JP3590199B2

JP3590199B2 - Endoscope

Info

Publication number: JP3590199B2
Application number: JP17141196A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 武司横井
Original assignee: Olympus Corp
Current assignee: Olympus Corp
Priority date: 1996-07-01
Filing date: 1996-07-01
Publication date: 2004-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-01
Also published as: JPH1014861A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は内視鏡、更に詳しくは湾曲部に設けられる操作ワイヤのワイヤ受け部分に特徴のある内視鏡に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
近年、体腔内に細長の挿入部を挿入することにより体腔内の臓器を観察したり、必要に応じて処置具挿通チャンネル内に挿入した処置具を用いて各種治療処置のできる内視鏡が広く用いられている。
【０００３】
このような内視鏡として、実開昭６０−３２９０３号公報や、特開平５−３８３２５号公報が知られている。
【０００４】
前者は、体腔内挿入部の外径を太くすることなく処置具挿通チャンネルの外径を太くした湾曲構造を得るために、関節駒の内面４カ所に突出したワイヤ受けの間隔を９０°より広げてその広がったワイヤ受け内に処置具挿通チャンネルを挿入配置したものである。ここで、用いられているワイヤ受けの形状（外径含む）は４カ所共全て同じものであると図面より読み取れる。
【０００５】
後者は、内視鏡湾曲部を湾曲させる際の操作力量が小さくて済み、かつ、スムーズに湾曲部を湾曲させるために、湾曲部の複数の湾曲方向のうち、最大湾曲角が大きい湾曲方向を除く湾曲方向に対応する操作ワイヤを挿通したワイヤ受けの少なくとも１つを関節駒の中心を通る湾曲方向から、ずれた位置に設けたものである。ここで用いられているワイヤ受けの形状（外径含む）も上下左右４カ所共全て同じものであると図面より読み取れる。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
実開昭６０−３２９０３号公報と特開平５−３８３２５号公報共に、湾曲部内のワイヤ受けの間隔を９０°間隔でなく、本来の上下左右湾曲方向の中心軸からずらして設置している。特に外径の太い処置具挿通チャンネルを具備した内視鏡においては、その収納スペースに近いワイヤ受けを本来の上下左右湾曲方向から大きく（約１５°以上）ずらしている。
【０００７】
ここで、ワイヤ受けのずれが大きいと、図１８に示すように、湾曲部１０１を下側もしくは左側または右側へ曲げた時に、本来曲がるべき方向と違う方向に曲がってしまう、いわゆる、湾曲反り上りという現象が生じ、湾曲操作性に支障が出る可能性がある。図１８（ｂ）の本来曲がるべき方向と実際に曲がる方向とのずれ角（α）を湾曲反り上り量と呼び、この値が大きい（３０°を越える）と湾曲操作性に支障が出やすい。
【０００８】
また、視野の上側へ湾曲させてから湾曲部１０１をストレートに戻した時にも、図１９に示すように、真っ直ぐに戻らずに左もしくは右へ曲がってしまうような湾曲部反りの現象が生じ、内視鏡検査に支障が出る可能性があった。図１９（ｂ）の本来曲がるべき方向と実際に曲がる方向とのずれ角（β）の値が大きい（３０°を越える）と湾曲反り上りと同様に内視鏡検査に支障が出やすい。
【０００９】
このため、従来より上側のみならず、下、左、右側のワイヤ受けの本来の上下左右湾曲方向からのずれを体腔内挿入部の外径を太くすることなく、少なくすることが望まれている。特に、下側の湾曲反り上りが大きいと左右湾曲を多用する必要があるので、左、右方向に比べて改善が望まれている。
【００１０】
本発明は、上記事情に鑑みてなされたものであり、体腔内挿入部、特に湾曲部の外径を太くすることなく、処置具挿通チャンネル近くの湾曲方向のワイヤ受けのずれ量を少なくすることで、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲不良を解消した操作性の良い内視鏡を提供することを目的としている。
【００１１】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の内視鏡は、互いに回転自在に連結された複数の関節駒の内面に設けた複数のワイヤ受けを介して、前記複数の関節駒内に挿通される複数の操作ワイヤに応動して、前記複数の関節駒が湾曲する湾曲部と、前記湾曲部内に挿通した処置具挿通チャンネルとを有する内視鏡において、前記処置具挿通チャンネルの近傍側に設けられる前記ワイヤ受けの外径を、他の位置の内面に設けられた前記ワイヤ受けの外径より小さくして構成される。
【００１２】
本発明の内視鏡では、前記処置具挿通チャンネルの近傍側に設けられる前記ワイヤ受けの外径を、他の位置の内面に設けられた前記ワイヤ受けの外径より小さくすることで、体腔内挿入部、特に湾曲部の外径を太くすることなく、処置具挿通チャンネル近くの湾曲方向のワイヤ受けのずれ量を少なくし、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲不良を解消し操作性を向上させることを可能とする。
【００１３】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、図面を参照しながら本発明の実施の形態について述べる。
【００１４】
図１ないし図１２は本発明の第１の実施の形態に係わり、図１は内視鏡の構成を示す構成図、図２は図１の内視鏡の先端構成部の先端面の構成を示す構成図、図３は図２のＡ−Ｂ−Ｏ−Ｃ−Ｄ線の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図、図４は図３のＪ−Ｊ線断面を示す断面図、図５は図３のＫ−Ｋ線断面を示す断面図、図６は図３のＬ−Ｌ線断面を示す断面図、図７は図１の湾曲部の作用を説明する説明図、図８は図２のＥ−Ｆ−Ｇ−Ｂ−Ｈ線の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図、図９は図１の操作部の外観を示す外観図、図１０は図９の操作部の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図、図１１は図１０の前方送水管路の洗滌を説明する説明図、図１２は図９の前方送水口金を塞ぐキャップの構成を示す構成図である。
【００１５】
図１に示すように、内視鏡１は、体腔内に挿入される挿入部２と、挿入部２の基端側の操作部３と、操作部３より延出され先端にコネクタ４を備えたユニバーサルコード５とを備えて構成されている。
【００１６】
前記挿入部２は、図示しない撮像手段（例えばＣＣＤ）を有する先端構成部６と、この先端構成部６に連接された上下左右に湾曲可能な湾曲部７と、湾曲部７に連設された可撓性を有する可撓管８とから構成される。
【００１７】
ユニバーサルコード５のコネクタ４は、図示しない光源装置を内設したビデオプロセッサ９に接続され、内視鏡１の撮像手段からの撮像信号をユニバーサルコード５を介してビデオプロセッサ９に伝送するようになっている。
【００１８】
このビデオプロセッサ９は、内視鏡１からの撮像信号を処理する信号処理回路（図示せず）を有しており、処理した信号がビデオプロセッサ９に接続されたモニタ１０に伝送され画像表示されるようになっている。
【００１９】
また、前記操作部３には、湾曲部７を遠隔的に湾曲操作する操作ノブ１１が設けられている。そして、この操作ノブ１１を湾曲操作することによって後述する４本の操作ワイヤ１２を引っ張り操作し、湾曲部７を上（Ｕ）下（Ｄ）・左（Ｌ）右（Ｒ）の４方向に湾曲できるようになっている。
【００２０】
先端構成部６は、先端に、図２に示すように、観察窓１３、照明窓１４、吸引口を兼ねる処置具挿入口１５、観察窓１３を洗浄、水切りする送気送水ノズル１６及び、被検者の患部の血液、粘液等を洗浄する前方送水ノズル１７を具備している。
【００２１】
図２のＥ−Ｆ−Ｇ−Ｂ−Ｈ線の挿入軸方向の断面である図８に示すように、挿入部２内には、送気送水ノズル１６に連通する送気送水パイプ１８と、前方送水ノズル１７に連通する前方送水パイプ１９が先端硬質部材２０に接着または半田付により水密に固定してあり隣接している。
【００２２】
ここで、先端部の外径を極力小さくして被検者の苦痛を軽減するために送気送水パイプ１８と前方送水パイプ１９は極力近づけてある。一方、送気送水パイプ１８と前方送水パイプ１９の先端硬質部材２０からの突出長は違えてあり、送気送水パイプ１８の方が、前方送水パイプ１９より長くしてある。
【００２３】
送気送水パイプ１８には、まず位置決め用のチューブ、パイプなどの管状部材２１が挿入され、管状部材２１に突き当たるように可撓性の送気送水チューブ２２が管状部材２１に被せてあり、糸縛り接着で水密に固定されている。さらに、管状部材２１と送気送水チューブ２２に跨がるように保護用の熱収縮チューブ２３が固定してある。前方送水パイプ１９には前記熱収縮チューブ２３を避ける前側に可撓性の前方送水チューブ２４と保護用の熱収縮チューブ２５が前方送水パイプ１９と前方送水チューブ２４に跨がるように固定してある。
