JP2009254461A - Endoscope distal end hood - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope distal end hood capable of stably holding the treatment implements of various diameters in a prescribed direction. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope distal end hood is provided with an outer shell and a balloon fixing part 12. The balloon fixing part 12 is fixed to an outer shell inner surface, a hole part 14 extending from a forcep port side to an opening on the distal end side is formed on the balloon fixing part 12, and a balloon 15 in a cylindrical shape is fixed to the hole part 14. A tube 16 is connected to the balloon 16 and a filler is pressurized to the balloon 15 through the tube 16. The balloon 15 to which the filler is pressurized is expanded in the center axis direction of the hole part 14. The balloon 15 expanded in the center axis direction holds the treatment implement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope distal end hood that is attached to the distal end of an insertion tube of an endoscope.

  A conventional endoscope insertion tube is provided with a forceps channel leading from a proximal end to a distal end. A treatment tool such as forceps or an injection can be inserted from the proximal end side of the forceps channel to the distal end, and the treatment tool can be used in the body.

  Such a treatment tool needs to be operated at a specified site in the body. For example, it is necessary to inject into a site where injection of a chemical solution is necessary, and forceps are used to pinch a site that needs to be held.

  These treatment tools are provided at the distal end of a flexible cable so that they can be inserted through the forceps channel. For this reason, it is difficult to point the treatment tool in a specific direction, and it has been dependent on the skill level of the user to direct the treatment tool to a specific part of the body.

  Therefore, an endoscope attachment has been proposed in which a guide unit is provided for directing the treatment tool in a predetermined direction in order to direct the treatment tool toward a specified site in the body (see Patent Document 1). According to the proposed endoscope attachment, the treatment tool can be guided to a predetermined position in the observation visual field.

  However, with the proposed endoscope attachment, it may be difficult to stably guide the treatment instrument to a specific position. For example, when the inner diameter of the treatment tool is large, the treatment tool may come off the guide. In addition, when the inner diameter of the treatment instrument is small, the treatment instrument may not be stable in the guide. Furthermore, when the treatment tool is vertically downward from the guide portion, the treatment tool may come off the guide.

In addition, an endoscope hood has been proposed in which a treatment tool can be directed to a specified site in the body by engaging the treatment tool with a hole having a predetermined inner diameter (see Patent Document 2). However, in the proposed endoscope hood, it is difficult to stably support a treatment instrument having a diameter smaller than that of the hole in a predetermined direction, and a treatment instrument having a diameter larger than that of the hole cannot be used.
JP 2006-158840 A JP 2007-82767 A

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope distal end hood capable of holding treatment instruments having various diameters in a predetermined direction.

  The endoscope tip hood of the present invention is inserted through the outer shell having a lumen that leads from the observation window of the endoscope to the opening when attached to the insertion tube tip of the endoscope and the forceps channel of the endoscope. A first balloon holding the treatment tool, a transport means for sending fluid to the first balloon to inflate or deflate the first balloon, and a position facing the forceps channel when mounted on the distal end of the insertion tube of the endoscope And a balloon fixing portion for fixing the first balloon to the outer shell.

  In addition, a second balloon that holds the treatment instrument by holding the treatment instrument together with the first balloon is provided, and the transportation means sends a fluid to the second balloon to inflate or deflate the second balloon, The balloon fixing unit preferably fixes the second balloon so as to face the forceps channel when attached to the distal end of the insertion tube of the endoscope.

  Alternatively, the first balloon is preferably formed in a shape that can hold the treatment instrument. Furthermore, it is preferable that the first balloon is formed in a cylindrical shape and the treatment instrument is gripped inside the cylindrical shape.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to stably hold treatment instruments having various diameters in a predetermined direction.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, an endoscope 20 to which an endoscope front end hood to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied is mounted will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an external view of an endoscope 20 to which an endoscope tip hood to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied is mounted.

  The endoscope 20 includes an operation unit 21, an insertion tube 22, and a connector 23. The operation unit 21 and the insertion tube 22 are connected. Further, the operation unit 21 and the connector 23 are connected. An endoscope tip hood (not shown in FIG. 1) is attached to the tip of the insertion tube 22.

  The endoscope 20 is connected to an endoscope processor (not shown) having a light source unit (not shown). Light supplied from the light source unit is transmitted by a light guide extending from the connector 23 to the distal end of the insertion tube 22. The transmitted light is irradiated near the tip.

  An imaging element (not shown) is disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube 22, and the subject irradiated with light is imaged by the imaging element. An image signal corresponding to the picked-up optical image is sent to the endoscope processor and subjected to predetermined signal processing. An image signal subjected to predetermined signal processing is sent to a monitor (not shown), and a subject image is displayed on the monitor.

