscope 1 is manufactured. Alternatively, the plurality of node rings 31 are sequentially inserted into the core member 45A, and the bending portion unit 48 that is integrally assembled in a state where the plurality of node rings 31 are arranged side by side is temporarily assembled (temporary assembly step). Thereby, the swing of the node ring 31 can be restrained by the four guide needles 46 and the core material 45A. In this state, by pulling the four guide needles 46 upward from the bending portion unit 48, the four operation wires 36 are pulled upward together with the four guide needles 46. Accordingly, the four operation wires 36 can be connected to the bending portion unit without rotating the node rings 31 during the operation of inserting the four operation wires 36 into the narrow wire guide 37 of each node ring 31 of the bending portion unit 48. Each of the 48 node rings 31 can be easily inserted into the wire guide 37 at the same time.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the core material 45A is pulled upward from the bending portion unit 48 and replaced with the core material 45A so that the built-in object bundle 45B is placed in the internal space of each node ring 31 of the bending portion unit 48. The work to insert into is done. At the time of inserting the built-in bundle 45B, since the swing of the node ring 31 is held by the four guide needles 46, the node ring 31 is swung by the swing of the node ring 31 as in the prior art. A built-in object incorporated in the endoscope insertion portion 2 in the internal space of the connected body, for example, a light guide fiber 10, a cable 15 such as a signal line of an image sensor such as a CCD, or an image guide (not shown) in the case of a fiberscope. It is possible to prevent the operation of inserting the fiber, the treatment instrument insertion channel 9, the air supply tube 13, and the water supply tube 14 from becoming difficult. As a result, it is easier to insert the built-in object built in the endoscope insertion portion 2 and the assembly is easier than in the conventional case. Therefore, when manufacturing the bending portion 5 of the endoscope, the operation of inserting the built-in object incorporated in the endoscope insertion portion 2 into the internal space of each node ring 31 of the bending portion unit 48, or four operation wires It is possible to reduce the manufacturing man-hours when performing the operation of inserting 36 into the narrow wire guide 37 of each node ring 31 of the bending portion unit 48, to reduce the manufacturing cost, and to supply at a low cost.

  In the present embodiment, four guide needles 46 erected on the assembly base 41 are inserted into the wire guide 37 of the node ring 31, and the core material 45 </ b> A is further inserted into the internal space of the node ring 31. In this state, a method of sequentially assembling the plurality of node rings 31 has been described. Instead of this, instead of the core member 45A as in the first modification shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be used as a position holding member for the node ring 31. In this case, since the built-in bundle 45B is used as an insertion guide for the plurality of node rings 31, each node of the bending unit 48 is terminated at the end of the temporary assembly work of each node 31 of the bending unit 48. A built-in bundle 45 </ b> B is held in the inner space of the wheel 31. Therefore, after assembling a node ring assembly formed by connecting a plurality of node rings 31 side by side in the axial direction of the insertion portion 2 and connecting them in a straight line as in the prior art, the inner space of the node ring assembly is internally viewed. Built-in objects incorporated in the mirror insertion portion 2, for example, a light guide fiber 10, a cable 15 such as a signal line of an image sensor such as a CCD, an image guide fiber (not shown) in the case of a fiberscope, and a treatment instrument insertion channel 9 In addition, there is no need to perform an operation of inserting the air supply tube 13 or the water supply tube 14. Therefore, compared with the prior art, when manufacturing the bending portion 5 of the endoscope, the work of inserting the built-in object incorporated in the endoscope insertion portion 2 into the internal space of each node ring 31 of the bending portion unit 48, It can be simplified, the number of work steps can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the supply can be made inexpensively.

  In the first embodiment, four guide needles 46 erected on the assembly base 41 are inserted into the wire guide 37 of the node ring 31, and the inner space of the node ring 31 is further provided with a core material. Although the method of assembling the plurality of node rings 31 sequentially with the 45A inserted is shown, instead of this, four pieces of upright standing on the assembly table 41 as in the second modification shown in FIG. The plurality of node rings 31 may be assembled sequentially by simply inserting the guide needle 46 through the wire guide 37 of the node ring 31. Also in this case, when the bending portion 5 of the endoscope 1 is manufactured, the swing of the node ring 31 can be restrained by the four guide needles 46 provided on the assembly base 41 of the endoscope insertion portion 2. The operation of inserting the four operation wires 36 into the narrow wire guides 37 of the respective node rings 31 of the bending unit 48 can be performed without rotating the node rings 31. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing man-hours when performing the operation of inserting the four operation wires 36 into the narrow wire guides 37 of the respective node rings 31 of the bending portion unit 48, to reduce the manufacturing cost, and to supply at low cost. it can.

