JP2010026321A - Storage case for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage case for an endoscope, which can store the endoscope compactly even if an insertion section thereof is long and which includes excellent portability. <P>SOLUTION: In a storing member 4 to be stored in the storage case for the endoscope, a drum-storing recess 4b for storing a drum 3 on which the long insertion section 6 of the endoscope 5 is wound, an operating section storing recess 4a for storing an operating section 7, a connector-storing recess 4c for storing a connector 9 and the like are formed substantially on the same plane. Accordingly, the endoscope 5 is compactly stored, so that a user can easily move with its portability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope storage case that stores an endoscope using a drum around which an insertion portion is wound.

Endoscopes are widely used in the medical field and the industrial field. Endoscopes used in the medical field can observe an organ in a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion section into a body cavity, or a treatment instrument channel provided in the insertion section as necessary. Various treatments and examinations are performed by introducing a treatment tool into the body cavity.
On the other hand, endoscopes used in the industrial field can be used to observe the presence or absence of scratches on the test site or the presence or absence of corrosion by inserting a narrow insertion part into a jet engine or piping in a factory. We are repairing.
The difference between the industrial endoscope and the medical endoscope is that the inspection object is not in a specific use environment. More specifically, while medical endoscopes are mainly used in hospitals, industrial endoscopes are often used in various fields by inspectors.

In order to cope with such a case, some endoscopes are housed in an endoscope housing case to facilitate carrying.
For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-172905), an insertion portion of an endoscope is wound around a cylindrical winding portion of a drum, and the drum around which the insertion portion is wound is placed in a storage case. An endoscope storage case having a structure for storing in a groove portion provided in the storage portion is disclosed.
In this case, as the winding part, a considerable thickness is formed in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder so that the insertion part can be wound in a coil shape with a single layer winding.
Further, a groove portion into which the endoscope main body portion is fitted is provided on one side surface of the winding portion of the drum having this thickness.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-172905

However, industrial endoscopes are often carried to an inspection site while being housed in a case. Depending on the inspection site, for example, there are many places with poor scaffolding, narrow places, and unstable places. Furthermore, depending on the use site or the inspection target, another endoscope may be required in addition to the industrial endoscope carried to the inspection site (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope).
For example, when the endoscope insertion part brought into the inspection site is thick and cannot be inspected, when an endoscope with a thin insertion part is required, or when the endoscope insertion part is thin Since the amount of illumination light is insufficient, if an endoscope with a large-diameter insertion section that can obtain more light is required, or the length of the insertion section of the endoscope is short, a long insertion section is provided. For example, when an endoscope without a channel is desired or when an endoscope without a channel is desired.

Under the circumstances described above, the endoscope case disclosed in the conventional example has a structure in which, for example, a groove portion for storing the endoscope main body is provided on the side surface of the drum, so that the endoscope storage case is bulky. It was. Further, since the insertion portion is wound around the winding portion with a single layer winding, the thickness of the endoscope storage case is also increased, and the endoscope storage case is bulky.
For this reason, an endoscope storage case that can store an endoscope compactly so as to be suitable for mobile movement without being bulky is desired.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope storage case in which an insertion portion can be stored compactly and has good portability.

