JP2016067620A - Bending operation member of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bending operation member of an endoscope facilitating adjustment of operability.SOLUTION: A bending operation member of an endoscope includes: a rotating operation part rotatably supported with respect to an operation section of the endoscope and changing a bending angle of a bending section by rotating operation; a movable projection part supported so as to change an amount of projection in the rotation radial direction, with respect to the rotating operation part; and holding means constantly retaining the projection amount of the movable projection part with respect to the rotating operation part and enabling the adjustment of the projection amount of the movable projection part by holding release operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

  The present invention relates to a bending operation member of an endoscope.

  2. Description of the Related Art Endoscopes are widely used that have a gripping operation section and a flexible insertion section that extends from the insertion section, and that can bend the bending section near the distal end of the insertion section. This type of endoscope has a plurality of node rings (bending pieces) that are connected to the bending part so as to be relatively rotatable, and the bending angle of the bending part is changed by pulling and relaxing the wire connected to the node ring. As an operation means for the wire, a bending operation member that can be rotated is provided in the operation portion.

  In many cases, the bending operation member has a knob (protrusion) for hooking fingers on the outer periphery of the main body that surrounds the rotation center axis. From the viewpoint of operability, it is preferable to provide a bending operation member having a size and shape corresponding to each of the endoscope operator's hands. However, it is difficult to make the bending operation member different for each endoscope. Difficult in terms of effort and cost. Therefore, as a technique for easily adjusting the operability of the bending operation member, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an attachment type cover (knob) is attached to and detached from the bending operation member.

JP 2007-222651 A

  The conventional attachment-type knob has a shape that covers the entire periphery of the bending operation member, and there is a problem that the attaching / detaching operation to the bending operation member is troublesome. In addition, the conventional attachment-type knob is integrally molded and the amount of protrusion of the knob cannot be finely adjusted. If adjustment is required, multiple types of different sizes are prepared and any one is selected. It takes time and effort.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a bending operation member for an endoscope in which operability can be easily adjusted.

  The present invention provides a bending operation member that is provided in an operation portion of an endoscope and performs a bending operation of a bending portion that constitutes an insertion portion of the endoscope. A rotating operation unit that changes a bending angle of the bending unit, a movable protrusion supported so as to be able to change the amount of protrusion in the rotational radial direction with respect to the rotating operation unit, and a protrusion of the movable protruding unit with respect to the rotating operation unit And holding means for holding the amount constant and enabling adjustment of the protruding amount of the movable protruding portion by holding release operation.

  The holding means is an urging means for urging the movable protrusion in a direction in which the protrusion amount is increased with respect to the rotation operation part, a locking part for restricting and releasing the movement of the movable protrusion relative to the rotation operation part, and a rotation A protrusion restricting portion that determines the maximum protrusion position of the movable protrusion relative to the operating portion in the rotational radius direction can be configured. The locking part is a locking position that restricts the movement of the movable protrusion in the direction of increasing the protrusion amount with respect to the rotation operation part and permits the movement of the movable protrusion in the direction of decreasing the protrusion amount, and the protrusion amount. The protrusion restricting portion is movable in a state where the engaging portion is in the unlocking position. The maximum projecting position of shall be determined.

  In the present invention, the number of movable protrusions in the bending operation member can be arbitrarily set, and a plurality of movable protrusions having different movement directions with respect to the rotation operation part can be provided. In this case, it is preferable to provide interlocking means for operating the plurality of movable protrusions in conjunction with the rotation operation part to change the protrusion amount.

  As a component of the interlocking means, an associated rotating part that is coaxially and relatively rotatably supported with respect to the rotating operation part, and a cam groove and a cam follower provided between each of the plurality of movable protrusions and the associated rotating part. It is preferable to link the relative rotation of the linking rotation part with respect to the rotation operation part and the change in the protrusion amount of the movable protrusion part with respect to the rotation operation part via the cam groove and the cam follower.

  It is preferable that the engaging portion is disengaged with respect to the linkage rotating portion via the gear portion after being movable in a direction along the rotation axis of the rotation operation portion and the linkage rotating portion. In this gear portion, a rotation restricting surface that restricts the rotation of the associated rotating portion in the direction of increasing the protruding amount of the movable protruding portion and a rotational force in a direction of decreasing the protruding amount of the movable protruding portion are applied to the associated rotating portion. And an inclined surface that generates a component force that moves the locking portion toward the unlocking position.

  The movable projecting portion can move linearly in the rotational radius direction with respect to the rotational motion portion by a long groove formed toward the rotational radius direction of the rotational motion portion and a guide protrusion inserted slidably into the long groove. It is preferably supported.

