JP3253414B2 - Endoscopy equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an industrial / medical endoscope inspection apparatus that guides an endoscope to a target observation site with a guide tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope has been widely used in which an endoscope is inserted into a slender insertion portion to observe a test site and perform various treatments.

[0003] Generally, in an endoscope in which the insertion section is formed softly, a bending section is provided in the insertion section, and a pulling member such as a bending wire inserted into the bending section is operated by a bending operation section so that the bending section has a desired angle. This allows the observation optical system disposed at the distal end of the insertion section to be directed toward a target direction for observation, and facilitates insertion into a test site.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-500620 discloses that when inspecting a cannula type combustion tube of a jet engine, an endoscope is provided with a flexible tube and a guide tube having a bending function provided with a bending portion (hereinafter referred to as a guide tube). To the target observation site, and project the insertion section of the endoscope from the distal end opening of the guide tube, and move the protruding endoscope forward and backward with respect to the guide tube to reduce the amount of protrusion. An endoscopy device adapted for inspection is shown.

[0005] The endoscope inspection apparatus uses an endoscope and a guide tube in combination, and has a bending portion which is bendable at the distal end side of an insertion portion of the endoscope. A bending portion is also provided on the distal end side. And each bending part was controlled by the bending operation part mutually independent.

[0006]

However, the operation of operating the endoscope and the guide tube by independently operating the bending operation section and making the endoscope reach the target site for observation is very troublesome. It was work.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an endoscope inspection apparatus capable of easily performing a bending operation of a bending portion of an endoscope and a bending operation of a bending mechanism of a guide tube. It is an object.

[0008]

An endoscope inspection apparatus according to the present invention is a combination of an endoscope having a bendable bending portion and a guide tube having a bending function for guiding the endoscope to a target portion. An endoscope inspection apparatus to be used, comprising: a bending operation section that performs a bending operation of a bending section of the endoscope and a bending section of a guide tube with a bending function; and bending the endoscope by using the bending operation section. And a selecting means for selecting either one of the guide tube bending portion with the bending function.

[0009]

With this configuration, either the bending portion of the endoscope or the bending portion of the guide tube with a bending function is selected, and the bending operation is performed by the bending operation portion.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope inspection apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an endoscope operation unit. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration inside the guide tube operation unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope inspection apparatus 1 includes an endoscope 2 for observing a test site and a guide tube 4 for inserting the endoscope 2 through the test site. A speculum is to be performed.

The guide tube 4 has a distal end portion 41 having an opening at a distal end surface, a bendable portion 42, a flexible portion 43 made of a flexible tube, and a proximal portion of the flexible portion 43. It comprises a guide tube operation unit 45 and the like.

The endoscope 3 includes a distal end portion 21, a bendable bending portion 22, a flexible tube portion 23, and an endoscope operation portion 24 disposed near the flexible tube portion 23. It is composed of

The endoscope operating section 24 disposed on the endoscope 2 has a vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as UD) and a horizontal direction of the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 and the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2. (Hereinafter referred to as RL) a bending operation unit 27 having a UD angle knob 25 and an RL angle knob 26 for performing bending control to the endoscope 2 or the guide tube 4. A bending control changeover switch (hereinafter, referred to as a changeover switch) 28, which is a selection means capable of selectively switching to either one of them, is provided.

A cable 46 for transmitting a control signal for controlling the bending operation of the bending section 42 of the guide tube 4 extends from the guide tube operation section 45 to the endoscope operation section 24, and is provided after the guide tube operation section 45. The end portion is provided with an endoscope insertion opening 47 through which the distal end portion 21, the bending portion 22, and the flexible tube portion 23 of the endoscope 2 are inserted into the guide tube 4.

The distal end portion 21 of the endoscope 2 and the curved portion 2
The amount of protrusion of the guide tube 4 from the distal end portion 41, such as the rigid slide pipe 4, which is provided to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction with respect to the guide tube operation portion 45 of the guide tube 4
8 can be adjusted by moving it forward and backward.

Further, the magic arm 11 fixed to the connecting portion 101 provided between the guide tube operating portion 45 and the endoscope insertion opening 47 and the magic arm attaching portion 113 is provided.
2, the guide tube 4 and the endoscope 2 are held stationary.

