JP2013169377A - Flexible tube of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flexible tube of an endoscope capable of maintaining an initial insertion property seldom causing change in flexibility of an outer cover so much over a long period of time even when receiving heat loads by sterilization after the endoscope is used.SOLUTION: An outer cover 14 is formed by piling up a synthetic resin material 114A of a characteristic to be harder than before a heat load is received after the heat load is received and the heat load is removed and a synthetic resin material 114B of a characteristic to be softer in multiple layers, or by blending such two or more kinds of synthetic resin materials 114A and 114B.

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible tube of an endoscope.

  Endoscopes must be sterilized and sterilized each time they are used in order to prevent infection among subjects. There are various means for sterilization, but there are many cases in which a heat load is applied to the flexible tube, such as autoclave sterilization, ethylene oxide gas sterilization, and other warming chemical treatment.

  A flexible tube used in such an endoscope is generally a net-like shape formed by braiding a metal thin wire on the outer surface of a spiral tube formed by winding a metal strip in a spiral shape with a constant diameter. It is formed by covering a tube and covering the outer surface with a skin made of a flexible synthetic resin material (for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, and 4).

JP2002-17658 JP-A-2-283346 JP 2002-78676 A JP 6-98115

  The flexibility (easiness of bending) of the flexible tube of the endoscope is greatly influenced by the flexibility of the outer skin, but the synthetic resin material used for the outer skin is subjected to a thermal load due to sterilization processing or the like. In the meantime, the flexibility changes and in many cases softens to increase flexibility, and depending on the type of synthetic resin material, it hardens and decreases flexibility.

  When the sterilization process is repeated, the flexibility of the outer skin gradually does not return to the original state even after the heat load is removed. As a result, the flexibility of the flexible tube gradually changes and the initial Insertability cannot be maintained. At the same time, durability may be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the flexibility of the endoscope can maintain the original insertion property without changing the flexibility of the outer skin over a long period of time even when subjected to a heat load due to sterilization or the like after the use of the endoscope. The purpose is to provide a tube.

  In order to achieve the above object, a flexible tube of an endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope flexible tube having a structure covered with a flexible synthetic resin outer skin, Is formed of a plurality of layers, and at least one of the layers is formed of a synthetic resin material having a property of being hardened more than before being subjected to the thermal load after the thermal load is removed after being subjected to the thermal load, The other at least one layer is formed of a synthetic resin material having a characteristic of being softened after being subjected to the thermal load and then being removed after the thermal load is removed.

  In addition, the flexible tube of the endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope flexible tube having a structure covered with a flexible synthetic resin outer skin, and the outer skin has a plurality of types of synthetic resins. At least one synthetic resin material is formed by blending materials, and has a property of curing after being subjected to a thermal load and after the thermal load is removed, than before being subjected to the thermal load. At least one synthetic resin material has a property of being softened after being subjected to a thermal load and then being removed after the thermal load is removed.

  After the outer skin is subjected to a thermal load, the degree of curing and softening of the total synthetic resin material that forms the outer skin is offset, so that the flexibility of the outer skin does not change. With this configuration, the insertability does not change at all, and the initial excellent insertability can be maintained.

  According to the present invention, after the thermal load is removed after the outer skin is subjected to the thermal load, the degree of hardening and the degree of softening of the plurality of synthetic resin materials forming the outer skin are offset, and the flexibility of the outer skin is reduced. The flexibility of the endoscope's flexible tube does not change over a long period of time even when the outer skin is subjected to a heat load due to sterilization and sterilization after use of the endoscope. It is possible to maintain good insertability.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is sectional drawing of a cross section perpendicular | vertical to the axis line of the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is a characteristic diagram which shows the change of flexibility after the thermal load of the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on 1st Example of this invention is removed. It is sectional drawing of a cross section perpendicular | vertical to the axis line of the flexible tube of the endoscope which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A flexible insertion portion inserted into a body includes a flexible tube portion 1 bent by an external force received from the surroundings, The bending portion 2 is connected to the distal end of the flexible tube portion 1 so as to be bent by remote operation, and the distal end portion body 3 is connected to the distal end of the bending portion 2 by arranging a flexible tube or the like. ing.

  The proximal end of the flexible tube portion 1 is connected to the lower end of the operation portion 4, and the bending portion 2 is bent at an arbitrary angle in an arbitrary direction by rotating the bending operation knob 5 disposed on the operation portion 4. Can be made. Reference numeral 6 denotes a connecting flexible tube having a connector portion connected to a video processor (not shown) attached to the tip.

  FIG. 2 is a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the flexible tube portion 1 and shows a II-II cross section in FIG. However, illustrations of so-called built-in optical fiber bundles, signal cables, various piping tubes, etc. are omitted, and only the cross section of the flexible tube 10 that covers the flexible tube portion 1 is shown in FIG. .

  The flexible tube 10 has a configuration in which a mesh tube 13 is covered on the outer periphery of double spiral tubes 11 and 12 having different winding directions, and a flexible synthetic resin outer skin 14 is covered on the outer surface thereof without any gap. It has become.

  The spiral tubes 11 and 12 are formed by spirally winding a metal, for example, a stainless steel strip or the like with a constant diameter, and the mesh tube 13 is formed by braiding a metal thin wire. Although the spiral tubes 11 and 12 of this embodiment are double, they may be single or triple or more.

  The outer skin 14 has a two-layer structure of a first layer 14A on the surface side and a second layer 14B on the inner side. The first layer 14A and the second layer 14B are simultaneously coated on the outer surface of the mesh tube 13 by extrusion molding or the like. However, the first layer 14A and the second layer 14B may be separately coated.

