JP2009279254A - Joint ring for endoscope, curve part of endoscope, endoscope having curve part, and method of manufacturing joint ring for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a joint ring for an endoscope having enough intensity which can be manufactured with ease and easily mounted with a wire receiver, a curve part of the endoscope having the joint ring, the endoscope having the curve part, and a method of manufacturing the joint ring for the endoscope. <P>SOLUTION: The joint ring 35 has a disciform plate part 36 which is formed in a rough disciform shape by press (punching) process or cutting process from a plate-like material and a joint part 40 which connects the adjacent disciform plate parts 36 with each other in the axial direction of the disciform plate part 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope node ring, an endoscope bending portion having an endoscope node ring, an endoscope having the bending portion, and an endoscope node ring manufacturing method.

  In recent years, endoscope insertion portions in the medical field are inserted into body cavities such as the stomach and intestine, and are used for observing tissue surfaces in body cavities and diagnosing and treating lesions with forceps and the like.

  The insertion part of such an endoscope has a bending part that can be bent on the distal end side of the insertion part. This bending part is comprised by connecting several adjacent node rings so that rotation is possible. A typical node ring has a substantially cylindrical shape in which the ratio of the axial length of the node ring to the thickness (wall thickness) of the node ring is several tens of times larger. On the inner peripheral side of the substantially cylindrical node ring, a wire receiver for inserting an operation wire for bending the bending portion is formed, for example, by cutting and bending a part of the node ring from the outer peripheral side by press working. It is provided by molding or the like protruding.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of cutting and bending a highly reliable bent tube ancestry part (node ring) for an endoscope without damaging or cutting an operation wire inserted into the bent shape portion of the bent tube. A method for forming a shape portion and a Kansetsu part are disclosed.
JP 09-122786 A

  When the bending portion has a small diameter, it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the above-described substantially cylindrical node ring, and it becomes difficult to process the wire receiver provided on the inner peripheral side of the node ring. In particular, when wire receivers are machined by cutting and bending small diameter nodes, the thickness of the node ring can be reduced. However, the thickness of the node ring prevents stress from being applied from the outer periphery. There is a risk that the strength of the steel will be significantly reduced.

  Accordingly, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a node ring for an endoscope that has sufficient strength even with a small diameter, can be easily manufactured, and can be easily provided with a wire receiver. An object of the present invention is to provide a bending portion of an endoscope having a node ring, an endoscope having the bending portion, and a method for manufacturing an endoscope node ring.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscopic nodal ring that constitutes a bending portion of an endoscope by connecting adjacent one and the other to each other, and an operation wire that bends the bending portion. A disc-like plate portion formed in a disc shape from a plate-like member, and joined to the disc-like plate portion at a symmetric position in the radial direction of the disc-like plate portion. And a connecting member that connects the disk-shaped plate portions adjacent in the axial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion perpendicular to the radial direction. Providing joint rings.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bending portion of an endoscope having the above-described endoscope node ring that is rotatably connected.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscope having the bending portion of the endoscope described above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an endoscope node ring in which a curved portion of an endoscope is configured by connecting one adjacent to the other and presses from a plate-like member. A first step of manufacturing a disk-shaped plate portion having a disk shape by processing or cutting, and a thickness direction of the disk-shaped plate portion, the disk-shaped plate portion of the disk-shaped plate portion orthogonal to the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion A second step of joining a connecting member that connects the disk-shaped plate portions adjacent to each other in the axial direction to the disk-shaped plate portion at a symmetric position in the radial direction. A method for manufacturing a nodal ring for an endoscope is provided.

  According to the present invention, an endoscopic node ring that has sufficient strength even with a small diameter, can be easily manufactured, and can be easily provided with a wire receiver, and an endoscopic node ring having an endoscopic node ring are provided. It is possible to provide a bending portion of an endoscope, an endoscope having the bending portion, and a method for manufacturing an endoscope node ring.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 is connected to an elongated insertion portion 10 to be inserted into a patient's body cavity or the like and a proximal end located on the proximal side of the insertion portion 10, and an operation for operating the insertion portion 10. A portion 60 is provided.

  The operation unit 60 is provided with a gripping unit 61 that is held by the surgeon and a bending operation knob 62 that bends the bending unit 22 described later of the insertion unit 10.

  A base end portion of the universal cord 63 is connected to the grip portion 61. A connector portion 64 connected to a light source device (not shown), a video processor, or the like is coupled to the distal end portion of the universal cord 63.

  The bending operation knob 62 is provided with a left and right bending operation knob 62a for bending the bending portion 22 left and right, and an up and down bending operation knob 62b for bending the bending portion 22 up and down. A left / right bending operation mechanism (not shown) driven by the left / right bending operation knob 62a is connected to the left / right bending operation knob 62a. The vertical bending operation knob 62b is connected to a vertical bending operation mechanism (not shown) that is driven by the vertical bending operation knob 62b. The bending operation mechanism in the vertical direction and the bending operation mechanism in the horizontal direction are disposed in the operation unit 60 and connected to a proximal end of an operation wire 42 described later.

  The operation unit 60 is provided with a suction button 65, an air / water supply button 66, various buttons 67 for endoscopic photography, and a treatment instrument insertion unit 68. The treatment instrument insertion portion 68 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion port 70 disposed in the insertion portion 10 and connected to a proximal end portion of a treatment instrument insertion channel 69 shown in FIG. An endoscope treatment tool (not shown) is inserted into the treatment tool insertion channel 69 from the treatment tool insertion port 70 of the endoscope 1 and pushed into the distal end rigid portion 23 side of the insertion portion 10 to be described later. 5 protrudes into the body cavity from the distal end opening 69a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 69 shown in FIG.

  The insertion portion 10 includes a flexible tube portion (conduit portion) 21, a bending portion 22, and a distal end rigid portion 23 in order from the operation portion 60 side. Specifically, the operation unit 60 is connected to the proximal end of the elongated flexible tube unit (conduit tube unit) 21. The distal end of the flexible tube portion 21 is connected to the proximal end of the bending portion 22. The distal end of the bending portion 22 is connected to the proximal end of the distal end rigid portion 23.

  The flexible tube portion 21 has a hollow shape made of, for example, resin.

  Next, the internal structure of the flexible tube portion 21 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible tube portion 21 includes a light guide fiber 27, an air supply tube 30, a water supply tube 31, a cable 32 such as a signal line, four operation wires 42, and a treatment. A tool insertion channel 69 and the like are inserted.

  Tubular members such as the light guide fiber 27, the air supply tube 30, the water supply tube 31, the cable 32, and the treatment instrument insertion channel 69 are built-in items incorporated in the flexible tube portion 21. These tubular members are inserted into the bending portion 22 from the proximal end side of the bending portion 22 connected to the distal end of the flexible tube portion 21 to the distal end side, and are connected to the proximal end of the distal end rigid portion 23. That is, the tubular member is disposed from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the bending portion 22 along the axial direction of a node ring 35 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) described later in the bending portion 22.

The four operation wires 42 bend the entire bending portion 22 in four directions, up, down, left, and right.
The four operation wires 42 are also built-in objects incorporated in the flexible tube portion 21 as with the tubular member. The four operation wires 42 are inserted into the bending portion 22, and the distal ends thereof are connected to the proximal end of the distal end rigid portion 23. Among these, the base ends of the two operation wires 42 that bend the bending portion 22 in the left-right direction are connected to the above-described left-right bending operation mechanism of the operation portion 60. Further, the base ends of the two operation wires 42 that bend the bending portion 22 in the vertical direction are connected to the above-described vertical bending operation mechanism of the operation portion 60.

