JP2014073320A - Introduction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an introduction device which enhances maintainability.SOLUTION: An introduction device includes: an insertion part 21 which is provided with a gear part 34; a rotor 24 which is provided with a through-hole 25 for exposing a part of the gear part 34, which assumes a cylindrical shape surrounding the insertion part 21 in such a manner as to cover the gear part 34, and which can be rotated around the insertion part 21 by being engaged with the gear part 34; an elastic member 26 for closing the through-hole 25; and a holding unit 27 for holding the elastic member 26 with respect to the rotor 24.

Description

  The present invention relates to an introduction device that includes an insertion portion that can be inserted into a subject and is used in an endoscope.

  An introduction tube in which a cylindrical spiral portion is provided at the tip of an elastic cover tube is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). A transmission gear groove is provided in the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical spiral portion. The introduction tube includes a rotation shaft having a transmission gear at the tip thereof that meshes with the transmission gear groove. In this introduction tube, the cylindrical spiral portion that receives the power transmission from the rotary shaft and the transmission gear rotates, and can advance to the deep part in the body cavity.

JP 2007-185394 A

  For example, during regular maintenance, a structure is desired in which not only the introduction pipe is disassembled and grease is added to the gear, but the user can also add grease appropriately. In particular, the endoscope may be used 500 to 600 times before regular maintenance is performed, and there is a possibility that additional grease is required before the maintenance.

  An object of this invention is to provide the introduction apparatus which improved the maintainability.

  In order to achieve the above object, an introduction device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with an insertion portion provided with a gear portion, a through hole exposing a part of the gear portion, and covering the gear portion. A cylindrical body that surrounds the insertion portion, is engaged with the gear portion and is rotatable around the insertion portion, an elastic member that closes the through hole, and the elastic member with respect to the rotational body. And a holding unit for holding.

  According to said structure, the introduction apparatus which improved the maintainability can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of an endoscope system having the introduction device of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where the drive tube is removed in the endoscope system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the rotation holding unit and the rotating body of the insertion portion of the endoscope system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the rotation holding unit and the rotating body of the insertion portion shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of the elastic member, the holding unit, and the gear portion shown in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a step of injecting grease between the gear of the rotating body and the second gear shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a step subsequent to the step shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the rotation holding unit and the rotating body of the insertion portion of the endoscope system which is the second embodiment of the introducing device. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rotation holding unit, the rotating body, and the second gear shown in FIG.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, an endoscope system having the introduction device of the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 11 includes an endoscope 12, a light source device 13, a video processor 14, and a monitor 15.
The light source device 13 is detachably attached to the endoscope 12 with a universal cord 36 and supplies illumination light to the endoscope 12. The light source device 13 includes, for example, a xenon lamp as an illumination light source (white light). Similarly, the video processor 14 is detachably connected to the endoscope 12 by the universal cord 36, and controls the endoscope 12 and processes a signal transmitted from the endoscope 12. The monitor 15 is connected to the video processor 14 and displays a video signal output from the video processor 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the endoscope 12 includes a flexible elongated insertion portion 21 and an operation portion 23 provided at a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 21.
The operation unit 23 includes an operation unit main body 35 and a universal cord 36. The universal cord 36 extends from the operation portion main body 35 in a direction intersecting with the insertion portion 21. The universal cord 36 includes a light guide connector that can be attached to and detached from the light source device 13 and an electrical connector that can be attached to and detached from the video processor 14. When the light guide connector is connected to the light source device 13, the light guide connector and the light source described above of the light source device 13 are optically connected. When the electrical connector is connected to the video processor 14, the electrical connector and the video processor are electrically connected. The electrical part of the endoscope 12 is controlled by the video processor 14.

