JP2010012103A - Endoscope light guide flexible tube - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope light guide flexible tube satisfying any required capability different in each region. <P>SOLUTION: The light guide flexible tube 10 includes a bending limited region 18W and a flexible region 18F disposed at both ends. In the bending limited region 18W, a plurality of segment members 20 are connected to each other via tongue pieces 20P in such a way as relatively rotatable. As a result, the bending property of the bending limited region 18W is limited to be bent in a prescribed direction only at a relatively large bending radius. On the other hand, the flexible region 18F can be bent in any direction till the bending radius is reduced. In this way, the bending limited region 18W where the bending property is limited is disposed in a prescribed area only, and as the area other than the bending limited region 18W is the flexible region 18F, the light guide flexible tube 10 is excellent both in the durability and in the operability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light guide flexible tube that connects a processor and a scope of an endoscope apparatus.

  In the endoscope apparatus, a light guide flexible tube that connects the processor and the scope is provided. The light guide flexible tube transmits illumination light emitted from the light source of the processor, reflected light thereof, an image signal generated by the scope, and the like. The light guide flexible tube is generally formed of a uniform member.

An endoscope flexible tube inserted into a body cavity (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope flexible tube) can be bent in a predetermined direction by connecting a plurality of cylindrical members at a distal end portion. It is known to provide a region (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-144382 A

  If the light guide flexible tube is formed of a hard and uniform member, the operability is lowered, and there may be a problem that a user feels fatigued. Further, the durability of the uniform and soft light guide flexible tube is lowered. In this case, for example, if the light guide flexible tube is stored in a suspended state, problems such as bending deformation due to bending stress and elongation due to its own weight may occur. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve both operability and durability in a light guide flexible tube made of a uniform member.

  Further, the endoscope flexible tube and the light guide flexible tube have different required performances in each region, for example, both end portions and the central portion. For this reason, for example, if a light guide flexible tube is formed in the same manner as an endoscope flexible tube provided with a bendable region only at the distal end in the direction of insertion into a body cavity, the performance of the light guide flexible tube is reduced. End up.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope light guide flexible tube that satisfies all required performances that differ from region to region.

  The endoscope light guide flexible tube of the present invention is a light guide flexible tube that connects a processor and a scope of an endoscope apparatus. The light guide flexible tube connects the outer skin layer covering the surface and a plurality of segment members in contact with the inner wall surface of the outer skin layer so that they can rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light guide flexible tube. And a flexible region formed by a spiral tube in contact with the inner wall surface. In the light guide flexible tube, the bending restriction region and the flexible region are arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the bending restriction region is provided at at least both ends of the light guide flexible tube. .

  It is preferable that the bending restriction region is further provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the light guide flexible tube.

  It is preferable that the segment member has tongue pieces provided at both ends of the segment member, and the tongue pieces of adjacent segment members are fixed to each other. Further, the pair of tongue pieces provided at the first end portion of the segment member and the pair of tongue pieces provided at the second end portion are provided at positions shifted from each other by 90 ° in the circumferential direction of the segment member. Preferably it is.

  It is preferable that the light guide flexible tube further includes a joint member that connects the bending limited region and the flexible region. The light guide flexible tube further includes a blade that covers the bending limited region and the flexible region, and the segment member and the spiral tube are preferably in contact with the outer skin layer via the blade.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an endoscope light guide flexible tube that satisfies all required performances that differ from region to region.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the light guide flexible tube according to the first embodiment is used. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state where the light guide flexible tube according to the first embodiment is stored.

  The electronic endoscope device 30 (endoscope device) includes a processor 40 and a scope 50. The processor 40 and the scope 50 are connected by a light guide flexible tube 10. Illumination light emitted from a light source (not shown) of the processor 40 and its reflected light, and an image signal generated by the scope 50 are transmitted by the light guide flexible tube 10. During use of the electronic endoscope device 30, the user inserts the insertion portion flexible tube 52 into the human body and operates the operation portion 54 of the scope 50. By these operations, the inside of the body cavity is observed and photographed, and the affected part is treated as necessary.

  On the other hand, when the electronic endoscope apparatus 30 is not used, the scope 50 is stored in a state of being suspended from, for example, a scope hanger 56 (see FIG. 2). At this time, bending deformation due to bending stress may occur in the first end portion 10E of the light guide flexible tube 10 on the scope 50 side. Further, the central portion 10 </ b> C of the light guide flexible tube 10 may gradually expand due to its own weight.

  A connector portion 42 is connected to the second end portion 10F of the light guide flexible tube 10, that is, the end portion opposite to the first end portion 10E. When the electronic endoscope apparatus 30 is used, the connector portion 42 is attached to the processor 40 (see FIG. 1). At this time, a force may be applied to the second end portion 10F in the bending direction by a user operating the scope 50.

  As is apparent from the above, the first and second end portions 10E and 10F and the center portion 10C in the longitudinal direction of the light guide flexible tube 10 need to be improved in durability. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the strength of these portions of the light guide flexible tube 10 is improved as follows. The surface of the light guide flexible tube 10 is covered with an outer skin layer 12.

