JP2010042120A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent injury to a cable or tube inserted into an insertion part. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope 11 is composed of the slender insertion part 12 to be inserted into a body cavity; a control part 13 to be used for gripping the endoscope 11 and operating the insertion part 12; and a universal code 14 attached to the control part 13. The insertion part 12 is a rod-like body whose cross section is circular, and is composed of a soft part 15, a bent part 16 and a hard part 17 in the order from the proximal side. The bent part 16 is composed of a plurality of cylindrical bent pieces 31, and gas/water feeding tubes 38 and 39 are inserted into the bent pieces 31. The gas/water feeding tubes 38 and 39 are covered with a tube 40 in the bundled state. The inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 is slightly larger than the diameter D2 of a circle circumscribed to the gas/water feeding tubes 38 and 39 in the bundled state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope having a bendable bending portion.

  In the medical field, medical diagnosis using an endoscope is actively performed. The endoscope includes an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity of a patient, an operation portion that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion, and a universal cord that is connected to a processor device and a light source device. The distal end of the insertion portion is a rigid portion in which an imaging unit having a solid-state imaging element is incorporated.

  The rigid part has an illumination window for irradiating the observation site with light, an objective lens for taking the light irradiated on the observation site into the imaging unit, and an observation window for protecting the observation site and objective lens with water and air And an air / water supply nozzle for injecting toward the water. The light taken in through the observation window and the objective lens is imaged by the imaging unit and output as an image signal. The image signal is transmitted to the processor device via a signal cable inserted through the insertion unit, the operation unit, and the universal cord. In addition to the signal cable, multiple cables and tubes such as an optical fiber cable that guides light to the illumination window and an air / water supply tube that guides water and air to the air / water supply nozzle are inserted into the insertion section, operation section, and universal cord. Has been.

  The insertion part is a bending part formed by connecting a plurality of (for example, 16) annular bending pieces in series on the base end side of the hard part, and a soft part having flexibility on the base end side of the bending part. It has become. Adjacent bending pieces are connected so as to be freely rotatable. In the bending piece, a pair of operation wires for operating in the vertical and horizontal directions are provided. By pushing and pulling each operation wire, adjacent bending pieces rotate to bend the entire bending portion.

  The operation section is provided with an angle knob for pushing and pulling the operation wire. By operating the angle knob, the bending portion is bent up and down or left and right, and the rigid portion is directed in a desired direction. Due to the bending of the bending portion, the cable or tube inserted through the bending portion moves in the longitudinal direction. When there is a gap in the curved portion, the movement moves not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction). When moved in the radial direction, the cables and tubes are twisted and entangled, which interferes with the bending operation and may be damaged in some cases.

Therefore, in order to prevent problems due to twisting or entanglement of the cable or tube, in the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the plurality of cables or tubes are bundled and fixed, thereby allowing relative movement in the radial direction. Restricted.
JP 05-303044 (paragraph number [0024], FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-025985 (paragraph number [0020], FIG. 3 (d)) JP 2007-296141 A (paragraph number [0044], FIGS. 4 and 5) Japanese Patent No. 2842616 (lines 26 to 30 on the right side of page 2, FIG. 5)

  However, in the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the relative movement of the cable and the tube in the longitudinal direction is restricted, the bending operation is hindered, and the cable and the tube may be buckled.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which a cable and a tube inserted through an insertion portion are prevented from being damaged.

  In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope of the present invention has an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity and has a bendable bending portion, and a plurality of built-in objects inserted through the insertion portion. A tube that bundles and covers at least two of the built-in objects, and each of the built-in objects covered by the tube is slidable in the longitudinal direction.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, when the inner diameter of the tube is D1, and the diameter of a circle circumscribing the bundled material covered with the tube is D2, D1> D2 is satisfied. To do. It is preferable that D1> D2 × 1.118 is satisfied.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the tube has a length from the distal end of the bending portion to at least a portion where the curvature becomes maximum when the bending portion is bent, and at most, to the base end of the bending portion. Have. In the invention according to claim 5, the tube has a perfect circle in cross section.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the built-in object guides the illumination light from the light / water supply tube for performing the air supply / water supply, the signal cable for transmitting the image signal captured by the imaging unit, and the illumination light to the illumination window. An optical fiber cable or a forceps tube through which a treatment instrument is inserted.

