JP2012239548A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope for eliminating the clog of an injection hole due to dirt.SOLUTION: A waterjet injection hole 34 is arranged at a distal end 16a which is successively arranged at the distal end of an insertion part in the endoscope. The distal end 16a includes a distal end hard part 28 and a distal end cap 29. The distal end cap 29 includes a distal end cap body 41 and a coating layer 42. A through-hole 43 is formed in the distal end cap body 41. The through-hole 43 has a tapered surface 43a to be gradually increased in opening area toward the distal end side. The coating layer 42 is made of an elastic material, wherein a coating hole part 42a for coating the through-hole 43 and forming a linear WJ injection hole 34 having the same opening area from the distal end to the proximal end, and a coating distal end part 42b, for coating the distal end side of the distal end cap body 41 are integrally formed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope that ejects liquid from an ejection hole of an insertion portion.

  Conventionally, an endoscope has an observation window for capturing image light of a subject at the distal end of an insertion portion inserted into the subject, an illumination window for irradiating the subject with illumination light, An injection hole for injecting cleaning water such as physiological saline or a chemical solution is provided. A liquid feed pipe called a water jet pipe or the like is connected to the injection hole. This liquid supply line is connected to a liquid supply device that vigorously feeds liquid such as cleaning water and chemical liquid by a liquid supply pump or the like, and the liquid sent from the liquid supply device via the liquid supply line is covered from the injection hole. It is injected into the specimen (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP-A-8-280603 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-371113

  However, when observing with the endoscopes described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, the observation window may be brought close to the surface of the subject, particularly when a lesion is treated, and is located near the observation window. There are cases where dirt such as bodily fluids and mucous membranes adhere to the spray holes and become clogged. When the insertion portion is inserted into the subject and the filth is clogged in the injection hole, the liquid cannot be ejected. In Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, clogging of the injection hole during use of the endoscope is not considered, and since the insertion part must be pulled out from the subject to remove the clogged material in the injection hole, Takes time and effort.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and it aims at providing the endoscope which can eliminate the clogging of the injection hole by a filth.

  An endoscope according to the present invention is provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject, and is provided with an observation window for observing the inside of the subject and the distal end portion, and illuminating light in the subject. In an endoscope provided with an illumination window for irradiating and an injection hole for injecting a liquid into a subject, a first opening provided at the distal end portion and gradually increasing toward the distal end side. An injection hole base formed with a through-hole having a widened surface, and a coating hole part made of an elastic material softer than the injection hole base, covering the through-hole to form a linear injection hole, It is made of an elastic material softer than the injection hole base, and is formed integrally with the coating hole, and has a coating tip that covers the tip side of the injection hole base.

  The first spread surface is preferably a conical tapered surface.

  It is preferable that the maximum thickness dimension of the covering hole portion is not less than half of the opening diameter of the injection hole.

  The first spread surface preferably has a taper angle of 45 ° or more and less than 90 °.

  The covering hole portion and the covering tip portion preferably have a Shore A hardness of 10 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less.

  The injection hole preferably has the same opening area from the distal end to the proximal end. Alternatively, the injection hole has a second widened surface that is a conical tapered surface whose opening area gradually increases toward the distal end side, and the first widened surface has a taper angle greater than the taper angle of the first widened surface. It is preferable that the taper angle of the spread surface 2 is small.

  According to the endoscope of the present invention, the through hole having the first widened surface whose opening area gradually increases toward the distal end side is covered with the covering hole portion that forms the linear injection hole. Therefore, clogging of the injection hole due to dirt can be eliminated.

It is an external appearance perspective view of an electronic endoscope system. It is a top view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing along an observation window and an injection hole. It is sectional drawing of an injection hole periphery. It is explanatory drawing explaining discharge | emission of the filth jammed in the injection hole. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment which formed the taper surface in the injection hole.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope system 10 includes an electronic endoscope 11, a processor device 12, a light source device 13, an air / water supply device 14, a liquid supply device 15, and the like. The air / water supply device 14 is built in the light source device 13 and is a well-known air supply device (pump or the like) 14a for supplying air, and a washing water tank that is provided outside the light source device 13 and stores washing water. 14b. The electronic endoscope 11 is connected to a flexible insertion portion 16 that is inserted into a subject, an operation portion 17 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 16, a processor device 12, and a light source device 13. Universal cord 18.

  The insertion portion 16 is provided at the distal end thereof, and includes a distal end portion 16a having a built-in CCD type image sensor (see FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as CCD) 39 as an imaging element for in-subject imaging, and a distal end portion 16a. It comprises a bendable bending portion 16b provided continuously at the base end, and a flexible flexible tube portion 16c provided continuously at the base end of the bending portion 16b. Hereinafter, the distal end side of the insertion portion 16 is simply referred to as “distal end side”, and the proximal end side of the insertion portion 16 is simply referred to as “proximal end side”.

