JP3264466B2 - Operation wire fixing device for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an operation wire fixing device for an endoscope for fixing an operation wire for operating an angle portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope to a support member of the operation portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a light guide for illumination, a cord for guiding an image, an operation wire for bending operation, a forceps for sampling, and the like are provided inside an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted into a subject. A forceps tube or the like through which the operation wire is inserted is inserted, and the angle portion near the distal end thereof is configured to bend and deform by operating the operation wire in the operation portion to pull the operation wire. In the insertion portion, a portion connecting the angle portion and the operation portion is provided on a flexible portion having flexibility.

In the angle portion, a plurality of angle rings are sequentially connected to an inner peripheral portion thereof via connection pins so as to be tiltable, and the angle ring is tilted by a pulling operation of an operation wire connected to the tip angle ring. The insertion section is formed so as to be curved as a whole, and is provided such that the imaging direction of the distal end of the insertion section can be changed.

An operation wire for bending and deforming the angle portion is extended from the insertion portion to the operation portion. In the operation portion, the operation wire is inserted into the protection member. It is necessary to fix the end of this protective member in order to be able to do so. As the fixing structure, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-74568, a fixing sleeve is fixed to an end of the protective member, and the fixing sleeve is attached to a support member provided with a bending operation mechanism. There is known a structure in which an end of an operation wire, which is mounted and fixed to a bracket fixed to a bending sleeve, and through which the fixing sleeve is inserted, is connected to a bending operation mechanism.

[0005]

However, in the structure for fixing the operation wires in the endoscope as described above, the operation of fixing the operation wires when assembling the endoscope is complicated, and in particular, the number of operation wires is small. When the number is increased to four, the problem becomes more complicated.

That is, the insertion portion incorporates an angle portion to which an operation wire is connected, other various functional parts are integrally formed, and the surface is provided with a protective coating and assembled as a unit. Connection of the operation wire, cord, and tube extending from the end is performed after connecting the insertion section to the operation section side. In the operation section, the operation wire is inserted and protected by the protection member, and a pulling operation is obtained. A fixing sleeve is fixed to an end of the protection member by soldering or the like as described above. After the connection of such an insertion part is over,
In this case, the bracket for fixing the sleeve becomes an obstacle, and when the insertion portion is pulled out with the sleeve attached to the protective member for repair or the like, the attachment and detachment of the sleeve to and from the bracket become complicated. In particular, when the number of operation wires is increased, the sleeves are gathered together and become larger as a whole, so that the interference with the bracket is increased and the disassembly and assembly of the insertion portion becomes complicated.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation wire fixing device for an endoscope which can easily attach a sleeve to an operation wire and assemble to a bracket.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an operation wire fixing device for an endoscope according to the present invention has a distal end portion provided at a bendable angle portion provided at an insertion portion inserted into a subject. A plurality of operation wires for connecting and bending the angle portion by the pulling operation are extended from the insertion portion to the operation portion, and the operation wires are respectively inserted into the protection members in the operation portion, and the end of the protection member is provided. A fixing sleeve is fixed to the portion, a bracket is fixed to a support member provided with a bending operation mechanism, the fixing sleeve is engaged and held on a support portion of the bracket, and the end of the operation wire is With regard to connection to a bending operation mechanism, the bracket is divided into a plurality of divided portions at a dividing surface passing through two support portions, and each of the divided portions is held in a state where a fixing sleeve is engaged and held on the support portion. And it is characterized in that fastened to the piece.

Further, the bracket is divided into three divided portions by two divided surfaces parallel to the support member, and a fixing screw for fixing the bracket to the support member is provided at one end of the central portion and at the other end. It is preferable that a fastening screw for integrally fastening the divided portions is provided, and a pair of support portions is formed on each of the divided surfaces on both sides of the central portion.

Further, a fastening screw for integrally fastening the divided portions of the bracket is provided so as not to be pulled out, and a gap formed in one divided surface when the fastening screw is loosened is provided in the supporting portion of the divided surface. You may provide so that it may set more than the dimension which a fixing sleeve can insert.