  The operation wires 42 are pulled and driven in accordance with the turning operation of the left / right bending operation knob 62a and the up / down bending operation knob 62b. As a result, the bending portion 22 has been operated to bend at an arbitrary bending angle in the vertical and horizontal directions from the normal linear state (for example, the non-curved state indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1) in which the straightly extending bending angle is 0 °. The bending operation is performed remotely up to a bending state (for example, a state indicated by a solid line or a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1).

  As described above, the bending portion 22 is curved as shown by a solid line or a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 from a normal straight line extending straight as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The bending operation is possible in the state.

  Next, the configuration of the bending portion 22 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, a plurality of node rings 35 having a hollow and substantially disk shape are arranged in the bending portion 22 along the insertion direction of the endoscope 1 (longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 10). It is installed. The adjacent node rings 35 (positioned forward and backward along the insertion direction of the endoscope 1) are rotatably connected as shown in FIG. 3C by a connecting member 40 described later provided in each node ring 35. ing. As described above, the curved portion 22 is formed (configured) by connecting the adjacent one and the other node rings 35 to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, a connecting member 40 attached to the distal end rigid portion 23 is coupled to the node ring 35a located closest to the distal end rigid portion 23 (details will be described later). Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, a connecting member 40 attached to the flexible tube portion 21 is connected to the node ring 35b located closest to the flexible tube portion 21 (details will be described later).

  Next, the node ring 35 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C. In FIG. 4A, in order to make it easy to see the shape of the node ring 35, the tubular member inserted into the node ring 35, the operation wire 42, and the like are not shown.

  The node ring 35 in this embodiment is formed into a substantially disk shape (molded) by, for example, pressing (punching) processing or cutting processing by laser, for example, from a single hard plate-like member made of a rolled steel plate made of thin stainless steel or the like. The disc-shaped plate portion 36 is provided. That is, the node ring 35 has a disk-shaped plate portion 36 whose outer periphery (outer peripheral surface) 36b is formed in a substantially disk shape by, for example, pressing (punching) processing from a plate-shaped member or cutting processing by laser, for example. The thickness L1 of the disc-shaped plate portion 36 (the length of the disc-shaped plate portion 36 in the insertion direction of the endoscope 1) L1 is substantially constant and is preferably thin. The disk-shaped plate portion 36 has a proximal side flat surface 36a and a distal side flat surface 36c.

  The disk-shaped plate part 36 has an accommodating part for inserting and accommodating the above-described tubular member at the radial center of the disk-shaped plate part 36. This accommodating portion is a through-hole (opening portion) 37 penetrating in the axial direction of the disc-shaped plate portion 36 in the thickness direction of the disc-shaped plate portion 36 and orthogonal to the radial direction of the disc-shaped plate portion 36. . The through-opening 37 has a substantially circular shape, for example, and is an accommodation holding portion that inserts a tubular member as shown in FIG. 4B, accommodates the tubular member, and holds the tubular member.

  The through hole 37 has an inner diameter of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, and becomes a hollow portion of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. Therefore, the node ring 35 (disk-shaped plate part 36) has a hollow substantially disk shape as described above. The configuration of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 in this state is that the outer peripheral surface has a ring-shaped plate portion having a substantially circular shape.

  Linear length in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 between the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 and the inner periphery (inner peripheral surface) 37a of the through-hole 37 (the outer diameter and inner diameter of the disk-shaped plate portion 36) And the length L2 of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 in the radial direction) are larger than the thickness L1 as shown in FIG. 4C. This L2 is adjusted by the shape of the through hole 37. At this time, L2 is a linear length in the radial direction of the disc-shaped plate portion 36 between the outer periphery 36b and the inner periphery (in this embodiment, the inner periphery 37a) disposed on the outermost periphery 36b side in the through-hole 37. It is. In the present embodiment, the inner periphery 37 a is the inner periphery of the disk-shaped plate portion 36.

  The disk-shaped plate portion 36 has four insertion portions 38 (38a, 38b, 38c, 38d) through which the operation wire 42 is inserted. For example, an operation wire 42 that bends the bending portion 22 upward is inserted through the insertion portion 38a. For example, an operation wire 42 for bending the bending portion 22 in the left direction is inserted into the insertion portion 38b. For example, an operation wire 42 that bends the bending portion 22 downward is inserted through the insertion portion 38c. For example, an operation wire 42 for bending the bending portion 22 in the right direction is inserted into the insertion portion 38d. In this way, the insertion portion 38 becomes a wire receiver that holds the operation wire 42. Each insertion portion 38 is disposed around the through hole 37 and penetrates the proximal side flat surface 36 a and the distal side flat surface 36 c in the thickness (axis) direction of the disc-like plate portion 36. Moreover, each insertion part 38 is arrange | positioned about 90 degrees away in the circumferential direction. In addition, the insertion part 38 does not need to be arrange | positioned on the same periphery, and an arrangement position is not limited.

  The distal ends of the four operation wires 42 are fixed in a recess 23b provided at the proximal end of the distal end hard portion 23 as shown in FIG. 3A. The recesses 23b are arranged so as to correspond to the insertion portions 38 of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, and are formed at four locations in a state shifted by approximately 90 ° in the circumferential direction. The concave portion 23b is formed so as to protrude while cutting and bending a part of the peripheral wall portion of the distal end hard portion 23 from the outer peripheral surface 23a side toward the inner peripheral side (not shown) by pressing. Each operation wire 42 is fixed by silver brazing in a recess 23b formed to protrude to the inner peripheral side. The distal end of the operation wire 42 may be fixed to each insertion portion 38 of the node ring 35a located closest to the distal end rigid portion 23 side.

  The through-hole 37 and the insertion portion 38 of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 are formed in the thickness direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 by, for example, pressing (punching) processing or, for example, cutting processing by laser.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, each node ring 35 includes a connecting member 40 provided on both sides of the base end side plane 36a side and the tip end side plane 36c side of the disc-shaped plate portion 36, that is, a disc. It has the connection member 40 which connects the disk-shaped plate parts 36 adjacent in the axial direction of the disk-shaped plate part 36 which is the thickness direction of the disk-shaped plate part 36 and orthogonal to the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate part 36. . The connecting member 40 includes a first hinge member 80 and a second hinge member 90. The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are attached to each disk-shaped plate portion 36 at a position symmetrical to the central axis of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 in the radial direction of the adjacent disk-shaped plate portions 36. It is joined. Accordingly, the disk-like plate portion 36 is connected to each of the connecting members 40 on the proximal-side flat surface 36a side and the distal-side flat surface 36c side of the single disk-like plate portion 36, respectively. And the second hinge member 90.

  Next, the connecting member 40 will be described in detail. When the connecting member 40 is joined to the disc-shaped plate portion 36, the connection member 40 has two (one pair) having convex portions 83a to be described later disposed on the proximal end side of the endoscope 1 (disc-shaped plate portion 36). The first hinge member 80 and the disc-like plate portion 36 are arranged on the distal end side of the endoscope 1 (the disc-like plate portion 36) when joined to the disc-like plate portion 36, and the convex portion 83a is fitted to be rotatable, which will be described later. It consists of a combination of two (one pair) second hinge members 90 each having a through-hole 93a.

