JP2019531144A - Endoscope with covering part - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an endoscope head (1) having a work passage (11) for inserting a micro instrument, and an instrument (M) that can be inserted through the work passage (11). A lever (2) movably arranged on the endoscope head (1), comprising an instrument guide surface (20) that can be contacted to deflect laterally relative to the axial direction of 1) An endoscope having a covering (3) provided in the distal end region of the endoscope head (1), which constitutes an internal space in which the lever (2) is arranged.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope head having a work passage for inserting a micro instrument, and an instrument that can be inserted through the work path for making a deflection in a lateral direction relative to the axial direction of the endoscope head. The present invention relates to an endoscope having a lever that is movably disposed on an endoscope head, and includes an instrument guide surface that can be used.

A lever having an instrument guide surface has a function similar to an Albaran lever.
Such an Albaran lever can be used in an endoscope to examine, for example, the esophagus or duodenum, bile duct, gallbladder, pancreatic duct, pancreas and the like.

  Such an endoscope has an optical system (an illumination device and a camera). In addition, the endoscope has an Albaran lever at the exit of the work passage that allows the correct turning of the instrument inserted into the work passage by turning.

  After use of the endoscope, the endoscope is pretreated. Such pretreatment must ensure the transmission of any bacteria or microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, insects or molds. During the pretreatment, the endoscope is first manually cleaned to remove organic and chemical residues without any residue. After cleaning, mechanical sterilization or sterilization is performed. In this way, it is intended to prevent bacteria, microorganisms, etc. that are in contact with the endoscope during use of the endoscope from being transmitted to the patient during the next use.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscope having an Albaran lever. Strictly speaking, this endoscope has a support body that can be detached from the endoscope, and an Albaran lever is rotatably disposed on an axis supported by the support body. The turning of the Albaran lever is triggered via a pulling wire that is fixed to the Albaran lever and inserted through the endoscope.

German Patent No. 19627016C1

  An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which it is better avoided that bacteria touched by the endoscope are transmitted to a patient at the next use.

  This problem is solved by an endoscope having the constituent features of claim 1. Preferred developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

  An endoscope according to the present invention includes an endoscope head having a work passage for inserting a micro instrument, and an instrument that can be inserted through the work path is deflected laterally relative to the axial direction of the endoscope head. A distal end of the endoscope head comprising a lever movably disposed on the endoscope head and an internal space in which the lever is disposed, having an instrument guide surface that can be contacted to And a covering portion provided in the area.

  This covering protects the lever. Further, the use of the covering portion provides an effect that the lever itself does not come into contact with the surroundings when the endoscope is used. In this way, the lever cannot be contaminated.

  The covering portion may be made of an elastic material. In particular, the covering portion may be made of rubber or silicon. Such a covering portion is low-cost and can be easily manufactured. Its shape can be easily adapted to the placement area on the endoscope head. Thus, the coating can be used as a disposable member and can be disposed of after use.

  The covering portion may be provided at least in a region including a support portion of the lever in the distal end region of the endoscope head. In this way, the covering portion covers not only the lever but also the bearing member of the lever.

  The covering may be provided at least in a region including the distal opening of the working channel in the distal end region of the endoscope head. In this way, the covering is arranged between the opening at the distal end of the working channel and the lever.

The covering may be secured to the outer circumference of the distal end area of the endoscope head. In this way, the covering portion abuts on the endoscope head, and all areas of the endoscope protruding from the endoscope head toward the lever can be hidden.
The covering may be adhered to the outer circumference of the distal end area of the endoscope head.

A groove may be provided in the outer circumference of the distal end section of the endoscope head in which the inner circumferential section of the covering is embedded.
One area of the covering can be in close contact with the lever. In this way, the area of the covering can be adapted to the lever.

The covering portion may have a notch surrounding the light irradiation window and / or the camera window of the lighting device. In this way, the covering part can also cover the lighting device and / or the camera without restricting these functions.
Each aspect of the present invention described above can be combined appropriately.

It is a typical perspective view which shows the endoscope head of the endoscope of one Example of this invention which has a lever, and the coating | coated part which can be mounted | worn to a lever is shown separately. It is a typical perspective view which shows the endoscope head of FIG. 1, and the coating | coated part is set to the lever. It is a typical perspective view which shows the endoscope head of FIG. 2, and the lever is lifted. It is a typical side view showing an endoscope head of this example, and a micro instrument is pushed forward. It is a typical side view which shows the endoscope head of this Example, and the lever is lifted while pushing the micro instrument forward.

