JP2008264108A - Curving operation device of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the curving operation device of an endoscope which makes it possible to obtain an excellent operation feeling based on stable frictional resistance without causing rotation irregularities or the like in the frictional resistance between a pressure-contact ring and a friction member. <P>SOLUTION: An engaging guide member 36UD for engaging the pressure-contact ring 35UD so as not to be rotated around an axial line but so as to be freely moved in an axial direction with a linear movement ring 33UD is interposed between the pressure-contact ring 35UD and the linear movement ring 33UD. Also, as pressure-contact amount adjusting means, there provided are a pressure-contact amount adjusting ring 38UD capable of arbitrarily adjusting the axial line direction position of the pressure-contact ring 35UD by being screwed to the pressure-contact ring 35UD and rotated around the axial line, and a fixing member 39UD for fixing the pressure-contact amount adjusting ring 38UD. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope bending operation apparatus.

  In an endoscope, generally, a bending operation member is rotatably provided at an operation unit connected to a base end of an insertion unit in order to bend the bending unit formed near the distal end of the insertion unit by remote operation. .

  Then, in order to hold the bent portion in a bent state, the bending holding operation member that arbitrarily switches between the state in which frictional resistance is applied and the state in which the bending operation member is not applied to the rotation operation of the bending operation member is coaxial with the bending operation member. It is provided so that it can be rotated independently.

  The bending holding operation member is a friction member in which a linear moving ring that is non-rotatable around its axis is driven to advance and retreat in the axial direction, and a pressure contact ring that is driven in the axial direction by the linear moving ring is attached to the bending operation member By being in pressure contact with each other, a frictional resistance is imparted to the rotational operation of the bending operation member.

Further, in order to preliminarily adjust the magnitude of the applied frictional resistance, pressure contact amount adjusting means for adjusting and fixing the axial positional relationship of the pressure contact ring with respect to the linear moving ring is provided (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
JP 2004-129785 A

  In the conventional pressure contact amount adjusting means described in Patent Document 1, a slit is formed in a direction around the axis in a pressure contact ring screwed to a linear movement member, and the screwing positional relationship of the pressure contact ring to the linear movement member is appropriate. At this position, the slit is crushed in the axial direction to tighten a fixing screw that deforms the press-contact ring.

  Therefore, in the conventional bending operation device for an endoscope, the pressure contact ring after the adjustment is completed is deformed and is partially distorted and inclined with respect to the friction member. Rotation unevenness occurs in the frictional resistance, which may impair the operational feeling of the bending operation member.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bending operation device for an endoscope in which rotation unevenness or the like does not occur in a frictional resistance between a pressure ring and a friction member, and an excellent operation feeling based on a stable frictional resistance is obtained. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the bending operation device for an endoscope of the present invention is an operation coupled to the proximal end of the insertion portion in order to bend the bending portion formed near the distal end of the insertion portion by remote operation. A bending operation member is rotatably provided in the portion, and a state in which a frictional resistance is applied to a rotation operation of the bending operation member and a state in which the bending operation member is not applied are arbitrarily switched in order to maintain a bent state of the bending portion, and In order to be able to adjust the magnitude of the frictional resistance to be applied in advance, the bending operation member that can be rotated independently of the bending operation member and the coaxial line, and the axis of the bending holding operation member are rotated. A linear moving ring that is provided in an impossible manner and is driven forward and backward in the axial direction by forward and reverse rotation of the bending holding operation member, and a friction member that is driven in the axial direction by the linear moving ring and attached to the bending operation member In the bending operation device of the endoscope provided with the pressure contact ring and the pressure contact amount adjusting means for adjusting and fixing the axial positional relationship of the pressure contact ring with respect to the linear movement ring, the pressure contact ring is connected to the linear movement ring. In addition, an engagement guide member that is not rotatable around the axis but is movably engaged in the axial direction is interposed between the pressure contact ring and the linear movement ring, and is screwed into the pressure contact ring as a pressure contact amount adjusting means. A pressure contact amount adjusting ring capable of arbitrarily adjusting the axial direction position of the pressure contact ring by rotating around the axis, and a fixing member for fixing the pressure contact amount adjusting ring are provided.

  Note that the engagement guide member may be fixed along the outer peripheral portion of the linear moving ring.

  According to the present invention, the engagement guide member that engages the pressure contact ring so as to be movable in the axial direction without rotating about the axis with respect to the linear movement ring is interposed between the pressure contact ring and the linear movement ring. As a pressure contact amount adjusting means, a pressure contact amount adjusting ring capable of arbitrarily adjusting the axial position of the pressure contact ring by screwing with the pressure contact ring and rotating around the axis, and fixing for fixing the pressure contact amount adjusting ring. By providing a member, the pressure ring does not distort or tilt after adjusting the amount of pressure, so there is no rotation unevenness in the frictional resistance between the pressure ring and the friction member, and it is based on stable frictional resistance. A feeling of operation can be obtained.

