JP2009183389A - Biopsy port of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To insert a large-sized treatment instrument by surely obtaining a prescribed opening diameter in a path open state, and to surely close a path when closing it. <P>SOLUTION: The biopsy port 30 is attached to the nozzle 25 of a treatment instrument introduction part 22, and the biopsy port 30 includes a ring-like wedge 33 fixed to the nozzle 25, an expansion/contraction cylinder 31 and a coil 32. A swollen part 31c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the expansion/contraction cylinder 31, the expansion/contraction cylinder 31 and the ring-like wedge 33 are made slidable, and when the diameter of the expansion/contraction cylinder 31 is increased, a treatment instrument path 35 is formed inside the coil 32. When the ring-like wedge 33 is abutted to the swollen part 31c of the expansion/contraction cylinder 31 and the diameter of the expansion/contraction cylinder 31 is reduced, its elastic sheath 32b partially overlaps, a vertical pitch interval is eliminated, an elastic body 32b is compressed from above and below and projected inwards, and thus the treatment instrument path 35 formed inside the coil 32 is closed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a forceps plug that is attached to a treatment instrument introduction section provided in a main body operation section of an endoscope and opens and closes the treatment instrument introduction section.

  The endoscope is provided with a treatment instrument insertion channel, and by inserting a forceps or other treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion channel, it is possible to perform treatments such as cell collection, tissue incision, and hemostasis. It has become. For this purpose, the treatment instrument insertion channel has a treatment instrument outlet opening opened at the distal end of the insertion portion, and a treatment instrument insertion tube having flexibility is connected to the treatment instrument outlet. The treatment instrument insertion tube extends to the inside of the main body operation section, and the other end is connected to the treatment instrument introduction section provided in the main body operation section. In addition to the treatment instrument being inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel, the treatment instrument insertion channel is also used as a suction passage for performing suction from the body. Therefore, in the main body operation portion, a branch portion is provided at a position in front of the treatment instrument introduction portion, and the treatment instrument insertion tube is branched into a passage leading to the treatment instrument introduction portion at this branch portion and a suction passage.

  The suction passage extends from the main body operation unit into the universal cord, and the negative pressure pipe connected to the suction source device is attached and detached at the position of the connector that is provided in this universal cord and is detachably connected to the light source device etc. Connected as possible. The main body operation unit is provided with a suction valve, and the suction passage is connected to the suction valve. Therefore, the suction operation is performed by operating the suction valve with the finger of the hand holding the main body operation unit.

  The treatment instrument introduction section is open to the atmosphere because the treatment instrument is introduced. In order to make the treatment instrument insertion channel function as a suction passage, a stopper member is attached to the treatment instrument introduction section so that the treatment instrument insertion channel can be communicated with or blocked from the atmosphere. However, the plug member is not attached and detached each time the treatment instrument is introduced, but the passage can be opened and closed with the plug member attached. As described above, as a representative plug member capable of opening and closing the passage, as shown in Patent Document 1, the plug member is formed of an elastic member, and the canopy portion covers the treatment instrument insertion portion. A configuration in which a slit is formed is widely used. The wall surfaces on both sides of the slit can be brought into close contact with each other, and when the treatment tool is not inserted, the wall surfaces on both sides constituting the slit are in close contact with each other to close the passage. On the other hand, when the treatment tool is inserted, the plug member can be passed by pushing the slit left and right.

Further, as another type of forceps plug, a stepped portion that expands the diameter is provided on the distal end side of the treatment instrument introduction portion, and an elastic ring having an inner diameter through which the treatment tool can be inserted is attached to the stepped portion. Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a passage is closed by being crushed from above and below by a pushing member.
JP 2005-198834 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-70108

  The forceps plug shown in Patent Document 1 described above is completely sealed when the treatment tool is not inserted at all. However, once the treatment tool is inserted, the slit portion may spread and wrinkles may occur. If the treatment instrument is kept inserted for a long time, or if the treatment instrument is repeatedly inserted and removed, the sealing performance of the slit will be reduced. There is a possibility that the sucked body fluid may leak out, and due to incomplete sealing, there is a problem that the outside air is sucked from the slit during suction and the suction force is reduced. Moreover, since the length of the slit is limited, there is a problem that the outer diameter of the treatment instrument that can be inserted is limited.