  A connector 19 is attached to the tip of the universal cord 18. The connector 19 is a composite type connector to which the processor device 12, the light source device 13, and the air / water supply device 14 are connected. A liquid feeding device 15 is connected to the connector 19 via a connecting tube 20.

  The processor device 12 performs various image processing on the image pickup signal input from the CCD 39 via the universal cord 18 and the connector 19 to convert the image signal into a video signal, and transmits a drive control signal for controlling the drive of the CCD 39. The video signal converted by the processor device 12 is displayed as an endoscopic image on a monitor 21 connected to the processor device 12 by a cable. Further, the processor device 12 is electrically connected to the light source device 13 and comprehensively controls the operation of the entire electronic endoscope system 10.

  The operation unit 17 is provided with a forceps port 22 through which various kinds of treatment tools having an injection needle, a high-frequency knife and the like are inserted, an angle knob 23, and the like. When the angle knob 23 is operated, the wire inserted into the insertion portion 16 is pushed and pulled, so that the bending portion 16b is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 16a is orient | assigned to the desired direction in a body cavity.

  The liquid feeding device 15 stores a device main body 24 having a motor and a control circuit, a liquid feeding pump 25 disposed on the front surface of the device main body 24, a foot switch 26 for performing a liquid feeding operation, and liquids such as cleaning water and chemicals. The liquid feeding tank 27 is provided. When the liquid feeding pump 25 is operated by operating the foot switch 26, the liquid is sent out from the liquid feeding tank 27 to the connecting tube 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the distal end portion 16 a includes a distal end rigid portion 28, a distal end cap 29 attached to the distal end side of the distal end rigid portion 28, an observation window 30, illumination windows 31 a and 31 b, air supply / water supply. A nozzle 32, a forceps outlet 33, and a water jet injection hole (hereinafter referred to as a WJ injection hole) 34 are provided. The rear end of the distal end hard portion 28 is connected to a bending piece 35 on the distal end side that constitutes the bending portion 16b. The distal end hard portion 28 is formed of, for example, a hard metal, and holds an objective lens unit 37, a light guide, an air supply / water supply channel, a forceps channel, and a water jet pipe (hereinafter referred to as a WJ pipe) 44 described later. .

  The distal end cap 29 is integrally formed with a distal end plate portion 29 a that covers the distal end side of the distal end rigid portion 28 and a cylindrical portion 29 b that covers the outer peripheral surface of the distal end rigid portion 28. An outer skin layer 36 covering the outer peripheral surface of the curved portion 16b extends to the distal end hard portion 28, the distal end of the outer skin layer 36 and the rear end of the cylindrical portion 29b are brought into contact with each other, and the end portions are fixed by an adhesive or the like. .

  When viewed from the distal end side, the distal end plate portion 29a has through holes 29d to 29g that expose the observation window 30, the illumination windows 31a and 31b, and the air / water supply nozzle 32, the forceps outlet 33, and the WJ injection hole 34, respectively. Is formed.

  The observation window 30 is a state-of-the-art objective lens that constitutes the objective lens unit 37, and also serves as a cover glass. This observation window 30 is formed in a substantially disk-shaped outer shape. The optical system of the objective lens unit 37 including the observation window 30 is held by a lens barrel 38.

  The lens barrel 38 holds the proximal end side of the outer peripheral surface of the observation window 30. The observation window 30 is fitted in the through hole 29 d of the tip cap 29 on the tip side of the outer peripheral surface. The lens barrel 38 is fitted in the through hole 28 a of the distal end hard portion 28 and attached so that the distal end surface thereof abuts against the distal end plate portion 29 a of the distal end cap 29.

  The observation window 30 may be a cover glass that is positioned on the most distal side of the objective lens unit 37 and has no lens effect. Further, the observation window 30 may not constitute the objective lens unit 37. For example, the observation window 30 may be fixed to the through hole 29d of the tip cap 29 by being directly fitted as a cover glass.

  A CCD 39 is attached to the back of the objective lens unit 37. The CCD 39 is composed of, for example, an interline transfer type CCD. Note that the image sensor is not limited to the CCD 39 but may be a CMOS.

  The illumination windows 31a and 31b are arranged at symmetrical positions with the observation window 30 in between, and the exit end of a light guide (not shown) faces the back side. The light guide is formed by bundling a large number of optical fibers (for example, made of quartz), and passes through the insertion portion 16, the operation portion 17, the universal cord 18, and the connector 19. The illumination light is guided to the illumination windows 31a and 31b. The illumination windows 31a and 31b also serve as irradiation lenses, and irradiate the observation site in the subject with illumination light from the light source device 13.