  According to the bending operation member of the endoscope of the present invention, a movable protrusion that can change the protrusion amount in the rotation radius direction with respect to the rotation operation part that performs the bending operation of the bending part by rotation is provided. Thus, the operability of the bending operation member can be easily adjusted as compared with the conventional case.

It is a figure which shows the whole endoscope. It is the figure which expanded and planarly viewed the bending operation part vicinity of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the knob assembly which comprises a bending operation part. It is a perspective view which shows the upper surface side of the adjustment board which comprises a knob assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the lower surface side of an adjustment board. It is a perspective view of the angle knob which comprises a knob assembly. It is a front view of an angle knob. It is a side view of an angle knob. It is a rear view of an angle knob. It is a perspective view of the shaft stock which comprises a knob assembly. It is a front view of a shaft stand. It is a side view of a shaft stand. It is a rear view of a shaft stand. It is the figure which looked through and showed the internal structure of the knob assembly when an angle knob exists in the maximum protrusion position. It is the figure which looked through and showed the internal structure of the knob assembly when an angle knob is pushed in the minimum protrusion position. It is the figure which looked through and showed the internal structure of the knob assembly when an angle knob returns from a minimum protrusion position to a maximum protrusion position protrusion.

  An endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes an operation unit 11, an insertion unit 12 extending from the distal end of the operation unit 11, a universal tube 13 extending sideways from the operation unit 11, and a universal tube 13. It has a connector 14 provided at the end. The connector 14 is connected to a processor (not shown). The processor incorporates an image processing device, a light source lamp for illumination, and the like. The insertion portion 12 includes, in order from the distal end side, a distal end rigid portion 15, a bending portion 16 that is bent by a remote operation from the operation portion 11, and a flexible tube 17 having flexibility. The operation section 11 includes a bending operation section 20 for changing the bending angle of the bending section 16 and holding the bending section 16 at a predetermined bending angle, a treatment instrument insertion port 21 for inserting a treatment instrument such as forceps into a forceps channel, and a distal end. A plurality of operation buttons 22 for performing suction from a suction port formed in the rigid portion 15 and air supply and water supply from a nozzle are provided.

  The endoscope 10 is an electronic endoscope, and an image signal obtained by forming an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor with the objective optical system provided in the distal end rigid portion 15 and performing photoelectric conversion with the image sensor, It is sent to the image processing apparatus of the processor through a transmission cable arranged from the insertion section 12 to the connector 14. The image processed by the image processing apparatus can be displayed on a monitor display or recorded on an image recording medium. A light guide is disposed from the insertion portion 12 to the connector 14, and illumination light is guided from the light source in the processor through the light guide to the illumination lens provided in the distal end rigid portion 15. The present invention can be applied not only to an electronic endoscope but also to a bending operation member in an optical endoscope (fiber scope).

  The bending operation unit 20 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bending operation section 20 includes a knob assembly 23 that is a bending operation member that is rotated when the bending section 16 is bent, and a lock lever for restricting the rotation of the knob assembly 23. 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the knob assembly 23 is supported by a support shaft 25 erected outward from the inside of the operation unit 11. In the following description, the direction along the axis of the support shaft 25 is the vertical direction, the distal end side (upper side in FIG. 3) of the support shaft 25 is upward, and the base end side (lower side in FIG. 3) of the support shaft 25 is downward. To do. The radial direction around the axis of the support shaft 25 is defined as the radial direction (rotating radial direction) of the knob assembly 23. The radial direction is closer to the support shaft 25 and the direction away from the support shaft 25 is the outer diameter. The direction.

  The support shaft 25 is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis line X (FIGS. 2 and 3) facing the operation unit 11 in the vertical direction, and has a prismatic cross section on the lower side inserted into the operation unit 11. A non-circular shaft portion 26 is provided, and a circular shaft portion 27 having a circular cross section is protruded upward from the non-circular shaft portion 26. A pulley 28 is connected to the lower end of the non-circular shaft portion 26 (the end opposite to the side from which the circular shaft portion 27 protrudes), and the pulley 28 rotates together with the support shaft 25. A bending operation wire 29 is connected to the outer peripheral portion of the pulley 28. Since the bending operation mechanism beyond the wire 29 is well known, detailed description thereof is omitted, but the wire 29 is arranged from the inside of the operation unit 11 to the inside of the insertion unit 12. In the bending portion 16, a plurality of node rings (curving pieces) coupled so as to be relatively rotatable are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 12, and a wire 29 is connected to the plurality of node rings. ing. The distal end of the wire 29 is fixed in the distal end rigid portion 15. The winding amount of the wire 29 changes according to the rotation of the pulley 28, and the bending angle of the bending portion 16 can be changed by changing the pulling state of the wire 29.