  On the other hand, as in Patent Document 2, it is extremely difficult to completely close the inner diameter portion of the elastic ring only by squeezing the elastic ring from above and below, resulting in poor sealing. Further, in order to improve the sealing performance, it is necessary to reduce the inner diameter of the elastic ring, which restricts the outer diameter of the treatment instrument that can be inserted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. The object of the present invention is to ensure that a predetermined opening diameter is obtained in a state where the passage is open, a large treatment instrument can be inserted, and the passage is closed. When doing, it is providing the forceps stopper which can be made to seal reliably.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a treatment instrument that is provided in a main body operation unit of an endoscope and that has one end opened to the outside and the other end connected to a treatment instrument insertion channel. A forceps plug that is attached to the introduction portion and switches the passage between a closed state and an open state, is made of an elastic member, and a treatment instrument passage that is inserted into the treatment instrument introduction portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface. An expansion / contraction member having a bulge portion in the radial direction, a coil made of an elastic material mounted inside the expansion / contraction member, and an outer peripheral side of the expansion / contraction member, and relatively movable between the expansion / contraction member When the operating ring is brought into contact with the outer surface of the bulging portion, the diameter of the treatment instrument passage and the coil of the expansion / contraction member is reduced, and the coil is continuously connected. Partial overlap The treatment instrument passage is hermetically sealed, and when the operating ring is separated from the bulging portion, the coil expands to form the treatment instrument passage. .

  Inside the treatment instrument introducing portion, an operating ring, an expansion / contraction member, and a coil are attached in this order from the outer peripheral side. The operating ring is made of a hard member, and the expansion / contraction member and the coil are made of an elastic member made of an elastomer made of rubber or the like. In particular, the expansion / contraction member is preferably made of a material having high stretchability. Then, one of the expansion / contraction member and the operating ring is configured to be slidable with respect to the other, that is, one is configured to move relative to the other while sliding. The expansion / contraction member may have a substantially cylindrical shape, or may be provided with slits in the axial direction at a plurality of locations from one end side to the middle position. When the slit is provided, the width of the slit is set so that the wall surface of the slit portion is in close contact when the diameter of the expansion / contraction member is reduced.

  The bulging portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the expansion / contraction member is for forming a region for compressing the coil provided therein, and is necessary for the coils to partially overlap when the diameter is reduced. Have a long axial length. It is preferable that a transition portion having a tapered surface whose thickness continuously changes is connected to the bulging portion, and a small-diameter portion corresponding to a predetermined length from the transition portion. Thus, the transition portion is provided in order to smoothly shift the operating ring to a position where it contacts the bulging portion when one of the expansion / contraction member and the operating ring moves. Further, the operating ring can be configured to have a cylindrical portion and a tapered surface portion in the axial direction. However, if either the expansion / contraction member or the operating ring has a tapered surface, the other side does not have to be provided with a tapered surface. In any case, the operating ring is inserted between the expansion / contraction member and the inner wall of the treatment instrument introducing portion, and functions as an annular wedge member for reducing the diameter of the expansion / contraction member.

  The coil is composed of an elastic member, and its diameter has a certain size. When the diameter of the expansion / contraction member is reduced, the coil is deformed so as to be narrowed down. As a result, the inner diameter becomes smaller and a part of the front and rear pitch portions overlap each other. As a result, the inside of the expansion / contraction member is sealed. Here, when the diameter of the coil is reduced, the coil is deformed so as to extend in the axial direction. The coil is fixed to the expansion / contraction member. In order to allow the movement in the axial direction, the coil is fixed only on one end side. Specifically, the treatment instrument introduction unit is fixed to the entrance side where the treatment instrument is inserted, and the other end is in an unfixed state. When the diameter of the expansion / contraction member is expanded, the coil having a reduced diameter is deformed so that the diameter of the coil also increases, thereby forming a passage inside. For this purpose, the coil needs to have an elastic restoring force, and the whole can be formed of an elastic member such as rubber. However, the coil is made of a metal wire having a spring property as a core material. The metal wire can be covered with an elastic sheath made of a flexible member.

  When the passage is opened, a predetermined opening diameter can be reliably obtained and a large treatment instrument can be inserted. When the passage is closed, the passage can be reliably sealed, and the treatment instrument insertion channel can function as a suction passage. In addition to exhibiting a backflow prevention function, a high suction force can be exerted on the treatment instrument outlet.

