JP2020130537A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an endoscope capable of bendingly operating a bending section by favorable operability without applying excessive load to a built-in object.SOLUTION: The endoscope includes a manipulation force transmission mechanism 45 that: forward/backward moves in a longitudinal direction by manipulation force to be input in an upper/lower bending operation knob 26ud or a left/right bending operation knob 26lr of an operation part 3 consecutively provided at a distal end of an insertion section 2; is provided between an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of a long member (vertical and horizontal chains 31ud and 31lr and first-fourth bending operation wires 27a-27d) for transmitting to a bending section 11, the input manipulation force as force for bendingly operating the bending section 11, and an intermediate portion of a treatment instrument channel 18 as a built-in object; and transmits a part of the manipulation force when the long member forward/backward moves in the longitudinal direction, as the force for longitudinally moving the treatment instrument channel 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a curved portion for directing the tip portion of the insertion portion in a desired direction.

Conventionally, in the medical field, the industrial field, and the like, an endoscope provided with a long insertion portion has been widely used for the purpose of observing the inside of various subjects. In this type of endoscope, various internal objects such as a signal line extending from the imaging device, a light guide for a light source, and a channel for inserting a treatment tool are included in the insertion portion in the entire length. It has been inserted across.

Here, when the curved portion provided in the insertion portion of the endoscope bends, the length of the curved portion on the outside in the bending direction becomes relatively longer than the length on the inside in the bending direction. On the other hand, the length of various internal objects inserted through the insertion portion is unchanged. Therefore, when the curved portion bends, various internal objects may move inward in the bending direction inside the curved portion and come into contact with each other to interfere with the movement. To deal with this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a curved pin connecting curved pieces is provided with a protruding portion protruding in the radial direction to regulate the movement of an internal object such as a channel.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-178863

However, in the configuration for forcibly restricting the movement of the internal object due to the curvature of the curved portion as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the tension acting on the internal object as the bending angle of the curved portion increases. Increases. Therefore, in the above-mentioned technique of Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the operability may be impaired, for example, the operating torque required for the user or the like to perform the bending operation increases as the bending angle increases. Further, in the above-mentioned technique of Patent Document 1, a large tension may be applied to the built-in object when the curved portion is bent, so that the built-in object may be burdened.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of bending a curved portion with good operability without imposing an excessive burden on internal components. To do.

The endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention is connected to an insertion portion inserted into the subject along the longitudinal direction, a curved portion provided on the tip end side of the insertion portion, and a proximal end side of the insertion portion. A long member that moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction by an operating force input to the provided operating portion and transmits the operating force to the curved portion as a force for bending the curved portion, and is inserted into the insertion portion. A part of the operating force when the long member is provided between the built-in object and the long member and the built-in object and the long member moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction, and the built-in object is moved in the longitudinal direction. It has an operating force transmission mechanism that is transmitted as a force to move to.

According to the endoscope of the present invention, the curved portion can be curved with good operability without imposing an excessive load on the internal components.

Schematic configuration of the endoscope Explanatory drawing showing arrangement of various built-in objects in a tip portion and a curved portion Schematic configuration of the bending operation mechanism and operating force transmission mechanism during non-curving operation Schematic configuration diagram of the bending operation mechanism and the operating force transmission mechanism during the bending operation Perspective view of the operating force transmission mechanism during non-curved operation Perspective view of the motion force transmission mechanism during bending operation Explanatory drawing showing the behavior of the treatment tool channel at the time of bending of a curved part Perspective view of the operating force transmission mechanism according to the first modification. Explanatory drawing which shows arrangement of the treatment tool channel in a curved part with respect to 2nd modification. Same as above, perspective view of the operating force transmission mechanism Explanatory drawing which shows arrangement of the treatment tool channel in a curved part with respect to 3rd modification. Same as above, perspective view of the operating force transmission mechanism A plan view of the operating force transmission mechanism according to the fourth modification. A plan view of the operating force transmission mechanism during non-curved operation according to the fifth modification. Same as above, plan view of the operating force transmission mechanism during bending operation A plan view of the operating force transmission mechanism according to the sixth modification. A plan view of the operating force transmission mechanism according to the seventh modification. Same as above, perspective view of the operating force transmission mechanism A plan view of the operating force transmission mechanism according to the eighth modification. Explanatory drawing which shows the behavior of the treatment tool channel at the time of bending of the bending part with respect to the 9th modification. Same as above, perspective view of the operating force transmission mechanism