  The knob assembly 23 is a component that is positioned outside the operation unit 11, and a shaft base (rotating operation unit) 30 that is rotated integrally with the support shaft 25, and an adjustment plate that is positioned above the shaft base 30. (Interlocking means, interlocking rotating part) 31, four angle knobs (movable protrusions) 32 positioned between the shaft base 30 and the adjusting plate 31, and a stopper (holding means, locking) positioned above the adjusting plate 31 Part) 33. As shown in FIG. 2, four angle knobs 32 protrude in the outer diameter direction with respect to the shaft base 30 and the adjustment plate 31, and the angle knobs 32 are used as finger hooks when the knob assembly 23 is rotated. .

  10 to 13 show a single structure of the shaft base 30. The shaft base 30 has a square projection 36 and a large-diameter projection 37 at the approximate center of a disk-shaped substrate portion 35. The square protrusion 36 is formed on the upper surface side of the substrate portion 35, and is a quadrangular prism-shaped projecting portion whose outer surface is composed of four side surfaces facing the outer diameter direction and one upper surface facing upward. The four side surfaces of the angular protrusion 36 are all flat and adjacent side surfaces are in a substantially perpendicular relationship, and the upper surface of the angular protrusion 36 is a flat surface that is substantially perpendicular to these four side surfaces. On each of the four side surfaces of the angular protrusion 36, a columnar spring support protrusion 38 is provided so as to protrude in the outer diameter direction. Four guide projections 39 are formed on the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the substrate portion 35 at circumferential positions corresponding to the four spring support projections 38. Each guide projection 39 has a pair of parallel slidable contact surfaces facing the radial direction of the substrate portion 35.

  The large-diameter protrusion 37 of the shaft base 30 is formed on the lower surface side of the substrate portion 35. As shown in FIG. 12, the large-diameter protrusion 37 has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface having a diameter larger than the width of the angular protrusion 36. It is a protruding part. A square hole 40 having a square cross-sectional shape is formed inside the large-diameter protrusion 37. The square hole 40 opens to the lower surface side of the large-diameter projection 37, and the noncircular shaft portion 26 of the support shaft 25 can be fitted into the square hole 40 from below (see FIG. 3). The non-circular shaft portion 26 has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the square hole 40, and the shaft base 30 can be inserted into the support shaft 25 until the end surface of the square hole 40 contacts the upper end of the non-circular shaft portion 26. It is. The relative rotation of the shaft base 30 and the support shaft 25 is restricted by the fitting of the square hole 40 and the non-circular shaft portion 26. That is, the shaft base 30 rotates together with the support shaft 25 and the pulley 28. The shaft base 30 is further formed with a round hole 41 communicating with the upper end of the square hole 40, and the round hole 41 is opened at the approximate center of the upper surface of the square protrusion 36. In a state where the non-circular shaft portion 26 of the support shaft 25 is fitted into the square hole 40, the circular shaft portion 27 of the support shaft 25 is inserted into the round hole 41 and protrudes above the square protrusion 36.

  4 and 5 show a single structure of the adjusting plate 31. FIG. The adjustment plate 31 includes a disk-shaped substrate portion 45 having a slightly larger diameter than the substrate portion 35 of the shaft base 30, and a round hole 46 is formed through substantially the center of the substrate portion 45. As shown in FIG. 3, the circular shaft portion 27 of the support shaft 25 is inserted into the circular hole 46 of the adjustment plate 31 following the circular hole 41 of the shaft base 30, and is adjusted according to the relationship between the round hole 46 and the circular shaft portion 27. The plate 31 is supported relative to the support shaft 25 while being relatively rotatable about the axis X and restricting movement in the radial direction. A ratchet gear (gear portion) 47 is formed in an annular region surrounding the round hole 46 on the upper surface of the substrate portion 45. On the lower surface of the substrate portion 45, four cylindrical cam pins (projection restricting portions, cam followers, interlocking means) 48 are provided. The four cam pins 48 have the same distance from the center of the substrate portion 45 (the center of the round hole 46), and are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the round hole 46.