  The air supply / water supply nozzle 32 is connected to an air supply / water supply channel (not shown) passing through the insertion portion 16, the operation portion 17, and the connector 19, and the air and washing supplied from the air supply / water supply device 14. Water can be sprayed toward the observation window 30 to wash away dirt adhering to the observation window 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the tip cap 29 includes a tip cap main body 41 (injection hole base) and a coating layer 42 coated on the surface of the tip cap main body 41. The tip cap body 41 is made of, for example, resin or metal. A through hole 43 is formed in the tip cap body 41. The through-hole 43 has a conical tapered surface 43a (first expanded surface) whose opening area gradually increases toward the tip side.

  The covering layer 42 is made of an elastic material that is softer than the tip cap body 41, such as rubber, and is formed by a covering process called rubber lining. The covering layer 42 covers the through hole 43 to form a linear WJ injection hole 34 having the same opening area from the tip to the base end, and a coating tip that covers the tip side of the tip cap body 41. The part 42b is integrally formed. The hardness of the coating layer 42 is 10 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less (Shore A hardness). A WJ conduit 44 is connected to the base end side of the covering hole portion 42a. The WJ pipe 44 is disposed in the insertion portion 16, the operation portion 17, the universal cord 18, and the connector 19, and liquid is fed from the liquid feeding device 15 connected via the connection tube 20.

  The WJ injection hole 34 is formed in alignment with the through hole 34 and the center position. The distal end surface of the distal end cap body 41 is formed in a planar shape orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion portion 16. As described above, since the through hole 43 has the tapered surface 43a, the covering hole portion 42a gradually increases in thickness toward the distal end side.

  Reference sign θ <b> 1 is a taper angle of the taper surface 43 a, that is, an opening angle of the taper surface 43 a in a cross section cut along the center of the through hole 43. The taper angle θ1 of the taper surface 43a is set to 45 ° or more and less than 90 °. Thereby, when the WJ injection hole 34 is clogged with filth, a space in which the covering hole portion 42a is elastically deformed can be secured.

  Reference symbol L1 indicates a portion having the largest thickness in the covering hole portion 42a, that is, the maximum thickness dimension on the tip side, and reference symbol R1 indicates an opening diameter of the WJ injection hole 34. The relationship between the opening diameter R1 of the WJ injection hole 34 and the maximum thickness dimension L1 of the covering hole portion 42a is L1 ≧ 0.5 × (R1). Accordingly, when the WJ injection hole 34 is clogged with dirt, the covering hole portion 42a has a sufficient thickness near the tip of the WJ injection hole 34, and can be elastically deformed in the radial direction.

  A process for injecting liquid from the WJ injection hole 34 into the subject during an examination using the electronic endoscope 11 will be described. The surgeon inserts the insertion portion 16 into the subject and observes the observation image captured from the observation window 30 with the monitor 21. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the tip 16a is brought close to the surface 45 in the subject, the WJ injection hole 34 may be clogged with filth 46. Since the WJ injection hole 34 is formed in the covering hole portion 42a that covers the tapered surface 43a, the WJ injection hole 34 is pressed by the filth 46 and elastically deforms the covering hole portion 42a in the radial direction.

  When the liquid is supplied to the WJ pipe 44 by operating the foot switch 26 of the liquid delivery device 15 in a state where the WJ injection hole 34 is clogged with dirt, the liquid flows from the WJ pipe 44 to the WJ injection hole 34. At this time, the filth 46 clogged in the WJ injection hole 34 is simply held by a small elastic force from the covering hole portion 42 a, and is easily pushed out by the pressure of the liquid flowing from the WJ pipe 44. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the filth 46 is easily discharged from the WJ injection hole 34, so that the clogging of the WJ injection hole 34 can be eliminated.

  In the first embodiment, the shape of the WJ injection hole 34 is formed in a straight line having the same opening area from the distal end to the proximal end. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the distal end of the second embodiment shown in FIG. Like the part 50, you may form the conical taper surface 51a (2nd expansion surface) which an opening area increases gradually as it goes to the front end side of the WJ injection hole 51. As shown in FIG. In this case, the tip cap 52 provided with the WJ injection hole 51 includes the tip cap main body 41 and the coating layer 53 covered on the surface of the tip cap main body 41 as in the tip cap 29 of the first embodiment. In addition, in FIG. 6, about the thing using the same components as the said embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted. The covering layer 53 is integrally formed with a covering hole portion 53 a that covers the through hole 43 to form the WJ injection hole 51 and a covering tip portion 53 b that covers the tip end side of the tip cap body 41.