【００２４】
図８からわかるように、照明窓１４に連結される可撓性で折れやすいライトガイドファイバ２６が短い方のパイプである前方送水パイプ１９の横に配置してある。これは、折れやすいライトガイドファイバ２６が硬質部材であるパイプに接触するのを防ぐための配慮である。
【００２５】
前記操作部３を詳細に説明すると、操作部３には、図９に示すように、前記操作ノブ１１と、フリーズ及びレリーズ等のリモートスイッチ４０との間に、前記前方送水ノズル１７に連通する後述する前方送水口金４１があり、ここには、不使用時にフタをするゴムやエラストマー等の弾性材料からなるキャップ４２が着脱可能に固定してある。なお、図９（ａ）は操作部３を上部から見た図を示し、図９（ｂ）は図９（ａ）の矢印方向から操作部３を見た図を示している。
【００２６】
ここで、リモートスイッチ４０もゴムやエラストマー等の弾性材料で水密的に覆われている。リモートスイッチ４０の弾性材料が押し込まれて一番低くなる位置よりもキャップ４２の高さはさらに低くなるようにしてあるので、キャップ４２がリモートスイッチ４０の横にあってもスイッチ操作に支障を生じることはない。また、リモートスイッチ４０とキャップ４２は同材質でできているので、キャップ４２がちょうどスイッチを操作しない時の指置き部の働きをすることにもなる。
【００２７】
キャップ４２の固さはリモートスイッチ４０の弾性材料の硬さと同じかもしくは軟らかくしてあり、スイッチ操作時に指がキャップ４２に触れても違和感がなく痛く感じないようにしてある。
【００２８】
操作部３の挿入軸方向の断面である図１０に示すように、前方送水チューブ２４は操作部３内において、テーパカン４３と連結ナット４４により操作部３側の前方送水チューブ４５が固定された口金４６に水密的に固定してある。
【００２９】
前方送水チューブ４５は操作部３内で、図１０のように滑らかに屈曲して配置してあり、図１１のようにキャップ４２を開けた時に、管路内全長をブラッシングするための掃除用ブラシ４７をスムーズに挿入、抜去できるようになっている。また、チューブと口金やパイプとの連結部内面は掃除用ブラシ４７がひっかかりにくいようにテーパ状にしてあったり、面取りがしてあり滑らかになっている。また、内視鏡検査中や検査終了後の前方送水管路の洗滌時には、ねじ込むことで前方送水口金４１と水密的に連結できる洗滌チューブ４８を介してシリンジ４９を用いて手動で送液、送気することができる。
【００３０】
キャップ４２は、図１２に示すような形状をしており、キャップ本体部５０と前方送水口金４１周囲への固定部５１と両者の連結部５２よりなり、連結部５２の外表面には判別用の記号、名称等が記載された文字部５３が設けられている。
【００３１】
キャップ本体部５０には、キャップ４２の開閉をしやすくするための指かけ部５４が連結部５２の反対側に出っ張っている。また、内側には、前方送水口金４１のフランジ部５５（図１０参照）の下に入り込んで、抜け止めとなる前記フランジ部５５より内径の細いひっかかり部５６を有している。このひっかかり部５６は、図１２に示すように他の部分よりも内径が大きいへこみ部５７を中心対象で２カ所に有している。また、このへこみ部５７は連結部５２の出る方向に対して垂直方向に設けてある。
【００３２】
つまり、キャップ本体部５０を、図１０のように前方送水口金４１のフランジ部５４の下のスペースのはめ込む時に、ひっかかり部５６に一部（ここでは２カ所）へこみ部５７が設けてあるので、へこみ部５７がないものに比べてひっかかり部５６が変形しやすくなり、装着力量が軽くなるという利点を有している。また、連結部５２に対して垂直方向にへこみ部５７があるので、キャップ本体部５０の外面を指で押してへこませた時にへこみ部５７が広がりやすく、キャップ４２の洗滌・消毒時に中の空気が抜けやすいという利点を有している。さらに、指かけ部５４を連結部５２の反対側のみに設けたので、横にリモートスイッチ４０があってもスイッチ操作のじゃまにならないという利点を有している。
【００３３】
一方、図２のＡ−Ｂ−Ｏ−Ｃ−Ｄ線の挿入軸方向の断面である図３に示すように、前記処置具挿入口１５には可撓性で滑り性の良い材質例えばフッ素樹脂材が形成された他の内臓物より厚肉（０．４〜０．６ｍｍ）で大内径の処置具挿通チャンネル２７が連通している。
【００３４】
また、図３に示すように、前記湾曲部７は、短い円筒状をした関節駒２８をリベット等の連結部材２９により交互に多数連結して、湾曲自在に構成した湾曲管３０を内設していると共に、湾曲管３０を覆って金属製のブレード３１とその外周に弾性を有する被覆チューブ３２を有している。
【００３５】
湾曲管３０の先端には、操作ワイヤ１２をロー付等により強固に固定するための切り欠き部３３を有している。切り欠き部３３は、図３のＪ−Ｊ線断面である図４よりわかるように、内蔵物との干渉を避けるように本来の上下左右方向に対し下側と左側がずらした位置に設けられている。撮像手段である固体撮像素子３４のある右側の切り欠き部３３ａは、他の方向に比べてスペースが少ないので、切り欠き部３３ａに操作ワイヤ１２を固定した後にカシメなどの手段で内側への突出量が少なくなるようにつぶしている。
【００３６】
図３のＫ−Ｋ線断面である図５に示すように、関節駒２８には、ほぼ上下左右４方向にワイヤ受け３５を固定した駒と、ほぼ上下方向にワイヤ受け３５を固定した駒とがあり、図３のように適切な配列で連結してある。
【００３７】
処置具挿通チャンネル２７は、挿入部２内の左下側のスペースに挿通してあり、湾曲部４においては、下側と左側のワイヤ受け３５と関節駒２８の内面との間に収納してある。ここで、下側と左側のワイヤ受け３５の外径は、上側と右側のワイヤ受け３５の外径よりも小さいものが用いられている。
【００３８】
また、下側と左側のワイヤ受け３５の内径は上側と右側のワイヤ受け３５の内径よりも小さくし、肉厚が同じにしてある。この結果、上側と右側のワイヤ受け３５と操作ワイヤ１２とのクリアランスは、下側と左側のワイヤ受け３５と操作ワイヤ１２とのクリアランスよりも大きくなり、操作ワイヤ１２牽引時の磨耗は上、右側よりも少なくなる。ここで、上側の湾曲角度は１８０°〜２１０°に設定してあり、その他の湾曲角度は９０°〜１００°に設定してある。
【００３９】
なお、ワイヤ受けと操作ワイヤとのクリアランスを湾曲方向により変えることは、一般の内視鏡においても以下のような効果を有する。つまり、例えば上部消化管用内視鏡の場合、湾曲角度は、上方向が他の方向に比べ２倍以上に大きく、その分操作ワイヤとワイヤ受けとの牽引時の摩擦も上方向が大きくなり、上側の操作ワイヤの耐性が他の操作ワイヤより劣るといった不具合があるが、本実施の形態のように、湾曲部の複数の関節駒に固定したワイヤ受けと操作ワイヤとのクリアランスを、湾曲角度が一番大きい方向のものがそれ以外のものより大きくすることで、湾曲部を含む挿入部外径を太くすることなく、湾曲部の操作ワイヤの耐性を湾曲方向に関わらず向上させることができ、耐久性の優れた内視鏡が実現できる。
【００４０】
次に、図５及び図３のＬ−Ｌ線断面である図６からわかるように、対象物の配光不良を防ぐために照明系であるライトガイドファイバ２６が挿入部内において２本具備し、さらにその太さが異なるものにおいて、湾曲部４内での折れ等の損傷を防ぐための可撓性の保護チューブ３６の肉厚を本数が多く太い方を、本数が少なく細い方に比べて薄肉にしてある。これは、本数が少なく細い方は腰がなく折れやすいのに比べて本数が多く太い方は折れにくいためで、挿入部２の外径を太くすることなく適切な保護ができる肉厚のものが組み込まれている。
【００４１】
固体撮像素子３４からの信号を送受する信号ケーブル３７にもライトガイドファイバ２６と同様に保護チューブ３８が被せてあるが、一番損傷しにくいのでライトガイドファイバ２６の保護チューブ３６よりもさらに薄肉のものが用いられている。
【００４２】
ライトガイドファイバー２６の細い方の保護チューブ３６は０．３〜０．４ｍｍで、太い方の保護チューブ３６の肉厚は０．２〜０．２５ｍｍで、信号ケーブル３７の保護チューブ３８の肉厚は０．１〜０．１５ｍｍに、本実施の形態では設定してあり、全て発泡性のフッ素樹脂材が用いられている。
【００４３】
上記の図４ないし図６よりわかるように、操作ワイヤ１２は、上側は、湾曲部４先端の切り欠き部３３（図４）も湾曲部４の中央部のワイヤ受け３５（図５）も可撓管５のコイルパイプ３９の固定部（図６）も、全て本来の上側（真上側）にあるが、他の方向は内蔵物との干渉を避けるためにずらしてある。
【００４４】
つまり、本来の上下左右方向を０°とした時そこからのずれ角を示す右下左方向は以下のようになっている。
【００４５】

ここで、図５と図６を比較すると、処置具挿通チャンネル２７をはさむ下側と左側が図５より図６の方が大きくずらしてあることがわかる。これは、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲異常の原因となる湾曲部４では極力ずれ角を小さくする必要より狭めてあるが、そうでない可撓管５の先端部では、全体の内蔵物の働きを考えてコイルパイプ３９を固定したためである。
【００４６】
本実施の形態の内視鏡１では、挿入部２を被検者の体腔内へ挿入して湾曲操作を行った時、湾曲部４内の処置具挿通チャンネル２７の横のワイヤ受け３５の外径が小さいものを用いて極力本来の上下左右方向に近づけたので、湾曲反り上りや視野の上側へ湾曲させてからストレートに戻した時の湾曲部反りの現象が少なく、内視鏡の操作性が良好である。
