JP2943562B2 - Endoscope treatment instrument insertion channel connection - 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 used for medical purposes and the like, in which a flexible tube constituting a treatment instrument insertion channel for inserting forceps and other treatment instruments is provided.
The present invention relates to a structure of a treatment tool insertion channel connecting portion of an endoscope for connecting and fixing to a connecting pipe attached to a distal end main body of an insertion portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope is provided with a treatment instrument insertion channel for inserting forceps and other treatment instruments. This treatment instrument insertion channel is a passage for inserting a treatment instrument from a treatment instrument introduction section provided in the main body operation section of the endoscope to a treatment instrument outlet formed in the insertion section main body, and most of the passage is constituted by a flexible tube. The proximal end of the flexible tube is connected to a treatment instrument introduction portion, and the distal end is connected to a connection pipe provided by being inserted into a treatment instrument outlet provided in a distal end body of the insertion portion. Here, since the treatment instrument introduction section is provided in the main body operation section,
There is no particular difficulty in connecting and fixing the flexible tube to the treatment instrument introduction portion. On the other hand, the insertion portion must be as thin as possible because it is inserted into the body cavity. Moreover, the filling rate is extremely high due to various built-in components in the insertion portion. It is very difficult to connect the flexible tube to the connecting pipe and fix it firmly at this point.

For example, in an electronic endoscope, a distal end portion of an insertion portion has a structure shown in FIG. As is clear from this figure, the observation optical system 2 is mounted on the distal end main body 1a of the insertion section 1, and the optical axis of the observation optical system 2 is set to 90 degrees.
° In order to bend, the prism 3 is arranged,
The solid-state imaging device 4 is arranged at the image forming position. The solid-state imaging device 4 is mounted on the circuit board 5, and this portion of the insertion section 1 has the highest filling rate. A treatment instrument outlet 6 is opened in the distal end main body 1a, and a connecting pipe 7 is inserted into the treatment instrument outlet 6, and a flexible tube 8 is connected to the connection pipe 7. The connecting pipe 7 extends to a lower position of the circuit board 5 and is arranged very close to the circuit board 5. It is arranged at a position close to the circuit board 5 and is connected by fitting the flexible tube 8 to the connection pipe 7 at a portion having the highest filling rate. Conventionally, a flexible tube 8 is fitted to the connecting pipe 7 and an adhesive 9 is applied on the outer periphery of the fitted portion so as to be applied to prevent the flexible tube 8 from coming off. doing.

[0004]

When the connecting pipe 7 and the flexible tube 8 are connected and fixed as described above, the airtightness is completely maintained, and even if the bending operation of the angle portion is repeatedly performed. In order to keep the two from separating, the amount of the adhesive 9 must be considerably increased. In particular, when the flexible tube 8 is fitted to the connection pipe 7, the end of the flexible tube 8 is forcibly expanded, so that the end is bulged outward as shown in FIG. And the adhesive 9
Will increase in thickness. However, if the filling amount of the adhesive 9 is increased, it becomes bulky by that amount, and the filling rate increases. As a result, there is a problem that the diameter of the insertion portion cannot be reduced. In addition, various members are connected to the distal end portion main body 1a, and these members may not be able to make the adhesive 9 wrap around the entirety evenly because of the relationship between the members and the position close to the connection pipe 7. . Particularly, as shown in FIG. 5, when the circuit board 5 of the solid-state imaging device 4 is mounted, and the electronic component 10 such as an emitter follower is mounted on the lower surface of the circuit board 5, the adhesive Agent 9
It is extremely difficult to wrap around the entire circumference. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, as a flexible tube 8 ', a net 8b' in which a metal wire is knitted outside the tube body 8a '.
Is used, but if the end of the net 8b 'is in the unraveled state, the amount of adhesive applied to that part also needs to be further increased.
It becomes more and more bulky.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to ensure that the connection between a flexible tube and a connecting pipe is not bulky and that the connection between the flexible tube and the connecting pipe is airtight. The purpose is to enable stable connection and fixation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a flexible tube in which a fixing ring is fitted and provided at a distal end thereof, and the fixing ring is provided with a predetermined length on a connecting pipe side. And an inner peripheral surface of the extending portion,
Between the outer surface of the connecting pipe and the end surface of the flexible tube
It is characterized in that an annular gap is formed, and an adhesive is interposed in the entire annular gap .

