JP2011062299A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of reducing man-hours for grip part detachment, and eliminating the need of wiping off and re-coating grease coated on a component for operating a mechanism for varying hardness. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope 30 includes: an insertion part 31 having the mechanism 54 for varying hardness; an operation part 32 composed of a grip part 40 and an operation casing 39 and having an operation part frame body 62; a ring 51 for varying hardness held between a breaking prevention unit 38 and the grip part 40, for operating the mechanism 54 for varying hardness by engaging a cam ring 72 coming into peripheral contact with the frame body 62 on the inner peripheral surface, rotating the cam ring 72 by a turning operation, and moving a moving ring 75 in peripheral contact inside the frame body 62; and a grip ring 74 for holding the grip part 40 arranged in the frame body 62. The inner diameters of the through-hole 51b of the hardness varying ring 51 and the grip ring 74 are formed to be larger than that of the unit 38, and the frame body 62 is formed into a stepped shape having an operation part body part 64 and a hardness varying body part 63 whose diameter is narrower than that. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a hardness varying mechanism in an insertion portion.

Endoscopes used in the medical field are used not only for observation but also for various treatments.
The insertion portion of the endoscope includes a rigid distal end portion, a bendable bending portion, and a flexible flexible tube portion in order from the distal end so that the insertion portion can be inserted into a bent insertion path. It is configured.

  When inserting the insertion portion of the endoscope to a target site in the body, the operator holds the flexible tube portion with one hand and the operation portion with the other hand. Then, the surgeon performs a hand operation for pushing the insertion portion, a hand operation for operating the operation tool provided in the operation portion to pull and loosen the bending wire to bend the bending portion in a desired direction, etc. Is inserted toward the target site. However, since the insertion portion has flexibility, the direction of the tip portion is not determined with respect to the hand side, and it may be difficult to introduce the tip portion in the target direction.

  In recent years, as an endoscope for solving this problem, as shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope provided with a hardness varying mechanism constituted by a coil pipe 2 and a hardness varying wire 3 inside an insertion portion 1 is used. Yes. In this endoscope, an operator who performs endoscopy can rotate the hardness variable ring 4 to perform insertion into a bent insertion path by varying the hardness of the insertion portion 1. .

The bending wire for bending the bending portion or the hardness varying wire of the hardness varying mechanism is stretched by repeated use. As a result, there arises a problem that the bending part does not perform a bending operation in a desired bending state and a problem that the insertion part is not adjusted to a desired hardness.
For this reason, Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscope that prevents the hardness adjustment function from greatly deteriorating even when the hardness adjustment means is repeatedly used.

  In addition to the coil pipe 2, the hardness variable wire 3 and the bending wire, a fluid conduit for air supply, water supply, suction, etc., an imaging cable extending from the imaging device, and illumination light are supplied into the operation section 5 of the endoscope. A light guide fiber or a cable for supplying power to the light emitting element for illumination is inserted.

For this reason, even when there is a repair request from the user other than a curved portion or a hardness varying mechanism, for example, an endoscope image is disturbed, the gripping portion casing 6 constituting the operation portion 5 is removed. Confirmation in the operation unit 5 is to be performed.
In that case, an operator removes the holding | grip part casing 6 according to the following grip removal procedures.

1. The rubber cover 7 is broken or broken. As a result, the tube holding pin 10 that integrally fixes the folding preventing unit 8 to the rear end cap 9 is exposed.
The bend preventing unit 8 includes a bend preventing tube 8a and a support member 8b, and the rubber cover 7 covers a tube holding pin 10 disposed on the support member 8b.

  2. The exposed tube holding pin 10 is removed. As a result, the fixed state between the folding preventing unit 8 and the rear end cap 9 is released, and the folding preventing unit 8 can be detached from the operation portion 5.

3. The folding prevention unit 8 is removed from the operation unit 5. At this time, the bend preventing unit 8 is moved to the insertion portion side along the operating portion longitudinal axis, and the support member 8 b of the bend preventing unit 8 is removed from the inner peripheral surface of the hardness variable ring 4. As a result, the restriction on the insertion portion side of the operating portion longitudinal axis of the hardness variable ring 4 is released.
The anti-bending unit 8 removed from the operation unit 5 is shifted in the distal direction of the insertion unit 1 along the outer periphery of the insertion unit 1 and arranged at a desired position on the insertion unit 1 as shown in FIG. deep.

  4). The hardness variable ring 4 is removed from the operation unit 5. At this time, by moving the hardness varying ring 4 to the insertion portion side along the operating portion longitudinal axis, first, the engagement state between the hardness varying ring 4 and the cam ring 11 is released, and then the hardness varying ring 4 is moved to the cam ring. Remove from 11.

  Then, the tubular hardness varying portion frame 12 and the sliding ring 13, the cam ring 11, and the seal ring 14 disposed on the outer periphery thereof are exposed. The sliding ring 13, the cam ring 11, and the seal ring 14 are arranged in this order from the insertion portion 1 side to the operation portion 5 side.

