JP2013128662A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope improving operability by devising the shape of an operating member for performing pushing/pulling operations by a forefinger or a middle finger.SOLUTION: This endoscope 1 includes: a bending operation mechanism provided with an insertion part 2 having a bending portion 6 and the operating part 3 consecutively provided thereto, and causing the operating part to bendingly operate the bending portion; and a bending portion braking mechanism for locking the bending operation of the bending portion. The endoscope further includes a bending operation member 10 rotationally disposed in the upper part of an operating part body 33, being rotationally turned in the bending operation of the bending portion, and acting on the bending operation mechanism; a bending locking operation member 13 rotationally disposed at the lower part of the operating part body, being rotationally turned when the bending operation of the bending portion is locked, and acting on the bending portion braking mechanism; and a finger rest part provided with a pulling-direction finger rest face that substantially orthogonally crosses with the operating direction of a pulling operation for displacing the bending locking operation member from a bending state release position to a bending locked position; and a pushing-direction finger rest face that substantially orthogonally crosses with the operating direction of the pushing operation for displacing the bending locking operation member from the bending state locked position to the bending state release position.

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to a structure that improves operability in an endoscope provided with a bending portion braking mechanism portion that maintains a bending state of a bending portion in a bending operation mechanism portion that performs a bending operation of the bending portion. is there.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endoscopes that can be used for observation and various treatments by inserting a thin insertion portion into the body have been used. In this type of endoscope, the insertion is performed for the purpose of observing the observation optical system built in the distal end of the insertion portion in the intended direction or for easy insertion into the test site. Some have a curved portion. The bending portion includes, for example, a bending portion set configured such that a plurality of bending pieces are rotatably connected to bend in two directions up and down and four directions up and down and left and right. The top of the bending wire corresponding to each bending direction is fixed to the piece. Note that an operation portion that also serves as a gripping portion is provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion of the endoscope, and a bending operation device is provided inside the operation portion.

  With such a configuration, in a conventional endoscope, for example, an operator pulls a desired bending wire via a bending operation device, whereby the bending portion can be bent in a desired direction.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-160791 discloses an endoscope in which an up / down bending operation lever and a left / right bending operation lever are respectively pivotally supported on both left and right side surfaces of an operation unit body constituting an operation unit. ing.

  In the endoscope disclosed in the publication, each bending operation lever for up, down, left, and right extends from the left and right side surfaces of the operation unit main body, and then extends to the upper surface side region of the operation unit main body. The finger contact portions of the bending operation lever are arranged side by side in the upper region of the operation portion main body.

  In the endoscope, after the bending lock lever as the operation member of the bending portion braking mechanism for maintaining the bending state of the bending portion extends from the left and right side surfaces of the operation portion main body, It extends in the lower surface area. The finger lock portion of the curved lock lever is arranged in a region where the index finger of the hand is naturally positioned when the operator grips the grip portion with one hand, that is, on the lower surface side of the operation portion main body.

  With this configuration, the operator can operate the up / down and left / right bending operation levers disposed in the upper surface side region of the operation unit main body mainly with the thumb while holding the operation unit with one hand. At the same time, the bending lock lever disposed in the lower surface region of the operation portion main body is appropriately operated using either the index finger or the middle finger.

  When operating the bending operation lever and the bending lock lever having such a configuration, the finger contact surface of the finger contact portion is the finger direction because the finger movement direction in which finger strength is easily applied is a linear direction. It is desirable to set it to be perpendicular to the operation direction.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-160791

  However, since the bending operation lever and the bending lock lever in the conventional endoscope disclosed by the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-160791 and the like are configured to rotate, when performing the lever operation, As the lever rotates, the angle of the finger contact surface of the lever with respect to the operated finger surface changes. Therefore, the amount of finger force applied to the lever is not always transmitted efficiently. In particular, at the lock position of the bending lock lever, that is, at the position where the amount of fixing force for maintaining the bending state of the bending portion is large, the amount of operation force is large (heavy).

  Further, when the lever operation is performed while holding the operation unit with one hand, the lever operation with the thumb, that is, the push-pull operation is relatively easy. On the other hand, in the lever operation performed with the index finger or the middle finger, the operation in the pulling direction of the lever is easy, but when the operation in the pushing direction of the lever is performed, there is a problem that it is difficult to apply force to the lever.

