JP3806546B2

JP3806546B2 - Endoscope

Info

Publication number: JP3806546B2
Application number: JP20461499A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 英伸木村
Original assignee: Olympus Corp
Current assignee: Olympus Corp
Priority date: 1999-07-19
Filing date: 1999-07-19
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-19
Also published as: JP2001029312A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、挿入部の先端部に形成したチャンネルの先端開口部に処置具の導出方向を規制する起上台を設けた内視鏡に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
挿入部の先端部にチャンネルの先端を開口し、この開口部に起上台を設けた内視鏡が知られている（特開平７−３２３００１号公報）。この種の内視鏡は先端カバーと起上台の裏面にて囲まれた空間が外部に露呈されにくいため、その空間内領域が洗浄し難いことはもとより、十分に洗浄できているか目視にて確認する際も複数の角度から見なくてならず、確認しずらいものであった。そこで、上記の内視鏡にあっては先端カバーを取り外せるようになっている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、起上台周りの洗浄をするために先端カバーを取り外し、洗浄後に先端カバーを取り付けることはその着脱作業が煩わしい。先端カバーは内視鏡を実際に使用する際において外れないように強固に取り付けてあるため、その先端カバーの着脱の作業はかなり煩雑なものであった。
【０００４】
また、先端カバーを着脱する際において、先端カバー自体を破損させる可能性もある。さらに、内視鏡検査中に先端カバーと先端構成部との嵌合部分にズレが発生した場合、先端カバーにより内視鏡の視野が妨げられる虞もある。
【０００５】
本発明は上記事情に着目してなされたもので、その目的とするところは、先端カバーを着脱しなくとも、処置具起上台の裏面及び先端構成部に形成された収容室内の洗浄がし易いようにした内視鏡を提供する事にある。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、処置具が挿入されるチャンネルを有する挿入部と、
上記挿入部に設けられ、上記チャンネルに挿通する処置具を誘導するための誘導面と、処置具起上台を最大に起上したときに上記挿入部の軸方向に対して８０〜１００の範囲の角度で位置する裏面とを有する処置具起上台と、
上記処置具起上台の移動を操作するためのワイヤと、
上記挿入部の先端に装着され、上記処置具起上台を収納する収容室を有し、この収容室は起上した処置具起上台を露出させるための開口部を備えた先端カバーと、
上記処置具起上台を上記収容室に収納したときは上記収容室内に位置し、上記処置具起上台を最大に起上したときは上記収容室の開口部における先端側に位置する開口端部分よりも外へ露出する部位に位置して上記裏面から部分的に突き出して上記裏面に設けられ、上記ワイヤを上記処置具起上台に支持するワイヤ支持部と、
上記挿入部に設けられ、上記ワイヤ支持部が上記開口部内に収納される位置と上記開口部から露出する位置との間で上記処置具起上台を回動可能に支持する支点部と、
を有することを特徴とする内視鏡である。
【０００７】
【発明の実施形態】
図１乃至図１８を用いて、本発明の一実施形態について説明する。
【０００８】
（構成）
図１は本発明の第１の実施形態に係る内視鏡１と各種の外部装置を組み込んだシステムの全体を示す斜視図である。外部装置としては、光源装置２、画像処理装置３、モニタ４、入力用キーボード５、吸引ポンプ装置６、吸引瓶７等の機器があり、これらの機器はキャリア８付きの棚９に設置されている。
【０００９】
内視鏡１は挿入部１２、操作部１３およびユニバーサルコード１４を備える。挿入部１２は可撓管部１５、湾曲部１６および先端部１７の各構成部分よりなる。
【００１０】
操作部１３にはユニバーサルコード１４の一端が接続され、ユニバーサルコード１４の他端にはコネクタ１８が設けられている。コネクタ１８は上記外部装置の一つである光源装置２に接続される。コネクタ１８にはライトガイド管や電気接点部が設けられている。
【００１１】
先端部１７の構成について、図２乃至図１２を用いて詳細に説明する。先端部１７は先端部本体としての先端硬質部２１と、これの周囲を覆うように樹脂等の非導電性材質より形成された先端カバー２２とが設けられ、先端カバー２２は先端硬質部２１に接着等にて固定されている。
【００１２】
先端硬質部２１には処置具挿通用案内路としてのチャンネル（挿通孔）２３と連続して形成され、処置具等の導入を先端側へ案内する導入案内路２４が形成されている。この導入案内路２４の先端側には先端硬質部２１と先端カバー２２とにて形成される空間部である収容室２５が設けられている。この収容室２５は処置具挿通用チャンネル２３の先端開口部を構成する。
【００１３】
また、収容室２５内には上記チャンネル２３を通じて導入される鉗子やカテーテル等の処置具２６を所望の位置へ起上させるための処置具起上台２７が納められている。
【００１４】
処置具起上台２７はその一端が先端硬質部２１に設けられた起上台回動支点２８により枢着されている。起上台回動支点２８は、導入案内路２４の先端開口部分の下側部位に位置しており、収容室２５内において処置具起上台２７の他端側部分が回動するように処置具起上台２７を起伏動作自在に取り付けている。処置具起上台２７には上記導入案内路２４より連続するように形成した断面略Ｖ字状の溝によって、処置具２６を誘導するための誘導面２９が形成されている。
【００１５】
処置具起上台２７の、誘導面２９が形成されていない側の一面である起上台裏面３１において回動先端の近くで、処置具起上台２６の左右側端近傍にはそれぞれ起上台裏面３１に対して垂直に突出して形成されている左右一対のワイヤ支持壁３３が設けられている。この左右一対のワイヤ支持壁３３には処置具起上台２７を起上させるための起上ワイヤー３４の先端部が貫通して回動自在に連接されている。左右一対のワイヤ支持壁３３の間に位置する起上ワイヤー３４の部分には脱落防止用のパイプ３５が外装されている。このパイプ３５は起上ワイヤー３４に固着されている。
【００１６】
起上ワイヤー３４は挿入部１２内に挿通されるガイドパイプ３６を通じて操作部１３に導かれ、後述する起上操作機構に接続される。
【００１７】
また、先端カバー２２には起上台裏面３１と相対する位置において、起上台回動支点２８の位置に向かう滑らかな斜面として形成されるスロープ部４１が形成されている。このスロープ部４１には図６（ａ）および図６（ｂ）で示すように、洗滌用のブラシ等を起上台裏面３１へ誘導するための溝部であるブラシ誘導面４２を形成するようにしても良い。図６（ａ）はスロープ部４１の斜視図、図６（ｂ）はそのスロープ部４１の図６（ａ）に示すＸ面に沿った横断面図である。
【００１８】
処置具起上台２７の起上台裏面３１は、図２で示す如く、処置具起上台２７を最大に起上させた際において、上記ワイヤ支持壁３３の部分を除き、挿入部１２の先端部１７の長手方向に対する角度θが、約９０度、（または８０度〜１００度の範囲）に形成されている。
【００１９】
また、ワイヤ支持壁３３の下端は、処置具起上台２７を最大に起上させた際において、先端カバー２２の開口部端より上部に偏位するように形成されている（図２中の距離Ｃにて指示）。
【００２０】
収容室２５において、処置具起上台２７を最大に起上させた際の起上台裏面３１から、この起上台裏面３１と対向する先端カバー２２の面までの距離Ａは収容室２５の上部開口端で最大となるように形成されている（図２を参照）。つまり、収容室２５にて構成される空間にあって処置具起上台２７の裏面と垂直な断面での断面積が開口端にて最大となる様に構成される。
【００２１】
また、図１０の点線で示すように、処置具起上台２７を寝かせた状態において、収容室２５の一面であり、起上台裏面３１と対向する面は、起上台回動支点２８の部位に向かい傾斜する斜面として形成される上記スロープ部４１である。
【００２２】
処置具起上台２７を最大起上させた際において、起上台裏面３１と対向する収容室２５の面は挿入部１２の先端部１７の長手方向に対して約９０度に形成されるが、この面と、処置具起上台２７を寝かせた状態にした際において、起上台裏面３１と対向する面とは曲面４４にて連接される。また、収容室２５を形成する各壁面は互いに接するすべての接線部において曲面を構成するように形成される。
【００２３】
また、処置具起上台２７を最大起上させた際において、処置具起上台２７の裏面と、上記裏面が対向する収容室２５の面までの距離が処置具起上台２７の回動支点に向かって短く狭くなるように形成されている。
【００２４】
図３で処置具起上台２７の横断面形状（図２中のＢ−Ｂ断面）を示すが、処置具起上台２７の誘導面２９が形成される面側であって、後述する対物レンズ及び照明レンズが配される側方の部位には、薄肉のヘラ状の形態である突出部４５が延出して形成されている。この突出部４５の内側面は処置具起上台２７の中心側に傾斜し、上記誘導面２９に連続する斜面である突出部誘導面４６を形成している。突出部誘導面４６の勾配は上記誘導面２９の勾配よりも大きく急に形成されている。
【００２５】
尚、この突出部誘導面４６としては斜面ではなく、凸状または凹状の曲面によって形成されるものであっても良い。
【００２６】
図２に示すように、突出部４５の稜線は処置具起上台２７が最大に起上した時の状態で、先端部１７の各構成部分と干渉しないような形状に形成されている。また、図１０で示すように、突出部４５の頂部４８は処置具起上台２７の起上動作を行う際の軌跡が太破線のようになる。頂部４８の軌跡が先端カバー２２の稜線部４９より起上台回動支点２８寄り内側に来るように形成されている。
【００２７】
一方、図７で示すように、内視鏡１の先端部１７において、先端硬質部２１には収容室２５の片側、ここでは右側に位置して照明レンズ５１と対物レンズ５２が先端部１７の長手方向の前後に一列に位置して配設され、側視タイプの内視鏡１を構成している。
【００２８】
体腔内に照明光を拡開照射する照明レンズ５１にはライトガイド（ファイバーバンドル）５３が接続され、対物レンズ５２にはプリズム５４や結像レンズ５５を介して撮像部５６が接続されている。これらはいずれも先端硬質部２１に取り付けられている。撮像部５６は図示しないＣＣＤ等の撮像素子や付属回路素子が組み込まれている。
【００２９】
図７、図８、図９、図１１および図１２で示す如く、先端硬質部２１にはライトガイド５３を配置する収納溝５７がその先端硬質部２１の長手方向に沿って細長く形成されている。そして、ライトガイド５３を納めた後に収納溝５７内にはＲＴＶゴム等の充填剤５８が充填され、この後に収納溝５７の開口部分がＬＧカバー５９で覆われる。
【００３０】
また、図１２に示すように、先端硬質部２１の湾曲部１６が接続される端側で、湾曲部１６の外皮部材６１の端部が配される位置には薄肉のリング状部材であるリング部材６２が接着等にて固定されている。全周においてそのリング部材６２の一端には先端カバー２２の端部が被嵌されており、当該外嵌される部分は接着剤等が液密的に配されている。
【００３１】
なお、このリング部材６２としては図７で示すように、先端カバー２２の後端を全周において延接して形成した延接部６３として構成するものであっても良い。
【００３２】
外皮部材６１はその内周面がリング部材６２（または延接部６３）の外周に密着するように配されており、その部位において外皮部材６１の外周には糸状部材６４が巻回され、糸状部材６４の外周には接着剤６５を塗布した後に、包皮部材６６が加熱溶融されて配されている。
【００３３】
ここにおいて、上記外皮部材６１の内径を、上記リング部材６２（または延接部６３）の外径の９０％以下となるように形成されている。後述する図１３の構成においても同様であるが、外皮部材６１の両端部で先端硬質部２１及び後述する可撓管口金８５に取り付くべき範囲の内径は先端硬質部２１及び可撓管口金８５の外径の９０％以下となるように形成される。また、外皮部材６１の湾曲部１６を外層する範囲の内径はブレード６７の外径の９０〜１１０％となるように形成されている。
