JP2016002299A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of removing contamination and foreign matters accumulated in a tube of a wash nozzle.SOLUTION: An endoscope 2 includes an endoscope wash nozzle 50 for jetting fluid that has been sent to a distal end 21 of an insertion section 11 through a tube 43 disposed at the insertion section 11, towards a surface of an observation window 34 disposed at the distal end 21 of the insertion section 11. The endoscope further includes a side opening portion 53a formed on a side face of the endoscope wash nozzle 50. The side opening portion 53a has an opening area larger than the minimum cross-section area of the tube of the endoscope wash nozzle 50, and the minimum width of the opening portion 53a is larger than the minimum width of the tube of the endoscope wash nozzle 50.

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope including an endoscope cleaning nozzle that supplies a fluid to the surface of an observation window for cleaning.

  Endoscopes widely used in the medical field have an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a subject. In such an endoscope, an observation window is disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

  The endoscope has an endoscope for cleaning by jetting a fluid in order to remove dirt that adheres to the surface of the observation window and obstructs observation near the observation window at the tip. Some cleaning nozzles are provided (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in recent years, it has become possible to mold metal parts having complicated shapes with high accuracy by improving the technique of the metal powder injection molding method. Thereby, also about the front-end | tip opening part of the washing | cleaning nozzle for endoscopes, it is possible to narrow the opening area. In addition, by narrowing the tip opening of the endoscope cleaning nozzle in this way, it is possible to increase the speed of the fluid ejected from the nozzle tip and clean the entire observation window. .

JP-A-8-215137

  However, in such an endoscope, the tip of the endoscope cleaning nozzle is narrowed, so that filth and foreign matter are likely to accumulate in the pipeline, and it is difficult to remove the accumulated filth and foreign matter. There was a risk of becoming.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can easily remove dirt and foreign matter accumulated in a pipe line of a cleaning nozzle.

  An endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention is configured to allow a fluid sent to a distal end portion of the insertion portion through a fluid conduit disposed in the insertion portion to pass through an observation window disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion. An endoscope having an endoscope cleaning nozzle for injecting from a tip opening provided toward a surface, having a side opening formed on a side surface of the nozzle, the side opening being an opening The area is larger than the minimum cross-sectional area in the endoscope cleaning nozzle conduit, and the minimum width of the side opening is larger than the minimum width in the endoscope cleaning nozzle conduit.

  According to the endoscope of the present invention, dirt and foreign matter accumulated in the pipe line of the endoscope cleaning nozzle can be easily removed.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Same as above, a plan view of the endoscope tip viewed from the tip side FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope, taken along line III-III in FIG. Same as above, cross-sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope along the line IV-IV in FIG. Same as above, cross-sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope with the distal mounting part removed Same as above, a cross-sectional view showing the inside of an endoscope cleaning nozzle along the nozzle line Same as above, side view showing endoscope cleaning nozzle from the opposite end opening side Sectional drawing which concerns on the 1st modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and shows the inside of the washing | cleaning nozzle for endoscopes along a nozzle pipe line Same as above, side view showing endoscope cleaning nozzle from the opposite end opening side Sectional drawing which shows an endoscope front-end | tip part in connection with a 2nd modification. Same as above, perspective view showing endoscope tip Sectional drawing which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and shows the structure of the endoscope front-end | tip part of a side view type and a perspective type endoscope Sectional drawing which shows the endoscope front-end | tip part which removed the front-end | tip cover of a side-view type endoscope same as the above

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 11 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope system.

  An endoscope system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an endoscope 2, a light source device 5, a video processor 6 that is a CCU (camera control unit), and a monitor 7, and a main part is configured. .

  The endoscope 2 includes an insertion part 11 as an elongated hollow elongated member to be inserted into a site to be observed, an operation part 12 connected to a base end part of the insertion part 11, and a side surface of the operation part 12. The universal cable 13 extended further, the light source connector 14 provided at the extending end of the universal cable 13, the electric cable 15 extending from the side of the light source connector 14, and the extension of the electric cable 15 And an electrical connector 16 disposed at the leading end. The light source connector 14 is detachably connected to the light source device 5. The electrical connector 16 is detachably connected to the video processor 6.

