JP2019180584A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an endoscope that does not impair receptivity to a subject without increasing a diameter of an insertion part, can suppress disorder of and damage to a built-in object, and prevents deterioration of flexibility of the insertion part and an increase in an amount of bending force of a curved part.SOLUTION: An endoscope includes: a tubular member 7 that forms at least a part of an insertion part 9 and is curved by external force; a plurality of built-in objects inserted to the inside of the tubular member 7; a first part 30 having a first inner diameter φ1, which forms a tip side part of the tubular member 7, and in which the plurality of built-in objects are arranged; and a second part 40 having a second inner diameter φ2 larger than the first inner diameter φ1 of the first part 30, which forms a base end side part of the tubular member 7. A second filling rate of the plurality of built-in objects in the second part 40 is lower than a first filling rate of the plurality of built-in objects in the first part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope having a curved portion in an insertion portion and a built-in object provided in the insertion portion.

  As is well known, an endoscope is widely used for observation, treatment, etc. of a living body (inside a body cavity) or inspection, repair, etc. in an industrial plant facility. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, such an endoscope includes a long insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and a bending portion is provided near the distal end of the insertion portion. It has been.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-6402

  By the way, the endoscope has a higher acceptability to the subject as the insertion portion is thinner. However, when internal components for endoscope functions such as various cables, treatment instrument channels, and air / water supply channels are added to the insertion portion with a reduced diameter, there is a problem that the durability of these internal components is inferior.

  That is, in a flexible insertion portion, particularly in a bending portion with a large bending angle, the degree of freedom of movement of the built-in object is limited when the filling rate of the built-in object is high, and the longitudinal movement inside the bending part is restricted. It becomes difficult to damage the built-in objects such as buckling.

  On the other hand, when the rigidity of the built-in object is increased so that the built-in object does not buckle, there is a problem that the flexibility of the insertion part is lowered and the amount of force for bending the bending part is increased.

  In addition, if the inner diameter of the internal space in which the built-in object is placed is increased, the curved part becomes thicker and the acceptability to the subject decreases, and the built-in object tends to be disturbed and the built-in object itself is less durable. There was a risk of damage.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to prevent disturbance of the built-in object and damage without damaging the acceptability to the subject without increasing the diameter of the insertion portion. Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that prevents a decrease in flexibility of an insertion portion and an increase in bending force amount of a bending portion.

  An endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes a tubular member that forms at least a part of an insertion portion and is curved by an external force, a plurality of built-in objects inserted into the tubular member, and a distal end of the tubular member A first portion having a first inner diameter, and a proximal end portion of the tubular member, the first portion having the first inner diameter, and a first portion having a first inner diameter. A second portion having a second inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the first portion, and the plurality of built-in portions in the second portion than the first filling rate of the plurality of built-in items in the first portion. The second filling factor of the product was lowered.

  The insertion part is not increased in diameter so that the acceptability to the subject is not impaired, and the disturbance and damage of the built-in material can be suppressed, and the flexibility of the insertion part and the bending force increase of the bending part are prevented. An endoscope is provided.

The top view which shows the whole structure of the endoscope of 1 aspect of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the curved part of an insertion part similarly FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. The figure which shows the curved part of the curved state same as the above Sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the curved part of the insertion part of a 1st modification same as the above Sectional drawing which shows the structure of one form of the flexible tube part of a 2nd modification same as the above Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the other form of the flexible tube part of a 2nd modification same as the above

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following description, the drawings based on the following embodiments are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the ratio of the thickness of each part, and the like are different from the actual ones. It should be noted that there are cases in which parts having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included in the drawings.

First, an embodiment of an endoscope in which a bending portion is provided in an insertion portion of one embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.
1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the endoscope, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the bending portion of the insertion portion, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2, and FIG. IV-IV sectional view, FIG. 5 is a figure which shows the curved part of the curved state.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope system (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope system) 1 according to the present embodiment includes an electronic endoscope device (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope) 2, and a light source device. 3, the video processor 4, and the color monitor 5 are electrically connected.

  The endoscope 2 includes an insertion portion 9 and an operation portion 10 in which the insertion portion 9 is extended. A universal cord 17 extending from the operation portion 10 is connected to the light source device 3 via a scope connector 18. Connected with.

