JP2012200353A - Flexible tube for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a conventional problem that a flexible tube buckles even when the flexible tube is frequently bent since a net and outer skin are not easily peeled even when an endoscope is used for a long period of time.SOLUTION: In a flexible tube 10 for an endoscope, an outer peripheral surface of a spiral tube 74 formed by winding a strip in a spiral shape is covered with a net 76 for which thin wires 77 are crossed with each other and knitted in a mesh shape, and the outer peripheral surface of the net 76 is covered with outer skin 80 made of a resin. In the flexible tube 10 for an endoscope, a cylindrical body 82 formed of a material which can be closely attached to the outer skin 80 is put on the outer peripheral surface of the thin wires 77 so as not to be closely attached to the thin wires 77, and the cylindrical body 82 and the outer skin 80 are bonded.

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible tube for an endoscope, and in particular, an endoscope in which a net and an outer skin of a flexible tube are not easily separated even when the flexible tube is bent using the endoscope for a long time. The present invention relates to a flexible tube.

  In the medical field, medical diagnosis using an endoscope is widely performed. In particular, an imaging element such as a CCD is incorporated at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope that is inserted into the body cavity, and an image inside the body cavity is taken, signal processing is performed by the processor device, and the image is displayed on the monitor. The doctor observes and uses it for diagnosis, or inserts a treatment tool from a channel for inserting the treatment tool to perform treatment such as polyp excision.

  The endoscope includes a hand operation unit that is grasped and operated by an operator, an insertion unit that is connected to the hand operation unit and inserted into a body cavity and the like, and a light source device and a processor device that are connected to the hand operation unit. And a universal cable to be connected. In addition, the insertion portion includes a flexible tube (also referred to as a soft portion), a bending portion, and a hard tip portion in order from the hand operation portion.

  The flexible tube includes a screw tube, a net that covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube, and a resin outer skin that covers the outer peripheral surface of the net. Then, the net plays a role as a rigid reinforcement of the flexible tube by joining the net and the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin.

  A net is formed by crossing a large number of fine wires and knitting them into a mesh shape. As the fine wires, metal fibers such as stainless steel or brass are generally used.

  However, even if the net formed of metal fibers and the resin outer shell are joined with an adhesive or the like, the adhesive between the metal and the resin is insufficient, so the endoscope has been used for a long time. In addition, the bondability between the net and the outer skin is reduced.

  In the flexible tube, when the bondability between the net and the outer skin is lowered, when the flexible tube is bent, the outer skin located on the inner side surface (the concavely curved surface) of the bent portion is peeled off from the net. Bending occurs. When buckling occurs in this manner, the rigidity of the flexible tube in the axial direction is lowered, and thus the use of the endoscope may be impossible.

  As a technique for improving the bondability between the net and the outer skin, there are, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Patent Document 1 discloses that a net-like net formed by knitting a fibrous material and an outer skin are bonded (joined) with an adhesive interposed therebetween. Thus, by interposing a pressure-sensitive adhesive instead of an adhesive, it is said that the adhesiveness between the net and the outer skin can be prevented from being lowered while preventing the curing by the adhesive.

  In Patent Document 2, fibers made of a thermoplastic resin are wound around at least one metal wire of a metal wire bundle knitting a net, and the fiber made of a thermoplastic resin is melted to form a net and an outer skin. Adhesion is disclosed. Thereby, since the wound fiber and the resin-made outer skin are joined, it is said that jointability can be improved rather than joining with a metal net | network and the resin-made outer skin.

  However, in either case of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the problem that the net and the outer skin easily peel off due to long-term use of the endoscope cannot be sufficiently solved.

  From such a background, as described in Patent Document 3, the applicant has proposed that a net is knitted with metal fibers attached with a release agent and resin fibers attached with an adhesive. As a result, the metal fiber is not bonded to the outer skin with the release agent attached, and only the resin fiber to which the adhesive is attached can be bonded to the outer skin, so that the bonding force between the net and the outer skin can be significantly improved. It is said that.

JP 59-137030 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-256085 JP 2009-213775 A

  However, even the flexible tube for an endoscope of Patent Document 3 cannot be said to essentially solve the decrease in the bondability between the net and the skin when used for a long time, and further improvement is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even if the endoscope is used for a long time, the net and the outer skin are difficult to peel off. An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope that can solve the conventional problem of buckling.