  The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are formed along the outer periphery 36b, the base end side plane 36a, and the tip end side plane 36c of the disc-shaped plate portion 36, and the outer periphery 36b and the base end side are formed. It is joined to one disk-shaped plate portion 36 by laser welding at at least one place on the flat surface 36a or the tip side flat surface 36c. The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are joined at a position where the insertion portions 38 are not blocked in the circumferential direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. In addition, it is not necessary to limit to laser welding, For example, any coupling | bonding means of overlay welding, spot welding, adhesion | attachment, press-fit, etc. may be sufficient. In the present embodiment, the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces (details) of the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 with respect to the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are joined (fixed) by a laser welding portion 36d by a laser applied to a substantially central portion of the tip surface portions 81, 91) described later. The joining of the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 need not be limited to the outer periphery 36b. The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 may be joined to the proximal side flat surface 36a side or the distal side flat surface 36c side.

  The two first hinge members 80 are arranged approximately 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction. That is, the two first hinge members 80 are arranged symmetrically about the through hole 37. Further, the two second hinge members 90 are arranged approximately 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction. That is, the two second hinge members 90 are arranged symmetrically about the through hole 37. The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are disposed approximately 90 degrees apart in the circumferential direction.

  The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 serve as pivots for connecting the plurality of node rings 35 respectively. In the bending portion 22 of the present embodiment, the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90, as shown in FIG. 3B, along the axial direction of the node ring 35 when the adjacent node rings 35 are connected. It is arranged on the same straight line. Thereby, the bending part 22 is formed so that it can each bend in four directions of up and down, right and left.

  The first hinge member 80 is attached to the disk-shaped plate portion 36 so as to protrude toward the proximal end side of the endoscope 1 (disk-shaped plate portion 36), and the plate of the first hinge member 80. This is a bent projecting piece (rear side hinge base) formed by providing a stepped portion (middle end surface portion 82) corresponding to the length of the convex portion 83a having a length approximately twice as thick as the thickness.

  The shape of the first hinge member 80 will be described in detail. The first hinge member 80 includes a distal end surface portion 81 disposed on the distal end side of the endoscope 1 (disc-shaped plate portion 36) so as to cover the outer periphery 36b of the disc-shaped plate portion 36, and the disc-shaped plate portion 36. The endoscope 1 (disc 1) is connected to the middle end surface portion 82, which is a stepped portion provided continuously with the distal end surface portion 81 along the radial direction, and the middle end surface portion 82 along the axial direction of the disc-like plate portion 36. The bent plate portion 36) has a bent shape composed of a base end face portion 83 arranged on the base end side.

  The distal end 81a of the distal end surface portion 81 is directed toward the inner circumference (inner circumference 37a) of the disc-like plate portion 36 in the radial direction of the disc-like plate portion 36 as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4A. It is bent (bent) by a desired length. The bent front end 81 a, front end surface portion 81, and middle end surface portion 82 form a recess 85 that fits into the outer periphery 36 b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. Specifically, the recess 85 is formed toward the inner periphery (inner periphery 37 a) side of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, and is fitted into the outer periphery 36 b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. That is, the first hinge member 80 has a recess 85 at the tip 81a, the tip surface portion 81, and the stepped portion (medium end surface portion 82). Note that the concave portion 85 may not be formed by the distal end 81a, the distal end surface portion 81, and the middle end surface portion 82, and the concave portion 85 may be formed by recessing the inner peripheral side of the distal end surface portion 81 in a concave shape.

  On the base end face portion 83, a convex portion 83a that protrudes toward the outer periphery 36b side in the radial direction of the disc-like plate portion 36 is disposed. The convex portion 83 a is formed from the base end surface portion 83 toward the outer periphery 36 b by, for example, burring in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, and is integral with the base end surface portion 83. Since the base end face portion 83 is disposed on the base end side of the endoscope 1 (disk-shaped plate portion 36), the convex portion 83a is also disposed on the base end side of the endoscope 1 (disk-shaped plate portion 36). It becomes. The convex portion 83a serves as a connecting shaft that connects the node rings 35 (disk-shaped plate portions 36) to each other. The convex portion 83a has a substantially cylindrical shape. Further, the end face on the base end side of the base end face portion 83 and the peripheral end face of the convex portion 83a is formed in an arc shape so that adjacent node rings 35 are easily bent when connected.

  The second hinge member 90 is protruded toward the distal end side of the endoscope 1 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) by being attached to the disk-shaped plate portion 36, and from the length of the convex portion 83a, the second hinge member 90 is projected. This is a bent projecting piece (front hinge base) formed by providing a stepped portion (middle end surface 92) corresponding to a length obtained by subtracting the plate thickness of the hinge member 90.

  The shape of the second hinge member 90 will be described in detail. The second hinge member 90 includes a base end face portion 91 disposed on the base end side of the endoscope 1 (disc-like plate portion 36) so as to cover the outer periphery 36b of the disc-like plate portion 36, and a disc-like plate portion. An intermediate end surface portion 92 that is a stepped portion provided continuously to the base end surface portion 91 along the radial direction of 36, and an intermediate end surface portion 92 provided along the axial direction of the disc-like plate portion 36, and 1 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) is a bent shape composed of a distal end surface portion 93 disposed on the distal end side.

  The distal end 91a of the base end face portion 91 is directed toward the inner circumference (inner circumference 37a) of the disc-like plate portion 36 in the radial direction of the disc-like plate portion 36 as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4A. Then, it is bent (bent) by a desired length. The bent distal end 91 a, proximal end surface portion 91, and middle end surface portion 92 form a recess 95 that fits into the outer periphery 36 b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. Specifically, the recess 95 is formed toward the inner periphery (inner periphery 37 a) side of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, and is fitted into the outer periphery 36 b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. That is, the second hinge member 90 has a concave portion 95 at the distal end 91a, the proximal end surface portion 91, and the step portion (intermediate end surface portion 83). The concave portion 95 may not be formed by the distal end 91a, the base end surface portion 91, and the middle end surface portion 92, and the concave portion 95 may be formed by recessing the inner peripheral surface side of the base end surface portion 91 in a concave shape.

  In the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, the front end surface portion 93 is provided with a through-hole 93a through which the convex portion 83a penetrates and fits and is connected in a state where the convex portion 83a is rotatably fitted. Since the distal end surface portion 93 is disposed on the distal end side of the endoscope 1 (disk-shaped plate portion 36), the through-hole 93a is also disposed on the distal end side of the endoscope 1 (disc-shaped plate portion 36).

  The inner diameter of the through-hole 93a is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the convex portion 83a. Therefore, the convex portion 83a of one node ring 35 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) of the node ring 35 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) adjacent in the axial direction is the node ring 35 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) adjacent in the axial direction. ) Of the other node ring 35 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) of the other ring ring 93a. If it demonstrates simply, the convex part 83a of the node ring 35a will fit in the through-hole 93a of the node ring 35 adjacent to this node ring 35a so that rotation is possible. Thereby, the bending part 22 which has the some node ring 35 connected so that rotation was possible is formed.

