JP2020075043A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an endoscope with a small number of components.SOLUTION: An endoscope 10 includes an operation part 20 and an insertion part 14, one end of which is connected to the operation part 20. The insertion part 14 includes: a tip part 13 that is disposed at a tip of the insertion part 14; a multi-lumen tube that connects the tip part 13 to the operation part 20 in which a plurality of through-holes including a curved wire hole 47 are provided in a longitudinal direction; a curved wire 17 that penetrates the curved wire hole 47, a first end of which is fixed to the tip part 13, and a second end of which is connected to a traction mechanism 21 provided to the operation part 20; and a rigidity imparting part that is continuously provided from a place separated by a predetermined length from an end part on the tip part 13 side of the multi-lumen tube to an end part on the operation part 20 side. The operation part side is configured to be thicker than the tip part side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

    The present invention relates to an endoscope.

  An endoscope is used in which a plurality of built-in objects such as a cable bundle, a light guide fiber, various tubes, and bending wires are inserted inside an insertion portion having a bending portion on the distal end side of a flexible portion. The bending portion bends according to a user operation.

  An endoscope has been proposed in which a bending tube having a joint structure in which a plurality of bending pieces are combined protects a built-in object in the bending portion and covers the flexible portion and the bending portion with an integral outer tube (Patent Document 1). ). An endoscope has been proposed in which the insertion portion is configured by a multi-lumen tube and a plurality of cutouts are provided in a portion corresponding to the bending portion (Patent Document 2).

JP, 2001-137180, A JP-A-8-94941

  The endoscope described in Patent Document 1 has an insertion portion having a complicated structure, which is composed of many parts. The endoscope described in Patent Document 2 reduces the number of parts and simplifies the structure of the endoscope by using each lumen of the multi-lumen tube for an air / water supply conduit, a channel conduit, and the like. it can. However, since it is difficult to provide an air / water supply conduit, a channel conduit, etc. at the position where the notch is formed, it is difficult to realize an endoscope having a practical thickness.

  In one aspect, an object is to provide an endoscope with a small number of parts.

  The endoscope includes an operation section and an insertion section having one end connected to the operation section, and the insertion section includes a tip section arranged at a tip of the insertion section, the tip section and the operation section. And a multi-lumen tube having a plurality of through holes including a curved wire hole provided in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of through holes penetrating the curved wire hole, the first end is fixed to the distal end portion, and the second end is A curved wire connected to a pulling mechanism provided in the operation portion and a portion between the end portion on the tip end side of the multi-lumen tube and a predetermined distance away from the end portion on the operation portion side that are continuous. And the rigidity imparting portion provided in the same manner, and the operation portion side is thicker than the tip end portion side.

  In one aspect, it is possible to provide an endoscope with a small number of parts.

It is an external view of an endoscope. It is an external view of the end surface of the tip portion. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the endoscope taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. It is a front view of a flexible tube. It is a side view of a flexible tube. It is sectional drawing of the flexible tube by the VI-VI line in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of the A section in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the flexibility of a flexible tube. It is a graph explaining the dimension of a flexible tube. It is explanatory drawing explaining the curved shape of an insertion part. It is a side view of the flexible tube of Embodiment 2. It is a side view of the flexible tube of Embodiment 3. It is sectional drawing of the flexible tube of Embodiment 4. It is sectional drawing of the flexible tube of Embodiment 5. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the endoscope of Embodiment 6. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the endoscope of Embodiment 7. It is a side view of the flexible tube of Embodiment 8. It is sectional drawing of the flexible tube by the XVIII-XVIII line in FIG. It is a front view of the flexible tube of Embodiment 9. It is an enlarged view of the B section in FIG. It is a partially expanded view of the modification of the flexible tube of Embodiment 9.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is an external view of the endoscope 10. The endoscope 10 of the present embodiment is a flexible endoscope for the digestive tract. The endoscope 10 has an insertion section 14, an operation section 20, a universal cord 25, and a connector section 24. The operation unit 20 has a bending knob 21 and a channel inlet 22. A forceps plug 23 having an insertion opening for inserting a treatment tool or the like is fixed to the channel entrance 22.