[0011]

According to the above construction, when connecting the operation wire extending from the angle portion of the insertion portion to the operation portion to the bending operation mechanism, the fixing sleeves are respectively fixed to the ends of the protection member through which the operation wire is inserted. At the same time, the bracket is fixed to the support member on which the bending operation mechanism is installed, and the bracket is separated at the dividing surface, and the fixing sleeves are respectively engaged with the two support portions and sequentially held. Are engaged, the divided portions of the bracket are fastened together to securely and easily fix each fixing sleeve.

At this time, if the divided portions of the bracket can be completely separated, the divided portions and the fixing sleeve are assembled and integrated in order so as to be alternately stacked, and when the fastening screw cannot be pulled out. In this method, a fixing sleeve is inserted into gaps sequentially formed between the divided portions, engaged with each other, and then fastened and integrated.

When the fixing sleeve is fixed to the protective member, the fixing work can be easily performed by removing the bracket from the supporting member. Similarly, when the insertion section is separated from the operation section for repair, etc., the fixing sleeve is removed from the bracket and the bracket is removed from the support member, so that the operation wire can be easily and safely pulled out together with the fixing sleeve. I can do it.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an endoscope according to an embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 3 shows a partially cut-out plan structure of the operation unit, and FIG. 3 shows a partially cut-away rear structure of the operation unit.

The endoscope 1 is provided with an operation section 2 which is gripped by an operator to perform various operations, and an insertion section 3 on the distal end side for insertion into a subject (the distal end portion is not shown). The operation unit 2 includes a main body case 10 at a base end, a gripping case 11 and a branch case 12 which are sequentially connected to the main body case 10.

On the other hand, although not shown, the insertion portion 3 has an angle portion that can be bent and deformed in an arbitrary direction, and a tip observation portion is provided at a tip side of the angle portion. Sensors, optical systems and other various members such as an imaging objective lens are installed, and an opening through which forceps are inserted, a tube through which air and water are supplied, and the like are inserted.On the proximal end side of the angle portion, A flexible portion 13 having flexibility is connected, and the operation portion 2 is connected to the proximal end side of the flexible portion 13 for performing various operations such as photographing and bending operations. A protective sleeve 16 and a tapered cover rubber 14 are provided on the outer periphery of a connection portion between the flexible portion 13 of the insertion portion 3 and the operation portion 2, that is, on the distal end side of the branch portion case 12.

Although not shown in detail, the main body case 10 of the operation unit 2 includes a bending operation mechanism 15 and the like, and a vertical and left and right operation knob for operating the bending operation mechanism 15 is provided on the rear side. 21 and 22, and an air / water supply valve 17, a suction valve 18, and a shooting switch 19 are installed at the top,
Further, a connection flexible portion 20 for leading out a light guide and other various tubes and cords connected to an illumination light source (not shown) is connected.

The gripping case 11 becomes thinner and circular in order from the connection portion with the main body case 10 and is connected to the branch portion case 12. The forceps port for inserting a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted into the branch portion case 12. A secondary water supply piping device 25 is provided near the forceps port 12a.

In the inside of the gripping case 11, a distal end is connected to a bendable angle portion provided in the insertion portion 3, and the other end is connected to the bending operation mechanism 15. , And a total of four operation wires 30, 30,...
The angle portion is bent and deformed by a pulling operation corresponding to the above operation.

The operation wires 30, 30,... In the operation section 2 are protected by metal protection pipes 31, 31,.
It is inserted inside. In the flexible portion 13 of the insertion section 3, the operation wires 30, 30,. Are fixed to the ends of the protection members 31, 31,...
2,32, ... are fixed respectively. This fixing sleeve 32
As shown in FIG. 4, the protection member 31 is formed by a locking portion 32a having a large outer shape and a shaft portion 32b having a small diameter connected to both sides thereof. Bonded and fixed by soldering or the like.