【００４７】
つまり、本実施の形態では、図７に示すように、処置具挿通チャンネル２７を湾曲部７内で、関節駒２８内面とワイヤ受け３５外面との間のスペースに収納（挿入配置）し、処置具挿通チャンネル２７の近くに設けたワイヤ受け３５の外径を他の箇所（例えば上側）のワイヤ受け３５の外径より小さくした。
【００４８】
そのため、処置具挿通チャンネル２７近くのワイヤ受け３５の外径を少なくとも１つは他より小さくすることで，処置具挿通チャンネル２７をはさむ２つのワイヤ受け３５の外面間の距離（例えば図７のｈ１とｈ２）が同じでも，２つのワイヤ受け３５の中心間の距離を近づけることができる。これにより、湾曲部７の外径を太くすることなく、本来の９０°間隔の上下左右湾曲方向からワイヤ受け３５の取り付け部までの角度のずれを少なくできる。この結果、下もしくは、左、右方向に湾曲させた時に生じる湾曲反り上り等の現象が軽減でき、湾曲操作性に支障が生じることを防げる。
【００４９】
図７に示した例によると、従来、４カ所のワイヤ受けの外径が同じものを使っていた時は、たとえば、下側と左側のワイヤ受けのずれ量が約３０°あったのに対し、本実施の形態のように処置具挿通チャンネル２７に近い下側と左側のワイヤ受け３５を他の箇所（ここでは上側と右側）に比べ小さいものを使うことにより、下側はずれ量０になり、左側も約１０°まで少なくできる。
【００５０】
なお、ワイヤ受け３５のずれ量が１０°近くであれば、湾曲反り上りや湾曲部をストレートに戻した時の湾曲部反りの現象は非常に少なくなり、実使用上の支障が生じないことが、本実施の形態での検討によりわかっている。
【００５１】
図１３及び図１４は本発明の第２の実施の形態に係わり、図１３は内視鏡の湾曲部の中央付近の横断面を示す断面図、図１４は図１３の湾曲部に連設される可撓管の先端付近の横断面を示す断面図である。
【００５２】
第２の実施の形態は、第１の実施の形態とほとんど同じであるので、異なる点のみ説明し、同一の構成には同じ符号をつけ説明は省略する。
【００５３】
本実施の形態の湾曲部７では、図１３に示すように、ワイヤ受け３５の外径が下側のみ小さく、他はそれよりも大きいものが、関節駒２８の内周にロー付等により固定してある。さらに処置具挿通チャンネル２７のある側の関節駒２８の内周にも他のワイヤ受け３５よりも外径が小さく、中に操作ワイヤ１２を通さないダミーのワイヤ受け７１を２ヶ関節駒２８の内周に固定してある。
【００５４】
ここで、図１３において関節駒２８の内径をｄ１とし、図１４に示すように可撓管８の内径をｄ２とした時、ｄ１＞ｄ２の関係になっている。また、関節駒２８の挿入部中心から処置具挿通チャンネル２７までの距離ｈ１と可撓管８の先端部の挿入部中心から処置具挿通チャンネル２７までの距離ｈ２とした時、ｈ１＜ｈ２の関係になるようにダミーのワイヤ受け７１の外径を設定してある。
【００５５】
このように構成した第２の実施の形態では、第１の実施の形態の効果に加え、保持部材であるダミーのワイヤ受け７１の関節駒２８への固定が他のワイヤ受け３９の固定と同じ手段で行え、組立作業性が良い点と１ヶでなく２ヶという複数個設けているので処置具挿通チャンネル２７に接触する箇所が増え、集中した力が働かず損傷しにくいという効果を有している。
【００５６】
図１５は本発明の第３の実施の形態に係る内視鏡の湾曲部の中央付近の横断面を示す断面図である。
【００５７】
第３の実施の形態は、第２の実施の形態とほとんど同じであるので、異なる点のみ説明し、同一の構成には同じ符号をつけ説明は省略する。
【００５８】
本実施の形態は、第２の実施の形態で示した図１３のダミーのワイヤ受け７１の代わりに、図１５に示すように、関節駒２８の処置具挿通チャンネル２７のある側をプレス等の手段で他の箇所に比べて中心寄りにへこませた内面凸部７５を有している点が第２の実施の形態と異なる。
【００５９】
第２、第３の実施の形態共に、湾曲操作を行った時の処置具挿通チャンネル２７の移動量が少ないので、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲不良が生じたり、他の内蔵物を圧迫して損傷するという不具合が生じにくいという利点を有している。
【００６０】
また、特に第３の実施の形態は、保持部材を関節駒２８を内側へプレスして内面凸部７５を設けているので、ダミーのワイヤ受け７１が不要であり、ダミーのワイヤ受け７１を固定することも不要であり、安く作れるという効果がある。
【００６１】
図１６及び図１７は本発明の第４の実施の形態に係わり、図１６は内視鏡の湾曲部の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図、図１７は図１６のＭ−Ｍ線断面を示す断面図である。
【００６２】
第４の実施の形態は、第１の実施の形態とほとんど同じであるので、異なる点のみ説明し、同一の構成には同じ符号をつけ説明は省略する。
【００６３】
本実施の形態では、図１６に示すように、湾曲部７の被覆チューブ３２の管軸方向の肉厚を内側に処置具挿通チャンネル２７のある下と左の中間方向の全長に渡って細長く他の部分の肉厚よりも厚くしてある。つまり、図１７に示すように、処置具挿通チャンネル２７のある下と左の中間方向の肉厚をＴ、その他の部分の肉厚をｔとすると、Ｔ＞ｔをなるように構成している。また、肉厚の変化は、図１７のように薄い部分から厚い部分へ滑らかに移行させてある。さらに、下側のワイヤ受け３５の外径ｄは他のワイヤ受け外径Ｄより小さくなっている。
【００６４】
このように構成することで、第１の実施の形態の効果に加え、通常リベット等の連結部材２９やワイヤ受け３５のある上下左右方向に湾曲部７を曲げるので、この方向の被覆チューブ３２の厚さは厚くしたくない。本実施例は左下側を厚肉にしているので通常使用時の湾曲力量が重くなることがなく、且つ内側の鉗子チャンネル２７による湾曲部７の反り上りを少なくする効果を有している。
【００６５】
ここで、本実施の形態は、厚肉部分を左下一方向のみにしたが、湾曲反り上りを少なくするためにさらに右上の方向も合わせた２方向にしても上下左右をはずした４方向にしてもよい。
【００６６】
なお、本発明は、上記各実施の形態に限定されず、例えば第１の実施の形態の被覆チューブ３２を湾曲部７の先端側に比べて後端側を約０．２〜０．５ｍｍ厚くして先端側から曲がりやすくしたものと組み合わせても良く、この方がさらに湾曲反り上りやストレートに戻した時の反りの軽減に有効である。この他、各実施の形態を組み合わせたりすることも可能であるし、ワイヤ受け３５と関節駒２８は別体でなく一体のものでも当然よい。発明の趣旨を逸脱しない範囲で種々変形実施可能である。
【００６７】
［付記］
（付記項１）互いに回転自在に連結された複数の関節駒の内面に設けた複数のワイヤ受けを介して、前記複数の関節駒内に挿通される複数の操作ワイヤに応動して、前記複数の関節駒が湾曲する湾曲部と、
前記湾曲部内に挿通した処置具挿通チャンネルと
を有する内視鏡において、
前記処置具挿通チャンネルの近傍側に設けられる前記ワイヤ受けの外径を、他の位置の内面に設けられた前記ワイヤ受けの外径より小さくした
ことを特徴とする内視鏡。
【００６８】
（付記項２）外径の小さい前記ワイヤ受けは、少なくとも視野の下側として配置される
ことを特徴とする付記項１に記載の内視鏡。
【００６９】
（付記項３）外径の小さい前記ワイヤ受けは、処置具挿通チャンネルをはさむ両側に配置される
ことを特徴とする付記項１または２に記載の内視鏡。
【００７０】
（付記項４）連結部材により互いに回転自在に連結された複数の関節駒の内面に設けた複数のワイヤ受けを介して、前記複数の関節駒内に挿通される複数の操作ワイヤに応動して、前記複数の関節駒が少なくとも４方向に湾曲する湾曲部と、前記湾曲部の外周を被覆する被覆チューブと
を有する内視鏡において、
前記被覆チューブは、前記湾曲部の長手方向に対して、前記連結部材が配置されていない方向の肉厚を厚肉にした
ことを特徴とする内視鏡。
【００７１】
（付記項５）前記連結部材で連結してある方向は、視野に対して上下左右方向であり、前記被覆チューブの肉厚が厚肉にしてある方向は、前記上下左右方向の中間方向である
ことを特徴とする付記項４に記載の内視鏡。
【００７２】
（付記項６）前記被覆チューブの厚肉部分から薄肉部分へは、滑らかに肉厚が変化している
ことを特徴とする付記項４または５に記載の内視鏡。
【００７３】
（付記項７）前記被覆チューブの肉厚の厚肉方向は、前記湾曲部内を挿通する処置具挿通チャンネルに近接した方向である
ことを特徴とする付記項４、５または６のいずれか１つに記載の内視鏡。
【００７４】
従来より、湾曲部の被覆チューブをその管軸方向に沿って一部細長く厚肉にしたものとしては、特開平４−３５７９２３号公報が知られている。
【００７５】
これは、隣り合う節輪間に被覆チューブが落ち込んで穿孔することを防ぐものであり、節輪の連結部材であるリベットのある方向を他の方向より厚肉にしたものである。
【００７６】
特開平４−３５７９２３号の欠点は通常多用する湾曲方向（リベットのある方向と一致）が厚肉になっているので、湾曲に要する力量が重くなり、曲げにくい点である。
【００７７】
そこで、付記項４または５の内視鏡では、前記被覆チューブにおいて、前記湾曲部の長手方向に対して、前記連結部材が配置されていない方向の肉厚を厚肉にすることで、通常多用する湾曲方向の湾曲に要する力量を重くすることなく、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲不良を解消し操作性を向上させることを可能とする。