  The sliding ring 13 is restricted from moving toward the operating portion longitudinal axis insertion portion by the sliding ring holding pin 15. Further, the hardness variable ring 4 is moved in the distal direction along the outer periphery of the insertion portion 1, and then arranged on the insertion portion 1 side by side with the folding unit 8 as shown in FIG. 2. Reference numeral 22 denotes an operation part frame, which is integrally fixed to the hardness variable part frame 12 via screws 23.

5). The sliding ring holding pin 15 is removed from the annular member 16. As a result, the restriction on the insertion portion side of the operating portion longitudinal axis of the sliding ring 13 is released.
The annular member 16 is fixed to the hardness varying portion frame 12 with screws 17.

  6). The sliding ring 13 is removed from the hardness variable part frame 12. Then, the sliding ring 13 is moved in the distal direction along the outer periphery of the insertion portion 1 and is arranged on the insertion portion 1 side by side with the hardness variable ring 4 as shown in FIG.

7). The cam pin 18 provided on the cam ring 11 is removed. As a result, the restriction on the operating portion longitudinal axis insertion portion side of the cam ring 11 is released.
8). The cam ring 11 is removed from the hardness variable portion frame 12. Then, the cam ring 11 is moved in the distal direction along the outer periphery of the insertion portion 1 and arranged on the insertion portion 1 side by side with the sliding ring 13 as shown in FIG.

  9. The seal ring fixing pin 19 is removed from the hardness varying portion frame 12. As a result, the fixed state of the seal ring 14 with respect to the hardness varying portion frame 12 is released.

  10. The seal ring 14 is removed from the hardness varying portion frame 12. Then, the seal ring 14 is moved in the distal direction along the outer periphery of the insertion portion 1 and arranged on the insertion portion 1 side by side with the cam ring 11 as shown in FIG.

  11. The screw ring between the grip ring 20 and the hardness varying portion frame 12 is released, and the grip ring 20 is removed from the hardness varying portion frame 12. Then, the grip ring 20 is moved in the distal direction along the outer periphery of the insertion portion 1, and is arranged on the insertion portion 1 side by side with the seal ring 14 as shown in FIG.

12 Finally, the base 21 is removed from the gripper casing 6. Thereby, the restriction | limiting with respect to the insertion part side of the operation part longitudinal axis of the holding | grip part casing 6 is cancelled | released.
Therefore, when the operator moves the gripping part casing 6 to the operating part longitudinal axis insertion part side, the gripping part casing 6 is removed from the operating part 5, and the inside of the operating part 5 is exposed to perform observation or the like.

  And when attaching the removed holding | grip part casing 6 to the operation part 5, an operator assembles in the reverse procedure to the procedure mentioned above.

JP 2001-258828 A

  However, in an endoscope having a hardness varying mechanism, a sliding ring 13, a cam ring 11, a seal ring 14, and a grip ring 20 are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the hardness varying portion frame 12, and the coil is the main part of the hardness varying mechanism. 2. Grease is applied to the variable hardness wire 3, the cam ring 11, the sliding ring 13, the cam pin 18, and the like for the purpose of obtaining good slidability.

  Therefore, when the gripping part casing 6 is removed in the above procedure, the operator must perform the work of wiping off grease in addition to the work after removing the hardness variable ring 4 from the operation part 5. In the assembly work, the assembly work must be performed while reapplying the grease.

  Accordingly, even when the repair request is for the reason that the endoscope image is disturbed, it is necessary to remove the sliding ring 13, the cam ring 11 and the like that operate the hardness varying mechanism in order to remove the gripping portion casing 6. For the operator, the grip removal work and the assembly work are troublesome work.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a component that can reduce the man-hours for removing the gripping part casing that constitutes the operating part, and that operates the hardness varying mechanism when the gripping part casing is removed and assembled. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that eliminates the need for wiping off and re-applying grease applied to the endoscope.

An endoscope according to the present invention is connected to an insertion portion including a hardness changing mechanism including a hardness changing wire and a hardness changing coil for changing the hardness of a flexible tube portion, and a proximal end side of the insertion portion. An operation unit including an operation unit frame body that is configured by a gripping unit casing and an operation unit casing, and at least a distal end side of the gripping unit casing is connected to the insertion unit, and the connection between the flexible tube unit and the operation unit A bend prevention unit that is provided in a portion and prevents buckling of the flexible tube portion, and is rotatably held between the bend prevention unit and the grip portion casing, and is disposed around the outer periphery of the operation portion frame. An engaging portion that integrally engages the cam ring that is in contact with the inner peripheral surface side is provided, and the cam ring that is integrally engaged by rotating around the operating portion longitudinal axis is rotated to rotate the operating portion frame body. Move the moving frame connected to the inner circumference A hardness variable ring that moves in the hand axis direction to operate the hardness variable mechanism, and a female screw portion that is screwed into a male screw portion that is formed on the operation portion frame, are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the operation portion frame. A grip ring for holding a gripping part casing disposed at a predetermined position of the operation part frame,
An inner diameter of the hardness variable ring and an inner diameter of the grip ring are formed to be larger than a maximum outer diameter of the anti-bending unit, and the operation portion frame is provided with an operation portion body portion in which the grip ring is disposed, and the operation It is formed in a stepped shape having a variable hardness barrel portion that is smaller in diameter than the barrel portion and that is camcordered integrally with the hardness variable ring.