The magic arm 112 is connected to the connecting portion 10.
A first arm 107 connected by a mount 102 supporting the bottom of the first unit, a mount screw 103 for fixing the connection part 101 to the mount 102, a first joint 104, a second joint 105, and a third joint 106 which can be freely bent; A second arm 108, a first hook 109 and a second hook B110 for holding the magic arm mounting portion 113,
The first hook 109 and the second hook 110 are configured with a tightening screw 111 for generating a clamping force. still,
Reference numeral 29 denotes an eyepiece for observing the test portion, and reference numeral 30 denotes a brake switch group described later.

Here, referring to FIG.
Will be described. As shown in FIG.
A gear 31 is provided at the tip of the rotation shaft 26a of the RL angle knob 26 that forms the bending operation section 27 disposed in the gear 4. Then, the clutch A33 for controlling connection between the rotation shaft 26a of the RL angle knob 26 and the hollow rotation shaft 26b of the RL pulley 32 is connected to the RL angle knob 26.
And a brake B34 for controlling the rotation of the RL pulley 32 is provided adjacent to the RL pulley 32.

The rotation shaft 26 of the RL angle knob 26
A gear 36 is provided so as to mesh with the gear 31 provided at a. An encoder A36a for measuring the number of rotations of the gear 36 is provided on the rotating shaft of the gear 36, and the output from the encoder A36a is measured by a counter A36b via a signal line to control the bending operation of the guide tube 4. It is output to the control circuit 52.

The brake B34 has a switch 30a.
RL angle wire 35a is wound around the RL pulley 32. The RL angle wire 35a is connected so that a bending piece (not shown) provided in the endoscope bending portion 22 bends in the left-right direction through the inside of the endoscope insertion portion.

On the other hand, like the RL angle knob 26, the UD angle knob 25 of the bending operation section 27 provided on the endoscope operation section 24 has a gear on the hollow rotary shaft 25a of the UD angle knob 25. 37 are provided. A clutch B39 for controlling connection between the rotation shaft 25a of the UD angle knob 25 and the hollow rotation shaft 25b of the UD pulley 38 is provided on the rotation shaft 25a of the UD angle knob 25, and controls the rotation of the UD pulley 38. Brake C4
0 is provided adjacent to the UD pulley 38.

The rotation shaft 25 of the UD angle knob 25
The gear 51 is installed so as to mesh with the gear 37 provided at the position a. An encoder A51a for measuring the number of revolutions of the gear 51 is provided on the rotating shaft of the gear 51, and the output from the encoder A51a is measured by a counter A51b via a signal line to control the bending operation of the guide tube 4. It is output to the control circuit 52.

The brake C40 has a switch 30b.
The UD pulley 38 is wound with a UD angle wire 35b. The UD angle wire 35b is connected so that a bending piece (not shown) provided in the endoscope bending section 22 may bend vertically by passing through the inside of the endoscope insertion section.

Further, an output signal from the control circuit 52 is connected to a guide tube operating section 45 via a signal line passing through a cable 46. Also,
A signal line from the changeover switch 28 is connected to the clutch A33 and the clutch B39.

The control circuit 36 may be provided inside the guide tube operating section shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, guide tube operating section 45
Will be described. As shown in the figure, a control circuit 5 provided in the endoscope operation section 24 is provided in the guide tube operation section 45.
A motor A53 and a motor B54 that are driven by signals from the second and third motors are provided.

The rotating shaft of the motor A53 has a clutch C
55 through the guide tube RL angle wire 56a
Shaft RL of the guide tube RL pulley 57
a is connected. A brake A58 for controlling the rotation of the guide tube RL pulley 57 is provided adjacent to the guide tube RL pulley 57.

The brake A58 is provided with the endoscope operation section 24.
Are connected via a cable 46 to a signal line extending from the switch 30c provided in the switch.

The guide tube RL angle wire 56a is connected to the guide tube insertion portion so as to bend the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 in the left-right direction.

Similarly, the rotation shaft of the motor B54 is connected via a clutch D59 to the rotation shaft 60a of a guide tube UD pulley 60 around which a guide tube UD angle wire 56b is wound. A brake D61 that controls the rotation of the guide tube UD pulley 60 is provided adjacent to the guide tube UD pulley 60.

The brake D58 includes an endoscope operation unit 24
Are connected via a cable 46 to a signal line extending from a switch 30d provided in the switch.