【００７８】
また、付記項６の内視鏡では、付記項４または５の内視鏡の効果に加え、滑らかに肉厚を変化させることで、変化点での亀裂発生等の不具合がなく、被検者の咽頭通過時等のひっかりの防止を可能とする。
【００７９】
さらに、付記項７の内視鏡では、付記項４、５または６の内視鏡の効果に加え、処置具挿通チャンネルの突っ張りによる原因の湾曲反り上りをそれに近接した方向の被覆チューブを厚肉にして曲がりにくくすることで、本来の上下左右方向に曲がりやすくして湾曲不良を少なくすることを可能とする。
【００８０】
（付記項８）互いに回転自在に連結された複数の関節駒の内面に設けた複数のワイヤ受けを介して、前記複数の関節駒内に挿通される複数の操作ワイヤに応動して、前記複数の関節駒が湾曲する湾曲部と、
前記湾曲部の基端側に連結する可撓管と、
前記湾曲部と前記可撓管内に挿通した処置具挿通チャンネルと
を有する内視鏡において、
前記処置具挿通チャンネルの配置位置を、前記可撓管先端部内に対して前記湾曲部内において、前記湾曲部及び前記可撓管よりなる挿入部の中心よりに保持する保持部材を前記湾曲部内に設けた
ことを特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８１】
（付記項９）前記湾曲部の前記複数の関節駒の内径が、前記可撓管の内径よりも大きい
ことを特徴とする付記項８に記載の内視鏡。
【００８２】
（付記項１０）前記保持部材は、前記処置具挿通チャンネルに近接させて前記複数の関節駒の内部に設けた、前記操作ワイヤを挿通させないワイヤ受けである
ことを特徴とする付記項８または９に記載の内視鏡。
【００８３】
（付記項１１）前記操作ワイヤを挿通させない前記ワイヤ受けを複数設けた
ことを特徴とする付記項１０に記載の内視鏡。
【００８４】
（付記項１２）前記保持部材は、前記処置具挿通チャンネルを前記挿入部の中心よりに配置させる、前記関節駒の一部を中心寄りにへこませた内面凸部である
ことを特徴とする付記項８または９に記載の内視鏡。
【００８５】
従来より、例えば特開平２−１３５３１３号公報に記載されているように、湾曲によるライトガイドの折れ防止のためにスコープ管路内の中央部にライトガイドを配設させる保持部材を具備した内視鏡や、特開平２−１０９５３７号公報に記載されているように、安価に湾曲部内蔵物のアバレを防止するために湾曲管内周方向ワイヤガイド間に、内蔵物の移動を規制する移動規制部材を設けた内視鏡がある。
【００８６】
これら特開平２−１３５３１３号公報及び特開平２−１０９５３７号公報の内視鏡は、共に処置具挿通チャンネルは挿入部中心でなく湾曲部の周囲に収納されている。処置具挿通チャンネルは湾曲部内蔵物の中で一番厚肉で、外径が大きく曲がりにくいことが一般的であり、この処置具挿通チャンネルが湾曲部内の周囲に収納されていると、湾曲操作を行った時の湾曲部内でのチャンネルの移動量が大きく、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲不良が生じたり、他の内蔵物を圧迫して損傷するという不具合がある。
【００８７】
そこで、付記項８または９の内視鏡では、前記処置具挿通チャンネルの配置位置を、前記可撓管先端部内に対して前記湾曲部内において、前記湾曲部及び前記可撓管よりなる挿入部の中心よりに保持する保持部材を前記湾曲部内に設けることで、湾曲操作を行っても、湾曲部内でのチャンネルの移動量を少なくして、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲不良を少なくすると共に、他の内蔵物の圧迫を少なくし損傷を防止することを可能とする。
【００８８】
また、付記項１０の内視鏡では、付記項８または９の内視鏡の効果に加え、保持部材の組立作業性の向上を可能とする。
【００８９】
さらに、付記項１１または１２の内視鏡では、処置具挿通チャンネルと、保持部材の接触箇所を増やすことで処置具挿通チャンネルの損傷を防ぐことを可能とする。
【００９０】
（付記項１３）互いに回転自在に連結した複数の関節駒の内側に設けた複数のワイヤ受けを介して、前記複数の関節駒内に挿通される複数の操作ワイヤに応動して、前記複数の関節駒が湾曲する湾曲部を有し、前記湾曲部の複数の湾曲方向の最大湾曲角が異なる内視鏡において、
前記湾曲部の複数の湾曲方向のうち、最大湾曲角が最も大きい湾曲方向に設けた前記ワイヤ受けと前記操作ワイヤとのクリアランスが、他の前記ワイヤ受けと前記操作ワイヤとのクリアランスよりも大きい
ことを特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９１】
従来の内視鏡は、全ての湾曲方向のワイヤ受けと操作ワイヤとのクリアランスはその湾曲角度にかかわらず同じであった。通常の上部消化管内視鏡の湾曲角度は、上側の湾曲方向が、他の湾曲方向に比べて２倍以上大きく、その分、ワイヤとワイヤ受けとの牽引時の磨耗も大きいため、上側のワイヤの耐性が他の方向よりも劣るという不具合がある。
【００９２】
そこで、付記項１３の内視鏡では、前記湾曲部の複数の湾曲方向のうち、最大湾曲角が最も大きい湾曲方向に設けた前記ワイヤ受けと前記操作ワイヤとのクリアランスを、他の前記ワイヤ受けと前記操作ワイヤとのクリアランスよりも大きくすることで、湾曲部を含む挿入部外径を太くすることなく、湾曲部の操作ワイヤの耐性を湾曲する方向にかかわらず向上させ、優れた耐久性を有する内視鏡の実現を可能とする。
【００９３】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように本発明の内視鏡によれば、処置具挿通チャンネルの近傍側に設けられるワイヤ受けの外径を、他の位置の内面に設けられたワイヤ受けの外径より小さくしているので、体腔内挿入部、特に湾曲部の外径を太くすることなく、処置具挿通チャンネル近くの湾曲方向のワイヤ受けのずれ量を少なくし、湾曲反り上り等の湾曲不良を解消し操作性を向上させることができるという効果がある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施の形態に係る内視鏡の構成を示す構成図
【図２】図１の内視鏡の先端構成部の先端面の構成を示す構成図
【図３】図２のＡ−Ｂ−Ｏ−Ｃ−Ｄ線の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図
【図４】図３のＪ−Ｊ線断面を示す断面図
【図５】図３のＫ−Ｋ線断面を示す断面図
【図６】図３のＬ−Ｌ線断面を示す断面図
【図７】図１の湾曲部の作用を説明する説明図
【図８】図２のＥ−Ｆ−Ｇ−Ｂ−Ｈ線の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図
【図９】図１の操作部の外観を示す外観図
【図１０】図９の操作部の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図
【図１１】図１０の前方送水管路の洗滌を説明する説明図
【図１２】図９の前方送水口金を塞ぐキャップの構成を示す構成図
【図１３】本発明の第２の実施の形態に係る内視鏡の湾曲部の中央付近の横断面を示す断面図
【図１４】図１３の湾曲部に連設される可撓管の先端付近の横断面を示す断面図
【図１５】本発明の第３の実施の形態に係る内視鏡の湾曲部の中央付近の横断面を示す断面図
【図１６】本発明の第４の実施の形態に係る内視鏡の湾曲部の挿入軸方向の断面を示す断面図
【図１７】図１６のＭ−Ｍ線断面を示す断面図
【図１８】従来の内視鏡の湾曲部の作用を説明する第１の説明図
【図１９】従来の内視鏡の湾曲部の作用を説明する第２の説明図
【符号の説明】
１…内視鏡
２…挿入部
３…操作部
４…コネクタ
５…ユニバーサルコード
６…先端構成部
７…湾曲部
８…可撓管
９…ビデオプロセッサ
１０…モニタ
１１…操作ノブ
１２…操作ワイヤ
１３…観察窓
１４…照明窓
１５…処置具挿入口
１６…送気送水ノズル
１７…前方送水ノズル
２７…処置具挿通チャンネル
２８…関節駒
２９…連結部材
３０…湾曲管
３１…ブレード
３２…被覆チューブ
３３、３３ａ…切り欠き部
３４…固体撮像素子
３５…ワイヤ受け
３６、３８…保護チューブ
３７…信号ケーブル
３９…コイルパイプ[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly, to an endoscope characterized by a wire receiving portion of an operation wire provided in a bending portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes capable of observing organs in a body cavity by inserting a slender insertion portion into a body cavity, and performing various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool insertion channel as necessary have been widely used. Used.
