JP2010194144A - Carrying case for flexible endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrying case for a flexible endoscope for protecting the flexible endoscope at a high level against impact given from outside by simply housing the flexible endoscope. <P>SOLUTION: A cushion material 6 is formed by dividing into one or more soft cushion blocks 6S showing flexibility and one or more rigid cushion blocks 6H which are more rigid than the soft cushion blocks 6S. A housing groove 5 for housing an operational portion 12 is formed in the soft cushion block 6S, and the housing groove 5 for housing a flexible insertion portion 11 is formed in the rigid cushion block 6H. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a carrying case for a flexible endoscope.

  Flexible endoscopes are often stored in hangers in storage, etc., but are carried in suitcase-like carrying cases when taken out of the facility. Is done.

  Such a flexible endoscope carrying case generally has a configuration in which a receiving groove for fitting the endoscope is formed in a cushion material provided in the outer box. In addition, there is also one in which a space in the accommodation groove is filled with a filler that melts at a certain high temperature and gels at room temperature so that the endoscope does not rattle in the accommodation groove (for example, Patent Document 1). .

JP-A-2005-245649

  In general, a flexible endoscope has a configuration in which a proximal end of a flexible insertion portion is connected to an operation portion, and the operation portion is surrounded by a highly rigid housing, but is inserted into the body. The flexible insertion portion is a structure having low rigidity because it is soft and elongated.

  As the cushion material in the carrying case, a foam material having a certain degree of flexibility is used. This is because if the cushion material is not flexible, the endoscope housed inside the carrying case is damaged when the carrying case is subjected to an impact due to dropping or other causes.

  However, since the flexible cushion material itself is easily deformed, when an impact is applied to the carrying case from the outside, the accommodation groove formed in the cushion material is deformed at that moment. Then, a large deformation force may act on the flexible insertion part fitted in the accommodation groove, and the flexible insertion part may be damaged.

  Further, as in the invention described in Patent Document 1, in order to fill the space in the housing groove with the filler that is melted at high temperature and gels at room temperature, every time the endoscope is housed in the carrying case. It is necessary to carry out heating and filling work, which is very complicated.

  The present invention provides a carrying case for a flexible endoscope that can protect the flexible endoscope from a shock applied from the outside at a high level by simply storing the flexible endoscope. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a carrying case for a flexible endoscope of the present invention is a carrying case for storing an endoscope having a configuration in which an operation unit is connected to a proximal end of a flexible insertion unit. In the cushion material provided in the outer box, in which the accommodation groove for fitting the endoscope is formed, the cushion material is one or more soft cushion blocks having flexibility, and A housing groove that is divided into one or a plurality of hard cushion blocks that are harder than the soft cushion block and that accommodates the operation portion is formed in the soft cushion block, and is a housing groove for housing the flexible insertion portion. Is formed in a hard cushion block.

  In the carrying case for the flexible endoscope of the present invention, the operation portion is connected to the proximal end of the flexible insertion portion, and the connector portion is attached to the distal end of the connecting flexible tube extending from the operation portion. A carrying case for storing an endoscope having a configuration, in which a cushioning material is flexible in a case where an accommodation groove for fitting an endoscope is formed in a cushion material provided in an outer box In order to accommodate an accommodating groove and a connector part, which are divided into one or a plurality of soft cushion blocks and one or a plurality of hard cushion blocks harder than the soft cushion block to accommodate the operation part The housing groove is formed in the soft cushion block, and the housing groove for housing the flexible insertion portion and the housing groove for housing the connecting flexible tube are formed in the hard cushion block. It may be.

  The soft cushion block may be provided with an impact absorbing hole for promoting the deformation of the soft cushion block when receiving an impact. In addition, a plurality of hard cushion blocks are provided, and uneven engagement means for preventing relative displacement between adjacent hard cushion blocks at the boundary portion is provided between adjacent hard cushion blocks. The concave and convex engaging means provided between adjacent hard cushion blocks are fitted from one hard cushion block side to the other hard cushion block side, and the other hard cushion block side from one hard cushion block side. You may make a pair with what fits into the cushion block side.

  According to the present invention, the cushion material is divided and formed into one or a plurality of soft cushion blocks having flexibility and one or a plurality of hard cushion blocks that are harder than the soft cushion block, and accommodates the operation unit. The housing groove for forming the flexible insertion portion is formed in the soft cushion block, and the housing groove for housing the flexible insertion portion is formed in the hard cushion block, so that the impact from the outside is absorbed by the soft cushion block, Since the deformation of the hard cushion block containing the flexible insertion portion is small, a large deformation force does not act on the flexible insertion portion. The flexible endoscope can be protected at a high level.