The guide tube UD angle wire 56b is connected to the guide tube insertion portion so as to bend the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 in the vertical direction.

On the other hand, a part of a signal line extending from a switch 28 provided in the endoscope operation section 24 is connected to a clutch C55 and a clutch D59 via a cable 46.

The switch 28 is operated, for example, once to disconnect the clutch A33 and the clutch B39 of the endoscope operation section 24 and to connect the clutch C55 and the clutch D59 of the guide tube operation section 45. Has become. By operating the switch 28 again, the clutch A33 and the clutch B39 of the endoscope operation section are connected, while the clutch C55 and the clutch D59 of the guide tube operation section 45 are disconnected.

The operation of the endoscope inspection apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. When bending the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 and the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2 of the endoscope inspection apparatus 1, the switch 28 provided on the endoscope operation portion 24 is
For example, when operated once, the clutch B39 is disengaged, so that the rotation shaft 25a of the UD knob 25 and the rotation shaft 25b of the UD pulley 38 are separated, so that the brake C40 is operated by operating the switch 30b. By controlling the rotation of the UD pulley 38, the vertical bending of the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2 is selectively set to a free state or an engaged state.

At the same time, by connecting the clutch D59, the rotating shaft of the motor B54 and the rotating shaft 60a of the guide tube UD pulley 60 are connected.

Similarly, the clutch A33 causes the RL
The rotary shaft 26a of the knob 26 and the rotary shaft 26 of the RL pulley 32
When the switch b is disconnected, the brake B34 is operated by operating the switch 30a, and the rotation of the RL pulley 32 is controlled to selectively free the bending of the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2 in the left-right direction, or Is in the engaged state.

At the same time, by connecting the clutch C55, the rotating shaft of the motor A53 and the rotating shaft 57a of the guide tube RL pulley 57 are connected.

In this state, for example, when the UD knob 25 is operated, the gear 51 meshing with the gear 37 rotates, and the rotation of the gear 51 is read by the encoder B51a, and the rotation number is output to the control circuit 52 via the counter B51b. I do. The control circuit 52 receiving the signal of the encoder B51a
A signal for driving the motor B54 provided in the guide tube operation unit 45 is output to the motor B54. When the motor B54 is driven, the guide tube UD
The pulley 60 is driven to pull the guide tube UD angle wire 56b to bend the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 in the vertical direction by a predetermined amount so as to correspond to the rotation speed and angle of the UD knob 25.

At this time, when the RL knob 26 is operated, the gear 36 meshing with the gear 31 is rotated, and the rotation of the gear 36 is read by the encoder A 36a, and the pulse generated by the rotation is transmitted to the control circuit 52 via the counter A 36b. The signal is output to the control circuit 52 via the counter A46. The control circuit 52 that has received the signal of the encoder A36a operates the motor A5 provided in the guide tube operation section 45.
3 is output to the motor A53. When the motor A53 is driven, the guide tube RL pulley 57 is driven to pull the guide tube RL angle wire 56a, and the curved portion 42 of the guide tube 4 is adjusted to correspond to the rotation speed and the angle of the RL knob 26.
Is curved in the left-right direction by a predetermined amount.

By operating the switch 28 once more, for example, the rotating shaft 25a of the UD knob 25 and the rotating shaft 25b of the UD pulley 38, which have been disconnected by the clutch B34, are connected, while the clutch D5
9, the rotation shaft of the motor B54 and the rotation shaft 60a of the guide tube UD pulley 60 are disconnected from each other, and the brake D61 is operated by operating the switch 30c. By controlling, the vertical bending of the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 is selectively set to a free state or an engaged state.

At the same time, the rotating shaft 26a of the RL knob 26 and the rotating shaft 26b of the RL pulley 32 are connected by the clutch A33, while the rotating shaft of the motor A53 and the guide tube RL pulley 5 connected by the clutch C55.
7, the rotation of the guide tube RL pulley 57 is controlled by selectively operating the brake A58 by operating the switch 30d to selectively turn the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 in the left-right direction. To the free state or the engaged state.

When the UD knob 25 is operated in this state, UD
The pulley 38 is driven to pull the UD angle wire 35b to bend the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2 in the vertical direction by a predetermined amount.