  The internal structure of the light guide flexible tube 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a cut portion of the light guide flexible tube 10 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the segment members included in the bending restriction region of the light guide flexible tube 10 of the present embodiment.

  The core material 18 of the light guide flexible tube 10 includes a bending restriction region 18W and a flexible region 18F arranged along the longitudinal direction of the light guide flexible tube 10. The curvature limit region 18W is limited in curvature so as to bend only in a predetermined direction with a relatively large curvature radius. Thus, by limiting the bendability, the bend limiting region 18W is excellent in durability against bending stress and the like. The bending restriction region 18W is provided at least near the first and second end portions 10E and 10F of the light guide flexible tube 10, that is, at both end portions.

  On the other hand, the flexible region 18F is formed by the spiral tube 24. The spiral tube 24 is formed by spirally winding a band-shaped metal member. For this reason, the flexible region 18F can be bent in any direction and until the bending radius becomes small. At the joint between the bending restriction region 18W and the flexible region 18F, the end of the spiral tube 24 is fitted inside the long segment member 25.

  In the bending restriction region 18W, a plurality of metallic segment members 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) are coupled so as to be relatively rotatable. The segment member 20 has a short cylindrical shape, and tongue pieces 20P are provided at both ends thereof. Adjacent segment members 20 are connected to each other so that the tongue pieces 20P are fixed to each other by rivets 26 so as to be relatively rotatable. The tongue piece 20P is provided with a connecting hole 20M (see FIG. 4) through which the rivet 26 is passed.

  A pair of tongue pieces 20 </ b> P is provided at both the first end 20 </ b> E and the second end 20 </ b> F of the segment member 20. And the tongue piece 20P provided in the 1st end part 20E and the tongue piece 20P provided in the 2nd end part 20F are arrange | positioned in the position which shifted | deviated 90 degrees in the circumferential direction centering on the central axis 20C. .

  By connecting a plurality of such segment members 20 so that the central axis 20C coincides with the central axis 10A (see FIG. 3) extending in the longitudinal direction of the light guide flexible tube 10, the bending restriction region 18W is formed into a predetermined region. Curves only in the direction. This is because the segment member 20 has two axes perpendicular to the central axis 10A of the light guide flexible tube 10, that is, the axis of the rivet 26 passing through the pair of tongue pieces 20P facing each other on the first end 20E side, This is because it is relatively rotatable with respect to the adjacent segment member 20 only about the axis of the rivet 26 passing through the pair of tongue pieces 20P facing each other on the end 20F side.

  Then, the tongue piece 20P is offset in the segment member 20 in order to smoothly curve the bending restriction region 18W up to a certain bending radius. That is, the segment member 20 is designed so that the side surface (see FIG. 3) of the segment member 20 has a gentle mountain shape, and the tongue piece 20P is disposed on the top portion thereof.

  The light guide flexible tube 10 includes a blade 28 that covers the bending restriction region 18W and the flexible region 18F. The segment member 20 and the helical tube 24 are in contact with the inner wall surface of the outer skin layer 12 via the blades 28, respectively.

  The light guide flexible tube 10 is manufactured as follows. First, a plurality of segments 20 are connected to form a bending restriction region 18W, and the spiral tube 24 is fitted to the end of the bending restriction region 18W to form a flexible region 18F. The core material 18 formed in this manner is covered with a blade 28, and a core metal (not shown) is passed inside the core material 18 and placed in an extruder. Then, the light guide flexible tube 10 is manufactured by extruding the core material 18, the blade 28, and the core metal so as to be surrounded by the appropriately heated outer skin layer material.

  As the outer layer material, general resins and rubbers such as polyurethane elastomers, polyester elastomers, olefin elastomers, synthetic rubbers, silicone rubbers and the like can be used.

  Next, an example and a comparative example of a plurality of light guide flexible tubes having different internal structures will be described. First, as shown in Table 1, light guide flexible tubes of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1 in which only the core material 18 was different were manufactured.

  The light guide flexible tubes of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1 are manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method. The length of the light guide flexible tube is 2 m in both examples and comparative examples. In these light guide flexible tubes, the arrangement and number of the bending restriction regions 18W are different. In other words, in the first and second embodiments, the bending restriction region 18W is provided at least at both ends, whereas in the third to fifth embodiments, the bending restriction region 18W is provided at at least one of the one end portion and the central portion. Are formed, and the comparative example 1 is not provided with the bending restriction region 18W. The length in the longitudinal direction of these curve limiting regions 18W is 10 cm in all of the center portion, the first end portion, and the second end portion.

  The evaluation of the light guide flexible tube having the outer skin layer of these examples and comparative examples will be described below. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the durability test of the light guide flexible tube. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the operability test of the light guide flexible tube.

  In the durability evaluation test, as shown in the figure, an arrow A indicates the second end portion 10F of the light guide flexible tube 10 in a state where the first end portion 10E is fitted and fixed in the hole 21 extending in the horizontal direction. This was done by applying a load in the vertical direction. The load was gradually increased, and the magnitude of the load when the light guide flexible tube 10 was permanently set to 10% or more or the light guide flexible tube 10 was bent was compared with a reference value.