  In order to bend the bending portion formed near the distal end of the insertion portion by remote operation, a bending operation member is rotatably provided at the operation portion connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion, and the bending portion is bent. In order to be able to arbitrarily switch between a state in which a frictional resistance is applied and a state in which a frictional resistance is not applied to the rotational operation of the bending operation member for holding, and to be able to adjust the magnitude of the frictional resistance to be applied in advance A bending holding operation member that can be independently rotated around the same axis as the bending operation member, and a non-rotatable rotation around the axis line of the bending holding operation member. A linear moving ring, a pressure contact ring that is axially driven by the linear movement ring and pressed against a friction member attached to the bending operation member, and an axial positional relationship of the pressure contact ring with respect to the linear movement ring In an endoscope bending operation apparatus provided with a pressure contact amount adjusting means for adjusting and fixing, a pressure contact ring is engaged with a linear movement ring so as not to be able to rotate about an axis but to be movable in an axial direction. The engagement guide member to be interposed is interposed between the pressure contact ring and the linear movement ring, and as the pressure contact amount adjusting means, the position of the pressure contact ring in the axial direction is arbitrarily adjusted by screwing with the pressure contact ring and rotating around the axis. A possible pressure contact amount adjusting ring and a fixing member for fixing the pressure amount adjusting ring are provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the endoscope. A distal end in which a bending portion 2 that is bent by remote operation is formed near the distal end of the flexible insertion portion 1 and an observation window or the like (not shown) is arranged. The body 3 is connected to the tip of the bending portion 2.

  The operation unit 4 connected to the base end of the insertion unit 1 includes an up / down direction bending operation knob 5UD and a left / right direction bending operation knob 5RL for performing a remote operation for bending the bending unit 2 at the coaxial line position. Each is arranged so as to be freely rotatable in a superposed state.

  When the up / down bending operation knob 5UD is rotated counterclockwise, the upward operation wire 6U inserted through the insertion portion 1 is pulled, and the bending portion 2 is moved upward as indicated by a two-dot chain line. When the bending operation knob 5UD for the vertical direction is rotated in the clockwise direction by bending in the direction (that is, the upward direction of the endoscope observation screen and the front direction of the operation unit 4), the downward operation wire 6D is operated. Is pulled, and the bending portion 2 bends downward.

  When the left / right bending operation knob 5RL is rotated counterclockwise, a left operation wire (not shown) inserted through the insertion portion 1 is pulled and the bending portion 2 bends leftward. When a clockwise operation is performed, a right operation wire (not shown) is pulled, and the bending portion 2 bends to the right. In this way, the bending portion 2 can be bent by an arbitrary angle (an angle corresponding to the pulling amount of the operation wire 6U) in an arbitrary direction by remote operation.

  7UD is an up / down direction bending holding operation knob for holding the up / down direction bending operation knob 5UD at an arbitrary rotational position so that the bending portion 2 is bent in the up / down direction, and 7RL is a bending portion. 2 are bending operation knobs for left and right directions for holding the bending operation knob 5RL for left and right directions at an arbitrary rotational position so as to hold the bent state in the left and right direction, and each of the bending operation knobs 5UD for up and down directions. And the bending operation knob 5RL for the left and right direction is arranged so that it can be rotated independently around the coaxial line.

  8U is a movable stopper of the upward operation wire 6U, and is cut at that position so as to absorb the slack of the upward operation wire 6U that is generated when the downward operation wire 6D is pulled. The direction operation wire 6U is connected and is a well-known one that doubles as a relaxation remover and a wire link. 9U is a fixed stopper with which the upward movable stopper 8U comes into contact.

  Similarly, 8D and 9D are a movable stopper and a fixed stopper of the downward operation wire 6D. Further, a similar movable stopper and fixed stopper are provided on the left and right operation wires (not shown).

  FIG. 1 shows a bending operation mechanism arranged in the operation unit 4 in order to bend the bending unit 2 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The up / down direction bending holding operation knob 7UD, the up / down direction bending operation knob 5UD, the left / right direction bending operation knob 5RL, and the left / right direction bending holding operation knob 7RL are arranged in this order so as to overlap the coaxial line position from the operation unit 4 side. Has been.

  Each of the up and down direction bending operation knob 5UD and the left and right direction bending operation knob 5RL has a large space inside the operation wheel, and each of the spaces is sealed watertight to the outside by a plurality of O-rings. . Each O-ring is shown in a state before being crushed by the mounting portion, and the reference numerals are omitted.

  Upward operating wire 6U and downward operating wire 6D are individually wound around an outer peripheral groove formed in two rows in parallel with the outer peripheral portion of upper and lower pulley 11UD, and each operating wire 6U, 6D is wound. Is fixed to the vertical pulley 11UD.