  In order to achieve the above object, the flexible tube for an endoscope of the present invention is a net in which the outer peripheral surface of a screw tube formed by spirally winding a belt-like plate is knitted into a mesh shape by intersecting thin wires with each other. In the flexible tube for an endoscope in which the outer peripheral surface of the net is covered with a resin outer skin, a cylindrical body formed of a material that can be in close contact with the outer skin is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire. The cylindrical body and the outer skin are joined to each other so that they do not adhere to each other.

  Here, the “material that can be in close contact” includes a material that is not in close contact with the material itself but has an adhesive property by surface treatment, and “the cylindrical body is covered so as not to be in close contact with the thin wire” is It means that the thin line can move in the axial direction.

  In addition, as a thin wire, although a metal wire is preferable, if it is a raw material which can obtain the rigidity equivalent to a metal wire, it will not restrict to a metal wire. For the fine wire, a fiber bundle in which fibers such as metal fibers are bundled, or a fiber bundle in which metal fibers and resin fibers are mixed can be used.

  As a result of earnest research on the cause of separation of the net and the outer skin when the endoscope is used for a long time, the present inventor has found that it cannot be solved only by the problem of the strength of the joint between the net and the outer skin. . That is, when an insertion portion of an endoscope is inserted into a body cavity and a diagnosis or the like is performed, the flexible tube frequently bends according to the shape of the approach path into the body cavity (for example, a curved bending motion). ) For this reason, it has been found that stress is generated in the axial direction of the flexible tube, and this stress is generated every time the bending operation is performed, so that peeling of the net and the outer skin is promoted.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of such knowledge, and on the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire constituting the net, the cylindrical body formed of a material that can be in close contact with the outer skin so as not to be in close contact with the thin wire, The cylindrical body and the outer skin were joined.

  As a result, the degree of freedom of the cylindrical body joined to the outer skin is limited by the outer skin, but the degree of freedom is not limited by the outer skin because the thin wire can freely move in the axial direction of the thin line within the cylindrical body. . Therefore, when the flexible tube is bent, for example, in a curved shape, the net can move following the movement of the outer skin. Thereby, since a shearing force does not work between the net and the outer skin, peeling between the net and the outer skin can be effectively suppressed. As a result, even if the endoscope is used for a long time, the net and the outer skin are difficult to peel off, so that it is possible to solve the conventional problem that the flexible tube buckles even if the flexible tube is frequently bent. .

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the surface of the fine wire is subjected to a surface treatment for making it non-adhesive to the cylindrical body. As this surface treatment, a treatment with a silane coupling agent having a fluorinated alkyl group can be suitably used.

  As a result, it is possible to obtain a cylindrical body structure that does not adhere to the internal thin wire simply by coating the resin (material) on the thin wire subjected to the surface treatment. Can be molded.

  In the present invention, the inner diameter of the cylindrical body is larger than the outer diameter of the thin wire. Thereby, it can prevent a thin wire | line from sticking to a cylindrical body.

  Here, “the inner diameter of the cylindrical body is larger than the outer diameter of the thin wire” means that the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire is not in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical body, and not only the measurable dimensions but also the thin It includes the case where it is in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical body via a very thin surface coating layer on the line.

  In the present invention, the outer surface of the thin wire and the inner surface of the tubular body can be partially in contact with each other because the cross-sectional shape of the thin wire and the cross-sectional shape of the tubular body are different. Thereby, it can prevent a thin wire | line from sticking to a cylindrical body. For example, a mode in which the cross-sectional shape of the thin wire is circular and the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical body is square can be suitably employed.

  In the present invention, irregularities are formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body, and the convex portion and the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire can be in contact with each other. As a specific form of unevenness, the unevenness formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body is such that annular protrusions and annular recesses are alternately formed in the circumferential direction of the inner surface of the cylindrical body, or It is also preferable that linear convex portions and linear concave portions are alternately formed in the axial direction.

