JP3014017B2 - Endoscope fluid supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid supply device for an endoscope for supplying a cleaning fluid to an observation window provided at a distal end of an insertion portion of the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An observation window for observing the inside of a body cavity or the like is provided in a distal end main body in an insertion portion of an endoscope. However, since this observation window may be contaminated by body fluid or the like, Means are provided for cleaning the viewing window. This washing means is constituted by providing a fluid passage for flowing washing water and pressurized air in the insertion portion, and connecting a nozzle to the fluid passage, so that the nozzle protrudes from the distal end body and is bent from the middle. With the spout facing the observation window. With this configuration, when the observation window is contaminated, cleaning water is first supplied to the fluid passage, and the cleaning water is jetted from the nozzle toward the observation window to wash away dirt and then pressurized air. Is supplied from a nozzle to remove the remaining washing water adhering to the observation window so as to blow it off.

Here, since the nozzle is always open,
Nozzles and fluid passages will be contaminated by body fluids and the like. In addition, the nozzle becomes a projection protruding from the distal end surface of the distal end main body, and such a projection is not preferable in terms of the operation of inserting the insertion portion into the body cavity or the like, and increases the pain of the patient. And so on. Furthermore, in order to prevent the nozzle from entering the observation field of view, this nozzle must be provided at a position somewhat away from the observation window, and the supply pressure of the fluid to the observation window decreases. Become. However, if you make the nozzle smaller,
Although the observation field of view can be ensured, there is a problem in that reducing the size of the nozzle reduces the flow rate of the fluid.

In view of the above, a lid is mounted at the end of a fluid passage for air supply and water supply so as to be rotatable about a side far from the observation window, and is provided so as to be opened and closed by the pressure in the fluid passage. also, for example, it is known in JP Rights 5-38323. According to this known fluid supply means, when cleaning water and pressurized air are supplied into the fluid passage, the lid is opened by the pressure and spouts toward the observation window to clean the observation window. When the supply of the washing water and the pressurized air to the fluid passage is shut off, the lid is closed, the fluid passage is sealed, and the dirt such as body fluids is protected from entering.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, the fluid which goes straight from the fluid passage is turned on the inner surface of the lid and supplied to the observation window. In this state, the fluid is inclined with respect to the fluid passage, and the fluid is repelled by the inclined lid. Thus, the fluid cannot always be supplied to the observation window efficiently. . In particular, when supplying pressurized air to remove water droplets adhered to the observation window after washing water is supplied to wash away dirt attached to the observation window, the pressurized air is applied to the inner surface of the lid. In many cases, the water flows out along the observation window and hardly contacts the observation window. In addition, the opening degree of the lid depends on the pressure of the fluid supplied to the fluid passage, and the higher the pressure, the more the lid is opened, and the more it does not contact the observation window.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and opens only when washing water or pressurized air is supplied to the fluid passage, and furthermore, when the washing water or pressurized air is supplied, the observation window is opened. An object of the present invention is to improve the washing efficiency of the observation window by reliably and efficiently bringing a fluid into contact with the observation window.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is to supply a cleaning fluid to an observation window provided in a main body of a distal end portion of an insertion portion into a body cavity or the like. A mounting portion is formed by enlarging the distal end opening of the fluid passage formed in the insertion portion, a support shaft is provided in the mount portion, and an observation window is provided on the support shaft according to the pressure in the fluid passage. A flow opening / closing member that can be opened and closed on the side facing the opening is rotatably connected, and an opening regulating portion having a step is provided in the mount portion to regulate the maximum opening of the flow passage opening / closing member. The inner surface of the path opening / closing member is a straightening surface, and the straightening surface moves straight from the fluid passage when the flow passage opening / closing member is regulated by the opening degree regulating portion to the maximum opening state.
To the fluid flow path is diverted, in a direction to guide to eject at a predetermined incidence angle toward the observation window
It is characterized in that it is configured to have a curved concave curved shape.

[0008]

When no cleaning fluid is supplied into the fluid passage,
The fluid passage is closed by the passage opening / closing member. Therefore, there is no possibility that the inside of the fluid passage is contaminated by dirt or the like in the body cavity, and the fluid passage is always kept in a clean state. And
When the cleaning water is pressure-fed into the fluid passage, the pressure of the cleaning water opens the channel opening / closing member, and the cleaning water is supplied toward the observation window. Here, when the cleaning water reaches a predetermined pressure, the flow path opening / closing member comes into contact with the opening degree regulating portion to reach a maximum opening state. The angle is maintained. When the channel opening / closing member reaches the maximum opening state, the washing water flows along the straightening surface, and the washing water is reliably supplied to the observation window to wash away dirt such as body fluids attached to the observation window. Can be.

