JP2020168092A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an endoscope in which damage of an insertion member inserted into inside of an insertion tube is prevented.SOLUTION: An endoscope comprises: a distal end portion provided in a distal end of an insertion tube inserted into an analyte; a bent portion which is coupled to a proximal end side of the distal end portion and bent by bending operation; a flexible tube portion which is coupled to a proximal end side of the bent portion and has flexibility; a housing which is connected to a proximal end side of the flexible tube portion and stores a control section receiving the bending operation; a transmission member transmitting force by the bending operation from the control section to the bent portion; an insertion member which is inserted into inside of the bent portion, whose one end is coupled to the distal end portion and the other end extends to the housing; and an elastic member connecting the housing and the insertion member and has elasticity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope.

Conventionally, an endoscope having a bendable portion at the tip of an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The curved portion is curved according to the bending operation received by the operating portion connected to the base end side of the insertion portion. A light guide, an image guide, or the like is inserted inside the insertion portion. In the following, light guides, image guides, etc. are collectively referred to as "insertion members".

When the curved portion is curved, the soft insertion member is also curved accordingly. When the insertion member is located inside the arc formed by the curved curved portion, the insertion member is pushed toward the proximal end side by the curvature. On the other hand, when the insertion member is located outside the arc formed by the curved curved portion, the insertion member is pulled toward the tip side by the curvature. Then, when the curved portion returns to the state before being curved, the insertion member also follows and moves forward and backward, and returns to the original position.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-61340

Due to the softness of the insertion member, the insertion member may be unintentionally distorted due to the bending operation. Then, when an unintended distortion occurs in the insertion member, the insertion member may come into contact with the inner wall of the insertion portion or another insertion member and be damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which the insertion member inserted inside the insertion portion is prevented from being damaged.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention has a tip located at the tip of an insertion portion inserted into a subject and a tip portion of the tip portion. A bending portion that is connected to the base end side and is curved by a bending operation, a flexible pipe portion that is connected to the base end side of the bending portion and has flexibility, and a base end of the flexible pipe portion. A housing connected to the side and accommodating an operation unit that accepts the bending operation, a transmission member that transmits a force due to the bending operation from the operation unit to the bending portion, and an insertion into the inside of the bending portion. An insertion member having one end connected to the tip portion and the other end extending to the housing, and an elastic member connecting the housing and the insertion member and having elasticity. Be prepared.

Further, in the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, a ring-shaped joint is fixed to the insertion member, and the elastic member connects the joint and the housing.

Further, in the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, the elastic member urges the insertion member toward the proximal end side.

Further, the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plate-shaped member fixed to the housing, and the elastic member connects the plate-shaped member and the insertion member.

Further, in the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, the plate-shaped member is formed with a through hole or a notch through which the insertion member is inserted.

Further, in the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, the elastic member urges the insertion member in a direction of returning to a position before the curved portion is curved.

Further, in the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, the insertion member is an image guide that guides a signal imaged by an imaging unit arranged at the tip portion toward the proximal end side, and the tip of the insertion member captures the imaging unit. It is fixed to the housing to be accommodated.

Further, in the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, the insertion member is a light guide, an image guide, an ultrasonic cable, a channel tube, an air supply water supply tube, a balloon water supply tube, a balloon suction tube, or a forceps raising tube. Is.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an endoscope in which the insertion member inserted inside the insertion portion is prevented from being damaged.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the operation unit of the endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the operation unit of the endoscope according to the first modification. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the separate shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the second modification. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the modified example 3. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the modified example 4. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the modified example 5.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the endoscope according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The present invention can be generally applied to endoscopes having a curved portion.

Further, in the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements are appropriately designated by the same reference numerals. In addition, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between the dimensions of each element, the ratio of each element, etc. may differ from the reality. Even between drawings, there may be parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope 1 has an imaging unit arranged at the tip thereof, an insertion unit 2 inserted into a subject, an operation unit 3 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion unit 2, and the operation unit. A universal cord 4 extending from the side of 3 and a universal cord 4 connected to an observation device for controlling the endoscope 1 and a light source device for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 1. The connector portion 5 is provided. In the present specification, as shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction of the endoscope 1 and the direction in which the insertion portion 2 is inserted is defined as the "insertion direction", and the tip side of the insertion direction (the side opposite to the operation portion 3). ) Is the "tip side", and the base end side (operation unit 3 side) is the "base end side".