  In the following, the present invention will be described in detail by way of examples with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The endoscope according to the present invention has an endoscope head 1.
First, the endoscope head 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The endoscope head 1 according to the present invention has a cylindrical housing 15 and, in particular, has a work passage 11 and a wire pulling passage (not shown) that extend in parallel with each other along the longitudinal direction of the endoscope head 1. Yes.

  The wire pulling passage passes through the pulling wire 5. The pulling wire 5 serves to operate the lever 2 described later. For this purpose, the puller wire 5 can be manipulated on the proximal side of the endoscope through the endoscope. On the distal side of the puller wire 5, the puller wire 5 is coupled to the lever 2.

The working passage 11 is inserted with a micro instrument for inspecting, for example, the esophagus or duodenum, bile duct, gallbladder, pancreatic duct, pancreas and the like.
The endoscope head 1 has an optical system extending portion 12 on the distal side, and an illuminating device 17 and a camera 18 are provided in a known manner, and the optical system extending portion 12 is shown in FIG. It is shown on the right side. The optical system extending part 12 forms a side area having a camera and illumination. In other words, the optical system extending portion 12 is a housing protrusion having a camera and illumination. The housing protrusion is disposed side by side with the lever 2 in order to satisfactorily place the position and operation of the micro instrument in the field of view of the camera 18.

The working channel 11 ends in an area of the endoscope head 1 that is spaced from the distal end, where it forms an outlet opening 111 distal to the working channel 11.
A lever 2 which can be moved relative to the endoscope head 1 is arranged on the distal side of the outlet 111 which is distal to the working channel 11. The working channel 11 thus extends towards the lever 2 in the distal direction.

Next, the lever 2 will be described in more detail.
FIG. 1 shows a lever 2 as a perspective view.

  The lever 2 has an instrument guide surface 20 so that a micro instrument that can be inserted through the working path 11 of the endoscope head 1 is deflected in the lateral direction of the endoscope head 1 (upward in FIG. 1). This can be contacted by which the micro instrument can be inserted into the bile duct, for example. The instrument guide surface 20 faces the distal end opening 111 of the working channel 11. See FIG. Thus, the lever 2 has the function of a conventional Albaran lever.

The lever 2 has a base area 22 on the proximal side. The base section 22 extends in the proximal direction when the lever 2 is in the assembled position.
In the region proximal to the base section 22, the base section 22 is fixedly fixed to the housing 15 of the endoscope head 1. The base section 22 has a hole on the distal side in which the rotary shaft 23 is rotatably accommodated. The rotation shaft 23 is arranged in the proximal area of the lever 2 and penetrates the proximal area of the lever 2. Alternatively, the rotary shaft 23 is integrally coupled with the proximal area of the lever 2. For example, the rotary shaft 23 may be configured as a protrusion in the area proximal to the lever 2. Therefore, the lever 2 can rotate relative to the endoscope head 1 via the rotation shaft 23.

The base area 22 thus serves as a support area for the lever 2 and as a bearing.
The distal end of the puller wire 5 is anchored in the proximal area of the lever 2. Therefore, by pulling the pulling wire 5 in the proximal direction, the lever 2 rotates relative to the endoscope head 1 about the rotation shaft 23.

  A spring (not shown) may be assembled as an initial stress member so that the lever 2 can be applied with an initial stress so as to move away from the endoscope head 1. For example, the initial stress member may be a coil spring having a leg portion configured at each end, and the coil spring is disposed around the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 23 and is in contact with the base section 22. And a leg portion that abuts on the lever 2. Any initial stress member can be applied. The initial stress member causes the lever 2 to automatically return to the initial position shown in FIG. 1 when the pulling wire 5 is unloaded. The lever 2 has a stopper on the lower proximal side of FIG. 1 so that it abuts the base section 22 when in the position shown in FIG. Thus, the position shown in FIG. 1 is a predefined position of the lever 2 in which the lever 2 is not pulled in the proximal direction by the puller wire 5.

  The endoscope head 1 can be fitted with a covering 3 that can have the shape shown in FIG.

