JP2011067399A - Endoscope cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope cover which is attached to and detached from an endoscope easily, includes some members that are reusable, and through which a treatment instrument or the like is inserted stably. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope cover 30 includes a fixture 40 and a tube member 50. The mounting part 54 of the tube member 50 is attached to the distal part 42 of the fixture 40. In such an attached condition, an endoscope passage 40A on the fixture 40 side and a tube side endoscope passage 50A on the tube member 50 side communicate with each other. In a similar fashion, a treatment instrument passage 40B and a tube side treatment instrument passage 50B communicate with each other. With such a configuration, a treatment instrument, such as forceps or the like, is projected from a distal face 50T via the treatment instrument passage 40B and the tube side treatment instrument passage 50B. The fixture 40 is reusable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope cover attached to an endoscope.

  An endoscope cover that is attached to an insertion portion of an endoscope is known. Such an endoscope cover is usually provided with a forceps channel for passing a treatment tool such as a forceps. As an example of such an endoscope cover, the treatment instrument insertion channel is expandable in the radial direction (see Patent Document 1), and at least a part of the member is formed of a recyclable thermoplastic resin. Etc. are known (see Patent Document 2).

  In the above-described example, in the endoscope cover in which the treatment instrument insertion channel is expandable in the radial direction, the insertion of the treatment instrument is started from the end surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel having a small diameter. The cover is deformed and the treatment instrument insertion channel is expanded. In such an endoscope cover, for example, the outer peripheral portion of the endoscope cover is formed in a pleat shape, and the treatment instrument is inserted between the folded state and the expanded state. The channel diameter changes.

JP 2006-247290 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-63002

  Since all of the above-mentioned endoscope covers cover almost the entire surface of the long tubular endoscope insertion portion, the endoscope cover alone is attached to the endoscope and removed from the endoscope. Work is not easy and takes a relatively long time. In particular, in an endoscope cover having a complicated structure such as providing a pleated portion, the attaching / detaching operation may be difficult.

  Further, when the treatment instrument is directly inserted into the end surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel having a small diameter, the treatment instrument may not be stably inserted. This is because in order to expand the treatment instrument insertion channel for which a sufficient diameter is not ensured, a larger force is required than when a pipe having a predetermined diameter is secured in advance. That is, when starting insertion of a treatment instrument while expanding a narrow treatment instrument insertion channel with a large force, the treatment instrument is not inserted in a predetermined direction or the wall of the endoscope cover is pierced and damaged. There is a possibility that.

  Even when a part of the endoscope cover is formed of a recyclable member, other members, for example, a member to which the endoscope cover is attached cannot be reused.

  An object of the present invention is to realize an endoscope cover that can be easily attached to and detached from an endoscope, can insert a treatment instrument in a stable state, and can reuse some members.

  The endoscope cover of the present invention is detachable from the insertion portion of the endoscope. The endoscope cover includes an endoscope passage through which the insertion portion passes and a treatment instrument passage through which the treatment tool passes, and a tube member that is detachably attached to the attachment and covers the side surface of the insertion portion. A tube-side treatment instrument passage that communicates with the treatment instrument passage in a state of being attached to the fixture in the tube member, and the treatment instrument is connected to the tube-side treatment instrument passage via the treatment instrument passage. It is possible to be inserted through.

  In the fixture, it is preferable that a treatment instrument passage is provided around the endoscope passage. The attachment tool preferably has a tapered shape in which the diameter of the distal end portion to which the tube member is attached is smaller than the diameter of the proximal end portion. In this case, it is more preferable that the treatment instrument passage is inclined with respect to the endoscope passage so as to contact the outer wall of the endoscope passage at the distal end portion of the fixture.

  It is preferable that an introduction protrusion for introducing the treatment instrument is provided in the opening of the treatment instrument passage on the proximal end surface of the attachment instrument. Further, it is preferable that a forceps plug is provided in the vicinity of the opening of the treatment instrument passage at the proximal end portion of the fixture.

  The tube member preferably has a tube main body that covers the side surface of the insertion portion, and an attachment portion that extends from the tube main body and is attached to the fixture. In this case, when the tube member is attached to the fixture, it is more preferable that the attachment portion forms a part of the outer wall surface of the treatment instrument passage. Moreover, in the tube main body, it is more preferable that a tube-side treatment instrument passage is formed and the attachment portion is integrated with an outer wall surface of the tube-side treatment instrument passage.