  For example, in the endoscope having the above-described configuration, the bending lock lever performs a pulling operation from the release position to the lock position and a push operation from the lock position to the release position using the index finger or the middle finger. In this case, there is a tendency that it is difficult to apply force when performing the pushing operation, and there is a problem in the operability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to include a bending portion braking mechanism portion that maintains a bending state of the bending portion in a bending operation mechanism portion that performs a bending operation of the bending portion. Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that achieves improved operability by devising a member shape of an operation member that performs a push-pull operation using an index finger or a middle finger.

  In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes an insertion portion having a bendable bending portion and an operation portion provided continuously to a proximal end side of the insertion portion. In an endoscope including a bending operation mechanism unit that performs a bending operation of the bending unit and a bending unit braking mechanism unit that locks the bending operation of the bending unit, the endoscope is rotatably disposed above the operation unit main body of the operation unit. A bending operation member that is rotated when the bending portion is bent to act on the bending operation mechanism portion, and is rotatably disposed below the operation portion main body of the operation portion to lock the bending operation of the bending portion. A bending lock operating member that is rotated at the time and acts on the bending portion braking mechanism, and the bending lock operating member releases the bending lock operating member in a bent state by a user who holds the operating portion. From the position to the curved lock position A pulling direction finger contact surface formed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of the pulling operation to be performed, and a push performed to displace the bending lock operating member from the bending state lock position to the bending state release position A finger contact portion having a push direction finger contact surface formed in a surface substantially orthogonal to the operation direction of the operation is provided.

  According to the present invention, an operation for performing a push-pull operation using an index finger or a middle finger in an endoscope provided with a bending portion braking mechanism portion that maintains a bending state of the bending portion in a bending operation mechanism portion that performs a bending operation of the bending portion. It is possible to provide an endoscope that achieves improved operability by devising the shape of the member.

1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of an entire endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the upper surface of the operation part in the endoscope of FIG. The front view which showed the shape of each operation member (lever) in the operation part of FIG. 2, and was seen from the insertion part side The rear view which showed the shape of each operation member (lever) in the operation part of FIG. 2, and was seen from the universal cord extension part side FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration perspective view showing only the operation unit main body and the bending lock lever of the operation unit of FIG. The figure which shows the side surface of the operation part in the endoscope of FIG. 1, and shows the state which has a curve lock lever in a curve state release position. The figure which shows the side surface of the operation part in the endoscope of FIG. 1, and shows the state which has a curve lock lever in a curve state lock position. FIG. 2 is a side view of the operation unit in a state in which the bending lock lever is in the bending state release position, showing a modification of the endoscope of FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the operation unit in a state where the bending lock lever is in the bending state lock position, showing a modification of the endoscope of FIG.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
FIGS. 1-7 is a figure which shows the endoscope of one Embodiment of this invention. Among these, FIG. 1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of the entire endoscope of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an upper surface of the operation unit in the endoscope of FIG. 3 and 4 are views showing the shape of each operation member (lever) in the operation section of FIG. 2, FIG. 3 is a front view seen from the insertion section side, and FIG. 4 is a universal cord extension section. It is the rear view seen from the side. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing only the operation unit main body and the bending lock lever of the operation unit shown in FIG. 2, and simultaneously shows the operation state (release position and lock position) of the bending lock lever. 6 and 7 are views showing a side surface of the operation unit in the endoscope of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the bending lock lever is in the bending state release position, and FIG. The state which exists in a bending state lock position is shown.

  In each drawing used for the following description, each component may be shown with a different scale in order to make each component large enough to be recognized on the drawing. Therefore, according to the present invention, the number of constituent elements, the shape of the constituent elements, the ratio of the constituent element sizes, and the relative positional relationship of the constituent elements described in these drawings are limited to the illustrated embodiments. It is not a thing.

  Further, in the following description of the present embodiment, when the operator (operator) holds a predetermined part of the operation unit 3 in a state where the endoscope is used, a surface facing upward is referred to as an upper surface. The surface facing the upper surface and facing downward is referred to as the lower surface. In this state, the operator holds the operation unit such that the universal cord is arranged toward the operator and the insertion unit extends in a direction away from the operator. At this time, the left and right when viewed from the operator are the right side and the left side.

A schematic configuration of the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment will be described below mainly using FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment includes an elongated insertion portion 2, an operation portion 3, and a universal cord 4. The operation unit 3 is connected to the proximal end of the insertion unit 2. The universal cord 4 extends from the proximal end side portion of the operation unit 3. The universal cord 4 is configured as a flexible tubular member having a sufficiently long length compared to the insertion portion 2.

