JP3798884B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to an endoscope characterized by a hardness adjustment portion for adjusting the hardness of a soft portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an endoscope capable of observing a site to be inspected in a body cavity without needing an incision by inserting an elongated insertion portion into the body cavity or performing a therapeutic treatment using a treatment tool as necessary. Became widely used. The insertion portion of the endoscope is flexible so that it can be inserted into a bent insertion path. However, because of this flexibility, the orientation of the distal end side is not fixed with respect to the proximal side. , It may be difficult to introduce in the target direction.
[0003]
In order to cope with this, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-91971 discloses a device in which hardness variable means (flexible variable means) including a coil pipe and a wire is provided in an insertion portion of an endoscope. Yes. According to the configuration of this conventional example, an operator who performs endoscopy can adjust the flexibility of the insertion portion with a simple operation, and can easily insert it into a bent path such as the large intestine. be able to.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-91971, when the hardness varying means is operated, the cam groove has a linear shape. Therefore, there is a problem that the operating force increases as the hardness is increased and the operability is poor. .
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and ensures good insertability of the insertion portion in a hardened state and improves operability even for a case of a large intestine having a sharp bend. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can be operated.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes an insertion portion having a flexible section, and the insertion portion of the base end disposed in the operation unit, is rotatably disposed in the circumferential direction of the operation portion A rotation operation mechanism for changing the hardness of the soft portion, a cam cylinder integrally disposed with the rotation operation mechanism and rotatably disposed in a circumferential direction of the operation section, and a circumferential surface of the cam cylinder, A cam groove formed by changing the pitch in the axial direction of the operation portion from the middle of the direction in which the hardness of the soft portion becomes hard according to the rotation position of the rotation operation mechanism, and a cam groove formed in the operation portion. A cam follower that engages with the cam groove, and a hardness changing means that changes the hardness of the soft portion in accordance with the movement of the cam follower accompanying the turning operation of the turning operation mechanism. Yes.
An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention is provided with an insertion portion having a flexible portion, an operation portion provided on a proximal end side of the insertion portion, and a rotatable portion in a circumferential direction of the operation portion. A rotating operation mechanism for changing the hardness of the soft portion, a cam cylinder integrally provided with the rotating operation mechanism and rotatably disposed in a circumferential direction of the operation section, and a circumferential surface of the cam cylinder A cam groove formed with a changing portion that changes so that the pitch in the axial direction of the operating portion decreases from the middle of the direction in which the hardness of the flexible portion becomes hard according to the rotating position of the rotating operation mechanism; A cam follower disposed in the operation portion and engaged with the cam groove; and a hardness changing means for changing the hardness of the soft portion in accordance with the movement of the cam follower accompanying the turning operation of the turning operation mechanism; Are provided.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0008]
1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the endoscope of FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line AA and BB of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a view showing a specific example of the cam body of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the endoscope of FIG. It is explanatory drawing to do.
[0009]
(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 includes an electronic endoscope 2 according to the present embodiment incorporating an imaging unit, a light source device 3 that supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope 2, an electronic endoscope A signal processing device 4 that performs signal processing on an imaging signal output from the endoscope 2 and a color monitor 5 that displays a video signal output from the signal processing device 4 on a screen are configured.
[0010]
The electronic endoscope 2 includes an elongated insertion portion 6, a thick operation portion 7 connected to the rear end side of the insertion portion 6, and a universal cable 8 extending from a side portion of the operation portion 7. The connector 9 is provided at the end of the universal cable 8, and the connector 9 can be detachably connected to the light source device 3.
[0011]
The insertion portion 6 is formed from the distal end side to the rigid distal end portion 11 and the rear end of the distal end portion 11, is formed to be bendable at the bending end 12, and the rear end of the bending portion 12, and is long and flexible. The flexible portion 13 has a property, and the rear end of the flexible portion 13 is connected to the front end of the operation portion 7. On the outer periphery of the rear end of the soft portion 13, a bend preventing member 10 having a taper shape and having a bend preventing function is provided.
[0012]
A light guide 14 comprising a fiber bundle having flexibility and a function of transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion portion 6, the operation portion 7, and the universal cable 8, and is fixed so as to protrude to the connector 9. By connecting the light guide connector unit 15 to the light source device 3, the illumination light of the lamp 16 in the light source device 3 is collected by the lens 17 and supplied to the end surface of the light guide connector unit 15.