  The operation portion main body 35 is provided with a bending operation knob 37 in which a UD (Up, Down) operation knob for bending the bending portion 45 and an RL (Right, Left) operation knob are arranged on the same axis. Yes. When the surgeon operates the bending operation knob 37, the wire connected to each joint of the bending portion 45 described later can be pulled and bent or extended in a desired direction. The operation unit body 35 may be provided with a switch unit 38. The switch unit 38 includes, for example, a switch that rotates a drive tube 22 (to be described later) clockwise or counterclockwise to move the endoscope 12 forward or backward, and suction that is used when suction is performed from a water supply / suction hole (to be described later). It includes a switch and a water supply switch used when discharging water from the water supply / suction hole.

The insertion portion 21 has a distal end portion 44, a bending portion 45, and a flexible portion 46 (first flexible tube 46a and second flexible tube) from the distal end side toward the proximal end side (operation unit 23 side). 46b).
For example, the distal end portion 44 is provided with an observation optical system, an illumination optical system, and a water supply / suction nozzle. However, the structure provided at the distal end portion 44 is not limited to this. If necessary, a forceps hole or the like for passing the treatment tool through the distal end portion 44 may be provided.

The observation optical system includes, for example, an objective lens unit, an imaging unit disposed at the base end portion of the objective lens unit, and a signal cable extending from the imaging unit. The signal cable is electrically connected to the video processor 14.
The illumination optical system includes, for example, an illumination lens and a light guide disposed on the base end side of the illumination lens. The incident end surface of the light guide is disposed, for example, in the vicinity of the light source of the light source device 13, and the emission end surface of the light guide is connected to, for example, an illumination lens. That is, the light guide is passed through substantially the entire length of the insertion portion 21 and the operation portion 23.

  The water supply / suction hole is connected to a water supply device provided independently of the insertion portion 21. The water feeder can send water to the tip portion 44 as needed to wash away dirt and the like adhering to the tip portion 44. The water supply / suction hole is also connected to a suction device provided independently of the insertion portion 21. The suction device can suck biological tissue, body fluid, and the like in the body cavity from the water supply / suction hole by performing suction as necessary.

  The bending portion 45 is configured by a plurality of joints connected to each other so that a large number of metal node rings (not shown) are sequentially shifted by 90 degrees in the radial direction and are pivotable to each other. It is water-tightly covered with a member. One end of a wire is connected to each node ring of the bending mechanism, and the other end is connected to the bending operation knob 37 of the operation unit 23. For this reason, the bending portion 45 can bend between predetermined joints by bending a predetermined wire by the operation of the bending operation knob 37 of the operation portion 23 and bend in a desired direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical drive tube 22 is rotatably provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first flexible tube 46 a of the insertion portion 21. As a rotation drive mechanism of the drive tube 22, a rotation unit is provided between the first flexible tube 46a and the second flexible tube 46b.
The rotating unit includes a rotating body 24 that drives the rotation of the drive tube 22, a through hole 25 (see FIG. 4) provided in the rotating body 24, and an elastic member provided in the through hole 25 so as to close the through hole 25. 26, a holding unit 27 for holding the elastic member 26 with respect to the rotating body 24, a first index 31 (index) provided on the insertion portion 21 side, and a second index 32 provided on the rotating body 24 side The drive shaft 33 built in the insertion portion 21 and the gear portion 34 that transmits the driving force from the drive shaft 33 to the rotating body 24 are provided.

  The drive tube 22 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material, can be attached to and detached from the first flexible tube 46a, and is disposable for a single use without being reused. The drive tube 22 includes a cylindrical tubular portion 41 and a raised portion 42 that is provided outside the tubular portion 41 and protrudes from the tubular portion 41. The raised portion 42 has a shape in which a string-like member is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion, and has a so-called spiral shape. An engaging portion 43 that can engage with the rotating body 24 is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the driving tube 22 at the end of the driving tube 22 on the operation portion 23 side (base end side). The engaging portion 43 has a shape complementary to a polygon (for example, hexagon or octagon) of the rotating body, and is fitted to the outer surface of the rotating body 24 so as to rotate integrally.