The insertion portion 2 is connected to the tip end portion 2a located at the tip end of the insertion portion 2 and the proximal end side of the tip end portion 2a, and the curved portion 2b and the curved portion 2b that are curved by the bending operation with respect to the operation portion 3. It has a flexible tube portion 2c, which is connected to the base end side of the above and has flexibility. The base end of the flexible pipe portion 2c is connected to the tip end of the operation portion 3. An ultrasonic oscillator 2aa is arranged at the tip of the tip portion 2a. The ultrasonic oscillator 2aa is a convex type ultrasonic oscillator, but may be a radial type or a linear type. Further, the endoscope 1 may be an endoscope having no ultrasonic oscillator.

The operation unit 3 is connected to the base end side of the flexible pipe portion 2c, and receives a bending operation for bending the bending portion 2b. The operation unit 3 is provided with a treatment tool insertion port 3a for inserting a forceps needle or the like, which is a treatment tool, into the subject.

[Internal configuration of insertion part]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, inside the insertion portion 2, a light guide 201, an image guide 202, an ultrasonic cable 203, a channel tube 204, an air supply water supply tube 205, a balloon water supply tube 206, and a balloon The suction tube 207, the forceps raising tube 208, and the operation wire 209 are inserted.

The light guide 201 transmits the illumination light supplied from the light source device to the tip portion 2a. The light guide 201 has a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers and a coating formed of a flexible material such as silicon that covers the outer periphery of the plurality of optical fibers.

The image guide 202 has a cable that guides a signal imaged by an imaging unit arranged at the tip portion 2a toward the base end side, and a coating formed of a flexible material such as rubber that covers the outer periphery of the cable. However, the image guide 202 includes a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers that guide the light reflected in the subject focused by the lens unit arranged inside the tip portion 2a toward the proximal end side, and a plurality of optical fibers. It may be configured to have a coating formed of a flexible material such as silicon that covers the outer periphery of the lens. In this case, the light guided to the proximal end side is focused on the optical system provided in the operation unit 3 and irradiated to the image sensor.

The ultrasonic cable 203 transmits the pulse signal from the ultrasonic observation device to the ultrasonic transducer 2aa and the echo signal from the ultrasonic transducer 2aa to the ultrasonic observation device via the universal cord 4. .. The outer circumference of the ultrasonic cable 203 is covered with a coating made of a flexible material such as rubber.

The channel tube 204 is a flexible tube, one end communicating with the treatment tool insertion port 3a on the proximal end side, and the other end communicating with the opening formed in the tip end portion 2a. The channel tube 204 projects the treatment tool inserted from the treatment tool insertion port 3a from the opening of the tip portion 2a. Further, the channel tube 204 can also supply the liquid injected from the treatment tool insertion port 3a to the tip portion 2a.

The air supply / water supply tube 205 delivers air or water to the tip of the tip 2a. By injecting water into the air supply / water supply tube 205, the lens surface of the image pickup unit provided at the tip portion 2a can be cleaned. The air supply / water supply tube 205 is made of a flexible material such as rubber.

The balloon water supply tube 206 sends water into a balloon attached so as to cover the ultrasonic vibrator 2aa, and inflates the balloon. The balloon water supply tube 206 is made of a flexible material such as rubber.

The balloon suction tube 207 sucks the liquid in the balloon covering the ultrasonic vibrator 2aa and contracts the balloon. The balloon suction tube 207 is made of a flexible material such as rubber.

A forceps raising wire 208a for raising the treatment tool raising base in response to the treatment tool raising operation for the operation unit 3 is inserted through the forceps raising tube 208. The forceps raising tube 208 is made of a flexible material such as rubber.

One end of the operation wire 209 is connected to the tip end portion 2a, and the other end is connected to the operation portion 3, and the operation wire 209 moves to the base end side by the bending operation received by the operation unit 3 to operate the force due to the bending operation. It is a transmission member that transmits from the portion 3 to the curved portion 2b. Since the operation wire 209 is arranged in four directions in the cross section of the insertion portion 2, it can be curved in any direction by selecting the operation wire 209 that performs the bending operation.

Next, the insertion member will be described. The insertion member is a member that is inserted inside the insertion portion 2, one end of which is connected to the tip portion 2a, and the other end of which extends to the operation portion 3. Specifically, the insertion member is a light guide 201, an image guide 202, an ultrasonic cable 203, a channel tube 204, an air supply water supply tube 205, a balloon water supply tube 206, a balloon suction tube 207, or a forceps raising tube 208. .. The insertion member is not the forceps raising wire 208a or the operating wire 209. In other words, the insertion member is a flexible member that follows the bending of the bending portion 2b.