The present invention includes an elongated insertion portion having flexibility, an operation portion connected to a rear end of the insertion portion, and a flexible cable portion extending from the operation portion. In an endoscope storage case for storing a mirror,
A drum provided with an annular winding part capable of winding the insertion part;
A drum storage groove that is housed in the endoscope storage case and is formed using a substantially rectangular cushioning member having a small wall thickness and that houses the drum around which the insertion portion is wound, and adjacent to the drum storage groove. A storage member provided on a substantially same plane, wherein an operation portion storage groove portion for storing the operation portion and a connector storage groove portion for storing a connector portion connected to an end portion of the cable portion;
It is provided with.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even when an insertion part is long, it can accommodate compactly and can implement | achieve the endoscope storage case with sufficient portability.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Example 1
FIGS. 1 to 8 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an endoscope storage case according to the first embodiment of the present invention together with stored items such as a stored endoscope. FIG. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the mirror, FIG. 3 shows a drum in which the insertion portion is wound in each groove portion, and a storage member in which each portion of the endoscope is stored, and FIG. 4 fixes the distal end portion of the insertion portion to the drum. FIG. 5 shows a structure in which the insertion portion is wound in multiple layers on the drum, FIG. 6 shows a state in which the drum around which the insertion portion is wound is held on the operation portion, and FIG. FIG. 8 illustrates an endoscope operation unit and an apparatus main body to which the endoscope is attached. FIG. 8 illustrates an endoscope apparatus including the endoscope and the apparatus main body to which the endoscope is attached, and the endoscope. The storage case which stores an apparatus is shown.
Since the endoscope storage case of this embodiment uses a drum as a means for winding the insertion portion, the endoscope can be stored in a compact state suitable for portability even if the insertion portion is long. I was able to do it. Also, good workability or operability when storing or the like is ensured.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope storage case 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an endoscope storage case main body (abbreviated as a case main body) 2 for storing storage items such as an endoscope 5, an endoscope, and the like. 5 for storing the inserted portion 6 in a wound state, and a storage member for storing the endoscope 5 and the like in the groove portion together with the drum 3 on which the inserted portion 6 is wound. 4.
In FIG. 1, the storage member 4 is shown in a state of being stored in the case body 2. Moreover, in FIG. 1, each part accommodated in the some groove part formed in this accommodating member 4 is shown at the tip of the arrow.
The case main body 2 includes a box-shaped case main body portion 2a in which a storage portion for storing items such as the endoscope 5 is formed, and an openable / closable case upper lid 2b that covers the opening on the upper surface of the case main body portion 2a. And have.

The endoscope 5 housed in the case main body 2 (buffered by the housing member 4) includes a flexible long insertion portion 6 to be inserted into the pipe or the engine, and this insertion. An operation portion 7 connected to the rear end of the portion 6, a flexible universal cable portion (abbreviated simply as a cable portion) 8 extending from the operation portion 7, and an end portion of the cable portion 8. Connector 9. The connector 9 is detachably connected to an apparatus main body (not shown).
2, each part of the endoscope 5 is shown in a state where the insertion part 6 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and the like, the insertion portion 6 includes a distal end portion 11 provided at the distal end thereof, a bendable bending portion 12 provided at the rear end of the distal end portion 11, and the curved portion. The flexible portion 13 is long and flexible from the rear end of the portion 12 to the front end of the operation portion 7. Then, the user can bend the bending portion 12 by operating the operation portion 7.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, there may be an endoscope 5 in which an optical adapter 14 is detachably attached to the distal end portion 11. Then, by exchanging the optical adapter 14 attached to the distal end portion 11, an endoscopic inspection (also simply referred to as an inspection) can be performed with different optical characteristics.
The distal end portion 11 is provided with an illumination window and an observation window (not shown). The illumination window is provided with a light emitting diode (abbreviated as LED) as illumination means. The observation window is provided with an objective lens and an image sensor. It has been.
The endoscope apparatus includes an insertion unit 6 having an image sensor at the distal end, and a signal processing unit (CCU) that is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion unit 6 and performs signal processing on an output signal of the image sensor. The endoscope 5 includes a connector 9, an apparatus main body 34 to which the connector 9 is detachably connected as shown in FIG. 7, and a display device 35 that displays a video signal.

The apparatus main body 35 also includes a drive circuit (including a drive power supply) that emits light from the LED disposed at the distal end portion 11.
FIG. 3 shows the storage member 4 in a state where the endoscope 5 is stored in the groove.
The storage member 4 is an operation portion storage groove portion 4a for storing the operation portion 7 of the endoscope 5 by using a rectangular buffer member having a small thickness so that the storage member 4 can be fitted and stored in the storage portion of the case main body portion 2a. A drum housing groove 4b for housing the drum 3 around which the insertion portion 6 is wound, a connector housing groove 4c for housing the connector 9, and the like are formed on substantially the same plane with respect to the case body 2a. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the storage member 4 that is inserted and stored on the case body 2a side, a buffer member 4 'provided with an auxiliary groove on the case upper lid 2b side is provided. Show. You may make it provide a groove part only in the storage member 4 accommodated in the case main-body part 2a side.

As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the drum 3 has an annular shape or a cylindrical shape (short in length), and is formed with a hollow hole portion 3a through which a central portion passes.
The drum storage groove 4b is formed with a convex portion 4d that fits into the hollow hole 3a and is held in a positioned state. Further, the convex portion 4d is provided with a measurement component storage groove portion 4e for storing a measurement component 15 (see FIG. 1) used for further stereo measurement.
Further, the housing member 4 is provided with a case housing groove 4f for housing the optical adapter case 16 (shown in FIG. 1) for housing the optical adapter 14 in a portion adjacent to the drum housing groove 4b and the connector housing groove 4c. .
The storage member 4 is provided with a lens cleaning kit storage groove 4g for storing the lens cleaning kit 17 (see FIG. 1) near the center thereof.