  The through-hole 93a prevents movement of the node ring 35 (disk-shaped plate portion 36) on the side of the convex portion 83a connected to the through-hole 93a in the circumferential direction and the axial direction, and the convex portion 83a is dropped from the through-hole 93a. To prevent. Further, the through-holes 93 a and the convex portions 83 a are separated from each other by approximately 180 ° in the circumferential direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. Therefore, the through hole 93a prevents the movement of the node ring 35 on the side of the convex part 83a connected to the through hole 93a in the radial direction, and prevents the convex part 83a from dropping off from the through hole 93a.

  Further, the distal end 81a of the distal end surface portion 81 and the distal end 91a of the proximal end surface portion 91 are restriction portions (stoppers) that restrict the rotation of the coupled node rings 35 as shown in FIG. 3C.

  Note that the distal end surface portion 93 that is the edge on the proximal end side of the distal end surface portion 93 and around the through-hole 93a has an arc shape so that adjacent node rings 35 are easily curved when connected.

  Thus, the node ring 35 of the present embodiment is ring-shaped and has a disk-shaped plate portion 36 that is a hollow disk-shaped plate.

  Next, the connection between the node rings 35 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the two first hinge members 80 of the front (front end) node ring 35 and the rear (rear end) node ring adjacent to the front node ring 35 are provided. The connecting member 40 is formed by a combination of the two second hinge members 90 of 35, and in this connecting member 40, the convex portion 83a penetrates the through-hole 93a and is fitted rotatably. Thereby, the front node ring 35 and the rear node ring 35 are pivotally supported by the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a, and are connected so as to be rotatable around the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a. Thereby, the bending part 22 which has the some node ring 35 connected so that rotation was possible is formed.

  Thus, between the 1st hinge member 80 and the 2nd hinge member 90 which were each provided in the adjacent node ring 35, the spindle part which used the convex part 83a and the through-hole 93a as a rotation spindle is formed. Has been. Moreover, the convex part 83a and the through-hole 93a become a connection part which connects the adjacent node ring 35. FIG.

  Next, the configuration of the distal end rigid portion 23 and a method for connecting the node ring 35a and the distal end rigid portion 23 will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 3A, two (one pair) first hinge members 80 are joined to the proximal end side of the outer peripheral surface 23a of the distal end rigid portion 23 by, for example, laser welding. The two first hinge members 80 are arranged approximately 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction.

  Similarly to the connection of the node rings 35, the convex portion 83a of the first hinge member 80 in the distal end rigid portion 23 passes through the through-hole 93a of the second hinge member 90 on the node ring 35a side and is rotatable. Mating. As a result, the distal end rigid portion 23 and the node ring 35a are pivotally supported via the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a, and are connected so as to be rotatable around the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a.

  Next, the structure of the flexible tube part 21 and the connection method of the node ring 35b and the flexible tube part 21 are demonstrated easily. As shown in FIG. 3A, two (one pair) second hinge members 90 are joined to the distal end side of the outer peripheral surface 21f of the flexible tube portion 21 by, for example, laser welding. The two second hinge members 90 are arranged approximately 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction.

  Similarly to the connection of the node rings 35, the convex portion 83 a of the first hinge member 80 on the node ring 35 b side passes through the through-hole 93 a of the second hinge member 90 on the flexible tube portion 21 side and rotates. Fit as possible. Thereby, the flexible tube portion 21 and the node ring 35b are pivotally supported via the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a, and are connected so as to be rotatable around the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a.

  The lengths of the proximal end surface portion 83 of the first hinge member 80 and the distal end surface portion 93 of the second hinge member 90 in the direction of insertion of the endoscope 1 (axis of the disk-shaped plate portion 36) can be adjusted as desired.

  The flexible tube portion 21 and the curved portion 22 (node ring 35) are covered with an outer tube 75 as shown in FIG. The outer tube 75 is made of an elastic material such as rubber and has a hollow shape or a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible tube portion 21 or the bending portion 22. The outer tube 75 may be injection-molded with an elastic material made of a thermoplastic elastomer (such as styrene, olefin, or urethane). The molding of the thermoplastic elastomer is not limited to injection molding, and various molding methods such as casting, extrusion, and blow may be applied.

  On the distal end surface of the distal rigid portion 23, in addition to the distal opening 69a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 69 described above, as shown in FIG. 5, an illumination lens 25 of an illumination optical system, an objective lens 26 of an observation optical system, An air supply / water supply nozzle (not shown) is provided. The distal end portion of the light guide fiber 27 is fixed to the distal end rigid portion 23 behind the illumination lens 25. Further, an imaging element 28 such as a CCD and its connection circuit board 29 are fixed behind the objective lens 26. Note that the endoscope 1 may be a fiberscope instead of an electronic scope by fixing the tip of an image guide fiber (not shown) instead of the image sensor 28. Furthermore, the distal end portion of the treatment instrument insertion channel 69, the air supply tube 30 connected to the air supply / water supply nozzle, the distal end portion of the water supply tube 31, and the like are fixed to the distal end rigid portion 23.

  The above-described light guide fiber 27, cable 32 such as a signal line of the image sensor 28, an image guide fiber (not shown) in the case of a fiberscope, a treatment instrument insertion channel 69, an air supply tube 30, and a water supply tube 31 The distal end portion of the pipe extends from the operation portion 60 through the proximal end side of the flexible tube portion 21 through the flexible tube portion 21 and the curved portion 22 to the distal end rigid portion 23 as shown in FIG. It is installed and fixed.

Next, a manufacturing method and a connecting method of the node ring 35 in the bending portion 22 in the present embodiment will be described in detail.
Step1
A disk-shaped plate part material having an outer periphery 36b (outer peripheral surface) having a substantially disk shape is formed (molded) from a plate-shaped member (not shown) by, for example, punching with a press or cutting with a laser or the like.

Step2
The disc-shaped plate portion material has a through hole 37 for penetrating the disc-shaped plate portion material and accommodating the tubular member by punching processing with a press or the like or cutting processing with a laser or the like. A disk-shaped plate portion 36 is obtained at the center. At this time, the through-hole 37 is formed so that L2 is larger than L1 as shown in FIG. 4C. Further, the disk-shaped plate portion 36 is penetrated through the disk-shaped plate portion 36 so that the operation wire 42 can be inserted around the through-hole 37 by, for example, punching processing using a press or cutting processing using a laser or the like. Four insertion portions 38 are formed. The insertion part 38 is arrange | positioned about 90 degrees away in the circumferential direction.
Step 1 and Step 2 may be performed simultaneously.

Step3
The concave portion 85 is fitted into the outer periphery 36b of the disc-shaped plate portion 36 so that the convex portion 83a of the first hinge member 80 is disposed on the proximal end side of the endoscope 1 (disc-shaped plate portion 36). Next, the first hinge member 80 is joined to the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 by forming a laser weld portion 36d by, for example, laser welding at a substantially central portion of the distal end surface portion 81 of the recess 85 (FIG. 4A). reference). Laser welding may be performed on the entire surface of the tip surface portion 81, or may be at both ends 81 b in the circumferential direction of the tip surface portion 81. At this time, the first hinge members 80 are disposed, for example, approximately 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction, and are disposed between the insertion portions 38 so as not to block the insertion portions 38.