  According to the endoscope of the present invention, the relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the built-in object covered by the tube is not limited, and it is prevented that the bending operation of the bending portion is hindered. As a result, the built-in object inserted through the insertion portion is prevented from being damaged.

  An endoscope 11 shown in FIG. 1 is provided in an elongated insertion portion 12 to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 13 used for grasping the endoscope 11 and operating the insertion portion 12, and the operation portion 13. And a universal cord 14. The insertion portion 12 is a rod-shaped body having a circular cross section, and includes a flexible portion 15, a bending portion 16, and a rigid portion 17 in order from the root side.

  The flexible portion 15 is a length that occupies most of the insertion portion 12, and has flexibility. The bending portion 16 can freely change the direction of the distal end side by operating the operation portion 13.

  The rigid portion 17 is provided with an illumination window (not shown). Illumination light from a light source device (not shown) connected to the universal cord 14 passes through the insertion portion 12, the operation portion 13, and optical fiber cables 35 and 36 (see FIG. 2) inserted into the universal cord 14. To the observation site from the illumination window.

  The rigid portion 17 is provided with an imaging unit having an imaging device (CCD), an objective lens, and an observation window (both not shown) that protects the objective lens. The image light of the observation site in the body cavity captured by the observation window and the objective lens is captured by the imaging unit and output as an image signal. An image signal output from the imaging unit is a processor device (not shown) connected to the universal cord 14 via a signal cable 37 (see FIG. 2) inserted through the insertion portion 12, the operation portion 13, and the universal cord 14. Sent to. The image signal sent to the processor device is subjected to predetermined image processing and displayed as an endoscopic image on a monitor (not shown).

  The rigid portion 17 is provided with an air / water supply nozzle and a forceps outlet (both not shown). The air / water supply nozzle is connected after the air supply / water supply tubes 38 and 39 (see FIG. 2) inserted through the insertion portion 12, the operation portion 13, and the universal cord 14 merge to form one tube. Air or water supplied into the body cavity or a liquid such as water flows through the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39. For example, air flows through one air / water supply tube 38 and liquid flows through the other air / water supply tube 39. The forceps outlet is connected to a forceps tube 18 inserted through the insertion portion 12. A treatment instrument such as a forceps or an injection needle used for treatment of the affected area is inserted into the forceps tube 18.

  The operation unit 13 includes a forceps port 19 and an angle knob 20. One end of the forceps tube 18 is exposed at the forceps port 19. The treatment tool is inserted into the forceps tube 18 from the forceps port 19. The angle knob 20 is rotated when adjusting the bending direction and the bending amount of the bending portion 16. When the angle knob 20 is rotated, the operation wire 34 (see FIG. 2) inserted through the insertion portion 12 is pushed and pulled, and the bending portion 16 is bent.

  The operation unit 13 is provided with a push button type air / water supply button 21 and a suction button 22. The air / water supply button 21 is operated when flowing a liquid such as air or water through the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39. The suction button 22 is operated when the forceps tube 18 sucks a suction target such as a liquid or tissue in the body cavity.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bending portion 16 includes a plurality (for example, 16) of cylindrical bending pieces 31. The bending piece 31 is connected to the adjacent bending piece 31 by a connecting pin 32. A guide hole 33 is formed in the connecting pin 32, and an operation wire 34 is inserted through the guide hole 33. In addition to the operation wire 34, the forceps tube 18, the optical fiber cables 35 and 36, the signal cable 37, and the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 are inserted into the bending piece 31.

  The air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 are covered with a tube 40 whose cross-sectional shape is a perfect circle in a bundled state. The inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 is slightly larger than the diameter D2 of a circle (shown by a two-dot chain line) circumscribing the air / water feeding tubes 38 and 39 in a bundled state. By providing a gap so that the relationship of D1> D2 is established, each of the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 is slidable in the longitudinal direction when the bending portion 16 is bent. Considering that the tube 40 is distorted when the bending portion 16 is bent, the relationship between D1 and D2 may satisfy D1 ≧ D2 × 1.118 so that a gap is generated even when the tube 40 is distorted. preferable.