  In this way, by forming irregularities on the inner surface of the cylindrical body, it is possible to prevent the cylindrical body and the fine line from coming into close contact with each other, and since the convex part (annular convex part or linear convex part) supports the fine line, The rigidity of the flexible tube, which is the role of, is not reduced.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the fine wire is coated with a slipping agent. Thereby, the adhesiveness of a thin wire | line and a cylindrical body can be made still smaller, and a thin wire | line can be easily moved within a cylindrical body.

  In the present invention, the fine wire may be a fiber bundle in which metal fibers and resin fibers having slipperiness are mixed. For example, silicon fiber can be used as the resin fiber having slipperiness.

  Thus, if the fine wire is formed of a fiber bundle in which metal fibers and slippery resin fibers are mixed, the slippery resin fiber slides in the cylindrical body, so that the adhesion between the fine wire and the cylindrical body is improved. It can be made even smaller.

  According to the endoscope flexible tube of the present invention, even if the endoscope is used for a long time, the net and the outer skin are difficult to peel off. The conventional problem of bending can be solved.

External view showing overall configuration of endoscope according to embodiment The perspective view which showed the end surface of the front-end | tip hard part of the insertion part shown in FIG. Sectional view of the bending portion of the insertion portion shown in FIG. Partially cutaway view of the flexible tube shown in FIG. Enlarged view of the net The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the aspect which a thin wire | line and a cylinder state do not contact | adhere The conceptual diagram which shows the other example of the aspect which a thin wire | line and a cylinder state do not contact | adhere closely Conceptual diagram of thin wire coated with slip agent Partial enlarged view of a thin net wire composed of fiber bundles Explanatory drawing of a cylindrical body when a thin wire is composed of fiber bundles The perspective view which bent the flexible tube and bent Explanatory drawing explaining the effect | action in this invention

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a flexible tube for an endoscope according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope 10 according to an embodiment. The endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a hand operation unit 12 and an insertion unit 14 provided continuously to the hand operation unit 12. The surgeon grasps the hand operation unit 12 and performs observation by inserting the insertion unit 14 into the body of the subject.

  A universal cable 16 is connected to the hand operation unit 12, and a light guide (LG) connector (not shown) is provided at the tip of the universal cable 16. The LG connector is detachably connected to a light source device (not shown), and illumination light is sent from the light source device to illumination optical systems 52 and 52 disposed at the distal end hard portion 44 of the insertion portion 14 in FIG. In addition, an electrical connector is connected to the LG connector via a cable, and the electrical connector is detachably coupled to a processor (not shown).

  1 is provided with an air / water feed button 26, a suction button 28, and a shutter button 30 in parallel, and a pair of angle knobs 34, 34.

  Furthermore, the hand operation section 12 is provided with a forceps insertion section 38, and the forceps insertion section 38 is communicated with a forceps port 56 of the distal end hard section 44 of FIG. 2 via a forceps channel (not shown). Therefore, by inserting an endoscope treatment tool (not shown) such as forceps from the forceps insertion portion 38, the endoscope treatment tool can be led out from the forceps port 56.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion 14 includes a flexible tube 40 whose proximal end is connected to the hand operating portion 12, a bending portion 42 whose proximal end is connected to the distal end of the flexible tube 40, It consists of the front-end | tip hard part 44 by which the base end part was connected to the front-end | tip part of the part 42. FIG.

  An observation optical system (observation lens) 50, illumination optical systems (illumination lenses) 52, 52, an air / water supply nozzle 54, and a forceps port 56 are located at predetermined positions on the distal end surface 45 of the distal end rigid portion 44 shown in FIG. Is provided. A CCD (not shown) is disposed behind the observation optical system 50, and a signal line (not shown) is connected to a substrate that supports the CCD. The signal line is inserted through the insertion section 14, the hand operating section 12, the universal cable 16 and the like of FIG. 1 to extend to the electrical connector described above, and is connected to the processor. Therefore, the observation image captured by the observation optical system 50 is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD and converted into an electric signal. This electric signal is output to the processor via the signal line and converted into a video signal. As a result, the observation image is displayed on the monitor connected to the processor.