  14 and 15 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to the first embodiment and its modifications (see FIGS. 1 to 13) is further modified as follows.

  That is, in the embodiment and the modification thereof, the node ring 31 is attached to the four guide needles 46 erected on the assembly base 41 or the guide needle 46 and the core material 45A (or the built-in bundle 45B). In the present embodiment, the method of performing the insertion work individually for each one is shown. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. The member 51 is used to insert a plurality of node rings 31 into the four guide needles 46 erected on the assembly table 41 at the same time.

  This node ring support member 51 is provided with grooves that fit into the two wire guides 37 projecting inwardly of the node ring 31, such as a spline shaft, at equal positions in four circumferential directions on the outer circumferential surface and recessed in the axial direction. A node ring rotation prevention shaft 52 is provided, and a cylindrical push-out bar 53 is provided around the node ring rotation prevention shaft 52 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. A plurality of node rings 31 are arranged on the node ring rotation prevention shaft 52 in a predetermined order in which the node rings 31 are assembled to the bending unit 48 so as to be separable. At this time, each node ring 31 is held in a state in which the node ring 31 does not rotate in the direction around the axis of the node ring rotation preventing shaft 52 using a groove (not shown) fitted to each wire guide 37 as a locking means.

  Next, an operation of inserting the plurality of node rings 31 into the four guide needles 46 erected on the assembly table 41 using the node ring support member 51 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 15 (A), four guide needles 46 (two in FIG. 15 (A) have two guide needles 46 formed in a needle insertion groove 47 formed by being equally distributed around the circular hole 44 of the base 42 of the assembly base 41. Only the guide needle 46 of the book is shown).

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15B, the distal end portion of the node ring support member 51 is disposed above the four guide needles 46 of the assembly base 41. At this time, the center position of the circular hole 44 of the assembly base 41 and the center position of the node ring rotation preventing shaft 52 of the node ring support member 51 are positioned concentrically. In this state, the node ring support member 51 is moved in the direction of the assembly table 41. Then, assembly work is performed from the node ring 31 on the distal end side (lower side in FIG. 15B) to the four guide needles 46 of the assembly base 41. During this operation, of the four guide needles 46, any two guide needles 46 arranged at positions 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction of the circular hole 44 are respectively in the two wire guides 37 of the node ring 31. Inserted.

  Thereafter, the assembly work of the second node ring 31 is performed. During the assembling operation of the second node ring 31, the remaining two guide needles 46 that are not used for guiding the two wire guides 37 of the first node ring 31 out of the four guide needles 46 are second. Are inserted into the two wire guides 37 of the node ring 31, respectively. As a result, the second node ring 31 is assembled on the first node ring 31.

  Further, after the second node ring 31 is arranged on the first node ring 31, the two protrusions 33 on the front side of the first node ring 31 and the two protrusions on the rear side of the second node ring 31 are arranged. An operation of connecting the piece 34 so as to be rotatable through a rivet 35 is performed. At this time, a rivet 35 is inserted into the overlapping portion of the two protruding pieces 33 on the front side of the first node ring 31 and the two protruding pieces 34 on the rear side of the second node ring 31, or the rivet 35 is caulked. Work to be done.

  Thereafter, the assembly work of the third node ring 31 is performed. During the assembly work of the third node ring 31, of the four guide needles 46, the two guide needles 46 used to guide the two wire guides 37 of the first node ring 31 are the third node ring. 31 are inserted into the two wire guides 37 respectively.

  Further, after the third node ring 31 is disposed on the second node ring 31, the two projecting pieces 33 on the front side of the second node ring 31 and the rear 2 of the third node ring 31. The operation of pivotally connecting the two projecting pieces 34 via the rivet 35 is performed in the same manner as the previous time.