  A forceps channel 24 extending from the proximal end of the insertion tube 22 to the distal end is provided inside the insertion tube 22. The forceps channel 24 is connected to a treatment instrument insertion port 25 provided on the base end side which is an end connected to the operation unit 21. By inserting a treatment tool such as forceps through the treatment tool insertion port 25 and into the forceps channel 24, the treatment tool can be disposed on the distal end side.

  Next, an endoscope front end hood to which the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an external view of the distal end of the insertion tube 21 and the endoscope distal end hood 10 of the present embodiment in a mounting posture determined with respect to the insertion tube.

  The endoscope front end hood 10 is formed by an outer shell 11 and a balloon fixing portion 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer shell 11 has a cylindrical shape, and has a cylindrical portion 11c and a tapered portion 11t in which the lumen is continuous. In the following description, both ends of the outer shell 11 along the axial direction, the end on the cylindrical portion 11c side being the base end, and the end on the taper portion 11t side being the tip.

  The inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 11c is formed to be the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the distal end of the insertion tube 22 to which the endoscope distal hood 10 is attached. By forming the cylindrical portion 11c in this way, the distal end of the insertion tube 22 can be attached to and detached from the cylindrical portion 11c.

  When the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 11c of the endoscope distal end hood 10 is smaller than the outer diameter of the distal end of the insertion tube 22, the cylindrical portion 11c is formed of an elastic member such as silicon rubber. By forming the cylindrical portion 11c with an elastic member, the endoscope distal end hood 10 attached to the insertion tube 22 is fixed by elastic force.

  Note that the endoscope tip hood 10 has a predetermined mounting posture at the tip of the insertion tube 22. Straight lines L1 and L2 along the axial direction are drawn on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 11c and the distal end of the insertion tube 22. When the user wears the endoscope 11 so that the straight lines L1 and L2 drawn on the cylindrical portion 11c and the distal end of the insertion tube 22 are in a straight line, the endoscope distal end hood 10 is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube 22. It is attached with.

  The tapered portion 11t is formed such that the diameter becomes shorter as it approaches the distal end side from the proximal end side. In addition, the tapered portion 11t is formed so that the observation window 26 provided at the distal end of the insertion tube 22 enters the opening 13 on the distal end side when viewed from the distal end side in the determined mounting posture (see FIG. 4). An image sensor is provided inside the observation window 26, and the subject image reaches the image sensor via the observation window 26.

  The outer shell 11 is formed of a transparent member. Light transmitted by the light guide is radiated from an illumination window 27 provided at the distal end of the insertion tube 22. By forming the outer shell 11 with a transparent member, the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 27 can be irradiated around the distal end of the insertion tube 22 without being blocked by the outer shell 11. Further, by forming the outer shell 11 with a transparent member, it is possible to prevent the observation field of the image sensor from being narrowed by the outer shell 11.

  The balloon fixing portion 12 is provided on the inner surface of the tapered portion 11t. The balloon fixing portion 12 is provided at a position facing the forceps port 28 (see FIG. 2) of the forceps channel 24 in the determined mounting posture. The balloon fixing part 12 is fixed to the tapered part 11t.

  A hole 14 extending from the forceps port 28 toward the distal opening 13 in the determined mounting posture is formed in the balloon fixing portion 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The hole 14 is provided with a balloon 15 that is cylindrical and can be contracted and expanded.

  In a state where the filling material is decompressed from the balloon 15, the cylindrical inner diameter of the balloon 15 is larger than the outer diameter of the treatment instrument having the smallest diameter among the treatment instruments assumed to be used in the endoscope 20 to which the balloon 15 is attached. The balloon 15 is formed.

  The balloon 15 can be inflated by being pressurized with a filler through the tube 16. By causing the filler to flow into the balloon 15, the balloon 15 expands toward the inside of the cylinder. Examples of the filler include fluids such as gas and liquid, gels, and the like.

  In a state where the endoscope distal end hood 10 having such a configuration is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube 22, the treatment instrument inserted into the forceps channel 24 is guided to the distal end opening 13 without being obstructed by the balloon 15. It is burned. By pressing the filler from the tube 16 in a state where the treatment tool is guided to the opening 13 on the distal end side, the treatment tool is held so as to be wrapped by the balloon 15.

  As described above, according to the endoscope distal end hood 10 of the first embodiment, since the treatment instrument is gripped by the balloon 15, it is possible to stably hold the treatment instrument in a predetermined direction. It is.

  Even if the treatment tool has a thin outer diameter or a thick treatment tool, the treatment tool can be stably held by adjusting the pressure of the filler to the balloon 15. Therefore, according to the endoscope tip hood 10 of the first embodiment, the range of the outer diameter of the applicable treatment instrument is large. Further, by adjusting the pressure of the filler on the balloon 15, it is possible to adjust the force applied to the treatment instrument.