  The illumination optical systems 52 and 52 are provided adjacent to the observation optical system 50 and are arranged on both sides of the observation optical system 50 as necessary. An exit end of a light guide (not shown) is disposed behind the illumination optical system 52. This light guide is inserted through the insertion section 14, the hand operating section 12, and the universal cable 16 of FIG. 1, and the incident end of the light guide is disposed in the LG connector. Therefore, by connecting the LG connector to a light source device (not shown), the illumination light emitted from the light source device is transmitted to the illumination optical systems 52 and 52 via the light guide, and forward from the illumination optical systems 52 and 52. Irradiates the observation range.

  The air / water supply nozzle 54 communicates with a valve (not shown) operated by the air / water feed button 26 in FIG. 1, and this valve communicates with an air / water supply connector (not shown) provided on the LG connector. Is done. An air / water supply means (not shown) is connected to the air / water supply connector to supply air and water. Therefore, by operating the air / water supply button 26, air or water can be ejected from the air / water supply nozzle 54 toward the observation optical system 50.

  The forceps port 56 communicates with a valve (not shown) operated by the suction button 28, and this valve is connected to a suction connector (not shown) of the LG connector. Therefore, by connecting a suction means (not shown) to the suction connector and operating the valve with the suction button 28, a lesioned part or the like can be sucked from the forceps port 56.

  The bending portion 42 is configured to be bent remotely by turning the angle knobs 34, 34 of the hand operating portion 12.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bending portion 42. In the figure, various built-in objects inserted into the bending portion 42 are omitted.

  The bending portion 42 includes a predetermined number of angle rings 62, 62... As the structure 60, and a node ring structure in which the adjacent angle rings 62, 62 are pivotally connected by pivot pins 64 in the vertical and horizontal directions. It has become. The angle ring 82 at the distal end portion is connected to the distal end hard portion 44, and the angle ring 84 at the proximal end portion is connected to the connection ring 66. The connection ring 66 is connected to the connection ring 88 of the flexible tube 40 via a connection portion 90. Further, the net 68 is covered with an outer skin 70 made of fluororubber.

  The bending portion 42 is bent up and down and left and right by remote control by the angle knobs 34 and 34 of the hand operation portion 12 shown in FIG. 1. For this purpose, the four operation wires 72 from the hand operation portion 12 are bent. , 72 (see FIG. 3) extend into the insertion portion 14. The distal ends of these operation wires 72, 72... Are fixed to the angle ring 82 at the distal end constituting the bending portion 42. And in the curved part 42, the relationship which makes | forms 90 degrees mutually in the circumferential direction is hold | maintained through the insertion hole provided in the pivot pin 64, for example. On the other hand, the operation wires 72, 72... Are inserted into the close coil inside the flexible tube 40 and extend to the hand operation unit 12. The operation wire 72 is composed of an upper and lower pair and a left and right pair. When one of the upper and lower operation wires 72 is pulled into the hand operation unit 12 and operated so as to extend the other, the bending portion 42 bends in the vertical direction. . Further, when one of the left and right operation wires 72 is pulled toward the hand operation unit 12 and operated to extend the other, the bending portion 42 bends in the left-right direction. It should be noted that the operation wires 72 do not necessarily have to be provided in a pair on the top and bottom and on the left and right.

  The connection ring 66 of the bending portion 42 is connected to a metal connection ring 88 provided at the tip of the flexible tube 40 by welding a thermoplastic resin layer.

  As shown in the partially cutaway view of FIG. 4, the flexible tube 40 includes a screw tube 74 called a flex that protects the inside while maintaining flexibility in order from the inside, and a blade that is covered on the screw tube 74 and covered with a blade. 3 and a resin outer skin 80 coated on the net 76, and the net 76 and the outer skin 80 are joined.

  The screw tube 74 is formed by winding an elastic thin strip plate such as stainless steel with a gap in a spiral shape. In FIG. 4, an example of a single-winding screw tube 74 is shown, but it is also possible to employ a double-winding screw tube that is wound so that the direction of the spiral is opposite to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface.

  As shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG. 5, the net 76 is formed by knitting a plurality of fine wires (for example, metal wires) 77, 77. As shown, the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire 77 is covered with a cylindrical body 85 so as not to be in close contact with the thin wire 77. And the cylindrical body 85 and the above-mentioned inner peripheral surface of the outer skin 80 are joined.

  FIG. 6A shows a case where a thin wire 77 is covered with a cylindrical body 85 having a circular cross section having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the thin wire 77 having a circular cross section.