  Thereafter, similarly, the work for assembling the fourth and subsequent node rings 31 is repeated in the same manner. As a result, a predetermined number of node rings 31 are assembled as shown in FIG. At this time, the tip of the node ring rotation preventing shaft 52 of the node ring support member 51 is inserted into the circular hole 44 of the assembly base 41.

  Further, after the assembly of the predetermined number of node rings 31 to the four guide needles 46 of the assembly base 41 is completed, the node ring rotation prevention shaft 52 of the node ring support member 51 is lifted by an unillustrated push rod. Instead of this, an operation of inserting the built-in bundle 45B into the internal space of each node ring 31 of the bending unit 48 is performed instead.

  Thereafter, the four guide needles 46 are pulled upward from the bending portion unit 48. At this time, the four operation wires 36 are pulled upward together with the four guide needles 46. As a result, the four operation wires 36 are inserted into the wire guides 37 of the node rings 31 of the bending unit 48, respectively. Then, the guide needle 46 is cut from the operation wire 36 in a state where the distal ends of the four operation wires 36 are drawn upward from the bending unit 48.

  Subsequently, for example, the two projecting pieces 33 on the front side of the node ring 31 at the foremost end position of the bending portion 5 are similar to the two projecting pieces 6a projecting rearward from the rear end portion of the distal end hard portion 6 respectively. Are connected to each other via a rivet 35. Thereafter, the distal end portions of the four operation wires 36 are fixed to the rear end portion of the distal end rigid portion 6.

  Thereafter, after the outer peripheral surface of the bending unit 48 and the built-in object binding body 45B are gripped by the gripping member, the assembly table 41 is moved downward. As a result, the bending unit 48 is detached from the assembly base 41 (shown in FIG. 11E). Similarly to the first embodiment, the two projecting pieces 34 on the rear side of the node ring 31 at the rearmost end position of the detached bending portion unit 48 are two of the connecting members 4 a of the flexible tube portion 4. They are connected to the projecting pieces 4a1 via rivets 35, respectively.

  Therefore, the configuration described above has the following effects. That is, also in the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion portion 2 of the present embodiment, the assembly base 41 of the endoscope insertion portion 2 is manufactured when the bending portion 5 of the endoscope 1 is manufactured, as in the first embodiment. A step of inserting a plurality of node rings 31 sequentially into the four guide needles 46 provided on the bending needle unit 48 in which the plurality of node rings 31 are arranged side by side. Thereby, the swing of the node ring 31 can be restrained by the four guide needles 46. In this state, by pulling the four guide needles 46 upward from the bending portion unit 48, the four operation wires 36 are pulled upward together with the four guide needles 46. Accordingly, the four operation wires 36 can be bent without bending the node rings 31 during the operation of inserting the four operation wires 36 into the narrow wire guide 37 of each node ring 31 of the bending unit 48. The unit 48 can be easily inserted into the wire guide 37 of each node ring 31 at the same time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the built-in bundle 45 </ b> B is placed in a state where the node ring rotation prevention shaft 52 of the node ring support member 51 is pulled upward from the bending portion unit 48 and replaced with the node ring rotation prevention shaft 52. The operation of inserting into the inner space of each node ring 31 of the bending unit 48 is performed. At the time of inserting the built-in bundle 45B, since the swing of the node ring 31 is held by the four guide needles 46, the node ring is connected by the swing of the node ring 31 as in the prior art. Built-in objects incorporated in the endoscope insertion section 2 in the internal space of the body, for example, a light guide fiber 10, a cable 15 such as a signal line of an image sensor such as a CCD, and an image guide fiber (not shown) in the case of a fiberscope Or it can prevent that the operation | work which inserts the treatment tool penetration channel 9, the air supply tube 13, and the water supply tube 14 becomes difficult to perform. As a result, it is easier to insert the built-in object built in the endoscope insertion portion 2 and the assembly is easier than in the conventional case. Therefore, when manufacturing the bending portion 5 of the endoscope, the operation of inserting the built-in object incorporated in the endoscope insertion portion 2 into the internal space of each node ring 31 of the bending portion unit 48, or four operation wires It is possible to reduce the manufacturing man-hours when performing the operation of inserting 36 into the narrow wire guide 37 of each node ring 31 of the bending portion unit 48, to reduce the manufacturing cost, and to supply at a low cost.