  Of the two inner and outer layers constituting the outer skin 14, the first layer 14 </ b> A is a first synthetic resin material having a characteristic of being hardened more than before being subjected to the thermal load after the thermal load is removed after being subjected to the thermal load. 114A. As such a synthetic resin material, for example, a thermosetting resin such as polyimide, epoxy, polyurethane, and polyester can be used.

  On the other hand, the second layer 14 </ b> B is formed of the second synthetic resin material 114 </ b> B having a characteristic of being softened more than before being subjected to the thermal load after the thermal load is removed after being subjected to the thermal load. As such a synthetic resin material, for example, thermoplastic elastomers such as polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, polystyrene, and fluorine can be used.

  As a result, even if the outer skin 14 is subjected to a thermal load due to sterilization or the like after use of the endoscope, the first layer 14A is formed after the outer skin 14 is subjected to the thermal load and then removed. The degree of curing of the first synthetic resin material 114A and the degree of softening of the second synthetic resin material 114B forming the second layer 14B cancel each other, and the flexibility of the outer skin 14 does not change much. As a result, the flexibility of the flexible tube 10 does not change much.

  Then, the first layer 14A corresponds to the characteristics of each of the first synthetic resin material 114A forming the first layer 14A and the second synthetic resin material 114B forming the second layer 14B with respect to the thermal load. And adjusting the thickness of each of the second layers 14B and the respective molding conditions, etc., as shown in FIG. 3, the first layer 14A is formed after the heat load is removed, as shown in FIG. The degree of curing of the synthetic resin material 114A and the degree of softening of the second synthetic resin material 114B forming the second layer 14B can be offset to the same extent.

  In this way, even if the flexible tube 10 is repeatedly subjected to a thermal load due to sterilization and the like after use of the endoscope, the flexibility of the outer skin 14 does not change at all, and the flexible tube 10 can be used. Flexibility can be maintained in a good initial state over a long period of time.

  Note that the characteristics of the first layer 14A and the second layer 14B may be reversed. Further, the outer skin 14 may have three or more layers. In that case, a synthetic resin material may be combined so that the change in hardness after the heat load is removed is canceled in all layers and does not change from the initial state.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the flexible tube 10 of the second embodiment of the present invention. It corresponds to the II-II sectional view of FIG. In this embodiment, a single-layer outer skin 14 is formed by blending two types of synthetic resin materials 114A and 114B.

  The first synthetic resin material 114A has a characteristic of being hardened more than before receiving the heat load after the heat load is removed after receiving the heat load, and the second synthetic resin material 114B. Is provided with a characteristic of being softened more than before being subjected to the heat load after the heat load is removed after being subjected to the heat load. As such a synthetic resin material, the same material as in the first embodiment can be selected.

  As a result, even if the outer skin 14 is subjected to a thermal load due to sterilization and the like after use of the endoscope, the first synthetic resin material 114A is removed after the outer skin 14 is subjected to the thermal load and then removed. The degree of curing and the degree of softening of the second synthetic resin material 1 cancel each other, and the flexibility of the outer skin 14 does not change much. As a result, the flexibility of the flexible tube 10 does not change much.

  Then, the blend ratio and molding conditions of the first synthetic resin material 114A and the second synthetic resin material 114B corresponding to the respective thermal load characteristics of the first synthetic resin material 114A and the second synthetic resin material 114B. If the above is adjusted, the degree of curing of the first synthetic resin material 114A and the second synthetic resin material 114B after the thermal load is removed, as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The degree of softening is offset to the same extent, so that the flexibility of the outer skin 14 does not change so much that it can be said that even if it is repeatedly subjected to a thermal load.

  The outer skin 14 may be formed by blending three or more types of synthetic resin materials having different characteristics with respect to the heat load. In that case, the synthetic resin materials may be combined so that the change in the hardness of the synthetic resin material of the entire outer skin 14 after the heat load is removed is offset and the flexibility of the outer skin 14 does not change.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, you may apply this invention to the flexible tube of the connection flexible tube 6 and another endoscope.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible tube part 10 Flexible tube 11 Spiral tube 12 Spiral tube 13 Reticulated tube 14 Outer skin 14A 1st layer 14B 2nd layer 114A 1st synthetic resin material 114B 2nd synthetic resin material

Claims (3)

A flexible tube of an endoscope having a structure covered with a flexible synthetic resin outer skin,
The outer skin is formed of a plurality of layers, and at least one of them is formed of a synthetic resin material having a property of being hardened more than before being subjected to the thermal load after the thermal load is removed after being subjected to the thermal load. The other at least one layer is formed of a synthetic resin material having a characteristic of being softened more than before being subjected to the thermal load after the thermal load is removed after being subjected to the thermal load. Flexible tube of endoscope. A flexible tube of an endoscope having a structure covered with a flexible synthetic resin outer skin,
The outer shell is formed by blending a plurality of types of synthetic resin materials, and at least one of the synthetic resin materials is subjected to a thermal load and then the thermal load is removed and then the thermal load is removed. It has a property of curing, and at least one other synthetic resin material has a property of being softened after being subjected to a heat load and then being removed after the heat load is removed. An endoscope flexible tube.   After the outer skin is subjected to a thermal load, after the thermal load is removed, the degree of hardening and the degree of softening of the total synthetic resin material forming the outer skin are offset, and the flexibility of the outer skin does not change. The flexible tube of the endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured as described above.

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