[0007]

By arranging the fixing ring so as to bridge between the flexible tube and the connecting pipe, an increase in the outer diameter of the connecting portion can be substantially suppressed to the thickness of the fixing ring. Here, the fixing ring only needs to be such that the adhesive can be sealed at least in the gap between it and the connecting pipe, and since no particular strength is required,
If it is formed to the minimum necessary thickness, the increase in the outer diameter of this portion will be almost negligible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connecting portion between the flexible tube and the connecting pipe from becoming unnecessarily bulky. In addition, since this fixing ring also exerts the function of suppressing the deformation of the end of the flexible tube and the swelling caused by the loosening of the net, the work for connecting and fixing the two and securing the airtightness is extremely easy and reliable. Can be done.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a connection pipe, and 12 is a flexible tube. As is clear from the description of FIG. 5, the connecting pipe 11 is fixed to the distal end body of the insertion portion, and the distal end of the flexible tube 12 is fitted to the connecting pipe 11. A fixing ring 13 is fitted to the distal end portion of the flexible tube 12 so that approximately half projects toward the upper part of the connection pipe 11. Is filled with an adhesive 14.

The connecting portion of the flexible tube 12 constituting the treatment instrument insertion channel to the connecting pipe 11 is constructed as described above. Next, a method of connecting both will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, a fixing ring 13 is fitted to a flexible tube 12, and an adhesive 14 is applied to an outer peripheral surface near an end of the connecting pipe 11. Here, the application of the adhesive 14 to the connecting pipe 11 may be performed in a state where the connecting pipe 11 is separated from the distal end main body, and then may be inserted into the treatment instrument outlet of the distal end main body. However, it can also be performed with the connecting pipe attached to the distal end body. Here, since the adhesive is applied before connecting the flexible tube 12,
Around the connecting pipe 11, at least the soft tube 1
Since there is a gap equal to or more than the thickness of 2, it is not particularly difficult to apply the adhesive uniformly to the entire circumference of the connecting pipe 11. Further, in addition to the outer surface of the connecting pipe 11, the adhesive 14 'may be applied to a portion of the outer surface of the flexible tube 12 where the fixing ring 13 is located. However, the adhesive 14 'on the outer surface of the flexible tube 12 is applied very thinly.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, with the fixing ring 13 positioned at the back of the flexible tube 12,
This flexible tube 12 is fitted to the connection pipe 11,
Push it into place. An adhesive 14 is applied to the outer surface of the connecting pipe 11, and the adhesive 14 is pushed into the flexible tube 12 by pushing the flexible tube 12.
Most are pushed out by the tip surface of. However, since a certain amount remains on the surface of the connecting pipe 11, the flexible tube 12 is directly fixed to the outer surface of the connecting pipe 11 by the action of the remaining adhesive.

In this state, the fixing ring 13 is slid so as to be pushed out of the flexible tube 12. At this time, the fixing ring 13 is displaced while rotating,
The fixing ring 13 is moved from the distal end of the flexible tube 12 to a position where it protrudes approximately half. Here, since the fixing ring 13 is fitted to the flexible tube 12, its protruding portion is located between it and the connecting pipe 11 .
An annular gap reaching the end surface of the flexible tube 12 is formed, and the adhesive 14 on the outer surface of the connection pipe 11 is sealed in the gap. In addition, by displacing the fixing ring 13 while rotating it, the adhesive 14 in a flowing state is drawn around the entire circumference, and the adhesive 14 spreads evenly and uniformly over the entire gap. . As described above, the adhesive is interposed between the flexible tube 12 and the connecting pipe 11, and the adhesive 14 'applied to the outer surface of the flexible tube 12 is also provided between the flexible tube 12 and the fixing ring 13. It will intervene.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a fixing ring 13 is protruded from the flexible tube 12 in advance by a predetermined length. The connection may be made such that the fixing ring 13 is rotated while the relative position with respect to the flexible tube 12 is maintained. By connecting in this manner, the adhesive 1 applied to the outer surface of the connecting pipe 11
4 is pushed out by the end face of the flexible tube 12,
The adhesive is fed into the protruding portion of the fixing ring 13, and is drawn around the entire circumference by the rotation of the fixing ring 13, so that the adhesive does not protrude to the outside.