  The tube 40 is made of a flexible material. Examples of the material constituting the tube 40 include a fluorine resin, a polyurethane resin, and an elastomer resin. The tube 40 may be configured to be reinforced by embedding a wire mesh or may be configured to be reinforced with a porous material.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible portion 15 has a configuration in which the coil 41 is covered with a tube 42. The coil 41 is fixed by a fixing member 43 at a connection portion between the flexible portion 15 and the bending portion 16. One end of the tube 40 that covers the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 is fixed to a connecting portion between the bending portion 16 and the rigid portion 17. Further, the tube 40 has a length up to the front of the connection portion between the bending portion 16 and the flexible portion 15. In FIG. 3, illustration of parts unnecessary for the description is omitted.

  As described above, the relationship between the inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 and the diameter D2 of the circle circumscribed by the bundled air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 covered with the tube 40 satisfies D1> D2. Since the gap is provided in the tube 40, the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 are slidable in the longitudinal direction, and the bending operation of the bending portion 16 is not hindered. Further, since the movement of the air / water supply tubes 38, 39 in the radial direction is restricted within the tube 40, the air / water supply tubes 38, 39 are twisted or entangled with other built-in objects by moving in the radial direction. Therefore, it does not hinder the bending operation of the bending portion 16 due to this. As a result, damage to the internal components is also prevented. In addition, since the cross-sectional shape of the tube 40 is a perfect circle and the anisotropy with respect to the bending is eliminated, the tube 40 can be bent uniformly regardless of the bending direction. As a result, the tube 40 is prevented from being damaged when the bending portion 16 is bent.

  Further, since the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 are covered with the tube 40, the gap in the bending portion 16 is reduced, and the forceps tube 18, the optical fiber cables 35 and 36, the signal cable 37, and the tube 40 itself. Over the connecting pin 32 is prevented from being twisted or entangled with each other.

[Example 1]
Next, examples of the present invention will be described. As shown in the table of FIG. 4, the bending portion 16 of the endoscope for oral use 11 has a minimum radius of curvature of 15. which is maximum when the distal end surface of the rigid portion 17 is bent until it is turned 180 °. It became 0 mm. The inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 which was 3.50 mm before the bending portion 16 was bent was 3.13 mm at the narrowest portion. That is, the deformation ratio of the inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 is about 10 when the dimension before the bending portion 16 is bent is based on ((D1 after bending (narrowest portion) D1 before bending) / D1 before bending)). .7% reduction, when the dimension after bending the bending portion 16 is a standard ((D1 after bending (narrowest portion)-D1 before bending) / D1 after bending (narrowest portion)) The reduction is about 11.8%.

[Example 2]
When the bending portion 16 of the endoscope 11 for the large intestine was bent in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, the minimum curvature radius at which the curvature became maximum was 22.0 mm. The inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 which was 4.75 mm before the bending portion 16 was bent was 4.60 mm at the narrowest portion. In other words, the deformation rate of the inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 is about 3.2% reduction based on the dimension before the bending portion 16 is bent, and is about 0.2% based on the dimension after the bending portion 16 is bent. 3.2% decrease.

[Example 3]
When the bending portion 16 of the nasal endoscope 11 was bent in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, the minimum radius of curvature at which the curvature became maximum was 12.5 mm. The inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 that was 2.50 mm before the bending portion 16 was bent was 2.25 mm at the narrowest portion. In other words, the deformation rate of the inner diameter D1 of the tube 40 is about 10.0% reduction based on the dimension before the bending portion 16 is bent, and is approximately about the dimension after the bending portion 16 is bent. 11.1% decrease.

