JP2606839Y2 - Endoscope device with endoscope cover system - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover type using an endoscope cover for preventing contamination of an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical field and the like. When an endoscope used in the medical field is inserted into a living body, an observation window provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion may not be sufficiently observed due to adhesion of a body fluid or the like. For this reason, the endoscope is provided with an air supply pipe or a water supply pipe so that a fluid such as a cleaning liquid or a cleaning gas can be sprayed on the observation window to remove body fluids or the like attached to the observation window by operation on the hand side. Have been. In some cases, a suction conduit for sucking and discharging unnecessary body fluids is provided. In some cases, a forceps channel (treatment instrument channel) is provided so that a tissue can be collected with biopsy forceps, or a treatment can be performed with a treatment instrument.

[0003] Endoscopy requires the use of a clean endoscope that has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the examination.

[0004] For this reason, in an endoscope provided with a conduit such as the air supply conduit or a forceps channel, when used for a patient or the like, washing or sterilizing treatment is performed to surely prevent infectious diseases and the like. Is done. However, it takes a long time to completely perform the cleaning and the sterilization, and thus there is a problem that the use efficiency of the endoscope is reduced.

Therefore, by using the endoscope with the endoscope cover covered with the endoscope cover, only the endoscope cover is disposable and replaced after use, so that the endoscope itself is not dirty after use. There is proposed an endoscope device of an endoscope cover type which does not require cleaning or sterilization.

As an endoscope device of an endoscope cover system,
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-57334 or U.S. Pat.
In Japanese Patent No. 3,162,190, an endoscope insertion portion is inserted into a cover, and the endoscope insertion portion is covered with the cover to be insulated from an external environment.

[0007] Such an endoscope with an endoscope cover system is as follows.
The insertion part is cleaned or sterilized beforehand. Then, while covering the insertion portion of the endoscope with the endoscope cover, the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity of the patient for inspection and treatment, and after use, the endoscope cover is removed and discarded. I will. In this way, by disposing the endoscope cover for each patient, the endoscope does not need to be cleaned and disinfected,
It is very easy to keep clean at all times. And
The endoscope can be used continuously without rewashing and disinfection.

[0008]

However, in the endoscope apparatus of the above-mentioned endoscope cover type, any proposal has conventionally been made with respect to the configuration, material, etc., which affect the characteristics of the insertion portion such as flexibility. I didn't.

For this reason, when the insertion portion of the endoscope device of the endoscope cover type is inserted deep inside the object to be inspected, when the insertion portion is pushed into the body cavity, the insertion portion bends at the hand side. In some cases, it could not be easily inserted due to being lost. In addition, when inserted into the intestine, there is a problem that the distal end of the insertion portion is not bent along the intestine, making the insertion operation extremely difficult, and causing pain to the patient.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and provides an endoscope device of an endoscope cover system capable of improving the insertability of an insertion portion when inserted into a body cavity or the like. It is intended to be.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover type having an endoscope and an endoscope cover for covering at least an insertion portion of the endoscope.
The endoscope and the endoscope cover are characterized in that the flexibility of the insertion section in the axial direction is changed so that the proximal side is harder than the distal end side.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an entire configuration of an endoscope device of an endoscope cover type, and FIG. 2 is an endoscope device of an endoscope cover type. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the insertion portion of FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view showing the flexible tube portion of the endoscope for cover inserted into the endoscope cover, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the outer skin portion of the endoscope flexible tube portion. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the connection portion between the insertion portion cover outer skin of the endoscope cover and the cover tip or the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a connection portion between the outer cover of the insertion portion cover and the distal end portion of the cover shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 of an endoscope cover type is an apparatus having an endoscope 2 of an endoscope cover type (hereinafter abbreviated as a cover type endoscope).

The cover type endoscope 2 includes an endoscope cover (hereinafter abbreviated as a cover) 3 and an endoscope for an endoscope cover mounted on the cover 3 (hereinafter, a cover endoscope). 4). When performing an endoscope inspection, the insertion part of the cover endoscope 4 is covered with a clean cover 3, and the cover 3 is discarded after the inspection, while the cover endoscope 4 is replaced with a new clean endoscope. Cover 3
It is characterized by being covered by and repeatedly used. This eliminates the need for cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope after the inspection.