  The left-right direction operation wire 6R and the left-direction operation wire 6L are wound around the left-right direction pulley 11RL, and the base ends of the operation wires 6R, 6L are fixed to the left-right direction pulley 11RL. .

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a support shaft fixedly erected on the frame plate 10 of the operation unit 4 so as to support the entire bending operation mechanism, and the central axes of the bending operation knobs 5UD and 5RL and the bending holding operation knobs 7UD and 7RL. It arrange | positions in the position and protrudes toward the outward from the inside of the operation part 4. FIG.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a left-right direction rotational drive cylinder coupled to the left-right direction pulley 11RL. The left-right direction rotational drive cylinder is rotatably fitted to the support shaft 20 and is arranged to project outward from the operation portion 4, and left and right at the protruding end portion. The direction bending operation knob 5RL is connected.

  Therefore, if the left-right direction rotation drive cylinder 21 is rotated around the axis by the left-right direction bending operation knob 5RL, either the right-direction operation wire 6R or the left-direction operation wire 6L corresponding to the rotation direction. Is pulled, and the bending portion 2 bends in the left-right direction by an angle corresponding to the pulling amount.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a vertical rotation driving cylinder integrally connected to the vertical pulley 11UD, which is rotatably fitted in the vertical rotation bearing 23 fixedly erected from the operation unit 4 to operate the operation unit. 4 is projected from the inside to the outside, and a bending operation knob 5UD for the vertical direction is connected to the protruding end portion.

  Accordingly, when the vertical rotation driving cylinder 22 is rotated around the axis by the vertical bending operation knob 5UD, either the upward operation wire 6U or the downward operation wire 6D is associated with the rotation direction. Is pulled, and the bending portion 2 bends in the vertical direction by an angle corresponding to the pulling amount.

  The vertical bending operation knob 5UD and the horizontal bending operation knob 5RL are operated by operating the vertical bending operation knob 7UD and the horizontal bending operation knob 7RL in the spaces in the vertical operation knob 5UD. A friction mechanism is provided for maintaining a bent state of the bending portion 2 by applying a frictional resistance to the rotational operations of the direction bending operation knob 5UD and the left / right direction bending operation knob 5RL.

  Hereinafter, the friction mechanism disposed in the vertical bending operation knob 5UD will be described. In the following description, “axis” refers to a common central axis of the pulleys 11UD, 11RL, the bending operation knobs 5UD, 5RL, the bending holding operation knobs 7UD, 7RL, and the like.

  30UD is a friction member fixed to the vertical bending operation knob support wheel 5'UD so as to rotate about the axis integrally with the vertical bending operation knob 5UD. (Donut shape).

  31UD is a pin drive fitted and arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary bearing 23 for the vertical direction so as to rotate about the axis integrally with the bending holding operation knob 7UD for the vertical direction (but not movable in the axial direction). A drive pin 32UD is attached to the side surface of the cylinder so as to protrude sideways.

  The 33UD is provided so that it cannot rotate around the axis (however, it can move in the axial direction) by fitting the angular shaft of the vertical bearing 23 into the square hole formed in the upper half of the 33UD. Thus, it is a linear moving ring formed with a cam groove 34UD with which the drive pin 32UD is engaged. When the vertical curve holding operation knob 7UD is rotated forward and reverse, the drive pin 32UD is engaged with the cam groove 34UD. As a result, the linear moving ring 33UD advances and retreats (slides) in the axial direction.

  An engagement guide member 36UD serving as a guide for engaging the pressure contact ring 35UD pressed against the friction member 30UD is fixedly attached with a screw 37UD along the outer periphery of the linear moving ring 33UD. The pressure ring 35UD is driven in the axial direction by the linear moving ring 33UD and operates so as to be pressed against the friction member 30UD.

  However, as shown in FIG. 3 which is a cross-sectional plan view, the inner peripheral surface of the press-contact ring 35UD and the outer peripheral surface of the engagement guide member 36UD are loosely fitted by a non-circular cross-sectional shape that is relatively non-rotatable around the axis. Therefore, the pressure contact ring 35UD cannot rotate around the axis with respect to the linear movement ring 33UD via the engagement guide member 36UD interposed between the linear movement ring 33UD (therefore, the linear movement ring 33UD). ), And is movably engaged in the axial direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a pressure contact amount adjustment ring 38UD that can arbitrarily adjust the axial position of the pressure contact ring 35UD by rotating around the axis is provided with a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the pressure contact ring 35UD. A fixing nut 39UD is provided, which is arranged in a state of being screwed at the screwing portion A, and for fixing the pressure contact amount adjusting ring 38UD to the linear moving ring 33UD.

