JP2009028247A - Rotary self-traveling endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary self-traveling endoscope and an insertion section receiving cover which make compact the installation space by storing a long insertion section when not in use and by preventing twisting and tangling of the long insertion section during use and which consider sanitation aspect of themselves before use, during use and after use. <P>SOLUTION: The rotary self-traveling endoscope 2 inserts or pulls the long insertion section 28 into or out of the body cavity by rotating the insertion section around the insertion axis. The endoscope comprises the flexible cover section 21 which has a receiving section for receiving the insertion section during use and when not in use and extends or bends in accordance with the length of the insertion section inserted into the body cavity for covering almost all of the insertion section located outside of the body cavity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary self-propelled endoscope that inserts and removes an insertion portion with respect to an insertion target site in a body cavity by rotating an elongated insertion portion around an insertion axis.

  As is well known, medical instruments such as endoscopes are widely used in the medical field for the purpose of observing sites that cannot be directly viewed, such as the intestine of a patient, which is a test site. In general, such an endoscope includes an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a site to be inserted.

  Further, in recent years, a technology has been provided in which an outer peripheral portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope is provided with a spiral-shaped unevenness, and the insertion portion rotates in the axial direction so that the body cavity is advanced and retracted by a propulsive force due to contact with the body cavity wall. However, it is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

  By the way, since the insertion part is formed in an elongated shape as described above, the insertion part to the insertion target part of the insertion part is hygienic and other members and devices before, during and after use. In order to prevent contact with other materials, it is necessary to store them with a sterilization pack, storage device, or the like.

Therefore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for covering an insertion portion of an endoscope with a cover during use. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for covering the scope cable of the assist scope with a drape while using the assist scope.
JP-A-10-113396 JP 2006-141976 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-187066

  By the way, an endoscope requires a space for storing a long insertion portion when not in use and a space for installing in an examination room when used. In order to suppress this space as much as possible, when the insertion portion rotating around the axis described in Patent Document 1 is put together in a compact manner, the insertion portion is twisted and entangled during use in which the insertion portion rotates.

  In addition, the endoscope insertion part that is inserted into the body cavity of a patient maintains a sterilized state before use, of course, before use and after use, and after use. It is necessary to prevent the contaminated material from coming into contact with the outside and preventing the contaminated material from being scattered. Therefore, it is preferable that the insertion portion of the endoscope is always accommodated so as not to touch the outside.

  On the other hand, the cover that covers the insertion portion of the endoscope described in Patent Document 2 is used during endoscopy, and is attached to the insertion portion before use or removed from the insertion portion after use. Have to do. That is, this cover is only for covering the insertion portion of the endoscope during use.

  Furthermore, the drape described in Patent Document 3 is only for covering the scope cable and does not cover the insertion portion.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can store a long insertion portion when not in use, and can be installed compactly by preventing twisting and entanglement during use. An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary self-propelled endoscope in which the hygiene aspect of an insertion portion inserted into a body cavity of a patient during and after use is highly considered.

  In order to achieve the above object, a rotary self-propelled endoscope according to the present invention is a rotary self-propelled endoscope in which an elongated insertion portion is rotated around an insertion axis so that the insertion portion is inserted into and removed from a body cavity. The insertion portion has a receiving portion that accommodates the insertion portion when used and not used, and extends or bends in accordance with the insertion length of the insertion portion inserted into the body cavity. A flexible cover body that covers substantially the entire insertion portion outside the body cavity is provided.

  According to the present invention, the long insertion portion can be stored when not in use, and the installation space can be made compact by preventing twisting and entanglement during use, which is very hygienic before, during and after use. It is possible to realize a rotary self-propelled endoscope that takes into account.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the medical instrument will be described by taking a rotary self-propelled endoscope as an example. The insertion target site into which the endoscope is inserted will be described using the large intestine as an example.