  6 to 9 show a single structure of the angle knob 32. FIG. The four angle knobs 32 have a common structure, and have a main body portion 50 having a substantially parallel upper surface and lower surface, and a tip portion 51 bent downward with respect to the main body portion 50. A cam groove (projection restricting portion, interlocking means) 52 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 50, and a rectilinear guide groove 53 is formed on the lower surface of the main body 50. The cam groove 52 is a groove curved in an arc shape, and the rectilinear guide groove 53 is a linear long groove having a pair of substantially parallel opposed planes. The angle knob 32 further includes a columnar spring support protrusion 54 that protrudes toward the opposite side of the tip 51.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the knob assembly 23 includes a base plate portion 35 of a shaft base 30 in which a square hole 40 is fitted to a non-circular shaft portion 26 of the support shaft 25, and a circular shaft portion 27 of the support shaft 25. The four angle knobs 32 are sandwiched between the base plate portion 45 of the adjustment plate 31 that is inserted through the round hole 46. Each of the four angle knobs 32 has a lower surface having a rectilinear guide groove 53 directed toward the substrate portion 35 side of the shaft base 30, an upper surface having the cam groove 52 directed toward the substrate portion 45 side of the adjustment plate 31, and the distal end portion 51 is The spring support protrusions 54 are directed toward the inner diameter side and the guide protrusions 39 of the shaft base 30 are inserted into the rectilinear guide grooves 53 of the angle knobs 32, and the cam grooves 52 of the angle knobs 32 are directed toward the diameter side. Then, the cam pin 48 of the adjustment plate 31 is inserted (see FIGS. 14 to 16).

  As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, in the state in which each angle knob 32 is assembled between the shaft base 30 and the adjustment plate 31, the longitudinal direction of the rectilinear guide groove 53 faces the radial direction of the knob assembly 23. Each angle knob 32 can move straightly in the radial direction with respect to the shaft base 30 by sliding the pair of opposed flat surfaces of the straight guide groove 53 in sliding contact with the pair of sliding contact surfaces of the protrusion 39. The guide protrusion 39 and the rectilinear guide groove 53 restrict relative rotation of each angle knob 32 and the shaft base 30 around the support shaft 25.

  The cam groove 52 of each angle knob 32 has an end on the outer diameter side positioned closer to the center in the width direction of the angle knob 32, and from the center in the width direction of the angle knob 32 as it advances toward the end on the inner diameter side. The cam groove 52 is inclined so that the intermediate portion is directed toward the inner diameter side (support shaft 25 side) of the knob assembly 23 with respect to a virtual straight line connecting the outer diameter end and the inner diameter end. Curved with a convex trajectory. When each angle knob 32 moves in the radial direction of the knob assembly 23 by the guide projection 39 and the straight guide groove 53, the position of the cam pin 48 in the cam groove 52 changes. In other words, when the adjustment plate 31 rotates relative to the shaft base 30 about the axis X of the support shaft 25, each angle knob 32 moves in the radial direction of the knob assembly 23 due to the relationship between the cam pin 48 and the cam groove 52. To do. Each angle knob 32 with respect to the shaft base 30 has a maximum protruding position where the cam pin 48 comes into contact with the inner diameter side end portion of the cam groove 52 (the position shown in FIG. 14, the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 15, and the solid line in FIG. And a minimum protruding position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 15 and a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 16) at which the cam pin 48 comes into contact with the outer diameter side end portion of the cam groove 52. That is, the movable range of each angle knob 32 in the radial direction of the knob assembly 23 is determined by the abutment between both ends of the cam groove 52 and the cam pin 48.

  Knob urging springs (holding means, urging means) 55 are inserted between the four side surfaces of the angular protrusion 36 of the shaft base 30 and each angle knob 32. The knob biasing spring 55 is a compression coil spring, and is supported with the axis in the radial direction of the knob assembly 23 with the spring support projection 38 inserted into one end and the spring support projection 54 inserted into the other end. 32 is urged toward the maximum protruding position (outer diameter direction).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 33 supported on the upper portion of the adjustment plate 31 has a cylindrical shape with an open upper end, and a round hole 56 through which the circular shaft portion 27 of the support shaft 25 is inserted is formed at the lower end. Yes. A ratchet gear (gear portion) 57 that faces the ratchet gear 47 of the adjustment plate 31 is formed on the lower end surface of the stopper 33 in an annular region surrounding the round hole 56.