When the RL knob 26 is operated at this time, the RL pulley 32 is driven to pull the RL angle wire 35a, thereby bending the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2 in the left-right direction by a predetermined amount.

As described above, the bending operation section for performing the bending operation of the bending section of the guide tube and the bending section of the endoscope is provided in the endoscope operation section of the endoscope, and the bending operation by the bending operation section is performed internally. Since the changeover switch for selecting either the endoscope or the guide tube is provided, the bending operation of the bending section and the guide tube can be selectively performed by one bending operation section, which is troublesome. And workability is improved. The bending operation section may be provided on the guide tube side.

FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration inside an operation section of an electronic endoscope, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a bending operation box. .
In the second embodiment, the endoscope is an electronic endoscope, and the guide tube is the same as that in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the UD knob 25 and the RL knob 26 provided in the endoscope operation section of FIG. 2 of the first embodiment are eliminated, while the motor C73 and the motor D74 are connected. And a rotating shaft of the motor C73 is connected to a rotating shaft 31a of the gear 31 and the motor D7
4 is connected to the rotation shaft 37 a of the gear 37.
Other configurations such as a clutch, an encoder, a counter, a brake, and a control circuit are the same as those in the first embodiment.
The same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

A camera control (hereinafter, referred to as CCU) cable 71 and an operation cable 72 extend from the operation unit 70 of the electronic endoscope. The CCU cable 71 is connected to a CCU (not shown) for observation. The observation image of the test site is projected on the monitor.

The bending operation box 75 connected to the operation cable 72 will be described with reference to FIG. The bending operation box 75 includes a bending changeover switch 28 ', a UD bending switch 76a, an RL bending switch 76b, and an endoscope UD.
Engage switch 77a, endoscope RL engagement switch 77b, guide tube UD engagement switch 7
8a, a guide tube RL engage switch 78b is provided.

A signal line extending from the UD bending switch 76a of the bending operation box 75 is connected to a motor D74 through an operation cable 72. The UD bending switch 76a is connected to an encoder, a counter, and a control circuit (not shown) of the bending operation box 75, and drives the motor D74 in accordance with the operation amount of the UD bending switch 76a.

Similarly, the signal line extending from the RL bending switch 76b of the bending operation box 75 is connected to the motor C73 through the operation cable 72. The RL bending switch 76b is connected to an encoder, a counter, and a control circuit (not shown) of the bending operation box 75, and drives the motor C73 in accordance with the operation amount of the RL bending switch 76b.

The UD bending switch 76a and the RL bending switch 76b may be a joystick or a joypad.

On the other hand, a signal line extending from the changeover switch 28 'of the bending operation box 75 is connected to the clutch A33, the clutch B39, the clutch C55, and the clutch D59 through the operation cable 72.

By switching the switch 28 'of the bending operation box 75 to the guide tube side, the clutch A33 and the clutch B39 are disconnected and the clutch C55 and the clutch D59 are connected, while the changeover switch 28' is connected to the endoscope. Side, the clutch A33 and the clutch B39 are connected and the clutch C
55 and the clutch D59 are wired so as to be disconnected.

The endoscope UD engagement switch 77
The signal line extending from a is connected to the brake B34, and controls the engagement of the endoscope 2 in the UD direction as in the first embodiment. Similarly, a signal line extending from the endoscope RL engagement switch 77b is connected to the brake C40.
To control the bending engagement of the endoscope 2 in the RL direction in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Further, a signal line extending from the guide tube UD engagement switch 78a is connected to a brake A58.
And the UD of the guide tube as in the first embodiment.
Controls the direction of curvature engagement. Similarly, a signal line extending from the guide tube RL engagement switch 78b is connected to the brake D61, and controls engagement of the guide tube in the RL direction as in the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

The operation of the endoscope inspection apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with the changeover switch 28 'of the bending operation box 75 set to the guide tube side. ◎ In the endoscope inspection apparatus 1, since the switch 28 ′ of the bending operation box 75 is on the guide tube side,
The clutch A33 and the clutch B39 disposed in the endoscope operation section are in a disconnected state, and the clutch C55 and the clutch D disposed in the guide tube operation section are in a disengaged state.
59 is connected.

For this reason, the rotation shaft of the motor C73 and the rotation shaft 26 of the
b, and at the same time, the rotating shaft of the motor D74 and the rotating shaft 25b of the RL pulley 38 that are opposed to each other are separated via the clutch B39.