  The insertion portion 14 is long, and one end thereof is connected to the operation portion 20 via the folding portion 16. The insertion portion 14 has a flexible portion 11, a bending portion 12, and a tip portion 13 in this order from the operation portion 20 side. The bending portion 12 bends according to the operation of the bending knob 21.

  In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 14 will be referred to as the insertion direction. Similarly, the side closer to the operation section 20 along the insertion direction is referred to as the operation section side, and the side farther from the operation section 20 is referred to as the tip side.

  The universal cord 25 is long and has a first end connected to the operation unit 20 and a second end connected to the connector unit 24. The universal cord 25 is flexible. The connector section 24 is connected to an endoscope processor, a light source device, a display device, an air / water supply device, and the like, which are not shown.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the end surface of the tip portion 13. An observation window 132, two illumination windows 133, an air supply nozzle 134, a water supply nozzle 135, a channel outlet 18, an auxiliary water supply channel outlet 19 and the like are provided on the end surface of the tip portion 13. Four wire lids 137, which are arranged substantially evenly, are provided on the peripheral portion of the end surface of the tip portion 13.

  The end surface of the tip portion 13 is substantially circular. The observation window 132 is provided on the upper right side of the center of the end face in FIG. Illumination windows 133 are provided on the upper right and lower right of the observation window 132. An air supply nozzle 134 is provided on the upper left of the observation window 132, and a water supply nozzle 135 is provided on the left of the observation window 132, with their emission ports facing the observation window 132. The channel outlet 18 is provided at the lower left of the observation window 132.

  FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the endoscope 10 taken along the line III-III in FIG. The flexible tube 15 is connected to the surface of the disc-shaped tip portion 13 on the side of the operation portion. The flexible tube 15 is a so-called multi-lumen tube in which a plurality of through holes such as the cable hole 42 and the curved wire hole 47 penetrate in the longitudinal direction.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. The flexible tube 11 and the bending section 12 are covered with a flexible tube 15. As shown by a broken line in FIG. 1, the operation portion side of the flexible tube 15 is arranged inside the operation portion 20.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the flexible tube 15. In FIG. 4, the dimension in the vertical direction in the figure is emphasized and shown schematically. The flexible tube 15 has a first region 51 having a uniform thickness, a tapered second region 52 on the side of the first region 51, and a third region 53 continuous with the second region 52. When assembled to the endoscope 10, the first area 51 is the exterior of the bending portion 12, the second area 52 is the exterior of the flexible portion 11, and the third area 53 is the exterior of the folding portion 16 and the operating portion 20. It is placed inside.

  FIG. 5 is a side view of the flexible tube 15. The flexible tube 15 has an illumination hole 43, an air supply hole 44, a water supply hole 45, a channel hole 48, and a sub water supply channel hole 49 in addition to the above-described cable hole 42 and four curved wire holes 47.

  The illumination hole 43 communicates with the illumination window 133, and the fiber bundle is arranged inside. The air supply hole 44 communicates with the air supply nozzle 134. The water supply hole 45 communicates with the water supply nozzle 135. The channel hole 48 communicates with the channel outlet 18. The sub water supply channel hole 49 communicates with the sub water supply channel outlet 19.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible tube 15 taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. In the second region 52 and the third region 53, the outer shape of the flexible tube 15 is tapered, but the through holes such as the curved wire hole 47 and the cable hole 42 have uniform inner diameters and are arranged in parallel with each other. ing.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part A in FIG. The portion A is a boundary portion between the first area 51 and the second area 52. In the flexible tube 15, the surface of the tube body 151 is exposed in the first region 51, and the surface of the tube body 151 is covered with the flexible tube outer layer 152 in the second region 52.