[0003]
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Sho 60-32903 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 5-38325 are known as such endoscopes.
[0004]
In the former, in order to obtain a curved structure in which the outer diameter of the treatment tool insertion channel is increased without increasing the outer diameter of the body cavity insertion portion, the interval between the wire receivers protruding from the four inner surfaces of the joint piece is increased from 90 °. The treatment tool insertion channel is inserted and arranged in the spread wire receiver. Here, it can be seen from the drawings that the shape (including the outer diameter) of the wire receiver used is the same at all four locations.
[0005]
The latter requires only a small amount of operation force when bending the endoscope bending portion, and in order to smoothly bend the bending portion, a bending direction having a large maximum bending angle among a plurality of bending directions of the bending portion. At least one of the wire receivers into which the operation wires corresponding to the excluding bending directions are inserted is provided at a position shifted from the bending direction passing through the center of the joint piece. It can be seen from the drawing that the shape (including the outer diameter) of the wire receiver used here is the same at all four locations, up, down, left, and right.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In both Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-32903 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-38325, the interval between the wire receivers in the bending portion is not 90 °, but is shifted from the original center axis in the vertical and horizontal directions. In particular, in an endoscope provided with a treatment instrument insertion channel having a large outer diameter, a wire receiver close to the storage space is largely shifted (by about 15 ° or more) from the original vertical and horizontal bending directions.
[0007]
Here, if the displacement of the wire receiver is large, as shown in FIG. 18, when the bending portion 101 is bent to the lower side, left side, or right side, it bends in a direction different from the direction in which it should originally bend, that is, a so-called curved warpage. Phenomenon may occur, which may hinder bending operability. The deviation angle (α) between the direction in which the original bend and the actual bend in FIG. 18B are referred to as the amount of curvature warpage. If this value is large (exceeding 30 °), the bending operability is likely to be affected.
[0008]
Also, when the bending portion 101 is returned straight after being bent to the upper side of the field of view, as shown in FIG. 19, a phenomenon of bending portion warping that turns left or right without returning straight occurs, Endoscopy could be disrupted. If the value of the deviation angle (β) between the direction in which the vehicle should bend and the direction in which it should actually bend in FIG. 19B is large (exceeding 30 °), the endoscopic examination is likely to be disturbed as in the case of the curved warpage.
[0009]
For this reason, it has been desired to reduce the deviation from the original vertical, left, and right bending directions of not only the upper side but also the lower, left, and right wire receivers without increasing the outer diameter of the body cavity insertion portion. . In particular, when the lower curve warpage is large, it is necessary to use the left and right curves more frequently, and therefore, improvement is desired compared to the left and right directions.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to reduce the amount of displacement of a wire receiver in a bending direction near a treatment tool insertion channel without increasing the outer diameter of a body cavity insertion part, particularly, a bending part. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope with good operability in which poor bending such as warpage of a curve is eliminated.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The endoscope of the present invention, via a plurality of wire receivers provided on the inner surface of a plurality of joint pieces rotatably connected to each other, in response to a plurality of operation wires inserted into the plurality of joint pieces, In an endoscope having a curved portion in which the plurality of joint pieces are curved, and a treatment instrument insertion channel inserted in the curved portion, the outer diameter of the wire receiver provided near the treatment instrument insertion channel may be different. At a position smaller than the outer diameter of the wire receiver provided on the inner surface at the position.
[0012]
In the endoscope of the present invention, the outer diameter of the wire receiver provided on the side near the treatment tool insertion channel is made smaller than the outer diameter of the wire receiver provided on the inner surface at another position, so that the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity. It is possible to reduce the amount of displacement of the wire receiver in the bending direction near the treatment tool insertion channel, increase the operability by eliminating the bending failure such as bending, without increasing the outer diameter of the insertion portion, particularly the bending portion. Make it possible.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
1 to 12 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of a distal end surface of a distal end configuration portion of the endoscope of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a section taken along the line A-B-O-C-D of FIG. 2 in the direction of the insertion axis, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a section taken along the line JJ of FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line KK of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line LL of FIG. 3, FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the EFGBH line taken along the insertion axis, FIG. 9 is an external view showing the appearance of the operation unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section, FIG. 11 is an explanatory view for explaining the cleaning of the front water supply conduit of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a cap for closing the front water supply mouthpiece of FIG.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 includes an insertion section 2 to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation section 3 on the proximal end side of the insertion section 2, and a connector 4 extended from the operation section 3 and at a distal end. And a universal cord 5.
[0016]
The insertion section 2 is provided with a tip section 6 having an image pickup means (for example, a CCD) not shown, a bending section 7 connected to the tip section 6 and capable of bending up, down, left and right, and connected to the bending section 7. And a flexible tube 8 having flexibility.
[0017]
The connector 4 of the universal cord 5 is connected to a video processor 9 in which a light source device (not shown) is provided, and transmits an image signal from an imaging means of the endoscope 1 to the video processor 9 via the universal cord 5. ing.
[0018]
The video processor 9 has a signal processing circuit (not shown) for processing an image signal from the endoscope 1, and the processed signal is transmitted to a monitor 10 connected to the video processor 9 to be displayed on an image. It has become so.
[0019]
The operation section 3 is provided with an operation knob 11 for remotely bending the bending section 7. Then, by bending the operation knob 11, four operation wires 12, which will be described later, are pulled, and the bending portion 7 is moved upward (U), downward (D), left (L), and right (R) in four directions. It can be bent.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end component 6 includes an observation window 13, an illumination window 14, a treatment instrument insertion port 15 also serving as a suction port, an air supply / water supply nozzle 16 for cleaning and draining the observation window 13, as shown in FIG. The apparatus is provided with a front water supply nozzle 17 for cleaning blood, mucus, etc. of the affected part of the examiner.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 8, which is a cross section of the EFGBH line in FIG. 2 in the direction of the insertion axis, in the insertion portion 2, an air / water pipe 18 communicating with the air / water nozzle 16, A front water supply pipe 19 communicating with the front water supply nozzle 17 is fixed to the distal end hard member 20 in a watertight manner by bonding or soldering, and is adjacent to the front hard member 20.
[0022]
Here, the air / water supply pipe 18 and the front water supply pipe 19 are brought as close as possible in order to reduce the outer diameter of the distal end portion as much as possible to reduce the pain of the subject. On the other hand, the projecting length of the air / water supply pipe 18 and the front water supply pipe 19 from the distal end hard member 20 is different, and the air / water supply pipe 18 is longer than the front water supply pipe 19.