  The ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 are shown enlarged in the circled portion of FIG. This enlarged display is a side view of a ratchet gear 47 and a part of the ratchet gear 57, which are originally formed in an annular shape, virtually developed in a straight line, and the rotation direction arrow R1 in FIG. A rotation direction arrow R2 in FIG. 16 is represented as straight arrows R1 and R2 in the circled portion of FIG. As can be seen from the enlarged display in FIG. 3, the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 include rotation control surfaces 47a and 57a that are substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, and inclined surfaces 47b that are inclined with respect to the rotation control surfaces 47a and 57a. 57b continuously. The stopper 33 is movable in the vertical direction along the circular shaft portion 27 of the support shaft 25. The position where the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 mesh with each other is set as the locking position of the stopper 33, and the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 are The position at which the engagement is released (the position moved a predetermined amount above the locking position) is set as the locking release position of the stopper 33.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a stopper biasing spring 59 is inserted between the spring support plate 58 provided at the upper end of the circular shaft portion 27 and the lower end portion of the stopper 33. The stopper urging spring 59 is a compression coil spring and is located in a space between the cylindrical portion of the stopper 33 and the circular shaft portion 27 of the support shaft 25 and urges the stopper 33 downward (in the locking position direction). . The biasing force of the stopper biasing spring 59 serves as a force for maintaining the meshing between the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57.

  In a state where the stopper 33 is in the locking position and the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 are engaged with each other, the rotation of the adjustment plate 31 in the direction of the arrow R2 in FIGS. 3 and 16 is engaged with the rotation restricting surface 47a and the rotation restricting surface 57a. Regulated by. On the other hand, when the adjustment plate 31 tries to rotate in the direction of the arrow R1 in FIGS. 3 and 15 when the stopper 33 is in the locking position, the biasing force of the stopper biasing spring 59 is caused by the contact between the slope 47b and the slope 57b. The component force that pushes the stopper 33 up against it acts, so that the adjusting plate 31 can rotate in the direction of the arrow R1 while changing the meshing position of the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57. That is, the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 in the meshing state function as a one-way rotation permission portion that restricts the rotation of the adjustment plate 31 in the direction of the arrow R2 and allows the rotation of the adjustment plate 31 in the direction of the arrow R1. When the stopper 33 is pulled up to the unlocking position where the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 are disengaged, the adjustment plate 31 is allowed to rotate in either the arrow R1 direction or the arrow R2 direction.

  The shaft plate 30, the adjustment plate 31, the four angle knobs 32, the stopper 33, the knob biasing spring 55, the spring support plate 58 and the stopper biasing spring 59 described above constitute the knob assembly 23 in the bending operation unit 20. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, two of the four angle knobs 32 constituting the knob assembly 23 are marked with “U” and “D” character indicators and triangular direction indicators, and the knob assembly 23. Is turned to the direction indicator side “D”, the bending portion 16 is bent downward, and when the knob assembly 23 is turned to the direction indicator side “U”, the bending portion 16 is bent upward. Since the tip 51 of each angle knob 32 is bent downward, it is easy to put a finger on the angle knob 32 when the knob assembly 23 is rotated.

  Although not shown in FIG. 3, the lock lever 24 in the bending operation unit 20 is rotatably supported below the shaft plate 30 independently of the knob assembly 23. The lock lever 24 operates a brake mechanism that regulates the rotation of the knob assembly 23. By rotating the lock lever 24 toward the direction indicator “F” shown in FIG. 2, the brake mechanism (not shown) 23 is in a state of restricting rotation.

  The knob assembly 23 of the bending operation unit 20 can change the protruding amount of the four angle knobs 32 in the radial direction around the support shaft 25. As described above, each angle knob 32 is supported by the guide protrusion 39 and the rectilinear guide groove 53 so as to be movable in the radial direction of the knob assembly 23, and by the knob biasing spring 55 in the outer diameter direction (the amount of protrusion in the radial direction). Is urged toward (in the direction of increasing). FIG. 14 shows a state in which the four angle knobs 32 are held at the maximum projecting position, and the amount of protrusion of the angle knob 32 in the outer diameter direction at this time (the amount of protrusion from the outer edge of the adjustment plate 31) is T1. It showed in. The cam pin 48 of the adjustment plate 31 abuts on the inner diameter side end portion of the cam groove 52 to restrict the angle knob 32 from moving in the outer diameter direction from the maximum projecting position.