[0013]
The illumination light transmitted by the light guide 14 is emitted forward from the distal end surface fixed to the illumination window of the distal end portion 11 to illuminate a subject such as an affected area. The illuminated subject forms an optical image at its imaging position by an objective lens 18 attached to an observation window provided at the tip 11 adjacent to the illumination window. At this imaging position, a charge coupled device (abbreviated as CCD) 19 is arranged as an imaging device having a function of photoelectric conversion, and converts an optical image into an electrical signal.
[0014]
The CCD 19 is connected to one end of the signal cable 21, the signal cable 21 is pushed through the insertion portion 6 and the like, and the rear end is connected to the electrical connector 22 of the connector 9, and the external connected to the electrical connector 22. The signal processing device 4 is connected via a cable 23. The CCD drive signal generated by the drive circuit 24 in the signal processing device 4 is applied to the CCD 19, whereby the photoelectrically converted imaging signal is read out and input to the signal processing circuit 25 in the signal processing device 4. Performs conversion to a standard video signal. This standard video signal is input to the color monitor 5, and the image formed on the CCD 19 is displayed in color in the endoscope image display area 5a.
[0015]
The bending portion 12 provided adjacent to the distal end portion 11 is configured by a large number of ring-shaped bending pieces 26 being connected to the adjacent bending pieces 26 so as to be rotatable with rivets or the like at positions corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions. The leading end of the bending piece 26 or the rear end of the bending wire 27 fixed to the distal end portion 11 is connected to a sprocket 28 in the operation portion 7, and a bending operation knob 29 for performing a bending operation is attached to the shaft of the sprocket 28. (For simplicity, FIG. 1 shows an outline of the bending mechanism only in the vertical and horizontal directions).
[0016]
Then, by rotating the bending operation knob 29, one of the pair of bending wires 27 arranged in the vertical direction or the left-right direction is pulled, and the other is relaxed and pulled toward the bending wire 27 side. The bending portion 12 can be bent.
[0017]
The operation unit 7 is provided with a grasping portion 31 on the front side from the position where the bending operation knob 29 is provided, and the operator can use one hand (a finger such as a thumb not used for grasping) holding the grasping portion 31. The bending operation knob 29 can be operated.
[0018]
In addition, a treatment instrument insertion port 32 is provided on the front end side of the grip portion 31, and by inserting the treatment instrument from the treatment instrument insertion port 32, the distal end passes through an internal treatment instrument channel 33 (see FIG. 3). The distal end side of the treatment tool protrudes from the channel outlet of the section 11 so that treatment such as polyp excision can be performed.
[0019]
In this embodiment, for example, a cylindrical hardness adjustment knob (or a flexibility adjustment knob) that performs a hardness adjustment operation (or a flexibility adjustment operation) is provided at the front end of the operation unit 7 adjacent to the anti-bending member 10. ) 34 is provided, and a hardness changing wire (hereinafter referred to as a flexible variable means) that forms hardness varying means (or flexible variable means) disposed in the soft portion 13 by rotating the hardness adjusting knob 34 is provided. The hardness (or flexibility) of the soft part 13 can be changed via a wire 35 (abbreviated simply as a wire) 35 and a hardness changing coil (hereinafter simply abbreviated as a coil) 36.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows a more specific structure of the insertion portion 6 and the operation portion 7 of the electronic endoscope 2. In the flexible tube 37 forming the outer skin of the flexible portion 13, a wire 35 for applying a force when the hardness adjustment knob 34 is operated to the coil 36 as a compression force, and a closely wound coil through which the wire 35 is inserted. 36 is provided.
[0021]
A distal end of a wire 35 protruding from the distal end of the coil 36 is firmly fixed to the rigid connection tube 38 that connects the bending portion 12 and the flexible portion 13 by brazing or the like. The connecting pipe 38 is fixed to the bending piece 26 at the rearmost end. Alternatively, the rearmost bending piece 26 may also function as the connection pipe 38. The bending piece 26 including the connection pipe 38 is covered with an elastic skin 39 such as a rubber tube.
[0022]
The tip of the coil 36 is firmly fixed to the wire 35 by brazing or the like at a position slightly behind the tip of the wire 35. The end portion on the proximal side of the coil 36 abuts against a coil stopper 40 disposed inside the front end of the operation portion 7, and movement and rotation from this position to the rear side are restricted (blocked).