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 relate to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 is connected to, for example, an elongated insertion portion 2 to be inserted into a body cavity, which is a subject, and a proximal end side of the insertion portion 2, and is gripped and operated by an operator. It is configured to have an operation unit 3 for performing the operation, a universal cord 4 extending from one side surface of the operation unit 3, and a connector 5 provided at the extending end of the universal cord 4.

The insertion portion 2 is composed of a rigid tip portion 10, a curved portion 11 that curves in four directions, and a flexible flexible tube portion 12 that are connected in order from the tip side to form a main part. ing.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, on the tip surface of the tip portion 10, an observation lens 15a arranged at the tip of the imaging unit 15 described later, two illumination lenses 16a here, and mainly an observation lens 15a. A cleaning nozzle 17a for supplying air or water toward the user and a treatment tool channel port 18a are provided.

Further, inside the tip portion 10, the above-mentioned imaging unit 15, a light guide fiber 16 for supplying illumination light to the illumination lens 16a, an air supply / water supply pipeline 17 connected to the cleaning nozzle 17a, and a treatment are provided. A treatment tool channel 18 including a tube such as a flexible or elastic resin connected to the tool channel port 18a is held.

The image pickup unit 15 includes an image pickup element such as a CCD or CMOS and an electric board on which electrical components are mounted (neither of them is shown). Further, a signal cable 15b that electrically connects to the electric board extends from the base end side of the image pickup unit 15.

Here, in order to efficiently arrange various built-in objects inside the tip portion 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the imaging unit 15 having a large diameter and the treatment tool channel 18 move up and down inside the tip portion 10. The image pickup unit 15 and the treatment tool channel 18 are arranged side by side in the direction, and the light guide fiber 16 and the air supply / water pipe line 17 are arranged on the left and right sides of the image pickup unit 15 and the treatment tool channel 18.

Further, the signal cable 15b extending from the image pickup unit 15, the light guide fiber 16, the air supply / water pipe line 17, and the treatment tool channel 18 are the curved portion 11 and the curved portion 11 and the internal organs to be inserted into the insertion portion 2. It extends through the inside of the flexible tube portion 12 and into the inside of the operation portion 3.
Further, the signal cable 15b, the light guide fiber 16, and the air supply / water pipe line 17 extend to the connector 5 via the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3, and the universal cord 4.

In this case, in the present embodiment in which the imaging unit 15 and the treatment tool channel 18 are arranged vertically side by side inside the tip portion 10, the treatment tool channel 18 which is the largest diameter inside the curved portion 11 is built-in. Will be arranged below the inside of the curved portion 11.

In the present embodiment, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the insertion unit 2 are conveniently defined in association with the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the image captured by the imaging unit 15.

The curved portion 11 has a plurality of curved pieces 11a (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and by rotatably connecting these curved pieces 11a, 4 in a plurality of directions, as an example below, in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction 4 It is possible to bend in the direction. In addition, in FIGS. 3 and 4, for simplification of the description, the configuration for bending the curved portion 11 in the vertical direction is mainly shown, and the configuration for bending the curved portion 11 in the horizontal direction is not shown as appropriate. are doing.

A treatment tool introduction port 20 communicating with the base end side of the treatment tool channel 18 is provided on the tip end side of the operation unit 3.

More specifically, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pipeline branching member 19 for branching a pipeline in three directions is fixed inside the operation unit 3. The pipeline branch member 19 is composed of, for example, a three-way pipe provided with first to third branch pipe portions 19a to 19c. The first branch pipe portion 19a projects to the outside of the operation unit 3, and a treatment tool introduction port 20 is formed at the protruding end of the first branch pipe portion 19a. Further, the base end side of the treatment tool channel 18 is communicated with the second branch pipe portion 19b, and the suction pipe connected to the suction button 22b described later is connected to the third branch pipe portion 19c.