  In the endoscope cover, for example, a tube-side endoscope passage through which the insertion portion passes is provided along the longitudinal direction of the tube member, and a tube-side treatment instrument passage is provided around the tube-side endoscope passage. It has been.

  In the endoscope cover, it is preferable that the tube-side treatment instrument passage through which the treatment instrument is inserted is expanded by elastic deformation of the tube member. Moreover, the tube side treatment instrument channel | path is the spiral shape extended along the longitudinal direction of a tube member, for example. The endoscope cover preferably further includes a fixing member that fixes the fixture and the tube.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an endoscope cover that can be easily attached to and detached from an endoscope, can be inserted through a treatment instrument or the like in a stable state, and can be partially reused.

It is a side view which shows the endoscope apparatus of this embodiment. It is a side view showing an endoscope apparatus in a state where an endoscope cover is attached. It is the perspective view which looked at the fixture from the front-end | tip part side. It is the perspective view which looked at the fixture from the base end side. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the plane perpendicular | vertical to the base end surface of a fixture. It is a side view of a fixture. It is a front view of a fixture. It is a rear view of a fixture. It is a perspective view of a tube member. It is the front view which looked at the attachment part of the tube member from the tube main body side. It is a rear view of a tube member. It is a perspective view of a fixing member. It is a perspective view which shows the fixture of the state by which the tube member was fixed by the fixing member. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the endoscope cover of the state in which the tube member was attached to the fixture with the cross section perpendicular | vertical to a longitudinal direction. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the connection area | region of the fixture in FIG. 14, and a tube member.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the endoscope apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the endoscope apparatus in a state in which the endoscope cover is attached.

  The endoscope device 60 includes the endoscope 10 and the endoscope cover 30. The endoscope 10 is connected to the processor 16 via a light guide flexible tube 14 extending laterally from the operation unit 12. The insertion portion 20 of the endoscope 10 extends from the oledome portion 25 and is inserted into the body cavity. The endoscope cover 30 is detachably attached to the insertion portion 20 of the endoscope 10.

  Illumination light from a light source (not shown) of the processor 16 is emitted from the distal end surface 20T of the insertion unit 20 to a body organ to be observed. Reflected light from the internal organs and image signals generated by the endoscope 10 are sent to the processor 16. The image signal is transmitted to an image display device (not shown) after predetermined processing in the processor 16. As a result, the internal organs are observed and photographed.

  When observing and photographing the internal organs, the operation unit 12 of the endoscope 10 is operated. For example, when the operation knobs 13 and 15 of the operation unit 12 are rotated, the distal end of the insertion unit 20 is bent vertically and horizontally. Further, a treatment tool (not shown) such as a forceps can be inserted through the forceps port 18 and protrude from the distal end surface 20T of the insertion portion 20 to treat the affected area. Furthermore, as will be described later, a treatment instrument such as forceps can be inserted into the endoscope cover 30 from the side of the oledome 25 and protruded from the periphery of the distal end surface 20T.

  The endoscope cover 30 includes a metal fixture 40 and a tube member 50. The tube member 50 is detachably attached to the fixture 40. The tube member 50 is formed of a polymer material having moderate elasticity, stretchability, and biocompatibility. For example, resin, silicon rubber, natural rubber, polyurethane and the like are preferable, and silicon rubber is more preferable. Moreover, the fixture 40 is formed, for example with aluminum alloy, stainless steel, etc., More preferably, it is formed with stainless steel.

  The fixture 40 and the tube member 50 are fixed by a fixing member 32. At this time, as indicated by an arrow A (see FIG. 2), the fixing member 32 is attached to the fixture 40 from the distal end surface 50T side of the tube member 50, and the base end portion of the tube member 50 is connected to the fixture 40. Pinch.

  Thus, the endoscope cover 30 in a state where the fixture 40 and the tube member 50 are fixed is attached to the insertion portion 20 from the distal end surface 20T side as indicated by an arrow B. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the side surface 20 </ b> S of the insertion portion 20 is covered with the tube member 50. Each member of the endoscope cover 30 is schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is shown in more detail in the following drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fixture 40 as seen from the distal end side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fixture 40 as seen from the base end side. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the base end surface of the fixture 40, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the fixture 40. FIG. 7 is a front view of the fixture 40, and FIG. 8 is a rear view of the fixture 40.

  The fixture 40 includes a distal end portion 42 to which the tube member 50 is attached. The fixture 40 has a generally quadrangular tapered shape, and the diameter of the distal end portion 42 is smaller than the diameter of the proximal end portion 44. Thus, since the fixture 40 has a shape with a smaller diameter toward the distal end side, the tube member 50 can be easily attached to the distal end portion 42.

