JP2828296B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a flexible connecting pipe for detachably connecting a signal connector to an external device in order to exchange signals with the external device. The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a plurality of signal lines for transmitting the signal are inserted into the connection pipe by being connected to a distal end of the endoscope.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, the endoscope has a watertight structure so that the entire device can be immersed in water because of the necessity of completely cleaning and disinfecting the endoscope.

However, a signal connector section of a so-called ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic probe for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image is juxtaposed with an insertion section has a large number of tens or hundreds of signal lines for connecting. If the contact pins are provided and this portion is to be made watertight, the signal connector becomes extremely large and the practicality is greatly impaired. In addition, remodeling of the control unit to which the signal connector is connected requires a large cost. Therefore, in an ultrasonic endoscope or the like, only the signal connector portion does not have a watertight structure.

Therefore, when performing cleaning, disinfection, etc., only the signal connector is not immersed in water.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, there must be no hole in any part other than the signal connector so that water can enter inside when immersed in water or inserted into a body cavity. Even if there is a small pinhole, if water enters from there, the optics and electrical system will suffer irreparable damage.

Therefore, inspection of pinholes is generally performed by injecting air into the endoscope from the air inlet to increase the internal pressure, immersing the endoscope in water, Is determined by the presence or absence of the occurrence. If the pressure inside the endoscope is increased, water does not enter the endoscope even if there is a pinhole or the like.

However, as described above, in the case of an ultrasonic endoscope, the signal connector portion is not formed in a watertight manner, and air escapes therefrom, and the internal air pressure cannot be increased. Can not. For this reason, an unexpected water leakage accident may occur, and the expensive device may be seriously damaged.

Therefore, in order to be able to perform a pinhole inspection, for example, an adhesive is filled in a mouth portion of a connection pipe to which the signal connector portion is connected, or the signal connector portion is watertight only when the pinhole is inspected. It is conceivable to cover with a simple case to prevent air from leaking from inside the endoscope to the signal connector section.

However, the former has a drawback in that it cannot be disassembled in the event of a failure or the like and cannot be repaired, and the latter has a drawback such as complicated handling and low practicality.

Such disadvantages are not limited to ultrasonic endoscopes, and endoscopes provided with a large number of contact pins in a connector, such as a so-called electronic endoscope in which a solid-state image sensor is provided in the insertion section to electrically transmit an observation image. Was often seen in

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope which can solve such a conventional drawback, can easily perform a pinhole inspection, and can be easily disassembled.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention includes a signal connector detachably connected to an external device for exchanging signals with the external device. In an endoscope in which a plurality of signal lines transmitting the signals are inserted into the connecting pipe, a tubular body is movably fitted into the connecting pipe, and the fitting portion is not fixed. A sealing means for sealing is provided, and the signal line is inserted into the cylinder and a gap is filled with a sealing material in the cylinder.

[Action]

The space between the connecting pipe and the cylinder is sealed by sealing means, and the gap between the cylinder and the signal line inside the cylinder is sealed with a sealing material. Therefore, even if the signal connector portion is not sealed, the inside and the outside of the endoscope are completely sealed at this portion.

And when pulling out a signal line from a connection pipe, a cylinder and a signal line can be pulled out from a connection pipe together.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

3 and 4 show the distal end body 1 formed at the distal end of the insertion section 20 of the ultrasonic endoscope.

The distal end main body 1 includes an objective section side block 1a incorporating an objective section 2 of an observation optical system for obtaining an optical image of the surface of the subject,
An ultrasonic scanning unit 1b, which is connected to the front side and scans and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image of the subject.

2a is the observation window of the objective part, and 2b shows the observation visual field range. The observation image formed by the objective lens (not shown) is transmitted by the image guide fiber bundle. Instead, a solid-state imaging device that electrically transmits the image may be used.