  According to this configuration, after the engagement state of the hardness variable ring and the cam ring is released, the hardness variable ring can be removed from the operation unit without removing the bend preventing unit, and after the hardness variable ring is removed, the hardness variable body portion The grip ring can be removed from the operation unit without removing the cam ring and the folding-proof unit that are circumferentially connected to each other. As a result, the gripping part casing disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation part body part of the operation part frame can also be removed from the operation part without removing the cam ring and the folding prevention unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of steps for removing the gripping part casing constituting the operation part, and when removing and assembling the gripping part casing, wiping off the grease applied to the parts that operate the hardness variable mechanism, In addition, an endoscope that does not require recoating can be realized.

The figure explaining the structure of the operation part of an endoscope provided with a hardness variable mechanism in an insertion part. It is a figure explaining the procedure until it removes a holding | grip part casing, and is a figure which shows the components removed from the operation part according to the procedure 3 to 5 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an endoscope having a hardness varying mechanism. The figure explaining the structure of the operation part provided with the hardness variable ring which operates the hardness variable mechanism of an endoscope It is a figure explaining the procedure until it removes a holding | grip part casing, and is a figure which shows the components removed from the operation part according to the procedure The figure explaining the structure of the bending prevention of the endoscope which is not equipped with the hardness variable mechanism in an insertion part, and the operation part of the vicinity. The figure explaining the structure of the bend prevention unit which makes it possible to remove a grip part easily from an operation part in the endoscope which is not equipped with the hardness variable mechanism in an insertion part. The figure explaining the other structure of the main-body cover part which comprises a bend prevention unit. The figure explaining other composition of a bend prevention unit The figure explaining the structure of the main body cover part which provided the seal ring part and the grip ring part integrally. The figure explaining the structure of the main body cover part which provided the lip | rip part instead of the seal ring part of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
An endoscope including a hardness varying mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the endoscope 30 according to the present embodiment includes a hardness varying mechanism 54 in the insertion portion 31.
The endoscope 30 mainly includes an elongated insertion portion 31, an operation portion 32 provided continuously with the insertion portion 31, and a universal cord 33 extending from a side portion of the operation portion 32. Yes.

The insertion portion 31 is configured by connecting a hard distal end portion 34, a bendable bending portion 35, and a flexible flexible tube portion 36 in order from the distal end side. The bending portion 35 is configured such that a plurality of bending pieces 37 are rotatably connected to bend, for example, in the vertical and horizontal directions.
A connecting portion between the flexible tube portion 36 and the operation portion 32 is provided with a bend preventing unit 38 that prevents the flexible tube portion 36 from buckling.

  The operation part 32 includes an operation part casing 39 and a grip part casing (hereinafter referred to as a grip part) 40 that is watertightly connected to the distal end side of the operation part casing 39.

  The operation portion casing 39 is provided with a bending operation knob (not shown) that causes the bending portion 35 to bend, an air / water supply button 41, a suction button 42, and the like. The air / water supply button 41 is operated when water and air are ejected from an air supply / water supply nozzle (not shown) provided at the distal end portion 34. The suction button 42 is operated when a body fluid or the like is sucked from an opening of a suction channel (reference numeral 46 in FIG. 4) that also serves as a treatment instrument insertion channel (reference numeral 45 in FIG. 4) provided at the distal end portion 34.

  On the other hand, the grip portion 40 is provided with a treatment tool base 43 for guiding a treatment tool such as a grasping forceps to the treatment tool insertion channel 35. The treatment tool base 43 is detachably connected to a branch member (see reference numeral 44 in FIG. 4).

  A hardness variable ring 51 that rotates about the longitudinal axis of the operation unit 32 is provided between the grip unit 40 and the folding unit 38. The hardness variable ring 51 is operated clockwise or counterclockwise, and is arranged in the insertion portion 31 with a hardness changing wire (hereinafter abbreviated as a wire) 52 and a hardness changing coil (hereinafter abbreviated as a coil). The hardness varying mechanism 54 constituted by 53 is operated to vary the hardness of the flexible tube portion 36.

  In addition, in addition to the wire 52 and the coil 53, in the insertion portion 31, an image pickup such as a CCD having an image pickup surface at the image formation position of the light guide 47 for transmitting illumination light and the objective lens 48 provided at the tip end portion 34. A signal cable 50 extending from the element 49, a bending wire 35a for bending the bending portion 35, and the like are inserted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front end side exterior of the operation portion 32 is mainly configured by a bend preventing unit 38, a rubber cover 55, a hardness variable ring 51, and a grip portion 40.
The bend preventing unit 38 includes a bend preventing tube 38a and a support member 38b. The tube 38a is made of resin and has flexibility to prevent buckling. The support member 38b is made of metal, and the folding unit 38 is formed by, for example, insert molding.
The support member 38b has a circumferential groove 38c in which a hardness variable ring retaining ring (66 in the figure), which will be described later, is disposed on the outer peripheral surface exposed from the proximal end surface of the folding stop tube 38a.