The endoscope apparatus 1 includes the cover-type endoscope 2, a cart 5 in which various peripheral devices and the like to which the cover-type endoscope 2 is connected, and the cover-type endoscope 2
And a cover holder 6 for holding the cover.

The cart 5 includes, for example, a light source device 7, a video processor 8, a fluid control device 9, and an endoscope cover extender (hereinafter referred to as an extender) used when the cover endoscope 4 is mounted on the cover 3. 10) are stored.
A video processor 8 is provided on the upper surface of the cart 5.
Monitor 1 that receives an image signal from the camera and displays an endoscope image
1 is placed.

The cover endoscope 4 has an operation unit 12 having a large-diameter grip at the proximal end of the elongated endoscope insertion unit 14 on the proximal side.
The universal cord 13 extends from the side of the operation unit 12, and a connector 19 is provided at an end of the universal cord 13.

The light source device 7 is detachably connected to the cover endoscope 4 via the connector 19 and supplies illumination light to the endoscope. The video processor 8 is detachably connected to the cover endoscope 4 via a signal cable 21 extending from the side of the connector 19, and drives the image pickup means built in the cover endoscope 4. , And a signal output from the image pickup means, and converts the signal into a standard video signal to output to the monitor 11.

The dilator 10 is connected to an expansion tube 34, and is for expanding air by sending air into the cover 3 through the expansion tube 34, and the expansion makes the cover 3 endoscope for cover. The mirror 4 can be easily mounted or removed. Endoscope 4 for this cover
When the cover 3 is attached to or detached from the vehicle, a cover holder 6 is used. For example, the base end of the cover 3 is held by the cover holder 6 to insert or remove the endoscope 4 for cover.

The cover 3 includes a soft insertion portion cover portion 22.
And an operation unit cover 23 and a universal code cover 24 made of a thin and soft polymer material such as vinyl chloride. The endoscope insertion part 14 of the cover endoscope 4 is provided. , The operation unit 12 and the universal cord 13.

The fluid control device 9 is provided with an air supply control valve 35, a water supply control valve 36, and a suction control valve 37.
The suction is controlled by these solenoid valves. The air supply control valve 35, the water supply control valve 36, and the suction control valve 37 are connected to an air supply line 26, a water supply line 27, and a suction line 28 extending from the insertion portion cover 22, respectively.

The suction control valve 37 has a suction tube 3.
A suction device (not shown) is connected to the end of the endoscope 8 so as to suck unnecessary body fluids and the like from the end of the endoscope. A water supply tube 39 is connected to the water supply control valve 36, and a water supply tank 33 is connected to a distal end thereof. Further, two air supply tubes 40 extend from the fluid control device 9, and are connected to the air supply control valve 35 and the water supply tank 33.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an insertion section 41 of an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover system in which the cover endoscope 4 is covered with an insertion section cover section 22.

Insertion section 4 of endoscope device of endoscope cover type
1 mainly includes an insertion portion cover portion 22 and a cover endoscope insertion portion 14.

The insertion section cover section 22 includes an air supply pipe 26, a water supply pipe 27, a suction pipe 28 made of a PTFE tube (polytetrafluoroethylene tube) or the like, and an endoscope through which the endoscope insertion section 14 is inserted. An insertion channel 25 is provided, and these distal ends are connected by a cover distal end 29 made of a hard resin or the like. In addition, the air supply line 2
6 and the water supply pipeline 27 merge at the tip end side to form a single pipeline.

A base end of the insertion portion cover 22 is provided with an endoscope operation portion fixing portion formed of a hard resin or the like for connecting and fixing the insertion portion cover portion 22 and the cover endoscope 4. A mouth part 30 is provided. The cover distal end portion 29 and the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth body portion 30 are provided with an insertion portion cover made of a thin and soft polymer material for isolating the insertion portion 14 of the cover endoscope 4 from an external environment. It is airtightly connected by an outer skin 31. The suction conduit 28 also serves as a forceps channel through which forceps and the like are inserted, and a forceps insertion port is provided in the mouth 30.