  The insertion portion 11 has a distal end portion 21 on the distal end side, and a bendable bending portion 22 is continuous with a proximal end portion of the distal end portion 21. Further, a long and flexible flexible tube portion 23 formed of a soft tubular member is connected to the base end portion of the curved portion 22.

  The operation unit 12 is arranged in the vicinity of the operation unit main body 20 constituting the operation gripping unit, the folding unit 24 connected to the proximal end side of the flexible tube unit 23 of the insertion unit 11, and the folding unit 24. The treatment instrument channel 25a (see FIG. 4) in the inserted portion 11 is configured to have a treatment instrument insertion port 25 serving as an opening.

  The operation unit body 20 is provided with a bending operation knob 26 for bending the bending portion 22 of the insertion unit 11 and is provided with switches 28 and 29 for various endoscope functions. ing. The bending operation knob 26 includes a UD bending operation knob 26a for bending the bending portion 22 in the vertical direction, and an LR bending operation knob 26b for bending the bending portion 22 in the left-right direction. Are superimposed. In addition, a release knob 27 that is operated when stopping / releasing the rotation of each of the bending operation knobs 26a and 26b is provided at the center of the LR bending operation knob 26b.

  The light source device 5 supplies illumination light to a light guide 31a (see FIG. 3) provided in the endoscope 2. That is, a light guide is disposed in the universal cable 13, the operation unit 12, and the insertion unit 11 of the endoscope 2 of the present embodiment, and the light source device 5 is connected to the distal end via the light guide. Illumination light is supplied to an illumination optical system, which will be described later, constituting the illumination window of the unit 21. This illumination light diverges by the illumination optical system and irradiates the test site.

  The video processor 6 converts the image data captured by the endoscope 2 into a video signal and displays it on the monitor 7. Further, the video processor 6 receives operation signals from the switches 29 disposed in the operation unit 12 of the endoscope 2, and controls the light source device 5 or drives a compressor (not shown) based on these signals. Or air is sent to a water supply tank (not shown), and air or water such as washing water in the water supply tank, physiological saline or the like is supplied to the distal end portion 21 via the air supply / water supply channel of the insertion portion 11. A device for controlling water supply is also configured. The switches 28 are mechanical switches that are operated by the user during air / water feeding.

  Next, the configuration of the endoscope distal end will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the distal end portion of the endoscope as viewed from the distal end surface side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope and is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope along the line IV-IV in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end surface of the distal end portion 21 includes a plurality of, here two, illumination lenses 31, which are illumination optical systems, a treatment instrument opening 32 from which a treatment instrument and the like are led out, and an objective optical system. An observation window 34 and an endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 that ejects liquid or gas, and further, a gas-liquid mixed fluid, are arranged toward the surface of the observation window 34.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tip portion 21 includes a tip hard portion 40 formed of a metal block, and a resin tip cover 30 is bonded to the tip face side of the tip hard portion 40. It is covered in a state. On the other hand, a tubular member 45 of the curved portion 22 covered by the outer skin 44 of the insertion portion 11 is fitted on the proximal end of the distal end hard portion 40.

  The distal end hard portion 40 is provided with a light guide 31a optically connected to the illumination lens 31 (see FIG. 3).

  Further, the distal end hard portion 40 is provided with a treatment instrument channel pipe 33 communicating with the treatment instrument opening 32. Further, a treatment instrument channel 25a is connected to the proximal end side of the treatment instrument channel pipe 33 (see FIG. 4).

  The distal end hard portion 40 includes a plurality of objective lenses 35 as objective optical systems arranged in parallel behind the observation window 34, and a lens holding frame 36 for holding the observation window 34 and the objective lens 35 (in FIG. 3). An imaging unit having an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS (not shown) is disposed behind the lens holding frame 36.

  In addition, an endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 and a fluid pipe 42 that is a metal pipe communicating with the rear of the endoscope cleaning nozzle are inserted into the distal end hard portion 40. A tube 43 which is a fluid conduit constituting an air / water supply channel for supplying fluid is connected to the base end portion of the fluid tube 42.