【００３４】
ここで、外皮部材６１は先端硬質部２１に取り付くべき範囲の内径を小さくし、これ以外は同一の内径にて形成されていても良い。その際において、後述する可撓管口金８５の外径は、（可撓管口金８５の外径）×０．９≧ （外皮部材６１の内径）の式が成り立つように形成されている。
【００３５】
ところで、上記ライトガイド５３は、挿入部１２、操作部１３およびユニバーサルコード１４内を通じてコネクタ１８まで導かれる。撮像部５６に接続される図示しない電気配線も挿入部１２、操作部１３およびユニバーサルコード１４内を通じてコネクタ１８まで導かれる。電気配線はコネクタ１８の電気接点部に接続した接続ケーブル１９を介して画像処理装置３に接続される。そして、撮像部５６で得た撮像信号を画像処理装置３にて映像信号に変換し、モニタ４に表示するようになっている。
【００３６】
一方、図１で示す如く、内視鏡１の操作部１３には上記挿入部１２の湾曲部１６を上下／左右方向に湾曲させるための湾曲操作部７１、対物レンズ５２の外表面に水や空気等の流体を噴き付けてそのレンズ面の清掃を行うノズル７２に選択的に気体と液体を噴出させるための送気送水ボタン７３、先端部１７に先端が開口したチャンネル２３を通じて選択的に体腔内の粘液等を回収するための吸引操作ボタン７４、上記チャンネル２３に通じる挿入口部７５が配設されている。尚、上記チャンネル２３の先端開口部は処置具起上台２７を配置する収容室２５を兼ねる。
【００３７】
内視鏡１の内部にはノズル７２に流体を供給する流体管路７６及び回収した流体が通る吸引管路（上記チャンネル２３がこれを兼ねる。）が配設されている。
【００３８】
挿入部１２の湾曲部１６は、例えば図１３で示すようにも構成される。すなわち一列に配置した複数の湾曲コマ８１がリベット８２を用いて回動自在に組み合わされて芯材８３を構成しており、この芯材８３の外周には金属又は化学繊維のワイヤを編組して筒状に形成された上記ブレード６７が外装され、そのブレード６７の両端部は湾曲部１６の両最端部に配設される湾曲コマ８１に接着または半田等にて固定されている。ブレード６７にはチューブ体よりなる上記外皮部材６１が外装されている。湾曲部１６を構成する最先端の湾曲コマ８１には先端部１７を構成する金属又は硬質の樹脂よりなる先端硬質部２１が接続される。また、先端硬質部２１には絶縁性を有する材料にて形成されたキャップ状の部材である先端カバー２２が接着等にて一体的に固着される。
【００３９】
また、挿入部１２の可撓管部１５は帯状の金属を螺旋状にて形成された図示されない螺旋管、金属線又は化学繊維を筒状に編組形成した図示されないブレード、樹脂よりなる図示されない外皮を積層して構成されている。
【００４０】
可撓管部１５の先端には金属等よりなる可撓管口金８５が接着または半田等にて固定されており、この可撓管口金８５を介して湾曲部１６を構成する手元側端の湾曲コマ８１が接続固定されている。図１４で示すように、可撓管口金８５の一端と、可撓管部１５の最外層を構成する外皮層との隙間には接着剤等よりなる充填剤８４が全周にわたり隙間なく液密的に配されている。
【００４１】
また、例えば、外皮部材６１の先端は、先端硬質部２１の外周に密着するように外装され、その先端部は先端カバー２２の後端部に当接されるように配されている。そして、図１５で示すように、先端硬質部２１を外装している外皮部材６１の先端部分には絹または化学繊維等よりなる糸状部材８６が巻回されている。外皮部材６１の後端部分は可撓管口金８５の外周に密着するように外装され、その後端部分は可撓管部１５の外皮層の先端部に当接されるように配されている。可撓管口金８５を外装している外皮部材６１の後端部には絹または化学繊維等よりなる糸状部材８６が巻回されている。
【００４２】
そして、外皮部材６１の端部に巻回されている糸状部材８６はその引張力が２Ｎ以上にて外皮部材６１を外部より縛るように巻回して締め付ける。また、糸状部材８６の巻き数は４巻き以上とする。さらに、糸状部材８６にはその全域にわたり接着剤８７を塗布する。接着剤８７を塗布した後、糸状部材８６の外周にはウレタン等の熱可塑性樹脂よりなる包皮部材８８を配する。
【００４３】
ここで、接着剤８７はその粘度が８．５Ｐｓ・ｓ以下である。包皮部材８８はその融点が外皮部材６１の樹脂の融点よりも低い樹脂材にて形成されている。また、糸状部材８６及び包皮部材８８のうち少なくとも包皮部材８８は可撓管部１５の外観色と類似の色よりなる。包皮部材８８は外観色に類似のものにとどまらず、黒色でも良い。接着剤８７についても可撓管部１５の外観色に類似または黒色である。包皮部材８８はリング状の形態にて形成されていても良いし、帯状のシート状に形成されていても良い。
【００４４】
上記包皮部材８８は接着剤８７の外周に取り付ける際して、図示されない熱収縮チューブ材にてその外周が全て覆われ、図示されない加熱機器等により熱収縮チューブを加熱収縮すると同時に溶融し、組み付けられる。
【００４５】
包皮部材８８が帯状のシート状にて形成されている場合、接着剤８７の外周に包皮部材８８を巻き付け、包皮部材８８が重なる部位を半田こて等の加熱機器等にて加熱する事で、本部位にリング状に配するようにする。
【００４６】
また、図１６で示すように、包皮部材８８は糸状部材８６に接する層に黒色包皮部材８９、外部に露呈される層に無色（半透明）である透明包皮部材９０の２層により構成しても良い。
【００４７】
図１７および図１８で示すように、内視鏡１の操作部１３には上記処置具起上台２７を操作する起上ワイヤー３４を操作するための起上台作動機構９１が内蔵されている。
【００４８】
すなわち、操作部１３の内部において、その起上ワイヤー３４の基端には金属等の硬質の棒状材質よりなるワイヤ固定部材９２が半田等にて一体的に固着されている。ワイヤ固定部材９２の基端部分には凹部よりなる係止溝９３が形成されている。このワイヤ固定部材９２の基端部分には係止溝９３が形成された範囲をすべて嵌挿できる金属等の硬質のブロック体よりなる、リンク部材９４が挿入してあり、係止溝９３にはリンク部材９４に設けられた雌ネジ９５に螺合された固定ネジ９６の先端部が挿入係止している。これにより、ワイヤ固定部材９２はリンク部材９４に連結される。
【００４９】
リンク部材９４は操作部１３の基盤となるベース９７の長手方向に進退自在に配されている。リンク部材９４には、上記湾曲操作部７１に隣接して設けられた起上操作ノブ９８に連接されたアーム９９が連結されている。アーム９９はリンク部材９４に棒状の軸部材であるリンク軸１００により回動自在に連接されている。リンク軸１００の、ベース９７に対向しない側の一端には、Ｃ型またはＥ型とめ輪等よりなる係止部材１０１が係合してある。図示されるように係止部材１０１が、湾曲操作部カバー１０３の端部よりも把持部カバー１０４側に位置するようにアーム９９の長さ等が設定されている。
【００５０】
（作用・効果）
処置具起上台２７を起上する場合、操作部１３の起上操作ノブ９８を回動操作する。起上操作ノブ９８が回動することにより、起上ワイヤー３４が進退し、これに応じて処置具起上台２７は起上台回動支点２８を支点として回動し、起伏動作を行う。
【００５１】
図２で示した如く、処置具起上台２７が最大に起上した時、起上台裏面３１と、これに対向する先端カバー２２の一面により形成される、収容室２５の空間は開口端部にて最も大きく開口し、また、起上台裏面３１の面が先端部１７の長手方向に対し、略垂直に位置する。このため、図４に示すように、先端部１７の鉛直上方より収容室２５内の全域を眼で容易に捉える事ができる。また、収容室２５はその開口部端が最も大きく開口するため、その収容室２５への洗浄等のアプローチが容易である。
【００５２】
収容室２５を形成する各壁面は互いに接するすべての接線部において曲面を構成するように形成される。このため、その収容室２５内には鋭角な隅部が無く、汚れが溜まり難い。
【００５３】
さらに、図２で示すように、処置具起上台２７に設けられたワイヤ支持壁３３の下端面は先端カバー２２の開口端面より距離Ｃだけ上方部位に来ており、先端部１７の先端側よりワイヤ支持壁３３の下端面を眼で捉える事が出来る。ワイヤ支持壁３３の下端面においても先端側よりアプローチが容易である。
【００５４】
スロープ部４１の面にブラシ誘導面４２を設けている場合には、洗滌ブラシ等で起上台裏面３１とスロープ部４１を洗滌する際、狙った位置にブラシを誘導し易い。
【００５５】
よって、収容室２５及びワイヤ支持壁３３の下端部の洗滌性がよく、先端カバー２２を先端硬質部２１より取り外す事無く、処置具起上台２７の起上台裏面３１及び収容室２５の各面を隅々まで容易に洗浄する事が可能となる。
【００５６】
従って、先端カバー着脱の煩わしさ、検査時に先端カバーがずれて視野を遮ると言った不具合が無くなる。
加えて、収容室２５内の隅部に汚物が溜まりにくく、隅部の洗浄性も良くなる。
【００５７】
ところで、図５に示される如く、収容室２５内に処置具案内用チャンネル２３を通じて導かれてきた処置具２６は処置具起上台２７の誘導面２９を通り、チャンネル２３の開口部へと延出されるが、処置具２６がＰＴＦＥ等の樹脂にて形成されたものである場合、その処置具２６のシース部には曲がり癖がつき易い。また、処置具２６の先端部を対物レンズ５２の中心に向かせるべく、そのシース部に積極的に曲がり癖をつけている事もある。
【００５８】
このような場合、処置具２６の導出先端は処置具起上台２７の中心に位置せず、先端部１７の照明レンズ５１側へ向く事となる。例えば、図８で示すように、処置具２６の先端が処置具起上台２７において対物光学系収容領域側に片寄ってしまう場合がある。このような場合、処置具起上台２７をさらに起上させて行くと、処置具２６は誘導面２９には収まらず、処置具起上台２７と先端部１７の部材との間に挟まれて持ち上がることになる。しかし、処置具２６の一部が案内路２４の近傍において誘導面２９内に収まっているため、処置具起上台２７がある起上角度まで持ち上がると、処置具２６の先端部も誘導面２９に飛び込むように収まる。この現象を処置具２６の飛びと呼ぶことにする。
【００５９】
しかし、此処での処置具起上台２７の先端側には突出部４５が形成されているため、処置具起上台２７の起上動作の初期の段階（起上角が小さい位置）で処置具２６の先端を突出部誘導面４６に続く誘導面２９に導くことができる。
【００６０】
以上の如く、処置具が誘導面２９に収まり易く、内視鏡での観察時に処置具先端の位置が決まり易く、検査処置がやり易い。加えて、処置具起上台２７に形成された突出部４５が先端カバー２２より突出しないため、その突出部４５にて患者粘膜を損傷する事も無い。また、突出部４５には突出部誘導面４６が形成されていることで、処置具２６を突出部誘導面４６及び誘導面２９へと導き易くなる。
【００６１】
また、図３に示すように、誘導面２９の勾配よりも突出部誘導面４６の勾配が大きい事から、誘導面２９の処置具起上台２７に対する幅を狭くする事が無く、その突出部４５の高さを十分に高く取れるようになる。
【００６２】
上記突出部４５は処置具起上台２７を最大に起上した時でも、先端硬質部２１が構成される各部に接しない様に形成されているため、処置具起上台２７の繰り返し起上動作により突出部４５に大きな応力が加わる事が無い。
【００６３】
突出部４５の最も突出する頂部４８は処置具起上台２７の起上動作のいずれにおいても、先端カバー２２の最も突出している稜線部４９より突出する事がない。
【００６４】
外皮部材６１の内径が可撓管口金８５及び先端硬質部２１の外径の９０％以下である事より、その外皮部材６１は可撓管口金８５及び先端硬質部２１の外周面に密着する。
【００６５】
また、外皮部材６１の外周より糸状部材８６を巻き付ける事で、外皮部材６１の内周面と先端硬質部２１及び可撓管口金８５の外周面にて湾曲部１６を液密に保つ事が出来る。
【００６６】
糸状部材８６の外周に配された接着剤８７により包皮部材８８が接着固定される。また、包皮部材８８は加熱溶融される事で、包皮部材８８の端部が滑らかに可撓管部１５、先端カバー２２及び外皮部材６１の外周が連続的につながるように形成される。
【００６７】
包皮部材８８は加熱溶融する際に、その外周を熱収縮チューブにて覆われた状態で溶融されるため、全周に渡りほぼ同一の形状に熱成型する事が出来る。
【００６８】
また、包皮部材８８を帯状のシート形態とする事で可撓管部１５の径が異なる複数の機種においても同一の部材にて対応させる事が出来る。
【００６９】