  FIGS. 16 to 18 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the bending portion 5 of the endoscope 1 according to the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 11) is changed as follows, and the configuration of the assembly table 41 of the bending portion 5 is as follows. It was changed as follows.

  That is, in the first embodiment, the configuration in which the plurality of node rings 31 arranged in parallel to the bending portion 5 are connected to each other via the rivets 35 so as to be rotatable is shown. The plurality of node rings 31 arranged in parallel to the bending portion 5 without 35 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable.

  FIG. 16 shows one node ring 61 of the present embodiment. The node ring 61 has a cylindrical node ring main body (tubular portion) 62. At the tip of the node ring main body 62, two projecting pieces 63, in which a part of the outer peripheral surface of the node ring main body 62 protrudes forward, are disposed at positions 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction. The projecting piece 63 has a semicircular tip at the tip.

  Further, at the rear end portion of the node ring main body 62, two concave portions 64, in which a part of the outer peripheral surface of the node ring main body 62 is recessed forward, are disposed at positions separated by 180 ° in the circumferential direction. The concave portion 64 is formed by a semicircular concave groove corresponding to the semicircular shape of the protruding piece 63. Here, the two front protrusions 63 and the two rear recesses 64 are arranged at positions shifted by 90 ° in the circumferential direction.

  The plurality of node rings 61 arranged in parallel with the bending portion 5 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, two protrusions 63 on the front side of the rear node ring 61 are inserted into and contacted with the two recesses 64 on the rear side of the front node ring 61. Yes. Thus, the semicircular abutment portion between the semicircular protrusion 63 and the semicircular recess 64 pivotally supports the front node ring 61 and the rear node ring 61 in a rotatable manner. A bearing portion 65 is formed.

  And in the curved part 5 of this Embodiment, the direction of the bearing part 65 which each connects between the some node rings 61 is alternately arrange | positioned in the state which respectively shifted 90 degrees between each node ring 61 front and back. Thereby, the whole bending part 5 is comprised so that it can each bend in four directions of an up-down and left-right.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16, two wire guides (wire receivers) 66 protrude inwardly from the peripheral wall portion of the node ring main body 62 of each node ring 61 while cutting off a part of the peripheral wall portion by pressing. Has been formed. Then, either the vertical operation wire 36 or the horizontal operation wire 36 is inserted into these wire guides 66 (see FIG. 6).

  FIGS. 18A to 18C show an assembly base 71 of the bending portion 5 of the present embodiment. The assembly base 71 is provided with a base 72. A concave-shaped node ring receiving portion 73 that holds one end portion of the outer peripheral wall of the node ring 61 is formed at the center of the base 72. A circular hole 74 for inserting a built-in object is formed at the center of the node ring receiving portion 73. In this circular hole 74, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11E, a rod-shaped core member (position holding member) 45A, or a built-in object incorporated in the insertion portion 2 as shown in FIG. , A light guide fiber 10, a cable 15 such as a signal line of an image sensor such as a CCD, an image guide fiber (not shown) in the case of a fiberscope, a treatment instrument insertion channel 9, an air supply tube 13, a water supply tube 14, etc. A built-in bundle (position holding member) 45B or the like bundled in a bundled state can be inserted.

  Further, four guide needles (position holding members) 76 are arranged on the base 72 of the assembly table 71 around the circular hole 74 (FIGS. 18A to 18C). Only two guide needles 76 are shown in the inside). The four guide needles 76 are arranged at equal intervals (90 ° intervals) along the circumferential direction of the circular hole 74.

  For this reason, four needle insertion grooves 77 are formed in the peripheral wall portion of the circular hole 74 of the base 72 (only two needle insertion grooves 77 are shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C). . In these four needle insertion grooves 77, four guide needles 76 are inserted so as to be slidable in the axial direction.

  The assembly table 71 is provided with a wire feed mechanism 78 that feeds and drives the four guide needles 76. These wire feed mechanisms 78 are provided with, for example, two feed rollers 79 that sandwich the guide needle 76. The guide needle 76 is advanced and retracted along the needle insertion groove 77 of the base 72 by the two feed rollers 79.