Next, the covering portion 3 will be described in more detail.
In this embodiment, the covering 3 has a shape that covers the lever 2 including the base section 22 and the section of the pulling wire 5 that protrudes in the distal direction from the endoscope head 1.

  More precisely, the covering 3 has a neck area 31 and a head area 32. The neck area 31 is arranged on the proximal side of the head area 32. The neck section 31 is configured in a ring shape and has an inner circumference that abuts the outer surface of the base section 22. In this way, the covering portion 3 is fixed to a region on the outer circumference of the distal end region of the endoscope head 1.

  When attached to the endoscope head 1, the neck area 31 covers the base area 22 and abuts against the endoscope head 1 in a sealed manner. In other words, the proximal end face of the neck area 31 is in surface contact with the distal area of the endoscope head 1. For this purpose, the outer circumference of the base area 22 may be provided with a recess, in which the protrusion on the inner circumference of the neck area 31 is located, the proximal end of the neck area 31 being the endoscope head 1. It can lock so that it may contact | abut so that it may seal. Alternatively, the neck area 31 can be glued to the base area 22 and / or the endoscope head 1.

The head section 32 has a shape that allows the lever 2 to be stored inside the head section 32.
The covering 3 is made of an elastic material. For example, the covering portion may be made of rubber or silicon. In this manner, the covering portion 3 is in close contact with the proximal end of the neck section 31 so as to surround the base section 22 along the distal surface of the endoscope head 1 as shown in FIG. The lever 2 can be arranged in the endoscope head 1 so that it is pushed into the neck area 31.

  The head area 32 constitutes an internal space in which the lever 2 is arranged.

The endoscope according to the present invention is used as follows.

A new endoscope or a cleaned and sterilized endoscope is prepared. A new covering portion 3 of the present invention is set on the lever 2 so that the covering portion 3 is sealed by the endoscope head 1.
An endoscope can be inserted into the patient for examination or treatment purposes.

  For example, when the endoscope is inserted to a desired location such as the duodenum facing the opening of the bile duct, the area of the opening of the bile duct can be illuminated and photographed by the illumination device 17 and the camera 18.

  Then, the micro instrument M can be pushed into the work passage 11. The micro instrument can be, for example, a guide wire, biopsy tweezers, stent system, catheter system, papillotome, and the like. In the present embodiment, the micro instrument M is a biopsy tweezer, and the state is shown in FIG.

The micro instrument is pushed through the outlet opening 111 distal to the working channel 11 and reaches the instrument guide surface 20 of the lever 2 covered by the covering 3.
The lever 2 is then moved to support further forward movement of the micro instrument. By pulling the pulling wire 5, the lever pivots relative to the endoscope head 1 in the proximal direction, as shown in FIG.

  Pulling or loosening the puller wire causes the lever 2 to reciprocate between a distal position (extended position in FIG. 4) and a proximal position (folded position in FIG. 5). Thereby, pushing of the micro instrument M becomes easy.

  By lever movement, the position of the micro-instrument M can be changed within the image area of the camera 18 for manipulation (eg for accurate sampling with biopsy tweezers).

Advantages and Advantages of the Invention The present invention provides a spatial separation of a covering portion with which the micro device comes into contact when moving the micro device forward from a puller wire that serves to manipulate the reciprocating motion of the device guide surface covered by the covering portion. Provide a simple and low cost solution for endoscopes. Conventional Alvaran levers provide a number of undercuts based on their geometric configuration, and bacteria may adhere to them during use. May remain in the lever.

In the present invention, the lever 2 has an instrument guide surface 20. Therefore, the lever 2 assumes the function of an Albaran lever. When applied, the lever 2 is completely covered with the covering 3. The outer surface of the covering portion 3 is relatively smooth, does not have an undercut, and comes into contact with bacteria during application.
The covering 3 can be disposed after use.
The surface of the optical system extending portion 12 is flat and can be easily cleaned.

As described above, the endoscope according to the present invention forms a means for avoiding the propagation of bacteria and the like that have come into contact with the endoscope during the next use to the next patient during the next use.
Furthermore, the lever 2 can even be configured so that it can be removed from the endoscope and designed as a disposable part for disposal. As an alternative, the lever 2 can be turned together with the endoscope for cleaning and sterilization.