The endoscope insertion channel 25 includes an air supply conduit 26, an inner space surrounded by a cover distal end portion 29, an insertion portion cover outer cover 31, and an endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 30. The drawing shows a portion excluding the water supply conduit 27 and the suction conduit 28, and shows a portion into which the cover endoscope 4 is inserted. The endoscope insertion channel 25 is open to the outside only at the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 30 on the base end side, and the other portions are not exposed to the outside. Therefore, when the endoscope insertion section 14 is inserted, this insertion section 1
4 is covered with a channel forming member (such as an insertion portion cover outer skin 31) that forms the endoscope insertion channel 25 except for the base end side, and is not exposed to the outside. In addition, the operation section 12 and the like on the proximal end side of the endoscope insertion section 14 are also covered with the operation section cover section 23 and the universal code cover section 24.

For this reason, when used for endoscopic examination, the insertion portion 14 of the endoscope 4 for a cover and the like are maintained in a state where they are not contaminated. On the other hand, since the cover 3 is contaminated, it becomes a disposable cover that is discarded after use.

On the other hand, the cover endoscope insertion portion 14 has a rigid distal end portion 16 having an observation optical system 15 and an illumination optical system (not shown), a bendable bending portion 17, and a flexible end portion. And a flexible tube portion 18. Due to the flexibility of the flexible tube portion 18, the insertion portion 4 of the endoscope device is provided.
1 can be freely inserted into a body cavity or the like, and has a curved portion 1
The distal end can be directed to a target observation direction by bending the 7.

Although not shown, a light guide is inserted into the endoscope insertion portion 14, and a rear end portion is connected to the light source device 7, and transmits illumination light from a lamp in the light source device 7. The light is emitted from the illumination optical system at the tip. Further, an image pickup device 20 is provided in the cover endoscope insertion section 14 at an image forming position of the observation optical system 15 and is connected to the video processor 8 via a signal cable. The subject, such as the affected part, illuminated by the illumination light,
, An optical image is formed on the image sensor 20. For this reason, an observation window and an illumination window are provided in the cover distal end portion 29 so as to transmit light, facing the observation optical system 15 of the cover endoscope insertion section 14 and an illumination optical system (not shown). .

An image pickup signal of an optical image photoelectrically converted by the image pickup device 20 is input to a video processor 8, where the image signal is processed by the video processor 8 and converted into a standard image signal. The image is input and the subject image is displayed on the display screen.

The flexible tube section 18 of the cover endoscope insertion section 14
As shown in FIG. 3, a braid 43 in which a plurality of strands are braided is provided on the outer periphery of a flex 42, and is covered with a flexible outer skin 44 made of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer. . Here, the outer cover 44 is formed by changing the mixing ratio of a plurality of thermoplastic elastomers having different hardnesses in the axial direction.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the outer skin 44. FIG. 4 shows the mixing ratio of a plurality of thermoplastic elastomers having different hardnesses. In the figure, white circles indicate the thermoplastic elastomer 45a having a low hardness, and black triangles indicate the thermoplastic elastomer 45b having a high hardness.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ratio of the thermoplastic elastomer 45a having a low hardness is increased at the distal end side 44a of the outer skin 44.
By increasing the proportion of the thermoplastic elastomer 45b having high hardness, the proximal side 44b of the outer skin 44 is
Forms a soft portion 46, and the outer hand side 44b forms a hard portion 47 that is harder than the distal end side.

Further, the hardness of the outer cover 44 and the like is adjusted so that a desired flexibility is obtained by combining the insertion portion cover portion 22 and the cover endoscope insertion portion 14, and the cover endoscope is used. The flexibility of the insertion section 14 can be adjusted.

In FIG. 4, the cover endoscope insertion portion 14 is shown.
Although the flexibility of the outer skin 44 is changed in two steps in the axial direction, it may be changed in two or more steps or may be changed in a stepless manner.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged cross section of a connection portion between the insertion portion cover outer skin 31 of the insertion portion cover portion 22 and the cover distal end portion 29 or the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 30.