  The tube body 151 is a resin multi-lumen tube manufactured by extrusion molding or the like. The tube body 151 includes, for example, PTFE (Poly Tetra Fluoro Etylene), ePTFE (expanded Poly Tetra Fluoro Etylene), PE (Polyethylene), HDPTFE (High Density Poly Tetra Fluoro Etylene), PP (Polypropylene), PU (Polyurethane) or PA (Polyurethane). It is made of any resin material such as Polyamide). The tube body 151 may be made of a copolymer in which any resin material is combined. The tube body 151 may be manufactured by multi-layer molding in which arbitrary resin materials are combined.

  The flexible outer tube layer 152 is made of a material harder than the tube body 151. For example, the flexible tube 15 is manufactured by covering the tube body 151 with a flexible tube outer layer 152 made of a heat-shrinkable tube, and curing and shrinking the outer layer 152.

  The flexible tube 15 may be manufactured by covering the tube body 151 with a flexible tube outer layer 152 made of an elastic tube having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the small diameter portion of the tube body 151. The tube body 151 can be inserted into the elastic tube by temporarily expanding the outer diameter of the elastic tube using a jig.

  The outer flexible tube layer 152 may be manufactured by spirally winding a resin tape having high hardness such as hard polyethylene around the surface of the tube body 151. The flexible tube outer layer 152 may be a resin layer manufactured by applying a resin material having high hardness to the surface of the tube body 151. The flexible tube outer layer 152 may be a film such as a DLC (Diamond-like Carbon) film formed on the surface of the tube body 151.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the flexibility of the flexible tube 15. In FIG. 8, the third region 53 side of the flexible tube 15 is placed and fixed on a flat desk 61, and the length of the first region 51 and the second region 52 is about twice that of the second region 52. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which made the part hang down from the edge of the desk 61 by its own weight.

  The second region 52 hangs slightly due to its own weight. Since the first region 51 is more flexible than the second region 52, it bends downward due to its own weight and hangs down. The flexible tube outer layer 152 provided in the second region 52 functions as a rigidity imparting portion that imparts rigidity to the flexible portion 11.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued. The diameter of the flexible tube 15 on the first region 51 side is D1, the diameter of the boundary between the second region 52 and the third region 53 is D2, and the diameter on the third region 53 side is D3. Similarly, the length of the first region 51 is L1, the length from the end face on the first region 51 side to the boundary between the second region 52 and the third region 53 is L2, and the total length is L3. L3 is a value about 50 mm to 200 mm larger than L2.

  FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the dimensions of the flexible tube 15. The horizontal axis represents the length X measured from the end on the tip side. The vertical axis represents the diameter Y of the flexible tube 15. In the first region 51, that is, in the range where the length X is 0 to L1, the diameter Y is D1. In the second region 52 and the third region 53, that is, in the range where the length X is from L1 to L3, the relationship between the length X and the diameter Y is a linear function indicated by a straight line on the graph.

  The graph showing the relationship between the length X and the diameter Y in the second region 52, that is, the length X between L1 and L2, may be a polygonal line having a large inclination in the middle. The relationship between the length X and the diameter Y in the second region 52 and the third region 53 may be a quadratic or higher function.

  In the third region 53, that is, in the range where the length X is from L2 to L3, the relationship between the length X and the diameter Y may be an arbitrary function different from that of the second region 52. For example, in the third region 53, the diameter Y may be a constant value such as D2 or D1. In the third region 53, the tip side may be thinner than the operating portion side.

  Table 1 shows dimension examples of L1, L2, D1 and D2. For L3 and D3, dimensional examples are omitted. The unit is millimeter. The dimensions shown in Table 1 are examples, and the dimensions are not limited thereto.

  In Table 1, No. No. 1 is a colonoscope and No. 1 is a colonoscope. No. 2 is an upper gastrointestinal endoscope, Reference numeral 3 denotes the size of the flexible tube 15 which is suitable for the duodenoscope.