On the other hand, from the main body case 10 to the grip case 11
A plate-like support member 40 is provided extending into the support member.
The bending operation mechanism 15 is attached to one end of 40.
A bracket 33 for engaging and holding the four fixing sleeves 32, 32,... Is fixed to the other end of the support member 40.

The bending operation mechanism 15 includes two pulleys 26 and 27 rotatably supported by the support member 40. The rotation shafts 28 of the pulleys 26 and 27 extend laterally from the main body case 10. It is linked to an up / down operation knob 21 and a left / right operation knob 22. That is, the first pulley 26 is rotated by the up / down operation knob 21, and the second pulley 27 is rotated by the left / right operation knob 22. A pair of short operation wires 30a, 30a,... On both sides are connected to the first and second pulleys 26, 27, respectively.
A pair of operating wires 30 connected to it for 7 rotations
a, 30a is wound up and the other is unwound. A first lock member 23 for fixing the rotation of the up / down operation knob 21 and a second lock member 24 for fixing the rotation of the left / right operation knob 22 are provided adjacent to each other.

Are connected to the ends of the operation wires 30a, 30a,... Connected to the pulleys 26, 27, respectively. The connectors 42, 42,... Are respectively provided at the ends of the operation wires 30, 30, ... extending from the fixing sleeves 32, 32,. 41,
Are connected to the operation wires 30 and 30a on both sides, respectively. Each of the sleeves 41, 41,... Is regulated so as to reciprocate along a guide path formed by a guide member 44 and a cover 45. A spring is provided inside the sleeves 41, 41,. Is adjusted (absorption of looseness), and the pulley side ends of the sleeves 41, 41,... Come into contact with stoppers (not shown) to regulate the movement amount, that is, the maximum bending amount of the angle portion. ing. The guide member 44 and the cover 45 are also fixed to the support member 40.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bracket 33 has four support portions 34, 34 for engaging and holding the fixing sleeves 32, 32,... , And three upper and lower divisions 33a, 33b, and 33 in two upper and lower division planes parallel to the support member 40.
c, and the upper and lower split surfaces are
Formed through 4,34. A pair of operating wires connected to the first pulley 26 or the second pulley 27 are respectively provided on support portions 34, 34 formed on both sides of each division surface.
The fixing sleeves 32, 32 of the 30, 30 are engaged and supported, and the support surfaces 34, 34 on both sides have different connecting heights to the pulleys 26, 27, so that a step is formed on the dividing surface. I have.

Each of the support portions 34 is formed by a concave portion 34a opened from the side, and arc-shaped groove-shaped holding portions 34b formed on both sides of the concave portion 34a above and below the dividing surface.
The locking portion 32a of the fixing sleeve 32 is inserted into the lock member 32, and contacts the opposite ends of the locking portion 32a to restrict the movement in the axial direction. The holding portion 34b holds the shaft portion 32b of the fixing sleeve 32. Is what you do.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bracket 33 is provided with a support member at one end of the central portion.
A fixing screw 35 for fixing to 40 is provided on the other end side with each divided portion 33a, 33b,
A fastening screw 36 for integrally fastening 33c is provided. The fixing screw 35 passes through the through-holes in the upper and middle divisions 33a and 33b, and the head 35a engages with the lower division 33c so that the screw 35
b is screwed to the support member 40 to fix the lower divided portion 33c. On the other hand, the fastening screw 36 has a head portion 36a engaged with the upper divided portion 33a, and a screw portion 36b inserted through the upper and middle divided portions 33a, 33b and screwed into the lower divided portion 33c to be screwed into each divided portion. 33a, 33b, and 33c are integrally fastened.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The operating wires 30, 30,...
When connecting to the first, each of the protective members 31, 31,
Are fixed to the ends of the operating wires 30, 30, and the connectors 42, 42,... Are attached to the distal ends of the operating wires 30, 30,.
By removing 33 from the support member 40, its workability is improved. A bending operation mechanism 15 is attached to the support member 40. Short operation wires 30a, 30a,... Are respectively connected to the pulleys 26 and 27, and a sleeve is
41, 41, ... are respectively provided.