  Note that the distal end portions of the operation wires 36 are fixed to the proximal end portions of the four guide needles 76 by means such as soldering (see FIG. 9). Here, the guide needle 76 may be omitted, and the operation wire 36 may be directly erected on the assembly table 71.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the endoscope insertion portion 2 of the present embodiment using the assembly base 71 of the bending portion 5 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 18A, four guide needles 76 protrude upward on the node ring receiving portion 73 of the assembly base 71. Here, assuming that the length of one node ring 61 is t1, the protruding length t2 of the four guide needles 76 protruding on the node ring receiving portion 73 is the length of one node ring 61. The length is set slightly longer than the length t1. That is, t2 = t1 + α and 0 <α <t1 are set.

  When the first node ring 61 is assembled, any two of the four guide needles 76 arranged at positions 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction of the circular hole 74 are connected to the node ring 61. Each is inserted into two wire guides 66. As a result, the first node ring 61 is moved downward in the state of being guided along the two guide needles 76 inserted into the wire guide 66, and is moved onto the node ring receiving portion 73 of the assembly base 71. It is assembled in the state where it is placed.

  Thereafter, the wire feed mechanism 78 is driven, and the four guide needles 76 are driven to rise upward from the position of FIG. At this time, the amount of movement of the four guide needles 76 is the length t2 on the first node ring 61 assembled on the node ring receiving portion 73 of the assembly base 71 as shown in FIG. The protruding length is set.

  Then, after the four guide needles 76 are projected on the first node ring 61 by the length t2, the assembly work of the second node ring 61 is performed. During the assembly work of the second node ring 61, the remaining two guide needles 76 that are not used for guiding the two wire guides 66 of the first node ring 61 out of the four guide needles 46 are second. The node rings 61 are inserted into the two wire guides 66, respectively. Then, the second node ring 61 is moved downward while being guided along the two guide needles 76 respectively inserted into the wire guide 66. As a result, the second node ring 61 is assembled on the first node ring 61. At this time, the two projecting pieces 63 of the second node ring 61 are inserted into the two recesses 64 of the first node ring 61 and connected in a contact state.

  Thereafter, the wire feed mechanism 78 is driven, and the four guide needles 76 are driven to rise upward from the position of FIG. At this time, the amount of movement of the four guide needles 76 is set to a length that projects by the length t2 on the second node ring 61 as shown in FIG.

  Then, after the four guide needles 76 are projected on the second node ring 61 by the length t2, the assembly work of the third node ring 61 is performed. During the assembling operation of the third node ring 61, of the four guide needles 46, the two guide needles 76 used for guiding the two wire guides 66 of the first node ring 61 are the third node ring. 61 are inserted into the two wire guides 66 respectively. Then, the third node ring 61 is moved downward while being guided along the two guide needles 76 respectively inserted into the wire guide 66. As a result, the third node ring 61 is assembled on the second node ring 61. At this time, the two projecting pieces 63 of the third node ring 61 are connected in a state of being inserted into and in contact with the two recesses 64 of the second node ring 61.

  Thereafter, the work of assembling the fourth and subsequent node rings 61 is sequentially and repeatedly performed. Thereby, the assembling work of the bending portion unit 48 in which the predetermined number of node rings 61 are assembled is completed.

  Thereafter, the four guide needles 76 are pulled upward from the bending portion unit 48. At this time, the four operation wires 36 are pulled upward together with the four guide needles 76. Accordingly, the four operation wires 36 are inserted into the wire guides 66 of the node rings 61 of the bending unit 48, respectively. Then, the guide needle 76 is cut from the operation wire 36 in a state where the distal ends of the four operation wires 36 are drawn upward from the bending portion unit 48.

  Subsequently, for example, two protrusions 63 formed on the rear end portion of the distal end rigid portion 6 on the rear side of the concave portion 64 on the rear side of the node ring 61 at the foremost end position of the bending portion 5 are respectively the same. It is connected in the state of being inserted and abutted. Thereafter, the distal end portions of the four operation wires 36 are fixed to the rear end portion of the distal end rigid portion 6.