[0023]
The wire 35 pushed through the coil 36 passes through the hole of the coil stopper 40 and extends rearward, so that the wire 35 is movable with respect to the coil 36. Note that the coil 36 is not in a state of being largely rotated.
[0024]
The coil stopper 40 is fixed by a screw 42 to a rear end cap 41 that fixes the rear end of the flexible tube 37 to the operation unit 7. The rear end cap 41 is fixed with a screw 44 in the vicinity of the front end of the cylindrical tube 43 disposed on the outer periphery thereof. On the other hand, a wire stopper 45 is firmly fixed to an end portion on the hand side of the wire 35, that is, a rear end by brazing or the like.
[0025]
A pulling member 46 that can move in the front-rear direction is disposed between the coil stopper 40 and the wire stopper 45, and the pulling member 46 is fixed to the moving ring 47 so that the wire 35 passes through the groove 48. Yes.
[0026]
That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the pulling member 46 in which the groove 48 through which the wire 35 is passed in the radial direction is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the circular moving ring 47 by the screw 49.
[0027]
The moving ring 47 is movable in the axial direction (front-rear direction) inside the cylindrical tube 43. Therefore, when the pulling member 46 moves rearward together with the moving ring 47, the pulling member 46 hits the wire stopper 45 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Further, by performing an operation of moving the pulling member 46 rearward, the wire stopper 45 is also moved rearward.
[0028]
In a state where the wire stopper 45 is not moved rearward, the coil 36 whose rearward movement is restricted by the coil stopper 40 is in the most flexible state, that is, in the soft state having the lowest bending hardness.
[0029]
On the other hand, when the wire stopper 45 moves to the rear side and the rear end of the wire 35 also moves to the rear side at the same time, the coil stopper 40 relatively exerts a compressive force that presses the coil 36 toward the front side.
[0030]
That is, by applying a force that moves the rear end of the wire 35 to the rear side, a compressive force is applied to the coil 36, and the elastic force of the coil 36 is reduced, that is, bent, by this compressive force. The hard hardness (more accurately, the hardness with respect to bending) is set so as to be hard. In this case, the magnitude of the compressive force applied to the coil 35 can be changed according to the rearward movement amount of the pulling member 46, and therefore the flexibility (hardness) can be changed. .
[0031]
A cam cylinder 51 covers the outside of the cylindrical tube 43. In the cam cylinder 51, cam grooves 52a and 52b are provided in a spiral shape at two opposing portions of the cylinder part. The cylindrical tube 43 is also provided with a long hole 53 in the longitudinal direction. Two pins 54 that move together with the moving ring 47 are fixed to the moving ring 47 with screw parts through the cam grooves 52a or 52b and the long holes 53 on the outside thereof.
[0032]
The long hole 53 is set to a length that covers the rear end of the wire 35 or the movement range of the wire stopper 45 (symbol E in FIG. 2).
[0033]
A hardness adjustment knob 34 is fixed to the cam cylinder 51 on the outer side thereof by a plurality of pins 55 in the circumferential direction. That is, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is formed with a pin hole reaching the inner cam cylinder 51, and the pin 55 is inserted and closed with the filler 56.
[0034]
The front end of the hardness adjustment knob 34 abuts against the annular contact member 57, and forward movement is restricted. The contact member 57 is disposed outside the vicinity of the front end of the cylindrical tube 43, and is fixed to the outer periphery of a support member 58 that supports the rear end of the folding preventing member 10 with a screw 59.
[0035]
Further, on the rear end side of the hardness adjusting knob 34, the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the gripping portion cylinder 61 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the cam tube 51, and the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the gripping portion cylindrical body 61 is hardness. The rear end of the adjustment knob 34 is fitted to the notched inner peripheral surface. That is, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is slidably contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical tube 43 via the cam cylinder 51 in a state in which the movement in the front-rear direction is restricted, and is disposed so as to be rotatable (around the cylindrical tube 43). ing.
[0036]
In this way, the hardness adjustment knob 34 can be rotated, but the contact member 57 is fixed by screws 59 so as not to rotate.