In addition, the storage member 4 is provided with grooves 4h and 4i for storing the rigid sleeves 18a and 18b in a portion adjacent to the connector storage groove 4c.
The connector 9 is normally stored in the connector storage bag 19 shown in FIG. 1 and stored in the connector storage groove 4c.
Further, a manual storage section 20 for storing the manual 21 is provided on the case upper lid 2b side.
As described above, the operation unit 7, the drum 3, and the connector 9 of the endoscope 5 are arranged on substantially the same plane with respect to the case main body 2a as described above. In comparison, by storing only the endoscope to be exchanged according to the use site or the inspection environment, it is possible to realize portability and to store it in a compact manner.

In addition to being able to be stored regardless of the length of the insertion portion 6 by storing with the drum 3, the endoscope 5 mounted on the apparatus main body 34 stored in the case of the endoscope apparatus, and the endoscope Since it is only necessary to replace the insertion part with the drum 3 in comparison with the case where the insertion part is fitted in and stored in a groove or the like often found in a conventional case, the endoscope stored in the case can be replaced. Work can also be simplified.
More specifically, the endoscope 5 is removed from the storage member 4 together with the drum 3 around which the insertion portion 6 is wound, from the endoscope storage case 1 shown in FIG. 1, for example, an endoscope apparatus (see FIG. 7). When moving to the storage case 41 (see FIG. 8) to be stored, the connector 9 is detached from the apparatus main body 34 from the endoscope apparatus stored in the storage case 41, so that the insertion portion 6 is inserted into the drum 3. It is removed while being wound. Next, the endoscope 5 housed in the endoscope housing case 1 is attached to the apparatus main body 34 from which the endoscope has been removed while the insertion portion 6 is wound around the drum 3.

Thus, since the entire drum can be replaced without removing the insertion portion from the drum when the endoscope is replaced, workability is good. In the example of FIG. 8, the endoscope 5 and the apparatus main body 34 are set in the storage member 43 for the endoscope and the apparatus main body and stored in the storage case 41, and the drum 3 is stored in the drum storage pocket 44. The configuration to be stored in is used.
Next, the structure and function of the drum 3 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the drum 3 is formed of a hard member, for example, a resin hard member, and has an annular (or short cylindrical) shape provided with a hollow hole portion 3a. A winding portion 3b around which 6 is wound is provided. Flange portions 3c projecting radially outward from the winding portion 3b are formed on both sides of the winding portion 3b, and both flange portions 3c are connected to the insertion portions 6 wound around the winding portion 3b (this winding portion). It is regulated so as not to deviate from 3b.

That is, the drum 3 has a groove-shaped winding portion 3b formed by the flange portions 3c on both sides. Further, a tip end holding member 23 for holding the tip end portion 11 of the insertion portion 6 is provided by an elastic ribbon or rubber band on the annular surface forming the winding portion 3b, in other words, on the bottom surface of the concave groove. .
Then, the user performs a simple operation of pushing the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 6 into the inner end of the distal end portion holding member 23, so that the distal end portion 11 is moved to the winding portion 3 b by the elastic force of the distal end portion holding member 23. Elastically held (fixed).
And after fixing the front-end | tip part 11 with the front-end | tip part holding member 23 as mentioned above, a user winds the elongate insertion part 6 to a drum by winding the insertion part 6 around the winding part 3b like a wire. 3 can be easily wound around. That is, good workability is ensured.

Since the distal end portion 11 is mounted with an objective optical system (not shown) and an image pickup device (not shown) arranged at the imaging position of the objective optical system, the distal end portion 11 is first fixed to the drum 3 as described above. Thereafter, when the operation of winding the insertion portion 6 around the drum 3 is performed, it is advantageous in that it is possible to reliably prevent the tip portion 11 from being applied to the periphery during the winding operation.
In other words, in the conventional storage method, when the work of fixing from the base end side which is the opposite side rather than the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 6 is performed, the distal end portion 11 is inconvenient each time the drum 3 is wound around the drum 3. Since it is moved regularly, it is necessary for the user to perform the winding work with care so that the tip portion 11 does not touch the peripheral portion.
On the other hand, since the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 6 is first held as in the present embodiment, the user does not need to pay such attention, and the insertion portion 6 can be simplified. It can wind and can improve the operativity at the time of work, such as winding.