  1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a rotating self-propelled endoscope system including a rotating self-propelled endoscope showing the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cover body hooked on an arm and an insertion portion of an endoscope covered with the cover body, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cover body and the inside of the cover body. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the insertion portion of the endoscope, FIG. 4 is a view of the cover body in which the insertion portion is advanced from FIG. 3, and the action of the insertion portion of the endoscope that is inserted into the cover body. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the above, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a configuration of a guide member disposed in the cover body, showing a modification.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a rotary self-propelled endoscope system (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope system) 1 includes a rotary self-propelled endoscope (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope) 2 and a video processor 3. The main part is constituted by the monitor 4 and the air / water suction pump 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 2 is inserted into the large intestine, which is a body cavity, of the patient 100 (see FIG. 1), for example, from the anus, and is connected to the distal end 25 and the distal end 25 in order from the distal end. And a slender insertion portion 28 having a spiral flexible tube portion 27 connected to the bending portion 26.

  An objective optical system is disposed on the distal end surface of the distal end portion 25, and an imaging element (not shown) composed of a CCD, a CMOS, or the like is disposed on the imaging surface of the objective optical system in the distal end portion 25. Yes. The distal end surface of the distal end portion 25 is provided with an illumination light source (not shown) composed of the above-described objective optical system and an LED or the like that illuminates a test site in a body cavity, which is an object to be imaged by the image sensor. ing.

  Further, a channel opening for suction is disposed on the distal end surface of the distal end portion 25. In addition, in order to clean the exposed surface of the objective optical system on the distal end surface of the distal end portion 25 or to wipe off water droplets or the like adhering to the objective optical system, fluid is supplied to the objective optical system, and water is supplied. An air / water supply nozzle is provided.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the endoscope 2 further includes a distal end side insertion portion driving device (hereinafter simply referred to as a first driving device) 6 that is a rotating member, and a cover body 21 that covers substantially the entire insertion portion 28. And a proximal-side insertion portion drive device (hereinafter simply referred to as a second drive device) 7 which is a rotating member.

The first driving device 6 and the second driving device 7 are electrically connected to each other by a communication cable 8 and controlled so as to be driven in synchronization with each other.
An image transmission cable 15 connected to the video processor 3 and a composite tube 16 connected to the air / water suction pump 5 are connected to the second driving device 7. In the insertion portion 28, the proximal end side of the helical flexible tube portion 27 is fixed in the second driving device 7 so that the proximal end portion in the insertion direction of the insertion portion 28 does not move in the insertion direction.

  A signal cable electrically connected to the imaging element and the illumination light source disposed in the distal end portion 25 inserted into the insertion portion 28 and an image transmission cable 15 connected to the video processor 3 are the first. The two drive devices 7 are electrically connected.

  The air / water supply nozzle (not shown) disposed at the distal end portion 25 is connected to the distal end side of an air / water supply tube (not shown) inserted through the insertion portion 28, and the base of the air / water supply tube is provided. The end side is connected to the air / water suction pump 5 via the second driving device 7 and the composite tube 16.

  Further, a channel (not shown) that opens at the distal end surface of the distal end portion 25 and is used for suction or the like is also inserted into the insertion portion 28, and the proximal end side thereof is the second drive device 7, the composite tube. 16 is connected to the air / water suction pump 5.

The spiral-shaped flexible tube portion 27 constituting the rotating cylinder is a member having a spiral uneven portion formed on the outer peripheral surface, and is configured to be rotatable around an axis in the insertion direction.
The helical flexible tube portion 27 is rotated around the insertion axis by the driving devices 6 and 7. Then, the spiral-shaped flexible tube portion 27 uses a friction generated on the intestinal wall when the spiral concave and convex portion formed on the outer peripheral surface comes into contact with the intestinal wall in the body cavity. A propulsive force is generated by the action. Further, on the proximal end side of the bending portion 26 of the endoscope 2, an abutting portion (not shown) to which the distal end surface of the spiral flexible tube portion 27 is abutted is provided.

  As a result, the helical flexible tube portion 27 moves back and forth according to the rotational direction around the axis. Along with this, the distal end portion 25 and the bending portion 26 advance and retreat with respect to the intestine which is a body cavity. Therefore, the insertion portion 28 is inserted into and removed from the intestine according to the rotational direction around the axis of the helical flexible tube portion 27.