In the objective side block 1a, a treatment tool protrusion 3b of a treatment tool insertion hole 3 for inserting a treatment tool or the like is formed.
As shown in FIG. 3, the treatment tool 14 can be projected into the observation visual field range 2b. The treatment tool insertion hole 3 is also used as a suction hole for sucking and discharging dirty liquid and the like.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an illumination window provided to face the light emission end of the light guide fiber bundle, and the observation light range 2b is illuminated by illumination light emitted from the illumination window. Reference numerals 5 and 6 are an air supply nozzle and a water supply nozzle for ejecting air and water to the surface of the observation window 2a.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a water supply port for sending out degassed water for inflating the balloon 8 into the balloon 8 when the balloon 8 is attached to the distal end main body 1. A drain port for discharging steam is formed. Reference numeral 9 denotes a balloon 8 in a recess formed in the distal end body 1.
This is a ring for fixing the end of.

The ultrasonic scanning unit 1b is provided with a so-called convex type ultrasonic transmission / reception device (hereinafter referred to as “ultrasonic probe”) 11 formed in a convex shape. Ultrasonic probe
The top portion 11 travels a distance of m from the tip body 1 and is within the observation field of view 2a of the objective portion 2.

The ultrasonic probe 11 is formed so as to scan the side of the distal end body 1 in a fan shape A in a plane including the central axis of the distal end body 1 as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, an electronic scanning type ultrasonic probe is used as the ultrasonic probe 11, but a system that mechanically performs scanning may be used.

The object side block 1a of the distal end body 1 and the ultrasonic scanning section 1b are fitted and connected, and the fitting section has an O for sealing.
A ring 12 is attached to maintain the watertightness of the distal end body 1.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a fixing screw for fixing the objective-side block 1a and the ultrasonic scanning unit 1b. When the fixing screw is tightened, the objective-side block 1a and the ultrasonic scanning unit 1b are fixed. Fifteen
Is a signal line path of the ultrasonic probe 11.

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the ultrasonic endoscope, in which a distal end body 1 is provided at the distal end of a flexible insertion portion 20 that is inserted into a body cavity of a patient. In addition, a bending portion 21 that is bendable by remote control is formed on the distal end side of the insertion portion 20.

An operation section 30 is connected to a proximal end side of the insertion section 20.
The operation section 30 includes a bending operation knob 31 for remotely controlling the bending amount of the bending section 21, an insertion port 3a for inserting the treatment instrument 14 into the forceps channel 3e, air and air from the air supply nozzle 5 and the water supply nozzle 6. Air supply / water supply switch 2 that performs operation to blow water
2, a suction switch 33 for performing a suction operation via the forceps channel 3 and the like are provided.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a water inlet for sending deaerated water into the balloon 8 when the balloon 8 is attached to the distal end body 1. 35 is
This is a suction line switching lever for switching the suction line between the forceps channel 3 and the drainage line (not shown) from the balloon 8.

An eyepiece 40 having a built-in eyepiece is protruded from the operation unit 30, and the base end side of the image guide fiber bundle is disposed at the observation position. Therefore, the objective unit 2
The optical image formed on the surface of the subject can be observed through the eyepiece 40.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a light guide connector for connecting the incident end of the illumination light guide fiber bundle to the light source device, 51 denotes an air / water supply socket, 53 denotes a suction nipple, and 54 denotes a functional ground terminal. Reference numeral 52 denotes a vent that can arbitrarily open and close the inside and the outside of the endoscope, and is opened when performing ethylene oxide gas disinfection or the like.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a signal connector which is detachably connected to an ultrasonic signal controller (not shown).
It is connected to the tip of a flexible connecting pipe 70 attached to 30. 61 has a large number (for example, 10
0-150 contact pins.

The same number of signal lines as the number of contact pins 61 are inserted through the connecting pipe 70, and connect the ultrasonic probe 11 and the contact pins 61. Therefore, a signal for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image is transmitted by a signal line and exchanged with a signal controller through the contact pin 61. 71 is the connecting pipe 70
Is a rubber buckle to prevent the vicinity of the tip from being sharply bent and damaged.

FIG. 1 shows a connecting portion between the signal connector 60 and the connecting pipe 70. 71 is the above-mentioned break prevention. 72 is a signal line.

The connecting pipe 70 is a mesh pipe 74 made of a thin metal wire outside the spiral pipe 73.
And a flexible tube 75 is coated on the outside thereof, and a base 76 is fixed to a tip of the tube.
The base 76 is a metal ring integrally formed with the buckling stopper 71.
It is fixed to 77 by a screw 69, and a buckle 71 is fitted and fixed to the housing of the signal connector 60.

