JP2756714B2 - Endoscope bending operation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bending operation device for an endoscope.

[Related Art] In a bending operation device of an endoscope, it is necessary to easily adjust a maximum bending angle of a bending portion at the time of assembling, adjusting and repairing, and for disinfection, etc. The operation unit needs to have a waterproof structure so that water does not enter the operation unit.

Therefore, conventionally, a maximum angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the maximum rotation angle of the bending operation knob is provided at the base of the projecting portion of the bending operation knob protruding from the operation unit, and a cover that covers the maximum angle adjustment mechanism in a watertight manner is provided. The maximum angle adjustment mechanism can be externally adjusted by sliding the cover upward, that is, toward the bending operation knob side (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-1300).
No. 35).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In order to stably observe a target observation region with an endoscope, it is desirable to have a bending holding mechanism for holding a bending state of a bending portion.

However, as described above, in the conventional bending operation device of an endoscope, a space for sliding the cover must be secured between the operation unit and the bending operation knob. When incorporated, the bending operation knob is too far from the operation unit, and the operability is significantly deteriorated. For this reason, it is difficult to incorporate the bending holding mechanism, which may hinder stable observation of the target observation site.

The present invention solves such a conventional drawback, and makes it possible to easily adjust the maximum angle adjustment mechanism, and to incorporate an endoscope that can incorporate a bending holding mechanism without impairing the operability of the bending operation. It is an object to provide a bending operation device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a bending operation device for an endoscope according to the present invention connects a bending portion formed at a distal end of an insertion portion to a base end of the insertion portion. A bending operation device for an endoscope in which an operation wire is pulled through the operated operation portion and a bending operation knob protruding from the operation portion is rotated to pull the operation wire to bend the bending portion. In the base of the protruding portion, a maximum angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting the maximum rotation angle of the bending operation knob is provided, and a cover that covers the maximum angle adjustment mechanism in a watertight manner can be freely protruded and retracted with respect to the operation portion. The cover is immersed in the operation unit so that the maximum angle adjustment mechanism can be adjusted from the outside, and the bending holding mechanism for holding the bending operation knob at an arbitrary rotation position is provided on the protrusion. Maximum angle adjustment It is characterized in that it is provided between the mechanism and the bending operation knob.

[Operation] The maximum angle adjustment mechanism is adjusted by immersing the cover provided so as to be able to protrude and retract into the operation unit into the operation unit,
The maximum rotation angle of the bending operation knob can be adjusted.

In this way, when adjusting the maximum bending angle, the cover can be immersed in the operation section, and there is no need to pull out the cover to the operation knob side, so the bending holding mechanism is provided between the maximum angle adjustment mechanism and the bending operation knob. Can be arranged without difficulty,
Thus, the bending operation knob can be held at an arbitrary rotation position.

Example An example will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the entire configuration of the endoscope. An insertion section 1 made of a flexible tube has a bendable bending section 2 formed at the distal end, and an operation section 3 is connected to a base end of the insertion section 1. Have been. A pair of operation wires 4 for bending up and down and a pair of operation wires 5 for bending left and right are respectively drawn from the bending portion 2 through the insertion portion 1 and into the operation portion 3. By turning the up / down bending operation knob 6 and the left / right bending operation knob 7 projecting and superimposed on the section 3, the operation wires 4 and 5 are pulled, and the bending section 2 is turned at a desired angle in a desired direction. It can be bent only.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a bending operation device, and the present invention is embodied in a device for bending up and down.

The operating part main body 11 has a bearing body serving as a bearing for a vertical bending operation.
14 and a shaft 15 serving as a shaft for the left-right bending operation are screwed and fixed, and protrude outward. In addition, the screws 16 stop the frame 16 of the operation unit and the bottom plate 17 of the bending operation device.
Are fixed to the operation unit body 11.

The bearing body 14 is opened downward in the operation section body 11.
A circular chamber in which a is formed is formed, in which a pulley 18 for bending up and down and a pulley 19 for bending left and right are rotatably accommodated. A circumferential groove 20 is formed in two rows on the outer periphery of the pulleys 18, 19, and the operation wires 4, 5 are wound in the groove 20, and the ends of the operation wires 4, 5 are It is fixed to pulleys 18,19.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a rotating shaft (hereinafter, referred to as a “vertical rotating shaft”) for vertically bending operation protruding outward from the operation unit main body 11. I have. The vertical rotation shaft 22 is rotatably fitted into the bearing body 14 and is connected to the vertical bending pulley 18 via a square shaft 23 so as to rotate integrally.

A rotating shaft (hereinafter, referred to as a “right and left rotating shaft”) 25 for left and right bending operation is rotatably fitted to the upper and lower shaft body 15 with an O-ring 24 for waterproof interposed therebetween inside the vertical rotating shaft 22. A left-right bending operation knob 7 is screwed and fixed to the protruding end, and a pulley 19 for right-left bending is connected to the other end via a square shaft 26 so as to rotate integrally. I have.