Then, the bracket 33 is attached to the support member 40.
Is attached by tightening the fixing screw 35. A pair of fixing wires 32, 32 of operation wires 30, 30, which perform a relative operation for bending operation in the left-right direction, are engaged with the support portions 34, 34 on both sides thereof, and a middle divided portion
Place 33b. Similarly, the fixing portions 32, 32 of the operation wires 30, 30, which perform a pair of relative operations for the bending operation in the vertical direction, are similarly provided on the support portions 34, 34 on both sides above the middle divided portion 33b.
, And the upper divided portion 33c is placed thereon, and the fastening screw 36 is inserted with the four fixing sleeves 32, 32,. To be fixed and fixed.

.. Are connected to the corresponding sleeves 41, 41,..., Respectively, and the sleeves 41, 41,. It is inserted into the member 44 and the cover 45 is attached. In addition,
Before engaging the fixing sleeves 32, 32, ... with the bracket 33, the connectors 42, 42, ... and the sleeves 41, 41, ... may be connected.

When disassembling for repair or the like, the branch case 12 is removed, the cover 45 is removed, and then the sleeves 41, 41, 41,
… And remove connectors 42,42,…
, And the fixing sleeves 32, 32,... Are removed from the support portions 34, 34,. Further, when the insertion section 3 is separated from the operation section 2 after the bracket 33 is removed from the support member 40, the operation wires 30, 30, together with the protection members 31, 31, ... with the fixing sleeves 32, 32, ... fixed. … Is pulled out, and the fixing sleeves 32, 32, ...
Can be easily and safely performed also at the portion where the pieces are gathered because the bracket 33 is removed.

A chassis 46 (see FIG. 2) is separately provided in parallel with the support member 40 (base plate).
Various operating members or components other than the bending operation mechanism 15 are disposed on the bending operation mechanism 15, and the connecting support with the insertion portion 3 is provided in a structure performed by the chassis 46, and another deformation force acts on the bending operation mechanism 15. This ensures that the operation is performed without any problem.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another example of the bracket. The basic structure of the bracket 33 of this example is formed in three divided portions 33a, 33b and 33c in the upper, middle and lower stages as in the previous example. Each of the divided portions 33a, 33b, 33c is assembled so as to be inseparable.

That is, each divided portion 33a, 33 of the bracket 33
A groove 51c is formed at the tip of the fastening screw 51 for integrally fastening b and 33c, and a snap ring 52 (E washer) is mounted in the groove 51c. In the fastening screw 51, the head 51a is engaged with the upper division 33a, and the screw 51b is inserted into the upper and middle divisions 33a, 33b and screwed into the lower division 33c, as shown in FIG. As shown in (A), the snap ring 52 is engaged at a position where the tip protrudes by a predetermined amount. Even if the fastening screw 51 is loosened, the snap ring 52 engages with the bottom surface of the lower divided portion 33c and is pulled out. Impossible. When the fastening screw 51 is loosened, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, a gap formed in one divided surface is formed by the fixing sleeve 32 on the support portion 34 of the divided surface. The clearance is set so as to be larger than the insertable dimension, that is, larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 32b. The other components are configured in the same manner as in the previous example, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this example, the upper, middle, and lower tiers 33a, 33b, 33c
Then, the bracket 33 set as shown in FIG. 7A by the fastening screw 51 is fixed to the support member 40 only by the fixing screw 35 at the lower divided portion 33c. In this state, the fastening screw 51 is loosened, and as shown in FIG. 7B, the middle division 33b is lifted to form a gap with the lower division 33c, and the gap is formed from the side. The fixing sleeves 32, 32 of the pair of operation wires 30, 30 are inserted into the support portions 34, 34, the locking portions 32a are locked in the concave portions 34a, and the shaft portions 32b are placed on the holding portions 34b. Hold, and
As shown in FIG. 7 (C), the middle section 33b is lowered and the upper section 33a is raised, so that the middle section 33b is raised.
And a gap is formed between them. Then, a pair of operation wires 30, 30 is attached to support portions 34, 34 formed in the gap from the side.
The fixing sleeves 32, 32 are inserted and held. Thereafter, the fastening screws 51 are tightened and integrally fastened to engage and hold the two sets of fixing sleeves 32, 32,.