  The configuration of the endoscope 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 3, an imaging unit 131 including a lens, an imaging element, a driver circuit, and the like is arranged on the operation unit side of the observation window 132. The cable bundle 31 connected to the imaging unit 131 extends into the cable hole 42.

  The wire lid 137 is attached to a stepped hole 136 provided in the tip portion 13. The stepped hole 136 has two steps on the inner surface thereof, has a small diameter on the operation portion side, and communicates with the bending wire hole 47. That is, the tip end side of the curved wire hole 47 is closed by the stepped hole 136 and the wire lid 137.

  Inside the bending wire hole 47, the bending wire 17 having a retainer at the first end is arranged. The bending wire 17 is prevented from coming off by a thickness that does not pass through the small-diameter portion of the stepped hole 136, and the bending wire 17 does not come off to the operation portion side.

  Although not shown, the lens and the fiber bundle are arranged on the side of the operation portion of the illumination window 133. The fiber bundle extends into the illumination hole 43.

  The cable bundle 31, the fiber bundle, and the like are inserted into the connector portion 24, the universal cord 25, the operation portion 20, and the insertion portion 14. The illumination light emitted from the light source device is emitted from the illumination window 133 via the fiber bundle. The range illuminated by the illumination light is imaged by the imaging unit 131 through the observation window 132. A video signal is transmitted from the imaging unit 131 to the endoscope processor via the cable bundle 31.

  The tubes inserted into the inside of the universal cord 25 are connected to the air supply hole 44, the water supply hole 45, and the sub water supply channel hole 49 inside the operation unit 20, respectively. The air supplied from the air / water supply device is discharged toward the observation window 132 from the air supply nozzle 134 via the tube in the universal cord 25 and the air supply hole 44.

  The water supplied from the air / water supply device is discharged from the water supply nozzle 135 toward the observation window 132 via the tube in the universal cord 25 and the water supply hole 45. Similarly, the water supplied from the air / water supply device is discharged from the auxiliary water supply channel outlet 19 toward the observation target site through the tube in the universal cord 25 and the auxiliary water supply channel hole 49.

  The air supply nozzle 134 and the water supply nozzle 135 are used, for example, for cleaning the observation window 132 during endoscopic examination. The water supply from the sub-water supply channel outlet 19 is used for washing away the residue, mucus, blood and the like from the observation target site.

  The channel inlet 22 and the channel hole 48 are connected by a tube (not shown). By inserting a treatment tool (not shown) from the channel inlet 22, the distal end of the treatment tool can be projected from the channel outlet 18 to perform a procedure such as excision of a large intestine polyp.

  The second end of the bending wire 17 described with reference to FIG. 3 is connected to the bending knob 21 inside the operation unit 20. When the user operates the bending knob 21, one or two adjacent bending wires 17 are pulled toward the operation unit side. The bending knob 21 is an example of a pulling mechanism that pulls the bending wire 17 toward the operation unit side.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the curved shape of the insertion portion 14. In the flexible portion 11 and the bending portion 12, the thickness and hardness of the built-in components such as the cable bundle 31, the fiber bundle, and the bending wire 17 are uniform. As described using FIG. 9, the first region 51 of the flexible tube 15 is flexible enough to hang down due to its own weight, and the second region 52 is harder than the first region 51.

  Therefore, the flexible tube 15 bends toward the pulled bending wire 17 in the first region 51. As described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the portion corresponding to the first region 51 functions as the bending portion 12, and the portion corresponding to the second region 52 functions as the flexible portion 11.

  The layout of the end surface of the tip portion 13 described with reference to FIG. 2 is an example, and the layout is not limited to this. For example, the number of the illumination windows 133 may be one or three or more. The number of bending wires 17 may be two. A so-called two-direction curved endoscope 10 can be provided.