[Structure on the tip side of the insertion member]
Next, the configuration on the tip side will be described using the image guide 202 as an example of the insertion member.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging unit 21 arranged at the tip portion 2a is a lens that collects light on the substrate 21a connected to the image guide 202, the CCD 21b connected to the substrate 21a, and the CCD 21b. It has a unit 21c, a reinforcing frame 21d for reinforcing the outside of the substrate 21a and the CCD 21b, and a tube 21e for covering the outer periphery of the imaging unit 21.

The tip of the image guide 202 is fixed to the image pickup unit 21 by soldering the cable inside the image guide 202 to the substrate 21a. The imaging unit 21 is directly or indirectly fixed to the tip portion 2a with the intervention of another member. Therefore, the image guide 202 is indirectly fixed to the tip portion 2a with the imaging unit 21 interposed therebetween. Similarly, the other insertion member is also indirectly fixed to the tip portion 2a directly or indirectly with another member interposed therebetween.

[Structure on the base end side of the insertion member]
Next, the configuration of the base end side of the insertion member will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the operation unit of the endoscope shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the proximal end side of the insertion member 210 extends to the housing 301 accommodating the operation unit 3. Inside the housing 301, there are a spring 211 which is an elastic member connecting the housing 301 and the insertion member 210, a first joint 212 fixed to the insertion member 210, and a second joint fixed to the housing 301. The joint 213 and the joint 213 are housed. The elastic member may be any member as long as it has elasticity, and may be rubber, for example.

The first fixing portion 211a on the tip end side of the spring 211 is fixed to the ring-shaped first joint 212 by welding, adhesion, or the like. On the other hand, the second fixing portion 211b on the base end side of the spring 211 is fixed to the second joint 213 by welding, adhesion, or the like. Then, the spring 211 urges the insertion member 210 toward the base end side.

[Movement of insertion member during bending operation]
Next, the movement of the insertion member 210 when the operating portion 3 receives the bending operation and the bending portion 2b is curved will be described.

First, when the operation unit 3 accepts the bending operation, the bending unit 2b is curved. At this time, when the insertion member 210 is located inside the arc formed by the curved curved portion 2b, the insertion member 210 is pushed toward the base end side. On the other hand, when the insertion member 210 is located outside the arc formed by the curved curved portion 2b, the insertion member 210 is pulled toward the tip end side. In the endoscope 1 having four operation wires 209 and capable of bending in an arbitrary direction, each insertion member 210 may move to both the distal end side or the proximal end side depending on the bending direction.

Subsequently, the bending operation of the operating portion 3 is released, and the bending portion 2b returns to the state before bending. At this time, the insertion member 210 also returns to the position before the bending operation, but since the spring 211 urges the insertion member 210 to the proximal end side, the insertion member 210 pulled toward the distal end side is on the proximal end side. It is prevented that the insertion member 210 is unintentionally distorted when returning to. As a result, the insertion member 210 is prevented from being damaged when the curved portion 2b is curved.

(Modification example 1)
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the operation unit of the endoscope according to the first modification. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the separate shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the endoscope according to the first modification has a separate 214A which is a plate-shaped member fixed to the housing 301, and a spring 211A which connects the separate 214A and the insertion member 210. And.

One end of the spring 211A arranged on both sides of the separate 214A is fixed to the insertion member 210 by welding, adhesion, or the like. On the other hand, the other end of the spring 211A is fixed to the separate 214A by welding or adhesion. Then, the spring 211A urges the insertion member 210 in the direction of returning to the position before the bending portion 2b is bent.

A through hole 214Aa through which the insertion member 210 is inserted is formed in the separate 214A. However, the separate 214A may be formed with a notch in which the insertion member 210 is inserted.

According to the first modification, when the insertion member 210 that has been moved to the tip end side due to the bending operation returns to the base end side, the spring 211A urges the insertion member 210 to the base end side, so that the insertion member 210 is intended. It is prevented that distortion does not occur. Further, according to the first modification, when the insertion member 210 that has been moved to the base end side by the bending operation returns to the tip end side, the spring 211A urges the insertion member 210 to the tip end side, so that the insertion member 210 Unintended distortion is prevented from occurring. As a result, the insertion member 210 is prevented from being damaged regardless of the direction in which the curved portion 2b is curved.

When the diameter of the spring 211A is larger than the diameter of the through hole 214Aa, it is not necessary to fix the end portion of the spring 211A to the separate 214A.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the second modification. As shown in FIG. 7, the tip of the image guide 202 may be directly fixed to the tip 2a, which is a housing for accommodating the imaging unit 21, by an adhesive. As a result, it is possible to prevent the soldering between the cable inside the image guide 202 and the substrate 21a from being damaged by the force applied from the spring 211 or the like.