The raised portion 42 of the drive tube 22 can engage the inner wall of a passage in the body (eg, small intestine, large intestine, etc.). For example, when the drive tube 22 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the insertion portion 21 can be advanced or retracted along the bend in the body cavity.
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation holding unit 28 (gear cylinder) is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by a metal material, for example, and a part of the drive shaft 33 can be accommodated inside. The rotation holding unit 28 is provided in the cylinder part 50 on both sides of the cylinder part 50 having a cylindrical shape, an attachment part 51 provided on the cylinder part 50 to which the rotating body 24 is attached, and sandwiching the attachment part 51 therebetween. It has the 1st hollow part 52 and the rubber-made 1st O-rings 53 each provided inside this 1st hollow part 52. As shown in FIG.

  The attachment portion 51 is provided so as to be recessed from a portion around the cylindrical portion 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the attachment portion 51 is provided on the first inclined surface portion 51 </ b> A provided on one end side in the extending direction of the insertion portion 21 and on the other end portion side opposite to the one end portion. Second inclined surface portion 51B.

The first O-ring 53 seals the gap between the rotation holding unit 28 and the rotating body 24. The first O-ring 53 prevents the lubricant (grease) interposed between the rotating body 24 and the gear portion 34 from leaking outside.
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation holding unit 28 is further fixed to the inside of the cylindrical portion 50, and has a bearing portion 54 that rotatably holds the first gear 61 of the gear portion 34, and a recess from the periphery of the bearing portion 54. And a second O-ring made of rubber 56 provided on the inner side of the second depression 55. The second O-ring 56 seals the gap between the cylindrical portion 50 and the bearing portion 54. The second O-ring 56 prevents a lubricant (grease) on the first gear 61 side, which will be described later, of the gear portion 34 from leaking outside through a gap between the cylindrical portion 50 and the bearing portion 54.

The gear portion 34 includes a first gear 61 fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 33, and a second gear 62 that meshes with the first gear 61 and is rotatably provided in the rotation holding unit 28. .
The drive shaft 33 is rotatably incorporated in the insertion portion 21 over the entire length of the insertion portion 21. The drive shaft 33 is constituted by, for example, a braided metal element wire, and can exhibit flexibility as a whole. The drive shaft 33 is connected to the output part of the motor built in the operation part 23 at the end opposite to the end fixed to the first gear 61. The drive shaft 33 can transmit the torque of the motor to the gear unit 34 and the rotating body 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotating body 24 has a cylindrical shape (cylindrical shape) and surrounds a part of the rotation holding unit 28 of the insertion portion 21. The rotating body 24 is attached to the attachment portion 51 of the rotation holding unit 28 and can rotate around the rotation holding unit 28. In other words, the rotating body 24 covers the periphery of the gear portion 34. As shown in FIG. 5, a gear 24 </ b> A (gear surface) capable of meshing with (engaging with) the second gear 62 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating body 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 24 is formed in a polygonal shape (for example, a hexagonal shape or an octagonal shape), and can transmit the driving force from the drive shaft 33 to the driving tube 22 without loss.