  The insertion portion 2 is configured by connecting a rigid portion 5, a bending portion 6, and a distal end portion 7 in order from the operation portion 3 side. The endoscope 1 of the present embodiment is of a type suitable for being inserted into the body through a guide tube such as a trocar punctured in the abdominal wall, for example, provided with a rigid portion 5 in the insertion portion 2.

  Note that the endoscope 1 may be an endoscope having a flexible insertion portion including a flexible and flexible flexible tube portion instead of the rigid portion 5.

  The distal end surface of the distal end portion 7 is provided with an imaging window and an illumination window constituting the observation portion 7a. An imaging optical system having an objective lens and the like is disposed inside the imaging window. The front end face of the light guide fiber bundle is disposed in the inner part of the illumination window. And in the front-end | tip part 7, the image pick-up element (CCD, CMOS, etc.) arrange | positioned in the image formation position of the said imaging optical system is provided.

  The bending portion 6 is configured to be bendable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The bending portion 6 is configured to bend in the vertical and horizontal directions by a bending operation device provided in the operation unit 3. The bending operation device includes a bending operation lever 10 that is a bending operation member, and a bending operation mechanism unit.

  The bending operation lever 10 includes an up / down bending operation lever 11 and a left / right bending operation lever 12. The bending operation mechanism unit includes an up / down bending operation mechanism unit and a left / right bending operation mechanism unit.

  Here, the up / down bending operation mechanism unit is a mechanism unit that causes the bending unit 6 to bend in the vertical direction in conjunction with the turning operation of the up / down bending operation lever 11. The left / right bending operation mechanism is a mechanism that causes the bending portion 6 to bend in the left / right direction in conjunction with the turning operation of the left / right bending operation lever 12. In addition, although the said bending operation mechanism part (a vertical bending operation mechanism part and a left-right bending operation mechanism part) is arrange | positioned inside the operation part 3, about the structure of these mechanism parts itself, this invention. Detailed description of the configuration is omitted because it is a part not directly related to.

  As shown in FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. 1, the operation portion 3 includes a fixing ring portion 31, a sub grip portion 32, an operation portion main body 33, a main grip portion 34, and a connection member 35 from the insertion portion side. They are arranged in series. The operation unit 3 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole.

  The fixing ring portion 31 is a member that connects the distal end side of the operation portion 3 and the proximal end side of the insertion portion 2. The sub grip portion 32 is disposed on the proximal end side of the fixing ring portion 31. An operation member 36 such as a remote switch for controlling the image pickup device of the observation unit 7a is provided on the outer surface of the sub grip 32.

  The operation portion main body 33 is disposed on the proximal end side of the sub grip portion 32. Inside the operation portion main body 33, a bending operation mechanism portion made up of a bending wire, a pulley and the like (not shown) and a bending portion braking mechanism portion which will be described later are provided. Further, the bending operation lever 10 (up / down bending operation lever 11 and left / right bending operation lever 12) is provided above the operation unit body 33, and the bending unit braking is provided below the operation unit body 33. A bending lock lever 13 which is a bending lock operating member constituting a part of the mechanism portion is provided.

  The main grip portion 34 is disposed on the proximal end side of the operation portion main body 33. A connecting member 35 having a tapered shape and flexibility is connected to the proximal end side of the main grip portion 34. The connecting member 35 is disposed so as to cover the universal cord 4 extending from the operation unit 3. Thereby, the connection member 35 prevents the end portion of the universal cord 4 from buckling in the vicinity of the connection portion with the main grip portion 34.

  A plurality of endoscopes such as a light guide fiber bundle, a signal cable for transmitting various signals, a shield cable, and various tubes are provided in the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3, and the universal cord 4 of the endoscope 1. Built-in objects are inserted.

  The extension end of the universal cord 4 is provided with a light guide connector 4a that can be connected to a light source device, which is an external device (not shown). The light guide connector 4a is provided with a light guide tube 4d and a vent hole 4e. A camera cable 4b branches off from the side surface of the light guide connector 4a. At the extended end of the camera cable 4b, there is provided a connector 4c that is connected to a control device that is an external device (not shown) or a camera control unit that includes a signal processing circuit, etc., and ensures electrical connection.