  In the present embodiment, the first drive device 6 described above is provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion 28 in the insertion direction. The first driving device 6 is a device that assists the insertion portion 28 in rotation around the insertion axis and in the front-rear direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a tubular insertion assisting tool 9 into which the insertion portion 28 can be inserted is provided on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the first driving device 6. The insertion assisting tool 9 is directly inserted into the anus of the patient 100 and serves to prevent the anus from being clamped to the insertion part 28 or to protect the anus. A propulsive force generating portion made of an elastic member that presses is provided.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the second drive device 7 described above is provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 28. The second driving device 7 provides rotation about the insertion axis to the insertion portion 28 in synchronization with the first driving device 6 based on a predetermined operation of the foot switch 11, thereby inserting the insertion portion 28. It stabilizes the behavior.

  In addition, the above-described cover body 21 is in a state of covering between the first driving device 6 and the second driving device 7 outside the body cavity that is not inserted into the patient 100 of the above-described insertion portion 28. It is arranged. The configuration of the cover body 21 will be described in detail later.

  A foot switch 13 is connected to the air / water suction pump 5 via a cable 14. The foot switch 13 is provided with various operation switches such as air feeding through an air feeding / watering tube, an air feeding / watering switch for instructing a water feeding operation, and a suction switch for instructing a suctioning operation to be performed through a suction channel. Yes.

  As described above, the video processor 3 is connected to the second driving device 7 via the image transmission cable 15. A signal cable extending from the image sensor and the illumination light source, a signal cable for outputting instructions to the driving devices 6 and 7, and the like are inserted into the image transmission cable 15.

  The video processor 3 performs a process of displaying an intestinal image captured by the image sensor on the monitor 4 by performing signal processing on the image signal transmitted from the image sensor via the signal cable. The imaging device is driven via a signal cable to perform an imaging operation, power is supplied to the illumination light source, illumination light is emitted from the illumination light source, or power is supplied to the driving devices 6 and 7. The control of rotating the insertion portion 28 is performed.

  A foot switch 11 is connected to the video processor 3 via a cable 12. A rotation switch for inputting an instruction to rotate the insertion portion 28 in one direction around the insertion axis in order to advance the insertion portion 28 in the insertion direction in the foot switch 11, and one direction in order to retract the insertion portion in the insertion direction. There are provided a rotation switch for inputting an instruction to rotate around the insertion axis in the opposite direction to the bending direction, a bending operation switch for bending the insertion portion 28, and the like.

  In addition, the video processor 3 is provided with an examination arm 30 which can be bent at two locations so that the height and the separation distance with respect to the patient 100 can be varied. The inspection arm 30 is provided with a plurality of hooks 31 for hooking the cover body 21 described above so as to be movable along the inspection arm 30.

  Although not shown, a switch that instructs the video processor 3 to perform an imaging operation of the imaging device, a switch that instructs on / off of illumination light irradiation from the illumination optical system, and a bending operation of the insertion portion 28 to the bending portion 26 are performed. An instructing hand switch may be connected. Further, the above-described operation switch may be provided in a remote box (not shown) so that it can be operated remotely. Signal transmission at that time may be either wired or wireless.

  The endoscope 2 according to the present embodiment does not include an operation unit, but the operation unit provided with the various switches described above is provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion unit 28. It doesn't matter.

Next, the cover body 21 that covers the insertion portion 28 between the drive devices 6 and 7 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover body 21 of the present embodiment covers and accommodates a flexible insertion portion 28 of the endoscope 2 made of, for example, polymer polyethylene or polyolefin film. It is formed in a bag-like substantially cylindrical shape that is open at both ends. The cover body 21 has an inner diameter with a sufficient clearance with respect to the insertion portion 28.

  Both ends of the cover body 21 are detachably connected to the driving devices 6 and 7 in a sealed state. In addition, the insertion portion 28 inserted inside so as to be covered with the cover body 21 has a connector portion (not shown) at the base end, and is configured to be detachable from the second drive device 7.

  Further, in order to reduce friction with the insertion portion 28 to be covered, the inner peripheral surface of the cover body 21 is subjected to surface processing for reducing sliding resistance, for example, a PTFE tape is attached, or PTFE processing is directly applied to the surface. Applied or lubricated. The cover body 21 may be formed by alternately forming a thin film and a thick film in the axial direction so that the cover body 21 is more easily deformed in the axial direction than in the radial direction.