  Thereafter, after the outer peripheral side of the bending unit 48 is gripped by the gripping member, the assembly base 71 is moved downward. As a result, the bending portion unit 48 is detached from the assembly table 71. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the core material 45A or the built-in bundle 45B may be inserted into the circular hole 74 and used as a movement guide for each node ring 61. good.

  Therefore, this embodiment has the following effects. That is, the plurality of node rings 61 arranged side by side on the curved portion 5 of the present embodiment are provided with two protrusions on the front side of the rear node ring 61 in the two recesses 64 on the rear side of the front node ring 61. By connecting the piece 63 in a state of being inserted and abutted, the front node ring 61 and the rear side ring 61 are separated by a semicircular abutting portion between the semicircular protruding piece 63 and the semicircular recess 64. A bearing portion 65 that pivotably supports the node ring 61 is formed. Therefore, the front and rear nodes are compared to the case where a plurality of work processes such as inserting a rivet into the overlapping portion of the rear protruding portion of the front node ring and the front protruding portion of the rear node ring or caulking to the rivet are performed. The manufacturing operation of the support shaft portion between the wheels 61 is simple.

  Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion portion 2 according to the present embodiment, the assembly base 71 of the endoscope insertion portion 2 is manufactured at the time of manufacturing the bending portion 5 of the endoscope 1 as in the first embodiment. An assembly step of integrally assembling the bending portion unit 48 in which the plurality of node rings 61 are arranged in parallel by sequentially inserting the wire guides 66 of the plurality of node rings 61 into the four guide needles 76 provided in Have. Thereby, the swing of the node ring 61 can be restrained by the four guide needles 76. In this state, by pulling the four guide needles 76 upward from the bending unit 48, the four operation wires 36 are pulled upward together with the four guide needles 76. As a result, the four operation wires 36 can be bent without bending the node rings 61 when the four operation wires 36 are inserted into the narrow wire guides 66 of the node rings 61 of the bending unit 48. The unit 48 can be easily inserted into the wire guide 66 of each node ring 61 at the same time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C, when the wire feed mechanism 78 is provided on the assembly base 71 and the plurality of node rings 61 are stacked, the stacking height of the node rings 61 is increased. Accordingly, the length of the guide needle 76 is adjusted so that the four guide needles 76 are exposed with a length that is most easily passed through the wire guide 66 of the node ring 61. In this protrusion amount adjusting step, the protrusion position of the guide needle 76 on the assembly base 71 is set to a protrusion amount that allows one node ring 61 to be inserted according to the progress of the insertion operation of the guide needle 76 into the node ring 61. I try to adjust it. Therefore, even when the number of stacked node rings 61 is small, it is possible to prevent the guide needles 76 from being shaken and difficult to pass through the wire guides 66 of the node rings 61. As a result, at the time of manufacturing the bending portion 5 of the endoscope, it is manufactured by reducing the number of work steps when performing the operation of inserting the four operation wires 36 into the narrow wire guide 66 of each node ring 61 of the bending portion unit 48. Cost can be reduced and supply can be made at low cost.

  In the present embodiment, instead of using the four guide needles 76, the four operation wires 36 are used, and a plurality of node rings 61 are directly assembled to the four operation wires 36. good. In this case, the wire feeding mechanism 78 is driven according to the stacking height of the node rings 61, and the four operation wires 36 are fed and driven with a length that is most easily passed through the wire guide 66 of the node ring 61. The same effect as when the guide needle 76 is used is obtained.

  In addition, all the necessary number of wires 36 may be simultaneously passed through the wire guide 66 of the node ring 61, but instead, the number of wires 36 that can suppress the rotation and swinging of the node ring 61. A first step of passing the wire through the node ring 61 and a second step of passing the remaining wire 36 through the wire guide 66 of the node ring 61 may be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, as in the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 19, a cylindrical shape having an inner peripheral surface that fits with the outer peripheral wall of the node ring 61 on the assembly base 71, or at least the outer periphery of the node ring 61 A support member 81 arranged to support the wall at three points on the circumference may be provided as a guide. This support member 81 supports the outer peripheral surface of the node ring 61 to be laminated from the outside.