  A coiled scope cable 19 is extended from the scope connector 18. An electric connector portion 20 is provided at the other end of the scope cable 19, and the electric connector portion 20 is connected to the video processor 4.

  The insertion portion 9 is configured by connecting a distal end portion 6, a bending portion 7 curved by an external force, and a flexible tube portion 8 in order from the distal end. On the distal end surface of the distal end portion 6, a known distal end opening, an observation window, a plurality of illumination windows, an observation window cleaning port, and an observation object cleaning port are disposed (all not shown).

  An imaging unit, which will be described later, is disposed in the distal end portion 6 on the back side of the observation window. Further, on the back side of the plurality of illumination windows, a light guide bundle (not shown) that transmits illumination light from the light source device 3 and is inserted into the universal cord 17 from the distal end portion 6 is provided. .

  The observation window cleaning port and the observation object cleaning port constitute openings of two cleaning tubes (not shown) that are inserted from the distal end portion 6 into the universal cord 17. These cleaning tubes are connected to a cleaning tank (not shown) in which cleaning water is stored, a compressor, and the light source device 3 side.

  The operation unit 10 includes a bend preventing unit 11 from which the insertion unit 9 extends, a forceps port 12 disposed on a side part on the lower side, an operation unit main body 13 constituting a middle grip unit, and an upper side. A bending operation unit 16 including two bending operation knobs 14 and 15 which are bent by the operator and operated to bend by the operator, an air / water supply control unit 21, and a suction control unit. 22, a switch unit 23 mainly composed of a plurality of switches for operating the imaging function, and a fixing lever 24 for fixing the bending operation knob.

  The forceps port 12 of the operation unit 10 constitutes an opening portion of a treatment instrument channel (not shown) that is mainly inserted into the insertion portion 9 up to the distal end opening portion of the distal end portion 6.

Next, the configuration of the bending portion 7 which is a tubular portion that forms at least a part of the insertion portion 9 of the endoscope 2 will be described in detail below.
As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion portion 9 includes a first bending piece group 30 and a base disposed in the first portion of the bending portion 7 on the distal end side in the bending portion 7 connected to the distal end portion 6. A second bending piece group 40 arranged in the second portion of the bending portion 7 on the end side is incorporated.

  The bending portion 7 is set with a predetermined length L1 in which the first bending piece group 30 is built and a predetermined length L2 in which the second bending piece group 40 is built. These predetermined lengths L1 and L2 are set so that the length L1 is longer than the length L2 (L1> L2).

  In addition, when the length L1, the length L2, and the total length of the bending portion 7 are 100, the length L1 is set to 55 to 65 and the length L2 is set to 35 to 45. It is preferable that the length L1 is set to 60 and the length L2 is set to 40. That is, it is preferable to set the ratio between the length L1 and the length L2 to be 6: 4.

  The first bending piece group 30 and the second bending piece group 40 cover the first bending rubber 33 and the second bending rubber 43 in which blades 34 and 44 such as metal knitted pipes are provided on the inner peripheral surface. Has been. The distal end portion of the first curved rubber 33 is fixed to the outer peripheral proximal end portion of the distal end configuration portion 25 of the distal end portion 6 by a pincushion bonding portion 26.

  The blades 34 and 44 are continuous and integral tubular members. The first curved rubber 33 and the second curved rubber 43 are soft tube bodies that are resin-made outer skins that are integrally formed continuously. The second curved rubber 43 constitutes the outer skin of the flexible tube portion 8 together with the blade 44.

  In the first bending piece group 30, a plurality of first bending pieces 31 are rotatably connected by a pivotal support portion 50 which is a connecting portion such as a rivet. Note that the first bending piece 31 disposed at the forefront is rotatably connected to the distal end constituting portion 25.

  In the second bending piece group 40, a plurality of second bending pieces 41 and a proximal bending piece 42 are rotatably connected by a pivotal support portion 50 which is a connecting portion such as a rivet. The proximal bending piece 42 is connected to a spiral tube (not shown) provided in the flexible tube portion 8.

  The first bending piece 31 is a substantially annular member having a predetermined thickness (thickness) formed of a metal having a predetermined inner diameter φ1.

