JP2802952B2 - Endoscope endoscope with sheath - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides an insertion section with a sheath that can be replaced after each use to prevent infection from patient to patient using an endoscope as a medium. The present invention relates to a coated endoscope with a sheath.

[Conventional technology]

A sheath used in this type of endoscope with a sheath generally has a configuration in which a transparent distal end cover is connected to a distal end of a tube body, and is detachably covered with an elongated insertion portion of the endoscope (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873). No. 61-179128).

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, simply covering the insertion section of the endoscope with the endoscope sheath may result in a gap between the distal end cover and the distal end surface of the insertion section of the endoscope due to operation during use. There is. In particular, when one end of the treatment instrument insertion channel for inserting forceps or the like is connected to the distal end cover, the treatment instrument insertion channel strongly pushes the distal end cover forward by a bending motion of the insertion portion, and the distal end cover is moved. There may be a large gap between the tip and the distal end surface of the insertion portion.

The observation window and the illumination window of such an endoscope are formed at the distal end of the insertion portion, and both the observation optical path and the illumination optical path pass through the transparent distal end cover. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when there is a gap between the distal end cover 51 of the sheath and the distal end surface 61 of the endoscope insertion portion, the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 62 is applied to the inner surface of the distal end cover 51. Then, the light is reflected to enter the observation window 63, and a strong flare or ghost is generated to make observation impossible.

Therefore, it is advisable to fix the distal end cover to the distal end of the insertion section, but the insertion section of the endoscope must be formed as thin as possible in order to minimize the pain given to the patient. It is almost impossible in terms of space to fix it to the tip of the device with screws. Also, it is too complicated to loosen or tighten the screws for each floor example.

The present invention solves such a problem, and provides a distal end portion of an endoscope with a sheath that can securely lock the distal end cover of the sheath at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope and can be easily removed. The purpose is to:

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the distal end portion of the endoscope with a sheath according to the present invention is covered with the distal end main body of the endoscope provided at the distal end of the elongated insertion portion so as to be insertable into and removable from the insertion portion. A distal end cover provided at the distal end of the sheath and covered with the distal end body so as to be able to be inserted and removed, a space formed between the side surface of the distal end body and the distal end cover, and locked to the distal end body. The end cover is provided on the end cover so as to be elastically deformed inward from the outside toward the space, and is detached from the main body of the end portion.

[Action]

The sheath covering the insertion portion of the endoscope is locked to the distal end body of the endoscope by locking means provided on the distal end cover. By elastically deforming the distal end cover inward from the outside toward the space formed between the side surface of the distal end body and the distal end cover, the distal end cover spreads in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and the locking means is Detach from the tip body.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows the insertion portion 10 of the endoscope and the endoscope sheath 20 which is detachably covered with the insertion portion 10 with the base side omitted.

The insertion section 10 of the endoscope is formed of an elongated flexible tube as a whole. Then, in order to avoid interference with the channel tube 30, a concave groove 11 is formed in a U-shape along the axial direction.
Are formed over the entire length.

The distal end portion of the insertion portion 10 is formed in a curved portion 12 that can be bent by remote control, and a distal end main body 13 containing an observation objective optical system and the like is connected to the distal end thereof. The observation window 14 of the observation objective optical system and the illumination window 15 in which the emission end of the light guide fiber bundle is arranged are both formed on the distal end surface of the distal end body 13. The endoscope according to the present embodiment is of a so-called forward-looking type, and both the observation optical axis and the illumination optical axis coincide with the axial direction of the insertion section 10.

The tip end body 13 is formed in a shape in which a concave groove 11 is formed on the upper surface side of the columnar material, and the bulges on the left and right side surfaces are shaved off by a slope 19 gradually inward toward the lower side. . In the present embodiment, the slopes 19 are formed symmetrically, and are formed so as to cross each other on the side, that is, on the extension line below.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a sheath tube body that is inserted and removed from the distal end side of the insertion portion 10 and is formed of a stretchable material such as silicone rubber into a thin cylindrical shape.
A distal end cover 22 made of a transparent synthetic resin that is detachably covered with the distal end body 13 is connected to the distal end of the tube body 21 in a watertight manner.

1 and 2 show the distal end portion of the embodiment in a state where the sheath 20 is attached to the insertion section 10 of the endoscope.
Reference numerals 16 and 17 denote an objective lens and an image guide fiber bundle incorporated inside the observation window 14 of the distal end body 13.

Since the distal end cover 22 of the sheath 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape, there is a space between the inclined surface 19 of the distal end body and the distal end cover 22.
18 are formed.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a treatment instrument insertion passage 31 that opens on the front of the tip cover 22.
The distal end of the channel tube is fixedly connected to a distal end cover 22, inserted through the entire length inside the tube body 21 of the sheath 20, and formed into a concave groove 11 of the endoscope insertion portion 10.
Is located within.

In the middle position of the tip body 13, almost two slopes 19
Click-locking grooves 42 and 41 are formed at the lower end of the dividing line and at the bottom of the concave groove 11. On the other hand, at the rear end of the tip cover 22, the click claws 4 are aligned with the grooves 41 and 42 described above.
3,44 protrude inward.