Further, the depth of the concave groove constituting the winding part 3b of the drum 3 in this embodiment is set to a size several to several tens of times the diameter of the insertion part 6, and the insertion part 6 is formed in multiple layers. That is, the insertion portion 6 can be laminated and wound in the radial direction of the drum 3.
In addition, the width of the winding part 3b should just be able to wind the insertion part 6 about several times.
FIG. 5 shows a state in which the insertion portion 6 is wound around the winding portion 3b of the drum 3 in a laminated structure. As shown in FIG. 5, assuming that the radius of the surface of the winding part 3b from the center (indicated by a one-dot chain line) of the drum 3 is Ra and the diameter of the insertion part 6 is d, the end of the outermost periphery of the flange part 3c The radius Rf is Rf> Ra + 2 × d (= Rb).
That is, the outermost peripheral end of the flange portion 3c is more than the outermost peripheral surface (indicated by Rb in FIG. 5) when the insertion portion 6 is wound at least two layers from the radius Ra of the winding portion 3b. Is also set to a size that protrudes radially outward.

By adopting a structure in which the insertion portion 6 is laminated and wound in this manner, the drum 3 can be made more compact than in the case of the conventional example described above, and the drum of the same size can be used in the case of the long insertion portion 6. 3 can be stored in the drum storage groove 4b of the storage member 4.
In the conventional example, since the insertion portion is not single-layered but single-layered, the width of the winding portion of the drum becomes large. However, in this embodiment, the drum 3 is wound by stacking and winding. The width is sufficient to allow the insertion portion 6 to be wound a plurality of times.
In this way, by adopting the drum 3 that can be wound in a multilayer structure even when the insertion portion 6 is long, the drum 3 around which the insertion portion 6 is wound is stored as a storage member. 4 can be stored compactly in the drum storage groove 4b.

Further, the drum 3 in this embodiment has a hollow hole portion 3a, and the endoscope 5 and its peripheral components are compactly structured so that the measuring component 15 can be accommodated inside the hollow hole portion 3a. It has a structure that can be stored.
Further, in this embodiment, the hollow hole 3a of the drum 3 is set to a size that allows a part of the operation unit 7 to pass through as shown in FIG. Thus, the drum 3 around which the insertion portion 6 is wound can be held.
As shown in FIG. 6, the operation unit 7 includes an operation unit main body 25, an operation wire disposing unit 26, a gripping unit 27, and side configuration units 28L and 28R. A bending operation instruction lever (hereinafter abbreviated as a bending instruction lever) 30 that is an operation instruction mechanism for bending the bending portion 12 is provided on the top surface (also referred to as an upper surface) of the operation unit main body 25.

The bending lever 30 moves the wire as a traction member (not shown) inserted into the insertion portion 6 and the operation portion 7 by performing a tilting operation that changes the tilting direction and the tilting angle, so that the bending portion 12 is desired. Can be bent by a desired amount of bending in the direction.
A holding member 32 having a holding portion for holding the insertion portion distal end 6 is provided on the front portion 31 of the operation portion main body 25. The holding member 32 is separate from the operation unit main body 25 and is integrally fixed to the operation unit main body 25 by, for example, an adhesive, a screw, or the like.
A holding hole 33 serving as a holding portion is formed at the center of the upper end side portion of the holding member 32 protruding from the top surface of the operation portion main body 25. The inner diameter of the holding hole 33 is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 6 by a predetermined dimension, and the distal end portion 11, the bending portion 12, or the flexible portion 13 that is the distal end side portion of the insertion portion 6 is inserted into the holding hole 33. By inserting the distal end side, the insertion portion 6 can be held by the holding member 32.

Further, in this fixed state, the upper end side of the holding member 32 protrudes from the top surface of the operation unit main body 25 by a predetermined amount, and also serves as a guard member that protects the bending lever 30.
Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the drum 3 is provided with a hollow hole portion 3a so that the drum 3 is hooked near the holding member 32 in a state where it is detached from the case body, in addition to facilitating attachment / detachment to / from the case body. be able to. By doing in this way, the user can also perform a movement and a test | inspection in the state which wound the insertion part 6 around the drum 3. FIG.
When the insertion part 6 is long, if the insertion part 6 is not inserted to the deep side of a pipe or the like as an inspection object, the long insertion part 6 is arranged around the user. However, if it is wound around the drum 3, the insertion portion 6 can be set in a compact state, and the user can easily grip the grip portion 27 and move it.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the long insertion portion 6 is wound around the flat drum 3 in multiple layers, and the wound drum 3 is stored in the drum storage groove 4b of the storage member 4 in a simple manner. The long insertion portion 6 can be accommodated in the case body 2 by work.
Further, even in the case of the endoscope 5 having a long insertion portion 6 having a different length, it can be stored in the case main body 2 in a compact manner by using the same drum 3 and the same storage member 4.