  In order to obtain the slidability in the longitudinal direction of the air / water feeding tubes 38 and 39, it is necessary that there is a gap in the tube 40 while the bending portion 16 is being bent (while the tube 40 is being deformed). That is, the diameter D2 of the circle circumscribing the bundled air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 is smaller than the minimum value of the inner diameter of the tube 40 deformed by bending of the bending portion 16 (D1 after bending (narrowest portion)). Is also small, it can be said that the air and water supply tubes 38 and 39 have good sliding properties in the longitudinal direction (evaluation is good). Further, when the diameter D2 coincides with D1 after bending (narrowest portion), it can be said that the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 can slide in the longitudinal direction (evaluation is Δ). On the other hand, when the diameter D2 is larger than D1 after bending (narrowest portion), it can be said that the air / water tubes 38 and 39 cannot slide in the longitudinal direction (evaluation is x).

  In Example 1, when D1 <D2 × 1.118, the slidability is x. When D1 = D2 × 1.118, the slidability is Δ, and when D1> D2 × 1.118, the slidability is ◯.

  In Example 2, the slidability is x when D1 <D2 × 1.032. When D1 = D2 × 1.032, the slidability is Δ, and when D1> D2 × 1.032, the slidability is ◯.

  In Example 3, slidability is x when D1 <D2 × 1.111. When D1 = D2 × 1.111, the slidability is Δ, and when D1> D2 × 1.111, the slidability is ◯.

  From the results of the above examples, it can be seen that the condition for satisfying the slidability ○ in each of the oral, large intestine, and nasal endoscopes 11 is D1> D2 × 1.118. .

  In the above embodiment, the gap is provided in the tube 40 so that the relationship of D1> D2 is established. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and each of the air / water supply tubes 38, 39 covered by the tube 40 has a longitudinal shape. Any configuration can be used as long as it is slidable in the direction. For example, the gaps are eliminated, and the air / water tubes 38 and 39 are made of a material that reduces the friction coefficient / dynamic friction coefficient with each other or with the tube 40.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tube 40 has the length from the front-end | tip of the bending part 16 to the front of the connection location of the bending part 16 and the flexible part 15, it is not limited to this structure, At least It is the length from the tip of the bending portion 16 to a location where the curvature is maximum when the bending portion 16 is bent (for example, a location that is intermediate in the longitudinal direction of the bending portion 16). What is necessary is just to have the length to a base end.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tube 40 has coat | covered the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 of the bundled state, it coat | covers in the state which bundled at least 2 of the elongate built-in thing penetrated by the insertion part 12. If you do. That is, the tube 40 may be any tube that covers the forceps tube 18, the optical fiber cables 35 and 36, the signal cable 37, and the air / water supply tubes 38 and 39 in a bundled state.

  Further, the endoscope 11 shown in the above embodiment is merely an example, and can be appropriately changed to any aspect without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is an external view of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing which rounded the curved part. It is sectional drawing which made the insertion part the longitudinal cut. It is a table | surface explaining the deformation | transformation rate of the tube internal diameter when a bending part curves about various endoscopes.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Endoscope 12 Insertion part 16 Bending part 18 Forceps tube 35, 36 Optical fiber cable 37 Signal cable 38, 39 Air / water supply tube 40 Tube D1 Diameter of tube D2 Diameter of circumscribed circle

Claims (6)

An elongated insertion portion inserted into a body cavity, having a bendable bending portion;
A plurality of built-in objects inserted through the insertion portion;
A tube for bundling and covering at least two of the built-in objects,
Each of the built-in objects covered by the tube is slidable in the longitudinal direction.   2. The D1> D2 is satisfied, where D1 is an inner diameter of the tube, and D2 is a diameter of a circle that is covered with the tube and circumscribes the bundled built-in object. The endoscope according to 1.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein D1> D2 × 1.118 is satisfied.   The tube has a length from the distal end of the bending portion to at least a portion where the curvature becomes maximum when the bending portion is bent, and at most, to a proximal end of the bending portion. The endoscope in any one of 1-3.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tube has a perfect circle shape in cross section.   The built-in object is inserted into an air / water tube for supplying and supplying air, a signal cable for transmitting an image signal picked up by an imaging unit, an optical fiber cable for guiding illumination light from a light source device to an illumination window, or a treatment instrument. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is a forceps tube.

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