  As a result, when the fixing nut 39UD is loosened and the press contact amount adjusting ring 38UD is rotated, the press contact amount adjusting ring 38UD and the press contact ring 35UD screwed at the screwing portion A move in the axial direction with respect to the linear moving ring 33UD, By tightening the fixing nut 39UD, the pressure contact amount adjusting ring 38UD is fixed in a state in which the pressure contact amount adjusting ring 38UD cannot rotate with respect to the linear moving ring 33UD and the pressure contacting ring 35UD in a state where the axial positional relationship of the pressure contacting ring 35UD with respect to the linear moving ring 33UD is adjusted. It becomes the same state that they are constituted by one member.

  With such a configuration, when the operator operates the up / down bending holding knob 7UD in the forward / reverse rotation direction, the press-contact ring 35UD advances / retreats in the axial direction, as shown in the right half of FIG. The pressure contact ring 35UD is retracted from the friction member 30UD, and the frictional resistance is not applied to the rotational operation of the bending operation knob 5UD for the vertical direction, and the pressure contact ring 35UD is rubbed as shown in the left half. It is possible to arbitrarily switch between the state in which the bending portion 2 is kept bent by being frictionally applied to the rotational operation of the up / down bending operation knob 5UD by being pressed against the member 30UD.

  Then, in the adjustment work at the time of manufacturing and repair, the fixing nut 39UD is loosened and the pressure contact amount adjusting ring 38UD is rotated to adjust the pressure contact amount of the pressure contact ring 35UD with respect to the friction member 30UD. The magnitude of the frictional resistance applied to 5UD can be adjusted.

  Further, after the adjustment of the magnitude of the frictional resistance is completed, the adjustment state is fixed by tightening the fixing nut 39UD so that no distortion or inclination occurs in the pressure contact ring 35UD. Rotational unevenness or the like does not occur in the frictional resistance with the member 30UD, and an excellent operational feeling based on stable frictional resistance can be obtained.

  A mechanism for applying a frictional resistance to the rotation of the left / right bending operation knob 5RL by rotating the left / right bending holding operation knob 7RL in the space in the left / right bending operation knob 5RL. However, since the mechanism is the same as the mechanism in the above-described bending operation knob 5UD for the up-and-down direction, the same reference numeral with UD replaced with RL is attached to each member, and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of a fitting portion between the press-contact ring 35RL and the engagement guide member 36RL.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, the arrangement | positioning relationship of the bending operation knob 5UD for the up-down direction and the bending operation knob 5RL for the left-right direction may be reversed.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the bending operation mechanism of the endoscope of the Example of this invention. It is an external view which shows the whole structure of the endoscope of the Example of this invention. It is a plane sectional view of the fitting part of the press-contact ring for the up-and-down direction and the engagement guide member. It is a plane sectional view of the fitting part of the press-contact ring for right and left directions, and an engagement guide member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part 2 Bending part 4 Operation part 5UD, 5RL Bending operation knob 7UD, 7RL Bending holding operation knob 30UD, 30RL Friction member 33UD, 33RL Linear moving ring 35UD, 35RL Pressing ring 36UD, 36RL Engaging guide member 38UD, 38RL Pressing amount Adjustment ring 39UD, 39RL Fixing nut (fixing member)

Claims (2)

In order to bend the bending portion formed near the distal end of the insertion portion by remote operation, a bending operation member is rotatably provided at the operation portion connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion, and
In order to maintain the bent state of the bending portion, a state in which a frictional resistance is applied to a rotation operation of the bending operation member is arbitrarily switched between a state in which the bending operation member is not applied and a magnitude of the frictional resistance to be applied is adjusted in advance. To be able to
A bending holding operation member capable of rotating independently of the bending operation member and a coaxial line;
A linear moving ring that is non-rotatable around the axis of the bending holding operation member and is driven to move back and forth in the axial direction by forward and reverse rotation of the bending holding operation member;
A pressure ring that is driven in an axial direction by the linear moving ring and is pressed against a friction member attached to the bending operation member;
In a bending operation apparatus for an endoscope, provided with a pressure contact amount adjusting means for adjusting and fixing the axial positional relationship of the pressure contact ring with respect to the linear moving ring,
An engagement guide member that engages the pressure contact ring so as not to rotate about the axis with respect to the linear movement ring but to move in the axial direction is interposed between the pressure contact ring and the linear movement ring, and
As the pressure contact amount adjusting means, to fix the pressure contact amount adjusting ring and the pressure contact amount adjusting ring capable of arbitrarily adjusting the axial position of the pressure contact ring by screwing with the pressure contact ring and rotating around the axis. A bending operation device for an endoscope characterized by comprising a fixing member.   The bending operation apparatus for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the engagement guide member is fixed along an outer peripheral portion of the linear moving ring.

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