Here, the treatment tool channel 18 of the present embodiment extends from the insertion portion 2 side inside the operation portion 3 in order to improve workability such as length adjustment at the time of assembling the endoscope 1. It is divided into a channel portion 18a of 1 and a second channel portion 18b connected to the second branch pipe portion 19b. The base end of the first channel portion 18a and the tip end of the second channel portion 18b are connected to each other via a channel joint 18c formed of a tapered pipe or the like.

On the base end side of the operation unit 3, as various operation units, for example, a plurality of electric switches 21 for remotely controlling peripheral devices such as a video processor, an air supply / water supply button 22a, and a suction button 22b are provided. It is provided.

Further, on the base end side of the operation unit 3, a vertical bending operation knob 26ud and a left / right bending operation knob 26lr are rotatably arranged in a superposed state.

The vertical bending operation knob 26ud and the left / right bending operation knob 26lr function as an operation unit for the user or the like to perform an operation input, and constitute a bending operation mechanism 25 for bending the bending portion 11. To do.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the bending operation mechanism 25 has, for example, the first and second bending operation wires 27a and 27b, which are a pair of vertical bending operation wires inserted into the insertion portion 2. By moving (pulling or relaxing) forward and backward in conjunction with the vertical bending operation knob 26ud, the bending operation of the bending portion 11 in the vertical direction is realized, and a pair of left and right bending operations inserted inside the insertion portion 2. By moving (pulling or relaxing) the second and fourth bending operation wires 27c and 27d, which are wires, in conjunction with the left-right bending operation knob 26rl, the bending operation of the bending portion 11 in the left-right direction is realized.

Therefore, the bending operation mechanism 25 of the present embodiment has a vertical sprocket 30 ud that rotates integrally with the vertical bending operation knob 26 ud and a left and right sprocket 30 ll that rotates integrally with the left and right curved operation knob 26 ll inside the operation unit 3. And have.

Further, inside the operation unit 3, a vertical chain 31 ud is wound around the vertical sprocket 30 ud.

One end of the upper and lower chain 31 ud is connected to the base end of the first bending operation wire 27a via a first turnbuckle 32a as a connector. Further, the other end of the upper and lower chain 31ud is connected to the base end of the second bending operation wire 27b via a second turnbuckle 32b as a connector.

As a result, in the present embodiment, the region on one end side of the vertical chain 31ud and the first bending operation wire 27a, and the region on the other end side of the vertical chain 31ud and the second bending operation wire 27b become the operator. Each constitutes a long member that moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction inside the operation portion 3 and the insertion portion 2 by the operation force input to the vertical bending operation knob 26ud.

The region on one end side of the vertical chain 31ud and the first bending operation wire 27a, and the region on the other end side of the vertical chain 31ud and the second bending operation wire 27b are connected to the vertical bending operation knob 26ud. The input operating force is transmitted to the curved portion 11 as a force for bending the curved portion 11 in the vertical direction.

Similarly, inside the operation unit 3, the left and right chains 31 llr are wound around the left and right sprocket 30 ll.

One end of the left and right chain 31ll is connected to the base end of the third bending operation wire 27c via a third turnbuckle 32c as a connector. Further, the other end of the left and right chain 31ll is connected to the base end of the fourth bending operation wire 27d via a fourth turnbuckle 32d as a connector.

As a result, in the present embodiment, the region on one end side of the left and right chain 31ll and the third bending operation wire 27c, and the region on the other end side of the left and right chain 31rl and the fourth bending operation wire 27d are used for left and right. Each of the long members constitutes a long member that moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction inside the operation portion 3 and the insertion portion 2 by the operation force input to the bending operation knob 26lr.