  By pushing the angle knob 32 in the inner diameter direction as indicated by the arrow P1 in FIG. 15, the protruding amount of the angle knob 32 in the radial direction of the knob assembly 23 can be made smaller than T1 in FIG. FIG. 15 shows a case where the pair of angle knobs 32 located at symmetrical positions with the support shaft 25 sandwiched are pushed in with the finger 60 in the inner diameter direction. Each of the pair of angle knobs 32 pushed in with the finger 60 is guided by the guide protrusion 39 and the rectilinear guide groove 53, and resists the biasing force of the knob biasing spring 55 in the inner diameter direction (direction approaching the support shaft 25). Move to. As the angle knob 32 moves in the inner diameter direction, the inner surface of the cam groove 52 presses the cam pin 48. The adjustment plate 31 having the cam pins 48 is supported while being rotatable with respect to the circular shaft portion 27 of the support shaft 25 and restricting movement in the radial direction. On the other hand, the cam groove 52 of the angle knob 32 includes an inclination component with respect to the rotation direction around the support shaft 25 and an inclination component with respect to the radial direction that is the moving direction of the angle knob 32. Therefore, when the angle knob 32 pushed by the finger 60 moves in the inner diameter direction, the inner surface of the cam groove 52 presses the cam pin 48, and the adjustment plate 31 pressed by the cam pin 48 is camped around the circular shaft portion 27. An amount of rotation according to the locus of the groove 52 (rotation in the direction of arrow R1 in FIGS. 3 and 15) is performed. The ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 formed on the adjustment plate 31 and the stopper 33 do not restrict the rotation of the adjustment plate 31 in the direction of the arrow R1, and are guided by the inclined surface 47b and the inclined surface 57b to lock the stopper 33. It is pushed upward from the position (arrow Q in FIG. 3). When the inclined surface 57b on the stopper 33 side gets over the inclined surface 47b on the adjustment plate 31 side, the stopper 33 returns to the locking position by the urging force of the stopper urging spring 59.

  When the adjustment plate 31 rotates in the direction of the arrow R <b> 1, another pair of angle knobs 32 that are not pressed by the finger 60 are pressed by the cam pins 48 on the inner surface of the cam groove 52. The pair of angle knobs 32 that have not been pressed by the finger 60 are moved in the inner diameter direction of the knob assembly 23 in the same manner as the pair of angle knobs 32 that have been pressed by the finger 60 by the component force generated by the pressing. That is, the four amble knobs 32 are moved toward the inner diameter direction of the knob assembly 23 via the adjustment plate 31. FIG. 15 shows a case where a pair of amble knobs 32 are pushed in with a finger 60. However, if at least one angle knob 32 is pushed in, all other angle knobs 32 can be interlocked.

  When the pushing of the angle knob 32 in the inner diameter direction by the finger 60 is released, each of the four angle knobs 32 tries to return to the outer diameter direction by the urging force of the knob urging spring 55. When each angle knob 32 is moved in the outer diameter direction, the adjustment plate 31 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R2 in FIGS. 3 and 16, and the rotation of the adjustment plate 31 in this direction is related. It is restricted by the engagement of the rotation restricting surface 57 a of the ratchet gear 57 of the stopper 33 at the stop position and the rotation restricting surface 47 a of the ratchet gear 47 of the adjusting plate 31. Therefore, each angle knob 32 is held at a position when the push by the finger 60 is released without returning to the outer diameter direction. FIG. 15 shows only the maximum projecting position (two-dot chain line) and the minimum projecting position (solid line) of each angle knob 32. However, the angle knob 32 is pushed in a range from the maximum projecting position to the minimum projecting position. The protruding amount of the angle knob 32 can be set arbitrarily (in increments according to the gear pitch of the ratchet gears 47 and 57).

  When increasing the protruding amount of each angle knob 32 in which the protruding amount in the outer diameter direction is smaller than the maximum protruding position, the stopper 33 is pulled up to the unlocking position against the biasing force of the stopper biasing spring 59. . Then, the meshing between the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 is released, and the adjustment plate 31 can be freely rotated. Each angle knob 32 moves the adjustment plate 31 to the arrow shown in FIGS. 3 and 16 by the relationship between the cam pin 48 and the cam groove 52. While rotating in the R2 direction, it moves in the outer diameter direction by the urging force of the knob urging spring 55 as indicated by an arrow P2 in FIG. When the lifting of the stopper 33 to the unlocking position is released, the ratchet gear 47 and the ratchet gear 57 are engaged to restrict the rotation of the adjustment plate 31 in the direction of the arrow R2, and the angle knobs 32 move in the outer diameter direction. Stops. FIG. 16 shows only the minimum protruding position (two-dot chain line) and the maximum protruding position (solid line) of each angle knob 32, but the range from the minimum protruding position to the maximum protruding position according to the operation timing of the stopper 33. Thus, the protruding amount of the angle knob 32 can be set arbitrarily (in increments corresponding to the gear pitch of the ratchet gears 47 and 57). At this time, if the stopper 33 is operated while adjusting the moving speed in the outer diameter direction by pressing the angle knob 32 with a finger or the like, the position of the angle knob 32 can be easily managed. When each angle knob 32 reaches the maximum protruding position, the cam pin 48 abuts on the outer diameter side end portion of the cam groove 52 even when the stopper 33 is held at the unlocking position, and the outer side is further increased. Since the movement of each angle knob 32 in the radial direction is restricted, there is no possibility that each angle knob 32 falls off the knob assembly 23.