Similarly, when the insertion member 210 is the ultrasonic cable 203, the tip of the ultrasonic cable 203 may be directly fixed to the tip 2a with an adhesive. As a result, it is possible to prevent the soldering between the cable inside the ultrasonic cable 203 and the substrate connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 2aa from being damaged by the force applied from the spring 211 or the like.

(Modification 3)
Next, a modified example on the tip side will be described using the balloon water supply tube 206 as an example of the insertion member.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the modified example 3. As shown in FIG. 8, the tip of the balloon water supply tube 206 is fixed to a hard pipe 221 fixed to the tip 2a.

The tips of the channel tube 204, the air supply / water supply tube 205, the balloon suction tube 207, and the like are also fixed to a rigid pipe.

(Modification example 4)
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the modified example 4. As shown in FIG. 9, the coil 222 is arranged on the base end side of the connecting portion of the insertion member 210 with the pipe 221. In the third modification, since the pipe 221 urges the insertion member 210 toward the proximal end side, a load is applied to the proximal end side of the connection portion of the insertion member 210 with the pipe 221 and the insertion member 210 may be damaged. According to the fourth modification, since the coil 222 distributes the load applied to the proximal end side of the connecting portion of the insertion member 210 with the pipe 221, this portion is prevented from being damaged.

Similarly, the channel tube 204, the air supply / water supply tube 205, and the balloon suction tube 207 can be prevented from being damaged by the coil.

(Modification 5)
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the endoscope according to the modified example 5. As shown in FIG. 10, a hard portion 223 made of a hard member is arranged on the base end side of the connecting portion of the insertion member 210 with the pipe 221. According to the modified example 5, since the base end side of the connecting portion of the insertion member 210 with the pipe 221 is reinforced by the hard portion 223, this portion is prevented from being damaged.

Similarly, the channel tube 204, the air supply / water supply tube 205, and the balloon suction tube 207 can be prevented from being damaged by the hard portion.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the outer circumference of the insertion member 210 is a soft coating or a tube has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The outer circumference of the insertion member 210 may be made of a rigid member. In this case, the force urging the spring 211 can be efficiently transmitted to the tip.

Further effects and variations can be easily derived by those skilled in the art. Thus, the broader aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details and typical embodiments described and described above. Thus, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general concept of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents.

1 Endoscope 2 Insertion part 2a Tip part 2aa Ultrasonic transducer 2b Curved part 2c Flexible tube part 3 Operation part 3a Treatment tool insertion port 4 Universal cord 5 Connector part 21 Imaging part 21a Substrate 21b CCD
21c Lens unit 21d Reinforcing frame 21e Tube 201 Light guide 202 Image guide 203 Ultrasonic cable 204 Channel tube 205 Air supply water supply tube 206 Balloon water supply tube 207 Balloon suction tube 208 Forceps raising tube 208a Forceps raising wire 209 Operation wire 210 Insertion member 211, 211A Spring 211a 1st fixing part 211b 2nd fixing part 212 1st joint 213 2nd joint 214A Separate 214Aa Through hole 221 Pipe 222 Coil 223 Hard part 301 Housing

Claims (8)

The tip located at the tip of the insertion part to be inserted into the subject,
A curved portion that is connected to the base end side of the tip portion and is curved by a bending operation,
A flexible tube portion connected to the base end side of the curved portion and having flexibility,
A housing connected to the base end side of the flexible pipe portion and accommodating the operation portion that accepts the bending operation, and a housing.
A transmission member that transmits the force generated by the bending operation from the operating portion to the bending portion,
An insertion member that is inserted inside the curved portion, one end of which is connected to the tip portion, and the other end of which extends to the housing.
An elastic member that connects the housing and the insertion member and has elasticity,
Endoscope equipped with. A ring-shaped joint is fixed to the insertion member.
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member connects the joint and the housing. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member urges the insertion member toward the proximal end side. A plate-shaped member fixed to the housing is provided.
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member connects the plate-shaped member and the insertion member. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the plate-shaped member is formed with a through hole or a notch through which the insertion member is inserted. The endoscope according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the elastic member urges the insertion member in a direction of returning to a position before the curved portion is curved. The insertion member is an image guide that guides a signal imaged by an imaging unit arranged at the tip portion toward the proximal end side, and the tip thereof is fixed to a housing accommodating the imaging unit. The endoscope according to any one of the above. The insertion member according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the insertion member is a light guide, an image guide, an ultrasonic cable, a channel tube, an air supply water supply tube, a balloon water supply tube, a balloon suction tube, or a forceps raising tube. Endoscope.

Images