  Furthermore, the taper-shaped attachment 40 is useful even when the endoscope cover 30 is used by being attached to the relatively short insertion portion 20 for a rigid endoscope operation. This is because even when the treatment tool is inserted, expansion of the hole formed in the body tissue can be prevented, and the load on the patient can be reduced.

  The attachment 40 is provided with an endoscope passage 40A through which the insertion portion 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the endoscope 10 passes, and a treatment tool passage 40B through which a treatment tool (not shown) such as forceps passes. ing. The endoscope passage 40 </ b> A is provided at the center of the fixture 40. That is, the endoscope passage 40A connects the center of the base end surface 44S (see FIG. 4) of the fixture 40 and the center of the protrusion 42P of the tip end portion 42, and is perpendicular to the base end surface 44S. Is formed along the central axis 40C (see FIG. 5).

  On the other hand, a plurality of treatment instrument passages 40B are provided around the endoscope passage 40A. More specifically, the treatment instrument passage 40B includes four tubes that connect the vicinity of the four corners of the proximal end surface 44S (see FIG. 4) whose contour is gently curved and the periphery of the endoscope passage 40A at the distal end portion 42. Road. Each of the treatment instrument passages 40B is inclined with respect to the endoscope passage 40A so as to contact the outer wall 40W (see FIG. 5) of the endoscope passage 40A at the distal end portion.

  On the proximal end surface 44S, an introduction protrusion 48 is provided in the vicinity of the opening 40M (see FIG. 4) of the treatment instrument passage 40B. The introduction protrusion 48 is formed to facilitate the introduction operation of the treatment instrument from the opening 40M into the treatment instrument passage 40B. Therefore, the introduction protrusions 48 extend from the four corners of the base end surface 44S along the same direction as the treatment instrument passage 40B, as indicated by chain lines L in FIG.

  A flat portion 48F substantially parallel to the base end surface 44S is provided at the distal end portion of the introduction protrusion 48. A hole 48H through which the treatment tool passes is provided at the center of the flat surface portion 48F. As described above, since the hole 48H is provided in the flat portion 48F, the operation of introducing a treatment tool such as forceps from the hole 48H along the introduction protrusion 48 into the opening 40M is very easy.

  Further, a valve (not shown) for preventing the backflow of blood, body sewage and the like is provided inside the base end portion 44 and in the vicinity of the opening 40M on the base end face 44S. By providing such a backflow prevention valve, for example, when the endoscope cover 30 is used for a rigid endoscope operation, body fluid such as blood is prevented from flowing back from the body tissue into the fixture 40. Such a backflow prevention valve is also provided inside the forceps port 18 of the endoscope 10 (see FIG. 2). Thus, since the backflow prevention valve is provided in the fixture 40 and the endoscope 10, it is not necessary to form the backflow prevention valve in the tube member 50, and the backflow prevention valve is not provided in the tube member 50. Even in the form, efficient treatment is possible.

  Next, the tube member 50 will be described. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tube member 50. FIG. 10 is a front view of the attachment portion of the tube member 50 as viewed from the tube main body side, and FIG. 11 is a rear view of the tube member 50.

  The tube member 50 includes a tube main body 52 and an attachment portion 54. In a state where the endoscope cover 30 is attached to the insertion portion 20 (see FIG. 1), the tube main body 52 covers the side surface 20S of the insertion portion 20. Therefore, a tube-side endoscope passage 50 </ b> A through which the insertion portion 20 passes is formed in the tube main body 52 along the longitudinal direction of the tube main body 52. The tube-side endoscope passage 50A communicates with the endoscope passage 40A in a state where the tube member 50 is attached to the fixture 40 (hereinafter referred to as an attached state).

  The attachment portion 54 extends from the end portion of the tube main body 52 and is detachably attached to the distal end portion 42 (see FIGS. 3 to 7 and the like) of the attachment tool 40. For this reason, the shape of the attachment portion 54 corresponds to the shape of the distal end portion 42, and is a hollow quadrangular truncated pyramid that spreads to the periphery in a region away from the tube main body 52. When the attachment portion 54 is attached to the distal end portion 42, the inner surface 54I (see FIGS. 9 and 11) of the attachment portion 54 covers the surface of the distal end portion 42.