  The second bending piece 41 is made of a metal having a predetermined inner diameter φ2 (φ1 <φ2) larger than the predetermined inner diameter φ1 of the first bending piece 31, and has a predetermined thickness of the first bending piece 31. It is a substantially annular member having the same or substantially the same thickness (wall thickness).

  The area of the internal cross section formed by the inner peripheral surface of the first bending piece 31 and the area of the internal cross section formed by the inner peripheral surface of the second bending piece 41 have different areas, The area of the internal cross section of the bending piece 31 is small, and the area of the internal cross section of the second bending piece 41 is set large.

  That is, the area of the internal cross section of the second bending piece 41 is set larger than the area of the internal cross section of the first bending piece. The area of the internal cross section is the area formed by the inner peripheral surfaces of the first bending piece 31 and the second bending piece 41 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the linear insertion portion 9 (curving portion 7). It is.

  As described above, the first bending piece 31 and the second bending piece 41 are substantially annular members having different internal cross-sectional areas formed by the respective inner peripheral surfaces and having the same predetermined thickness.

  Therefore, the first bending piece 31 and the second bending piece 41 have different outer diameters, the outer diameter of the first bending piece 31 disposed on the distal end side is small, and the first bending piece 31 disposed on the proximal end side. The outer diameter of the second bending piece 41 is set large.

  Then, a first bending rubber 33 including a blade 34 covering the first bending piece group 30 composed of a plurality of first bending pieces 31 so that the entire outer diameter of the bending portion 7 is constant. The thicknesses d1 and d2 of the first bending rubber 43 including the blade 44 covering the second bending piece group 40 composed of the plurality of second bending pieces 41 are set.

  Specifically, the first bending rubber 33 covering the first bending piece group 30 has a predetermined thickness d1 including the blade 34. The second bending rubber 43 covering the second bending piece group 40 has a predetermined thickness d 2 including the blade 44.

  That is, the first curved rubber 33 is set such that the predetermined thickness d1 including the blade 34 is larger than the predetermined thickness d2 (d1> d2) because the outer diameters of the plurality of first bending pieces 31 are small. Has been. In other words, since the second bending rubber 43 has a small outer diameter of the plurality of second bending pieces 41, the predetermined thickness d2 including the blade 44 is set to be thinner than the predetermined thickness d1.

  In this way, the bending portion 7 includes the first bending rubber 33 on the distal end side that covers the first bending piece group 30 having different outer diameters provided inside, and the second bending piece group 40 provided inside. The second curved rubber 43 on the base end side that covers the blades 34 and 44 includes the blades 34 and 44, and the respective predetermined thicknesses d1 and d2 are different so that the entire outer diameter is constant. .

In addition, the bending portion 7 has a plurality of long constituent elements as internal components disposed therein.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the bending portion 7 of the insertion portion 9, four bending operation wires 27, three light guide bundles 51, an imaging cable 52, and an actuator drive cable are provided. 53, long members such as various channels 54, 55, and 56 and a ground wire 57 are inserted. Note that these long members are inserted through the entire insertion portion 9. These long members are omitted in the drawings other than FIGS. 3 and 4 for simplification.

The four bending operation wires 27 have their distal ends fixed to the proximal end portion of the distal end constituting portion 25, and rotate the first bending piece group 30 and the second bending piece group 40 by pulling and loosening. This is a long member for bending the bending portion 7 in the vertical and horizontal directions on the observation screen. Each of the three light guide bundles 51 is a long member that is inserted and fixed to the distal end component 25 of the distal end portion 6 and guides illumination light.
In the four bending operation wires 27, for example, the base end portions of a pair of bending operation wires arranged vertically in FIG. 3 are connected to each other, and a pulley that is rotated coaxially and integrally with the bending operation knob 14 described above. It is built in. Further, the base ends of the pair of bending operation wires arranged side by side are also connected in the same manner, and are installed on a pulley that is coaxially rotated with the bending operation knob 15 described above. With this structure, when the bending operation knob 14 is turned, a pair of bending operation wires arranged in the vertical direction in FIG. 3 are alternately pulled and loosened, and the bending operation knob 15 is turned to turn FIG. A pair of bending operation wires arranged side by side are alternately pulled and relaxed, and the bending portion 7 is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  The imaging cable 52 is a long member extending from an imaging unit (not shown) fixed to the distal end configuration portion 25. The actuator drive cable 53 is a long member that is a power supply cable for an actuator that drives a movable lens provided in an imaging unit (not shown).