  The up / down bending operation lever 11 provided in the operation unit main body 33 of the operation unit 3 is a lever-like operation member for pulling and loosening an up / down bending wire (not shown) provided in the operation unit main body 33. . The left / right bending operation lever 12 is a lever-like operation member for pulling / releasing a left / right bending wire (not shown) provided in the operation portion main body 33.

  In the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, the up / down bending operation lever 11 is provided on a support shaft 33a (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6, etc.) that protrudes outward from the left side surface of the operation portion main body 33. One end of the shaft is pivotably supported. The up / down bending operation lever 11 is formed so as to extend upward along the left side surface of the operation unit main body 33 from the support shaft 33 a and then extend along the upper surface of the operation unit main body 33. In the vertical bending operation lever 11, a vertical operation finger rest 11 a is formed at a portion extending along the upper surface of the operation unit main body 33.

  Further, one end portion of the left and right bending operation lever 12 is pivotably pivoted on a support shaft 33c (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6, etc.) protruding outward from the right side surface of the operation portion main body 33. It is supported. Like the lever 11, the left / right bending operation lever 12 extends upward along the right side surface of the operation unit body 33 from the support shaft 33 c and then extends along the upper surface of the operation unit body 33. Is formed. In the left / right bending operation lever 12, a left / right operation finger contact portion 12 a is formed at a portion extending along the upper surface of the operation portion main body 33.

  The extension line of the rotation center (support shaft 33a) of the up / down bending operation lever 11 and the extension line of the rotation center (support shaft 33c) of the left / right bending operation lever 12 cause the operation unit body 33 to move left and right. They are set to match on the same straight line. Further, the support shafts 33a and 33c rotate and act on a bending operation mechanism unit disposed inside the operation unit 3.

  With such a configuration, the other end of the up / down bending operation lever 11 and the other end of the left / right bending operation lever 12 are arranged to face each other in a normal state. Further, in a normal state, the vertical operation finger pad 11 a and the left and right operation finger pads 12 a are aligned above the operation unit body 33 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis direction of the operation unit 3. Are arranged side by side.

  Therefore, the up / down operation finger contact part 11 a and the left / right operation finger contact part 12 a are areas in which the thumb of one hand of the operator holding the main grip part 34 is naturally located with respect to the operation part body 33. 33 is disposed on the upper surface side.

  On the other hand, the operation portion main body 33 is provided with a bending lock lever 13 that constitutes a part of the bending portion braking mechanism portion. One end and the other end of the bending lock lever 13 are freely rotatable on support shafts 33b and 33d (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 etc.) projecting outward from the left and right side surfaces of the operation section main body 33, respectively. Are supported by each. Note that the support shafts 33b and 33d are arranged at positions closer to the lower side than the support shafts 33a and 33c when viewed from the side surface of the operation unit main body 33. Thus, the bending lock lever 13 and the bending operation lever 10 are rotatable without interfering with each other. The bending lock lever 13 has a function of locking the bending state of the bending portion 6 by rotating and releasing the locking state.

  The bending lock lever 13 extends in the forward direction along the left side surface of the operation unit main body 33 from the support shaft 33b in a state where the bending lock lever 13 is in a bending state release position described later (the state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). After (see the part L in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6), it bends and extends downward at an angle of approximately 90 degrees (reference numeral M in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6), and further on the lower surface of the operation unit main body 33 It is formed so as to extend along (reference numeral N in FIGS. 3 and 5). On the other hand, in the same state, the other end portion extends forward from the support shaft 33d along the right side surface of the operation portion main body 33 (corresponding to the symbol L), and then bends and extends downward by 90 degrees. It is formed so as to extend along the lower surface of the operation unit main body 33 (corresponding to reference numeral N). And the lever member extended along the lower surface from right and left is continuously provided in the lower surface of the operation part main body 33. As shown in FIG. Lock lever finger rests 13a and 13b (see FIGS. 3 and 4 etc.) are formed in the middle part of the continuous parts.

  In other words, the lock lever finger rests 13a and 13b of the curved lock lever 13 are configured such that when the operator holds the main grip part 34 with one hand as described above, the index finger or middle finger of the hand is in contact with the operation part main body 33. It is disposed below the operation unit main body 33, which is a naturally located region. Further, the support shafts 33b and 33d act on the bending portion braking mechanism portion disposed inside the operation portion 3 by rotating.