After the cleaning water is supplied, pressurized air is supplied to the fluid passage in order to remove water droplets adhering to the surface of the observation window. It is in the maximum opening degree state in contact with the degree regulating section. This pressurized air is guided by the curved rectifying surface and is regulated.
After the direction is changed in the flowing state, the water droplets are sprayed on the observation window at a predetermined incident angle, so that water droplets on the observation window can be removed very smoothly and reliably.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of an endoscope. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body operation unit, 2 denotes an insertion unit for inserting into a body cavity or the like, and the insertion unit 2 includes a main body operation unit 1 as is well known.
Most of the part from the side connected to is a flexible part 2a,
An angle portion 2b is connected to the flexible portion 2a, and a tip of the angle portion 2b is a tip body 2c. An illumination window 10 and an observation window 11 are provided on the distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 2c, and a treatment instrument outlet 12 for inserting a treatment instrument such as forceps is formed.

Inside the body cavity or the like, the observation field through the observation window 11 is always improved, and a cleaning means is provided for removing contaminants and the like from the observation window 11 when they adhere. The cleaning of the observation window 11 is performed by supplying cleaning water and pressurized air. For this purpose, a fluid supply control button 13 is provided on the main body operation unit 1,
By operating the fluid supply control button 13,
Cleaning water or pressurized air can be selectively supplied to the observation window 11.

A mechanism for supplying a fluid composed of cleaning water and pressurized air toward the observation window 11 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the distal end portion of the distal end portion main body 2c. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11a denotes an objective lens mounted on the observation window 11, and the surface of the objective lens 11a is located on the distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 2c. It is exposed. The incident end face of the image guide 14 (in the case of an electronic endoscope, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD) faces the image forming position of the objective lens 11a. A fluid passage 20 is formed in the distal end portion main body 2 c in parallel with the image guide 14. The fluid passage 20 is provided at a position close to the observation window 11, and is supplied with cleaning water or pressurized air by operating the fluid supply control button 13 of the main body operation unit 1. . The hole diameter of the fluid passage 20 is equal to the tip main body 2c.
20 has a flow path opening / closing member 21 having a nozzle function that can be opened / closed, with a portion in the vicinity of the front end portion of which is enlarged in diameter.
a.

The flow path opening / closing member 21 has a nozzle forming body 22. The nozzle forming body 22 is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 23 mounted on the mount portion 20a on a side far from the observation window 11. The nozzle forming body 22 is normally kept closed by the return spring 24 in a state where the fluid passage 20 is closed. When the washing water or the pressurized air is supplied into the fluid passage 20, the nozzle forming body 22 is opened by the pressure and the fluid is opened. Passage 20
The fluid supplied inside can be ejected. Here, when neither the washing water nor the pressurized air is supplied, the fluid passage 20 is at the atmospheric pressure, and since the pressure in the body cavity is higher than the atmospheric pressure, the return spring 24 closes the nozzle forming body 22. To prevent the fluid from being unintentionally opened when no fluid is supplied, and its spring force is rather weak. When the nozzle forming body 22 is in the closed state, the outer surface thereof is almost completely accommodated in the mounting portion 20a. On the other hand, when a pressure is generated in the fluid passage 20 and the nozzle formation body 22 is opened, a step portion is formed in the mount portion 20a in order to regulate the nozzle formation body 22 from opening to a certain extent. Is provided.

When pressure is generated in the fluid passage 20, the nozzle forming body 22 of the flow passage opening / closing member 21 is opened. In the maximum opening state, as shown in FIG. The inner surface of the nozzle forming body 22 is a rectifying surface 22a in order to make the fluid contact at an angle of. The straightening surface 22a has a curved shape, and in the maximum opening state, the fluid that travels straight from the fluid passage 20 is the straightening surface 2a.
The direction of the flow path changes along the line 2a, and the observation window 11 extends from the free end side edge portion of the rectifying surface 22a.
Is ejected at a predetermined angle θ with respect to.

This embodiment is configured as described above. The insertion section 2 is inserted into a body cavity or the like, and the interior of the body cavity is illuminated with illumination light emitted from the illumination window 10. By observing the image in the body cavity obtained from the observation window 11 and, if necessary, extracting forceps and other treatment tools from the treatment tool outlet 12, it is possible to perform cell extraction, treatment of an affected part, and the like.

If the observation window 11 is contaminated with a body fluid or the like, it must be cleaned. The cleaning of the observation window 11 is performed by operating the fluid supply control button 13 provided in the main body operation unit 1. As the operation, first, dirt adhering to the observation window 11 is washed away with washing water, and then water droplets of the washing water adhering to the observation window 11 are removed by blowing off the compressed air.