  As described above, in the bending operation unit 20 in the endoscope 10 of the present embodiment, the angle that is a protruding portion in the outer diameter direction of the knob assembly 23 that is a bending operation member for bending the bending portion 16. The protruding amount of the knob 32 can be changed. Thereby, the length of the finger-hanging portion of the knob assembly 23 can be easily set according to the size of the hand of the endoscope operator and the length of the finger, and an attachment for adjusting the size covering the entire knob assembly 23 is provided. The operability can be improved without taking the trouble of attaching and detaching. The angle knob 32 can be set to an arbitrary protruding amount between the maximum protruding position and the minimum protruding position, and the degree of freedom of adjustment is high. Further, since the angle knob 32 can reduce the protrusion amount by an operation of pushing in the inner diameter direction and can increase the protrusion amount by an operation of pulling up the stopper 33, it is easy to intuitively set the protrusion amount.

  Further, the knob assembly 23 achieves efficient adjustment by interlocking the four angle knobs 32 via the adjustment plate 31 so that the protruding amounts thereof coincide with each other. The adjustment plate 31 is used for interlocking the four angle knobs 32 and also functions as an external component of the knob assembly 23 that covers the upper surfaces of the angle knob 32 and the knob biasing spring 55.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and can be modified without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, although the knob assembly 23 of the illustrated embodiment includes four angle knobs 32 at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, the number and arrangement of movable protrusions corresponding to the angle knob 32 can be varied. For example, the present invention does not exclude a bending operation member having only one movable protrusion.

  Further, when a plurality of movable protrusions are provided, the movable protrusions may not be interlocked (some or all of the movable protrusions may not be interlocked). In this configuration, it takes time and effort to adjust the protrusion amounts of the plurality of movable protrusions, but the operability of the bending operation member can be further highly customized by individually changing the protrusion amounts of the movable protrusions. .

  In the knob assembly 23 of the illustrated embodiment, the four angle knobs 32 are interlocked using the adjustment plate 31, but when a plurality of angle knobs 32 are not interlocked (including the case where there is only one angle knob 32), The configuration may be changed so that a portion corresponding to the stopper 33 is directly engaged with and held by the angle knob 32 without using the adjustment plate 31.

  In the knob assembly 23 of the illustrated embodiment, the four angle knobs 32 have the same shape and size. However, when a plurality of movable protrusions are provided, the shapes and sizes of the four angle knobs 32 may be different.

  In the knob assembly 23 of the illustrated embodiment, the angle knob 32 is supported so as to linearly move in the rotational radius direction with respect to the shaft base 30. However, the change in the protrusion amount of the movable protrusion in the present invention is in the rotational radius direction. It can also be performed by an operation other than straight movement. For example, it is possible to select linear movement in a direction inclined with respect to the rotational radius direction or non-linear movement.

  In the knob assembly 23 of the illustrated embodiment, the maximum protruding position and the minimum protruding position of the angle knob 32 are determined by the abutment of the cam pin 48 to the end of the cam groove 52. It is also possible to determine the maximum projecting position and the minimum projecting position of the angle knob 32 by contacting a part different from the illustrated embodiment, such as 39 contact.

  In the knob assembly 23 of the illustrated embodiment, a cam groove 52 and a rectilinear guide groove 53 are formed in the angle knob 32, and a cam pin 48, which is a projection inserted into the cam groove 52, is provided on the adjustment plate 31 and inserted into the rectilinear guide groove 53. The guide protrusions 39 are provided on the shaft base 30, but it is also possible to reverse the relationship between the positions of these grooves and protrusions.

  In the knob assembly 23 of the illustrated embodiment, the protruding amount of the angle knob 32 can be set in multiple stages by the engagement of the ratchet gears 47 and 57. This configuration is excellent in that it is structurally simple and allows fine adjustment of the protruding amount, but a protruding amount adjusting mechanism having a different configuration can also be used. For example, there is a push-lock type projection amount adjustment mechanism that is locked when the projection amount is small and is locked in a state where the projection amount is small. It is also possible to apply to the angle knob 32.