A concave portion 51 is provided in a circumferential shape on the side surface of the end portion of the cover distal end portion 29 and the end portion of the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 30 connected to the insertion portion cover outer cover 31. The end of the insertion portion cover outer skin 31 is dropped into the concave portion 51, and is fixed in the concave portion 51 by the adhesive 52.

The insertion part cover outer skin 3 of the insertion part cover part 22
1 has both ends fixed to the cover distal end portion 29 and the endoscope operating portion fixing mouth portion 30, respectively, but conventionally, an insertion portion is provided at the cover distal end portion and the endoscope operating portion fixing mouth portion. Since there was no uneven portion or the like on which the end of the cover was caught, the end of the cover, the mouthpiece for fixing the endoscope operation part, and the insertion part cover could not be firmly fixed. When the insertion section of the cover-type endoscope device is inserted and the insertion section is bent, the endoscope cover may be detached.

On the other hand, by adopting the structure as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to enhance the connection between the outer cover 31 of the insertion portion and the cover distal end portion 29 or the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 30, and the inspection can be performed. It is possible to prevent the cover distal end portion 29 or the cover distal end portion 29 and the insertion portion cover outer cover 31 from falling off during the insertion into the target object, thereby preventing the affected part from being contaminated or damaged, thereby enabling a safe inspection.

FIG. 6 shows a modified example of a connection portion between the outer cover 31 of the insertion portion cover and the cover distal end portion 29 or the endoscope operating portion fixing mouth portion 30.

As in this modified example, the insertion portion cover outer cover 3
1 is dropped into the concave portion 51, and is fixed in the concave portion 51 with an adhesive 52. Further, a thread 53 made of nylon or the like is placed on the insertion portion cover outer skin 31 that has fallen into the concave portion 51.
May be wound. Further, the thread 53 may be fixed with the adhesive 52.

As described above, by winding the yarn 53 of nylon or the like and further fixing it with the adhesive 52 thereon, not only a more firm fixation can be obtained, but also the end surface of the insertion portion cover outer cover 31. Has the effect that it does not come off. Also, the outer diameter of this connection does not increase,
Since the insertion portion of the endoscope device of the endoscope cover type can be reduced in diameter, the insertability into a body cavity or the like of a patient can be improved.

In the endoscope apparatus 1 of the endoscope cover system of the present embodiment, a clean cover 3 is attached to the cover endoscope 4,
The cover endoscope 4 is inserted as a cover endoscope 2 in a state of being isolated from an external environment into a site to be inspected such as in a body cavity. When the endoscope is used, the cover endoscope 4 is attached to the cover 3.
It is kept clean because it is covered by. Further, the air supply line 26, the water supply line 27, and the suction line 28 also serving as a forceps channel are attached to the cover 3 side, and are discarded together with the cover 3 after use. It will not be reused.

By configuring the cover type endoscope 2 in this manner, the cover endoscope 4 which is the endoscope main body does not need to be washed or sterilized every time an inspection is performed, and is always kept clean. And the endoscopy can be easily performed. The cover endoscope 4 can be used continuously without re-cleaning and re-disinfection. For example, cleaning and sterilization may be performed when all the inspections for one day are completed. Therefore, the use efficiency of the endoscope can be improved.

Further, since the cover endoscope insertion section 14 is configured so that the flexibility changes in the axial direction, the flexibility of the insertion section 41 of the endoscope apparatus of the endoscope cover system is improved. Also changes in the axial direction, where the proximal side has relatively high hardness and the distal side has relatively low hardness, so that the insertion section may bend at the proximal side or the distal section may be caught on the body cavity wall. And insertability can be improved.

When the flexibility of the insertion portion is changed in the axial direction, in order to obtain stable quality, the mixing ratio of a plurality of thermoplastic elastomers having different hardnesses as described above is changed in the axial direction. Although it is practical to make the insertion portion cover portion 22 have such a structure, the disposable insertion portion cover portion 22 has a complicated structure and is expensive. In this embodiment, since the cover endoscope 4 having a structure in which the flexibility of the insertion portion is different is repeatedly used, the endoscope of the endoscope cover type can be configured at low cost, and the burden on the user is reduced. can do. In addition, since the structure on the cover side is simplified, the durability of the cover can be enhanced, and infection due to damage during mounting of the cover or during use can be prevented.