  The cover body 21 is provided with a plurality of hook guide portions 22 constituting a holding portion at predetermined substantially equidistant positions. As shown in FIG. 1, these hook guide portions 22 are respectively hooked on a plurality of hooks 31 disposed on the inspection arm 30. In the present embodiment, the hook guide portion 22 has a substantially annular shape, and extends from the outer peripheral surface of the plate body 22a in which the hole portion 22b is formed, and the hook 31 is attached to the hole portion 22b. It is hooked (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hook guide portion 22 is provided with a substantially cylindrical cover body holding member 23 made of an elastic material. The cover body holding member 23 is adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the cover body 21 through which the inner peripheral surface is inserted. This is to prevent the cover body 21 and the cover body holding member 23 from being displaced by sticking and fixing the portion of the cover body 21 that is inserted into the cover body holding member 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover body holding member 23 is formed with a convex portion 24 projecting from the substantially central portion of the inner peripheral surface in the hole axial direction toward the center.

  The convex portion 24 is pressed via the cover body 21 against the spiral concavo-convex portion of the spiral flexible tube portion 27 that constitutes the insertion portion 28 of the endoscope 2 inserted through the cover body 21. This is to generate a propulsive force by a so-called screw action accompanying the rotation of the flexible tube portion 27 around the axis, and to smoothly feed the helical flexible tube portion 27 to the hook guide portion 22. That is, the convex portion 24 allows the insertion portion 28 to rotate the helical flexible tube portion 27 rotated by the driving devices 6 and 7 even when the insertion portion 28 hangs down due to its own weight as shown in FIG. Along with this, the hook guide portion 22 is easily passed, so that the application of the rotational force of the helical flexible tube portion 27 of each of the driving devices 6 and 7 is not hindered.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hook 31 is configured to be slidable within a predetermined range along the inspection arm 30. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inspection arm 30 is provided with a stopper 32 at the tip so that the hook 31 does not fall off.

  Next, the operation of the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 1 is set by connecting each device and hooking the hook guide portion 22 of the cover body 21 on the hook 31 of the inspection arm 30. At this time, both ends of the cover body 21 that accommodates the insertion portion 28 are in a closed state laminated, for example, by heat, the both end portions are opened, and one end on the tip side is the first drive device 6. On the other hand, after the connector portion provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 28 and the second driving device 7 are connected to each other in a predetermined manner, the other is connected to the second driving device 7 in a sealed state.

  Then, after the insertion assisting tool 9 is inserted into the anus of the patient 100, each of the driving devices 6 and 7 is synchronized with each other, and the helical flexible tube portion 27 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction. The insertion part 28 of the mirror 2 advances into the body cavity of the patient 100, here the large intestine.

  In the state before the insertion into the body cavity, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the insertion portion 28 of the endoscope 2 in the state covered with the cover body 21 has an insertion length into the body cavity of the patient 100 of zero ( 0), the weight of the hook guide 22 hangs down due to its own weight.

  And when the insertion part 28 is gradually inserted into the body cavity deep part of the patient 100 by the driving force by the rotation of the helical flexible tube part 27 by the driving devices 6 and 7, as the insertion length becomes longer, The amount (L shown in FIG. 3) that hangs down between the hook guide portions 22 gradually decreases.

  Since the cover body 21 is formed of a flexible material, the cover body 21 shrinks in accordance with the amount of insertion of the covering insertion portion 28 into the body cavity. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the insertion portion 28 is substantially linear between the hook guide portions 22, the cover body 21 is also bent in the insertion axis direction according to the length of the insertion portion 28 and has a length. Will shrink.

  At this time, the hook 31 that holds the hook guide portion 22 of the cover body 21 moves within a predetermined range along the inspection arm 30, and here, in a direction in which the hooks are attracted to each other as shown in FIG. Moving.

  Conversely, as the operation of removing the insertion portion 28 from the body cavity of the patient 100 is performed and the insertion length of the insertion portion 28 into the body cavity is gradually shortened, the length of the insertion portion 28 between the hook guide portions 22 also increases. The cover body 21 that has been gradually lengthened and contracted is expanded while covering the insertion portion 28 accordingly.