With the above-described configuration, when the up / down bending operation knob 6 is rotated, the pulley 18 is rotated via the up / down rotation shaft 22, the operation wire 4 is pulled, and the bending portion 2 is bent upward or downward. Similarly, when the left / right bending operation knob 7 is rotated, the bending portion 2 bends leftward or rightward. The groove 20 around which the operation wires 4 and 5 are wound has a depth several times the diameter of the operation wires 4 and 5, and the slack of the operation wire on the loose side is absorbed in the groove 20. Is done.

Numeral 30 is a maximum angle adjustment mechanism for vertical bending for regulating the maximum rotation angle of the vertical bending operation knob 6, which will be described with reference to FIG. The maximum angle adjusting mechanism 30 includes a pair of fixing members 31 fixed to the bearing body 14 with screws, and a pivoting member that is attached to the vertical rotating shaft 22 so as to rotate integrally with the angular shaft 23. The member 33, the fixed member 31 and the rotating member
33 and a floating member 34 rotatably inserted therebetween.

The fixing member 31 has a shape obtained by cutting a flanged cylinder into a fan shape having an angle of about 80 degrees, and is fixed by screws 40 via an auxiliary plate with a long hole 35 formed in the bearing body 14 interposed therebetween. I have. Therefore, the clearance between the pair of fixing members 31 can be arbitrarily adjusted within a range of, for example, 60 degrees to 150 degrees within the range of the length of the long hole 35. Further, a projection 37 is formed on the outer periphery of the rotating member 33, and a projecting piece 38 that contacts the projection 37 of the rotating member and a projecting piece 39 that contacts the fixing member 31 are formed on the floating member 34 in opposite directions. It is bent and formed.

By rotating the up / down bending operation knob 6, the maximum angle adjusting mechanism 30 configured as described above can rotate the up / down rotation shaft 22.
The rotation member 33 is rotated via the
When the protruding piece 38 of the floating member 34 hits the fixed member 31 by pressing the protruding piece 38 of the floating member 34, the rotating member 33 and the floating member 34 rotate integrally. In this way, the maximum rotation angle of the vertical bending operation knob is regulated, and the maximum bending angle of the bending portion 2 in the vertical direction can be arbitrarily adjusted by adjusting the fixing position of the fixing member 31.

When the up / down bending operation knob 6 is rotated in the reverse direction, only the turning member 33 rotates following the turning operation knob 6, and as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 37 comes into contact with the projecting piece 38 of the floating member 34, the rotating member 33 and the floating member 34 start rotating integrally, and stop when the projecting piece 39 of the floating member 34 hits the opposite fixed member 31. I do. As described above, the maximum angle adjustment mechanism 30 of the present embodiment has a very large rotation angle of the bending operation knob by inserting the floating member 34 between the fixed member 31 and the rotating member 33, for example, 1 It is possible to take more than rotation, and it is possible to freely cope with various types of endoscopes, from endoscopes with a long moving stroke of the operation wire to short endoscopes.

The screw 40 for fixing the fixing member 31 to the bearing body 14 is provided between the vertically bending operation knob 6 protruding from the operation section main body 11 and the operation section main body 11, that is, at the base of the protrusion. . Three parts 41a, 41b, 41 are provided on the outer periphery for convenience of assembly.
The cylindrical cover 41 composed of the O-rings 12, 42, 43
It is disposed in a watertight manner in close contact with the inner surface of a hole 13 formed in the operation section main body 11 through the.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 41 is provided with an upper half protruding from the operation section main body 11 in a normal state, and covers the maximum angle adjustment mechanism 30 in a watertight manner. The cover 41 can be slid into the hole 13 by sliding. Then, in this state, the fixing position of the fixing member 31 can be adjusted by rotating the screw 40 with a driver or the like.

Numeral 70 is a bending holding mechanism for vertical bending for holding the vertical bending operation knob 6 in an arbitrary rotation state, and is provided between the maximum bending angle adjusting mechanism 30 for vertical bending and the vertical bending operation knob 6. .

Among them, 71 is a turntable that rotates integrally with the left and right rotation shafts 25. Reference numeral 72 denotes a non-rotating disk fitted to the square shaft 73 of the bearing body 14 so as to slide in the axial direction but not rotate. A donut-shaped friction plate 75 is fixed to the non-rotating plate 72 via a ring 74. When the friction plate 75 is pressed against the rotating plate 71, frictional resistance is applied to the vertical bending operation knob 6, The knob 6 can be held in an arbitrary rotation state.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a driving body which is rotatably provided by screwing the non-rotating plate 72 with a left-handed screw having a large pitch.
An operation lever 79 is connected and fixed to the driving body 76 via two intermediate rings 77 and 78. Therefore, the operating lever
By rotating the 79, the driving body 76 rotates, whereby the friction disk 75 is pressed against the rotary disk 71. 80,8
Reference numeral 1 denotes an O-ring for preventing water from entering the device from around the driving body 76.

As shown in FIG. 4, a long groove 82 is formed in the ring 74 in an arc shape, and a stopper pin 83 screwed and fixed to the first intermediate ring 77 is engaged with the long groove 82. I have.
Therefore, the rotation range of the operation lever 79 is limited to a range in which the stopper pin 83 can move within the long groove 82.
Further, a click spring 84 for stopping the stopper pin 83 in a stable state at both ends of the movement range is provided in the long groove 82.