Further, the recess 95 is fitted into the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 so that the through-hole 93a of the second hinge member 90 is disposed on the distal end side of the endoscope 1 (disk-shaped plate portion 36). Next, the second hinge member 90 is joined to the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 by forming a laser weld portion 36d by, for example, laser welding at a substantially central portion of the base end face portion 91 of the recess 95 (see FIG. 4A). Laser welding may be performed on the entire surface of the base end surface portion 91, or may be at both ends 91 b in the circumferential direction of the base end surface portion 91. At this time, the second hinge members 90 are disposed, for example, approximately 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction, and are disposed between the insertion portions 38 so as not to block the insertion portions 38. Further, the second hinge member 90 is disposed approximately 90 ° away from the first hinge member 80 in the circumferential direction of the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, for example.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the first hinge member 80 and the first hinge member 80, which are the connecting members 40, are symmetric in the radial direction about the central axis of the disc-shaped plate portion 36. It is joined to the disk-shaped plate part 36. Note that the fixing by joining does not need to be limited to laser welding, and for example, any coupling means of overlay welding, spot welding, adhesion, press fitting, or the like may be used.

  Step 1 to Step 3 form a hollow nodal ring 35 having a substantially disk shape.

Step4
In the adjacent node rings 35, the through-hole 93 a in the rear node ring 35 disposed on the proximal end side of the bending portion 22 has a convex portion in the front node ring 35 disposed on the distal end side of the bending portion 22. 83a penetrates and fits so that rotation is possible. As a result, the node rings 35 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a as shown in FIG. 3B.

  When the plurality of node rings 35 are connected, the curved portion 22 is formed. The curved portion 22 is covered with an outer tube 75. When the bending portion 22 is bent by the operation wire 42, the convex portion 83a is prevented from moving in the circumferential direction, the axial direction, and the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 by the through-hole 93a, and falls off the through-hole 93a. Is prevented. As a result, detachment of the node ring 35 (displacement of the connecting portion) in the adjacent circumferential direction, axial direction, and radial direction is prevented by the convex portion 83a and the through-hole 93a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the adjacent node rings 35 are restricted in the range in which they are rotated by the contact between the distal end 81 a of the distal end surface portion 81 and the distal end 91 a of the proximal end surface portion 91. For example, when the upper node ring 35 is rotated to the right as shown in FIG. 3C, the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 on the right side in FIG. The rotation of the wheel 35 is restricted.

  At this time, the base end side edge of the base end face part 83 and the front end side edge of the front end face part 93 have an arc shape. Therefore, when the adjacent node rings rotate, both ends of the arc of the edge on the distal end side of the distal end surface portion 93 do not contact the middle end surface portion 82 as shown in FIG. 3C. Although not shown, both ends of the arc of the base end side edge of the base end face portion 83 do not contact the disk-shaped plate portion 36. Therefore, the node ring 35 rotates smoothly.

  Note that the connection between the distal end rigid portion 23 and the node ring 35a and the connection between the flexible tube portion 21 and the node ring 35b are the same as described above, and the details are omitted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the outer periphery is formed into a substantially disk shape by punching with a press or the like or cutting with a laser or the like, and penetrates at the center in the radial direction. By forming the opening 37, a hollow, substantially disk-shaped disk-shaped plate portion 36 is formed, and the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 40 constituting the connecting member 40 are formed at desired positions on the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. The hinge members 90 are alternately fixed to form the node ring 35. In the present embodiment, when the through hole 37 is formed, L2 is set larger than L1. Further, in the present embodiment, the operation wire 42 can be inserted around the through-hole 37 by, for example, punching with a press or cutting with a laser or the like, and the disk-like plate portion 36 is inserted in the thickness direction. A portion 38 (wire receiver) is provided.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when L2 is made larger than L1, for example, when the disk-shaped plate portion 36 having the through-hole 37 is manufactured by punching using a press or cutting using a laser or the like, Damage to the plate portion 36 can be prevented. Thereby, this embodiment can manufacture simply the node ring 35 which has sufficient intensity | strength by making L2 larger than L1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the insertion portion 38 is not provided by cutting and bending from the outer periphery 36b side to the inner periphery 37a side of the node ring 35, and the proximal plane 36a (or the distal end side) from the axial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. The insertion portion 38 can be simply provided on the flat surface 36c) directly by, for example, punching by a press or cutting by a laser or the like. In the present embodiment, even if the radial length L2 of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 is reduced, the insertion portion 38 can be easily provided by, for example, punching with a press or cutting with a laser or the like. Therefore, in this embodiment, since the radial length L2 of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 can be reduced, the outer diameter of the disk-shaped plate portion 36 can be reduced, and thus the node ring 35 can be made thinner. .

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, as long as L2 is made larger than L1, the radial length of the node ring 35 can be adjusted while giving sufficient strength to the node ring 35, and the node ring is made thin. be able to.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the node ring 35 and the insertion portion 38 are efficiently manufactured by punching by a press or the like or cutting by a laser or the like, as described above, without making the node ring 35 into a substantially cylindrical shape. Therefore, the cost of the node ring 35 itself can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the through-hole 93a can prevent the protrusion 83a from moving in the circumferential direction, the axial direction, and the radial direction, and can prevent the protrusion 83a from dropping out of the through-hole 93a. Thereby, detachment | desorption (shift | offset | difference of a connection part) of the node ring 35 in the circumferential direction of the node ring 35, an axial direction, and radial direction can be prevented.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the rotation range of the node ring 35 can be regulated by the contact between the distal end 81a of the distal end surface portion 81 and the distal end 91a of the proximal end surface portion 91, and the sharp rotation between the rotating node rings 35 is rapid. By bending, the tubular member can be prevented from being damaged by the inner diameter (inner circumference 37a) of the node ring 35 or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the length of the distal end surface portion 81 of the first hinge member 80 and the length of the distal end surface portion 93 of the second hinge member 90 in the direction of insertion of the endoscope 1 (axis of the disk-shaped plate portion 36). Can be adjusted as desired. Thereby, this embodiment can adjust the curvature radius of the curved part 22 formed when the adjacent node ring 35 is connected as desired.

  Further, the disk-shaped plate portion 36 used for the node ring 35 of the present embodiment is formed into a hollow disk-shaped plate portion by punching the plate-like member from the side perpendicular to the surface thereof, for example, by punching with a press or cutting with a laser or the like. Is formed. Therefore, it is not necessary to join the both ends of the plate member, and the annular member is not cut, so that the disk-shaped plate portion 36 having the uniform thickness L1 can be manufactured easily and in large quantities.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the bending portion 22 for the endoscope having the node ring 35 described above, the endoscope 1 having the bending portion 22, and a method for manufacturing the node ring 35.

  Note that the base end face portion 83 of the first hinge member 80 may have a through-hole 83b similar to the through-hole 93a of the second hinge member 90, instead of the convex portion 83a as shown in FIG. 6A. . In this case, the connecting member 40 includes a rivet 41 that is a fitting member that is fitted into the through holes 83b and 93a as shown in FIG. 6B. One end of the rivet 41 is fixed to either the through-hole 83b or the through-hole 93a. As a result, the front node ring 35 and the rear node ring 35 are pivotally supported by the rivet 41, and are pivotally supported around the rivet 41 as shown in FIG. 6C. Thereby, the bending part 22 which has the node ring 35 connected so that rotation was possible is formed.

  As described above, between the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90, a support shaft portion having the through holes 83 b and 93 a and the rivet 41 as the rotation support shaft is formed, and the connecting member 40 is formed. Also good. The through holes 83b and 93a and the rivet 41 serve as a connecting portion that connects adjacent node rings 35.