The click claws 43 and 44 project at a right angle on the far side (the left side in FIG. 2) and form a smooth slope toward the rear. Therefore, when attaching the sheath 20 to the insertion section 10 of the endoscope, the click claws 43, 4 are pressed by pushing the distal end cover 22 of the sheath 20 so as to cover the outer periphery of the distal end body 13.
After the portion 4 is elastically deformed outward and temporarily spreads, it is locked in the grooves 41 and 42 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
It is locked between the click claws 43, 44 and the grooves 41, 42 in a state where a spring action due to elastic deformation of the tip cover 22 acts.

Then, the insertion section 10 of the endoscope inside the tube body 21 and the distal end cover 22 of the sheath 20 is isolated from the external environment, and the observation window 14 and the illumination window 15 are in close contact with the inner surface of the distal end cover 22. Keep. In this state, click claws 43, 44
Is locked in the grooves 41 and 42, the sheath 20 cannot be removed from the insertion section 10 of the endoscope.

When the endoscopy is completed, as shown in FIG.
The distal end cover 22 is sandwiched between the left and right sides toward the space 18 with a fingertip and elastically deformed vertically.

If the tip cover 22 is elastically deformed vertically, arrows B and C
As shown in (2), each click claw 43, 44 moves in a direction to come out of the grooves 41, 42, and can disengage them.

However, if the elastic member is simply elastically deformed vertically, the distal end cover 22 can be deformed only downward, where deformation is easy, and the engagement between the click claw 43 at the bottom of the concave groove 11 and the groove 41 cannot be completely removed. There is.

However, in the present embodiment, since both left and right surfaces of the distal end portion main body 13 are formed on a slope gradually inward toward the lower side, as shown by the arrow A in FIG.
As a result, a force in the direction B for lifting the front cover 22 acts on the slope 19 in a direction perpendicular to the slope 19.

Therefore, the engagement between the click claw 43 at the bottom of the concave groove 11 and the groove 41 is surely released. Of course, the engagement between the lower click claw 44 and the groove 42, which is easily deformed in the vertical direction, is simultaneously released.

In this way, if the click claws 43, 44 come off the grooves 41, 42 by sandwiching the tip cover 22 from the left and right,
The sheath 20 can be easily replaced by pulling it out of the insertion section 10 of the endoscope.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.For example, the click claw may be provided only at the bottom of the concave groove 11, and the click claw does not necessarily need to be integrally formed with the tip cover 22, but may be provided separately. It may be attached as a part. The tip cover 22 does not need to be entirely transparent, as long as at least the optical path portion is transparent.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the front-end | tip part of the endoscope with a sheath of this invention, the front-end | tip cover of a sheath can be easily and reliably fixed so that it may not slip | deviate with respect to the front-end | tip of the insertion part of an endoscope, Moreover, the front-end | tip is made with a fingertip. This has an excellent effect that the fixing can be released simply by pinching the cover, and the sheath can be easily removed from the insertion portion.

Then, when fixed, the transparent portion of the distal end cover is in close contact with the distal end of the insertion portion, so that even with a sheath for an endoscope with a treatment instrument insertion channel, a good endoscope observation without flare or ghost is performed. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view (I in FIG. 2) of a distal end portion in a state where a sheath of an embodiment of the present invention is assembled to an endoscope insertion portion.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which the sheath of the embodiment has been removed from the distal end portion of the endoscope, and FIG. 4 is a state in which the sheath is removed. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a distal end portion of a conventional endoscope with a sheath. 10 insertion section, 11 groove, 13 tip body, 14
Observation window, 18 ... space, 19 ... slope, 20 ... sheath, 21 ...
... Tube body, 22 ... Tip cover, 41,42 ... Groove, 43,44
…… Click claws.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope main body provided at a distal end of an elongated insertion portion, and a distal end of a sheath which is inserted into and removed from the insertion portion so as to be insertable into and removable from the distal end body. A tip cover to be covered; a space formed between a side surface of the tip body and the tip cover; a tip cover provided on the tip cover so as to be locked to the tip body; A distal end portion of an endoscope with a sheath, characterized in that the distal end portion has a locking means which is detached from the distal end portion main body by being elastically deformed inward from outside toward a space. 2. The distal end cover is formed transparent at least in an optical path portion of the endoscope, and the transparent portion of the distal end cover is formed by locking the locking means to the distal end body. The distal end portion of the endoscope with a sheath according to claim 1, which is in close contact with the distal end surface of the insertion portion. 3. The front end body is formed in such a manner that bulges are cut off on both side surfaces sandwiching the front end body, and the space is formed between the portion and the inner surface of the front end cover. Item 3. An endoscope having a sheathed endoscope according to item 1 or 2. 4. The two spaces are formed on slopes which intersect each other on a lateral extension line, and the locking means is provided on a substantially bisecting line of the two slopes. 3. A distal end portion of the endoscope with a sheath according to 3. 5. A distal end of a channel tube through which treatment tools are inserted is attached to the distal end cover, and a concave groove is formed on an outer surface of the distal end body to avoid interference with the channel tube. An engaging portion for engaging with the locking means is formed at a bottom of the groove;
A distal end portion of the endoscope with a sheath according to 2, 3 or 4.