JP3306127B2 - Endoscope tip - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distal end portion of an endoscope in which a built-in member is pressed by a distal end of a fixing screw and fixed to a distal end body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The distal end of a so-called built-in endoscope such as an image guide fiber bundle unit or a light guide fiber bundle is fixed to a distal end body provided at the distal end of an insertion section.

However, such a structure in which these are bonded to the tip main body requires time to dry and cure the adhesive during assembly, which not only increases the cost, but also necessitates disassembly, repair and adjustment in the event of a failure. There is an inconvenience that can not be done.

Therefore, conventionally, a screw hole has been formed in the distal end portion main body, and the built-in component is pressed by the distal end of the fixing screw screwed there, and fixed to the distal end portion main body.

[0005]

In recent years, endoscopes have a structure that guarantees electrical insulation in order to ensure electrical safety. For this purpose, it is desirable that the tip end body be entirely formed of an electrically insulating plastic material.

However, in a state where the fixing screw is tightened to fix the built-in component, concentrated stress is generated in the female screw portion of the distal end main body. Therefore, if the entire distal end main body is formed of plastic, it takes a relatively short time. There is a possibility that a crack may occur in the tip end body from around the screw hole, causing a water leakage accident, and making it unusable.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a highly durable endoscope having no cracks in the distal end main body even when the distal end main body is formed of plastic or the like and the internal component is fixed with fixing screws. The purpose is to do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the distal end of the endoscope according to the present invention is configured such that the built-in object is pressed by the distal end of a fixing screw and fixed to the distal end body. At the distal end of the mirror, a fixing member provided as a separate part from the distal end main body and having a screw hole into which the fixing screw is screwed, and the annularly formed screw hole surrounding the distal end main body And an annular body disposed so as to circumscribe the fixing member so that the opening of the fixing member is exposed.

[0009]

An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a distal end portion of the endoscope. A distal end main body 2 is connected to a distal end of a bending portion 1 which is formed to be freely bendable by remote control at a distal end of a flexible insertion portion flexible tube. I have.

The endoscope of this embodiment is of a so-called forward-looking type in which the observation direction is forward, and an observation window 3, an illumination window 4, a forceps outlet 5 and an air / water supply nozzle 6 are provided on the front end surface of the distal end body 2. ,
7 and the like are arranged.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of the distal end of the endoscope. The distal end main body 2 is entirely formed in a stepped columnar shape with an electrically insulating plastic material, and a plurality of through holes for inserting and fixing the internal components are formed in parallel with the axial direction. I have.

Inside the observation window 3, an observation optical frame 12 is inserted through a through hole 11 formed in the distal end main body 2, and an objective lens 13 is fixed inside the distal end side. The distal end of the image guide fiber bundle 14 is fitted into the observation optical frame 12 in a state where the distal end is focused on the objective lens 13.

Further, the image guide fiber bundle 1
The distal end of a protective tube 16 provided so as to surround at least the inside of the curved portion 1 is fixed to the rear end of the distal end main body 2 via a tube mounting ring 17.

The bending portion 1 is formed by rotatably connecting a number of node rings 21 with rivets (not shown), and covering the outside thereof with a mesh tube 22 and a skin rubber tube 23.

A metal connecting piece 26 is inserted into a pair of upper and lower grooves 25 formed on the rear side of the distal end main body 2 in order to connect the most advanced node ring 21 to the distal end main body 2. Each of them is fitted, and a countersunk screw 27 is screwed into a screw hole formed in the connecting piece 26, and the node ring 21 at the forefront is connected and fixed thereto.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section taken along the line I--I shown in FIG. 3. Reference numerals 31 and 32 denote an illumination light guide fiber bundle having an emission end face arranged inside the illumination window 4, and 33.
Numeral 34 denotes an air / water supply tube that communicates with the air / water supply nozzles 6 and 7, and reference numeral 35 denotes a forceps channel that communicates with the forceps outlet 5. These built-in components are respectively inserted into through holes formed in the distal end body 2. It is inserted and glued and fixed there.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal components without illustration, and will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
A groove 37 is formed on the rear side surface of the distal end main body 2, and the distal end main body 2 is formed into a shape that just fills the groove 37.
A metal fixing member 41 formed as a separate component is fitted in the groove 37.