In addition, since the tip end holding member 23 that holds the tip end portion 11 of the insertion portion 6 is provided on the drum 3, the operation of winding the insertion portion 6 around the winding portion 3b of the drum 3 is facilitated, that is, good operation Can be done by sex.
Further, the space inside the hollow hole portion 3a of the drum 3 can be used as a storage portion for endoscope peripheral components, and can be stored compactly.
Further, since the hollow hole portion 3a of the drum 3 is hooked on the operation portion 7 of the endoscope 5, even when the endoscope 5 is taken out from the case body 2, the endoscope 5 can be moved and moved. It becomes easy to handle the insertion portion 6 at the time of inspection.

As described above, according to the present invention, even if an endoscope other than the endoscope brought to the inspection site is required depending on the use site or the inspection target, different types (for example, a short length) can be used up to the inspection site. On the other hand, it is possible to bring in an endoscope case that houses an endoscope that is long, thin for a large diameter, with a channel for no channel), and can be easily operated for replacement. .
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the drum is used to store the insertion portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the drum may not be cylindrical as long as it can be wound. Other than winding, it may be one that is wound and stored so that the insertion portion is pressed against the inner periphery.

The endoscope is housed and moved to the vicinity of the inspection object.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an endoscope storage case according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with storage items such as an endoscope to be stored. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the endoscope together with a drum around which the insertion portion is wound. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a storage member in a state where a drum having an insertion portion wound around each groove portion and each portion of the endoscope are stored. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the distal end of the insertion portion is fixed to the drum. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the outline in which the insertion portion is wound in a multilayer on the drum. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the drum around which the insertion portion is wound is hooked and held on the operation portion. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an operation portion of the endoscope and a device main body to which the endoscope is attached. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an endoscope apparatus that includes an endoscope and an apparatus main body to which the endoscope is attached, and a storage case that houses the endoscope apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope storage case, 2 ... Case main body, 3 ... Drum, 3a ... Hollow hole part, 3b ... Winding part, 3c ... Flange part, 4, 40 ... Storage member, 4a ... Operation part storage groove part, 4b ... Drum storage groove, 4c ... Connector storage groove, 4j ... Device main body storage groove, 5 ... Endoscope, 6 ... Insertion part, 7 ... Operation part, 9 ... Connector, 11 ... Tip part, 12 ... Curved part, 14 ... Optical Adapter, 23 ... tip end holding member

Claims (6)

In an endoscope storage case for storing an endoscope having a flexible long insertion portion and a connector portion,
A winding part for winding and storing the insertion part;
A winding portion storage groove portion that is housed in the endoscope storage case, is formed using a substantially rectangular cushioning member, and that houses the winding portion around which the insertion portion is wound, and a winding portion storage groove portion. A storage member provided adjacent to the connector storage groove portion for storing the connector portion, and provided on substantially the same plane;
An endoscope storage case characterized by comprising:   The endoscope storage case according to claim 1, wherein the winding portion is a drum.   The drum has a tip holding member that detachably holds the tip of the insertion portion on the outer peripheral surface of the winding portion, and the tip of the insertion portion is held by the tip holding member. The endoscope storage case according to claim 2, wherein the insertion portion is wound around the winding portion and stored in the drum storage groove.   The drum has at least an outer diameter of the insertion portion at both ends of the winding portion so that the insertion portion can be wound at least two times on the winding portion and stacked in the radial direction of the winding portion. The endoscope storage case according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a flange portion protruding in a radially outward direction at least twice.   The drum has a predetermined diameter, a hollow hole smaller than the predetermined diameter is formed on the inside, and a protrusion that fits into the hollow hole is formed in the drum storage groove. The endoscope storage case according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the endoscope storage case is characterized.   6. The inner part according to claim 5, wherein the convex part is provided with an endoscope peripheral part storage groove part for storing an endoscope peripheral part used in the inspection by the endoscope. Scope storage case.

Images