包皮部材８８は可撓管部１５の外皮樹脂の融点より低いため、可撓管部１５の外皮樹脂を破損する事無く包皮部材８８のみを溶融させる事が出来る。
接着剤８７は低粘度の接着剤であるため、糸状部材８６の隙間部への浸透が良く、包皮部材８８の下層全域をむらなく接着出来る。
包皮部材８８は黒または可撓管部１５の外観と類似色であるため、内視鏡の挿入部１２の外観を損ねる事が無い。
【００７０】
先端硬質部２１において、ライトガイド５３を配置する収納溝５７はＬＧカバー５９によって覆われているが、通常、ＬＧカバー５９の縁部と、収納溝５７の開口部には少なからず段が出来てしまう。
【００７１】
しかし、上記構成ではリング部材６２（または延接部６３）を先端硬質部２１の外周に配する事で、上記ＬＧカバー５９とＬＧ収納溝５７により形成される段部を無くし、外皮部材６１の取付け部の凹凸を無くす事が出来る。
【００７２】
さらに、リング部材６２が先端カバー２２に外嵌するように構成されているため、リング部材６２と先端カバー２２の間は液密的に構成されている。
【００７３】
外皮部材６１はリング部材６２（または延接部６３）に密着するように配されており、外皮部材６１はリング部材６２及び外皮部材６１と延接部６３の間も液密的に構成されている。
【００７４】
外皮部材６１の両端部において、糸状部材８６を巻回する事のみで湾曲部１６を液密構造とする事ができる。加えて、高技能を有さず、簡便な作業にて外皮部材６１の両端固定部を滑らかに形成する事が出来る。
【００７５】
側視タイプの内視鏡においても、外皮部材６１を糸状部材８６にて巻回する事で液密構造とする事が出来る。加えて、図１６で示す構成によれば、消毒薬による化学変化及び衝撃などによる物理的変化により包皮部材８８に劣化が生じても、糸状部材８６により物理的に外皮部材６１と延接部６３が液密構造となっているため、外皮部材６１の両端固定部において電気的な絶縁性を常に確保する事が出来る。
【００７６】
また、上記起上台作動機構９１において、リンク軸１００を係止し、リンク部材９４とアーム９９を回動自在に連接するための構成部品である係止部材１０１が、ベース９７と対向しない位置にあり、かつアーム９９の端部より把持部カバー１０４側に配されているため、把持部カバー１０４を取り外す、または内視鏡の可撓管部１５側へずらす事のみで、係止部材５６が外部より容易に確認し、アプローチできる。
【００７７】
ワイヤ固定部材９２が繰り返しの使用によりリンク部材９４の内部に位置する係止溝９３において破損した場合、把持部カバー１０４を取り外す、または内視鏡の可撓管部１５側へずらす事のみで係止部材１０１を露呈する事が出来る。
【００７８】
さらに、アプローチも容易である事から、係止部材１０１を容易に着脱する事が出来、これにより、リンク部材９４及びワイヤ固定部材９２を交換する事で、破損に対する修理が簡便に行える。
【００７９】
本発明は上述した実施形態のものに限定されるものではない。また、以下に列記する事項またはその任意の組み合わせの事項が得られる。
【００８０】
＜付記＞
付記項１；内視鏡の挿入部先端に開口した処置具起上台用収容室と、
上記内視鏡の操作部側に設けられ、処置具が挿入される挿通口部と、
上記内視鏡に設けられ、上記収容室と上記挿入口部とを連通する案内路と、上記収容室に起上可能に設けられ、上記案内路を通じて挿通された処置具を導出方向へ誘導する誘導面を有する処置具起上台とを有する内視鏡において、
処置具起上台が起上操作されたとき、処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面と、上記裏面が対向する収容室の面までの距離が、処置具起上台が露出されない領域における収容室の開口端において最大となる様に構成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８１】
付記項２；付記項１において、処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面と、上記裏面が対向する収容室の面までの距離が処置具起上台の回動支点に向かって短くなるように形成されていることを特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８２】
付記項３；付記項１において、処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面と、収容室にて構成される空間にあって処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面と垂直な断面での断面積が開口端にて最大となる様に構成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８３】
付記項４；付記項３において、処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面と垂直な断面での断面積が処置具起上台の回動支点に向かって狭くなるように形成されていることを特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８４】
付記項５；付記項１において、上記収容室の各面の隣接する稜線部は曲面にて形成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８５】
付記項６；付記項１において、処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面に対向する収容室の構成面は、内視鏡挿入部の先端に向かった軸方向に対し、鋭角な斜面として、処置具起上台の回動支点に向かい形成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８６】
付記項７；付記項１において、処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面は、処置具起上台が最大角度まで起上操作された時、先端部の開口面に対し略垂直になるように形成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８７】
付記項８；付記項７において、略垂直とは、開口面と処置具起上台の裏面との成す角度が８０度以上である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８８】
付記項９；付記項１において、処置具起上台の誘導面の裏面が対向する、上記収納室の面は、その収納室の開口側から処置具起上台の回動支点に向かって滑らかに傾斜している事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００８９】
付記項１０；内視鏡の挿入部先端に開口した収容室と、
上記内視鏡の操作部側に設けられた送液または処置具が挿通される挿通口と、
上記収容室と上記挿通口とを連通する案内路と、
上記収容室に起上操作可能に設けられ処置具を誘導する誘導面を有する処置具起上台とを有する内視鏡において、
処置具起上台の誘導面の観察光学系が配される側に、起上台の一部を起上台の誘導面が形成される斜面の稜線部よりも突出した突出部が形成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９０】
付記項１１；付記項１０において、突出部は、処置具起上台の長手方向の中央部近傍に設けられている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９１】
付記項１２；付記項１０において、突出部は、誘導面の横方向に垂直な断面形状を誘導面の内側方向に斜面を有する直角三角形に近似した形状である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９２】
付記項１３；付記項１０において、突出部は、処置具起上台の起上操作において、収容室より突出しない様に形成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９３】
付記項２１；可撓管部と、
可撓管部の先端に連結された湾曲部と、
湾曲部の先端に連結された先端構成部とからなる挿入部を有し、
上記湾曲部の外皮を形成する外皮部材の両端部をそれぞれ可撓管の先端部と
先端構成部の基端部とに固定してなる内視鏡において、
外皮の両端部の外周面を糸状部材にて巻回し、上記糸状部材の外周面に、包皮部材を配し、上記包皮部材は加熱溶融することでその外表面を、挿入部の外表面に対し滑らかに配した事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９４】
付記項２２；付記項２１において、包皮部材は熱可塑性樹脂にて形成されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９５】
付記項２３；付記項２１において、糸状部材には、包皮部材を配する前に、接着剤が塗布されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９６】
付記項２４；付記項２２において、熱可塑性樹脂はポリウレタンである事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９７】
付記項２５；付記項２２において、熱可塑性樹脂はその融点が、可撓管に使用の樹脂の融点以下である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９８】
付記項３６；付記項２１において、包皮部材は、黒色である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【００９９】
付記項２７；付記項２１において、包皮部材は、糸状部材に接する面を黒色の層とし、外部に露呈される面を透明の層とする２層構造体である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１００】
付記項２８；付記項２７において、包皮部材の外部に露星される層の融点は、糸状部材に接する層の融点よりも低い事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０１】
付記項２９；付記項２３において、接着剤は低粘度である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０２】
付記項３０；付記項２９において、接着剤の粘度は８．５Ｐｓ・ｓ以下である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０３】
付記項３１；付記項２３において、接着剤の色は黒色である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０４】
付記項３２；付記項２１において、包皮部材は細長のシート状である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０５】
付記項３３；付記項２１において、糸状部材は黒色である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０６】
付記項３４；付記項２１において、外皮部材の少なくとも両端固定部の内径は、上記両端固定部の取り付くべき構成部材の外径以下である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０７】
付記項３５；付記項２１において、糸状部材は外皮に４回以上巻回されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０８】
付記項３６；付記項２１において、糸状部材は２Ｎ以上の引張力にて巻回されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１０９】
付記項３７；付記項２１において、先端構成部は、本体である先端硬質部と、先端硬質部を覆い、樹脂等よりなる先端カバーより構成され、先端硬質部の少なくとも外皮部材が取り付く全周には、リング状の部材が液密的に配されていることを特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１１０】
付記項３８；付記項３７において、リング状の部材は全周において、その一端を先端カバーと液密的に接続されている事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１１１】