  The support member 38b is integrally fixed to the rear end cap 61 with, for example, screws (not shown). The distal end side of the rear end cap 61 is fixed to a serpentine tube portion 36e constituting the proximal end side of the flexible tube portion 36, and the front end of the operation portion frame body 62 is fixed to the proximal end side. The rear end base 61 is provided with a first O-ring 91 that maintains watertightness between the outer peripheral surface of the rear end base 61 and the inner peripheral surface of the support member 38b.

  The operation part frame body 62 of the present embodiment has a stepped shape, and includes a hardness varying body part 63 and an operation part body part 64 having a diameter larger than that of the hardness varying body part 63. The base end side portion of the operation portion body 64 is integrally fixed to the front end portion of the operation portion main body frame 65 by screws 99. The distal end side of the grip part 40 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation part body part 64.

The outer peripheral surface of the hardness varying body 63 constituting the operation unit frame 62 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped sliding ring 71 and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular cam ring 72, and these sliding rings The base end portion 38d of the support member 38b that restricts the movement of the 71 and the cam ring 72 from the hardness varying body portion 63 to the operation portion longitudinal axis insertion portion side is disposed.
A second O-ring 92 that maintains watertightness between the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion 38d and the inner peripheral surface of the hardness variable ring 51 is disposed at the base end portion 38d of the support member 38b.

  On the other hand, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular seal ring 73 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit body 64 of the operation unit frame 62, and a ring-shaped grip ring 74 is fixed by screwing. The grip portion 40 moves to the operation portion longitudinal axis insertion portion side on the operation portion barrel portion 64 when the female screw portion 74a of the grip ring 74 is screwed into the male screw portion 64a of the operation portion barrel portion 64. Is regulated.

  The inner diameter dimensions of the seal ring 73, the grip ring 74, and the grip section 40 disposed on the operation section body section 64 are set to be larger than the maximum outer diameter portion of the folding unit 38 by a predetermined dimension. In other words, the outer diameter dimension of the operation section body 64 is larger than the maximum outer diameter portion of the folding unit 38 by a predetermined dimension. Therefore, the seal ring 73, the grip ring 74, and the grip portion 40 are configured to have a through hole with an inner diameter that can pass through the bend preventing unit 38 provided in the operation portion 32.

  The hardness varying ring 51 is a tubular member, and a finger hanging groove 51a is formed on the outer peripheral surface to assist the rotation operation around the axis of the hardness varying ring 51.

  The hardness variable ring 51 includes a through hole 51b. On the proximal end side of the through hole 51b, a seal ring disposition recess 51c larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 51b and a grip larger in diameter than the seal ring disposition recess 51c. A recess 51d for part arrangement is formed.

  The inner diameter dimension of the through hole 51b is set to be larger than the maximum outer diameter portion of the folding preventing unit 38 by a predetermined dimension. That is, the hardness varying ring 51 is also configured to be able to pass through the folding unit 38.

  And in the through-hole 51b, the base end part of the supporting member 38b arrange | positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the hardness variable trunk | drum 63, the sliding ring 71, and the cam ring 72 are arrange | positioned. Further, a seal ring 73 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation portion body 64 is disposed in the seal ring disposition recess 51c. In addition, the tip of the grip portion 40 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation portion body portion 64 is disposed in the grip portion disposing recess 51d.

The sliding ring 71 is made of, for example, a resin, and abuts against the tip surface of the cam ring 72.
A cam groove 72 a having a predetermined shape is formed on the peripheral portion of the cam ring 72. On the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 72, a plurality of engaging convex portions (see reference numeral 72b in FIG. 5) are arranged so as to protrude in the circumferential direction. The engaging convex portion 72 b is configured to be fitted into an engaging groove 51 e formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 51 b of the hardness variable ring 51.

  Accordingly, when the cam ring 72 is disposed in the through hole 51b of the hardness varying ring 51, for example, the hardness varying ring 51 is moved in the longitudinal axis direction with the engaging groove 51e and the engaging convex portion 72b being aligned. As a result, the cam ring 72 and the hardness variable ring 51 which are separate bodies are integrated with each other by engagement. As a result, as the hardness variable ring 51 rotates around the axis, the cam ring 72 can also rotate.

  The seal ring 73 is made of resin, for example, and has two circumferential grooves 73a and 73b and a convex portion 73c on the outer peripheral surface side. The convex part 73c is located between the circumferential groove 73a and the circumferential groove 73b. The side surface on the proximal end side of the convex portion 73 c is in contact with the distal end surface of the grip portion 40 to form a predetermined gap between the proximal end surface of the seal ring 73 and the distal end surface of the grip ring 74.

  A third O-ring 93 is disposed in the circumferential groove 73a, and a fourth O-ring 94 is disposed in the circumferential groove 73b. The third O-ring 93 disposed in the circumferential groove 73a is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the seal ring disposing recess 51c and is watertight between the outer peripheral surface of the seal ring 73 and the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion 51c of the hardness varying ring 51. Plan.

