JP2008043716A - Clip unit for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clip unit for an endoscope which is comprised of a flexible sheath keeping at least the vicinity of the end, formed of a tightly wound coil, covered with a heat-shrinkable tube and allows the tightly wound coil not to be stretched out forward from the extremity of the heat-shrinkable tube even when a force to stretch the end of the tightly wound coil is exerted on it and its initial superior ability to operate to be maintained. <P>SOLUTION: Several points of the extremity of the tightly wound coil 11 which are in positions shifted axially and at interfaces between the coil wires are subjected to spot welding 31, 32 and 33. The entire length of the flexible sheath 10 including the tightly wound coil 11 is covered with the heat-shrinkable tube 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope clip device.

In general, an endoscopic clip device has an operation wire inserted into a flexible sheath, and is connected to a distal end of the operation wire in a separable manner with respect to a clip for indwelling and placing on a living tissue. The clip connecting member is attached, and the clip connecting member protrudes forward from the distal end of the flexible sheath by pushing the operation wire against the flexible sheath from the rear to connect the clip connecting member and the clip. Is coming off. Then, at least the vicinity of the distal end portion of the flexible sheath is formed of a flexible tightly wound coil so that it can smoothly pass through the bending portion at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope (for example, Patent Document 1, 2).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-53667 JP 2002-191609 A

  The tightly wound coil that forms the flexible sheath of the above-described endoscope clip device is formed of a metal material such as stainless steel, and is less slippery than fluororesin or the like. In addition, the portion other than the tightly wound coil of the flexible sheath requires strong buckling resistance, so it is necessary to use PEEK (polyether ether ketone) resin, etc., which is also more slippery than fluororesin etc. Is not good. Therefore, the passage through the treatment instrument guide tube of the endoscope becomes heavy (if the outer tube is coated on the outer surface of the flexible sheath, the forward and backward movement between the outer tube and the outer tube becomes heavy) and it cannot be used smoothly. It may become a state.

  Thus, if a heat-shrinkable tube made of a fluororesin having good sliding properties is covered over the entire length of the outer surface of the flexible sheath, the outer surface of the flexible sheath can be slipped and used smoothly. However, in such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation wire 3 is attached to the flexible sheath 4 (the closely wound coil 4 a and the flexible tube 4 b) in order to remove the clip connecting member 2 from the clip 1. On the other hand, when an operation of pushing from the rear is performed and a force extending forward is applied to the distal end of the flexible sheath 4, the heat-shrinkable tube 5 that is covered and fixed to the flexible sheath 4 only by its own heat-shrinking force. In some cases, the tightly wound coil 4a extends forward from the frontmost portion of the wire, and the state is not repaired, resulting in malfunction. 6 is the extended part.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem. When a configuration in which a heat-shrinkable tube is coated on a flexible sheath formed of a tightly wound coil at least in the vicinity of the distal end portion is taken into close contact winding. Endoscopic clip device that maintains the initial excellent operability without the tightly wound coil extending forward from within the most distal portion of the heat-shrinkable tube even when a force that extends the tip of the coil forward acts The purpose is to provide.

  An operation wire is inserted and placed in a flexible sheath that is formed of a tightly wound coil at least near the tip, and the tip of the operation wire is separable from a clip for indwelling the living tissue. The clip connecting member to be connected to the clip is attached, and the clip connecting member protrudes forward from the distal end of the flexible sheath by pushing the operation wire from the rear to the flexible sheath. In an endoscopic clip device configured to be in a state where it can be disconnected from the coil, spots are formed at the coil winding boundary portions at a plurality of positions shifted in the axial direction near the most distal portion of the closely wound coil. Welding was performed, and the heat-shrinkable tube was covered over the entire length of the flexible sheath including the tightly wound coil.

The heat-shrinkable tube may be made of a fluororesin, and the tightly wound coil may be made of metal. Moreover, spot welding may be performed by laser welding.
A plurality of spot welds are applied between the pitches of the coil winding at the most advanced portion of the closely wound coil, and one spot weld is applied for each pitch at a position behind the coil winding. In this position, spot welding may be performed with an interval larger than one pitch, and spot welding may be performed at two positions different from each other by 180 ° in the circumferential direction at the most distal portion of the closely wound coil. In a region where spot welding is performed with an interval larger than one pitch, one spot welding may be performed every two pitches.