[0023]
First, a tubular member 21 such as a positioning tube or a pipe is inserted into the air / water supply pipe 18, and a flexible air / water supply tube 22 is put on the tubular member 21 so as to abut the tubular member 21. It is fixed watertight with tied adhesive. Further, a heat-shrinkable tube 23 for protection is fixed so as to straddle the tubular member 21 and the air / water supply tube 22. A flexible front water supply tube 24 and a protection heat contraction tube 25 are fixed to the front water supply pipe 19 so as to straddle the front water supply pipe 19 and the front water supply tube 24 on the front side avoiding the heat contraction tube 23. is there.
[0024]
As can be seen from FIG. 8, a flexible, easily breakable light guide fiber 26 connected to the illumination window 14 is located beside the shorter pipe, the front water supply pipe 19. This is to prevent the easily breakable light guide fiber 26 from coming into contact with the pipe, which is a hard member.
[0025]
The operation unit 3 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 3 communicates with the front water supply nozzle 17 between the operation knob 11 and a remote switch 40 such as a freeze switch and a release switch. There is a front water supply mouth ring 41 described later, and a cap 42 made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, which covers when not in use, is detachably fixed. 9A shows the operation unit 3 as viewed from above, and FIG. 9B shows the operation unit 3 as viewed from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9A.
[0026]
Here, the remote switch 40 is also water-tightly covered with an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. Since the height of the cap 42 is made lower than the position where the elastic material of the remote switch 40 is pushed down to the lowest, even if the cap 42 is located beside the remote switch 40, the operation of the switch is hindered. Never. Further, since the remote switch 40 and the cap 42 are made of the same material, the cap 42 also functions as a finger rest when the switch is not operated.
[0027]
The hardness of the cap 42 is the same or softer as the hardness of the elastic material of the remote switch 40, so that even if a finger touches the cap 42 when the switch is operated, it does not feel uncomfortable and does not cause pain.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 10 which is a cross section of the operation unit 3 in the insertion axis direction, the front water supply tube 24 is a base in which the front water supply tube 45 on the operation unit 3 side is fixed by the taper can 43 and the connection nut 44 in the operation unit 3. 46 is fixed in a watertight manner.
[0029]
The front water supply tube 45 is disposed in the operation section 3 so as to be smoothly bent as shown in FIG. 10, and when the cap 42 is opened as shown in FIG. 11, a cleaning brush for brushing the entire length in the pipeline. 47 can be inserted and removed smoothly. Further, the inner surface of the connecting portion between the tube and the base or the pipe is tapered or chamfered so that the cleaning brush 47 is hardly caught. Further, during the endoscope inspection or at the time of cleaning the front water supply conduit after the end of the inspection, the liquid is manually supplied using the syringe 49 via the cleaning tube 48 that can be screwed and connected to the front water supply mouthpiece 41 in a watertight manner. Can be insufflated.
[0030]
The cap 42 has a shape as shown in FIG. 12, and includes a cap body 50, a fixing portion 51 around the front water supply mouthpiece 41, and a connecting portion 52 of the both, and the outer surface of the connecting portion 52 has a discrimination. A character portion 53 on which a symbol, name, and the like are described is provided.
[0031]
A finger hook portion 54 protrudes from the cap body 50 on the opposite side of the connecting portion 52 to facilitate opening and closing of the cap 42. Further, on the inner side, there is provided a catching portion 56 having a smaller inside diameter than the flange portion 55 which enters under the flange portion 55 (see FIG. 10) of the front water supply mouthpiece 41 and serves as a stopper. As shown in FIG. 12, the catching portion 56 has two recessed portions 57 having a larger inner diameter than the other portions with respect to the center. The recess 57 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting portion 52 protrudes.
[0032]
That is, when the cap main body 50 is fitted in the space below the flange portion 54 of the front water supply mouthpiece 41 as shown in FIG. 10, the catch portion 56 is provided with a part (here, two recesses) 57 in the hook portion 56. In addition, the catching portion 56 is easily deformed as compared with the case without the concave portion 57, and has an advantage that the amount of mounting force is reduced. Further, since the concave portion 57 is provided in the direction perpendicular to the connecting portion 52, the concave portion 57 easily spreads when the outer surface of the cap main body 50 is pressed and dented with a finger, and air inside the cap 42 during cleaning / disinfection of the cap 42 is removed. Has the advantage that it is easily removed. Furthermore, since the finger hook portion 54 is provided only on the opposite side of the connecting portion 52, there is an advantage that even if the remote switch 40 is located on the side, it does not hinder the switch operation.
[0033]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, which is a cross-section in the direction of the insertion axis of the A-B-O-C-D line of FIG. A treatment tool insertion channel 27 having a larger thickness (0.4 to 0.6 mm) and a larger inner diameter than the other internal organs formed with the material communicates therewith.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 3, the bending portion 7 is provided with a bending tube 30 formed by bending a plurality of short cylindrical joint pieces 28 alternately by connecting members 29 such as rivets. In addition, a metal blade 31 covering the curved tube 30 and a coating tube 32 having elasticity on the outer periphery thereof are provided.
[0035]
The distal end of the curved tube 30 has a cutout 33 for firmly fixing the operation wire 12 by brazing or the like. As can be seen from FIG. 4 which is a cross section taken along line JJ of FIG. 3, the notch 33 is provided at a position where the lower side and the left side are shifted with respect to the original upper, lower, left and right directions so as to avoid interference with the internal components. ing. The cutout 33a on the right side of the solid-state image pickup device 34, which is an image pickup unit, has less space than in the other direction. Therefore, after the operation wire 12 is fixed to the cutout 33a, the cutout 33a projects inward by means such as caulking. Crushed to reduce volume.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 5 which is a cross section taken along the line KK in FIG. 3, the joint piece 28 includes a piece in which the wire receiver 35 is fixed substantially in four directions, up and down, left and right, and a piece in which the wire receiver 35 is fixed substantially in the vertical direction. And are connected by an appropriate sequence as shown in FIG.
[0037]
The treatment tool insertion channel 27 is inserted into the lower left space in the insertion section 2, and is housed between the lower and left wire receivers 35 and the inner surface of the joint piece 28 in the bending section 4. . Here, the outer diameter of the lower and left wire receivers 35 is smaller than the outer diameter of the upper and right wire receivers 35.
[0038]
The inner diameters of the lower and left wire receivers 35 are smaller than the inner diameters of the upper and right wire receivers 35, and have the same thickness. As a result, the clearance between the upper and right wire receivers 35 and the operation wire 12 becomes larger than the clearance between the lower and left wire receivers 35 and the operation wire 12, and the wear when the operation wire 12 is pulled is higher than that of the upper and right wires. Less than. Here, the upper bending angle is set to 180 ° to 210 °, and the other bending angles are set to 90 ° to 100 °.
[0039]
Changing the clearance between the wire receiver and the operation wire according to the bending direction has the following effects even in a general endoscope. In other words, for example, in the case of an endoscope for the upper gastrointestinal tract, the bending angle is twice as large in the upward direction as compared to the other directions, and the upward friction of the towing between the operation wire and the wire receiver is also large, Although there is a defect that the resistance of the upper operation wire is inferior to other operation wires, as in the present embodiment, the clearance between the wire receiver fixed to the plurality of joint pieces of the bending portion and the operation wire, the bending angle is reduced. By making the thing in the largest direction larger than the others, it is possible to improve the resistance of the operation wire of the bending part regardless of the bending direction, without increasing the outer diameter of the insertion part including the bending part, An endoscope with excellent durability can be realized.
[0040]
Next, as can be seen from FIG. 6 which is a cross section taken along line LL in FIG. 5 and FIG. 3, two light guide fibers 26 serving as an illumination system are provided in the insertion portion in order to prevent a poor light distribution of the object. In the case where the thickness is different, the thickness of the flexible protective tube 36 for preventing damage such as breakage in the curved portion 4 is made thinner in a thicker number than in a thinner number as compared with a thinner number. It is. This is because the thinner one has a smaller number and is harder to break than the thicker one because it is harder to break than the thicker one. It has been incorporated.
[0041]
A signal cable 37 for transmitting and receiving a signal from the solid-state imaging device 34 is also covered with a protective tube 38 like the light guide fiber 26, but it is hardest to be damaged, so that it is thinner than the protective tube 36 of the light guide fiber 26. Things are used.
[0042]
The thin protective tube 36 of the light guide fiber 26 has a thickness of 0.3 to 0.4 mm, the thick protective tube 36 has a thickness of 0.2 to 0.25 mm, and the protective tube 38 of the signal cable 37 has a thickness of 0.2 to 0.25 mm. Is set to 0.1 to 0.15 mm in the present embodiment, and a foaming fluororesin material is used in all cases.