  Further, the distal end of the insertion tube may be directed in the direction of gravity depending on the orientation of the patient and the observation site in the body. However, according to the endoscope distal end hood 10 of the first embodiment, the treatment tool is fixed by the balloon 15. More than necessary protrusion of the treatment tool is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to perform a treatment such as safely excising the pathogenic part using the treatment tool.

  Next, an endoscope tip hood according to a second embodiment will be described. The endoscope tip hood of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the balloon. The endoscope distal end hood of the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the site | part which has the same function as 1st Embodiment.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the endoscope distal end hood 10 to which the second embodiment is applied has the balloon fixing portion 12 fixed to the outer shell 11. Similarly to the first embodiment, the balloon fixing portion 12 is formed with a hole portion 14 extending from the forceps port 28 toward the distal end side opening 13 in a predetermined mounting posture (see FIG. 6).

  Unlike the first embodiment, first and second balloons 15 a and 15 b that can be contracted and expanded are provided at two opposing positions on the inner periphery of the hole portion 14. Among the treatment tools assumed to be used in the endoscope 20 in which the space between the first and second balloons 15a and 15b is mounted in a state where the filler is decompressed from the first and second balloons 15a and 15b. The inner diameter of the hole 14 and the sizes of the first and second balloons 15a and 15b are determined so as to be longer than the outer diameter of the thinnest diameter treatment instrument.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the first and second balloons 15 a and 15 b can be inflated by pressurizing a filler through the tube 16. The first and second balloons 15 a and 15 b expand in the direction of the central axis of the hole 14.

  The treatment instrument inserted into the forceps channel 24 with the endoscope distal end hood 10 having such a configuration attached to the distal end of the insertion tube 22 is not obstructed by the first and second balloons 15a and 15b. Then, it is guided to the opening 13 on the tip side. By pressurizing the filler from the tube 16 in a state where the treatment tool is guided to the opening 13 on the distal end side, the treatment tool is held so as to be sandwiched between the first and second balloons 15a and 15b.

  The treatment tool can be stably supported also by the endoscope distal end hood of the second embodiment as described above.

  In the first embodiment, the cylindrical balloon 15 is used. However, the configuration is not limited to the cylindrical shape. Even if it is a single balloon, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the present embodiment as long as it is formed in a shape capable of gripping the treatment instrument.

  In the second embodiment, the treatment tool is sandwiched using the first and second balloons 15a and 15b, but three or more balloons are provided in the balloon fixing portion 12, and a plurality of balloons are used. The structure which clamps a treatment tool may be sufficient.

  In the first and second embodiments, the endoscope tip hood 10 has a configuration used for an electronic endoscope having an image sensor, but can also be used for a fiberscope.

1 is an external view of an electronic endoscope to which an endoscope distal end hood to which first and second embodiments of the present invention are applied is mounted. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance with the front-end | tip part of an insertion tube, and the endoscope front end hood of 1st, 2nd embodiment of the mounting attitude | position defined with respect to the insertion tube. It is a perspective view of an outer shell. It is an external view of the endoscope front end hood as viewed from the front end side in a state where the endoscope front end hood is mounted on the insertion tube in a predetermined mounting posture. It is an external view of the balloon fixing | fixed part of 1st Embodiment seen from the axial direction of the hole. It is an external view of the balloon fixing | fixed part of 2nd Embodiment seen from the axial direction of the hole.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope front hood 11 Outer shell 12 Balloon fixing | fixed part 13 Opening 14 Hole 15 Balloon 15a, 15b 1st, 2nd balloon 16 Tube (transportation means)
22 insertion tube 24 forceps channel 25 treatment instrument insertion port 26 observation window 28 forceps port

Claims (4)

An outer shell having a lumen that leads from the observation window of the endoscope to the opening when mounted on the distal end of the insertion tube of the endoscope;
A first balloon holding a treatment instrument inserted through the forceps channel of the endoscope;
Transport means for delivering fluid to the first balloon to inflate or deflate the first balloon;
An endoscope tip hood, comprising: a balloon fixing portion that fixes the first balloon to the outer shell at a position facing the forceps channel when attached to the insertion tube tip of the endoscope. A second balloon for holding the treatment instrument by sandwiching the treatment instrument together with the first balloon;
The transport means sends the fluid to the second balloon to inflate or deflate the second balloon;
The endoscope tip hood according to claim 1, wherein the balloon fixing portion fixes the second balloon so as to be opposed to the forceps channel when attached to the insertion tube tip of the endoscope.   The endoscope distal end hood according to claim 1, wherein the first balloon is formed in a shape capable of gripping the treatment instrument.   The endoscope distal end hood according to claim 3, wherein the first balloon is formed in a cylindrical shape and grips the treatment instrument inside the cylindrical shape.

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