The region on one end side of the left and right chains 31ll and the third bending operation wire 27c, and the region on the other end side of the left and right chains 31rl and the fourth bending operation wire 27d are connected to the left and right bending operation knobs 26lr. The input operating force is transmitted to the curved portion 11 as a force for bending the curved portion 11 in the left-right direction.

Here, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d are arranged so that the positions of the operation portions 3 in the longitudinal direction are equal to each other during the non-curvature operation with respect to the curved portion 11. Have been placed. Further, in the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d, the position of the operation portion 3 in the longitudinal direction during the non-curving operation with respect to the bending portion 11 is substantially equal to the channel joint 18c provided in the treatment tool channel 18. Is located in.

The first to fourth curved wires 27a to 27d are arranged in a state of being inserted into the first to fourth coil tubes 33a to 33d mainly inside the flexible tube portion 12. The base end sides of the first to fourth coil tubes 33a to 33d are held by the coil receiver 34 fixed inside the operation unit 3.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, inside the operation unit 3, a treatment tool channel 18, which is one of the built-in objects extending from the insertion unit 2, is arranged in the vicinity of the bending operation mechanism 25. Has been done.

An operation input is made between the bending operation mechanism 25 and the treatment tool channel 18 for the up / down bending operation knob 26ud or the left / right bending operation knob 26lr, and the first to fourth bending wires 27a to 27d are provided in the longitudinal direction. An operating force transmission mechanism 45 for transmitting a part of the operating force from at least one of the first to fourth curved wires 27a to 27d to the treatment tool channel 18 when moving forward and backward is provided. ing. Then, the treatment tool channel 18 can move in the longitudinal direction inside the insertion portion 2 by transmitting a part of the operating force via the operating force transmitting mechanism 45.

Specifically, the operating force transmission mechanism 45 includes an engaged member 46 provided on the channel joint 18c of the treatment tool channel 18 and at least one of the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d. It is configured to have an engaging member 47 provided on each side.

The engaged member 46 is composed of a plate-shaped member extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the operating portion 3.

Further, the engaging member 47 is composed of a protruding member protruding from at least one of the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d.

Here, in the present embodiment in which the treatment tool channel 18 is arranged below the inside of the curved portion 11, the engaging member 47 is provided on the second turnbuckle 32b.

The second turnbuckle 32b is a connector for connecting the second bending operation wire 27b, which moves forward along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2 when the bending portion 11 bends upward, to the vertical chain 31ud. Is. On the second turnbuckle 32b, the engaging member 47 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the engaged member 46 on the base end side of the engaged member 46 during a non-curving operation on the curved portion 11. It is provided in.

In such a configuration, the engaging member 47 is engaged with the engaged member 46 when the upward bending of the curved portion 11 advances by a predetermined angle or more, and the treatment tool channel 18 is moved toward the tip end side in the longitudinal direction. It is possible to advance and move. In order to facilitate such advance movement, the second channel portion 18b located on the proximal end side of the channel joint 18c is formed of a material softer than the first channel portion 18a, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, it is desirable that the second channel portion 18b has a predetermined deflection during the non-curving operation.

As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, even when the curved portion 11 bends in the direction opposite to the arrangement direction of the treatment tool channel 18 inside the curved portion 11, it advances to the tip side in the longitudinal direction. The treatment tool channel 18 for the moved length can sufficiently secure the length of the treatment tool channel 18 inside the insertion portion 2, and the treatment tool channel 18 moves inward in the bending direction of the bending portion 11. (Refer to the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7), the other internal components such as the signal cable 15b, the light guide fiber 16, and the air supply / water pipe line 17 are bent in the bending direction of the bending portion 11. It is possible to suppress the pressure on the inside.

When the curved state of the curved portion 11 is released, the engaged state of the engaging member 47 with respect to the engaged member 46 is released, and the treatment tool channel 18 is restored by its own elastic force or the like. It is evacuated to the position.