  The various channels 54, 55, and 56 are long members that are flexible tube bodies such as a treatment instrument channel, an air / water supply channel, and a secondary water supply channel that are connected to and fixed to the distal end configuration portion 25. In addition, since the function, operation | movement, etc. of these elongate members are conventionally inserted in the insertion part 9 of the endoscope 2, those detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Thus, the endoscope 2 has the second bending piece on the proximal end side of the bending portion 7 with respect to the filling rate of various long members in the first bending piece group 30 on the distal end side of the bending portion 7. The filling rate of various long members in the group 40 is different.

  Specifically, since the inner diameter φ1 of the plurality of first bending pieces 31 constituting the first bending piece group 30 is small on the distal end side of the bending portion 7, the filling rate of various long members with respect to the internal space is high. (Large) is set. Thereby, in the front end side of the bending part 7, the movement of various elongate members is restrict | limited, and it becomes the structure by which the various elongate members were prevented from violating or disturbing. The various long members in the first bending piece group 30 are set to a filling rate of 65% to 68%.

  Moreover, since the inner diameter φ2 of the plurality of second bending pieces 41 constituting the second bending piece group 40 is large on the proximal end side of the bending portion 7, the filling rate of various long members to the internal space is low (small). ) Is set. Thereby, in the base end side of the bending part 7, it becomes a structure which various elongate members are easy to move, and the advance / retreat movement of various elongate members is not inhibited. Note that the various long members in the second bending piece group 40 are set to a filling rate of 62% to 65%.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the endoscope 2 according to the present embodiment described above is configured so that the long member Bo on the outer side of the curve far from the bending center O is in the distal end side in a state where the bending portion 7 of the insertion portion 9 is curved. It is pulled in the direction of arrow F. Further, the long member Bi inside the curve near the curve center O is pushed into the base end side (arrow B direction).

  At this time, in the range of the predetermined length L1 which becomes the distal end portion of the bending portion 7 in which the first bending piece group 30 is incorporated, the movement of various long members which are built-in objects is limited, Disturbance is prevented.

  In addition, in the range of a predetermined length L2 that becomes the proximal end portion of the bending portion 7 in which the second bending piece group 40 is incorporated, various long members that are built-in objects are brought to the distal end side due to the bending of the bending portion 7. Even if it is pulled or pushed into the proximal end side, it can move forward and backward.

  In particular, the various long members that are built-in objects are curved vertex portions P that are the curved vertex positions on the outside of the curved portion at the same position (the same predetermined angle θ with respect to the curved center O) in a state where the curved portion 7 is curved. Rampage and disturbance are most likely to occur.

  Therefore, the endoscope 2 according to the present embodiment has a distal-side region (range of a predetermined length L1) in which the first bending piece group 30 that restricts the movement of various long members that are built-in objects is disposed. ) Exceeds the curved vertex P.

  Thereby, the endoscope 2 is configured to limit the movement of the various long members to the position where the various long members that are built-in components are most likely to be violated or disturbed in the bending portion 7. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent various long members, which are built-in items, from being damaged due to rampage, disturbance, and the like.

  The endoscope 2 is provided with a second bending piece group 40 in which various long members, which are built-in objects, can freely move back and forth on the proximal end side of the distal end region (the range of the predetermined length L1). By providing a region (range of the predetermined length L2), it is configured not to prevent the advancement and retraction of various long members.

  In this way, the various long members that are built-in members can be moved forward and backward on the proximal end side of the bending portion 7 to reduce the load caused by pulling and pushing in during bending, and buckling is unlikely to occur and damage is prevented. The

  Note that the long guide member 51 that is particularly easily damaged by a load caused by violence, turbulence, or the like, or pulling or pushing is the light guide bundle 51.

  Furthermore, the endoscope 2 has various long members, which are built-in components, being movable forward and backward on the base end side of the bending portion 7, so that it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the various long members, and various long members Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in the amount of bending force when the bending portion 7 is bent.