[0037]
An O-ring 62 is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the hardness adjusting knob 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical tube 43 facing the inside thereof, and the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the hardness adjusting knob 34 is in pressure contact with the O-ring 62. Yes. Further, for example, an O-ring 63 is provided in a circumferential groove provided on the cam body 51 side between the outer peripheral surface near the rear end of the cam cylinder 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the grip portion frame body 61 fitted to the outer peripheral surface. And the inner peripheral surface of the gripping part frame 61 is in pressure contact with the O-ring 63.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the cam grooves 52a and 52b have a smooth groove shape (smooth spiral shape), and the rising angle is α relative to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 6, so that the operation portion As it goes in the 7 direction, it becomes β on the way.
[0039]
Here, the relationship between α and β is α <β. Further, the portion where the rising angle changes may be connected with a smooth curve.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 4B, the cam grooves 52a and 52b may all be curved.
[0041]
Further, instead of the structure shown in FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. 4C, for example, a recess 64a is provided in the middle of the cam groove 52b, or a recess 64b is provided at the end of the cam groove 52b. It is also possible to provide a click feeling to the operator when the pins 54 are set at these positions. Furthermore, the rising angle may be increased stepwise (α <β <γ...).
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 2, an insertion port frame 65 that forms the treatment instrument insertion port 32 is provided at a front position adjacent to the grip portion 31. The insertion port frame 65 is connected to a branch member 67 that branches into the treatment instrument insertion port 32 side and the suction conduit 66 side inside the operation unit 7, and the branch member 67 has a front end in the insertion unit 6. The end portion of the proximal end of the treatment instrument channel 33 provided in is connected by a connection portion 68.
[0043]
The branch member 67 is fixed to the cylindrical tube 43 with screws. Further, the cylindrical tube 43 is connected at its rear end to the outer frame 60 to which the bending operation mechanism or the like of the operation unit 7 is attached by a screw. The cylindrical tube 43 has a structure that does not rotate even when the hardness adjustment knob 34 side is rotated.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 3A, various built-in objects are arranged in the insertion portion 6. That is, four bending wires 27 arranged at positions corresponding to the left and right sides of the ground, two signal cables 21 arranged near the center, two light guides 14 arranged near the upper part of the center, the bottom A treatment instrument channel 33 disposed closer to the coil, a coil 36 and a wire 35 disposed closer to the left, an air supply tube 69 for supplying air and an air supply tube 70 for supplying water are provided. ing.
[0045]
Further, a built-in object as shown in FIG. The arrangement of the built-in objects is almost the same as that shown in FIG.
[0046]
(Function)
The procedure for inserting the electronic endoscope 2 into the large intestine will be described with reference to FIG. In general, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the insertion portion 6 is in a soft state and passes through the descending colon 93 so as to follow the sigmoid colon 92 that is tortuous from the anus 91. insert. Therefore, the insertion portion 6 is pulled in a substantially straight state by being twisted. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the tortuous portion of the sigmoid colon 92 is shortened so as to be folded into a substantially straight state. Here, the hardness adjustment knob 34 is operated to harden the coil 36 and the insertion portion 6. By doing so, the operation of the soft part 13 is easily transmitted to the distal end, and in that state, the transverse colon 95, the liver curvature 97, and the ascending colon 96 are hardened, and the distal end of the cecum 98 as shown in FIG. Reach deep.
[0047]
Next, the operation of the characteristic part in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the hardness adjustment knob 34 is rotated in the direction indicated by the symbol C in FIG. 4A (in FIG. 4A, the left side is the insertion portion side), the solid line in FIG. As shown, the pin 54 moves in the cam groove 52a (relative to the cam cylinder 51) as indicated by the arrow D. Further, since the pin 54 passes through the long hole 53 formed in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical tube 43, the moving member 47 moves rearward along the long hole 53 together with the pin 54. That is, the pin 54 actually moves in the horizontal direction (right side) in FIG.
[0048]
As a result of this movement, the pulling member 46 fixed to the moving member 47 also moves rearward, and when it moves from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, it abuts against the wire stopper 45.
[0049]
Further, the hardness variable knob 34 is rotated to move the pulling member 46 rearward, whereby a tensile force acts on the wire 35 and a compressive force is applied to the coil 36 to harden the coil 36, and thereby the soft portion 13. Can be hardened.
[0050]
When the pin 54 moves along the cam groove 52a, a tensile force starts to be applied to the wire 35. Therefore, as a repulsive force, the pin 54 is pulled toward the distal end side in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion, and the load is applied to the hardness adjusting knob. It becomes stronger as 34 is rotated in the direction indicated by C.