  Further, a receiving part moving mechanism 82 for moving the position of the node ring receiving part 73 up and down may be provided at the center of the base 72 of the assembly base 71. In this case, according to the third embodiment, the receiving portion moving mechanism 82 is moved in accordance with the stacking height of the stacked node rings 61 to change the height position of the node ring receiving portion 73 to be lower. Similarly to the case where the four guide needles 76 are fed and driven with a length that most easily passes through the wire guide 66 of the node ring 61 by driving the wire feeding mechanism 78 used in the configuration, the four guide needles 76 are bent. It is possible to facilitate the work when inserting into the narrow wire guide 66 of each node ring 61 of the unit 48.

  The assembly table 71 may be provided with means for preventing rotation around the axis with respect to the center line of the node ring 61. In this case, the node rings 61 to be stacked are displaced in the direction around the axis with respect to the center line of the node rings 61, whereby the position of the wire guide 66 in each node ring 61 is rotated to change the angle, and the wire 36 is inserted. Can be prevented from becoming difficult.

  The node rings 61 may be stacked not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction or in an oblique direction. At this time, when the wire 36 hangs down or bends with respect to the base 72 of the assembly table 71, it is desirable to use it in combination with a wire feed mechanism 78 that enables adjustment of the protruding amount of the wire 36.

  The assembly table 71 may be provided with a cutting means for cutting the four wires 36 in consideration of a margin of a predetermined length when a predetermined number of node rings 61 are stacked. After removing the node ring 61 from the assembly base 71, a wire feed mechanism 78 having a function of causing the wire 36 to protrude again by a predetermined length may be provided so that the next stacking is possible.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Next, other characteristic technical matters of the present application are appended as follows.
Record
(Additional Item 1) A wire held on the base, or a guide needle connected to one end of the wire, a bundled interior, or one or more of the core materials as a guide, and straightly aligned in a state in which swinging is restricted. A method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion, wherein the wire and the interior object are inserted through a plurality of node rings that are connected to each other.

  (Additional Item 2) The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to Additional Item 1, wherein the insertion of the wire is performed simultaneously with the removal of the guide needle inserted into the wire receiver.

  (Additional Item 3) The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to Additional Item 1, wherein the insertion of the interior object is performed simultaneously with the removal of the inserted core material.

  (Additional Item 4) A step of projecting the tip of a highly rigid needle-shaped guide member having a distal end connected to a bending operation wire of an endoscope from an opening opened in an assembly base of the endoscope insertion portion, and a projecting guide Passing the wire guide part of the node ring of the endoscope bending part along the member, connecting each node ring, and pulling out the guide member from the wire guide part of each node ring, to the wire guide part of each node ring A method of manufacturing an endoscope bending portion, comprising a step of passing a bending operation wire on a distal side.

  (Additional Item 5) The bending operation wire (or guide needle) protrudes from the opening of the assembly base provided with the nodal ring receiving part combined with the nodal ring at the end of the endoscope bending part by one of the nodal ring. And a second step of passing the bending operation wire (or guide needle) protruding from the assembly base through the wire guide portion of the node ring, and repeating the first step and the second step. An endoscope bending portion manufacturing method for connecting a plurality of node rings of an endoscope bending portion.

  (Additional Item 6) The endoscope according to Additional Item 5, which includes a node ring rotation prevention shaft that supplies a node ring to the bending operation wire (or guide needle) so as to prevent rotation of the node ring of the endoscope bending portion. A method of manufacturing the bending portion.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is effective in a technical field that uses a method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion part that includes a bending part, and a technical field that manufactures an endoscope insertion part by a method for manufacturing the endoscope insertion part.