付記項３９；付記項３７において、リング状部材は、金属箔よりなる薄肉の部材である事を特徴とする内視鏡。
【０１１２】
付記項１０〜１４の従来技術としては、特開平８−１５４８９０号公報がある。
付記項２１〜３９の従来技術としては、実公昭６２−２３４４４号公報および特開平９−２９９３１９号公報のものがある。
【０１１３】
特開平８−１５４８９０号公報の問題点は、挿入部に挿通した処置具が、内視鏡先端から突出した際に、先端構成部の処置具起上台の側面に接する壁と、処置具起上台に挟まれるように保持された場合、処置具は、処置具起上台の誘導溝に沿うことなく起上操作され、ある角度まで起上された時点で、誘導溝に落ち込む、いわゆる処置具の飛びが発生する。
【０１１４】
この場合、内視鏡検査中に目的部位への処置具の誘導が出来ず、検査に支障をきたすと言う点にある。
【０１１５】
・実公昭６２−２３４４４号公報の問題点は、外套皮の表面より突出したリング状バンドの端部に、本部位が引っ掛かりとならない様に接着剤等を塗布し滑らかにせねばならなかった。
しかし、この作業は挿入部に出るところであるため、滑らかに仕上げる作業には高技能を有するものであり、作業者によるバラツキが大きくなると言う点にある。
【０１１６】
・特開平９−２９９３１９号公報の問題点は、外皮部材が接する可撓管部もしくは先端構成部に熱可塑性樹脂を構成しなくてはならず、そのため熱可塑性樹脂の構成厚さ分だけ挿入部の径が大きくなってしまう。
【０１１７】
また、外皮部材の一部を熱可塑性樹脂にて形成し、組み付け時に加熱溶融するため、外皮部材が部分的に薄くなる可能性があり、本部位が引っ張り等のストレスにより破損し易くなると言う点にある。
【０１１８】
付記項１０〜１４の目的は、挿入部に挿通した処置具を、目的部位に確実に誘導する事を目的とする。
【０１１９】
付記項２１〜３３の目的は、高技能を要せず、外皮部材の両端固定部を先端構成部及び可撓管に対し滑らかに仕上げる事にある。
【０１２０】
付記項３４〜３９の目的は、挿入部において、外皮部材の両端部の防水性を保持する事にある。
【０１２１】
付記項１０〜１４の効果は、先端より処置具を引っかかりなく誘導し、突出させる事に加え、処置具起上台へ形成された誘導溝に処置具を確実に誘導し、内視鏡による検査及び処置に係わる作業をスムーズに行うようにする事に有る。
【０１２２】
付記項２１〜３３の効果は、外皮部材を先端構成部及び可撓管にたいし、確実に液密固定する事に加え、固定部の外部に露呈される面を、高技能を要せず簡便に、かつ滑らかに仕上げる事が出来ると言う事に有る。
【０１２３】
付記項３４−３９の効果は、外皮部材の両端部を糸状部材のみにて、作業者の技術的な差異によらず確実に液密固定できると言う事に有る。
【０１２４】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように本発明によれば、先端カバーの着脱のわずらわしさ、及び検査中の先端カバーのずれによる視野の妨げを無くす事に加え、処置具起上台の裏面及び先端構成部に形成された収容室を洗浄し易くする事が出来る。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡と各種の外部装置を組み込んだシステムの全体を示す斜視図。
【図２】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の、処置具起上台に沿う縦断面図。
【図３】図２中のＢ−Ｂ線に沿う部分の断面図。
【図４】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の平面図。
【図５】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の一使用状態の平面図。
【図６】（ａ）は処置具起上台におけるスロープ部の斜視図、（ｂ）はそのスロープ部を図４（ａ）に示すＸ面に沿って切断した横断面図。
【図７】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の、照明レンズと対物レンズに沿って切断した縦断面図。
【図８】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の横断面図。
【図９】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の横断面図。
【図１０】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の処置具起上台に沿って切断し、処置具起上台の起上動作を示す縦断面図。
【図１１】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部の、照明レンズと対物レンズに沿って切断した縦断面図。
【図１２】図１１中、Ｄ−Ｄ線に沿う部分の横断面図。
【図１３】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の湾曲管部の縦断面図。
【図１４】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部、湾曲管部および可撓管部の外装接続部の縦断面図。
【図１５】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部、湾曲管部および可撓管部の外装接続部の縦断面図。
【図１６】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の先端部、湾曲管部および可撓管部の他の形式の外装接続部の縦断面図。
【図１７】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の起上台作動機構を示すための操作部の断面図。
【図１８】本発明の一実施形態に係る内視鏡の起上台作動機構を示すための操作部の断面図。
【符号の説明】
１…内視鏡、１２…挿入部、１３…操作部、１４…ユニバーサルコード、
１５…可撓管部、１６…湾曲部、１７…先端部、２１…先端硬質部、
２２…先端カバー、２３…チャンネル、２４…導入案内路、２５…収容室、
２６…処置具、２７…処置具起上台、２８…起上台回動支点、２９…誘導面、
３１…起上台裏面、３４…起上ワイヤー。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a raising base that restricts a direction in which a treatment instrument is led out is provided at a distal end opening of a channel formed at a distal end of an insertion portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An endoscope is known in which the tip of a channel is opened at the tip of the insertion portion, and an elevator is provided in the opening (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-32001). In this type of endoscope, the space surrounded by the tip cover and the back of the elevator is not exposed to the outside, so it is difficult to clean the area in the space, and check whether it is sufficiently cleaned visually When doing this, it was difficult to confirm because it had to be seen from multiple angles. Therefore, in the endoscope described above, the tip cover can be removed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, removing the tip cover for cleaning around the elevator and attaching the tip cover after cleaning is troublesome. Since the tip cover is firmly attached so that it does not come off when the endoscope is actually used, the work of attaching and detaching the tip cover is quite complicated.
[0004]
In addition, when the tip cover is attached or detached, the tip cover itself may be damaged. Furthermore, when a shift occurs in the fitting portion between the distal end cover and the distal end configuration portion during the endoscopic inspection, the distal end cover may interfere with the visual field of the endoscope.
[0005]
The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to easily clean the back surface of the treatment instrument raising base and the accommodation chamber formed on the distal end configuration portion without removing the distal end cover. It is to provide such an endoscope.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes an insertion portion having a channel into which a treatment tool is inserted;
Guiding surface for guiding the treatment instrument provided in the insertion portion and inserted through the channel And a back surface that is positioned at an angle in the range of 80 to 100 with respect to the axial direction of the insertion portion when the treatment instrument raising base is raised to the maximum. A treatment instrument elevator having
A wire for operating movement of the treatment instrument elevator;
A storage chamber is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion and stores the treatment instrument raising base. did A tip cover with an opening for exposing the treatment instrument elevator;