  On the other hand, the fourth O-ring 94 disposed in the circumferential groove 73b is in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of a tip-side recess 40f (to be described later) of the grip portion 40, and an inner surface of the seal ring 73 and the tip-side recess 40f of the grip portion 40. Water tightness with the surrounding surface is planned.

  The grip part 40 includes a convex part 40a on the outer periphery on the tip side. The convex portion 40a is formed with a communication hole 40b in which the treatment tool base 43 is disposed. The communication hole 40b communicates the through hole 40c formed in the longitudinal axis direction of the grip part 40 with the outside. The treatment instrument base 43 is inserted into the communication hole 40 b and connected to the branch member 44.

  The through hole 40c has a distal end side hole 40d and a proximal end side hole 40e. The distal end side hole 40d is provided with a distal end side recess 40f on the opening side. The proximal end side hole 40e has a larger diameter than the distal end side hole 40d.

  40 d of front end side holes are arrange | positioned at the outer peripheral surface of the operation part trunk | drum 64 of the operation part frame 62, and the operation part main body frame 65 is arrange | positioned at the base end side hole 40e. The proximal end side portion of the seal ring 73 and the grip ring 74 provided in the operation portion body portion 64 are provided in the distal end side recess 40f.

  As described above, the female threaded portion 74 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the grip ring 74, and this female threaded portion 74 a is screwed into the male threaded portion 64 a formed in the operation portion body portion 64. The grip ring 74 is a restricting member that restricts the grip portion 40 from moving toward the operation portion longitudinal axis insertion portion.

The rubber cover 55 covers a hardness variable ring retaining ring (hereinafter abbreviated as retaining ring) 66.
As shown in FIG. 5, the holding ring 66 is configured by, for example, a divided ring 66 a divided into two. The split ring 66a is disposed in a split ring disposition groove 38c formed in the support member 38b, and is fixed to the support member 38b by a screw 98.

  The split ring 66a fixed to the split ring arrangement groove 38c protrudes a predetermined amount from the outer peripheral surface of the anti-bending unit 38 and comes into contact with the distal end surface of the hardness varying ring 51. To move to the side. That is, the holding ring 66 is a holding member that holds the hardness variable ring 51.

  In the present embodiment, the outer diameter dimension of the operation part body 64 of the operation part frame 62 is larger than the inner diameter dimension of the hardness variable ring 51 set to a predetermined diameter larger than the maximum outer diameter of the anti-bending unit 38. Is the diameter. Thus, the base end side end surface of the hardness varying ring 51 comes into contact with the front end surface of the operation portion body 64.

  Of the base end of the support member 38b of the anti-bending unit 38, the sliding ring 71, and the cam ring 72 arranged in the through hole 51b, at least the outer diameter of the cam ring 72 is the maximum outer diameter of the anti-bending unit. The diameter is larger by a predetermined dimension. The outer diameter dimensions of the base end portion of the support member 38 b, the sliding ring 71, and the cam ring 72 are set smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the cam ring 72.

Reference numeral 75 denotes a moving ring. The outer peripheral surface of the moving ring 75 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hardness variable body 63.
Reference numeral 76 denotes a cam pin 76. One end of the cam pin 76 is fixed to the moving ring 75 by screwing. The other end of the cam pin 76 is disposed in the cam groove 72 a of the cam ring 72 so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the variable hardness barrel 63 through a long hole 63 a formed in the side of the variable hardness barrel 63.
The long hole 63a is formed in parallel to the operation unit longitudinal axis.

Reference numeral 77 denotes a wire stopper. The wire stopper 77 is fixed to the proximal end portion of the wire 52.
Reference numeral 78 denotes a coil stopper. The coil stopper 78 is integrally fixed to the annular member 79 with a screw (not shown). The coil stopper 78 includes a hole 78a, and the end of the coil 53 is fixed in the hole 78a. The code | symbol 78b is a through-hole which connects the hole part 78a and the exterior, and the wire 52 is penetrated.

  According to this configuration, when the hardness varying ring 51 is turned, the cam ring 72 integrated with the hardness varying ring 51 is rotated. Then, the cam pin 76 disposed in the cam groove 72a of the cam ring 72 moves along the long hole 63a to the operation portion longitudinal axis insertion portion side or the opposite side. As a result, the moving ring 75 is moved to the operation portion longitudinal axis insertion portion side or the opposite side, and the hardness varying mechanism 54 is operated.

  The moving ring 75 is moved to the side opposite to the operation unit longitudinal axis insertion portion side to apply a compressive force to the coil 53, thereby reducing the flexibility of the coil 53, that is, the hardness (more accurate) (Hardness against bending) increases, and the hardness of the flexible tube portion 36 is set to be hard.

Here, the removal from the operation part 32 of the grip part 40 of the endoscope 30 is demonstrated.
The operator removes the grip portion 40 according to the following grip removal procedure.

1. The rubber cover 55 is broken or broken. As a result, the split ring 66 a that is the holding ring 66 that holds the hardness variable ring 51 is exposed.
2. The exposed split ring 66a is removed from the split ring placement groove 38c. As a result, the restriction of the hardness varying ring 51 to the operating portion longitudinal axis insertion portion side is released, and the hardness varying ring 51 can be removed.