[0051]
When the hardness adjustment knob 34 starts to rotate in the direction indicated by the symbol C, the pin 54 is pulled toward the distal end side in the insertion portion longitudinal direction. However, since the compression force applied to the coil 36 is small at the start of rotation, the tensile force generated at the pin 54 is also small. Therefore, due to the repulsive force corresponding to this tensile force, even if the cam groove 52a has a small rising angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 6, the force that rotates the hardness variable knob 34 is small. Thus, the pin 54 can be pulled toward the operation portion side in the insertion portion longitudinal direction (as a result, the moving distance of the pin 54 in the horizontal direction (that is, the pitch of the cam groove 52a) can be increased). However, as the hardness variable knob 34 continues to rotate, the compressive force applied to the coil 36 increases.
[0052]
On the other hand, by increasing the rising angle (β) of the shape of the cam groove 52a with respect to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 6, the moving distance of the pin 54 in the horizontal direction (that is, the pitch of the cam groove 52a) is increased. Shorter. Therefore, the hardness adjustment knob 34 can be rotated with a small load, and the maximum force during operation is reduced.
[0053]
Further, when the rising angle is small (α), the moving distance in the horizontal direction of the pin 54 (that is, the pitch of the cam groove 52a) can be increased, so depending on the position of the rising angle changing portion (depending on the combination), There is a possibility that the total rotation stroke for rotating the hardness adjustment knob 34 can be shortened.
[0054]
As shown in FIG. 4B, when the cam grooves 52a and 52b are all curved and the portion where the rising angle changes is a smooth curved shape, the operating force is continuous.
[0055]
(effect)
As described above, in the electronic endoscope 2 of the present embodiment, by changing the rising angle in the shape of the cam groove 52a, the moving distance of the pin 54 in the horizontal direction (that is, the pitch of the cam groove 52a) is changed. Therefore, even if the hardness of the coil 36 and the insertion portion 6 is increased, the amount of operation force of the hardness adjustment knob 34 can be reduced, and even in the case of a large intestine having a sharp bend, It is possible to ensure good insertability of the insertion portion and improve operability.
[0056]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a cam mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0057]
Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
[0058]
(Constitution)
FIG. 6 shows the shapes of the cam grooves 52a and 52b of the cam cylinder 51 in this cam mechanism. The cam grooves 52a and 52b are two-line cams, one of which is shown as a cam groove 52a and the other as a cam groove 52b.
[0059]
The cam groove 52a and the cam groove 52b have the same shape, and are provided at symmetrical positions such that one of them is rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the axis of the cam cylinder 51 and the other overlaps.
[0060]
In FIG. 6, the cam groove 52 a and the cam groove 52 b have a smooth groove shape (smooth spiral shape), and the rising angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 6 is from α to the operation portion 7 direction. It becomes β along the way. Note that the relationship between α and β is α <β.
[0061]
Further, at the initial position where the rising angle is α, a horizontal portion (portion indicated by a symbol P in FIG. 6) horizontal to the longitudinal direction is formed on the insertion portion side of the cam groove 52a, and the initial position of the pin 54 is The horizontal portion and the cam groove 52a are disposed at a portion where the rising angle is α.
[0062]
At this time, even if the insertion portion 6 forms an appropriate loop, the horizontal portion (the portion indicated by the symbol P in FIG. 6) becomes a kind of play, and this play is caused by the pin 54 in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion by the cam groove 52a. An unrestricted distance is maintained on the operation unit side.
[0063]
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0064]
(Function)
When the insertion part 6 is inserted into the large intestine, it is often inserted while creating a loop in the flexible part 13. When a loop is formed in the flexible portion 13, the wire 35 is pulled, so that the coil 36 is hardened. Therefore, there is a problem that the hardness of the insertion portion 6 changes against the intention of the operator.
[0065]
However, in the cam cylinder 51 of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, the initial position of the pin 54 is a horizontal portion that is parallel to the longitudinal direction on the insertion portion side of the cam groove 52a (portion indicated by symbol P in FIG. 6). Therefore, even if the soft portion 13 forms a loop, the pin 54 fitted in the cam groove 52a has a horizontal portion (in FIG. 6) parallel to the longitudinal direction on the insertion portion side of the cam groove 52a. The portion indicated by the reference symbol P becomes a play and is not restricted by the cam groove 52a.