A cylindrical body 80 is loosely fitted inside the base 76 so as to be movable in the tube axis direction, and an O-ring 79 is mounted in a groove 78 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base 76. I have. Therefore, the cylinder 80 can move freely in the tube axis direction, but the bend between the base 76 and the cylinder 80 is sealed by the O-ring 79. However, by selecting the length of the screw 69, it is also possible to press and fix it with the cylindrical body 80 screw 69.

The signal lines 72 are all inserted into the cylindrical body 80, and are drawn into the signal connector 60 from inside the connection pipe 70. The gap between the signal line 72 in the cylindrical body 80 and the signal line 72 is filled with an adhesive 85 having good watertightness and airtightness. Therefore,
The signal line 72 is fixed to and integrally formed with the cylinder 80.
The gap between 80 and the signal line 72 is completely sealed.

In the ultrasonic endoscope of this embodiment, all parts other than the signal connector 60 have a watertight structure, and the connecting tube 70 is sealed at the distal end portion as described above.

Therefore, the pinhole inspection can be surely performed by immersing the portion other than the signal connector 60 in water and sending air from the ventilation port 52 into the endoscope using, for example, a rubber ball. That is, even if the signal connector 60 is not sealed, the space between the connecting pipe 70 and the signal connector 60 is completely sealed, so that if air is sent into the endoscope, the air pressure in the endoscope rises. I do. Therefore, if there is a pinhole or the like on the outer wall of the endoscope, the air bubbles coming out of the pinhole can be easily visually recognized, and at that time, water does not enter the endoscope.

Also, when it becomes necessary to disconnect the signal line 72 from the inside of the connecting pipe 70 in order to disassemble the endoscope, the cylindrical body 80 and the signal line 72 can be freely removed from the connecting pipe 70 together. Repairs and the like can be easily performed.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an O-ring 91 is provided on the cylinder 90 side, and the tip of the screw 69 is inserted into a groove 93 formed on the outer surface of the cylinder 90. It is what was constituted.

With this configuration, the cylindrical body 90 can move in the axial direction only in a range where the screw 69 hits both ends of the groove 93. At the time of disassembly, if the screw 69 is loosened, the cylindrical body 90 can be moved together with the signal line 72. The body 90 can be pulled out.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and instead of the O-rings 79 and 91, any sealing means that does not fix the gap between the base 76 and the cylindrical bodies 80 and 90 may be used. Further, instead of the adhesive 85, a sealing material having low adhesiveness may be used.

Further, the cylindrical bodies 80 and 90 are not limited to the distal end of the connecting pipe, and may be provided at the base end of the connecting pipe 70, or may be provided at an intermediate portion of the connecting pipe 70 if possible.

The present invention is not limited to an ultrasonic endoscope, but can be applied to an endoscope having a connector provided with a large number of contact pins, such as a so-called electronic endoscope.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the endoscope of this invention, even if a signal connector is not sealed, a pinhole inspection can be performed reliably by sealing between a connection pipe and a signal connector using a cylinder. Therefore, accidents such as accidental water leakage can be prevented beforehand, and the signal line can be freely pulled out of the connecting pipe together with the cylinder, so that disassembly and repair can be easily performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a connecting portion between a signal connector portion and a connecting pipe of an embodiment, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of an ultrasonic endoscope of the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the distal end of the insertion portion of the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connection portion between the signal connector and the connection pipe of the second embodiment. 60 ... signal connector, 61 ... contact pin, 70 ... connecting pipe,
72 ... signal line, 79 ... O-ring, 80 ... cylinder, 85 ... adhesive, 90 ... cylinder, 91 ... O-ring.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A signal connector detachably connected to an external device is connected to a distal end of a flexible connecting pipe to transmit and receive a signal to and from the external device. In the endoscope having the signal line inserted through the connecting pipe, a sealing means for movably fitting the cylindrical body into the connecting pipe and sealing the fitting portion so as not to be fixed is provided, and the signal line is provided. Characterized in that the endoscope is inserted into the cylindrical body and a gap is filled in the cylindrical body with a sealing material.