  3. The hardness variable ring 51 is removed from the operation unit 32. At this time, the engagement state between the hardness varying ring 51 and the cam ring 72 is released by moving the hardness varying ring 51 along the operating portion longitudinal axis toward the insertion portion. Then, after the engagement state is released, the hardness varying ring 51 is removed from the operation unit 32, and the hardness varying ring 51 is passed through the anti-bending unit 38 and removed from the insertion unit 31.

  By removing the hardness variable ring 51, the base end portion of the support member 38b, the sliding ring 71, and the cam ring 72 disposed on the hardness variable body 63 of the operation unit frame 62 are exposed, and the operation unit body. The front end side portion of the seal ring 73 arranged at 64 is exposed.

  4. Remove the seal ring 73 from the operation unit body 64. The seal ring 73 passes through the cam ring 72, the sliding ring 71, the base end portion of the support member 38 b and the bend preventing unit 38 disposed on the hardness varying body 63, and is removed from the insertion portion 31.

  5). The screwed state between the grip ring 74 and the operation unit body 64 is released. After the screwed state is released, the grip ring 74 is removed from the operation unit body 64. Similarly to the seal ring 73, the grip ring 74 is removed from the insertion portion 31 through the cam ring 72, the sliding ring 71, the base end portion of the support member 38 b, and the bend preventing unit 38 disposed in the variable hardness body 63. It is.

  6). Finally, the treatment tool cap 43 is removed from the communication hole 40 b of the grip portion 40. Thereby, the restriction | limiting with respect to the operation part longitudinal-axis insertion part side of the grip part 40 is cancelled | released.

  Therefore, when the operator moves the grip part 40 toward the operation part longitudinal axis insertion part side, the grip part 40 is also a cam ring disposed on the hardness variable body part 63 in the same manner as the seal ring 73 and the grip ring 74. 72, the sliding ring 71, the base end portion of the support member 38 b and the anti-bending unit 38, and is removed from the insertion portion 31.

That is, according to the present embodiment, without removing the sliding ring 71, the cam ring 72, the cam pin 76, and the bend preventing unit 38 from the operation unit 32, the grip unit 40 can be removed from the operation unit 32 and the inside of the operation unit 32. It becomes possible to perform observation or the like by exposing.
And when attaching the removed grip part 40 to the operation part 32, an operator assembles in the reverse procedure to the procedure mentioned above.

  As described above, the operation part frame body 62 is formed in a stepped shape including the hardness varying body part 63 and the operation part body part 64, the inner diameter dimension of the through hole 51 b of the hardness varying ring 51, and the operation part frame body 62. The inner diameter dimensions of the seal ring 73, the grip ring 74, and the grip section 40 disposed on the operation section body section 64 are set larger than the maximum outer diameter portion of the folding preventing unit 38 by a predetermined dimension, and the folding prevention is performed. The base end portion of the support member 38 b of the unit 38 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the hardness varying body 63 of the operation unit frame 62, and the sliding ring 71 and the cam ring 72 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the hardness varying body 63. By restricting the movement to the operating portion longitudinal axis insertion portion side, the grip unit 38 is not removed from the operating portion 32, and the sliding ring 71, the cam ring 72, and the cam pin 76 are not removed. The flop unit 40 can be easily removed.

  As a result, the man-hours for removing and assembling the grip portion 40 are greatly reduced, and the work of wiping off the grease applied at the time of removal and the work of re-applying the grease at the time of assembly become unnecessary.

  By the way, in the endoscope 100 of the type in which the insertion portion 101 does not include the hardness varying mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the grip portion 103 is removed from the operation portion 102 to expose the inside of the operation portion 102, the operator The grip part 103 is removed in the following procedure.

  That is, the folding unit 104 constituted by the folding tube 104a and the support member 104b is shifted and moved toward the distal end side along the insertion portion 101. Next, the seal ring 106 disposed on the first operation unit frame 105 is removed. Next, the grip ring 107 screwed to the first operation unit frame 105 is removed. Finally, the base 108 is removed from the grip portion 103. Thereafter, the grip part 103 is removed from the operation part 102.

  Reference numeral 109 denotes a rear end cap, the distal end side is fixed to the serpentine tube portion 111 constituting the proximal end side of the flexible tube portion 110, and the proximal end side is fixed to the front end of the first operation unit frame 105. Yes. Reference numeral 112 denotes a second operation unit frame. Reference numeral 113 denotes an O-ring that is disposed in the circumferential groove 114 of the seal ring 106 to achieve water-tightness between the outer peripheral surface of the seal ring 106 and the inner peripheral surface of the front end side recess 115 of the grip portion 103.

  In the endoscope 100 of the type in which the insertion portion 101 is not provided with the hardness varying mechanism, it is troublesome to shift the folding unit 104, and this endoscope 100 also includes the hardness varying mechanism 54 described above. Therefore, there is a demand for a configuration in which the grip portion 103 can be removed without removing the folding stop unit 104.