When the flexible tube 12 is connected to the connecting pipe 11 and the adhesive is cured as described above, the connecting pipe 11, the flexible tube 12 and the fixing ring 13 are fixed very firmly. In addition, the gap between the end surface of the flexible tube 12 and the outer surface of the connecting pipe 11 and the inner surface of the fixing ring 13 is uniformly filled with the adhesive 14 over the entire circumference. The airtightness of the connection portion with the connection pipe 11 becomes extremely good.

The fixing ring 13 is for securing a gap between the fixing ring 13 and the connecting pipe 11 and for sealing the adhesive 14 in the gap, and does not need to have extra strength. Therefore, by providing the necessary minimum thickness to the fixing ring 13, it is possible to minimize the swelling of the connecting portion between the flexible tube 12 and the connecting pipe 11. Moreover, the fixing ring 13 is the same as that shown in FIG.
And the function of preventing the tip of the flexible tube from expanding as shown in FIG. 7 and the function of preventing the net of FIG. 7 from being unraveled. Therefore, in an electronic endoscope, Of the insertion portion, the filling ratio in the portion where the solid-state imaging device is the highest filling portion can be reduced, and the arrangement of each member can be given a margin, and the diameter of the insertion portion can be reduced. It is also possible to plan.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the fixing ring is fitted to the distal end of the flexible tube so as to protrude by a predetermined length toward the connecting pipe to which the flexible tube is fitted. Extend the fixing ring to the connecting pipe side for a predetermined length.
And the inner peripheral surface of the extending portion and the outer surface of the connecting pipe.
And an annular gap between the flexible tube and the end face of the flexible tube.
Since the adhesive is interposed in the whole of the annular gap, the outer diameter of the connecting portion between the flexible tube and the connecting pipe is securely increased without increasing the outer diameter of the connecting portion with the adhesive. Adhesive can be fixed easily and securely, even if there are obstacles around it by rotating it when mounting the fixing ring, and it can be fixed securely. The connection between the flexible ring and the connecting pipe can be wrapped around the entire circumference of the gap between the connecting ring and the connecting pipe, and the effect of significantly improving the workability of the work of connecting between the flexible tube and the connecting pipe can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a connecting portion between a flexible tube and a connecting pipe constituting a treatment instrument insertion channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state before a flexible tube is connected to a connection pipe.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a process of connecting a flexible tube to a connecting pipe.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another example of a process of connecting a flexible tube to a connection pipe.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion provided with a treatment instrument insertion channel according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a connecting portion of a conventional flexible tube to a connecting pipe.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a connecting portion of a flexible tube to a connecting pipe according to another related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Connecting pipe 12 Treatment tool insertion channel 13 Fixing pipe 14 Adhesive

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32 G02B 23/24

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A distal end of a flexible tube constituting a treatment instrument insertion channel is extended into an insertion portion of an endoscope, and is fitted to a connecting pipe attached to a treatment instrument outlet mounted on a distal end body of the insertion portion. A fixing ring is fitted to the distal end of the flexible tube, and the fixing ring is extended toward the connecting pipe by a predetermined length, and the extension is performed. The inner peripheral surface of the existing part and the connecting pipe
Between the outer surface of the flexible tube and the end surface of the flexible tube.
A treatment tool insertion channel connecting portion for an endoscope, wherein a gap is formed and an adhesive is interposed in the entire annular gap .