  The wire pulling passage is sealed in the endoscope head. This is because the covering 3 surrounds the distal end of the wire pulling passage in a completely and hermetically sealed manner, and the pulling wire 5 is completely sealed with respect to the surroundings. The seal of the wire pulling passage and the pulling wire 5 is watertight. Therefore, it is avoided that bacteria can enter the wire pulling passage and can come into contact with the pulling wire 5.

Alternative In the present embodiment, the lever 2 rotates relative to the endoscope head 1 via the rotation shaft 23. The present invention is not limited to this. As an alternative, the lever is not pivotable relative to the endoscope head, but is supported by the endoscope head in the axial direction so as to slide back and forth relative to the endoscope head. It may be constituted so that. That is, such a lever can slide in the axial direction of the endoscope head so as to approach the endoscope head and away from the endoscope head. Such a lever also has an instrument guide surface 20 along which the micro instrument can be deflected laterally.

  In this embodiment, the head section 32 constitutes an internal space in which the lever 2 is disposed. The head section 32 may be shaped so as to be in close contact with the lever 2. Alternatively, the head area 32 may be shaped to gently surround the lever 2.

  In this embodiment, the puller wire 5 operable from the proximal side can be pulled in the proximal direction to move the lever 2, and a spring returns the lever 2 in the distal direction. In this way, the elastic puller wire 5 can be applied. Alternatively, a rigid traction member, such as a traction wire, may be applied to the endoscope instead of an elastic traction wire. In this alternative, the initial stress device can be omitted. The reciprocating movement of the lever 2 can be directly caused by pushing and pulling back the proximal end of the traction wire on the operator side proximal to the endoscope.

  In this embodiment, the covering portion has a shape that covers the lever 2 including the base section 22 and the section of the pulling wire 5 protruding in the distal direction from the endoscope head 1. The present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the covering portion may be shaped so as to cover a wider area of the endoscope head 1 together. For example, the optical system extending portion 12 can be covered in the same manner. The entire distal end area of the endoscope head 1 can be covered so as to be sealed by such a covering, except for the distal opening 111 of the working channel 11. Such an alternative covering may have a notch that encloses the illumination window and / or the camera window of the lighting device. Instead of the notches for the light illuminating window and / or the camera window of the illuminating device, the corresponding area of the covering part may be made transparent.

In yet another alternative, the entire covering portion may be configured to be transparent.
In another alternative, a separate seal that seals the covering along the endoscope head 1 may be provided in the proximal end region of the inner circumference of the neck section 31.
The present invention is applicable to a duodenoscope. The principle of the present invention can be applied to an ultrasonic endoscope and any other type of endoscope.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope head 2 Lever 3 Covering part 5 Pulling wire 11 Working path 12 Optical system extending | stretching part 15 Housing 17 Illuminating device 18 Camera
20 Instrument guide surface 22 Base area 23 Axis of rotation 31 Neck area 32 Head area 111 Opening M distal of the working channel M Micro instrument

Claims (10)

An endoscope head (1) provided with a working passage (11) for inserting a micro instrument;
An instrument guide surface (20) that can be contacted by an instrument (M) that can be inserted through the working passage (11) to deflect laterally relative to the axial direction of the endoscope head (1). A lever (2) movably disposed on the endoscope head (1),
An endoscope having a covering (3) provided in a distal end region of the endoscope head (1), which constitutes an internal space in which the lever (2) is arranged .   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the covering portion (3) is made of an elastic material.   The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the covering portion (3) is made of rubber or silicon.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the covering portion is provided in an area including at least a support portion of the lever in the distal end region of the endoscope head. The endoscope described.   From the distal end region of the endoscope head (1), the covering (3) is provided in a region including at least the distal opening (111) of the working channel (11). The endoscope according to any one of 4.   The endoscope according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the covering (3) is fixed on the outer circumference of a distal end section of the endoscope head (1).   Endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the covering (3) is glued to the outer circumference of the distal end section of the endoscope head (1).   The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein a groove is provided in the outer circumference of the distal end section of the endoscope head (1) in which the inner circumferential section of the covering (3) is embedded.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an area of the covering portion (3) is in close contact with and in contact with the lever (2).   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the covering portion (3) has a cutout surrounding a light irradiation window and / or a camera window of an illumination device.

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