When the treatment instrument elevator is stored in the storage chamber, it is located in the storage chamber. When the treatment instrument elevator is raised to the maximum, an opening end portion located on the distal end side of the opening of the storage chamber is used. Located on the part exposed to the outside and partially protruding from the back surface to the back surface A wire support portion provided to support the wire on the treatment instrument elevator;
A fulcrum portion that is provided in the insertion portion and supports the treatment instrument raising base in a rotatable manner between a position where the wire support portion is housed in the opening and a position exposed from the opening;
It is an endoscope characterized by having.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0008]
(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire system incorporating an endoscope 1 and various external devices according to a first embodiment of the present invention. External devices include devices such as a light source device 2, an image processing device 3, a monitor 4, an input keyboard 5, a suction pump device 6, and a suction bottle 7. These devices are installed on a shelf 9 with a carrier 8. Yes.
[0009]
The endoscope 1 includes an insertion portion 12, an operation portion 13, and a universal cord 14. The insertion portion 12 is composed of the constituent parts of the flexible tube portion 15, the bending portion 16 and the distal end portion 17.
[0010]
One end of a universal cord 14 is connected to the operation unit 13, and a connector 18 is provided on the other end of the universal cord 14. The connector 18 is connected to the light source device 2 which is one of the external devices. The connector 18 is provided with a light guide tube and an electrical contact portion.
[0011]
The configuration of the distal end portion 17 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The distal end portion 17 is provided with a distal end rigid portion 21 as a distal end portion main body and a distal end cover 22 formed of a non-conductive material such as a resin so as to cover the periphery thereof. The distal end cover 22 is attached to the distal end rigid portion 21. It is fixed by bonding or the like.
[0012]
The distal end hard portion 21 is formed continuously with a channel (insertion hole) 23 as a treatment instrument insertion guide path, and an introduction guide path 24 for guiding the introduction of the treatment instrument and the like to the distal end side is formed. A storage chamber 25 which is a space formed by the distal end hard portion 21 and the distal end cover 22 is provided at the distal end side of the introduction guide path 24. The accommodation chamber 25 constitutes a distal end opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel 23.
[0013]
A treatment instrument raising base 27 for raising a treatment instrument 26 such as forceps and a catheter introduced through the channel 23 to a desired position is housed in the accommodation chamber 25.
[0014]
One end of the treatment instrument elevator 27 is pivotally attached to an elevator rotation fulcrum 28 provided on the distal end hard portion 21. The raising base rotation fulcrum 28 is located at a lower portion of the leading opening portion of the introduction guide path 24, and the other end portion of the treatment instrument raising base 27 is rotated in the storage chamber 25. An upper base 27 is attached so as to freely move up and down. A guide surface 29 for guiding the treatment tool 26 is formed on the treatment tool raising base 27 by a groove having a substantially V-shaped cross section formed continuously from the introduction guide path 24.
[0015]
The treatment instrument elevator base 27 is a surface on the side where the guide surface 29 is not formed. On the other hand, a pair of left and right wire support walls 33 are provided so as to protrude vertically. The pair of left and right wire support walls 33 is connected to a distal end portion of a raising wire 34 for raising the treatment instrument raising base 27 so as to be rotatable. A pipe 35 for preventing the drop-out is provided on a portion of the raising wire 34 located between the pair of left and right wire support walls 33. The pipe 35 is fixed to the raising wire 34.
[0016]
The raising wire 34 is guided to the operation unit 13 through a guide pipe 36 inserted into the insertion unit 12 and connected to a raising operation mechanism described later.
[0017]
In addition, the tip cover 22 is formed with a slope portion 41 formed as a smooth slope toward the position of the elevator fulcrum 28 at a position facing the elevator base back surface 31. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the slope portion 41 is formed with a brush guide surface 42 that is a groove portion for guiding a cleaning brush or the like to the back surface 31 of the elevator base. Also good. 6A is a perspective view of the slope portion 41, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the slope portion 41 along the X plane shown in FIG. 6A.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the rear surface 31 of the treatment instrument raising base 27 is arranged such that the distal end portion 17 of the insertion portion 12 except for the wire support wall 33 when the treatment instrument raising base 27 is raised to the maximum. The angle θ with respect to the longitudinal direction is formed at about 90 degrees (or in the range of 80 degrees to 100 degrees).