    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the endoscope. Reference numeral 1 denotes an endoscope, and the endoscope 1 is generally composed of a main body operation unit 2, an insertion unit 3, and a universal cord 4. The insertion portion 3 is mostly a flexible portion 3a from the connecting portion to the main body operation portion 2, and the bending portion 3b is connected to the flexible portion 3a, and the distal end hard portion 3c is connected to the bending portion 3b. . As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end rigid portion 3c is provided with illumination windows 10 and 10 and an observation window 11 between the illumination windows 10 and 10 for leading out a treatment instrument such as forceps. The treatment instrument outlet 12 is open. Further, in the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a cleaning nozzle for injecting a cleaning fluid for removing the dirt when the observation window 11 is soiled.

  As is apparent from FIG. 3, the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 whose tip is connected to the treatment instrument outlet 12 extends into the main body operation unit 2, and the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 is formed of the passage branching member 21. It is connected to the. The passage branch member 21 is connected to a treatment instrument introduction path 23 extending toward a treatment instrument introduction section 22 provided in the casing 2a of the main body operation section 2, and is connected to a suction passage 24. A base 25 is attached to the treatment instrument introducing portion 22, and an end of the base 25 is connected to the treatment instrument introduction path 23, and the passage branches from the base 25 through the treatment instrument introduction path 23. The member 21 is screwed into the treatment instrument introduction path 23. Therefore, when the treatment instrument is inserted into the base 25, the treatment instrument is guided from the treatment instrument introduction path 23 through the passage branching member 21 and into the treatment instrument insertion channel 20, and is provided at the distal end hard portion 3c of the insertion portion 3. Thus, the treatment tool is led out from the treatment tool outlet 12.

  On the other hand, the suction passage 24 extends from the main body operation unit 2 into the universal cord 4, and opens as a connection port provided in a connector portion (not shown) of the universal cord 4. A pipe from the suction source is detachably connected. A suction valve 14 is mounted inside the main body operation unit 2 and in the middle of the suction passage 24. The suction valve 14 can be operated with a finger of the hand that holds the main body operation unit 2, and is normally in a state where the connection side of the suction passage 24 to the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 is blocked from the suction source side. The suction source side is in communication with the atmosphere. When the suction valve 14 is pushed in, the suction source side in the suction passage 24 communicates with the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 side, and negative pressure suction force acts on the treatment instrument outlet 12.

  Here, since the inside of the body cavity is in a pressure state higher than the atmospheric pressure, when the body fluid or the like is kept from flowing back from the inside of the body into the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 and the suction valve 14 is operated, the treatment instrument outlet port is provided. 12 is applied to the base 25 attached to the treatment instrument introduction portion 22 to ensure that a negative pressure suction force acts on the treatment instrument 12 and that the suction flowing through the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 does not flow back to the treatment instrument introduction portion 22 side. A forceps plug 30 is provided. Here, the base 25 is connected to the treatment instrument introduction path 23 at a small diameter part 25a having the same inner diameter as the treatment instrument introduction path 23, and becomes a diameter expansion part 25b that continuously expands from the middle. A predetermined length on the opening side to the atmosphere is a large-diameter portion 25c, and the forceps plug 30 is inserted at a position from the large-diameter portion 25c to the middle of the enlarged-diameter portion 25b.

  As is clear from FIGS. 4 and 5, the forceps plug 30 includes an expansion / contraction cylinder 31 and a coil 32 as expansion / contraction members, and the base 25 has a ring shape as an operation ring for driving the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 to expand / contract. A wedge 33 is provided. The expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is formed of a rubber or other elastomer having elasticity, and the inner peripheral surface is a substantially cylindrical member having a substantially cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral surface of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is a small diameter portion 31a on one end side, that is, the side protruding to the outside, and a transition portion 31b that expands in a tapered shape is provided continuously from the middle position of the small diameter portion 31a. A bulging portion 31c having a uniform outer diameter having a maximum diameter for a predetermined length is formed from the portion. Further, the other end side from the bulging portion 31 c is a tapered surface 31 d that follows the enlarged diameter portion 25 b of the base 25.

  The expansion / contraction cylinder 31 and the ring-shaped wedge 33 are relatively movable in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is configured to be movable. In order to move the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 by manual operation, an operation knob 34 is formed in the small diameter portion 31a. On the other hand, the ring-shaped wedge 33 is fixed to the base 25 by press fitting or the like, and the space between the inner surface of the base 25 and the outer surface of the ring-shaped wedge 33 is kept airtight. The inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped wedge 33 is a cylindrical portion 33a having a predetermined length, and the portion near the end portion on the insertion side to the base 25 is a tapered surface of the transition portion 31b of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31. A tapered surface portion 33b is formed so as to expand so as to substantially match.