  In addition, after the end of the endoscopic examination, the used insertion portion 28 is removed from the second driving device 7 and carried in a state of being accommodated in the cover body 21. That is, the cover body 21 is removed from the driving devices 6 and 7 while including the used insertion portion 28, and the hook guide portion 22 is removed from the hook 31 of the inspection arm 30. Thus, the endoscopic examination by the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment is completed.

  As described above, in the endoscope 2 of the endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment, the insertion portion 28 is always covered with the cover body 21 before use, during use, and after use. Therefore, it has a very excellent hygiene configuration.

  In particular, after use, the contaminated insertion part 28 can be carried without being directly touched. If the insertion part 28 is a disposable type, it can be disposed of as it is, or if it is a reuse type. Thus, it is possible to prevent the filth from being scattered and contaminated without the insertion portion 28 coming into direct contact with the outside to a place where simple cleaning or sterilization is performed.

  Furthermore, in the endoscope system 1, the hook guide portion 22 of the cover body 21 is hooked on the hook 31 of the inspection arm 30 while the insertion portion 28 of the long endoscope 2 is accommodated by the cover body 21. Since the endoscopic inspection can be performed, the space for accommodating the insertion portion 28 without being entangled by twisting or the like can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the hook 31 of the inspection arm 30 that hooks the hook guide portion 22 of the cover body 21 has been described. However, the cover is simply covered with a hook disposed on the ceiling provided in the inspection room. The hook guide portion 22 of the body 21 may be hooked. Further, the position of the hook for hooking the hook guide portion 22 of the cover body 21 may not be linear, but may be various forms according to the examination room space, for example, a zigzag oblique position.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of guide members 35 that constitute a twist preventing portion that spans a midway portion where the cover body 21 hangs between the hook guide portions 22 may be provided.

  Specifically, the guide member 35 includes cylindrical portions 36 at both ends, and is connected by a plate-like member here so that the cylindrical portions 36 are separated by a predetermined distance. Thus, by providing the guide member 35 in the midway portion where the cover body 21 hangs down, it is possible to further prevent the insertion portion 28 from being entangled. Further, these guide members 35 can also prevent deformation due to an external force applied to the insertion portion 28.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a view showing the structure of the cover body that covers the insertion portion that also serves as a sterilization pack, and FIG. 7 is the cover body of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cover body that covers an insertion portion that also serves as a modified sterilization pack. Moreover, in the following description, the same code | symbol is used about the structure same as the endoscope system 1 of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description of those structures is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cover body 41 of the present embodiment also serves as a sterilization pack for the insertion portion 28 of the endoscope 2 in which two substantially rectangular films are bonded together by, for example, laminating. In the so-called crank shape, a housing portion 42 that is a space in which the insertion portion 2 is housed is adhered and formed by thermal processing or the like.

  The cover body 41 includes a plurality of, in this case, four retaining ring portions 43 on one side, and includes a sewing machine substantially at the center of the bonded portion 42a that constitutes the bonded tearing portion that forms the accommodating portion 42. An eye 46 is provided from the side. In the vicinity of the distal end side and the proximal end side of the insertion portion 28, cutout portions 44 and 45 that are hermetically sealed by thermal processing and that constitute the end portion of the accommodating portion 42 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cover body 41 that accommodates the insertion portion 28 configured as described above has a perforation formed in a tearing portion that forms the accommodation portion 42 during endoscopic inspection using the insertion portion 28. Cut along 46 and deployed. Then, the cut portions 44 and 45 provided at both ends are cut off by a scissors or the like, and both ends of the accommodating portion 42 are opened. Note that the cut-out portions 44 and 45 may be configured to be easily cut off by the perforation.

  Thereafter, each of the retaining ring portions 43 of the cover body 41 is hung on the hook 31 of the inspection arm 30 described in the first embodiment or the hook provided on the ceiling of the inspection room. And the connector part of the base end part of the insertion part 28 of the endoscope 2 is connected to the 2nd drive device 7, and the both ends used as the opening part of the accommodating part 42 of the cover body 41 are each drive device 6,7. Connected in a sealed state.