  The through hole 25 provided in the rotating body 24 is formed in a circular shape, for example, but may have another shape such as a quadrangle. As shown in FIG. 4, the through-hole 25 literally penetrates the rotating body 24, exposes a part of the gear portion 34 to the outside, and connects the second gear 62 of the gear portion 34 inside the rotating body 24. The route for the surgeon (user) to access is configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elastic member 26 is formed, for example, in a disk shape from a material that exhibits rubber-like elasticity. The elastic member 26 is provided with a slit 26A through which a lubricant (grease) injection needle 66 can be passed. The elastic member 26 is made of, for example, synthetic rubber, but may be made of other materials as long as it has rubber-like elasticity and can seal the inside of the rotating body 24. Examples of other materials of the elastic member 26 include an elastic synthetic resin or synthetic fiber such as urethane foam (polyurethane). A molybdenum-based lubricant (grease) is used as a lubricant (grease) interposed between the gears in advance and a lubricant that is replenished as necessary as described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the holding unit 27 includes a receiving portion 63 that is recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 24 around the through-hole 25, and a fixing portion 64 that is fixed to the receiving portion 63. The receiving portion 63 is, for example, circular and recessed so that the bottom surface is flat, and the disk-shaped elastic member 26 can be accommodated inside thereof. The fixed portion 64 has a disk shape, and a circular opening 64A, for example, is provided at the center thereof. The fixing portion 64 can be fitted (fixed) to the receiving portion 63 so as to cover the elastic member 26 from above the elastic member 26 and sandwich the elastic member 26 with the receiving portion 63.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first index 31 (index) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotation holding unit 28 (gear cylinder) of the insertion portion 21. For example, the first index 31 is formed in a rectangular groove shape that is recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the rotation holding unit 28, but the display method of the first index 31 is not limited thereto. The first index 31 may be indicated by printing or the like. The position of the first index 31 in the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the insertion portion 21 (hereinafter referred to as the cross section in the orthogonal direction) is the position of the gear portion 34 (second gear 62) in the cross section in the orthogonal direction of the insertion portion 21. It is provided at the overlapping position. That is, the first index 31 corresponds to the position of the gear portion 34 and can indicate the position of the gear portion 34 to the operator (user).

  The second index 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 24. For example, the second index 32 is formed in a rectangular groove shape that is recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 24. However, the display method of the second index 32 is not limited to this, and the second index 32 is indicated by printing or the like. May be. The position of the second index 32 in the cross section in the orthogonal direction of the rotating body 24 is provided at a position overlapping the position of the through hole 25 (the slit 26A of the elastic member 26) in the cross section in the orthogonal direction of the rotating body 24. For this reason, the 2nd parameter | index 32 can show the position of the through-hole 25 with respect to an operator. However, since the operator can visually recognize the through hole 25 and the slit 26A, the second index 32 can be omitted. However, if the surgeon rotates the rotating body 24 and positions the second index 32 on the same straight line as the first index 31, the through hole 25 and the position overlapping the gear portion 34 (directly above the gear portion 34). A slit 26A can be arranged. For this reason, providing the second index 32 is convenient for the operator when aligning the through hole 25 and the slit 26A.

  With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a description will be given of an additional step of adding a lubricant (grease) using the endoscope 12 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, before passing the injection needle 66 of the syringe 65, the slit 26A of the elastic member 26 is closed, and the elastic member 26 includes the gear 24A of the rotating body 24 and the first gear 61 of the gear portion 34, The second gear 62 is hermetically and watertightly sealed. First, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotating body 24 is rotated so that the second index 32 is aligned with the first index 31. As a result, the through hole 25 and the slit 26 </ b> A are correctly positioned on the second gear 62 of the gear portion 34.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the injection needle 66 is passed through the slit 26 </ b> A of the elastic member 26, and the lubricant 67 is injected between the gear 24 </ b> A and the second gear 62 of the rotating body 24. When the injection needle 66 of the syringe 65 is pulled out from the slit 26A after completion of the injection, the slit 26A is closed by the restoring force of the elastic member 26 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as before the injection of the lubricant, the elastic member 26 seals the inside of the rotating body 24 (that is, the gear 24A on the inner surface of the rotating body 24 and the first gear 61 and the second gear 62 of the gear portion 34). Can be sealed watertight.

  According to the first embodiment, the introduction device includes the insertion portion 21 provided with the gear portion 34, the through hole 25 exposing a part of the gear portion 34, and the insertion portion 21 so as to cover the gear portion 34. A rotating body 24 that has an enclosed cylindrical shape, engages with the gear portion 34 and can rotate around the insertion portion 21, an elastic member 26 that closes the through hole 25, and holds the elastic member 26 against the rotating body 24. Holding unit 27.