According to such an embodiment, the moving forward and backward in the longitudinal direction is performed by the operating force input to the vertical bending operation knob 26ud or the left and right bending operation knob 26rl of the operation unit 3 serially provided on the base end side of the insertion unit 2. A long member (up and down, left and right chains 31 ud, 31 ll and first to fourth bending operation wires 27a to 27d) that transmits the input operating force to the bending portion 11 as a force for bending the bending portion 11. A part of the operating force when the long member moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction between the midway of the treatment tool channel 18 which is a built-in object is moved in the longitudinal direction of the treatment tool channel 18. By providing the operation force transmission mechanism 45 that transmits as the force to cause the bending, the curved portion can be curved with good operability without imposing an excessive load on the internal components.

That is, the treatment tool channel 18 is moved in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the bending state of the bending portion 11 and the length of the treatment tool channel 18 inserted into the insertion portion 2 is changed. It is possible to prevent the generation of excessive tensile stress or the like in the longitudinal direction of the 18 and the treatment tool channel 18 moving inward in the bending direction of the bending portion 11 to press the other built-in portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a change in operability during a bending operation due to the generation of tensile stress or the like of the treatment tool channel 18, and the durability of the treatment tool channel 18 due to the generation of tensile stress or the like generated in the treatment tool channel 18 It is possible to prevent a decrease in the property and a decrease in the durability of other internal components due to the movement of the treatment tool channel 18 inward in the bending direction.

In this case, by providing the operating force transmission mechanism 45 inside the operating portion 3, a mechanism for moving the treatment tool channel 18 in the longitudinal direction can be easily constructed as compared with the inside of the insertion portion 2 having a small diameter. can do.

Further, the engaging member 47 is attached to the hard second turnbuckle 32b forming the boundary portion between the vertical chain 31ud which is the first long member and the second bending operation wire 27b which is the second long member. By providing it, the operating force can be accurately transmitted to the engaged member 46.

Further, by providing the engaged member 46 on the hard channel joint 18c forming the boundary portion between the first channel portion 18a which is the first built-in object and the second channel portion 18b which is the second built-in object. , The operating force can be accurately transmitted to the treatment tool channel 18.

Here, in the above-described embodiment, due to the layout of the treatment tool channel 18 inside the curved portion 11, the treatment tool channel 18 is moved in the longitudinal direction only when the treatment tool channel 18 is curved upward when the load is most applied to the treatment tool channel 18. An example of the configuration has been described. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, engaging members 47 are provided on all of the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d, and the bending portion 11 is curved in any bending direction. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the treatment tool channel 18 is moved in the longitudinal direction at any time.

In this case, by setting the distance between the engaging members 47 with respect to the engaged member 46 during the non-curving operation of the curved portion 11 to be different from each other, the treatment tool at the time of bending the curved portion 11 in each bending direction. The amount of movement of the channel 18 can be optimized according to the layout of the treatment tool channel 18 and the like.

Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the treatment tool channel 18 exists in the lower right region (DR elephant) inside the curved portion 11, when the curved portion 11 bends upward. A second turnbuckle 32b that advances and moves along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2 and a fourth turnbuckle 32d that advances and moves along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2 when the bending portion 11 bends to the left. And, it is also possible to provide the engaging member 47, respectively.

Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the treatment tool channel 18 exists in the lower left region (DL elephant) inside the curved portion 11, when the curved portion 11 bends upward. A second turnbuckle 32b that advances and moves along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2, and a third turnbuckle 32c that advances and moves along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2 when the bending portion 11 bends to the right. It is also possible to provide an engaging member 47 in each of the above.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, it is also possible to engage the engaged member 46 and the engaging member 47 via a coil spring 48 which is an elastic body.

Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a tapered portion 46a is provided on the non-facing surface of the engaged member 46 with respect to the engaging member 47, and the engaging member 47 is provided on the non-facing surface with respect to the engaged member 46. It is also possible to provide the tapered portion 47a.

With this configuration, the engaging member 47 can be engaged with the engaged member 46 only when moving in one direction, and the engaging member 47 is assumed to be engaged with the engaged member 46 when the curved portion 11 is bent. (See FIG. 15), the engaging member 47 can be easily moved to the original position by the action of the tapered portions 46a and 47a when the curved state is released. In this modification, either one of the tapered portion 46a of the engaged member 46 or the tapered portion 47a of the engaging member 47 can be omitted.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the engaged member 46 and the engaging member 47 can be engaged with each other via the link mechanism 49.