The endoscope 120 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a bend preventing unit 124 including a bend preventing main body 121, a support member 122, and a main body cover portion 123.
The anti-bending main body 121 is made of resin and has flexibility to prevent buckling. The folding prevention main body 121 includes an inclined surface part 125 and a pipe part 126. The inclined surface portion 125 becomes smaller in diameter as it goes toward the tip side.

  The support member 122 is made of metal, and the folding prevention main body 121 and the support member 122 are integrally formed by, for example, insert molding. The support member 122 is integrally fixed to the rear end base 109 with screws 127. In the present embodiment, the diameter of the pipe portion 126 and the outer diameter of the support member 122 are set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the first operation unit frame 105.

  The main body cover portion 123 is made of a resin having a predetermined elasticity, and is configured by integrally including a seal ring portion 128. That is, the main body cover portion 123 covers the tube portion 126, the support member 122, and the first operation portion frame body 105.

  The support member 122 is formed with a circumferential groove 130 for disposing the O-ring 129. Thus, watertightness between the outer peripheral surface of the support member 122 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body cover portion 123 is achieved. Further, the front end side of the main body cover portion 123 is bonded and fixed to prevent a paragraph from the folding main body 121, for example.

In the endoscope 120 of this embodiment, when the grip part 103 is removed from the operation unit 102 and the inside of the operation unit 102 is exposed, the following procedure is performed.
First, the main body cover portion 123 of the folding prevention unit 124 is removed. Next, the grip ring 107 screwed to the first operation unit frame 105 is removed. Finally, the base 108 is removed from the grip portion 103.
Thus, the grip portion 103 is removed from the insertion portion 101 without passing through the support member 122 and the bend preventing main body 121 without removing the bend preventing main body 121.

  As described above, the folding prevention unit 124 includes the folding prevention main body 121 having the inclined surface portion 125 and the pipe portion 126, the support member 122, and the main body cover portion 123 that also serves as the seal ring portion. The diameter of the portion 126 and the outer diameter of the support member 122 are formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the first operation unit frame 105. Thus, after removing the main body cover portion 123 from the operation portion 102, the grip portion 103 can be easily removed from the operation portion 102 without removing the grip ring 107 and the base 108 and moving the anti-folding main body 121. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the longitudinal direction in which the inner surface of the main body cover portion 123A and the support member 122 are in contact with each other by providing a step portion 131 at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface facing the support member 122 of the main body cover portion 123A. Can be reduced. This makes it easy to remove the main body cover portion 123A.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, by providing the adhesive pool 132 on the distal end side of the tube portion 126 of the main body 121A, the distal end side of the main body cover portion can be more securely bonded and fixed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the outer diameter of the integrally-folded main body 121 </ b> A is made smaller than the outer diameter of the support member 122, and a step portion 133 is provided at the boundary between the main body 121 </ b> A and the support member 122. . The main body cover portion 123 </ b> B is provided with a stepped portion 134 corresponding to the stepped portion 133 and a lip portion 135 disposed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the anti-folding main body 121 </ b> A exposed from the support member 122.
Thus, watertightness between the outer peripheral surface of the support member 122 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body cover portion 123B can be achieved without providing the O-ring 129.

  Further, the main body cover portion 123C shown in FIG. 10 is made of a resin having a predetermined elasticity, and includes a seal ring portion 128 and a grip ring portion 136 that are integrally provided. The main body cover part 123C is attached to the first operation part frame 105 by screwing.

  Thus, after releasing the screwed state of the main body cover portion 123C to the first operation portion frame body 105, the grip portion 103 can be more easily removed without moving the anti-folding main body 121A by removing the base 108. It can be removed from the operation unit 102.

  When the main body cover portion 123C is screwed into the first operation portion frame body 105 or when this screwed state is released, the integrally-folded main body 121A and the support member 122 may rotate. is there. In order to solve this problem, the rear end cap 109 is provided with a rotation stop pin 137, and the support member 122 is formed with an engagement hole 138 into which the rotation stop pin 137 is engaged.

  Further, instead of providing the adhesive pool 132, the main body cover portion 123C may be fitted into the hole fitting portion 140 and fixed.