In the bracket structure of the example shown in FIG. 6, the operation can be performed while the bracket 33 is integrated, and after a pair of fixing sleeves 32, 32 are locked on the lower divided surface or the upper divided surface,
When the other pair of fixing sleeves 32, 32 is locked, the previously fixed fixing sleeves 32, 32 remain locked to the bracket 33 and do not come off. improves.

In the above embodiment, the bracket
The dividing surface of 33 has a step due to the different heights of the supporting portions 34, 34 on both sides. However, the supporting portions 34, 34 may be provided at the same height so that no step is formed.

[0037]

According to the operation wire fixing device for an endoscope of the present invention, a plurality of operation wires for bending and deforming the angle portion are extended from the insertion portion to the operation portion, and a fixing sleeve is provided on the protection member. The bracket is divided into a plurality of divisions along a division surface passing through the two support portions, with respect to the fixing sleeve being engaged with and held by the support portion of the bracket provided on the support member. The fixing sleeves can be easily engaged with each other, and in a state where all the fixing sleeves are engaged, the divided portions of the bracket can be fastened together to securely and easily fix each fixing sleeve. Thus, the assembling workability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation unit of the endoscope with a part thereof cut away;

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the operation unit of the endoscope with a part thereof cut away;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a bracket.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the bracket.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an operation state of the bracket of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Operation part 3 Insertion part 10 Main body case 11 Grasping case 12 Branch part case 15 Bending operation mechanism 30 Operation wire 31 Protective member 32 Fixing sleeve 32a Locking part 32b Shaft part 33 Bracket 33a, 33b, 33c Dividing part 34 Support 34a Recess 34b Holder 35 Fixing screw 36,51 Fastening screw 52 Snap ring

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] The distal end is connected to a bendable angle portion provided in an insertion portion inserted into a subject, and a plurality of operation wires for bending and deforming the angle portion by a pulling operation thereof are provided. The operation wire is extended from the part to the operation part, and the operation wires are respectively inserted into the protection members in the operation part,
A fixing sleeve is fixed to an end of the protective member, a bracket is fixed to a support member provided with a bending operation mechanism, and the fixing sleeve is engaged and held by a support portion of the bracket. In an operation wire fixing device for an endoscope in which an end portion of an operation wire is connected to the bending operation mechanism, the bracket is divided into a plurality of division portions by a division surface passing through two support portions, and each division portion is An operation wire fixing device for an endoscope, wherein said operation wire fixing device is integrally fastened in a state where said fixing sleeve is engaged and held on a support portion. 2. The bracket is divided into three divided portions by two divided surfaces parallel to the support member, and a fixing screw for fixing the bracket to the support member is provided at one end of a central portion. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a fastening screw for integrally fastening the divided portions is provided on a side, and a pair of support portions is formed on each of divided surfaces on both sides of the central portion. Operation wire fixing device in mirror. 3. A fastening screw for integrally fastening the divided portions of the bracket is provided so as not to be pulled out, and a gap formed in one divided surface when the fastening screw is loosened is formed in a support portion of the divided surface. The operation wire fixing device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the fixing sleeve is set to have a dimension equal to or larger than an insertable size. 4. The fixing sleeve has a locking portion having a large outer shape and shaft portions on both sides thereof, and the supporting portion of the bracket has a locking portion into which the locking portion of the fixing sleeve is inserted. And a holding portion for holding the shaft portion of the fixing sleeve on both sides of the recess, wherein the holding portion holds the shaft portion of the fixing sleeve on both sides of the recess.
An operation wire fixing device for an endoscope according to claim 1.