  FIG. 6B shows a case where the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire 77 is covered with a cylindrical body 85 having a square cross section having one side of the inner diameter and the same length as the outer diameter of the thin wire having a circular cross section. According to FIG. 6B, the fine wire 77 and the cylindrical body 85 can be prevented from being in close contact with each other, and the portion of the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85 that is in contact with the outer surface of the thin wire 77 supports the fine wire. The rigidity of 40 is not lowered. In this case, the relationship between the thin wire 77 and the cylindrical body 85 is not limited to the relationship between the cross-sectional circle and the cross-sectional square, and the cross-sectional shape of the thin wire 77 and the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical body 85 are different. What is necessary is just the relationship which the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85 contacts partially.

  FIG. 7 shows a case where irregularities are formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85. FIG. 7A shows a case where the annular convex portions 85A and the annular concave portions 85B are alternately formed in the circumferential direction of the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85. FIG. 7B shows a case in which linear convex portions 85C and linear concave portions 85D are alternately formed in the axial direction of the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85 (the front and back direction in FIG. 7B).

  7A and 7B, the thin wire 77 and the tubular body 85 can be prevented from being in close contact with each other, and the convex portions 85A and 85C of the tubular body 85 support the thin wire. There is no decrease in rigidity.

  Although not shown in the drawings, as an aspect of forming irregularities on the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85, for example, the resin forming the cylindrical body 85 contains fine particles such as beads, and the surface of the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85 is fine. The protrusions and recesses can be formed, and the protrusions and recesses can be formed by the fine particles protruding from the inner surface of the cylindrical body 85.

  As a device for preventing the fine wire 77 and the cylindrical body 85 from further contacting each other, it is preferable to coat the outer peripheral surface of the fine wire 77 with a slip agent 83 as shown in FIG. It is more preferable to apply the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire 77 with the slip agent 83 to the cylindrical body 85 shown in FIGS.

As the slip agent 83 that can be suitably used, for example, synthetic or natural wax, silicon compound, R—O—SO ₃ M (where R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group (CnH ₂ n + 1−; n is 3 to 3), 20), M represents a monovalent metal atom, and the like. Specific examples of the slip agent 83 include cellosol 524, 428, 732-B, 920, B-495, hydrin P-7, D-757, Z-7-30, E-366, F-115, D-336. , D-337, Polylon A, 393, H-481, High micron G-110F, 930, G-270 (trade name: manufactured by Chukyo Yushi Co., Ltd.), Chemipearl W100, W200, W300, W400, W500, W950 (Trade name: manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) and the like, KF-412, 413, 414, 393, 859, 8002, 6001, 6002, 857, 410, 910, 851, X-22-162A, X -22-161A, X-22-162C, X-22-160AS, X-22-164B, X-22-164C, X-22-170B, X-22-800 X-22-819, X-22-820, X-22-821: can include compounds such as silicon-based, such as (trade name of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.).

  The following method can be mentioned as a more preferable aspect of the method of covering the cylindrical body 85 so as not to adhere to the fine wire 77. That is, the surface of the thin wire 77 is made of fluorine-based Shin-Etsu Chemical KP-801M, .X-24-7890, Gelest SIH581.2 (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2, -tetrahydrodecyl) triethoxy A non-adhesive surface treatment may be performed with a silane or a fluorine-based silane coupling agent such as SIH5841.5 (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2, -tetrahydrodecyl) trimethoxysilane. .

  As another preferred embodiment, a method of performing non-adhesive treatment on the fine wire 77 by forming a fluorine-substituted parylene film (Parylene HT manufactured by SCS) on the surface of the fine wire 77 by a chemical vapor deposition method can also be mentioned.

  Then, by covering the thin wire 77 subjected to the surface treatment with a resin (material) having adhesiveness with the outer skin 80, a cylindrical body structure that does not adhere to the internal thin wire 77 can be obtained. Therefore, the cylindrical body 85 can be easily covered so as not to be in close contact with the thin wire 77.

  The method for coating the fine wires 77 with resin can be carried out by appropriately selecting according to the characteristics of the resin material to be coated. As an example, there is a method in which a thermoplastic resin such as polyester or polyamide is coated and molded on the surface of the fine wire 77 subjected to the surface treatment using a coating molding machine. As another example, a method of obtaining a core-sheath structure by pulling up with a fine wire 77 from a raw material solution dissolved in a solvent at a high concentration using a spinning nozzle can be performed.