  Here, the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 of the present embodiment will be described in detail below. The endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel and is molded by a metal powder injection molding method, a die casting method, or the like, and is a tubular tube that is inserted into the distal end portion 21 and is fixed or pinned. A portion 50c and a nozzle head 50b that is connected to the tubular portion 50c and exposed at the distal end surface of the distal end portion 21 are configured. A nozzle tip opening 50a that ejects fluid toward the surface of the observation window 34 of the tip 21 is formed on one side of the nozzle head 50b.

  Here, by using the metal powder chamber molding method or the like as described above, it is possible to perform precise processing on the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, thereby breaking the pipeline in the nozzle head 50 b. The area is narrower than the cross-sectional area of the pipe line of the tubular portion 50c. Further, the pipe in the nozzle head 50b increases the flow rate of the fluid ejected from the tip opening 50a, so that the pipe shape becomes flat and the cross-sectional area becomes narrower toward the tip opening 50a. Is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, an opening as a side opening for cleaning the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 in the outer diameter direction of the distal end portion 21, which is a side portion of the tubular portion 50 c. A portion 53a is provided. The opening 53a has a quadrangular hole shape as shown in FIG. 7, the opening area is larger than the minimum cross-sectional area in the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, and the minimum width of the opening is in the nozzle conduit. It is set larger than the minimum width.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the distal end side of the distal end hard portion 40 is provided with a small diameter portion 40 a having a smaller cross-sectional area than the proximal end side. Further, the small-diameter portion 40a is provided with a notch 40b at a position corresponding to the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50.

  In the present embodiment, the tip cover 30 is attached to the small diameter portion 40a of the hard tip portion 40, and the fitting length of the tip cover 30 with the small diameter portion 40a is the small diameter portion. It is set to be shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of 40a.

  Thereby, a groove 52 is formed between the proximal end side of the distal end hard portion 40 having a diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion 40 a and the distal end cover 30. The opening 53 a provided in the tubular portion 50 c can be exposed to the outside of the distal end portion 21 through the groove 52.

  Further, in order to close the opening 53a when the endoscope 1 is used, a distal end mounting member 54 formed of a soft member such as silicon rubber or vinyl chloride is fitted into the small diameter portion 40a. .

  The distal end mounting member 54 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an inward flange 54a is provided on the proximal end side. When the inward flange 54a is engaged with the groove portion 52, the tip end mounting member 54 is held on the outer peripheral side of the small diameter portion 40a.

  In addition, by providing the distal end hard portion 40 with the small diameter portion 40a, the distal end portion 21 is prevented from being increased in diameter even when the distal end mounting member 54 is attached to the distal end portion 21.

  Then, by making the outer diameters of the outer skin 44 and the distal end mounting member 54 substantially coincide with each other, the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 21 to which the distal end mounting member 54 is mounted is substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the bending portion 22. .

  The inner diameter of the inward flange 54 a of the tip end mounting member 54 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 40 a of the tip hard portion 40. Since the inward flange 54a is formed of a soft member, the tip end mounting member 54 can be expanded in diameter, and thus can be fitted into the small diameter portion 40a. As a result, the tip end mounting member 54 is prevented from falling off the small diameter portion 40a. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the inward flange 54a is pressed against the opening 53a of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, and the opening 53a is closed in a liquid-tight manner.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the insertion portion 11 of the endoscope 2 is inserted into a subject and used for observation, treatment, etc., dirt and foreign matter accumulate in the pipeline of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, and the endoscope The fluid may not be ejected from the cleaning nozzle 50 for cleaning. When such maintenance of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is performed, as shown in FIG. 5, the distal end portion mounting member 54 fitted to the distal end hard portion 40 is removed. Thereby, the opening 53a provided on the side surface of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is exposed to the outside. A cleaning tool (not shown) is inserted from the opening 53a exposed to the outside, and dirt, foreign matter and the like accumulated in the pipe of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 are removed.