  Further, in the configuration in which the seal ring portion 128 and the grip ring portion 136 are integrated as shown in FIG. 10, instead of providing the seal ring portion 128, a base end portion of the main body cover portion as shown in a main body cover portion 123D of FIG. A lip 142 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the portion 141 so as to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the front-end-side concave portion 115 so that the O-ring is not required.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Insertion part 2 ... Coil 3 ... Hardness variable wire 4 ... Hardness variable ring 5 ... Operation part 6 ... Holding part casing 7 ... Rubber cover 8 ... Folding prevention unit 8a ... Folding prevention tube 8b ... Supporting member 9 ... Rear end cap
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Tube restraining pin 11 ... Cam ring 12 ... Hardness variable part frame 13 ... Sliding ring 14 ... Seal ring 15 ... Sliding ring restraining pin
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 ... Ring member 17 ... Screw 18 ... Cam pin 19 ... Seal ring fixing pin 20 ... Grip ring 21 ... Base 22 ... Operation part frame body 30 ... Endoscope 31 ... Insertion part 32 ... Operation part 33 ... Universal cord 34 ... Tip part 35 ... bending portion 35a ... bending wire 36 ... flexible tube portion 36e ... serpentine tube portion 37 ... bending piece 38 ... folding unit 38a ... folding tube 38b ... support member 38c ... split ring arrangement groove 38d ... base end 39 ... operation Casing 40 ... Grip 40a ... Convex 40b ... Communication hole 40c ... Through hole 40d ... End side hole 40e ... Base end side hole 40f ... End side recess 41 ... Air / water supply button 42 ... Suction button 43 ... Treatment tool cap 44 ... Branch member 45 ... Treatment instrument insertion channel 47 ... Light guide 48 ... Objective lens
49 ... Image sensor 50 ... Signal cable 51 ... Hardness variable ring
51a ... Finger groove 51b ... Through hole 51c ... Seal ring placement recess 51d ... Grip portion placement recess 51e ... Engagement groove 52 ... Wire 53 ... Coil
54 ... Hardness variable mechanism 55 ... Rubber cover 61 ... Rear end cap 62 ... Operation part frame 63 ... Hardness variable body 63a ... Long hole 64 ... Operation part body 64a ... Male screw part 65 ... Operation part main body frame 66 ... Holding Ring 66a ... Split ring 71 ... Sliding ring 72 ... Cam ring 72a ... Cam groove 72b ... Engaging projection 73 ... Seal ring 73a ... Circumferential groove 73b ... Circumferential groove 73c ... Convex portion 74 ... Grip ring
74a ... Female thread 75 ... Moving ring 76 ... Cam pin
77 ... Wire stopper 78 ... Coil stopper 78a ... Hole portion 79 ... Annular member 91 ... First O ring 92 ... Second O ring 93 ... Third O ring 94 ... Fourth O ring 100 ... Endoscope 101 ... Insertion portion 102 ... Operating portion

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 ... Grip part 104 ... Anti-folding unit 104a ... Anti-folding tube 104b ... Supporting member 105 ... 1st operation part frame 106 ... Seal ring 107 ... Grip ring 108 ... Base 109 ... Rear end base 110 ... Flexible pipe part 111 ... Serpentine tube portion 112 ... second operation portion frame 113 ... O-ring 114 ... circumferential groove 115 ... tip-side concave portion 120 ... endoscope 121 ... fold-proof body 122 ... support member 123 ... body cover portion 124 ... fold-proof unit 125 ... tilt Face
126 ... Pipe portion 128 ... Seal ring portion 129 ... O-ring 130 ... Circumferential groove 131 ... Step portion 133 ... Step portion 134 ... Step portion 135 ... Lip portion
136 ... Grip ring part 137 ... Non-rotating pin 138 ... Engagement hole
140 ... hole fitting part 141 ... main body cover part base end part 142 ... lip part

Claims (4)

An insertion portion including a hardness changing mechanism composed of a hardness changing wire and a hardness changing coil for changing the hardness of the flexible tube portion;
An operation unit comprising a gripping part casing and an operation part casing connected to the base end side of the insertion part, and comprising an operation part frame body having a distal end side connected to the insertion part in at least the gripping part casing;
A bend preventing unit provided at a connection portion between the flexible tube portion and the operation portion and preventing buckling of the flexible tube portion;
An engagement portion that is rotatably held between the bend preventing unit and the gripping portion casing and that integrally engages a cam ring that is circumferentially contacted with the outer periphery of the operation portion frame on the inner peripheral surface side; The cam ring integrally engaged by the rotation operation around the operation unit longitudinal axis is rotated, and the moving frame that is circumferentially connected to the inner periphery of the operation unit frame body is moved in the operation unit longitudinal axis direction. A hardness variable ring that operates the hardness variable mechanism,
A female screw portion that is screwed into a male screw portion formed on the operation portion frame body is provided, and a gripping portion casing that is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the operation portion frame body is held at a predetermined position of the operation portion frame body. In an endoscope comprising a grip ring,
An inner diameter of the hardness variable ring and an inner diameter of the grip ring are formed to be larger than a maximum outer diameter of the anti-bending unit, and the operation portion frame is provided with an operation portion body portion in which the grip ring is disposed, and the operation An endoscope characterized in that it is formed in a stepped shape having a variable hardness body portion that is smaller in diameter than the body barrel portion and in which a cam ring that integrally engages with the variable hardness ring is circumferentially contacted.   A circumferential groove in which a watertight holding member that is pressed and arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the gripper casing and a watertight holding member that is pressed and arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the hardness variable ring are arranged in the operation unit body. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a seal ring having a peripheral groove on the outer peripheral surface side is provided in a circumferential contact. In the configuration in which the bend preventing unit includes a bend preventing tube for preventing buckling of the flexible tube portion, and a support member having an end portion disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the hardness varying body portion,
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the support member, and a holding member that restricts movement of the hardness varying ring is provided in the circumferential groove.   The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the holding member is divided and arranged in a main groove by screwing.

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