  The coil 32 is composed of an elastic member. The coil 32 is preferably composed of a spring metal wire 32a made of a metal wire as a core and an elastic sheath 32b made of an elastomer such as rubber attached to the spring metal wire 32a. The cord-shaped member thus formed is wound into a rough spiral shape. The coil 32 is fixed at a position near the inlet of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, and the other end is in a free state.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when no external force is applied to the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, the coil 32 is held in a state having a predetermined inner diameter, and a treatment instrument passage 35 through which the treatment instrument passes is formed inside the coil 32. The On the other hand, when the diameter of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is reduced, the diameter of the coil 32 is reduced so as to be reduced, and the diameter of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is extended toward the treatment instrument introduction path 23 side. When the coil 32 is in the most contracted diameter state, as shown in FIG. 5, the portion of the elastic sheath 32b partially overlaps. As a result, the upper and lower pitch intervals of the coil 32 do not exist, and the elastic body 32b is compressed from above and below and protrudes inward. As a result, there is no gap in the circumferential direction, and the treatment instrument passage 35 formed inside the coil 32 is closed. Therefore, by appropriately setting the wire diameter and pitch of the coil 32, the inside of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is sealed by the coil 32 when the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is in the most contracted diameter state.

  The ring-shaped wedge 33 is for reducing or expanding the inner diameter of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, and the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is directed in the axial direction with respect to the ring-shaped wedge 33 fixed to the base 25. It is movable. When the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is pushed into the base 25, as shown in FIG. 4, the treatment instrument passage 35 is formed, and the treatment instrument introduction section 22 is opened. From this state, when the operation knob 34 is operated so as to be pulled out from the treatment instrument introducing portion 22, the ring-shaped wedge 33 provided on the base 25 rides on the bulging portion 31c of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, and as shown in FIG. The treatment instrument passage 35 is closed.

  By configuring as described above, the treatment instrument passage 35 is formed when the treatment instrument is inserted, and when the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 is configured as a part of the suction passage, the treatment instrument is provided. The passage 35 is closed and the space between the base 25 and the ring-shaped wedge 33, the space between the ring-shaped wedge 33 and the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, and the space between the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 and the coil 32 are kept airtight. The inside of the portion 22 can be reliably sealed. That is, in order to secure the insertion path of the treatment instrument, the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is operated to be pushed into the base 25. As a result, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 33a of the ring-shaped wedge 33 faces the small diameter portion 31a, and the tapered surface portion 33b at the tip faces the transition portion 31b. Accordingly, no compressive force acts on the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, so that no external force acts on the coil 32, and the treatment instrument passage 35 is formed. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when the inner diameter of the coil 32 is D, the inner diameter D is set to be approximately the same as or larger than the inner diameter d of the treatment instrument insertion channel 20. The treatment tool having the maximum diameter used for the endoscope 1 can also pass through the treatment instrument passage 35. Moreover, when the inside of the coil 32 is opened, no particular resistance is generated when the treatment instrument is inserted. Therefore, even a treatment instrument having a low waist such as a soft tube can be inserted smoothly and without being deformed.

  On the other hand, when the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 is used as a suction passage, the treatment instrument introduction portion 22 must be sealed. For this purpose, the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 constituting the forceps plug 30 attached to the base 25 is displaced so as to be pulled up from the base 25. As a result, the tapered surface portion 33b of the ring-shaped wedge 33 rides on the bulging portion 31c from the transition portion 31b of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, and when the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is further pulled up, the cylindrical portion 33a of the ring-shaped wedge 33 expands / contracts. The expansion / contraction cylinder 31 comes to be inwardly compressed by coming into contact with the bulging portion 31c of the cylinder 31. As a result, the inner diameter of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is reduced, and the coil 32 is expanded while being reduced in size. Accordingly, the coil 32 is narrowed down, and the coil 32 is partially overlapped in a plurality of locations in the axial direction, that is, in the region where the bulging portion 31c is provided, so that the upper and lower portions are in close contact and the pitch interval is increased. The elastic body 32b is compressed from above and below, and there is no gap in the circumferential direction. Since the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is compressed, the space between the ring-shaped wedge 33 and the expansion / contraction cylinder 31, the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 and the coil 32, and the inner diameter portion of the coil 32 are sealed, and the treatment instrument introduction section 22 is formed as a whole. It will be closed.