  The material of the cylindrical body 85 may be any material (for example, a resin material) that can be in close contact with the resin outer skin 80, but an aramid resin can be suitably used.

  The fine wire 77 constituting the net 76 may be one unit as shown in FIG. 5, but a plurality of fibers (for example, metal fibers or a mixture of metal fibers and resin fibers) 77A as shown in FIG. (FIG. 9 shows six) The bundled fiber bundle 81 can be used suitably. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10A, the cylindrical body 85 may be covered for each fiber 77A, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the entire fiber bundle 81 is formed into one cylindrical shape. The body 85 may be covered. In FIG. 10, the cylindrical body 85 is shown as having a square section in FIG. 6B, but is not limited to this, and the cylindrical shape shown in FIGS. 6A, 7 </ b> A, and 7 </ b> B. The body 85 can also be applied.

  Even when the thin wire 77 is constituted by the fiber bundle 81, it is preferable to coat the above-described slip agent 83 on the outer peripheral surface of the fiber 77A. The fiber 77A is not particularly limited as long as it can exhibit a sufficient rigidity effect with respect to the flexible tube 40, and a general metal fiber used for the net 76 may be used. Particularly suitable metal fibers 77A include stainless steel having a diameter of about 0.1 mm.

  As a method for imparting slipperiness to the fiber bundle 81 without coating silicon, the fiber bundle 81 may be a mixture of metal fibers and resin fiber having slipperiness. Examples of the resin fibers having slipperiness include silicon fibers.

  The ratio of the metal fibers and the silicon fibers constituting the thin wire 77 is not particularly limited as long as the rigidity of the flexible tube 40 can be sufficiently secured, and may be determined as appropriate.

  Further, the method of blending the metal fiber and the resin fiber (knitting method, mesh pattern) is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately determined so that the rigidity of the flexible tube 40 can be sufficiently secured. .

  The outer skin 80 is made of a resin (elastomer) having flexibility, can protect the inside of the flexible tube 40, and has characteristics that do not affect the living body when the endoscope 10 is inserted into the body. It is necessary. Therefore, as long as it has this characteristic, the resin forming the outer skin 80 is not particularly limited, but synthetic resin such as polyurethane resin, vinyl chloride, nylon, polyester, Teflon (registered trademark), polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, etc. Resins, polypropylene resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, fluorine resins, and mixtures thereof can be employed. In particular, a polyurethane resin can be suitably used. Of these, polyurethane resins are particularly preferred.

  In the flexible tube 40 including the screw tube 74, the net 76, and the outer skin 80, a method for covering the outer surface of the screw tube 74 with the net 76 is not particularly limited, but as an example, a hollow shape (tubular shape). The screw tube 74 is inserted inside the net 76, and after the insertion, the net 76 is stretched by a suitable means until there is no gap between the screw tube 74 and the net 76, and the net 76 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 74. The method of coating so that it may adhere is mentioned. In this way, the inner tube 78 (see FIG. 4) in a state where the net 76 is covered can be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 74.

  The method for coating the outer skin 80 with the outer surface of the net 76 is not particularly limited. As an example, a known extruder is used to dissolve the dissolved resin on the outer surface of the inner tube 78 with a uniform thickness. A method of directly forming the outer skin 80 on the outer peripheral surface of the net 76 of the inner pipe 78 by cooling immediately after being pushed out and attached is mentioned.

  As another example, the inner tube 78 is covered with a preformed hollow tubular skin 80, and the whole is subjected to a temperature of about 160 ° C. to 180 ° C. With this heat, the silicon fiber 77B of the net 76 and the resin are made. The outer skin 80 can be heat-welded.

  Next, the operation of the flexible tube 40 configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 11 shows a case where the flexible tube 40 of the endoscope 10 is inserted into a body cavity and bent in a curved shape.