  The results are shown in Table 1, and the ○ mark in the column of the durability test indicates that any of Examples 1 to 5 can withstand a load larger than the reference value, and is higher than that of Comparative Example 1. It shows that the result was good. In particular, the light guide flexible tubes of Examples 1 and 2 in which the curved restriction regions 18W were provided at both ends were better than those of Examples 1 to 3.

  On the other hand, the operability evaluation test was performed by applying a torque load to the second end portion 10F of the light guide flexible tube in which the first end portion 10E was fixed to the hole 22 extending in the horizontal direction. Since the second end portion 10F is slidably held in the pipe 23, when a torque load is applied as shown by an arrow B (see FIG. 6A), the center portion 10C of the light guide flexible tube In FIG. 6, a loop is gradually formed (see FIG. 6B). Finally, a torque load was applied until a single loop was formed (see FIG. 6C), and the torque load at this time was compared with a reference value.

  This result is shown in Table 1, and a circle in the column of operability test indicates that a loop was formed with a torque load smaller than the reference value in any of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1. . Therefore, it became clear that these examples and comparative examples are all excellent in operability.

  These test results are curved to at least one of the light guide flexible tubes of Examples 1 to 5, that is, the center portion 10C, the first end portion 10E, and the second end portion 10F (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The light guide flexible tube provided with the restricted region 18W is excellent in both durability and operability. And the light guide flexible tube (Examples 1 and 2) in which the bending restriction regions 18W are provided at least at both ends, that is, the first and second ends 10E and 10F, was particularly excellent in durability.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the durability against bending stress and the like by selectively providing the bending restriction region 18W by the segment member 20 only in a predetermined region to suppress the bending property. . Furthermore, the light guide flexible tube 10 having excellent operability can be manufactured by setting the region other than the bending limited region 18W to the flexible region 18F.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a part of the light guide flexible tube 10 of the second embodiment by cutting.

  This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a joint member 32 is used at the joint between the bending restriction region 18W and the flexible region 18F. In the joint member 32, the segment member 20 at the end of the bending restriction region 18W and the end of the spiral tube 24 included in the flexible region 18F are both fitted.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the strength and durability of the joints in these regions are increased. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if it is used for a long time and bending stress is applied many times, the segment member 20 and the helical tube 24 are prevented from coming off from the joint member 32, and the durability is improved. An excellent light guide flexible tube 10 can be realized.

  The shape, material, and the like of the segment member 20 are not limited to any embodiment. The segment member 20 may have, for example, a substantially complete cylindrical shape in which the tongue piece 20P is not offset (see paragraph [0023], FIG. 4, etc.) as long as the bending property can be controlled to improve the durability. Moreover, the shape which lacks a part of cylinder may be sufficient. The material of the segment member 20 is not limited to metal, and may be a hard resin or the like as long as necessary strength can be ensured.

It is a figure which shows the state in which the light guide flexible tube of 1st Embodiment is used. It is a figure which shows the state in which the light guide flexible tube of 1st Embodiment is stored. It is a side view which cut | disconnects and shows a part of light guide flexible tube of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the segment member contained in the curve restriction | limiting area | region of the light guide flexible tube of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the durability test of a light guide flexible tube. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the operativity test of a light guide flexible tube. It is a side view which cut | disconnects and shows a part of light guide flexible tube of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Light guide flexible tube 10C Center part 10E 1st edge part 10F 2nd edge part 12 Outer skin layer 18 Core material 18F Flexible area | region 18W Curve limiting area | region 20 Segment member 20E 1st edge part 20F 2nd edge part 20P Tongue piece 24 Spiral Tube 30 Electronic endoscope device (endoscope device)
32 Joint member 40 Processor 50 Scope

Claims (6)

A light guide flexible tube for connecting a processor and a scope of an endoscope apparatus,
An outer skin layer covering the surface of the light guide flexible tube;
A curve limiting region in which a plurality of segment members in contact with the inner wall surface of the outer skin layer are connected so as to be relatively rotatable around a rotation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light guide flexible tube,
A flexible region by a spiral tube in contact with the inner wall surface,
The endoscope characterized in that the bending restriction region and the flexible region are arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the bending restriction region is provided at at least both ends of the light guide flexible tube. Light guide flexible tube.   The endoscope light guide flexible tube according to claim 1, wherein the bending restriction region is further provided at a central portion in a longitudinal direction of the light guide flexible tube.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the segment member has tongue pieces provided at both ends of the segment member, and the tongue pieces of the adjacent segment members are fixed to each other. Light guide flexible tube.   The pair of tongue pieces provided at the first end portion of the segment member and the pair of tongue pieces provided at the second end portion are provided at positions shifted from each other by 90 ° in the circumferential direction of the segment member. The endoscope light guide flexible tube according to claim 3, wherein the endoscope light guide flexible tube is provided.   The endoscope light guide flexible tube according to claim 1, further comprising a joint member that connects the bending restriction region and the flexible region.   2. The blade according to claim 1, further comprising a blade that covers the bending restriction region and the flexible region, wherein the segment member and the spiral tube are in contact with the outer skin layer via the blade. Endoscope light guide flexible tube.

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