  According to the endoscopic clip device of the present invention, in an endoscopic clip device having a configuration in which a heat-shrinkable tube is covered with a flexible sheath formed at least in the vicinity of the distal end portion by a close-coiled coil. By applying spot welding to the coil winding boundary at a plurality of positions shifted in the axial direction in the vicinity of the most advanced part, and covering the entire length of the flexible sheath including the tightly wound coil with the heat shrinkable tube, the closely wound coil Even when a force for extending the tip of the wire to the front acts, the tightly wound coil does not extend forward from the most distal portion of the heat-shrinkable tube, and the initial excellent operability can be maintained.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the distal end portion of the endoscope clip device. Reference numeral 10 denotes a flexible sheath, and the total length thereof is, for example, about 1 to 2 m, but a metal material such as stainless steel is tightly wound with a certain diameter in the range of, for example, about several centimeters to several tens of centimeters. The tightly wound coil 11 is formed, and the other part is formed of a flexible tube 12 made of a strong material such as PEEK (polyetheretherketone) resin. In the flexible sheath 10 of this embodiment, the distal end portion of the flexible tube 12 is inserted into the rear end portion of the tightly wound coil 11 and is adhered and fixed to each other so as to be integrally formed as a whole. Note that the flexible sheath 10 as a whole may be formed of the closely wound coil 11.

  An operation wire 13 is inserted into the flexible sheath 10 so as to be movable back and forth in the front-rear direction, and the operation wire 13 is flexible at an operation portion (not shown) connected to the rear end portion of the flexible sheath 10. Advancing and retracting operation is performed in the sheath 10. However, since the operation of the operation wire 13 and the flexible sheath 10 is relative, the flexible sheath 10 may be advanced and retracted with respect to the operation wire 13. The outer peripheral portion of the operation wire 13 is covered with a flexible covered tube 14 made of, for example, a fluororesin tube or the like in order to reduce the backlash between the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube 12. Reference numeral 15 denotes an outer tube made of, for example, a fluororesin tube or the like, which is fitted on the outer surface of the flexible sheath 10 so as to be able to advance and retract in the front-rear direction. Then, the clip 18 is fed forward to make the clip 18 constricted.

  A clip connecting member 17 detachably attached to the rear end portion 18 a of the clip 18 is attached to the distal end of the operation wire 13. As shown in FIG. 2 in a state where the clip connecting member 17 is 90 ° different from that in FIG. 1, the clip connecting member 17 in this embodiment is forward as shown by a two-dot chain line when no external force is applied. It is formed in a tweezers shape with a leaf spring material or the like so as to be in an open state. The clip connecting member 17 is elastically deformed by the surrounding members in the flexible sheath 10 or the like and is in a narrowed state, and the leading end portions are bent inward so as to be in a mutually staggered state. Thus, the clip 18 is engaged with and connected to the rear end portion 18a of the clip 18. When the operation wire 13 is pushed against the flexible sheath 10 from behind, the clip connecting member 17 protrudes forward from the distal end of the flexible sheath 10 as shown by a two-dot chain line. 17 is opened by its own elasticity, and the engagement with the rear end portion 18a of the clip 18 is released and the clip 18 is separated.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the clip 18 is for biting into a living tissue and is placed, and is formed of a leaf spring material or the like so as to be largely opened forward when no external force is applied. As a result, the leading edge portions are bent inward so as to be in a mutually inconsistent state. When the clip tightening ring 19 fitted at a position near the rear end 18a is moved forward of the clip 18 as shown in FIG. 2, the clip 18 is forcibly closed, It can be in a state of biting into the tissue.

  Returning to FIG. 1 again, a substantially cylindrical tip cap 21 is connected and fixed to the most distal end portion of the tightly wound coil 11. A clip clamping ring 19 is fitted and held in the distal end of the distal end cap 21, and a reduced diameter portion 22 with which the rear end surface of the clip clamping ring 19 abuts is formed to reduce the inner diameter of the distal end cap 21. A portion of the tip base 21 behind the reduced-diameter portion 22 is a clip storage chamber for storing the clip 18 in a constricted state when the clip 18 is pulled by pulling the operation wire 13 from the operation portion side. 23, and has a larger inner diameter than the reduced diameter portion 22. As a result, when the clip connecting member 17 advances and retreats with a relatively small resistance in the clip storage chamber 23 and passes through the reduced diameter portion 22, a relatively large resistance is generated.

  The flexible sheath 10 of the clip device for an endoscope configured in this way is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 25 made of a material having a good sliding property such as a fluororesin over the entire length including the tightly wound coil 11. The heat-shrinking force fixes the outer surface of the flexible sheath 10. Therefore, the sliding operation can be smoothly and smoothly performed with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube 15 and the inner circumferential surface of the treatment instrument guide tube of the endoscope. The tip position of the heat-shrinkable tube 25 is coincident with the tip position of the closely wound coil 11, and the winding boundary portion near the most distal portion of the closely wound coil 11 covered near the most distal portion of the heat-shrinkable tube 25. Are spot-welded 31, 32, 33 by laser welding or the like at a plurality of positions shifted in the axial direction, and adjacent coil winding portions are welded and fixed to each other.