[0048]

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of a structure in which at least a part of the insertion portion cover is made of an elastic member so that the insertion portion cover can always be brought into close contact with the insertion portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 7 shows a state before the insertion section cover 22 is mounted on the endoscope 4 for a cover, and FIG. 8 shows a relationship between respective insertion section lengths when the insertion section cover 22 is mounted. .

The insertion portion cover 22 has at least a portion of the outer cover 31 of the insertion portion formed of an elastic member so that it can expand and contract in the axial direction. Here, the length of the insertion section 14 of the cover endoscope is L1, the length of the insertion section of the insertion section cover section 22 is L2, and the insertion section cover section 22 is attached to the cover endoscope 4. Insertion section length of the insertion section cover section (that is, the insertion section 4 of the endoscope apparatus of the endoscope cover system).
Each length is set so that L1 = L3> L2, where L3 is L3.

That is, the insertion section length of the insertion section cover section 22 is shorter than the insertion section length of the cover endoscope 4 before mounting, and when the insertion section cover section 22 is mounted on the cover endoscope 4, The outer cover 31 of the insertion portion cover extends in the axial direction by L1-L2 and comes into close contact with the insertion portion 14 of the endoscope for cover.

Thus, when inserting into an inspection object (not shown), the insertion portion 41 of the endoscope apparatus of the endoscope cover system is used.
Is bent, the insertion portion cover portion 22 sags with respect to the insertion portion 14 of the cover endoscope, and the cover distal end portion 29 and the cover endoscope distal end portion 16 are separated, thereby narrowing the observation field of view. And the observation illumination can be prevented from becoming dark, and the inspection can be performed safely and reliably.

Although the elastic member is used for the entire outer cover 31 of the insertion portion here, it may be used for a part of the outer cover. In addition, both the outer cover of the insertion portion cover and the inner tube of the inner cover of the insertion portion cover portion may be formed of an elastic member, or only the outer cover of the insertion portion cover may be formed of an elastic member, and the inner tube of the inner tube is invisible. It may be assembled as required length when mounted on a mirror.

Next, a method of assembling the insertion portion cover 22 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG.
A first step of connecting and fixing one end of the air supply line 26, the water supply line 27, and the suction line 28 to 9 is performed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, a second step of connecting and fixing one end of the insertion portion cover outer cover 31 to the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 30 is performed. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, a connection is made by combining the distal end portion and the conduit of the cover completed in the first step with the mouthpiece for fixing the endoscope operation section and the outer cover of the insertion section completed in the second step. A third step of fixing is performed. These three steps constitute an assembling step of the insertion portion cover 22.

By dividing the process into three stages as described above, the first process and the second process can be performed in parallel, or the first process and the second process can be performed separately. . Therefore, the air supply line 2 is
6. Water supply line 27, suction line 28, insertion part cover skin 3
1 is connected, and the working efficiency is improved as compared with a process of connecting the endoscope operation unit fixing mouth body unit 30 to the other end of the connection unit.
Further, the cost for manufacturing can be reduced by improving the work efficiency, so that an inexpensive endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover system can be provided.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the outer cover of the insertion portion cover of the endoscope cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, the endoscope insertion portion 1 for a cover is used.
4 is changed in the axial direction to change the flexibility of the insertion portion 41 of the endoscope apparatus of the endoscope cover system in the axial direction. By changing the flexibility of the insertion portion cover portion 22 covering the mirror insertion portion 14 in the axial direction,
The flexibility of the insertion portion 41 of the endoscope device of the endoscope cover type is changed in the axial direction.

As a material of the outer cover of the insertion portion cover portion 22, for example, there is a thermoplastic elastomer or the like. Here, a material in which the mixing ratio of a plurality of thermoplastic elastomers having different hardnesses is changed in the axial direction is used.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the outer cover 57 of the insertion portion, showing the mixing ratio of a plurality of thermoplastic elastomers having different hardnesses. In the figure, white circles indicate the thermoplastic elastomer 45a having a low hardness, and black triangles indicate the thermoplastic elastomer 45b having a high hardness. As shown in FIG. 12, the distal end 57a of the insert cover 57 has a higher proportion of the thermoplastic elastomer 45a having a low hardness, and the proximal end 57b of the insert cover 57 has a thermoplastic elastomer 4 having a high hardness.
By increasing the ratio of 5b, the outer skin distal side 57a is formed so as to be soft, the outer skin proximal side 57b is formed harder than the distal side, and the insertion portion cover outer skin 57 is formed so that the flexibility changes in the axial direction. It is configured.