  Moreover, the front-end | tip surface part 93 may have the recessed part which the convex part 83a fits so that rotation is possible instead of the through-hole 93a. That is, the front end surface portion 93 only needs to have at least one of the through hole 93a and the concave portion.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the node ring 35 is arranged at a distance of approximately 90 ° in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery 36b of the disk-shaped plate portion 36, and the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are alternately arranged. You may have the four notch parts 36f arrange | positioned. The length (depth) in the radial direction of the notch 36f is preferably the same as the thickness of the distal end surface portion 81 of the first hinge member 80 and the thickness of the proximal end surface portion 91 of the second hinge member 90. is there. The notch 36f is formed, for example, by a punching process using a press or a cutting process using a laser or the like. And the 1st hinge member 80 arrange | positions the front end surface part 81 in the notch part 36f, and is joined by the laser welding part by laser welding as mentioned above. The second hinge member 90 is also joined in the same manner. Thereby, on the outer periphery 36b, the formation of irregularities by the outer periphery 36b, the distal end surface portion 81, and the proximal end surface portion 91 can be prevented, and the curved portion 22 having a substantially circular shape can be formed.
In the case shown in FIG. 7A, the recesses 85 and 95 are fitted into the notches 36f. Note that the recess 85 of the first hinge member 80 and the recess 95 of the second hinge member 90 fit into the notch 36f, respectively (the both ends of the notch 36f and the both ends 81b in the circumferential direction of the tip surface portion 81 and the base In the case where both ends 91b in the circumferential direction of the end surface portion 91 are in contact with each other), the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are positioned, so that the front end surface portion 81 of the first hinge member 80 is positioned. The bent distal end 81a and the bent distal end 91a of the proximal end surface portion 91 of the second hinge member 90 are not necessary.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the tip 81a may be stretched without being bent, that is, the first hinge member 80 may not have the recess 85. At this time, the first hinge member 80 may be directly joined, for example, by laser welding at the outer periphery 36b at the distal end surface portion 81. The same applies to the second hinge member 90. Thus, even if each node ring 35 is formed in the state where the front end surface portion 81 and the base end surface portion 91 are extended, the bending radius of the bending portion 22 formed by connecting each node ring 35 can be adjusted as desired. Can do. Further, for joining, for example, if any joining means of laser welding, overlay welding, spot welding, adhesion, press-fitting, or the like is used, the joining location of the connecting member 40 and the disk-shaped plate portion 36 is limited. Not.

  Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. In addition, about the structure same as 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same referential mark as 1st Embodiment. In FIG. 8A, the first hinge member 80 in the vicinity of the insertion portion 38b shown in FIG. 8A is not shown in order to clarify a linear length L3 described later in the drawing. Further, in FIG. 8A, illustration of the tubular member, the operation wire 42, and the like is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of first hinge members 80 and the pair of second hinge members 90 are joined to the disk-shaped plate portion 36 by overlay welding, for example. This build-up welding is performed on the first hinge member 80 on the proximal end plane 36 a and the middle end face portion 82, and on the second hinge member 90 on the proximal end plane 36 a and the proximal end face portion 91.

  Further, the through hole 37 has a smaller diameter than that of the first embodiment. That is, the area of the through hole 37 is smaller than that of the first embodiment. Thereby, the disk-shaped board part 36 of this embodiment has increased the area of the base end side plane 36a in radial direction.

  The through-hole 37 includes a substantially circular first penetrating portion 37b, a second penetrating portion 37c having substantially the same shape as the first penetrating portion 37b, the first penetrating portion 37b, and the second penetrating portion. The third through hole 37c is disposed between the first through hole 37b and the second through hole 37c, and has a substantially circular shape larger than the first through hole 37b and the second through hole 37c. It consists of a penetration part 37d.

  In this embodiment, the straight line length L2 in the first embodiment is that of the node ring 35 between the outer periphery 36b and the inner periphery 37a of the first through portion 37b (or the second through portion 37c). It becomes the linear length L3 in the radial direction. This L3 is adjusted by the shape of the through hole 37 (the first through hole 37a, the second through hole 37b, and the third through hole 37c). This L3 is larger than L1.

  In addition, if L3 is larger than L1, the shape of the through-hole 37 does not need to be limited to the above. In this case, L3 is a linear length in the radial direction of the node ring 35 between the outer periphery 36b and the inner periphery 37a of the through-hole 37 disposed on the outermost periphery 36b side.

  Since the manufacturing method and the connection method of the node ring 35 in this embodiment are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Thus, the strength of the node ring 35 can be improved by reducing the diameter of the through hole 37 to reduce the area and increasing the area of the proximal side flat surface 36a in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. Moreover, no matter what shape the through-hole 37 has, the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 can be joined to the node ring 35 by overlay welding. Of course, it is not necessary to limit to overlay welding, and any coupling means such as laser welding, spot welding, adhesion, press-fitting, or the like may be used.

  In the present embodiment, when adjusting the shape of the through-hole 37, as long as L3 is made larger than L1, the through-hole 37 having various shapes can be formed by, for example, punching with a press or cutting with a laser or the like. A node ring 35 that can be easily formed and has sufficient strength against an external force from the radial direction can be manufactured.

  Further, as long as L3 is made larger than L1, the shape of the through hole 37 can be adjusted as desired, and the length in the radial direction of the node ring 35 can be adjusted, so that the node ring 35 can be made thinner.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the endoscope bending portion 22 having the node ring 35 described above, the endoscope 1 having the bending portion 22, and the method of manufacturing the node ring 35, as in the first embodiment. Can be provided.

  Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C. In addition, about the structure same as 1st and 2nd embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same referential mark as 1st and 2nd embodiment.

  The node ring 35 in the present embodiment includes, for example, two disk-like plate portions 43a and 43b having the same shape and size, and after the lamination, the disk-like plate portions 43a and 43b are welded by laser welding or spot welding. The first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are joined by press-fitting, joining with caulking or the like by any joining means. The number of disk-shaped plate portions to be stacked is not limited. The axial direction of the disk-shaped plate part 43a becomes coaxial with the axial direction of the other disk-shaped plate part 43b by this lamination.

  In the present embodiment, the thickness L1 in the first embodiment is the total thickness of the stacked disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b, and the thickness of the node ring 35 is formed by stacking the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b. It becomes. Therefore, the thickness of the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b is half of L1 (L1 / 2).

Since the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b have the same shape and size, the disk-shaped plate portion 43a will be described as an example.
The through-hole 37 that is a housing portion is formed with a convex housing portion that is formed in a convex shape toward the outer periphery 36b and that individually accommodates tubular members. This convex accommodating portion is a through-hole (opening portion) penetrating in the axial direction of the disc-shaped plate portion 43a that is in the thickness direction of the disc-shaped plate portion 43a and orthogonal to the radial direction of the disc-shaped plate portion 43a. And a holding portion 37e for holding the tubular members individually. Four holding portions 37e are connected in the four directions of the through-hole 37, and have a long groove shape with a semicircular shape on the tip side. The holding portions 37e are located approximately 90 ° apart from each other. The arrangement position is not limited as long as the holding portion 37e is connected to the through-hole 37. The holding portion 37e is formed together with the through-hole 37 by, for example, punching with a press or the like or cutting with a laser or the like.