  Although the endoscope 10 of the illustrated embodiment includes only one knob assembly 23 as a bending operation member, the present invention can also be applied to an endoscope including a plurality of bending operation members. In recent years, endoscopes having a bending operation member in charge of a bending operation in the left-right direction and a bending operation member in charge of a bending operation in the up-down direction have been widely used, and the present invention is also applied to these bending operation members. Is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 11 Operation part 12 Insertion part 13 Universal tube 14 Connector 15 Tip rigid part 16 Bending part 17 Flexible tube 20 Bending operation part 21 Treatment tool insertion port 22 Operation button 23 Knob assembly 24 Lock lever 25 Support shaft 26 Non-circular Shaft portion 27 Circular shaft portion 28 Pulley 29 Wire 30 Shaft base (rotating operation portion)
31 Adjustment plate (interlocking means, linkage rotating part)
32 Angle knob (movable protrusion)
33 Stopper (holding means, locking part)
35 Substrate part 36 Square protrusion 37 Large diameter protrusion 38 Spring support protrusion 39 Guide protrusion 40 Square hole 41 Round hole 45 Substrate part 46 Round hole 47 Ratchet gear (gear part)
47a Rotation restricting surface 47b Inclined surface 48 Cam pin (projection restricting portion, cam follower, interlocking means)
50 Body 51 Tip 52 Cam groove (protrusion restrictor, interlocking means)
53 Straight guide groove (long groove)
54 Spring support protrusion 55 Knob bias spring (holding means, bias means)
56 round hole 57 ratchet gear (gear part)
57a Rotation restricting surface 57b Inclined surface 58 Spring support plate 59 Stopper biasing spring 60 Finger

Claims (6)

In the bending operation member that is provided in the operation portion of the endoscope and performs the bending operation of the bending portion that constitutes the insertion portion of the endoscope,
A rotation operation unit that is rotatably supported by the operation unit and changes a bending angle of the bending unit by a rotation operation;
A movable protrusion supported so as to be able to change the amount of protrusion in the rotational radial direction with respect to the rotational movement section; and the amount of protrusion of the movable protrusion relative to the rotational movement section is held constant and held Holding means for enabling adjustment of the protruding amount by a release operation;
A bending operation member for an endoscope, comprising: The bending operation member of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is
Urging means for urging the movable projecting portion in a direction of increasing the projecting amount with respect to the rotating operation portion;
A locking position that restricts movement of the movable protrusion in the direction of increasing the protrusion amount and permits movement of the movable protrusion in a direction of decreasing the protrusion amount, and decreases in the direction of increasing the protrusion amount. A locking portion movable to an unlocking position allowing movement of the movable protrusion in any of the directions to be moved; and the movable protrusion with respect to the rotating operation portion in a state where the locking portion is in the locking release position. A protrusion restricting portion that determines the maximum protruding position of the portion in the rotational radius direction;
A bending operation member for an endoscope. The bending operation member of the endoscope according to claim 1 or 2,
A plurality of the movable protrusions having different movement directions with respect to the rotation operation unit;
A bending operation member for an endoscope, comprising interlocking means for operating the plurality of movable protrusions in conjunction with the rotation operation part to change the protrusion amount. The bending operation member for an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the interlocking means includes:
An associated rotating part that is coaxially supported with respect to the rotating action part and is supported so as to be relatively rotatable;
A cam groove provided between each of the plurality of movable protrusions and the associated rotating part, and a cam follower that is slidably inserted into the cam groove;
An endoscope in which the relative rotation of the linkage rotation portion with respect to the rotation operation portion and the change in the protrusion amount of the movable projection portion with respect to the rotation operation portion are linked via the cam groove and the cam follower. The bending operation member. The bending operation member of the endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the engagement portion is movable in a direction along a rotation axis of the rotation operation portion and the linkage rotation portion, and the linkage rotation portion. To and from the gear through the gear
The gear portion has a rotation restricting surface that restricts rotation of the linkage rotating portion in a direction that increases the protruding amount of the movable protruding portion, and a rotational force in a direction that decreases the protruding amount of the movable protruding portion. A bending operation member of an endoscope having an inclined surface that generates a component force that moves the locking portion toward the locking release position when the locking rotation portion is applied. The bending operation member of the endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the movable projecting portion is a long groove formed in the rotational radius direction with respect to the rotational operation portion, and the long groove. A bending operation member for an endoscope, which is supported by a guide protrusion inserted so as to be slidable in such a manner as to be able to move linearly in the rotational radius direction.

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