  3 and 4 show a state in which the side surface of the closely wound coil 11 is viewed from a direction different by 180 ° around the axis. As shown in FIG. Spot welding 31 is applied to each boundary portion between adjacent coil windings at a position closer to the most distal portion of the wound coil 11, and among the boundary portions of the plurality of coil windings at a position away from the most distal portion of the closely wound coil 11. Spot welding 32 is applied to some boundary portions (for example, every two turns). The spot welds 31 and 32 are applied at the same position in the circumferential direction of the closely wound coil 11. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, spot welding 33 is applied only to the most distal portion of the close-wound coil 11 on one side surface of the close-wound coil 11 at a 180 ° symmetrical position with respect thereto. This spot weld 33 is also applied at the same position in the circumferential direction of the closely wound coil 11. Reference numeral 35 denotes spot welding for fixing the tip cap 21 and the tightly wound coil 11 together.

  In this way, spot welding 31 and 33 is applied to the boundary portion of the coil winding at a plurality of positions (for example, positions different by 180 ° in the circumferential direction) between one pitch at the most distal portion of the closely wound coil 11. The longitudinal winding of the tightly wound coil 11 is strongly suppressed, and can be bent in a direction perpendicular to the positions of the spot welds 31 and 33, and one spot weld 31 at every pitch from the rear position. Is provided at a plurality of locations, so that the close-up coil 11 can be prevented from extending in the front-rear direction, and at the same time, the close-up coil 11 can be bent in a direction other than the direction opposite to the spot welding 31. At the rear position, spot welding 32 is performed at intervals larger than one pitch (for example, every two pitches), so that tight winding is performed. At the same time the longitudinal direction of elongation of the yl 11 is suppressed to some extent, it can be closely wound coil 11 is also bent in any direction.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the clip device for an endoscope in a state in the middle of the operation of separating the clip connecting member 17 from the clip 18 in a state of being forcibly closed by being tightened by the clip tightening ring 19. It is sectional drawing. The spot welds 31, 32, and 33 are on different cross sections, but are shown for ease of understanding. Here, the operation wire 13 is pushed into the flexible sheath 10 from the operation portion side, whereby the clip connecting member 17 is moved forward to pass the reduced diameter portion 22 portion. When the clip connecting member 17 passes through the reduced diameter portion 22, a relatively large resistance is generated as described above. Therefore, the force for pulling the distal end portion of the closely wound coil 11 forward from the heat shrinkable tube 25. However, since the spot welding 31, 32, 33 as described above is applied to the coil winding boundary portion in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the tightly wound coil 11, the tightly wound coil 11 is moved from the distal end of the heat shrinkable tube 25. The initial excellent operability can be maintained without extending forward.

Side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part vicinity of the clip apparatus for endoscopes of embodiment of this invention. The plane sectional view of the state in the middle of operation in which the clip connecting member of the clip device for endoscopes of an embodiment of the invention is pushed out from the tip of a flexible sheath. The state figure of the one side of the closely wound coil to which the spot welding of the embodiment of the present invention was applied. The state figure of the other side of the close_contact | adherence winding coil to which the spot welding of embodiment of this invention was given. The plane sectional view in the middle of operation in which the clip connecting member of the conventional endoscope clip device is pushed out from the tip of the flexible sheath.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Flexible sheath 11 ... Close wound coil 12 ... Flexible tube 13 ... Operation wire 17 ... Clip connection member 18 ... Clip 25 ... Heat-shrinkable tube 31, 32, 33 ... Spot welding

Claims (7)

An operation wire is inserted and disposed in a flexible sheath formed at least at the vicinity of the distal end portion by a tightly wound coil, and is separated from a clip for biting into a living tissue at the distal end of the operation wire. A clip connecting member to be connected is attached, and the clip connecting member protrudes forward from the distal end of the flexible sheath by pushing the operation wire from the rear to the flexible sheath. In the endoscope clip device configured to be in a state where the connection between the clip connecting member and the clip can be removed,
Spot welding is performed at the boundary of the coil winding at a plurality of positions shifted in the axial direction near the most distal portion of the tightly wound coil, and the flexible sheath including the tightly wound coil is covered over the entire length of the heat-shrinkable tube. An endoscopic clip device characterized by that.   The endoscope clip apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat shrinkable tube is made of a fluororesin.   The endoscope clip apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tightly wound coil is made of metal.   The endoscope clip device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spot welding is performed by laser welding.   The endoscope clip device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of spot welds are applied between one pitch of the coil winding at the most distal portion of the tightly wound coil, and the rear side thereof. An endoscopic clip device in which one spot welding is performed for each pitch at the position of, and spot welding is performed at an interval larger than one pitch at a position on the rear side.   6. The endoscope clip apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spot welding is performed at two positions different from each other by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction at the most distal end portion of the tightly wound coil.   The endoscopic clip device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein one spot welding is performed every two pitches in an area where the spot welding is performed with an interval larger than the one pitch. Endoscopic clip device.

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