  At that time, the opening area of the opening 53a is larger than the minimum cross-sectional area in the pipe of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, and the minimum width of the opening 53a is larger than the minimum width in the nozzle pipe. Therefore, it becomes possible to insert a cleaning tool or the like into the conduit of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 from any angle with respect to the distal end opening 50a having a reduced opening area. It is possible to easily remove dirt, foreign matter and the like accumulated in the pipe line of the cleaning nozzle 50. In particular, by forming the minimum width of the opening 53a to be larger than the minimum width in the nozzle conduit, the cleaning tool or the like can reach every corner of the tip opening 50a narrowed flatly. .

  After removing dirt, foreign matter, and the like accumulated in the conduit of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, the distal end portion mounting member 54 removed from the distal end rigid portion 40 is fitted into the distal end rigid portion 40 again. As a result, the opening 53a is liquid-tightly closed, and when the affected part is observed, treated, etc., fluid flows from the distal end of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 to the observation window 34 that is soiled by the attachment of body fluid or the like. Can be sprayed to clean the window.

  Next, a first modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the various components of the endoscope system 1 having the above-described first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. In the present modification, the configuration of the side opening is different from the configuration of the first embodiment as shown in the figure.

  8 and 9 are sectional views showing the endoscope cleaning nozzle in the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention along the nozzle line, and the endoscope cleaning nozzle is shown in reverse. It is a side view shown from the front-end | tip opening part side.

  That is, as described above, the shape of the opening 53a opened in the tubular portion 50c of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is formed in a hole shape. The tubular portion 50c is provided with a cutout portion 53b cut out to the base end portion.

  When the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is assembled to the distal end portion 21, a part of the proximal end portion side of the tubular portion 50 c is embedded in the distal end rigid portion 40. And the base end side of the notch part 53b is obstruct | occluded by the front-end | tip hard part 40, and a side surface opening part is formed in the tubular part 50c.

  Thus, by providing the notch 53b instead of the hole-shaped opening 53a, the processing when forming the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is facilitated.

  Next, a second modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this modified example, the distal end portion mounting member 54 has a function as a hood for protecting the distal end surface of the distal end portion of the endoscope.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a hood portion 54 b is integrally provided on the distal end side of the distal end mounting member 54. For example, the hood portion 54b has a wedge-shaped cross section on the tip side.

In other words, in this modification, the hood that protects the distal end surface also functions as the distal end mounting member 54 for closing the opening 53a. By adopting such a configuration, in an endoscope in which the hood is detachably attached, a function of closing the opening 53a can be realized without adding a new member.
Such a modification can be suitably applied to an endoscope for colon examination and the like.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. In this embodiment, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the endoscope of the side-view type endoscope, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows a mirror front-end | tip part.

  So far, the direct-view type endoscope has been described, but an application example to the side-view type endoscope will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment of appearance, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the distal end portion 21 of the insertion portion 11 of the endoscope 2 includes a distal end rigid portion 40 made of metal and a distal end cover 60 that covers the distal end rigid portion 40, and mainly. An outline is formed.

  A thin diameter portion 40 a is formed on the distal end side of the distal end hard portion 40. The thin-diameter portion 40a has a substantially flat planar portion 61 formed on a part of the outer peripheral portion, and illumination that irradiates the subject with illumination light transmitted from the light source device 5 on the planar portion 61. An illumination lens 31 that is a window is provided. That is, the illumination light is emitted from the light source in the light source device 5, is transmitted into the endoscope 2 by the light guide 31 a, and is irradiated onto the subject via the illumination lens 31. The light guide 31 a is formed in a curved shape so that the tip portion inserted and disposed in the hard tip portion 40 faces the illumination lens 31, and is fixed in the hard tip portion 40.

  In addition, the observation window 34 is provided on the plane portion 61 so as to be aligned with the illumination lens 31. An imaging unit 37 for capturing a subject image is built in the distal end hard portion 40. The imaging unit 37 is optically connected to the observation window 34 via a prism.

  The distal end portion 21 is provided with an endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 for ejecting fluid toward the observation window 34. The endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is fitted in a hole formed in the distal end hard portion 40. A tube 43 communicates with and is fixed to the proximal end side of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50.

  An opening 53a is provided on a side surface of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 and exposed to the outside. As in the first embodiment, the opening 53a has an opening area larger than the minimum cross-sectional area in the pipe of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, and the minimum width of the opening 53a is the nozzle tube. It is formed larger than the minimum width in the road.