  The endoscope 2 has a predetermined thickness of the first bending rubber 33 and the second bending rubber 43 including the blades 34 and 44 covering the first bending piece group 30 and the second bending piece group 40. By changing d1 and d2, the entire outer diameter of the bending portion 7 is configured to be substantially constant (uniform).

  The bending portion 7 is a blade that covers the second bending piece group 40 disposed at the proximal end portion with the outer diameter of the first bending piece group 30 disposed at the distal end portion being the same as the conventional one. By making the predetermined thickness d2 of the second curved rubber 43 including 44 thinner than the conventional one, it is possible to prevent the outer diameter from being increased. As a result, the endoscope 2 is configured such that the diameter of the insertion portion 9 is prevented from being increased and the acceptability to the subject is not impaired.

  As described above, the endoscope 2 does not impair the receptivity to the subject without increasing the diameter of the insertion portion 9, can suppress the disturbance and damage of the built-in object, and can flex the insertion portion 9. It becomes the structure which can prevent the fall of property and the increase in the amount of bending forces of the curved part 7. FIG.

(First modification)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the bending portion of the insertion portion of the first modification.
As shown in FIG. 6, the endoscope 2 has the thickness D1 of the plurality of first bending pieces 31 constituting the first bending piece group 30 built in the distal end side of the bending portion 7 of the insertion portion 9. On the other hand, thickness D2 of the some 2nd bending piece 41 which comprises the 2nd bending piece group 40 incorporated in the base end side of the bending part 7 is made thin (small), and several 1st bending The configuration may be such that the inner diameter φ1 of the piece 31 is reduced and the inner diameter φ2 of the plurality of second bending pieces 41 is increased. In such a configuration, the curved rubbers 33 and 43 including the blades 34 and 44 are set to the same predetermined thickness d.

The bending portion 7 constitutes a plurality of first bending pieces 31 constituting the first bending piece group 30 arranged at the distal end portion and a second bending piece group 40 arranged at the proximal end portion. The outer diameter of the plurality of second bending pieces 41 to be the same as the conventional one, and the thickness D2 of the plurality of second bending pieces 41 is made thin (small) to prevent the outer diameter from becoming thicker. Can do. As a result, the endoscope 2 is configured such that the diameter of the insertion portion 9 is prevented from being increased and the acceptability to the subject is not impaired.
Even with such a configuration, the configuration of the endoscope 2 having the above-described effects can be obtained.

(Second modification)
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of one form of the flexible tube portion of the second modification, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of another form of the flexible tube portion of the second modification.

  In the embodiment and the first modification described above, the configuration of the bending portion 7 of the insertion portion 9 is exemplified, but the flexible tube portion 8 described below may have the same configuration.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a spiral sleeve 60 of a spiral tube formed by spirally winding a band-shaped member built in the flexible tube portion 8 has a small diameter portion on the tip side. The first spiral portion 61 having an inner diameter φ3 and the second spiral portion 62 having an inner diameter φ4 (φ3 <φ4) larger than the inner diameter φ3 so as to be a large diameter portion on the base end side. .

  The outer skin 63 that covers the spiral sleeve 60 has a thickness d3 that includes the blade 64 that covers the first spiral portion 61, and a thickness that includes the blade 64 that covers the second spiral portion 62. It is configured to be larger than d4 (d3> d4) so that the outer diameter of the flexible tube portion 8 is substantially constant (uniform).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the first spiral portion 61 of the spiral sleeve 60 whose outer diameter is substantially the same (uniform) is set to a thickness D3 so that it has an inner diameter φ3, and the second spiral portion The thickness D4 may be set so that 62 has an inner diameter φ4. The first spiral part 61 and the second spiral part 62 have the same outer diameter.

That is, the thickness D3 of the first spiral portion 61 is set to be larger (thicker) than the thickness D4 of the second spiral portion 62 (D3> D4). The outer skin 63 covering the spiral sleeve 60 is configured so that the thickness thereof is substantially constant (uniform) and the outer diameter of the flexible tube portion 8 is substantially constant (uniform).
As described above, the flexible tube portion 8 may have a configuration similar to that of the bending portion 7 of the insertion portion 9.