[0066]
Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0067]
(effect)
Therefore, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, a horizontal portion (a portion indicated by symbol P in FIG. 6) provided on the insertion portion side of the cam groove 52a and horizontal to the longitudinal direction becomes idle. The hardness does not change against the operator's intention, and the safety can be improved.
[0068]
[Appendix]
(Additional Item 1) An insertion portion having a flexible portion, a hardness varying means capable of adjusting the hardness of the flexible portion arranged in the insertion portion, and an operation portion having a cam mechanism for operating the hardness varying means. In the provided endoscope,
An endoscope characterized in that the cam groove pitch of the cam mechanism is changed in the middle.
[0069]
(Additional Item 2) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1, wherein the cam groove pitch is at least partially curved.
[0070]
(Additional Item 3) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1, wherein a horizontal portion that is substantially horizontal to the insertion portion longitudinal direction is provided at an end of the cam groove.
[0071]
(Additional Item 4) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1, wherein the pitch of the cam groove is changed stepwise.
[0072]
(Additional Item 5) The endoscope according to Additional Item 4, wherein the pitch of the cam grooves is increased stepwise.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the endoscope of the present invention, since the pitch of the cam groove of the cam mechanism for operating the hardness varying means is changed in the middle, the case of the large intestine having a sharp bend However, there is an effect that it is possible to ensure good insertability of the insertion portion in a hardened state and to improve operability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the endoscope of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line AA and BB. FIG. 4 is a view showing a specific example of the cam body of FIG. An explanatory view for explaining a cam mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus 2 ... Electronic endoscope 3 ... Light source apparatus 4 ... Signal processing apparatus 5 ... Color monitor 6 ... Insertion part 7 ... Operation part 8 ... Universal cable 9 ... Connector 10 ... Anti-folding member 11 ... Tip part 12 ... Bending part 13 ... Soft part 14 ... Light guide 16 ... Lamp 18 ... Objective lens 19 ... CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Signal cable 25 ... Signal processing circuit 26 ... Bending piece 27 ... Bending wire 29 ... Bending operation knob 31 ... Gripping part 32 ... Treatment instrument insertion port 33 ... Treatment instrument channel 34 ... Hardness adjustment knob 35 ... Hardness change wire (wire) )
36 ... Coil for changing hardness (coil)
37 ... flexible tube 38 ... connecting tube 40 ... coil stopper 41 ... rear end caps 42, 44 ... screw 43 ... cylindrical tube 45 ... wire stopper 46 ... pulling member 47 ... moving ring 48 ... groove 51 ... cam cylinders 52a, 52b ... Cam grooves 62, 63 ... O-ring

Claims (2)

An insertion part having a soft part;
An operation portion disposed on a proximal end side of the insertion portion;
A rotation operation mechanism that is rotatably disposed in a circumferential direction of the operation portion and changes the hardness of the soft portion ;
A cam cylinder integrally disposed with the rotation operation mechanism and rotatably arranged in a circumferential direction of the operation unit;
A cam formed on the circumferential surface of the cam cylinder by changing the pitch in the axial direction of the operation portion from the middle of the direction in which the hardness of the soft portion increases in accordance with the rotation position of the rotation operation mechanism. Groove,
A cam follower disposed in the operation portion and engaged with the cam groove;
Hardness changing means for changing the hardness of the soft part according to the movement of the cam follower accompanying the turning operation of the turning operation mechanism;
An endoscope characterized by comprising: An insertion part having a soft part;
An operation portion disposed on a proximal end side of the insertion portion;
A rotation operation mechanism that is rotatably disposed in a circumferential direction of the operation portion and changes the hardness of the soft portion ;
A cam cylinder integrally disposed with the rotation operation mechanism and rotatably arranged in a circumferential direction of the operation unit;
A changing portion is provided on a circumferential surface of the cam cylinder so as to change the pitch in the axial direction of the operation portion from the middle of the direction in which the hardness of the soft portion is increased according to the rotation position of the rotation operation mechanism. Formed cam groove,
A cam follower disposed in the operation portion and engaged with the cam groove;
Hardness changing means for changing the hardness of the soft part according to the movement of the cam follower accompanying the turning operation of the turning operation mechanism;
An endoscope characterized by comprising:

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