  The holding portion 37e protrudes closer to the outer periphery 36b than the through hole 37 in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 43a. The holding part 37e is a convex part of the through-hole 37 formed toward the outer periphery 36b side, and is a concave part formed on the inner peripheral side of the disk-shaped plate part 43a. The holding portion 37e has a substantially arc-shaped inner circumference 37f disposed on the outermost side 36b of the holding portion 37e on the bottom side of the recess.

  The linear length L4 in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 43a (or the disk-shaped plate portion 43b) between the outer periphery 36b and the inner periphery 37f in the present embodiment is between the outer periphery 36b and the inner periphery 37a. Is shorter than the linear length L5 (L2 in the first embodiment) in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion 43a (or the disk-shaped plate portion 43b). These L4 and L5 are adjusted by the shape of the through-hole 37 and the holding part 37e. As shown in FIG. 9C, L4 is larger than L1 / 2.

  Since the manufacturing method and the connecting method of the node ring 35 in this embodiment are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, before Step 3 described in the first embodiment, that is, before the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are fitted and joined to the outer periphery 36b of the disc-like plate portion 36, the disc-like plate portion. 43a and the disc-shaped plate portion 43b are stacked on each other and joined to each other. This joining is performed by any combination means of welding such as laser welding or spot welding, press-fitting, caulking, or the like. After the disc-like plate portions 43a and 43b are joined, the first hinge member 80 and the second hinge member 90 are fitted and joined to the outer periphery 36b of the disc-like plate portions 43a and 43b.

  In the present embodiment, the thickness of one disk-shaped plate portion (in this embodiment, the thickness L1 / 2 of each of the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b) is smaller than L4, and the thickness of the entire stacked disk-shaped plate portions (the book) In this embodiment, L1 is larger than L4, that is, in this embodiment, the thickness of one disk-shaped plate portion (thickness L1 / 2 of the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b in this embodiment) is smaller than L4. Even if it is a case, it can comprise so that it may have sufficient thickness (L4 <L1) by laminating | stacking the disk shaped board parts 43a and 43b, and the thickness of one disk shaped board part is 0.1 mm or less, for example Even in the case where deformation easily occurs with respect to the external pressure from the radial direction, it is possible to form one node ring 35 having strength.

  When the radial length L2 of the disk-shaped plate portion is smaller than the thickness L1 with one node ring 35 having L2 and L1 as in the first embodiment, it becomes easy to deform without being sheared properly. In some cases, it is difficult to form the node ring 35. However, by stacking a plurality of disc-like plate portions (in this embodiment, two disc-like plate portions 43a and 43b) as in this embodiment, one disc-like plate portion (in this embodiment, the disc-like plate portion 43a). ), When L4> L1 / the number of node rings to be stacked (2 in this embodiment), even if L4 is smaller than L1 which is the total thickness of the disk-shaped plate portions stacked, there is no deformation or breakage. One node ring 35 can be formed. As described above, in the present embodiment, by laminating a plurality of disk-shaped plate portions (disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b), it is possible to form the node ring 35 having a shape and thickness that are difficult to form with one. .

  In the first to second embodiments described above, in the case of spot welding, for example, in the first hinge member 80, in the axial direction of the node ring 35 as shown in FIGS. The first hinge member 80 and the disk-shaped plate part 36 are joined together with the disk-shaped plate part 36. Spot welding should just be performed at least 1 place in the middle end surface part 82 and the disk-shaped board part 36. FIG. Similarly to the first hinge member 80, the second hinge member 90 only needs to be spot-welded at least at one location. Further, in the third embodiment, when the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b are laminated and bonded, in the third embodiment, the first hinge member 80 and the disk-shaped plate portion 43a are bonded, and the second hinge. The member 90 and the disk-shaped plate portion 43b may be joined by spot welding in substantially the same manner. In addition, when joining the disk-shaped board parts 43a and 43b to laminate | stack, it is suitable to perform spot welding at four places about 90 degrees away in the circumferential direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when joining the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b to be laminated, it is preferable that the joining by laser welding is performed at four locations approximately 90 ° apart in the circumferential direction, as in spot welding. is there.

In the case of joining by press fitting, in the case of the first to second embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12A, a through-hole 100a is formed in the middle end surface portion 82 in contact with the disc-like plate portion 36. It is not necessary to limit to the through-hole 100a, and it may be a recess that opens to the disk-like plate portion 36 side such as a recess. On the other hand, a convex portion 100b that is fitted into the through hole 100a is formed on the proximal side flat surface 36a of the disk-shaped plate portion 36. The first hinge member 80 is press-fitted into and joined to the disk-shaped plate portion 36 by fitting the convex portion 100b into the through-hole 100a and press-fitting it.
The arrangement positions of the through holes 100a and the convex portions 100b are not limited to those shown in FIG. 12A. For example, the 1st hinge member 80 side may have the convex part 100b, and the disk-shaped board part 36 side may have the through-hole 100a. The same applies to the second hinge member 90.

  In the case of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12B, the through hole 100a is formed in the middle end surface part 82 in contact with the disc-shaped plate part 43a, and the convex part 100b is formed in the through hole 100a on the middle end surface part 82 side. In order to be fitted, it is preferable that the disc-shaped plate portion 43a is formed. Thereby, the 1st hinge member 80 and the disk shaped plate parts 43a and 43b are joined by press fit. The same applies to the second hinge member 90.

In the third embodiment, when the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b are stacked and joined by press-fitting, the disk-shaped plate portion 43a is formed with a through hole 100a as shown in FIG. 12C. The disc-shaped plate portion 43b is formed with a convex portion 100b that is fitted into the through hole 100a. Four through-holes 100a are formed, and each of them is, for example, approximately 90 ° apart in the circumferential direction. The convex portion 100b is formed in the same manner.
As described above, the convex portion 100b is fitted into the through-hole 100a and press-fitted, whereby the disc-shaped plate portion 43a is stacked on and joined to the disc-shaped plate portion 43b to form one disc-shaped plate portion. In addition, the arrangement position of the through-hole 100a and the convex part 100b is not limited to the above. For example, the through hole 100a may be formed on the disk-shaped plate portion 43b side, and the convex portion 100b may be formed on the disk-shaped plate portion 43a side. Further, the through hole 100a and the convex part 100b are formed in both of the disk-like plate parts 43a and 43b, and the convex part 100b of the disk-like plate part 43a is fitted into the through-hole 100a of the disk-like plate part 43b, and the disk-like plate part 43b. The convex portion 100b may be fitted into the through hole 100a of the disc-shaped plate portion 43a.