  The invention described in each of the above-described embodiments is not limited to the embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  For example, even if several constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the effect of the invention can be obtained. A configuration from which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Endoscope 3 ... Light source device 4 ... Video processor 5 ... Color monitor 6 ... Tip part 7 ... Bending part 8 ... Flexible tube part 9 ... Insertion part 10 ... Operation part 12 ... Forceps port 13 ... Operation part main body 14, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Bending operation knob 16 ... Bending operation part 17 ... Universal cord 18 ... Scope connector 19 ... Scope cable 20 ... Electric connector part 21 ... Air supply / water supply control part 22 ... Suction control part 23 ... Switch part 24 ... Fixed lever 25 ... Tip Constituent part 26 ... pincushion bonding part 27 ... bending operation wire 30 ... first bending piece group 31 ... first bending piece 33 ... first bending rubber 34, 44 ... blade 40 ... second bending piece group 41 ... first 2 bending pieces 42 ... proximal bending piece 43 ... second bending rubber 50 ... pivot portion 51 ... light guide bundle 52 ... imaging cable 53 ... actuator drive cables 54, 55, 56 ... various channels 57 ... Land line

Claims (12)

A tubular member that forms at least a portion of the insertion portion and is bent by an external force;
A plurality of built-in objects inserted into the tubular member;
Constituting a tip-side portion of the tubular member, wherein the plurality of built-in objects are disposed, and a first portion having a first inner diameter;
A second portion comprising a proximal end portion of the tubular member, the second portion having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter of the first portion;
Comprising
An endoscope, wherein a second filling rate of the plurality of built-in objects in the second portion is lower than a first filling rate of the plurality of built-in objects in the first portion.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein tips of the plurality of built-in objects are fixed.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of built-in objects are long members and are inserted through the tubular member.   The lengths of the first portion and the second portion are set so that a curved vertex portion in a state where the tubular member is curved is included in the first portion. The endoscope according to 1. Having a plurality of annular bending pieces built in the tubular member;
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bending pieces are rotatably connected. A plurality of first bending pieces incorporated in the first portion;
A plurality of second bending pieces incorporated in the second portion;
With
The thicknesses of the plurality of first bending pieces and the plurality of second bending pieces are substantially uniform, and the outer diameter of the second bending piece is formed larger than the outer diameter of the first bending piece. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the endoscope is characterized. An outer skin covering the plurality of first bending pieces and the plurality of second bending pieces;
In the outer skin, the second thickness of the portion covering the second portion is set smaller than the first thickness of the portion covering the first portion, and the outer diameter of the tubular member is formed to be substantially uniform. The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the endoscope is provided. A plurality of first bending pieces incorporated in the first portion;
A plurality of second bending pieces incorporated in the second portion;
With
The second thickness of the second bending piece is smaller than the first thickness of the first bending piece, and the outer diameter of the tubular member is formed substantially uniformly. The endoscope according to claim 5. An outer skin covering outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of first bending pieces and the plurality of second bending pieces;
The thickness which covers the said 1st part and the said 2nd part in the said outer skin is formed the same, The outer diameter of the said tubular member is formed substantially uniformly, The Claim 8 characterized by the above-mentioned. Endoscope. The tubular member is
A spiral tube formed by spirally winding a band-shaped member;
An outer skin covering the outer periphery of the spiral tube;
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is a flexible tube. The thickness of the strip member is substantially uniform,
A first outer diameter of the spiral tube built in the first portion having the first inner diameter is set;
The helical tube incorporated in the second portion has a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter with the second inner diameter;
The thickness of the portion of the outer skin covering the second portion is set to be smaller than the thickness of the portion covering the first portion, and the outer diameter of the tubular member is formed substantially uniformly. The endoscope according to claim 10. The outer diameter of the helical tube is substantially uniform,
The band-shaped member forming the spiral tube incorporated in the first portion has a first thickness;
The band-shaped member forming the spiral tube incorporated in the second portion has a second thickness smaller than the first thickness;
The endoscope according to claim 10, wherein a thickness of the outer skin is made substantially uniform, and an outer diameter of the tubular member is made substantially uniform.

Images