  The endoscope 10 may not include the sub water supply channel hole 49 and the sub water supply channel outlet 19. The endoscope 10 may be a side-view type or a perspective type. The endoscope 10 may have a forceps raising mechanism.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 having a small number of parts. Since the cable bundle 31 and the fiber bundle are inserted into the cable hole 42 and the illumination hole 43, which are independent through holes, respectively, and a plurality of tubes are not used in the insertion portion 14, the internal components are arranged inside the insertion portion 14. It is possible to prevent the failure due to the disturbance. Further, since there is no fear that the arrangement of the built-in objects is disturbed during the assembly, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 which can be easily assembled.

  Since the surface of the flexible portion 11 and the surface of the bending portion 12 are configured by the flexible tube 15 which is integrated, the surface of the boundary portion between the flexible portion 11 and the bending portion 12 is smooth, and the endoscope 10 that is easy to insert. Can be provided.

  Since the components other than the cable bundle 31 and the fiber bundle in the flexible portion 11 and the bending portion 12 are made of resin, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 which is light in weight and which makes it easy for a doctor to use it.

  Since the insertion portion 14 is thicker on the side of the operation portion, the doctor can perform a so-called twisting operation of twisting the insertion portion 14 with a light force. Since the flexible tube 15 has an integral structure, the twisting operation performed on the operating portion side is directly transmitted to the bending portion 12. Therefore, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 in which a doctor who is used is less tired and is easy to perform an endoscopic examination.

  The insertion portion 14 and the flexible tube 15 may have a uniform thickness as a whole. Since the material of the tube body 151 that is made long by extrusion molding can be cut to a desired length and used, the material of the tube body 151 can be reduced.

[Embodiment 2]
The present embodiment relates to an endoscope 10 in which a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is provided on a tip portion 13. Descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The tip portion 13 of the present embodiment has a light emitting element on the operation portion side of the illumination window 133. The light emitted from the light emitting element is emitted from the illumination window 133. The illumination window 133 and the light emitting element may be integrated.

  FIG. 11 is a side view of the flexible tube 15 according to the second embodiment. The flexible tube 15 of this embodiment does not include the illumination hole 43. A part of the cable included in the cable bundle 31 inserted through the cable hole 42 is connected to the light emitting element to supply electric power.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 including the light emitting element at the tip. Since the fiber bundle and the light source device are unnecessary, an inexpensive endoscopic inspection device can be provided. Since the fiber bundle is not used, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 in which the insertion portion 14 has a reduced diameter.

[Third Embodiment]
The present embodiment relates to the endoscope 10 in which a cable for a light emitting element is inserted into the illumination hole 43. Descriptions of parts common to the second embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a side view of the flexible tube 15 according to the third embodiment. The flexible tube 15 of the present embodiment includes one illumination hole 43. A cable for the light emitting element is inserted into the illumination hole 43.

  According to the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to divide the cable bundle 31 into the image pickup unit 131 and the light emitting element, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 that can be easily assembled.

[Embodiment 4]
The present embodiment relates to the endoscope 10 using a tube body 151 having a uniform thickness. Descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the flexible tube 15 according to the fourth embodiment. The tube main body 151 of the present embodiment has a uniform thickness, and the flexible tube outer layer 152 is thicker on the operating portion side.

  According to the present embodiment, the material of the tube body 151, which is formed in a long length by extrusion molding, can be cut into a desired length and used, so that the material of the tube body 151 can be reduced. The material of the tube body 151 can be commonly used even in the endoscope 10 in which there are variations in the length of the insertion portion 14 such as a colonoscope.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The present embodiment relates to the endoscope 10 using a flexible material for the first region 51. Descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the flexible tube 15 according to the fifth embodiment. The 1st field 51 of this embodiment is constituted by the 1st tube body 1511, and the 2nd field 52 and the 3rd field 53 are constituted by the 2nd tube body 1512. The flexible tube 15 does not have the flexible tube outer layer 152.

  The first tube body 1511 is made of a resin that is softer than the second tube body 1512, and both are integrally formed. Since the first tube body 1511 is flexible, when the bending wire 17 is pulled, the bending portion 12 bends similarly to FIG. 10. The second tube body 1512 functions as a rigidity imparting portion.