First, the user operates the fluid supply control button 13 to supply the washing water to the fluid passage 20 at a predetermined pressure. Due to this pressure, the nozzle forming body 22 of the flow path opening / closing member 21
Is opened against the return spring 24, and the washing water is jetted. When the nozzle forming body 22 reaches the maximum opening state shown in FIG. 3 in which the nozzle forming body 22 comes into contact with the opening regulating section 25, the nozzle forming body 22 stops at that position. Here, the inner surface of the nozzle forming body 22 is a rectifying surface 22a, and the cleaning water is guided by the rectifying surface 22a and is surely directed to the observation window 11,
Dirt adhering to the observation window 11 can be efficiently washed away.

When the dirt is washed out of the observation window 11, the fluid supply control button 13 is used to switch from a water supply state to an air supply state, and supply pressurized air into the fluid passage 20.
Also at this time, the nozzle forming body 22 is opened to the maximum opening state and flows along the straightening surface 22a on the inner surface of the nozzle forming body 22. Here, since the rectifying surface 22a has an angle θ with respect to the observation window 11, the angle of incidence θ
Is appropriately set, the pressurized air is supplied to the observation window 11.
The surface of the observation window 11 can be removed very efficiently by flowing in close contact with the surface of the observation window 11 so as to shave the surface, so that a so-called air knife effect is exhibited.

When the cleaning of the observation window 11 is completed, the fluid passage 20 is brought into the atmospheric pressure state. Therefore, the nozzle forming body 22 is closed by the action of the return spring 24, and the fluid passage 20 is closed.
And the communication with the body cavity is interrupted. Therefore, the fluid passage 20
The inside of the device is not polluted by body contaminants, and can be kept clean at all times. Further, the nozzle forming body 22
In the closed state, it is located inside the mount portion 20a and is held in a non-projecting state from the distal end main body 2c of the insertion portion 2, so that the flow rate of the fluid supplied from the fluid passage 20 through the flow passage opening / closing member 21 Nozzle forming body 2
2 and the like do not obstruct the observation field of view of the observation window 11, and a wide observation field can be secured.
The absence of the protrusion from c is convenient for performing the insertion operation, for example, the insertion operation into the body cavity or the like can be performed smoothly, and the pain on the patient can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, a so-called direct-view type endoscope in which an observation window is provided at the distal end surface of the insertion portion is used. can do.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a flow passage opening / closing member is attached to the front end opening of a fluid passage formed in an insertion portion and the pressure is generated in the flow passage opening / closing member. In this maximum opening state, the direction of the flow path of the fluid from the fluid passage is changed, and the opening is regulated at a predetermined incident angle toward the observation window. Since the curved flow straightening surface is formed on the inner surface of the flow passage opening / closing member, the fluid passage is always closed by the flow passage opening / closing member, and it is ensured that dirt enters the fluid passage and is contaminated. When cleaning water or pressurized air is supplied to the inside, the pressure opens the flow path opening / closing member, and the cleaning water or pressurized air flows along the curved surface forming the rectifying surface toward the observation window. At a predetermined angle of incidence Efficiently and stably jetting, each operation of washing waste and removing washing water from the observation window can be performed quickly, extremely smoothly and reliably, especially when supplying pressurized air as a fluid. the, Ri Na as the water drops adhering to the observation window can be removed by the air knife effect, further flow path opening and closing member distal end opening portion of the fluid passageway
The mount is formed by expanding the diameter of the
Provide a support shaft at the point of contact and attach it to this support shaft
When the fluid is not ejected toward the observation window,
The flow path opening / closing member is stored in the mount, so
It does not hinder the observation field of view .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing an operation state of a flow path opening / closing member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 Insertion part 2c Tip main body 11 Observation window 20 Fluid passage 20 Mounting part 21 Flow path opening / closing member 22 Nozzle forming body 22a Rectifying surface 23 Support shaft 24 Return spring 25 Opening regulating member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for supplying a cleaning fluid to an observation window provided in a body of a distal end portion of an insertion portion into a body cavity or the like, wherein a diameter of a distal end opening of a fluid passage formed in the insertion portion is increased. The mounting portion is formed by this, a support shaft is provided on the mount portion, and a flow path opening / closing member that can open and close the side facing the observation window according to the pressure in the fluid passage is rotatably connected to the support shaft. In addition, in order to regulate the maximum opening degree of the flow path opening / closing member, the mount section is provided with an opening degree restriction part formed of a step, and further, an inner surface of the flow path opening / closing member is formed as a rectifying surface. When the flow path opening / closing member is regulated by the opening degree regulating section and reaches the maximum opening state, the flow path of the fluid that goes straight from the fluid passage changes direction , and a predetermined incidence toward the observation window is performed. Guide to spout at an angle
A fluid supply device for an endoscope, wherein the fluid supply device has a concave curved shape curved in a direction .