  In the tube member 50, a plurality of tube-side treatment instrument passages 50B are provided around the tube-side endoscope passage 50A (see FIG. 10). In FIG. 10, the tube main body 52 is omitted. For convenience of explanation, a joining region 54J with the end surface of the tube main body 52 is indicated by a broken line on the distal end surface 54S closest to the tube main body 52 in the mounting portion 54.

  When the attachment portion 54 is attached to the distal end portion 42, the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B communicates with the treatment instrument passage 40B on the attachment instrument 40 side. For this reason, the treatment instrument inserted into the treatment instrument passage 40B can be inserted into the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B and protrudes from the distal end surface 50T of the tube member 50.

  The tube member 50 has moderate elasticity. When a treatment instrument having a diameter larger than that of the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B is inserted, the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B is expanded by elastic deformation of the tube member 50. For this reason, when the treatment instrument is not used, for example, when the insertion portion 20 (see FIG. 1) with the endoscope cover 30 attached is inserted into the body cavity and the endoscopic observation is started, the insertion is performed. The outer diameter of the unit 20 including the endoscope cover 30 can be minimized, and the burden on the subject can be reduced. Furthermore, even when the treatment tool is used, the tube main body 52 expands by an amount corresponding to the diameter of the treatment tool, so that an unnecessary increase in the outer diameter can be prevented.

  Next, the fixing member 32 will be described. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fixing member 32. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the fixture 40 in a state where the tube member 50 is fixed by the fixing member 32.

  The fixing member 32 is used for fixing the tube member 50 to the fixture 40. For this reason, the fixing member 32 has a shape corresponding to the distal end portion 42 (see FIGS. 3 to 7) of the fixture 40 and the attachment portion 54 (see FIGS. 9 to 11) of the tube member 50. That is, the fixing member 32 has a shape in which the distal end opening 32A is inclined narrower than the proximal end opening 32B.

  The fixing member 32 is formed of, for example, a heat shrinkable member. Then, the fixing member 32 is heated and thermally contracted in a state where the attaching portion 54 is overlapped on the tip portion 42 and the fixing member 32 is further overlapped on the attaching portion 54 (see FIG. 13). The tube member 50 is firmly fixed.

  Next, attachment of the tube member 50 to the fixture 40 will be described. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope cover 30 in a state where the tube member 50 is attached to the fixture 40, taken along a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a connection region between the fixture 40 and the tube member 50 in FIG. In these drawings, the fixing member 32 is omitted.

  The tube member 50 is attached to the distal end portion 42 such that the central axis 52C of the tube main body 52 coincides with the central axis 40C of the fixture 40 (see FIG. 5). In this attached state, as shown in FIG. 15, the attachment portion 54 forms a part of the outer wall surface of the treatment instrument passage 40 </ b> B on the attachment instrument 40 side.

  That is, the attachment portion 54 covers the outlet side opening 40N of the treatment instrument passage 40B in the attached state. The attachment portion 54 prevents the treatment instrument inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow C from protruding from the outlet side opening 40N.

  In the attached state, the inner layer 52A of the tube main body 52 that forms the inner wall surface of the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B between the tube-side endoscope passage 50A and the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B The periphery of the protrusion 42P is covered. Therefore, the displacement of the tube member 50 due to the tip of the insertion portion 20 (see FIG. 1) inserted from the endoscope passage 40A side into the tube side endoscope passage 50A hits the end portion of the inner layer 52A is ensured. Is prevented.

  The attachment portion 54 is formed integrally with the outer layer 52B of the tube main body 52 that forms the outer wall surface of the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B. For this reason, even if the treatment instrument introduced from the end portion of the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B comes into contact with the joint portion between the attachment portion 54 and the outer layer 52B, the strength of the joint portion is kept good.

  In the tube main body 52, instead of the straight tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B, a spiral tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B extending along the longitudinal direction of the tube main body 52 may be formed. In this case, the buckling of the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B accompanying the bending of the insertion portion 20 in the body cavity can be reliably prevented.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the attachment / detachment operation of the endoscope cover 30 with respect to the insertion portion 20 of the endoscope 10 can be facilitated. This is mainly because the user holding the fixture 40 with the tube member 50 attached can detach the endoscope cover 30 by moving the fixture 40 along the insertion portion 20. Yes, at this time, even if friction occurs between the tube member 50 covering the side surface 20S of the insertion portion 20 in a wide range and the insertion portion 20, it is detachable with a small force.