  As a result, the sealing performance of the treatment instrument introducing portion 22 is enhanced, and the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 is completely sealed except for the treatment instrument outlet 12 provided at the distal end of the insertion section 3. When performing, not only can this back flow from the treatment instrument introduction part 22 be prevented, but also a decrease in the negative pressure suction force can be prevented. Therefore, the suction capability at the treatment instrument outlet 12 at the distal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 20 can be enhanced.

  Further, since the pressure in the body cavity is higher than the atmospheric pressure, the treatment instrument introducing portion 22 is opened only when the treatment instrument is inserted, and in other cases, the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is pushed closed. Is desirable. Since the coil 32 has the spring-like metal wire 32a, when the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 in the closed state is pushed into the open state, the coil 32 is caused by the elastic restoring force of the spring-like metal wire 32a. A passage for reliably expanding the diameter and allowing the treatment instrument to be inserted is secured.

  Further, the forceps plug 30 is discarded for each case and a new forceps plug 30 is attached. Of the forceps plug 30, the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 and the coil 32 fixedly provided inside the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 are detached from the base 25 of the treatment instrument introduction unit 22, and the new expansion / contraction cylinder 31 and the coil 32 are connected to the base. Attach to 25. Here, the end portion of the base 25 is provided with a flange portion 25d, and the operation knob 34 of the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is provided with a wrap-around portion 34a to the flange portion 25d of the base 25, and this wrap-around portion. 34a is attached to the flange portion 25d. And the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 is comprised with the member which has a softness | flexibility. Therefore, the expansion / contraction cylinder 31 can be easily attached to and detached from the portion of the base 25, and a necessary replacement operation of the forceps plug 30 can be performed smoothly.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope to which a forceps plug of the present invention is attached. FIG. It is a front view which shows the front end surface of the insertion part in the endoscope of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a main body operation unit of the endoscope of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a state in which a forceps plug is attached to a treatment instrument introduction unit in the main body operation unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a state in which a forceps plug is attached to a treatment instrument introduction part in the main body operation part of FIG. 3, showing a passage closed state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Main body operation part 3 Insertion part 3c Tip hard part 12 Treatment tool outlet 20 Treatment tool insertion channel 21 Passage branch member 22 Treatment tool introduction part 23 Treatment tool introduction path 24 Suction passage 25 Base 30 Forceps plug 31 Expansion / contraction cylinder 31a Small diameter portion 31b Transition portion 31c Swelling portion 32 Coil 32a Spring metal wire 32b Elastic sheath 33 Ring-shaped wedge 33a Cylindrical shape portion 33b Tapered surface portion 34 Operation knob 35 Treatment instrument passage

Claims (4)

It is provided in the endoscope main body operation part, and one end is opened to the outside, and the other end is attached to the treatment instrument introduction part that opens the passage connected to the treatment instrument insertion channel to the outside. In the forceps plug for switching to the state,
An expansion / contraction member that is made of an elastic member, has a treatment instrument passage inserted into the treatment instrument introduction portion, and has a radially bulging portion on the outer peripheral surface;
A coil made of an elastic material mounted inside the expansion / contraction member;
An operating ring that is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the expansion / contraction member, and is composed of a hard ring that can move relative to the expansion / contraction member;
When the operating ring is brought into contact with the outer surface of the bulging portion, the diameter of the treatment instrument passage and the coil of the expansion / contraction member is reduced, and the coil is partially overlapped continuously, thereby the treatment instrument. An endoscopic forceps plug, wherein the coil expands to form the treatment instrument passage when the passage is sealed and the operating ring is separated from the bulging portion. The expansion / contraction member is formed of a cylindrical member, is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the treatment instrument introduction portion, and the operation ring is configured to be fixedly held by the treatment instrument introduction portion. Item 1. The endoscopic forceps plug according to Item 1. The expansion / contraction member has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and a transition portion having a tapered surface with a continuously changing thickness is continuously provided on the bulging portion of the outer peripheral surface, and a small-diameter portion having a predetermined length from the transition portion. And the operating ring includes a tapered surface portion that expands to a cylindrical shape portion having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the small diameter portion of the expansion / contraction member so as to coincide with an inclination angle of the tapered surface portion. The operating ring is configured to reduce the inner diameter of the bulging portion by arranging the cylindrical portion at a position where the cylindrical portion contacts the outer peripheral portion of the bulging portion of the expansion / contraction member. The endoscopic forceps plug according to claim 1. The coil is configured by providing a flexible elastic sheath on the outer peripheral portion of the spring metal wire, and the coil is configured to be fixedly provided on the inlet side of the treatment instrument passage of the expansion / contraction member. The endoscopic forceps plug according to claim 1, wherein:

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