  Symbol θ2 is a taper angle of the taper surface 51a, that is, an opening angle of the taper surface 51a in a cross section cut along the center of the WJ injection hole 51. The taper angle 51 of the taper surface 51a is formed smaller than the taper angle θ1 of the taper surface 43a. Thereby, the thickness of the covering hole 53a gradually increases toward the tip side.

  Reference symbol L2 indicates a portion having the largest thickness in the covering hole 53a, that is, the maximum thickness dimension on the tip side, and reference symbol R2 indicates the maximum opening diameter of the WJ injection hole 51. The relationship between the maximum opening diameter R2 of the WJ injection hole 51 and the maximum thickness dimension L2 of the covering hole 53a is L2 ≧ 0.5 × (R2). Accordingly, when the WJ injection hole 51 is clogged with dirt, the covering hole portion 53a has a sufficient thickness near the tip of the WJ injection hole 51, and can be elastically deformed in the radial direction.

  In the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, although the taper surfaces 43a and 51a are formed in the through-hole 43 and the WJ injection hole 51 as a 1st and 2nd spreading surface, this invention is not restricted to this, For example, the first and second spread surfaces may be formed in a curved shape that is smoothly connected toward the tip.

  In the first and second embodiments, the liquid feeding device 15 is connected to the WJ pipe 44 and the liquid is fed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a syringe or the like is connected to the WJ pipe 44 and the liquid is fed. It may be. In the first and second embodiments, the electronic endoscope for observing an image obtained by imaging the state of the subject using the image sensor is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, the present invention can be applied to an endoscope that uses an optical image guide to observe the state of a subject.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated using an Example, the content of this invention is not limited to these. In Example 1, the WJ injection hole 34 having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment was filled with a solid material having a diameter of 1.1 × R1. As described above, R <b> 1 is the opening diameter of the WJ injection hole 34. Then, the liquid was fed in a state where the solid matter was clogged in the WJ injection hole 34, and whether or not the solid matter was discharged was examined 10 times under the same conditions. The liquid pressure sent to the WJ injection hole 34 is a general liquid pressure sent from the liquid feeding device to the WJ injection hole.

  As Comparative Example 1, a through hole without the coating layer 42 and having a tapered surface on the tip side was formed in the tip cap body, and this through hole was used as a WJ injection hole. In Comparative Example 2, a through hole having no tapered surface on the tip side was formed in the tip cap body, and a covering hole portion having a WJ injection hole was formed in the through hole. Each of the WJ injection holes of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 had the same opening diameter R1 as in Example 1, and it was examined 10 times each whether or not the same solid matter as in Example 1 was clogged and discharged.

  As shown in Table 1, in Comparative Example 1, solids were discharged only 3 times out of 10 times, and in Comparative Example 2, solids were not discharged in all 10 times. On the other hand, in Example 1, since solid matter is discharged in all 10 times, the clogging of the WJ injection holes 34 can be reliably eliminated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope system 11 Electronic endoscope 15 Liquid feeding apparatus 16 Insertion part 16a, 50 Tip part 29,52 Tip cap 30 Observation window 31a, 31b Illumination window 34,51 Water jet injection hole 41 Tip cap main body (injection hole) base)
42,53 Covering layer 42a, 53a Covering hole 42b, 53b Covering tip 43 Through hole 43a Tapered surface (first widened surface)
51a Tapered surface (second widened surface)
θ1, θ2 Taper angle L1, L2 Maximum thickness

Claims (7)

An observation window for observing the inside of the subject, provided at the distal end of the insertion portion to be inserted into the subject, and an illumination window for irradiating illumination light into the subject; In an endoscope provided with an injection hole for injecting a liquid into a subject,
An injection hole base portion provided with a through hole having a first widened surface which is provided at the tip portion and gradually increases in opening area toward the tip side;
A covering hole portion made of an elastic material softer than the injection hole base portion and covering the through hole to form the linear injection hole;
An endoscope, comprising an elastic material softer than the base of the injection hole, and a cover tip that is formed integrally with the cover hole and covers the tip side of the base of the spray hole.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first spread surface is a conical tapered surface.   The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a maximum thickness dimension of the covering hole portion is not less than half of an opening diameter of the injection hole.   The endoscope according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first spread surface has a taper angle of 45 ° or more and less than 90 °.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the covering hole portion and the covering tip end portion have a Shore A hardness of 10 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the injection hole has an equal opening area from a distal end to a proximal end.   The injection hole has a second widened surface that is a conical tapered surface in which the opening area gradually increases toward the tip side, and the second widened surface is larger than the taper angle of the first widened surface. The endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a taper angle of the spread surface is small.

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