The schematic block diagram which shows the whole structure of the general endoscope with which the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of the 1st Embodiment of this invention is applied. The schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of the front-end | tip rigid part of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment. The III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1 which shows the cross section of the curved part of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment. The side view which shows the juxtaposition state of the node ring of the curved part of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows one node ring of the curved part of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment. The cross-sectional view of the wire guide portion of the node ring of the bending portion of the endoscope according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the assembly stand of the bending part used with the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of 1st Embodiment. The top view of the assembly stand of the curved part of 1st Embodiment. The top view which shows the connection part of the guide needle and bending wire used with the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of 1st Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which assembled | attached the guide needle | hook to the assembly stand of the curved part of 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the state which assembled | attached three node rings on the assembly base of the bending part in the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the state which assembled | attached three node rings on the assembly base of the bending part in the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the supporting member of the node ring used with the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view which shows one node ring of the curved part assembled | attached with the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows the juxtaposition state of the node ring of the bending part of the endoscope assembled | attached with the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of 3rd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of 3rd Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembly stand of the curved part used with the manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part of the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 2 ... Insertion part, 5 ... Bending part, 30 ... Assembly unit, 35 ... Node ring, 35 ... Rivet (support shaft part), 36 ... Operation wire, 37 ... Wire guide (wire receiver), 41 ... assembling table, 45A ... core material (position holding member), 45B ... built-in bundle (position holding member), 46 ... guide needle (position holding member), 48 ... bending unit.

Claims (8)

  A plurality of node rings are arranged side by side along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion part, and the assembly stage of the endoscope insertion part is manufactured at the time of manufacturing a curved part in which the front and rear node rings are rotatably connected to each other. In the state where the node ring is inserted into the position holding member provided on the bending unit, the plurality of node rings are sequentially inserted into the position holding member, and the bending unit in which the plurality of node rings are arranged side by side is integrally assembled. An endoscope insertion part manufacturing method characterized by providing an attaching step for attaching. The position holding member includes at least one of a connecting body in which a guide needle that can be inserted into a wire receiver of the node ring through which the operation wire of the bending portion is inserted is connected to the operation wire, or the operation wire itself. The body is used,
2. The assembling step includes a step of temporarily assembling the plurality of node rings sequentially through the wire bodies in a state where the wire bodies are inserted through wire receivers of the node rings. The manufacturing method of the endoscope insertion part as described in 1 .. As the position holding member, either a core material that can be inserted into the inner space of the node ring, or an insertion member that is installed in the inner space of the node ring is used,
2. The assembly step according to claim 1, further comprising a step of temporarily assembling the plurality of node rings by sequentially inserting the plurality of node rings into the insertion member in a state where the node rings are inserted through the insertion member. Manufacturing method of an endoscope insertion part. The position holding member includes at least one of a connecting body in which a guide needle that can be inserted into a wire receiver of the node ring through which the operation wire of the bending portion is inserted is connected to the operation wire, or the operation wire itself. The body and a core material that can be inserted into the inner space of the node ring, or any one of the built-in insertion members attached to the inner space of the node ring are used,
The assembly step includes a step of temporarily assembling the plurality of node rings sequentially through the wire body and the insertion member in a state where the node rings are inserted into the wire body and the insertion member. The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1. As the position holding member, a connecting body in which a needle-shaped guide needle that can be inserted into a wire receiver of the node ring that inserts the operation wire of the bending portion is connected to the operation wire is used.
The assembly step includes inserting the wire receiver of the node ring into the guide needle in a state where a distal end portion of the operation wire is fixed to a proximal end portion of the position holding member formed by the guide needle;
Inserting the operation wire into the wire receiver by pulling out the guide needle inserted into the wire receiver from the wire receiver of the node ring;
The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1, further comprising a step of detaching the guide needle from a distal end portion of the operation wire. A plurality of node rings are arranged in parallel along the insertion direction of the endoscope insertion portion, and a plurality of bending operations are performed on the bending portion at the time of manufacturing the bending portion in which the front and rear node rings are rotatably connected to each other. A wire setting step for setting the operation wire in a state of protruding in advance on the assembly base of the endoscope insertion portion;
An assembly step in which the plurality of node rings are sequentially inserted into the operation wires and assembled in a state where the operation wires projected on the assembly base are inserted into the wire receivers of the node rings. Manufacturing method of an endoscope insertion part.   In the assembling step, a protrusion that adjusts a protruding position of the operation wire that protrudes on the assembly base according to a progress of an insertion operation of the node ring during an operation of sequentially inserting the plurality of node rings through the operation wire. The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 6, further comprising an amount adjustment step.   The projecting amount adjusting step includes a projecting amount of the operation wire that can be inserted by one node of the projecting position of the operating wire that projects on the assembly base according to the progress of the inserting operation of the node ring. The method for manufacturing an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 7, further comprising a step of adjusting a wire protrusion amount to be adjusted.

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