  A tip cover 60 is detachably attached to the small diameter portion 40 a of the tip hard portion 40. More specifically, a groove 52 is formed on the base end side of the small-diameter portion 40a at a portion excluding the cleaning nozzle. Further, the front end cover 60 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a part corresponding to the flat portion opened, and an inward flange 60a is provided on the base end side. By engaging the inward flange 60a with the groove portion 52, the tip cover 60 is held on the outer peripheral side of the small diameter portion 40a.

  In addition, by providing the distal end hard portion 40 with the small diameter portion 40a, the distal end portion 21 is prevented from being increased in diameter even when the distal end cover 60 is attached to the distal end portion 21.

  Then, by making the outer diameters of the outer skin 44 and the tip cover 60 substantially coincide with each other, the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 21 to which the tip cover 60 is attached is substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the bending portion 22.

  The inner diameter of the inward flange 60 a of the tip cover 60 is set smaller than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 40 a of the tip hard portion 40. Since the inward flange 60a is formed of a soft member, the tip cover 60 can be expanded in diameter, and thus can be fitted into the groove 52. As a result, the tip cover 60 is prevented from falling off the small diameter portion 40a. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the inward flange 60a is pressed against the opening 53a of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50, and the opening 53a is closed in a liquid-tight manner.

  At this time, a tapered protrusion corresponding to the opening 53a of the endoscope cleaning nozzle 50 is provided on a part of the inward flange 60a (not shown), and the tip cover 60 is removed if the protrusion engages with the opening 53a. Prevention can be realized more effectively.

  As a result, the opening 53a is closed. That is, in the present embodiment, the tip cover 60 also functions as a tip mounting member.

  According to such an embodiment, in addition to the operational effects obtained in the first embodiment described above, the opening portion 53a is closed by the tip cover 60, so that a dedicated tip portion mounting member can be provided. There is an effect that it is not necessary to use it.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a direct-view type or side-view type endoscope has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a perspective-type endoscope is used. Is also applicable.

  Of course, the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope system 2 Endoscope 5 Light source device 6 Video processor 7 Monitor 11 Insertion part 12 Operation part 13 Universal cable 14 Light source connector 15 Electric cable 16 Electric connector 20 Operation part main body 21 Tip part 22 Bending part 23 Flexible tube part 25 Treatment tool insertion port 25a Treatment tool channel 26 Bending operation knob 26a Bending operation knob 26b Bending operation knob 27 Release knob 28 Switches 29 Switches 30 Tip cover 31 Illumination lens 31a Light guide 32 Treatment tool opening 33 Treatment tool channel pipe 34 Observation Window 35 Objective lens 36 Lens holding frame 37 Imaging unit 40 Tip hard portion 40a Thin diameter portion 40b Notch portion 42 Fluid pipe 43 Tube 44 Outer skin 45 Tubular member 50 Endoscope cleaning nozzle 50a Tip opening 50b Nozzle head 50c Tubular portion 52 Opening of groove 53a (Side opening)
53b Notch portion 54 Tip portion mounting member 54a Inward flange 54b Hood portion 60 Tip cover 60a Inward flange

Claims (5)

A tip opening provided to direct the fluid sent to the tip of the insert through the fluid conduit disposed in the insert toward the surface of the observation window arranged at the tip of the insert In an endoscope provided with an endoscope cleaning nozzle for jetting from
A side opening formed on a side surface of the endoscope cleaning nozzle, and the side surface opening has an opening area larger than a minimum cross-sectional area in the endoscope cleaning nozzle conduit and the side surface; An endoscope characterized in that a minimum width of the opening is larger than a minimum width in the endoscope cleaning nozzle conduit.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the side opening is covered with a tip mounting member made of a soft member that is detachably mounted on the tip.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the distal end portion mounting member integrally includes a hood portion for protecting the distal end surface of the distal end portion.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the distal end mounting member is also used as a distal end cover that covers a distal end rigid member constituting the distal end portion.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side opening is formed by a notch provided in the endoscope cleaning nozzle.

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