On the other hand, the rotating shaft of the motor A53 provided via the clutch C55 is connected to the rotating shaft 57a of the guide tube UD pulley 57, and the rotating shaft of the motor B54 provided via the clutch D59 is connected to the guide. The rotation shaft 60a of the tube RL pulley 60 is connected.

When the RL bending switch 76b of the bending operation box 75 is operated in this state, the gear 31 rotates the gear 36 in the same manner as in the first embodiment by driving the motor C73, and the encoder 36a, the counter A 36b and the control circuit 52 are controlled. The motor A53 is driven via the motor to bend the bending portion 42 of the guide tube 4 in the left-right direction.

In this state, the U of the bending operation box 75 is
When the D-curve switch 76a is operated, the gear 37 rotates the gear 51 in the same manner as in the first embodiment by driving the motor D74, and the motor B54 is driven via the encoder B51a, the counter B51b, and the control circuit 52, so that the guide tube 4 Is bent in the vertical direction.

When the changeover switch 28 'of the bending operation box 75 is reset to the endoscope side, the clutch A3
3, the rotation shaft of the motor C73 and the rotation shaft 26b of the UD pulley 32 are connected, and the operation of the RL bending switch 76b of the bending operation box 75 causes the motor C7 to rotate.
3 is driven, and the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2 is driven in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
To the left and right. Similarly, the rotation shaft of the motor D74 and the rotation shaft 25 of the RL pulley 38 are connected via the clutch B39.
b, the bending operation box 75 is connected.
By operating the UD bending switch 76a, the motor D74 is driven to bend the bending portion 22 of the endoscope 2 in the vertical direction as in the first embodiment.

At this time, the rotation shaft of the motor A53, the rotation shaft 57a of the guide tube UD pulley 57 and the motor B5
4 and the rotating shaft 6 of the guide tube RL pulley 60
0a.

The endoscope UD of the bending operation box 75
By operating the engagement switch 77a, the brake B34 is operated, and the bending of the endoscope 2 in the UD direction can be selectively set to the free state or the engagement state. Similarly, by operating the endoscope RL engagement switch 77b, the brake C40 is operated and the endoscope 2
Can be selectively set in a free state or an engaged state.

Further, by operating the guide tube UD engagement switch 78a of the bending operation box 75, the brake A58 is operated and the UD of the guide tube 4 is operated.
The bending of the direction can be selectively set in a free state or an engaged state. Similarly, by operating the guide tube RL engagement switch 78b, the brake D61 is operated, and the bending of the guide tube 4 in the RL direction can be selectively set in the free state or the engaged state.

As described above, since the operation switches for instructing the bending and engagement of the guide tube and the bending and engagement of the endoscope are collectively arranged in an externally provided operation box, the operation box is appropriately positioned at a desired position. By arranging, the workability is improved and the troublesome work can be eliminated. In addition, by combining with an electronic endoscope, the inspector can observe while observing the observation monitor, so that the workability is further improved. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

By the way, the insertion portion of the guide tube 4
Flex 9 formed at a predetermined interval a as shown in FIG.
A structure in which a braid 92 made of a mesh of fine metal wires is fixed to the upper surface of the base 1, and the braid 92 is impregnated with a resin 93;
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, a structure is employed in which only a blade 92 having a mesh of thin metal wires is fixed on the upper surface of the flex 91.

For this reason, the guide tube 4 shown in FIG.
3 is not impregnated, when the insertion portion is bent, the interval a of the flex 91 is easily reduced. For example, the outer diameter of the insertion portion of the friction plate 94 in which the insertion portion of the guide tube 4 is made of an elastic material. When trying to pass through a smaller-diameter through-hole, the blade 92 may sag b as shown in FIG.

Further, in the guide tube 4 shown in FIG. 6, since the resin 93 impregnating the flex 91 is impregnated up to the central side surface of the flex 91, there is a problem in the flexibility of the insertion portion.

Therefore, a guide tube having flexibility and without sagging of the blade was constructed as follows.

As shown in FIG. 9, a structure in which a resin 92 is impregnated in a braid 92 formed by meshing thin metal wires on the upper surface of a flex 91 is employed.