  Thus, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the endoscope system 1 is set, and endoscopic examination of the body cavity of the patient 100, for example, the large intestine, using the endoscope 2 is performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the cover body 41 that also serves as a sterilization pack that houses the insertion portion 28 of the endoscope 2 is used. The insertion portion 28 does not need to be sterilized, and is pack-like before use, so that it can be easily transported and carried in the hospital.

In addition, it is good also as the cover body 51 which served as the sterilization pack which accommodates the insertion part 28 as shown in FIG.
Specifically, the cover body 51 is configured similarly to the above, in which two substantially rectangular films are bonded together by, for example, laminating, and also serve as a sterilization pack for the insertion portion 28 of the endoscope 2. It has become.

  Here, the cover body 51 is not provided with perforations and the like, and a plurality of substantially semi-elliptical laminating portions 54 for receiving the unused insertion portions 28 in a meandering state are received on both side portions. ing. These laminating portions 54 are also formed by laminating two films in a substantially semi-elliptical shape by thermal processing or the like.

The cover body 51 is also provided with a plurality of, in this case, three retaining ring portions 53 on one side portion, and an accommodation portion 52 that accommodates the insertion portion 28 in a meandering state is formed by a laminating portion 54. .
Even with such a configuration of the cover body 51 that also serves as a sterilization pack for the insertion portion 28, the effects according to the present embodiment described above can be achieved.

  The invention described in each of the above-described embodiments is not limited to the embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and the described effect can be obtained. The deleted configuration can be extracted as an invention.

The figure which shows the outline of a structure of the rotation self-propelled endoscope system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention and comprises a rotation self-propelled endoscope. The perspective view which shows the insertion part of the cover body covered with this arm, and the endoscope covered with this cover body Sectional drawing for demonstrating an effect | action of the insertion part of the endoscope which penetrates the same inside a cover body and this cover body Sectional drawing for demonstrating the effect | action of the insertion part of the endoscope which penetrates this cover body in the state where the insertion part advanced from FIG. 3, and this cover body The figure which shows the structure of the guide member which shows a modification and is arrange | positioned in a cover body similarly The figure which shows the structure of the cover body which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention and coat | covers the insertion part which served as the sterilization pack. The figure which shows the state which expand | deployed the cover body of FIG. The figure which shows the structure of the cover body which covers the insertion part which served as the sterilization pack of the modification as well

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Rotation self-propelled endoscope system 2 ... Rotation self-propelled endoscope 3 ... Video processor 4 ... Monitor 5 ... Air supply / water suction pump 6 ... 1st Drive device 7 ... second drive device 8 ... communication cable 9 ... insertion aid 21 ... cover body 22 ... hook guide portion 22b ... hole portion 22a ... plate body 23 ... Cover body holding member 24 ... Convex part 25 ... Tip part 26 ... Bending part 27 ... Spiral flexible tube part 28 ... Insertion part 30 ... Inspection arm 31 ...・ Hook 32 ・ ・ ・ Stopper 100 ・ ・ ・ Patient

Claims (8)

In a rotary self-propelled endoscope that inserts and removes the insertion portion into the body cavity by rotating the elongated insertion portion around the insertion axis,
When the insertion portion is used and when not in use, the insertion portion has a receiving portion, and extends or bends according to the insertion length of the insertion portion inserted into the body cavity. A rotary self-propelled endoscope characterized by comprising a flexible cover body that covers substantially the entire outer insertion portion.   The rotary self-propelled endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cover body is provided with a plurality of holding portions provided with hook retaining holes at substantially equal intervals.   The holding portion is formed with a convex portion for pressing the spiral-shaped irregularities formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion and generating a propulsive force in the insertion portion according to the rotation around the insertion axis. The rotary self-propelled endoscope according to claim 3.   4. The rotating body according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the cover body is subjected to surface processing for reducing sliding resistance with the insertion portion. 5. Traveling endoscope.   The cover body is provided with a plurality of twist preventing portions that hold the two portions between the plurality of holding portions so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance and prevent the insertion portion from being twisted. The rotary self-propelled endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 4.   The rotary self-propelled endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cover body is formed with a tearing portion that can be changed into a different form before use and during use.   The rotary self-propelled endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the cut portion is provided with a perforation.   The rotary self-propelled endoscope according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cover body also serves as a sterilization pack in which the housing portion is sealed before the insertion portion is used.

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