Here, the link mechanism 49 of the present modification includes a first arm 49a swingably supported by the engaged member 46 and a second arm 49b swingably supported by the engaging member 47. The rotary disc 49c is rotatably supported by the operation unit 3 and the free end sides of the first and second arms 49a and 49b are swayably connected to each other.

When the link mechanism 49 having such a configuration is used, the direction in which the operating force acts is reversed. Therefore, for example, the treatment tool channel 18 is moved in the longitudinal direction in response to the upward bending operation of the curved portion 11. It is necessary to engage the channel joint 18c with the first turnbuckle 32a in order to move it toward the tip end side of the.

Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the operation is performed by having the channel joint 18c and the connecting member 50 for integrally connecting any one of the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d. It is also possible to configure the force transmission mechanism 45. Note that FIGS. 16 and 17 exemplify a configuration in which the channel joint 18c and the second turnbuckle 32b are connected so as to move forward and backward integrally in the longitudinal direction.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the channel joint 18c and the connecting member 50 for integrally connecting any one of the first to fourth bending operation wires 27a to 27d are provided, and the operating force is provided. It is also possible to configure the transmission mechanism 45. Note that FIG. 19 illustrates a configuration in which the channel joint 18c and the second bending operation wire 27b are connected.

In the above embodiment, the engaging member such as the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d or the first to fourth bending operation wires 27a to 27d and the engaged member such as the channel joint 18c are integrated. The state of being connected to is not limited to the state of being connected by a part made of a single part, for example, and the state of being engaged with an engaging member is such that a plurality of parts are combined and connected to one. It suffices if the member is not separated from the member.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the treatment tool channel 18 is largely moved to the outside in the bending direction of the bending portion 11 by the bending operation of the bending portion 11 (see the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 20). The operating force transmission mechanism 45 is configured to include engaging members 47a and 47b, as shown in FIG. 21, in order to prevent the curved portion 11 from being pressed toward the outside in the bending direction. May be good.

Specifically, the operating force transmission mechanism 45 includes the engaged member 46 provided on the channel joint 18c of the treatment tool channel 18 and at least one of the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d. It is configured to have a first engaging member 47a provided on the other side and a second engaging member 47b provided on the opposite side of the engaged member 46 with respect to the first engaging member 47a. ing.

Further, the second engaging member 47b is composed of a protruding member protruding from at least one of the first to fourth turnbuckles 32a to 32d. The second engaging member 47b is formed when the upward curvature of the curved portion 11 (the direction opposite to the direction in which the first engaging member 47a and the engaged member 46 are engaged) advances by a predetermined angle or more. Is engaged with the engaged member 46, and the treatment tool channel 18 can be advanced and moved toward the proximal end side in the longitudinal direction. When the curved state of the curved portion 11 is released, the engaged state of the second engaging member 47b with respect to the engaged member 46 is released, and the treatment tool channel 18 has a restoring force due to its own elasticity or the like. Is saved to the original position.

Other configurations are the same as those described in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and the like.

Further, as another embodiment having the same effect as described above, in the configuration using the elastic body of FIG. 13 and the embodiment using the link mechanism 49 of FIG. 16, when the long member moves in the opposite direction, It may be realized as a configuration in which the treatment tool channel 18 is moved in the direction opposite to that of the above-described embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and modifications can be made, and these are also within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, it goes without saying that the above-described embodiment and the configuration of each modification may be appropriately combined.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an endoscope in which the curved portion is curved in four directions of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the curved portion is It can also be applied to an endoscope that curves only in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the like, the configuration in which the treatment tool channel is moved in the longitudinal direction has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other internal objects are inserted in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion. Of course, it may be moved.