  The flexible tube 15 of the present embodiment may have the flexible tube outer layer 152. The flexible tube 15 may have a uniform thickness as a whole.

[Sixth Embodiment]
The present embodiment relates to the endoscope 10 including the inner sheath 153 on the inner surface of the curved wire hole 47. Descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the endoscope 10 according to the sixth embodiment. In the flexible portion 11, an inner sheath 153 is provided inside the bending wire hole 47, and the bending wire 17 is arranged in the inner sheath 153. The inner sheath 153 is an elastic body having higher rigidity than the flexible tube 15, such as a hollow coil or a resin tube.

  Since the bending portion 12 is softer than the flexible portion 11 in which the inner sheath 153 is present, when the bending wire 17 is pulled, the bending portion 12 bends similarly to FIG. 10. The inner sheath 153 functions as a rigidity imparting portion.

  The flexible tube 15 of the present embodiment may or may not have the flexible tube outer layer 152. The flexible tube 15 may have a uniform thickness as a whole.

[Embodiment 7]
The present embodiment relates to the endoscope 10 having a distal end hole 154 on the distal end side of the flexible tube 15. Descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the endoscope 10 according to the seventh embodiment. The flexible tube 15 is provided with a plurality of tip holes 154 from the tip side by, for example, laser processing or thermal processing. The tip hole 154 is provided to increase the inner diameter of a through hole such as the curved wire hole 47. The tip hole 154 may be provided in a place where the through hole does not exist so as not to interfere with the through hole. The tip hole 154 may be a non-circular hole such as an oval shape or an elliptical shape.

  Since the flexible tube 15 has a small cross-sectional area in the portion where the tip hole 154 is provided, the flexible tube 15 is easily bent. Since the bending portion having the tip hole 154 is more flexible than the flexible portion 11 having no tip hole 154, when the bending wire 17 is pulled, the bending portion 12 bends as in FIG. 10. That is, the portion of the flexible tube 15 where the tip hole 154 is not provided functions as a rigidity imparting portion.

  The flexible tube 15 of the present embodiment may or may not have the flexible tube outer layer 152. The flexible tube 15 may have a uniform thickness as a whole.

[Embodiment 8]
The present embodiment relates to the endoscope 10 in which a flexible tube 15 is further provided with a through hole. Descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 17 is a side view of the flexible tube 15 according to the eighth embodiment. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible tube 15 taken along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIG.

  The flexible tube 15 of the present embodiment has adjustment holes 46 on the upper side and the lower side of the bending wire hole 47 on the right side in FIG. 17 and on the upper right side of the bending wire hole 47 on the left side. The adjustment hole 46 is a through hole that penetrates the flexible tube 15 in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in the second region 52, the reinforcing body 461 is arranged in the adjustment hole 46. The reinforcing body 461 is, for example, a resin that is injected into the adjustment hole 46 and cured. The reinforcing body 461 may be any elastic body having a higher rigidity than the flexible tube 15, such as a metal or resin wire or tube fixed by being inserted into the adjustment hole 46 from the operation portion side.

  The reinforcing body 461 may be attached to the flexible tube 15 in advance or may be attached in the assembly process of the endoscope 10.

  Since the bending portion 12 is softer than the flexible portion 11 in which the reinforcing body 461 is present, when the bending wire 17 is pulled, the bending portion 12 bends similarly to FIG. 10. The reinforcement body 461 functions as a rigidity imparting portion.

  The flexible tube 15 of the present embodiment may or may not have the flexible tube outer layer 152. The flexible tube 15 may have a uniform thickness as a whole.