[0019]
Further, the lower end of the wire support wall 33 is formed so as to be displaced upward from the end of the opening of the distal end cover 22 when the treatment instrument raising base 27 is raised to the maximum (distance in FIG. 2). Indicated by C).
[0020]
In the storage chamber 25, the distance A from the rear surface 31 of the raising base when the treatment instrument raising base 27 is raised to the maximum to the surface of the tip cover 22 facing the rear surface 31 of the raising base is the upper opening end of the storage chamber 25. (See FIG. 2). That is, it is configured such that the cross-sectional area in a space perpendicular to the back surface of the treatment instrument raising base 27 in the storage chamber 25 is maximized at the opening end.
[0021]
Further, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 10, in the state where the treatment instrument elevator base 27 is laid down, the surface that is one surface of the storage chamber 25 and faces the elevator base rear surface 31 faces the site of the elevator pivot point 28. It is the said slope part 41 formed as an inclined slope.
[0022]
When the treatment instrument raising base 27 is raised to the maximum, the surface of the storage chamber 25 facing the raising base rear surface 31 is formed at about 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the distal end portion 17 of the insertion portion 12. When the treatment tool raising base 27 is laid down, the face and the face opposite to the raising base rear face 31 are connected by a curved surface 44. In addition, each wall surface forming the storage chamber 25 is formed so as to form a curved surface at all tangential portions in contact with each other.
[0023]
Further, when the treatment instrument elevator 27 is raised to the maximum, the distance between the back surface of the treatment instrument elevator 27 and the surface of the storage chamber 25 facing the back surface is directed toward the pivot point of the treatment instrument elevator 27. It is formed to be short and narrow.
[0024]
FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional shape of the treatment instrument elevator 27 (BB cross section in FIG. 2), which is the surface side on which the guide surface 29 of the treatment instrument elevator 27 is formed, A protrusion 45 having a thin spatula shape is extended and formed at a side portion where the illumination lens is arranged. The inner surface of the protrusion 45 is inclined toward the center of the treatment instrument elevator base 27 to form a protrusion guide surface 46 that is a slope continuous with the guide surface 29. The gradient of the projection guiding surface 46 is formed to be larger and steeper than the gradient of the guiding surface 29.
[0025]
The protruding portion guiding surface 46 may be formed by a convex or concave curved surface instead of an inclined surface.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, the ridge line of the protrusion 45 is formed in a shape that does not interfere with each component of the distal end portion 17 when the treatment instrument raising base 27 is raised to the maximum. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the locus of the top portion 48 of the projecting portion 45 when performing the raising operation of the treatment instrument raising base 27 becomes a bold broken line. The locus of the top 48 is formed so as to be closer to the elevator turn fulcrum 28 than the ridge 49 of the tip cover 22.
[0027]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the distal end portion 17 of the endoscope 1, the distal end hard portion 21 is located on one side of the storage chamber 25, here the right side, and the illumination lens 51 and the objective lens 52 are located on the distal end portion 17. The side-view type endoscope 1 is configured by being arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction.
[0028]
A light guide (fiber bundle) 53 is connected to the illumination lens 51 that spreads the illumination light into the body cavity, and an imaging unit 56 is connected to the objective lens 52 via a prism 54 and an imaging lens 55. These are all attached to the distal end hard portion 21. The imaging unit 56 incorporates an imaging element such as a CCD (not shown) and an attached circuit element.
[0029]
As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12, a storage groove 57 in which the light guide 53 is disposed is elongated in the distal end hard portion 21 along the longitudinal direction of the distal end hard portion 21. . After the light guide 53 is stored, the storage groove 57 is filled with a filler 58 such as RTV rubber, and thereafter the opening of the storage groove 57 is covered with the LG cover 59.
[0030]
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a ring that is a thin ring-shaped member is provided at a position where the end portion of the outer skin member 61 of the bending portion 16 is disposed on the end side to which the bending portion 16 of the distal end hard portion 21 is connected. The member 62 is fixed by adhesion or the like. An end portion of the tip cover 22 is fitted to one end of the ring member 62 on the entire circumference, and an adhesive or the like is liquid-tightly arranged on the outer fit portion.
[0031]
In addition, as this ring member 62, as shown in FIG. 7, you may comprise as the extended contact part 63 formed by extending the rear end of the front-end | tip cover 22 in the perimeter.
[0032]
The outer skin member 61 is disposed so that the inner peripheral surface thereof is in close contact with the outer periphery of the ring member 62 (or the extending contact portion 63), and a thread-like member 64 is wound around the outer periphery of the outer skin member 61 at that portion. After the adhesive 65 is applied to the outer periphery of the member 64, a foreskin member 66 is disposed by being melted by heating.
[0033]
Here, the inner diameter of the outer skin member 61 is formed to be 90% or less of the outer diameter of the ring member 62 (or the extending contact portion 63). The same applies to the configuration of FIG. 13 to be described later, but the inner diameter of the range to be attached to the distal end hard portion 21 and the later-described flexible tube base 85 at both ends of the outer skin member 61 is that of the distal end hard portion 21 and the flexible tube base 85. It is formed to be 90% or less of the outer diameter. The inner diameter of the outer layer of the curved portion 16 of the outer skin member 61 is formed to be 90 to 110% of the outer diameter of the blade 67.
[0034]
Here, the outer skin member 61 may be formed with the same inner diameter except that the inner diameter in a range to be attached to the distal end hard portion 21 is reduced. In this case, the outer diameter of the flexible tube base 85 described later is formed so that the following formula is satisfied: (outer diameter of the flexible tube base 85) × 0.9 ≧ (inner diameter of the outer skin member 61).
[0035]
By the way, the light guide 53 is guided to the connector 18 through the insertion portion 12, the operation portion 13, and the universal cord 14. Electrical wiring (not shown) connected to the imaging unit 56 is also led to the connector 18 through the insertion unit 12, the operation unit 13, and the universal cord 14. The electrical wiring is connected to the image processing apparatus 3 via a connection cable 19 connected to the electrical contact portion of the connector 18. The imaging signal obtained by the imaging unit 56 is converted into a video signal by the image processing device 3 and displayed on the monitor 4.
[0036]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation section 13 of the endoscope 1 includes a bending operation section 71 for bending the bending section 16 of the insertion section 12 in the up / down / left / right directions, and water or water on the outer surface of the objective lens 52. A body cavity is selectively transmitted through an air / water supply button 73 for selectively ejecting gas and liquid to a nozzle 72 for spraying a fluid such as air and cleaning the lens surface, and a channel 23 having a distal end open at the distal end portion 17. A suction operation button 74 for collecting the mucus and the like, and an insertion port 75 leading to the channel 23 are provided. The distal end opening of the channel 23 also serves as a storage chamber 25 in which the treatment instrument raising base 27 is disposed.
[0037]
Inside the endoscope 1, a fluid conduit 76 that supplies fluid to the nozzle 72 and a suction conduit through which the recovered fluid passes (the channel 23 also serves as this) are disposed.
[0038]
For example, the bending portion 16 of the insertion portion 12 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, a plurality of curved pieces 81 arranged in a row are rotatably combined using a rivet 82 to form a core member 83, and a metal or chemical fiber wire is braided on the outer periphery of the core member 83. The blade 67 formed in a cylindrical shape is externally mounted, and both end portions of the blade 67 are fixed to the bending pieces 81 provided at both extreme ends of the bending portion 16 by bonding or soldering. The blade 67 is covered with the outer skin member 61 made of a tube body. The distal end hard portion 21 made of metal or hard resin constituting the distal end portion 17 is connected to the most advanced bending piece 81 constituting the curved portion 16. In addition, a tip cover 22 that is a cap-like member formed of an insulating material is integrally fixed to the tip hard portion 21 by adhesion or the like.
[0039]
Further, the flexible tube portion 15 of the insertion portion 12 includes a spiral tube (not shown) formed of a strip-shaped metal in a spiral shape, a blade (not shown) formed of a metal wire or a chemical fiber braided in a cylindrical shape, and an outer shell (not shown) made of resin. Are laminated.
[0040]
A flexible tube base 85 made of metal or the like is fixed to the distal end of the flexible tube portion 15 by bonding or soldering, and the bending of the proximal end constituting the bending portion 16 through the flexible tube base 85 is performed. The frame 81 is connected and fixed. As shown in FIG. 14, a filler 84 made of an adhesive or the like is liquid-tight over the entire circumference in the gap between one end of the flexible tube base 85 and the outer skin layer constituting the outermost layer of the flexible tube portion 15. Is arranged.
[0041]
Further, for example, the front end of the outer skin member 61 is packaged so as to be in close contact with the outer periphery of the front end hard portion 21, and the front end portion is disposed so as to be in contact with the rear end portion of the front end cover 22. As shown in FIG. 15, a thread-like member 86 made of silk, chemical fiber, or the like is wound around the distal end portion of the outer skin member 61 that covers the distal end hard portion 21. The rear end portion of the outer skin member 61 is packaged so as to be in close contact with the outer periphery of the flexible tube base 85, and the rear end portion is disposed so as to be in contact with the front end portion of the outer skin layer of the flexible tube portion 15. A thread-like member 86 made of silk or chemical fiber is wound around the rear end portion of the outer skin member 61 that covers the flexible tube base 85.