1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 4 ... Universal cord 5 ... Connector 10 ... Tip part 11 ... Curved part 11a ... Curved piece 12 ... Flexible tube part 15 ... Imaging unit 15a ... Observation lens 15b ... Signal cable 16 ... Light guide fiber 16a ... Illumination lens 17 ... Air supply / water supply line 17a ... Cleaning nozzle 18 ... Treatment tool channel 18a ... Treatment tool channel port 18a ... First channel part 18b ... Second channel part 18c ... Channel joint 19 ... Pipeline branch member 19a ... 1st branch pipe 19b ... 2nd branch 19c ... 3rd branch 20 ... Treatment tool introduction port 21 ... Switch 22a ... Air supply / water supply button 22b ... Suction button 25 ... Bending operation mechanism 26ll ... Left and right bending operation knob 26ud ... Up and down bending operation knob 27a ... First bending operation wire 27b ... Second bending operation wire 27c ... Third bending operation wire 27d ... Fourth bending operation wire 30ll ... Left and right sprocket 30 ud ... Vertical sprocket 31 ll ... Left and right chain 31 ud ... Vertical chain 32a ... First turnbuckle 32b ... Second turnbuckle 32c ... Third turnbuckle 32d ... Fourth turnbuckle 34 ... Coil Receiver 45 ... Operating force transmission mechanism 46 ... Engagement member 46a ... Tapered part 47 ... Engagement member 47a ... Tapered part 48 ... Coil spring 49 ... Link mechanism 49a ... First arm 49b ... Second arm 49c ... Turnbuckle 50 ... Connecting member

Claims (13)

An insertion part that is inserted into the subject along the longitudinal direction,
A curved portion provided on the tip side of the insertion portion and
A length that moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction by an operating force input to an operating portion connected to the base end side of the insertion portion, and transmits the operating force to the curved portion as a force for bending the curved portion. With the scale member
The internal components inserted in the insertion part and
A part of the operating force provided between the long member and the built-in object when the long member moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction is transmitted as a force for moving the built-in object in the longitudinal direction. Operation force transmission mechanism and
An endoscope characterized by having. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operating force transmission mechanism is provided inside the operating unit. The operating force transmission mechanism is characterized by having an engaging member provided on the long member and an engaged member provided on the built-in object and to which the engaging member can engage. The endoscope according to 1. The long member is configured to have a first long member and a second long member in the longitudinal direction.
The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the engaging member is arranged at a boundary portion between the first long member and the second long member. The built-in object is configured to have a first built-in object and a second built-in object in the longitudinal direction.
The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the engaged member is arranged at a boundary portion between the first built-in object and the second built-in object. The operating force transmission mechanism has a connecting member that integrally connects the long member and the built-in object so that the long member and the built-in object move back and forth integrally in the longitudinal direction. The endoscope according to claim 1. The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the engaging member and the engaged member are integrally connected via an elastic body or a link mechanism. The third aspect of claim 3, wherein the engaging member and the engaged member engage with each other when the long member and the built-in object are located in a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction. Endoscope. A tapered portion is provided on at least one of the engaging member and the engaged member.
8. The eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the engaging member and the engaged member are configured to engage with each other only in one of the directions in which the long member moves back and forth in the longitudinal direction. Endoscope. The operating force transmission mechanism is characterized in that when the curved portion is curved in a predetermined direction, the built-in object is moved in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion so that the built-in object moves from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the insertion portion. The endoscope according to claim 1. The curved portion is curved as the four long members move forward and backward, so that the direction of the tip of the insertion portion is changed to the first and second directions, or the third and fourth directions.
The engaging member is
Any one of the engaging member connected to the long member curved in the first direction or the engaging member connected to the long member curved in the third direction.
Any one of the engaging member connected to the long member curved in the second direction or the engaging member connected to the long member curved in the fourth direction.
The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein each of the endoscopes has. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the internal organ is a treatment tool channel including a flexible or elastic tube. The operating force transmission mechanism moves the built-in object in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion so that the built-in object moves from the tip end side to the proximal end side of the insertion portion when the curved portion is curved in another predetermined direction. 10. The endoscope according to claim 10.

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