  When the flexible tube 40 is bent in this manner, the outer side 40A of the curved flexible tube 40 is pulled in the axial direction S of the flexible tube 40 to generate tensile stress, and the inner side 40B is compressed in the axial direction S. Compressive stress is generated. However, since the degree of freedom of movement of the net 76 is limited by the outer skin 80 in the conventional joining of the net 76 and the outer skin 80, the outer skin 80 has a net-like structure that is easy to expand and contract. The net 76 cannot move following the bend. As a result, a shearing force acts between the net 76 and the outer skin 80 each time the flexible tube 40 is bent to be bent, and the net 76 and the outer skin 80 are used while the flexible pipe 40 is used for a long time. Promotes peeling. As a result, when the net 76 and the outer skin 80 are peeled off, the outer skin 80 located on the inner side surface (the concavely curved surface) of the curved portion is peeled off from the net 76 to cause buckling.

  Therefore, even if the net 76 and the outer skin 80 are joined, if the joining is performed so that the degree of freedom of movement of the net 76 can be sufficiently secured, peeling between the net 76 and the outer skin 80 can be suppressed.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the cylindrical body 85 formed of a material that can be in close contact with the outer skin 80 is covered on the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire 77 constituting the net 76 so as not to be in close contact with the thin wire 77. The body 85 and the outer skin 80 were joined.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the cylindrical body 85 joined to the outer skin 80 is limited in the degree of freedom of movement by the outer skin 80, but the thin wire 77 is within the cylindrical body 85 in the axial direction of the thin wire 77 ( It can move in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Therefore, the freedom of movement of the thin wire 77 is not limited by the outer skin 80. As a result, when the flexible tube 40 is bent in a curved shape, the net 76 can move following the bending of the outer skin 80, so that no shear force acts between the net 76 and the outer skin 80. As a result, peeling between the net 76 and the outer skin 80 can be effectively suppressed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Endoscope, 12 ... Hand operation part, 14 ... Insertion part, 16 ... Universal cable, 26 ... Air supply / water supply button, 28 ... Suction button, 30 ... Shutter button, 34 ... Angle knob, 38 ... Forceps insertion part , 40 ... flexible tube, 42 ... curved portion, 44 ... hard tip portion, 50 ... observation optical system, 52 ... illumination optical system, 54 ... air / water feed nozzle, 56 ... forceps port, 74 ... screw tube, 76 ... Net, 77 ... Fine wire, 77A ... Metal fiber, 77B ... Silicon fiber, 78 ... Inner tube, 79 ... Adhesive, 80 ... Outer skin, 81 ... Fiber bundle, 83 ... Coating layer of slip agent, 85 ... Cylindrical body, 85A , 85C ... convex part, 85B, 85D ... concave part, 89 ... adhesive, S ... axial direction of the flexible tube

Claims (12)

An endoscope in which the outer peripheral surface of a screw tube formed by spirally winding a belt-shaped plate is covered with a net knitted in a mesh shape with crossing thin wires, and the outer peripheral surface of the net is covered with a resin outer skin For flexible tubes,
A cylindrical body formed of a material that can be in close contact with the outer skin is coated on an outer peripheral surface of the thin wire so as not to be in close contact with the thin wire, and the cylindrical body and the outer skin are joined to each other. Flexible tube for endoscope.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the thin wire is subjected to a surface treatment for making it non-adherent to the cylindrical body.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the surface treatment is a treatment with a silane coupling agent having a fluorinated alkyl group.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an inner diameter of the cylindrical body is larger than an outer diameter of the thin wire.   The cross-sectional shape of the thin wire and the cross-sectional shape of the tubular body are different, so that the outer surface of the thin wire and the inner surface of the tubular body are partially in contact with each other. The flexible tube for endoscopes as described.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the thin wire has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the cylindrical body has a square cross-sectional shape.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an uneven surface is formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body, and the convex portion is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the thin wire. .   8. The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the irregularities formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body are formed by alternately forming annular convex portions and annular concave portions in the circumferential direction of the inner surface of the cylindrical body. Flexible tube.   8. The internal view according to claim 7, wherein the irregularities formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body are formed by alternately forming linear convex portions and linear concave portions in the axial direction of the inner surface of the cylindrical body. Flexible tube for mirrors.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the fine wire is coated with a slip agent.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the thin wire is a fiber bundle in which metal fibers and resin fibers having slipperiness are mixed.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the resin fiber having slipperiness is a silicon fiber.

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