[0042]
Then, the thread-like member 86 wound around the end portion of the outer skin member 61 is wound and tightened so that the outer skin member 61 is bound from the outside when the tensile force is 2N or more. The number of windings of the thread-like member 86 is 4 or more. Furthermore, an adhesive 87 is applied to the thread-like member 86 over the entire area. After the adhesive 87 is applied, the envelope member 88 made of a thermoplastic resin such as urethane is disposed on the outer periphery of the thread member 86.
[0043]
Here, the adhesive 87 has a viscosity of 8.5 Ps · s or less. The envelope member 88 is formed of a resin material whose melting point is lower than the melting point of the resin of the outer skin member 61. Further, at least the foreskin member 88 of the thread-like member 86 and the foreskin member 88 has a color similar to the appearance color of the flexible tube portion 15. The foreskin member 88 is not limited to the appearance color and may be black. The adhesive 87 is also similar to the appearance color of the flexible tube portion 15 or black. The foreskin member 88 may be formed in a ring shape or may be formed in a belt-like sheet shape.
[0044]
When the envelope member 88 is attached to the outer periphery of the adhesive 87, the outer periphery is entirely covered with a heat shrinkable tube material (not shown), and the heat shrinkable tube is heated and contracted by a heating device (not shown) and melted at the same time. .
[0045]
When the foreskin member 88 is formed in a belt-like sheet, the foreskin member 88 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the adhesive 87, and the part where the foreskin member 88 overlaps is heated with a heating device such as a soldering iron, It is arranged in a ring shape on this part.
[0046]
Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the foreskin member 88 is composed of two layers: a black foreskin member 89 for the layer in contact with the thread-like member 86, and a transparent foreskin member 90 which is colorless (translucent) for the layer exposed to the outside. Also good.
[0047]
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the operation unit 13 of the endoscope 1 incorporates an elevator operating mechanism 91 for operating the elevator wire 34 for operating the treatment instrument elevator 27.
[0048]
That is, inside the operation portion 13, a wire fixing member 92 made of a hard rod-like material such as metal is integrally fixed to the base end of the raising wire 34 with solder or the like. A locking groove 93 made of a recess is formed in the base end portion of the wire fixing member 92. A link member 94 made of a hard block body made of metal or the like into which the entire area where the locking groove 93 is formed can be inserted is inserted into the proximal end portion of the wire fixing member 92. A distal end portion of a fixing screw 96 screwed into a female screw 95 provided on the link member 94 is inserted and locked. Thereby, the wire fixing member 92 is connected to the link member 94.
[0049]
The link member 94 is disposed so as to be able to advance and retract in the longitudinal direction of the base 97 serving as the base of the operation unit 13. An arm 99 connected to a raising operation knob 98 provided adjacent to the bending operation unit 71 is connected to the link member 94. The arm 99 is rotatably connected to the link member 94 by a link shaft 100 that is a rod-shaped shaft member. A locking member 101 made of a C-type or E-type snap ring or the like is engaged with one end of the link shaft 100 on the side not facing the base 97. As shown in the drawing, the length of the arm 99 is set so that the locking member 101 is positioned closer to the grip part cover 104 than the end of the bending operation part cover 103.
[0050]
(Action / Effect)
When the treatment instrument raising base 27 is raised, the raising operation knob 98 of the operation unit 13 is rotated. When the raising operation knob 98 is rotated, the raising wire 34 is moved forward and backward, and in response to this, the treatment instrument raising base 27 is rotated with the raising base rotating fulcrum 28 as a fulcrum to perform a raising / lowering operation.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 2, when the treatment instrument elevator base 27 is raised to the maximum, the space of the storage chamber 25 formed by the rear surface 31 of the elevator base and the one surface of the tip cover 22 facing this is at the opening end. The surface of the raising base rear surface 31 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tip portion 17. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the entire region in the storage chamber 25 can be easily grasped by the eyes from vertically above the distal end portion 17. Moreover, since the opening end of the storage chamber 25 is the largest, an approach such as cleaning to the storage chamber 25 is easy.
[0052]
Each wall surface forming the storage chamber 25 is formed so as to form a curved surface at all tangential portions in contact with each other. For this reason, there are no sharp corners in the storage chamber 25, and dirt hardly accumulates.
[0053]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower end surface of the wire support wall 33 provided on the treatment instrument raising base 27 is located at a position above the opening end surface of the distal end cover 22 by a distance C, and from the distal end side of the distal end portion 17. The lower end surface of the wire support wall 33 can be caught with the eyes. The approach is also easier on the lower end surface of the wire support wall 33 than on the front end side.
[0054]
When the brush guide surface 42 is provided on the surface of the slope portion 41, the brush is easily guided to a target position when the raising base back surface 31 and the slope portion 41 are washed with a washing brush or the like.
[0055]
Therefore, the washability of the lower ends of the storage chamber 25 and the wire support wall 33 is good, and the surfaces of the raising base back surface 31 of the treatment instrument raising base 27 and each surface of the storage chamber 25 are removed without removing the distal end cover 22 from the distal end hard portion 21. It is possible to easily wash every corner.
[0056]
Therefore, the trouble of attaching / detaching the front end cover and the fact that the front end cover is displaced at the time of inspection and obstructs the visual field is eliminated.
In addition, it is difficult for filth to collect in the corners of the storage chamber 25, and the corners can be easily cleaned.
[0057]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 5, the treatment instrument 26 guided into the accommodation chamber 25 through the treatment instrument guide channel 23 passes through the guide surface 29 of the treatment instrument elevator 27 and extends to the opening of the channel 23. However, when the treatment instrument 26 is made of a resin such as PTFE, the sheath portion of the treatment instrument 26 is easily bent and wrinkled. In addition, the sheath portion may be actively bent to have the distal end portion of the treatment instrument 26 directed toward the center of the objective lens 52.
[0058]
In such a case, the leading end of the treatment instrument 26 is not positioned at the center of the treatment instrument raising base 27 but is directed to the illumination lens 51 side of the distal end portion 17. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the distal end of the treatment instrument 26 may be offset toward the objective optical system accommodation area side in the treatment instrument raising base 27. In such a case, when the treatment instrument raising base 27 is further raised, the treatment instrument 26 does not fit on the guide surface 29 and is lifted by being sandwiched between the treatment instrument raising base 27 and the member of the distal end portion 17. It will be. However, since a part of the treatment tool 26 is within the guide surface 29 in the vicinity of the guide path 24, when the treatment tool raising base 27 is lifted to a certain raising angle, the distal end portion of the treatment tool 26 is also moved to the guide surface 29. Fits like a dive. This phenomenon is referred to as the jumping of the treatment tool 26.
[0059]
However, since the protrusion 45 is formed on the distal end side of the treatment instrument raising base 27 here, the treatment instrument 26 is in the initial stage of the raising operation of the treatment instrument raising base 27 (position where the raising angle is small). Can be guided to the guide surface 29 following the protrusion guide surface 46.
[0060]
As described above, the treatment instrument is likely to be accommodated on the guide surface 29, the position of the distal end of the treatment instrument is easily determined during observation with the endoscope, and the examination treatment is easy to perform. In addition, since the protrusion 45 formed on the treatment instrument elevator 27 does not protrude from the distal end cover 22, the protrusion 45 does not damage the patient mucous membrane. Further, since the protruding portion 45 is formed with the protruding portion guiding surface 46, the treatment instrument 26 can be easily guided to the protruding portion guiding surface 46 and the guiding surface 29.
[0061]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, since the gradient of the protruding portion guiding surface 46 is larger than the gradient of the guiding surface 29, the width of the guiding surface 29 with respect to the treatment instrument raising base 27 is not narrowed, and the protruding portion 45. The height of can be taken high enough.
[0062]
The protruding portion 45 is formed so as not to contact each portion of the distal end hard portion 21 even when the treatment instrument raising base 27 is raised to the maximum, so that the treatment instrument raising base 27 is repeatedly raised. A large stress is not applied to the protrusion 45.
[0063]
The most protruding top portion 48 of the protruding portion 45 does not protrude from the most protruding ridge line portion 49 of the distal end cover 22 in any of the raising operations of the treatment instrument raising base 27.
[0064]
Since the inner diameter of the outer skin member 61 is 90% or less of the outer diameter of the flexible tube base 85 and the distal end hard portion 21, the outer skin member 61 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the flexible tube base 85 and the distal end hard portion 21.
[0065]
Further, by winding the thread-like member 86 from the outer periphery of the outer skin member 61, the curved portion 16 can be kept liquid-tight on the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin member 61 and the outer peripheral surfaces of the distal end hard portion 21 and the flexible tube base 85. .