[0043]
As can be seen from FIGS. 4 to 6, the upper side of the operation wire 12 can be the cutout portion 33 (FIG. 4) at the tip of the bending portion 4 or the wire receiver 35 (FIG. 5) at the center portion of the bending portion 4. The fixed portions (FIG. 6) of the coil pipe 39 of the flexible tube 5 are all on the original upper side (directly above), but are shifted in other directions to avoid interference with the built-in components.
[0044]
That is, when the original upper, lower, left, and right directions are set to 0 °, the lower right and left directions indicating the deviation angles therefrom are as follows.
[0045]

Here, comparing FIG. 5 with FIG. 6, it can be seen that the lower side and the left side sandwiching the treatment instrument insertion channel 27 are shifted farther in FIG. 6 than in FIG. This is because the bending angle of the bending portion 4 which causes the bending abnormality such as the warpage of the bending is narrowed as much as possible to minimize the deviation angle. This is because the coil pipe 39 is fixed.
[0046]
In the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, when the insertion section 2 is inserted into the body cavity of the subject to perform the bending operation, the endoscope 1 is placed outside the wire receiver 35 beside the treatment instrument insertion channel 27 in the bending section 4. Uses a small diameter object as close as possible to the original vertical and horizontal directions, so there is less phenomena of bending and warping when bending back to the top of the field of view and then returning to a straight, endoscope operability Is good.
[0047]
That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the treatment instrument insertion channel 27 is stored (inserted and arranged) in the space between the inner surface of the joint piece 28 and the outer surface of the wire receiver 35 in the bending portion 7. The outer diameter of the wire receiver 35 provided near the tool insertion channel 27 is smaller than the outer diameter of the wire receiver 35 at another location (for example, the upper side).
[0048]
Therefore, by making at least one outer diameter of the wire receiver 35 near the treatment tool insertion channel 27 smaller than the other, the distance between the outer surfaces of the two wire receivers 35 sandwiching the treatment tool insertion channel 27 (for example, h1 in FIG. 7) And h2), the distance between the centers of the two wire receivers 35 can be reduced. Thereby, the deviation of the angle from the original 90 ° vertical and horizontal bending directions to the mounting portion of the wire receiver 35 can be reduced without increasing the outer diameter of the bending portion 7. As a result, it is possible to reduce a phenomenon such as a curved warpage that occurs when the camera is bent downward, leftward, or rightward, thereby preventing the bending operability from being affected.
[0049]
According to the example shown in FIG. 7, when the wire diameters of the four wire receivers were conventionally the same, for example, the amount of deviation between the lower and left wire receivers was about 30 °, By using the lower and left wire receivers 35 close to the treatment instrument insertion channel 27 as compared with other portions (here, upper and right sides) as in the present embodiment, the lower side has a displacement amount of 0. And the left side can be reduced to about 10 °.
[0050]
If the amount of displacement of the wire receiver 35 is close to 10 °, the phenomenon of curving up and curving of the curved portion when the curved portion is returned to a straight state is extremely reduced, and there is no problem in practical use. It is known from the examination in the present embodiment.
[0051]
13 and 14 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section near the center of the bending portion of the endoscope, and FIG. 14 is connected to the bending portion of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section near the tip of a flexible tube.
[0052]
Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
[0053]
In the bending portion 7 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the outer diameter of the wire receiver 35 is smaller only on the lower side, and the other is larger than that, but is fixed to the inner periphery of the joint piece 28 by brazing or the like. I have. Further, the outer periphery of the joint piece 28 on the side where the treatment tool insertion channel 27 is located is smaller in outer diameter than the other wire receiver 35, and a dummy wire receiver 71 that does not allow the operation wire 12 to pass therethrough is used for the two joint pieces 28. It is fixed to the inner circumference.
[0054]
Here, when the inner diameter of the joint piece 28 is d1 in FIG. 13 and the inner diameter of the flexible tube 8 is d2 as shown in FIG. 14, the relationship is d1> d2. When the distance h1 from the center of the insertion portion of the joint piece 28 to the treatment tool insertion channel 27 and the distance h2 from the center of the insertion portion at the distal end of the flexible tube 8 to the treatment tool insertion channel 27, the relationship of h1 <h2 is satisfied. The outer diameter of the dummy wire receiver 71 is set so that
[0055]
In the second embodiment configured as described above, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the fixing of the dummy wire receiver 71 as the holding member to the joint piece 28 is the same as the fixing of the other wire receivers 39. It has the effect that it is easy to assemble and that there are more than two, not one, contact points to the treatment instrument insertion channel 27, so that concentrated force does not work and damage is less likely. ing.
[0056]
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section near the center of the bending portion of the endoscope according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0057]
Since the third embodiment is almost the same as the second embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
[0058]
In the present embodiment, instead of the dummy wire receiver 71 of FIG. 13 shown in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. The second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that an inner surface convex portion 75 which is depressed closer to the center than other portions is provided.
[0059]
In both of the second and third embodiments, the amount of movement of the treatment tool insertion channel 27 when performing the bending operation is small, so that a bending failure such as a curved warp or the like may occur, or another built-in object may be pressed to damage. This has the advantage that the trouble of hardly occurring occurs.
[0060]
In particular, in the third embodiment, since the holding member is pressed inward with the joint piece 28 to provide the inner convex portion 75, the dummy wire receiver 71 is unnecessary, and the dummy wire receiver 71 is fixed. There is no need to do this, and there is an effect that it can be made cheaply.
[0061]
16 and 17 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the bending portion of the endoscope in the insertion axis direction. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line MM of FIG. FIG.
[0062]
Since the fourth embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
[0063]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the wall thickness of the curved portion 7 in the tube axis direction of the covering tube 32 is elongated over the entire length in the middle direction between the lower side and the left side where the treatment instrument insertion channel 27 is provided. It is thicker than the part. In other words, as shown in FIG. 17, when the thickness of the treatment tool insertion channel 27 in the lower and left intermediate directions is T, and the thickness of the other portions is t, T> t. . Further, the change in the thickness is smoothly made from a thin portion to a thick portion as shown in FIG. Further, the outer diameter d of the lower wire receiver 35 is smaller than the other wire receiver outer diameters D.
[0064]
With such a configuration, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the curved portion 7 is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions where the connecting member 29 such as a rivet and the wire receiver 35 are normally provided. I don't want to be thick. In the present embodiment, since the lower left side is made thick, the amount of bending force during normal use does not increase, and the effect of reducing the warpage of the bending portion 7 due to the inner forceps channel 27 is obtained.
[0065]
Here, in the present embodiment, the thick portion is provided only in the lower left direction, but in order to reduce the curved warpage, the thick portion is further changed to the four directions in which the upper, lower, left and right directions are removed even in two directions including the upper right direction. Is also good.
[0066]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the coating tube 32 of the first embodiment is about 0.2 to 0.5 mm thicker on the rear end side than on the front end side of the curved portion 7. Then, it may be combined with one that is easy to bend from the tip side, and this is more effective for reducing the curving up and the warping when returning to straight. In addition, it is also possible to combine the embodiments, and the wire receiver 35 and the joint piece 28 may be integrally formed instead of being separate bodies. Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0067]
[Appendix]
(Additional Item 1) In response to a plurality of operation wires inserted into the plurality of joint pieces, via a plurality of wire receivers provided on inner surfaces of the plurality of joint pieces rotatably connected to each other, A curved portion where the joint piece bends,
A treatment tool insertion channel inserted into the bending portion;
In an endoscope having
The outer diameter of the wire receiver provided on the side near the treatment tool insertion channel is smaller than the outer diameter of the wire receiver provided on the inner surface at another position.
An endoscope characterized in that:
[0068]
(Additional Item 2) The wire receiver having a small outer diameter is arranged at least as a lower side of a visual field.
3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein:
[0069]
(Additional Item 3) The wire receiver having a small outer diameter is disposed on both sides of the treatment instrument insertion channel.
3. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
[0070]
(Additional Item 4) In response to a plurality of operation wires inserted into the plurality of joint pieces, via a plurality of wire receivers provided on inner surfaces of the plurality of joint pieces rotatably connected to each other by a connecting member, A curved portion in which the plurality of joint pieces bend in at least four directions, and a covering tube covering an outer periphery of the curved portion;
In an endoscope having
The coating tube has a thicker wall thickness in a direction in which the connecting member is not arranged, with respect to a longitudinal direction of the curved portion.
An endoscope characterized in that:
[0071]
(Supplementary Note 5) The direction connected by the connection member is the up-down and left-right direction with respect to the visual field, and the direction in which the thickness of the coating tube is thick is an intermediate direction between the up-down and left-right directions.
5. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein:
[0072]
(Additional Item 6) The thickness of the coating tube changes smoothly from the thick portion to the thin portion.
6. The endoscope according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
[0073]
(Additional Item 7) The thickness direction of the thickness of the coating tube is a direction close to a treatment instrument insertion channel inserted through the inside of the curved portion.
7. The endoscope according to any one of additional items 4, 5, and 6, wherein:
[0074]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-357923 is known as a conventional example of a coating tube having a curved portion that is elongated and thicker in part along the tube axis direction.
[0075]
This is to prevent the covering tube from dropping and piercing between adjacent node rings, and to make the direction of the rivet which is a connecting member of the node ring thicker than the other direction.
[0076]
A disadvantage of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-357923 is that the bending direction (coincident with the direction of the rivet), which is often used, is thick, so that the amount of force required for bending is large and it is difficult to bend.
[0077]
Therefore, in the endoscope according to the additional item 4 or 5, the thickness of the coating tube in the direction in which the connecting member is not arranged is increased with respect to the longitudinal direction of the curved portion, so that the coating tube is generally used frequently. This makes it possible to eliminate poor bending such as warpage and improve operability without increasing the amount of force required for bending in the bending direction.
[0078]
In addition, in the endoscope according to the additional item 6, in addition to the effect of the endoscope according to the additional item 4 or 5, by smoothly changing the wall thickness, there is no problem such as generation of a crack at a change point. Prevention of trauma when passing through the pharynx.
[0079]
Furthermore, in the endoscope according to the additional item 7, in addition to the effect of the endoscope according to the additional item 4, 5 or 6, the coating tube in a direction close to the curved warp caused by the tension of the treatment instrument insertion channel is formed by a thick wall. By making it difficult to bend, it is possible to easily bend in the original up, down, left, and right directions and to reduce poor bending.
[0080]
(Additional Item 8) In response to a plurality of operation wires inserted into the plurality of joint pieces, the plurality of joint pieces are rotatably connected to each other through a plurality of wire receivers provided on inner surfaces of the plurality of joint pieces. A curved portion where the joint piece bends,
A flexible tube connected to the proximal end side of the bending portion,
A treatment instrument insertion channel inserted into the bending portion and the flexible tube;
In an endoscope having
A holding member is provided in the bending portion for holding the position of the treatment instrument insertion channel in the bending portion with respect to the distal end portion of the flexible tube, at a position closer to the center of the insertion portion including the bending portion and the flexible tube. Was
An endoscope characterized in that:
[0081]
(Additional Item 9) The inner diameter of the plurality of joint pieces of the bending portion is larger than the inner diameter of the flexible tube.
9. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein:
[0082]
(Supplementary Note 10) The holding member is a wire receiver that is provided inside the plurality of joint pieces in close proximity to the treatment tool insertion channel and does not allow the operation wire to be inserted.
10. The endoscope according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
[0083]
(Additional Item 11) A plurality of the wire receivers that do not allow the operation wire to be inserted are provided.
13. The endoscope according to claim 10, wherein:
[0084]
(Supplementary Item 12) The holding member is an inner surface convex portion that is formed by recessing a part of the joint piece toward the center, which arranges the treatment instrument insertion channel from the center of the insertion portion.
10. The endoscope according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
[0085]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-135313, an endoscope having a holding member for disposing a light guide at a central portion in a scope pipeline in order to prevent the light guide from being bent due to bending. As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-109537, a movement restricting member that restricts the movement of the built-in member between the wire guides in the inner circumferential direction of the bending tube in order to inexpensively prevent the aberration of the built-in bent portion. There is an endoscope provided with.
[0086]
In both of the endoscopes disclosed in JP-A-2-135313 and JP-A-2-109537, the treatment instrument insertion channel is housed not at the center of the insertion portion but around the curved portion. Generally, the treatment tool insertion channel is the thickest among the built-in curved portions, has a large outer diameter, and is difficult to bend. When the treatment tool insertion channel is stored around the inside of the bent portion, the bending operation becomes difficult. In this case, there is a problem that the movement amount of the channel in the bending portion when performing the operation is large, and a bending failure such as a bending warp occurs, or other built-in components are pressed and damaged.
[0087]
Therefore, in the endoscope according to Additional Item 8 or 9, the disposition position of the treatment instrument insertion channel is set in the bending portion and the insertion portion including the bending portion in the bending portion with respect to the distal end portion of the flexible tube. By providing a holding member for holding from the center in the bending portion, even when performing a bending operation, the amount of movement of the channel in the bending portion is reduced, and a bending failure such as a bending warpage is reduced, and other It is possible to reduce the pressure on the internal components and prevent damage.
[0088]
In addition, the endoscope according to the additional item 10 enables an improvement in the workability of assembling the holding member in addition to the effect of the endoscope according to the additional item 8 or 9.
[0089]
Further, in the endoscope according to the additional item 11 or 12, it is possible to prevent the treatment instrument insertion channel from being damaged by increasing the number of contact points between the treatment instrument insertion channel and the holding member.
[0090]
(Additional Item 13) The plurality of joints are responsive to a plurality of operation wires inserted into the plurality of joint pieces via a plurality of wire receivers provided inside the plurality of joint pieces rotatably connected to each other. In an endoscope having a bending portion where a piece is bent, the maximum bending angles of a plurality of bending directions of the bending portion are different,
Among the plurality of bending directions of the bending portion, the clearance between the wire receiver and the operation wire provided in the bending direction having the largest bending angle is larger than the clearance between the other wire receiver and the operation wire.
An endoscope characterized in that:
[0091]
In the conventional endoscope, the clearance between the wire receiver and the operation wire in all the bending directions is the same regardless of the bending angle. The bending angle of a normal upper gastrointestinal endoscope is such that the upper bending direction is at least twice as large as the other bending directions, and the abrasion during pulling between the wire and the wire receiver is correspondingly large. Is inferior to other directions.
[0092]
Therefore, in the endoscope according to attachment 13, the clearance between the wire receiver and the operation wire provided in the bending direction having the largest bending angle among the plurality of bending directions of the bending portion is changed to the other wire receiving section. And by increasing the clearance between the operating wire and the insertion wire, without increasing the outer diameter of the insertion portion including the bending portion, the resistance of the operation wire of the bending portion is improved regardless of the bending direction, and excellent durability is achieved. And an endoscope having the same.
[0093]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the endoscope of the present invention, the outer diameter of the wire receiver provided near the treatment instrument insertion channel is made smaller than the outer diameter of the wire receiver provided on the inner surface at another position. Because of this, the amount of displacement of the wire receiver in the bending direction near the treatment tool insertion channel is reduced without increasing the outer diameter of the insertion section in the body cavity, especially the bending section, eliminating bending defects such as bending warpage and operability. There is an effect that can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a distal end surface of a distal end portion of the endoscope in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line ABOCD of FIG. 2 in the insertion axis direction.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a section taken along line JJ of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a section taken along line KK of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a section taken along line LL of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the bending portion in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the EFGBH line of FIG. 2 in the insertion axis direction.
FIG. 9 is an external view showing the external appearance of the operation unit in FIG. 1;
10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the operation unit in FIG. 9 in the insertion axis direction.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view for explaining the cleaning of the front water supply conduit of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a cap for closing a front water supply mouthpiece of FIG. 9;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section near the center of a curved portion of the endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
14 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section near the distal end of a flexible tube connected to the bending portion of FIG.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a cross section near the center of a curved portion of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in the insertion axis direction of a bending portion of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a section taken along line MM of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a first explanatory view illustrating an operation of a bending portion of a conventional endoscope.
FIG. 19 is a second explanatory view illustrating the operation of the bending portion of the conventional endoscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Endoscope
2. Insertion part
3 ... operation unit
4: Connector
5. Universal code
6 ... Tip component
7 ... Bending part
8. Flexible tube
9 ... Video processor
10. Monitor
11 ... Operation knob
12 ... Operation wire
13 ... observation window
14. Lighting window
15 Treatment insertion slot
16 ... Air / water nozzle
17: Forward water nozzle
27… Treatment instrument insertion channel
28 ... Joint piece
29 ... Connecting member
30 ... bending tube
31 ... Blade
32 ... Coated tube
33, 33a: Notch
34 ... Solid-state image sensor
35 ... Wire receiver
36, 38… Protective tube
37 ... Signal cable
39 ... Coil pipe

Claims

The plurality of joint pieces are bent in response to a plurality of operation wires inserted into the plurality of joint pieces via a plurality of wire receivers provided on inner surfaces of the plurality of joint pieces rotatably connected to each other. A curved portion,
In an endoscope having a treatment tool insertion channel inserted into the bending portion,
An endoscope, wherein an outer diameter of the wire receiver provided near the treatment tool insertion channel is smaller than an outer diameter of the wire receiver provided on an inner surface at another position.