  The curved lock lever 13 is a lever in the vicinity of a connected portion (in the vicinity of a portion indicated by reference symbol P in FIG. 3) between the portion indicated by reference character M in FIGS. 3 and 5 and the portion indicated by reference character N in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the member has a shape that extends obliquely from the side surface of the operation unit body 33 toward the lower surface when the operation unit body 33 is viewed from the front. Further, in the vicinity of both end portions of the lock lever finger contact portion 13a, that is, in the portion indicated by the symbol P in FIG. 3, a concave portion P having a substantially central portion recessed slightly inward is formed. The concave portion P is a finger escape portion formed to make it easier to place a finger on the lock lever finger rest 13 a when operating the curved lock lever 13.

  With such a configuration, the bending lock lever 13 is shown by a solid line in FIG. 5 or a bending state release position (hereinafter simply referred to as a releasing position) shown in FIG. 6 and a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5 or a bending state shown in FIG. It is configured to rotate without interfering with the operation portion main body 33 between a lock position (hereinafter simply referred to as a lock position).

  With the above configuration, an operator who uses the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment can easily operate the levers 11 and 12 disposed on the operation unit main body 33 with the thumb on one hand side holding the operation unit 3. At the same time, the bending lock lever 13 disposed on the operation portion main body 33 can be easily operated by the index finger or middle finger of the same hand holding the operation portion 3. In addition, the endoscope 1 can be appropriately operated even when the operator holds the operation unit 3 with either the right hand or the left hand.

  A further detailed configuration of the bending lock lever 13 in the endoscope 1 of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described below.

  As described above, the bending lock lever 13 in the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment has two lock lever finger contact portions 13a and 13b. Of these two lock lever finger rests 13a and 13b, one of the lock lever finger rests 13a is used by an operator during a pulling operation when the bending lock lever 13 is rotated from the release position to the lock position. Of the finger (for example, the index finger and the middle finger) is a pulling direction finger contact surface. The other finger lever 13b for the lock lever comes into contact with the operator's finger (for example, the index finger or the back of the middle finger) when the bending lock lever 13 is pushed to rotate from the lock position to the release position. It has a pushing direction finger contact surface.

  In the lock lever finger contact portion 13a, the surface on which the operator's finger abuts (the pull direction finger contact surface) is the same as when the curved lock lever 13 is in the release position (the state shown in FIG. 6). It is set so as to be substantially orthogonal to the operation direction (arrow A direction in FIG. 6) at the time of pulling operation.

  With this configuration, when the bending lock lever 13 is rotated from the release position to the lock position, the amount of force generated by the finger pulling operation at the start of the operation at the release position is determined by the pull direction finger of the lock lever finger rest 13a. Since it acts substantially perpendicular to the contact surface, the pulling operation can be performed efficiently.

  Then, when the bending lock lever 13 is turned from the release position in FIG. 6 and displaced to the lock position in FIG. 7, the amount of operation force gradually increases, and is the largest in the vicinity of the lock position in FIG. (Heavy).

  In the bending lock lever 13 in the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, even when approaching the vicinity of the lock position, the amount of force by the pulling operation on the lock lever finger rest 13a is locked as shown by the arrow B in FIG. The lever finger contact portion 13a acts substantially perpendicular to the pulling direction finger contact surface. That is, when the operator pulls the curved lock lever 13 while grasping the operation portion 3, the operator does not particularly care about the pull-direction finger contact surface of the lock lever finger contact portion 13 a in the vicinity of the lock position. The force can be applied in a substantially vertical direction. Therefore, in the curved lock lever 13 in the present embodiment, an efficient pulling operation is always performed.

  On the other hand, in the lock lever finger rest 13b, the pushing direction finger contact surface is the direction of operation when the curved lock lever 13 is pushed when the curved lock lever 13 is in the locked position (the state shown in FIG. 7). It is set so as to be substantially orthogonal to the direction of arrow C in FIG.

  With this configuration, when the bending lock lever 13 is rotated from the locked position to the released position, the force due to the pushing operation of the finger is applied to the finger-contacting surface of the finger-addressed portion 13b at the start of the operation at the locked position. On the other hand, since it acts substantially vertically, the pushing operation can be performed efficiently.