Further, the hardness of the insertion portion cover portion 22 is adjusted by combining the insertion portion cover portion 22 and the cover endoscope insertion portion 14 so as to obtain desired flexibility. The flexibility of the mirror insertion portion 14 can be adjusted.

As described above, by changing the flexibility of the insertion portion cover portion 22 in the axial direction, the flexibility of the insertion portion 41 of the endoscope device of the endoscope cover system is changed as in the first embodiment. The characteristics also change in the axial direction, so that it is possible to improve the insertability of the insertion portion when inserting the body into a body cavity or the like, and it is possible to drastically reduce problems such as pain of a patient at the time of insertion.

In the first and second embodiments, the flexibility of either the cover endoscope insertion portion or the insertion portion cover portion is changed in the axial direction.
As a modified example in which the embodiment and the second embodiment are combined, the endoscope insertion portion for the cover and the flexibility of the insertion portion cover portion are configured to be changed in the axial direction, respectively. The flexibility of the insertion portion 41 of the mirror device may be changed in the axial direction. By doing so, it is possible to flexibly respond to obtain desired flexibility.

[0065]

According to the present invention, as described above, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the insertability of the insertion portion when inserting into a body cavity or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the entire configuration of an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover type.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an insertion portion of an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover system.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view in which a flexible tube portion of a cover endoscope to be inserted into an endoscope cover is partially cut away.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an outer skin portion of the flexible tube portion of the endoscope in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a connecting portion between an outer cover of an insertion portion cover of the endoscope cover and a tip portion of the cover or an endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a connection portion between the outer cover of the insertion portion cover shown in FIG. 5 and a tip portion of the cover or an endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the insertion section length in a state before the insertion section cover is attached to the cover endoscope.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the insertion section length when the insertion section cover is attached to the endoscope for cover.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a first step in the method of assembling the insertion portion cover.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a second step in the method of assembling the insertion portion cover.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a third step in the method of assembling the insertion portion cover.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an outer cover of an insertion portion cover of an endoscope cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus 2 ... Endoscope cover type endoscope 3 ... Endoscope cover 4 ... Cover endoscope 5 ... Cart 7 ... Light source device 8 ... Video processor 9 ... Fluid Control device 10 ... Endoscope cover extender 11 ... Monitor 12 ... Operation part 13 ... Universal cord 14 ... Endoscope insertion part 16 ... Tip 17 ... Bending part 18 ... Flexible tube part 22 ... Insertion part cover part 23 ... Operating part cover part 24 ... Universal cord cover part 25 ... Endoscope insertion channel 26 ... Air supply line 27 ... Water supply line 28 ... Suction line 29 ... Cover tip part 30 ... Endoscope operation part fixing mouth part 31 ... Insertion part cover outer skin 41. Insertion part of endoscope device of endoscope cover type 44. Endoscope insertion part flexible tube part outer skin 45a. Thermoplastic elastomer with low hardness 45b. Thermoplastic elastomer with high hardness 46. … Soft 47 ... rigid portion

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Iida 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshio Tashiro 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Suzuki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Minoru Yamazaki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) The creator Osamu Mizuta 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Toshiyuki Kubotani 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-29635 (JP, A) JP-A-3-141920 (JP, A) 2-131738 (JP, A) JP-A 63-230139 (JP, U) JP-A 3-101907 (JP, U) WO 92/22238 (WO, A1)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. An endoscope device of an endoscope cover type having an endoscope and an endoscope cover for covering at least an insertion portion of the endoscope, wherein the endoscope and the endoscope cover An endoscope device of an endoscope cover type, wherein the flexibility of the insertion portion in the axial direction is changed so that the hand side is harder than the distal end side.