The fixing member 41 has three screw holes 4.
2, 43, 44 are formed inwardly, and fixing screws 46, 47, 48 are screwed into each of them. Also, screw passage holes 51, 52, 53 are formed in the distal end portion main body 2 so as to be aligned with the three screw holes 42, 43, 44 so as to face inward, and three fixing screws 46, 47, 4
8 are the observation optical frame 12, the tube mounting ring 17
And the base 31a of the light guide fiber bundle 31
Can be pressed against the distal end body 2.

A metal annular body 55 circumscribing the fixing member 41 is fitted so as to surround the outer periphery of the rear portion of the distal end main body 2. The movement of the fixing member 41 that is to be pushed out to the outside is restricted by the annular body 55.

55a is drilled in the annular body so that the mouths of the three screw holes 42, 43, 44 are exposed so that the fixing screws 46, 47, 48 can be screwed in with the annular body 55 attached. The escape hole 55b is
Is an escape hole for letting through.

With this configuration, during assembly,
After joining the air supply / water supply tubes 33 and 34 and the forceps channel 35 to the distal end main body 2, the observation optical frame 12, the light guide fiber bundle 31, the tube mounting ring 17, and the like on which the image guide fiber bundle 14 is mounted are connected to the distal end main body 2. , The fixing member 41 and the annular body 55 are attached to predetermined positions of the distal end main body 2, and the fixing screws 46, 47, 48 are tightened.

Then, the fixing screws 46, 47, and 48 press the observation optical frame 12, the tube mounting ring 17, and the base 31a of the light guide fiber bundle 31 against the distal end main body 2 at the respective distal ends, and the reaction is carried out. The member 41 tends to be pushed outward, but its movement is impeded by hitting the inner surface of the annular body 55 and all of its parts are firmly secured against one another.

In the state where the built-in object is fixed to the distal end main body 2 in this manner, the plastic distal end main body 2 is subjected only to the force received from the pressing surfaces of the respective parts, and is subjected to the stress such as that around the screw portion. No concentration occurs.

Since the fixing member 41 in which the screw holes 42, 43, 44 are formed is made of metal, the fixing screws 46, 4 are formed.
Cracks and the like do not occur due to the concentrated stress of the degree to which the wires 7 and 48 are tightened.

Although not shown in FIG. 4,
As shown in FIG. 1, the base 32 a of the other light guide fiber bundle 32 is configured such that the second fixing member 61 is connected to the first fixing member 4 on the side opposite to the distal end main body 2.
The fixing screw 62 is used in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

After the fixing of the built-in components to the distal end main body 2 is completed, a pair of connecting pieces 26 are attached to the distal end main body 2.
Is attached with a countersunk screw 27 to connect the distal end main body 2 and the foremost node ring 21.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the groove 37 in which the fixing member 41 is fitted is, as shown in FIG.
May be cut out to the rear end, and various modes can be taken in implementation, such as connecting the node ring 21 at the forefront and the distal end body 2 via the fixing member 41.

[0028]

According to the distal end portion of the endoscope of the present invention, the screw hole into which the fixing screw for pressing the built-in object is screwed is provided on the fixing member provided as a separate component from the distal end body. When the fixing screw is tightened, the fixing member is pressed against the annular body by the reaction thereof and the whole is fixed, so that the concentration of stress does not occur on the tip end body.

Therefore, even if the distal end body is formed of plastic or the like having relatively low strength, cracks and the like are not generated in the distal end body by pressing and fixing the internal components with the fixing screws, and excellent durability is obtained. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear cross-sectional view (II cross-sectional view in FIG. 3) of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a modification of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 tip end body 41 fixing member 42, 43, 44 screw hole 46, 47, 48 fixing screw 55 annular body

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-31925 (JP, A) JP-A-3-15016 (JP, A) JP-A-2-10309 (JP, A) JP-A-58-1983 152549 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Showa 57-76602 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application 2-61302 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Showa 57-128802 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32 G02B 23/24-23/26

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A distal end portion of an endoscope in which a built-in member is pressed by a distal end of a fixing screw and fixed to the distal end main body, wherein the fixing screw is provided as a separate component from the distal end main body. Metal fixing member with screw holes to fit
Into the groove-shaped portion formed on the side surface of the tip main body.
And the fixing member is formed in an annular shape surrounding the distal end body.
An annular body arranged so as to circumscribe the screw hole is arranged so that the mouth of the screw hole is exposed , and the fixing screw is screwed into the screw hole and tightened.
Thus, the fixing screw can be directly engaged with the tip body.
Pressing and fixing the built-in object to the tip body
Distal end portion of the endoscope, characterized in that the.