For this reason, for example, when the endoscope 4 is inserted into a combustion tube 95 of a jet engine as shown in FIG. 10, the crossover tube 96 connects the guide tube bending portion 42 and the guide tube flexible portion 43 to each other. At the time of passing, since the difference between the respective flexibility is small, the penetrability is improved.

When the guide tube 4 is inserted into the friction plate 94 made of an elastic material having a hole smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the guide tube insertion portion, the guide tube 4 and the friction plate The guide tube is held by the frictional force and the elastic force. However, since the resin is impregnated in the blade 92,
It passes through the friction plate 94 without slack.

As described above, by fixing the resin-impregnated blade to the flex, the resin in the gap between the flexes can be eliminated, thereby increasing the flexibility. On the other hand, since the flex is impregnated with the resin, the blade is impregnated with the resin. Slack can be eliminated.

Here, the structure of the connection portion 101 will be described. As shown in FIG. 11A and FIG.
01, a screw hole 115 is machined at the bottom of the fixing portion 114,
A cutout portion for disposing the lock 119 is formed in the bottom near the screw hole. Locking 119
Is a block whose front shape is substantially trapezoidal, and
And a holding plate 120 slidable. The locking member 119 includes a slide member 116 formed by a block having a substantially trapezoidal front shape, and a protrusion member 11 disposed on the bottom surface of the slide member 116.
7 and a pin 118 disposed on the upper surface of the slide member 116. The pin 118 protrudes into the space of the groove 121 formed in the fixing portion 114, and moves in the groove 121 to regulate the amount of sliding of the slide member 116 in the front-rear direction. Note that the holding plate 120 is fixed to the fixing portion 114 with screws or an adhesive (not shown), and the cutout portion of the space formed by the fixing portion 114 and the holding plate 120 is closer to the bottom. The width is formed in a reverse tapered shape to prevent the locking stopper 119 from falling off from the fixing part 114.

When fixing the connecting portion 101 to the mount 102 as shown in FIG.
The mounting screw 103 is tightened. At this time, the locking screw 119 is slid and the mounting screw 1 is held in a state where the side surface of the projection member 117 is in contact with the side surface of the mount 102.
03 is tightened. Therefore, the slide member 116
Is sandwiched between the mount 102 and the fixed portion 114, and the upper surface of the slide member 116 and the fixed portion 114 are pressed, so that the slide member 116 cannot slide due to frictional force.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the guide tube flexible portion 43 is inserted into the observation region or when the bending operation portion 27 is operated, the rotational force is applied to the mount screw 103 for fixing the connection portion 101 to the mount 102. May work.

A counterclockwise rotational force acts on the fixing portion 114 by the rotational force acting on the center of the mount screw 103, and the rotational force in this direction is to tighten the mount screw 103, so that the mount screw 103 does not loosen.

When a clockwise rotational force acts on the fixing portion 114, the protrusion member 1 provided integrally with the fixing portion 114 is provided.
Since the side surface 17 and the side surface of the mount 102 are in contact with each other, the current state is maintained without rotating the fixing portion 114.

As described above, when the counterclockwise and clockwise rotational forces act on the fixing portion, the guide tube and the endoscope can be fixed without rotating with respect to the mount.

In FIG. 13, the fixing portion 114 is fixed so as to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mount 102. However, from the positional relationship between the magic arm 112 and the insertion port of the observation site, the fixing portion 114 is fixed to the longitudinal direction of the mount 102. It is conceivable that the positional relationship with the fixing portion 114 is as shown in FIG. 14 or FIG.

However, in such a case, the slide member 116 is appropriately slid with respect to the fixing portion 114 so that the side surface of the projection member 117 and the side surface of the mount 102 come into contact with each other, and the mounting screw 103 is tightened and fixed. For example, as in the case of FIG. 13, even if a counterclockwise or clockwise rotational force acts on the fixing portion 114, the current state can be maintained without the fixing portion 114 rotating.

When the mounting screw 103 is attached to the elongated hole 126 as in the mount 125 in FIG. 17, a protrusion member such as a locking stopper 122 formed in the fixing portion 114 of the connecting portion 127 in FIG. If the 124 is disposed substantially at the center of the bottom surface of the slide member 123, the side surface of the projecting member 124 abuts against the side wall of the elongated hole 126, so that the counterclockwise or clockwise rotational force Even if it works, the fixed part 114 can maintain the present condition without rotating.