It is a top view of the state in which the endoscope was accommodated in the cushion material of the carrying case for flexible endoscopes which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope stored in a carrying case for a flexible endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the carrying case for flexible endoscopes concerning the 1st example of the present invention. It is a top view in the state where the endoscope was stored in the cushion material of the carrying case for flexible endoscopes concerning the 2nd example of the present invention. It is a top view in the state where the endoscope was stored in the cushion material of the carrying case for flexible endoscopes concerning the 3rd example of the present invention. It is a partial exploded perspective view of the carrying case for flexible endoscopes concerning the 3rd example of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the flexible endoscope 10, where the proximal end of the flexible insertion portion 11 is connected to the operation portion 12 and is connected to the distal end of the connection flexible tube 13 extending from the operation portion 12. A connector portion 14 is attached, which is detachably connected to a video processor (not shown).

  The flexible insertion portion 11 includes a flexible flexible tube portion 11A, a bending portion 11B that can be bent by remote operation from the operation portion 12, and a distal end portion main body 11C in which an observation window and the like are arranged. It is a concatenated structure. Reference numerals 15 and 16 denote anti-bending rubbers for protecting the base portion of the flexible insertion portion 11 and the base portion of the connecting flexible tube 13 respectively.

  FIG. 3 shows a carrying case for a flexible endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A suitcase-like outer box 1 has an outer box body 1A and a lid body 1B with a hinge 2. It is configured to be freely openable and closably connected. 3 is a handle for hand-held, and 4 is a lock device.

  The cushion material 6 that is tightly fitted in the outer box main body 1A is provided with a continuous accommodation groove 5 for fitting and accommodating the flexible endoscope 10 therein. The depth of the accommodation groove 5 is about half the thickness of the cushion material 6 at the deepest portion.

  A pressing cushion 7 made of a soft foam material is attached to the lid 1B so that the flexible endoscope 10 fitted in the receiving groove 5 is not rattled. Yes.

In the present invention, the cushion material 6 is divided into a plurality of parts. However, the dividing line is not shown in FIG. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a state in which the flexible endoscope 10 is fitted in the receiving groove 5, the cushion material 6 is composed of two soft cushion blocks 6S (6S ₁ , 6S). ₂ ) and a plurality of hard cushion blocks 6H (6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ ) harder than the soft cushion block 6S.

  The soft cushion block 6S and the hard cushion block 6H are each formed of a foamed polypropylene resin or a foamed polyurethane resin, and can be manufactured to an appropriate hardness by changing the foaming ratio. However, the hardness may be changed by using different materials.

The first soft cushion blocks 6S _1, is formed accommodating grooves 5 ₁₂ for housing is fitted the operating unit 12, the second soft cushion block 6S _2, houses fitted a connector 14 An accommodation groove ₅₁₄ is formed. Each receiving groove 5 is shown in white so that it can be clearly distinguished from other parts.

The first to third hard cushion blocks 6H ₁ ~6H _3, flexible insertion portion 11 accommodating groove 5 ₁₁ for accommodating are formed, the fourth rigid cushion blocks 6H _4, connected flexible housing groove 5 ₁₃ for accommodating the tube 13 is formed.

The planar shape of the cushion material 6 as a whole is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and the first soft cushion block 6S ₁ is disposed at the upper left position when the above-mentioned hand-held handle 3 side is the lower side, and the second soft cushion blocks 6S ₂ is disposed on the lower right side of the position from the center position. As a result, the shock absorption by the soft cushion block 6S is performed in the entire cushion material 6 without being extremely biased.

The first to third hard cushion blocks 6H _{1 to} 6H ₃ are provided so as to surround the second soft cushion block 6S ₂ in a U-shape along the right outer edge of the cushion material 6. .

The receiving groove 5 ₁₁ for accommodating the flexible insertion portion 11, is formed in the first to third hard cushion blocks 6H ₁ ~6H ₃ to one lead, along the inside of the outer edge of the cushion material 6 It is in a state of being arranged in a smooth and U shape. The fourth hard cushion block 6H ₄ is disposed in the entire lower left region of the cushion material 6.

In the carrying case for the flexible endoscope of the first embodiment configured as described above, when an impact is applied from the outside of the outer case 1 due to dropping or the like during transportation, the first and second soft cushion blocks 6S. ₁ and 6S ₂ are deformed in the outer box 1 to absorb the impact, and the operation portion 12 and the connector portion 14 are protected from the impact.

Some shock absorption is also performed in the first to fourth hard cushion blocks 6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ , but the first to fourth cushion cushions 6S ₁ and 6S ₂ absorb the first to fourth shocks. The impact on the hard cushion blocks 6H ₁ to 6H ₄ is greatly attenuated.

Then, the first to which is hard to form a fourth hard cushion blocks 6H ₁ ~6H _4, since not much deformed even impact is applied, receiving groove 5 ₁₁ for accommodating the flexible insertion portion 11 and the deformation in the form of a receiving groove 5 ₁₃ for accommodating the connected flexible tube 13 is small, escape from damage flexible insertion portion 11 and the connecting flexible tube 13 is due to the deformation of the receiving groove 5 _11, 5 _13.

  As a result, by simply fitting the flexible endoscope 10 into the receiving groove 5, it is possible to prevent the flexible inside from the impact applied from the outside without performing a complicated process such as filling the receiving groove 5 with a filler. The endoscope 10 can be protected at a high level.