  When the bending lock lever 13 is turned from the lock position shown in FIG. 7 and is displaced to the release position shown in FIG. 6, the amount of operation force gradually decreases. In the bending lock lever 13 in the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, when approaching the release position, the amount of force by the pushing operation on the finger-addressed portion 13b acts in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. In this case, the finger that is pushed by the operator is displaced so as to push the back side of the lock lever finger rest 13a from the state of pushing the finger rest 13b. Therefore, when the curved lock lever 13 is in the vicinity of the release position, the amount of pressing force of the operator acts substantially perpendicular to the surface on the back side of the lock lever finger rest 13a. That is, when the operator pushes the curved lock lever 13 while gripping the operation unit 3, the back side of the pulling-direction finger contact surface of the lock lever finger contact portion 13 a in the vicinity of the release position, without being particularly conscious. The amount of force is applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface. At this time, the finger to be pushed is in a fully extended state depending on the case, but the finger can be operated sufficiently even if the amount of operation force at this time is relatively small. Therefore, in the curved lock lever 13 in this embodiment, an efficient pushing operation is always performed.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the shape of the lock lever finger rests 13a and 13b of the bending lock lever 13 is devised, so that the bending operation is locked (pulling operation) when the bending operation is performed. In addition, the lock release operation (push operation) can always be performed efficiently, which can contribute to improving the operability of the endoscope 1 itself.

  8 and 9 are diagrams showing a modification of the bending lock lever in the endoscope of the present embodiment. Among these, FIG. 8 shows a state in which the curved lock lever is in the release position, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the curved lock lever is in the locked position.

  As shown in the figure, in the curved lock lever 13A of the present modification, of the two lock lever finger rests, the finger rest 13Ab used when releasing the curved lock state (when pushing) is pushed. The direction finger contact surface is formed to have a larger area than, for example, the pull direction finger contact surface. When the curved lock lever 13A is disposed at the release position (the state shown in FIG. 8), the pull-direction finger contact surface of the lock lever finger contact portion 13a is set substantially perpendicular to the operation direction of the pull operation. At the same time, when the curved lock lever 13A is disposed at the lock position (the state shown in FIG. 9), the push-direction finger contact surface of the lock lever finger contact portion 13Ab is substantially perpendicular to the operation direction of the push operation. Is set to

  As described above, by taking a large area of the pressing direction finger contact surface, it is possible to reliably operate even in a pressing operation in which a force is difficult to be applied, thereby contributing to an improvement in operability.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can of course be implemented without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if several constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the above-described embodiment, if the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and the effect of the invention can be obtained, this constituent requirement is deleted. The configured structure can be extracted as an invention.

  The present invention can be applied not only to an endoscope control device in the medical field but also to an endoscope control device in an industrial field.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 2 ... Insertion part, 3 ... Operation part, 4 ... Universal cord,
5 ... Hard part, 6 ... Curved part, 7 ... Tip part, 7a ... Observation part,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Bending operation lever, 11 ... Up / down bending operation lever, 11a ... Up / down operation finger rest, 12 ... Left / right bending operation lever, 12a ... Left / right operation finger rest,
13, 13A ... curved lock lever, 13a, 13b, 13Ab ... lock lever finger rest part 31 ... fixing ring part, 32 ... sub grip part, 33 ... operation part main body, 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d …… Spindle, 34 …… Main grip, 35 …… Connecting member, 36 …… Operating member

Claims (3)

A bending operation mechanism section that includes an insertion section having a bendable bending section and an operation section that is provided on the proximal end side of the insertion section, and that causes the bending section to perform a bending operation of the bending section; and a bending operation of the bending section. In an endoscope provided with a bending portion braking mechanism for locking,
A bending operation member that is rotatably disposed above the operation unit main body of the operation unit, and that is rotated when the bending unit is bent to act on the bending operation mechanism unit;
A bending lock operation member which is rotatably disposed below the operation unit main body of the operation unit and is rotated when the bending operation of the bending unit is locked, and acts on the bending unit braking mechanism unit;
Comprising
The bending lock operation member is in an in-plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of operation of a pulling operation performed by a user holding the operation unit to displace the bending lock operation member from the bending state release position to the bending lock position. And a pulling direction finger contact surface formed on the surface, and a surface substantially orthogonal to the operation direction of the push operation performed to displace the bending lock operation member from the bending state lock position to the bending state release position. An endoscope comprising a finger contact portion having a push direction finger contact surface.   The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a finger escape portion formed in the vicinity of the finger contact portion of the bending lock operation member.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the push direction finger contact surface is formed to have a larger area than the pull direction finger contact surface.

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