The screw 44 for fixing the cover 41 is provided on the second intermediate ring 78, and the cover 41 is rotated integrally with the operation lever 79.

In the vicinity of the upper end of the left and right rotation shafts 25, a case 52 is attached through an O-ring 54 in a watertight manner. 53 is an E type retaining ring. A non-rotating disk 91 is attached to the square shaft 55 at the protruding end of the shaft body 15 so as not to rotate.

50 is disposed in the case 52 and has a left-right bending operation knob 7.
This is a left-right bending maximum angle adjustment mechanism that regulates the maximum rotation angle of the motor, and will be described with reference to FIG.

The maximum angle adjustment mechanism 50 for left and right bending is
A pair of fixing members 59 fixed by 58, and a rotating shaft for left and right
A rotation member 61 is connected to the rotation member 25 via a square shaft 51 and rotates integrally, and a floating member 62 rotatably inserted between the fixed member 59 and the rotation member 61.

The non-rotating plate 91 is fitted to the square shaft 92 of the shaft 15 so as to slide in the axial direction but not rotate. on the other hand,
A long hole 63 is formed in the fixing member 59, and a fixing screw is
58 is passed through the fixing member within the length of the slot 63.
59 fixed positions can be adjusted arbitrarily. Further, a projection 64 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating member 61, and a projecting piece 65 that comes into contact with the projection 64 of the rotating member 61 and a projecting piece 66 that comes into contact with the fixed member 59 are formed on the floating member 62 in reverse. It is formed to project in the direction. Therefore, the left-right bending maximum angle adjustment mechanism 50
Performs the same operation as the above-described maximum angle adjustment mechanism 30 for vertical bending.

Numeral 90 denotes a bending holding mechanism for bending the left and right bending operation knob 7 in an arbitrary rotating state.

Among them, the above-mentioned non-rotating disc 91 has a donut-shaped friction disc.
The friction plate 92 is fixed to the rotating member 61 described above.
, The frictional resistance is applied to the left-right bending operation knob 7, and the knob 7 can be held in an arbitrary rotating state.

A driving body 93 is screwed onto the shaft body 15 with a left-handed screw, and a cover 100 and an operation knob 94 are screwed and fixed outside the driving body. Further, a ring 95 screwed to the non-rotating disk 91 with a right-hand screw is fixed to the driving body 93 by screwing. Therefore, by rotating the operation knob 94, the driving body 93 is rotated.
The non-rotating disk 91 slides in the axial direction via the ring 95 and the friction disk 92 is pressed against the rotating member 61. 96 and 97 are O to prevent water from entering the device from around the cover 93.
It is a ring.

As shown in FIG. 6, a long groove 98 is formed in the ring 95 in an arc shape.
Stopper pin 58a shared as a screw for fixing
Are engaged in the long groove 98. Therefore, the operation knob
The rotation angle of 94 is limited to a range in which the stopper pin 58a can move within the long groove 98. In the long groove 98,
A click spring 99 is provided for stopping the stopper pin 58a in a stable state at both ends of its movement range.

[Advantage of the Invention] According to the bending operation device for an endoscope of the present invention, the maximum angle adjustment mechanism is covered by the cover, and the maximum angle adjustment mechanism is easily adjusted by immersing the cover in the operation unit. The maximum rotation angle of the bending operation knob, that is, the maximum bending angle of the bending portion can be easily adjusted.

Then, at the time of such an adjustment, the cover moves in a direction of immersing in the operation unit, and there is no need to take space for moving the cover to the bending operation knob side, so that the bending operation knob is not separated from the operation unit. In addition, a bending holding mechanism is provided between the maximum angle adjustment mechanism and the bending operation knob, which has an excellent effect that the bending state can be maintained without impairing the operability of the bending operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall front view of an endoscope, FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a maximum angle adjusting mechanism for vertical bending, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a left / right bending maximum angle adjustment mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a left / right bending bending holding mechanism. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... insertion part, 2 ... bending part, 3 ... operation part 4, ... operation wire, 6 ... vertical bending operation knob, 11 ... operation part main body, 13 ... hole, 30 ... vertical bending Maximum angle adjustment mechanism, 41
… Cover, 70 …… A bending holding mechanism for vertical bending.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operation wire is drawn from a bendable bending portion formed at a distal end of an insertion portion to an operation portion connected to a base end of the insertion portion, and a bending operation knob protruding from the operation portion is rotated. In the bending operation device of the endoscope configured to pull the operation wire to bend the bending portion, a maximum angle for adjusting a maximum rotation angle of the bending operation knob is provided in a base of the protruding portion. An adjustment mechanism is provided, and a cover that covers the maximum angle adjustment mechanism in a watertight manner is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from the operation unit, and the cover is immersed in the operation unit so that the maximum angle adjustment mechanism can be adjusted from the outside. And a bending holding mechanism for holding the bending operation knob at an arbitrary rotation position is provided between the maximum angle adjustment mechanism of the projecting portion and the bending operation knob. Bending operation device.