As shown in FIG. 18, the guide tube 4 and the endoscope 2 of the first embodiment are connected to each other through a connecting portion 101 provided between the guide tube operating portion 45 and the guide tube insertion opening 37. Although fixed to the magic arm 112, in the second embodiment, the guide tube 4 and the electronic endoscope are attached to the magic arm 112 via a guide tube holder 201 detachable from the guide tube operation unit 45 instead of the connection unit. 70 is fixed.

As shown in the figure, a guide tube holder 201 is fixed to a mount 102 of the magic arm 112 by a mount screw 103. The guide tube holder 201 includes a guide tube receiver 202 detachable from the guide tube operation unit 45, and a fixing unit 204 having a screw hole 205, a locking stopper 206, and the like.
And a frame 203 for connecting the guide tube receiver 202 and the fixing portion 204.

As shown in FIG. 19, the guide tube receiver 2
Reference numeral 02 denotes a plate formed by bending a plate material along the outer shape of the guide tube operation unit 45. A slit 207 is formed on the upper surface, and a sliding stopper A208 and a sliding stopper B209 having a high friction coefficient on the inner peripheral surface. , Sliding stop C210, Sliding stop D211 and Sliding stop E212
Is affixed. The guide tube operation unit 45 is held by the elastic force of the guide tube receiver 202 and the frictional resistance of the plurality of slip stoppers. The guide tube receiver 202 and the frame 203 are fixed with an adhesive or a screw (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 20, a locking part 206 is provided at the bottom of the fixing part 204. The lock 206 includes a slide member 213, a protrusion 214, and a pin 215, and a groove 216 is formed in the fixing part 204, similarly to the fixing part 114. Then, as shown in FIG. 21, similarly to the fixing portion 114, a mounting screw is closed in a screw hole 205 at the bottom of the fixing portion 204 and fixed integrally. Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those of the connecting portion shown in FIGS.

Although the guide tube holder 201 is fixed to the magic arm 112 in this embodiment, it may be fixed to a general camera tripod instead of the magic arm 112. Also, guide tube holder 2
01 can be used as an endoscope holder for detachably holding an operation section of the endoscope in combination with an industrial endoscope other than the guide tube, for example.

[0090]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope inspection apparatus capable of easily performing the bending operation of the bending portion of the endoscope and the bending operation of the bending mechanism of the guide tube.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope inspection apparatus

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an endoscope operation unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration inside a guide tube operation unit.

4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an electronic endoscope operation unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a bending operation box.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional guide tube.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another configuration of a conventional guide tube.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing an inconvenient state when the guide tube of FIG. 7 is used.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a guide tube with improved insertability.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of use of the guide tube of FIG. 9;

11 to 17 relate to an embodiment of a connecting portion of the endoscope inspection apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIG. 11 shows (a) a front view of the connecting portion and (b) a side view of the connecting portion.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a fixed state of a connection portion and a mount.

13 is a view of the fixed state of FIG. 12 when viewed from below.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a positional relationship between a connection unit and a mount.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of the positional relationship between the connection unit and the mount.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a fixed state of a connection portion and a mount having a long hole.

FIG. 17 is a view of the fixed state of FIG. 16 when viewed from below.

FIGS. 18 to 21 relate to an embodiment of a connection portion of the endoscope inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an endoscope inspection apparatus using an electronic endoscope. Figure

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view of a guide tube receiver.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fixing unit.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a fixed state between a fixing portion and a mount.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscopy apparatus 2 ... Endoscope 4 ... Guide tube 22 ... Endoscope bending part 27 ... Bending operation part 28 ... Bending control changeover switch (switching switch) 42 ... Guide tube bending part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Motoki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takakazu Ishigami 2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References: Jiyo Sho 62-180403 (JP, U) Table 1-500620 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB A61B 1/00-1/32 G02B 23/24-23/26

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope inspection apparatus that uses an endoscope having a bendable bending portion in combination with a guide tube with a bending function for guiding the endoscope to a target portion. A bending section for performing a bending operation of the bending section and the bending section of the guide tube with the bending function; and performing a bending operation by the bending operation section on one of the bending section of the endoscope or the guide tube bending section with the bending function. An endoscope inspection apparatus, comprising: a selection unit that selects the following.