  Furthermore, since the treatment instrument is first inserted into a hard fixture 40 made of metal, for example, and the insertion direction is determined when passing through the treatment instrument passage 40B and the like, introduction into the tube member 50 is easy. become. If the treatment instrument is introduced directly into the tube member 50, it is necessary to insert the tube-side treatment instrument passage 50B in a state where a sufficient diameter is not ensured with a relatively large force. However, it may not be inserted in a predetermined direction, or the inner layer 52A (see FIG. 15) of the tube body 52 may be pierced and damaged.

  Further, since a plurality of tube-side treatment instrument passages 50B are provided, the degree of freedom in selecting the position of the treatment instrument is increased, and a plurality of treatment instruments can be easily used simultaneously.

  Furthermore, for example, the metal fitting 40 and the fixing member 32 can be reused after disinfection and sterilization. For this reason, even if the endoscope cover 30 is a member that is attached to and detached from the tube member 50 and has a complicated structure and has a relatively high manufacturing cost, the running cost is kept low. Can do. Furthermore, since the reusable fixture 40 or the like is not discarded every time it is used, the environmental load can be reduced.

  The shape, material, and the like of members included in the endoscope cover 30 are not limited to any embodiment. For example, when the tube member 50 can be firmly fixed to the fixture 40 alone, the fixing member 32 may not be used. Moreover, you may form the tube member 50 with moderate elastic bodies other than resin and rubber | gum.

  The fixture 40 is preferably moderately hard, but may be formed of a member other than metal. Moreover, although the taper-shaped fixture 40 is preferable as described above, a fixture 40 having a substantially constant thickness such as a cylindrical shape may be used.

  Further, the usage method of the endoscope cover 30 is not limited to the one shown in the above-described embodiment. For example, the endoscope cover 30 can be used not only for a relatively simple treatment of an affected area with a treatment tool but also for a surgery using a flexible endoscope. Also in this case, backflow of body fluid such as blood from the body tissue into the fixture 40 is prevented by the backflow prevention valve (see paragraph [0031]).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 20 Insertion part 20S Side surface 30 Endoscope cover 32 Fixing member 40 Attaching tool 40A Endoscope passage 40B Treatment tool passage 40M Opening 40W Outer wall 42 Front end part 44 Base end part 44S Base end face 48 Introduction protrusion 50 Tube member 50A Tube side endoscope passage 50B Tube side treatment instrument passage 52 Tube body 54 Mounting portion

Claims (13)

An endoscope cover that is detachable from an insertion portion of the endoscope,
An attachment provided with an endoscope passage through which the insertion portion passes and a treatment instrument passage through which a treatment instrument passes;
A tube member that is detachably attached to the fixture and covers a side surface of the insertion portion,
The tube member is provided with a tube-side treatment instrument passage communicating with the treatment instrument passage in a state of being attached to the attachment instrument, and the treatment instrument is connected to the tube-side treatment instrument passage via the treatment instrument passage. An endoscope cover that can be inserted into the endoscope.   The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein the treatment instrument passage is provided around the endoscope passage in the fixture.   The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein the fitting has a tapered shape in which a diameter of a distal end portion to which the tube member is attached is smaller than a diameter of a proximal end portion.   The endoscope cover according to claim 3, wherein the treatment instrument passage is inclined with respect to the endoscope passage so as to contact an outer wall of the endoscope passage at the distal end portion.   The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein an introduction projection for introducing the treatment instrument is provided in an opening of the treatment instrument passage on a proximal end surface of the attachment instrument.   2. The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein a forceps plug is provided in the vicinity of the opening of the treatment instrument passage at the proximal end portion of the fixture.   The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein the tube member includes a tube main body that covers a side surface of the insertion portion, and an attachment portion that extends from the tube main body and is attached to the fixture.   The endoscope cover according to claim 7, wherein when the tube member is attached to the attachment tool, the attachment portion forms a part of an outer wall surface of the treatment instrument passage.   The endoscope cover according to claim 7, wherein the tube-side treatment instrument passage is formed in the tube main body, and the attachment portion is integrated with an outer wall surface of the tube-side treatment instrument passage.   A tube-side endoscope passage through which the insertion portion passes is provided along the longitudinal direction of the tube member, and the tube-side treatment instrument passage is provided around the tube-side endoscope passage. The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope cover is provided.   The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein the tube-side treatment instrument passage through which the treatment instrument is inserted is expanded by elastic deformation of the tube member.   The endoscope cover according to claim 1, wherein the tube-side treatment instrument passage has a spiral shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the tube member.   The endoscope cover according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing member that fixes the fitting and the tube.

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