  Further, in the third embodiment, when the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b are stacked and joined by caulking, as shown in FIG. 13, the four through-holes 100a are provided on the disk-shaped plate portion 43a side, for example, as described above. Formed in the circumferential direction. The disc-shaped plate portion 43b is positioned in the through hole 100a by the convex portion 100c formed by burring, and the tip of the convex portion 100c is crimped. As a result, the disk-shaped plate portions 43a and 43b are stacked and joined by caulking to form one disk-shaped plate portion. A through hole may be formed on the disk-shaped plate portion 43b side.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the bending portion 22 is bent in four directions, ie, up, down, left, and right. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the bending portion 22 may be bent in two directions. In that case, the disk-shaped plate part 36 in each embodiment may have only the insertion parts 38b and 38d through which the operation wire 42 for bending the bending part 22 left and right is inserted.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the disk-shaped plate portions 36, 43a, and 43b have been described as being formed by punching using, for example, a press or cutting using, for example, a laser, but it is not necessary to be limited thereto. For example, other press work such as parting, cutting with water jet, cutting using hydrogen gas, cutting using a wire saw, or cutting using a dicing saw may be used.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the flexible tube portion taken along line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a side view showing a state in which the node rings of the bending portion are arranged side by side. FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a state in which the node rings of the bending portion are arranged side by side. FIG. 3C is a side view showing a turning state of the node ring of the bending portion. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a node ring. FIG. 4B is a top view of the node ring in a state where the tubular member passes through the through hole and the operation wire passes through the insertion portion. FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a relationship between L1 and L2. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the internal configuration of the distal end rigid portion. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a modification of the first hinge member which is a connecting member. FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a state in which the node rings shown in FIG. 6A are connected by rivets. FIG. 6C is a side view showing a turning state of the node ring of the bending portion shown in FIG. 6B. FIG. 7A is a modification of the node ring. FIG. 7B is a modified example of the joint location of the connecting member to the disk-shaped plate portion. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a node ring in the second embodiment. FIG. 8B is a top view of the node ring in a state where the tubular member passes through the through hole and the operation wire is inserted through the insertion portion. FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a node ring in the third embodiment. FIG. 9B is a top view of the node ring in a state where the tubular member passes through the through hole and the operation wire passes through the insertion portion. FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating the relationship between L1 and L4. FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a first hinge member and a node ring that are spot-welded in the first and second embodiments. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a first hinge member and a node ring that are spot-welded in the first and second embodiments. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a node ring that is laminated and joined by laser welding in the third embodiment. FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a first hinge member and a node ring joined by press-fitting in the first and second embodiments. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the first hinge member and the node ring joined by press-fitting in the third embodiment. FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view of a node ring that is laminated and joined by press fitting in the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a node ring laminated and joined by caulking in the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 10 ... Insertion part, 21 ... Flexible pipe part, 22 ... Bending part, 23 ... Tip rigid part, 35 ... Node ring, 36 ... Disk-shaped board part, 36b ... Outer periphery, 37 ... Through-hole ( Accommodating portion), 37a ... outer periphery, 38 ... insertion portion (wire receiver), 40 ... connecting member, 42 ... operation wire, 60 ... operation portion, 61 ... gripping portion, 80 ... first hinge member, 81 ... tip surface, 82 ... Middle end face, 83a ... Convex part, 83 ... Base end face, 85 ... Recessed part, 90 ... Second hinge member, 91 ... Base end face, 92 ... Middle end face, 93a ... Through-hole, 93 ... Front end face, 95 ... Recessed part .

Claims (17)

An endoscope nodal ring that constitutes a bending portion of an endoscope by connecting one and the other adjacent to each other,
A disk-shaped plate portion formed into a disk shape from a plate-shaped member, having an insertion portion for inserting an operation wire for bending the bending portion;
In the axial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion that is joined to the disk-shaped plate portion at a symmetrical position in the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion, is the thickness direction of the disk-shaped plate portion, and is orthogonal to the radial direction. A connecting member that connects adjacent disc-shaped plate portions;
A node ring for an endoscope, comprising: The disk-shaped plate portion has a housing portion that accommodates a tubular member inserted into the bending portion from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the bending portion along the axial direction at the center in the radial direction. ,
2. The inner length according to claim 1, wherein a length in the radial direction between an outer periphery of the disk-shaped plate portion and an inner periphery of the housing portion is larger than a thickness of the disk-shaped plate portion. Endoscope ring. The accommodating portion penetrates in the axial direction,
The endoscopic node ring according to claim 2, wherein the insertion portion is disposed around the housing portion in the disk-shaped plate portion and penetrates in the axial direction.   The length in the radial direction between the outer periphery of the disk-shaped plate portion and the inner periphery of the storage portion is the outer periphery of the disk-shaped plate portion and the outermost side of the disk-shaped plate portion in the storage portion. It is the length in the said radial direction between the inner periphery arrange | positioned in this, The nodal ring for endoscopes of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The convex shape accommodating part which is formed in the said accommodating part in the convex shape toward the outer peripheral side of the said disk-shaped board part, and accommodates the said tubular member separately is connected to Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The endoscopic node ring described.   The length in the radial direction between the outer periphery of the disk-shaped plate portion and the inner periphery arranged on the outermost side of the disk-shaped plate portion in the convex housing portion is the outer periphery of the disk-shaped plate portion. The endoscopic node ring according to claim 5, wherein a length of the endoscopic node ring is shorter than a length in the radial direction between the inner periphery of the housing portion and larger than a thickness of the disk-shaped plate portion.   The endoscopic node ring according to claim 6, wherein the disk-shaped plate portions are laminated.   The node ring for an endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the stacked disk-shaped plate portions are joined to each other by any one of welding, press-fitting, and caulking. The connecting member is
A first hinge member having a convex portion;
A second hinge member having at least one of a through-hole into which the convex portion is rotatably fitted, or a concave portion into which the convex portion is rotatably fitted;
Have
The first hinge member and the second hinge member are joined to the disk-like plate portion by any one of coupling means of laser welding, overlay welding, spot welding, adhesion, and press fitting. The node ring for an endoscope according to claim 1.   The projecting portion on the one disk-shaped plate portion side of the disk-shaped plate portion adjacent in the axial direction is the through hole on the other disk-shaped plate portion side of the disk-shaped plate portion adjacent in the axial direction. Or the bending part of the endoscope which has the node ring for endoscopes of Claim 9 connected so that rotation was possible by fitting in the said recessed part so that rotation was possible. The connecting member is
A first hinge member having a first through hole;
A second hinge member having a second through hole;
A fitting member fitted into the first through hole and the second through hole;
Have
The first hinge member and the second hinge member are joined to the disk-like plate portion by any one of coupling means of laser welding, overlay welding, spot welding, adhesion, and press fitting. The node ring for an endoscope according to claim 1.   The insertion member has the first through hole in one of the disk-shaped plate portions of the disk-shaped plate portion adjacent in the axial direction, and the other disk shape of the disk-shaped plate portion adjacent in the axial direction. The bending portion of the endoscope having the node ring for endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the bending portion is inserted into the second through-hole in the plate portion so as to be rotatably connected.   An endoscope having the bending portion of the endoscope according to claim 10 or 12. It is a method for manufacturing an endoscopic node ring that constitutes a bending portion of an endoscope by connecting one and the other adjacent to each other,
A first step of manufacturing a disk-shaped plate portion having a disk shape by pressing or cutting from a plate-shaped member;
A connecting member that connects the disk-shaped plate portions adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion that is the thickness direction of the disk-shaped plate portion and is orthogonal to the radial direction of the disk-shaped plate portion, A second step of joining to the disk-like plate portion at a symmetrical position in FIG.
A method for manufacturing an endoscopic node ring, comprising:   In the second step, the connecting member is joined to the disk-like plate portion by any one of laser welding, overlay welding, spot welding, adhesion, and press-fitting. The method for manufacturing an endoscope node ring according to claim 14.   The method for manufacturing a nodal ring for an endoscope according to claim 14, further comprising a step of laminating the disk-shaped plate portions before the second step.   17. The step of laminating the disk-shaped plate portions, the stacked disk-shaped plate portions are joined to each other by any one of welding, press fitting, and caulking. A method of manufacturing a node ring for an endoscope.

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