[Ninth Embodiment]
The present embodiment relates to the endoscope 10 in which the flexible portion 11 is thicker than the bending portion 12 at the boundary between the bending portion 12 and the flexible portion 11. Descriptions of portions common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 19 is a front view of the flexible tube 15 according to the ninth embodiment. FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. The flexible tube 15 has a first region 51 having a uniform thickness, a second region 52 having a tapered shape on the side of the first region 51, and a third region 53 continuous with the second region 52. As shown in FIG. 20, the second region 52 is thicker than the first region 51 at the boundary between the first region 51 and the second region 52. The step between the two is tapered by chamfering.

  When assembled to the endoscope 10 as described above, the first region 51 is the exterior of the bending portion 12, and the second region 52 is the exterior of the flexible portion 11. That is, the flexible portion 11 is thicker than the bending portion 12 at the boundary between the bending portion 12 and the flexible portion 11 of the endoscope 10. The second area 52 functions as a rigidity imparting portion.

  According to this embodiment, there is a clear difference in flexibility of the flexible tube 15 at the boundary between the first region 51 and the second region 52. Therefore, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 in which the operation portion side of the bending portion 12 bends with a small radius of curvature.

  FIG. 21 is a partially enlarged view of a modified example of the flexible tube 15 of the ninth embodiment. In the modified example, the step at the boundary between the first region 51 and the second region 52 is not chamfered. In the modified example, there is a more distinct difference in the flexibility of the flexible tube 15 at the boundary between the first region 51 and the second region 52. Therefore, it is possible to provide the endoscope 10 in which the operation portion side of the bending portion 12 is bent with a smaller radius of curvature.

The technical features (constituent elements) described in the respective embodiments can be combined with each other, and by combining them, new technical features can be formed.
The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above meaning but by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within the scope.

10 Endoscope 11 Flexible part 12 Bending part 13 Tip part 131 Imaging part 132 Observation window 133 Illumination window 134 Air supply nozzle 135 Water supply nozzle 136 Stepped hole 137 Wire lid 14 Insertion part 15 Flexible tube 151 Tube body 1511 1st tube Main body 1512 Second tube main body 152 Flexible tube outer layer 153 Inner sheath 154 Tip hole 16 Bending part 17 Bending wire 18 Channel outlet 19 Sub water supply channel outlet 20 Operating part 21 Bending knob (traction mechanism)
22 Channel Inlet 23 Forceps Plug 24 Connector Part 25 Universal Cord 31 Cable Bundle 42 Cable Hole 43 Illumination Hole 44 Air Delivery Hole 45 Water Delivery Hole 46 Adjustment Hole 461 Reinforcement Body 47 Curved Wire Hole 48 Channel Hole 49 Sub Water Delivery Channel Hole 51 First Area 52 Second area 53 Third area 61 Desk

Claims (8)

Operation part,
And an insertion portion having one end connected to the operation portion,
The insertion part is
A tip portion arranged at the tip of the insertion portion,
A multi-lumen tube that connects the distal end portion and the operation portion, and has a plurality of through holes including curved wire holes provided in the longitudinal direction,
A bending wire that penetrates through the bending wire hole, has a first end fixed to the distal end portion, and has a second end connected to a traction mechanism provided in the operation portion,
A rigidity imparting portion continuously provided between the end portion on the tip end side of the multi-lumen tube and a position away from the operation portion side by a predetermined length.
An endoscope in which the operating portion side is thicker than the distal end portion side. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the rigidity imparting portion is a resin layer that covers a surface of the multi-lumen tube. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the resin layer is a resin tape spirally wound around the surface of the multi-lumen tube. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the resin layer is a resin tube that covers the outside of the multi-lumen tube. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the rigidity imparting portion is an elastic body inserted into the through hole. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a surface of the multi-lumen tube is exposed between an end portion on the distal end portion side and the rigidity imparting portion. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tip portion closes an end portion of the curved wire hole. The tip includes an image sensor,
The said through-hole contains the cable hole which the cable connected to the said image pick-up element passes, The said image pick-up element is connected to the processor for endoscopes via the cable penetrated by the said cable hole. The endoscope according to any one of 7.

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