In addition, when the cushion material 6 is divided and formed into a plurality of cushion blocks 6S ₁ , 6S ₂ , 6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ , the model of the flexible endoscope 10 to be stored is different. The cushion block 6S ₁ , 6S ₂ , 6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ can be easily handled by simply replacing a part thereof.

FIG. 4 shows a cushion material 6 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and an impact absorbing hole 8 for promoting the deformation of the soft cushion block 6S (6S ₁ , 6S ₂ ) when subjected to an impact. Is formed in a soft cushion block 6S (6S ₁ , 6S ₂ ) to an appropriate depth. The shock absorbing holes 8 are shown in white for easy identification. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. With this configuration, the shock absorbing ability of the soft cushion blocks 6S (6S _1, 6S ₂₎ is enhanced.

FIG. 5 shows a cushion material 6 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, so that adjacent hard cushion blocks 6H (6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ ) are not relatively displaced from each other at the boundary portion. Are provided between adjacent hard cushion blocks 6H (6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ ). Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the concave / convex engaging means 9 includes an engaging protrusion 9p formed on one of adjacent hard cushion blocks 6H (6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ ) and an engaging hole 9q formed on the other. It consists of

The concavo-convex engaging means 9, one of the hard cushion block (e.g. 6H ₃₎ side while the hard cushion block (e.g. 6H ₄₎ which fit into the side of the (engagement projection 9p / engaging hole 9q), A pair (engagement protrusion 9p / engagement hole 9q) that fits from the other hard cushion block (6H ₄ ) side to the one hard cushion block (6H ₃ ) side is paired.

By configuring in this way, the occurrence of misalignment between the adjacent hard cushion blocks 6H (6H _{1 to} 6H ₄ ) when an impact is applied is more reliably regulated, and a plurality of hard cushion blocks 6H (6H ₁ to 6H ₁ to 6H 6H ₄ ), the continuity of the accommodation groove 5 (that is, the accommodation groove 5 ₁₁ for accommodating the flexible insertion portion 11) spanning the continuity of the flexible insertion portion 11 can be maintained, and the damage prevention ability of the flexible insertion portion 11 can be further enhanced. it can.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, the flexible endoscope 10 is equipped with the light source which consists of a miniature bulb etc. in the operation part 12, and the connection flexible tube 13 and the connector part 14 are provided. In the case of a portable endoscope (also referred to as a simple endoscope or a bedside endoscope) that is not provided with a cushion, the cushion material 6 is one soft cushion block 6S for accommodating the operation unit 12. And it may be divided and formed only in one hard cushion block 6H for accommodating the flexible insertion part 11.

1 outer box 1A outer box body 2 hinges 5 (5 _{11-5 14)} receiving groove 6 cushion material 6H (6H ₁ ~6H ₄₎ hard cushion block 6S (6S _1, 6S ₂₎ soft cushion block 8 shock absorbing hole 9 irregularities Engagement means 10 Flexible endoscope 11 Flexible insertion part 12 Operation part 13 Connection flexible tube 14 Connector part

Claims (5)

A carrying case for storing an endoscope having a configuration in which an operation unit is connected to a proximal end of a flexible insertion unit,
In the cushion material provided in the outer box, the accommodation groove for fitting the endoscope is formed,
The cushion material is divided into one or a plurality of soft cushion blocks having flexibility and one or a plurality of hard cushion blocks that are harder than the soft cushion block, and accommodates the operation portion. A carrying case for a flexible endoscope, characterized in that a groove is formed in the soft cushion block, and a housing groove for housing the flexible insertion portion is formed in the hard cushion block. A carrying case for storing an endoscope having a configuration in which an operation unit is connected to a proximal end of a flexible insertion unit and a connector unit is attached to a distal end of a connection flexible tube extending from the operation unit. And
In the cushion material provided in the outer box, the accommodation groove for fitting the endoscope is formed,
The cushion material is divided into one or a plurality of soft cushion blocks having flexibility and one or a plurality of hard cushion blocks that are harder than the soft cushion block, and accommodates the operation portion. A housing groove for housing the groove and the connector portion is formed in the soft cushion block, and a housing groove for housing the flexible insertion portion and the housing groove for housing the connecting flexible tube are the hard A carrying case for a flexible endoscope, which is formed on a cushion block.   The carrying case for a flexible endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an impact absorbing hole for promoting deformation of the soft cushion block is formed in the soft cushion block when receiving an impact.   A plurality of the hard cushion blocks are provided, and uneven engagement means for preventing relative displacement between adjacent hard cushion blocks at the boundary portion is provided between the adjacent hard cushion blocks. Item 4. A carrying case for a flexible endoscope according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   The concave / convex engaging means provided between the adjacent hard cushion blocks fits from one hard cushion block side to the other hard cushion block side, and the other hard cushion block side from the one hard cushion block side. The carrying case for a flexible endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the carrying case is paired with one fitted on the hard cushion block side.

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