  According to this configuration, the operator (user) can appropriately add a lubricant (grease) to the gear portion by penetrating the injection needle 66 and the like at the position of the elastic member 26. Thus, not only during periodic disassembly and maintenance, but also an operator can add a lubricant whenever necessary, and an introduction device that is more user-friendly can be provided.

  The holding unit 27 is recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 24 and is fixed to the receiving portion 63 so as to sandwich the elastic member 26 between the receiving portion 63 and the receiving portion 63 that can receive the elastic member 26. Part 64. According to this configuration, a structure capable of easily attaching and detaching the elastic member 26 can be provided. For this reason, the elastic member 26 can be replaced | exchanged suitably, when aged deterioration arises in the elastic member 26 and it becomes impossible to ensure sealing performance.

The insertion part 21 is provided with an index indicating the position of the gear part 34. According to this configuration, the through hole 25 of the rotating body 24 can be correctly aligned with the position of the gear portion 34, and the operator (user) can easily perform the alignment operation.
The elastic member 26 has a slit 26A through which a needle for injecting a lubricant can be inserted. According to this configuration, the elastic member 26 can be prevented from being damaged when the needle is passed through the elastic member 26. Thus, even after the lubricant 67 is injected, the elastic member 26 can ensure airtightness and watertightness for a predetermined period.

Next, a second embodiment of the endoscope system will be described with reference to FIGS. Parts different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and portions common to the first embodiment are not illustrated or described.
An endoscope system 11 having an introduction device includes an endoscope 12, a light source device 13, a video processor 14, and a monitor 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the endoscope 12 has a storage portion 71 (storage groove) on each of the first slope portion 51 </ b> A and the second slope portion 51 </ b> B of the attachment portion 51. Each storage portion 71 is filled with a solid lubricant 72 (solid grease). The tip of the solid lubricant 72 is in contact with the rotating body 24 side. For this reason, as the rotating body 24 rotates, the front end side of the solid lubricant 72 is gradually scraped off. In this way, the solid lubricant is continuously supplied to the gear 24 </ b> A on the inner surface of the rotating body 24 and the first gear 61 and the second gear 62 of the gear portion 34.

  Also according to the second embodiment, it is possible to realize a structure in which the lubricant is continuously supplied to the gear 24 </ b> A on the inner surface of the rotating body 24 and the first gear 61 and the second gear 62 of the gear portion 34. As a result, the above-mentioned gears do not run out of lubricant, and problems such as the drive tube 22 not rotating smoothly can be prevented.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist thereof. Also, one invention can be configured by combining the endoscope system of the first embodiment and the endoscope system of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Endoscopy system, 21 ... Insertion part, 22 ... Drive pipe, 24 ... Rotating body, 25 ... Through-hole, 26 ... Elastic member, 26A ... Slit, 27 ... Holding unit, 31 ... 1st parameter | index, 34 ... Gear 63, receiving part, 64 ... fixing part, 66 ... injection needle, 67 ... lubricant.

Claims (4)

An insertion part provided with a gear part;
A through hole for exposing a part of the gear part is provided, and a cylindrical shape is formed surrounding the insertion part so as to cover the gear part. The rotation is engaged with the gear part and rotatable around the insertion part. Body,
An elastic member for closing the through hole;
A holding unit for holding the elastic member with respect to the rotating body;
Introducing device. The holding unit is
A receiving portion that is recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body and that can receive the elastic member;
A fixing portion fixed to the receiving portion so as to sandwich the elastic member with the receiving portion;
The introduction device according to claim 1, comprising:   The introduction device according to claim 2, wherein the insertion portion is provided with an index indicating a position of the gear portion.   The introduction device according to claim 3, wherein the elastic member has a slit through which a needle for injecting a lubricant can be inserted.

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