[0066]
The foreskin member 88 is bonded and fixed by an adhesive 87 disposed on the outer periphery of the thread-like member 86. Further, the foreskin member 88 is heated and melted so that the end of the foreskin member 88 is smoothly connected to the outer periphery of the flexible tube portion 15, the tip cover 22 and the outer skin member 61.
[0067]
When the foreskin member 88 is melted by heating, it is melted with its outer periphery covered with a heat-shrinkable tube, so that it can be thermoformed into substantially the same shape over the entire periphery.
[0068]
Further, by making the foreskin member 88 into a belt-like sheet form, the same member can be used for a plurality of models having different diameters of the flexible tube portion 15.
[0069]
Since the covering member 88 is lower than the melting point of the outer resin of the flexible tube portion 15, only the outer covering member 88 can be melted without damaging the outer resin of the flexible tube portion 15.
Since the adhesive 87 is a low-viscosity adhesive, the penetration into the gaps of the thread-like member 86 is good, and the entire lower layer of the envelope member 88 can be adhered evenly.
Since the foreskin member 88 is black or has a similar color to the appearance of the flexible tube portion 15, the appearance of the insertion portion 12 of the endoscope is not impaired.
[0070]
In the distal end hard portion 21, the storage groove 57 in which the light guide 53 is disposed is covered with the LG cover 59, but usually there are not a few steps at the edge of the LG cover 59 and the opening of the storage groove 57. End up.
[0071]
However, in the above configuration, the ring member 62 (or the extending contact portion 63) is arranged on the outer periphery of the distal end hard portion 21, thereby eliminating the step portion formed by the LG cover 59 and the LG storage groove 57. The unevenness of the mounting part can be eliminated.
[0072]
Furthermore, since the ring member 62 is configured to be fitted on the tip cover 22, the space between the ring member 62 and the tip cover 22 is liquid-tight.
[0073]
The outer skin member 61 is disposed so as to be in close contact with the ring member 62 (or the extending contact portion 63), and the outer skin member 61 is also liquid-tightly configured between the ring member 62 and the outer skin member 61 and the extending contact portion 63. Yes.
[0074]
The curved portion 16 can be formed into a liquid-tight structure only by winding the thread-like member 86 at both ends of the outer skin member 61. In addition, the both-end fixing part of the outer skin member 61 can be smoothly formed by a simple operation without having high skill.
[0075]
Even in a side-view type endoscope, a liquid-tight structure can be obtained by winding the outer skin member 61 with a thread-like member 86. In addition, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 16, even if the foreskin member 88 is deteriorated due to a chemical change caused by a disinfectant or a physical change due to an impact or the like, the outer skin member 61 and the extension 63 are physically connected by the thread-like member 86. Because of the liquid-tight structure, it is possible to always ensure electrical insulation at both end fixing portions of the outer skin member 61.
[0076]
In the elevator operating mechanism 91, the locking member 101, which is a component for locking the link shaft 100 and rotatably connecting the link member 94 and the arm 99, is at a position not facing the base 97. Since it is provided on the side of the grip portion cover 104 from the end of the arm 99, the locking member 56 can be removed by simply removing the grip portion cover 104 or shifting it to the flexible tube portion 15 side of the endoscope. Can be confirmed and approached easily from outside.
[0077]
When the wire fixing member 92 is damaged in the locking groove 93 located inside the link member 94 due to repeated use, it is only necessary to remove the grip portion cover 104 or shift it to the flexible tube portion 15 side of the endoscope. The stop member 101 can be exposed.
[0078]
Further, since the approach is easy, the locking member 101 can be easily attached and detached. Thus, the damage can be easily repaired by replacing the link member 94 and the wire fixing member 92.
[0079]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Moreover, the matter listed below or the matter of arbitrary combinations is obtained.
[0080]
<Appendix>
Additional Item 1: A treatment instrument raising base accommodating chamber opened at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope;
An insertion port provided on the operation unit side of the endoscope, into which a treatment tool is inserted, and
A guide path provided in the endoscope, communicating the storage chamber and the insertion port, and a treatment tool provided in the storage chamber so as to be able to rise up and inserted through the guide path is guided in the direction of withdrawal. In an endoscope having a treatment instrument elevator having a guide surface,
When the treatment instrument elevator is raised, the distance between the back surface of the guide surface of the treatment instrument elevator and the surface of the storage chamber facing the back surface is the opening of the storage chamber in the region where the treatment instrument elevator is not exposed. An endoscope that is configured to be maximized at the end.
[0081]
Additional Item 2; In Additional Item 1, the distance between the rear surface of the guide surface of the treatment instrument elevator and the surface of the storage chamber facing the rear surface is shortened toward the pivot point of the treatment instrument elevator. An endoscope characterized by having
[0082]
Additional Item 3; In Additional Item 1, the cross-sectional area in the cross section perpendicular to the rear surface of the guide surface of the treatment instrument elevator base in the space configured by the accommodation chamber and the rear surface of the treatment instrument elevator base is opened. An endoscope characterized by being configured to be maximized at the end.
[0083]
Additional Item 4; In Additional Item 3, wherein a cross-sectional area in a cross section perpendicular to the back surface of the guide surface of the treatment instrument elevator is formed so as to become narrower toward a rotation fulcrum of the treatment instrument elevator. Endoscope.
[0084]
Additional Item 5: The endoscope according to Additional Item 1, wherein adjacent ridge lines of each surface of the storage chamber are formed of curved surfaces.
[0085]
Additional Item 6: In the Additional Item 1, the component surface of the storage chamber facing the back surface of the guide surface of the treatment instrument raising base is an inclined surface with an acute angle with respect to the axial direction toward the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion. Endoscope characterized by being formed facing the pivot point of the elevator.
[0086]
Additional Item 7; In Additional Item 1, the back surface of the guide surface of the treatment instrument elevator is formed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the opening surface of the distal end when the treatment instrument elevator is raised to the maximum angle. Endoscope characterized by being.
[0087]
Additional Item 8: In the Additional Item 7, the term “substantially perpendicular” means that the angle formed by the opening surface and the back surface of the treatment instrument raising base is 80 degrees or more.
[0088]
Additional Item 9; In Additional Item 1, the surface of the storage chamber facing the back surface of the guide surface of the treatment instrument elevator is smoothly inclined from the opening side of the storage chamber toward the pivot point of the treatment instrument elevator. Endoscope characterized by being.
[0089]
Additional Item 10; a storage chamber opened at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope;
An insertion port through which the liquid feeding or treatment tool provided on the operation unit side of the endoscope is inserted;
A guideway communicating the storage chamber and the insertion port;
In an endoscope having a treatment instrument raising base having a guide surface for guiding a treatment instrument provided in the accommodation chamber so as to be raised.
On the side where the observation optical system of the guide surface of the treatment instrument raising base is arranged, a protruding part that protrudes from the ridge line part of the slope where a part of the raising base is formed is formed. Features an endoscope.
[0090]
Additional Item 11: The endoscope according to Additional Item 10, wherein the protruding portion is provided in the vicinity of a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the treatment instrument raising base.
[0091]
Additional Item 12: The endoscope according to Additional Item 10, wherein the protruding portion has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the lateral direction of the guide surface and a shape approximated to a right triangle having a slope in the inner direction of the guide surface.
[0092]
Additional Item 13; The endoscope according to Additional Item 10, wherein the protruding portion is formed so as not to protrude from the storage chamber in the raising operation of the treatment instrument raising base.
[0093]
Additional Item 21; a flexible tube portion;
A bending portion connected to the tip of the flexible tube portion;
It has an insertion part consisting of a tip component connected to the tip of the bending part,
Both end portions of the outer skin member forming the outer skin of the curved portion are respectively connected to the distal end portion of the flexible tube.
In an endoscope that is fixed to the proximal end portion of the distal end configuration portion,
The outer peripheral surface of both ends of the outer skin is wound with a thread-like member, and a foreskin member is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the thread-like member. An endoscope characterized by its smooth arrangement.
[0094]
Additional Item 22: The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein the foreskin member is formed of a thermoplastic resin.
[0095]
Additional Item 23: The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein an adhesive is applied to the thread-like member before the foreskin member is disposed.
[0096]
Additional Item 24: The endoscope according to Additional Item 22, wherein the thermoplastic resin is polyurethane.
[0097]
Additional Item 25: The endoscope according to Additional Item 22, wherein the thermoplastic resin has a melting point equal to or lower than a melting point of the resin used for the flexible tube.
[0098]
Additional Item 36; The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein the foreskin member is black.
[0099]
Additional Item 27: The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein the foreskin member is a two-layer structure in which a surface in contact with the thread-shaped member is a black layer and a surface exposed to the outside is a transparent layer. .
[0100]
Additional Item 28: The endoscope according to Additional Item 27, wherein the melting point of the layer exposed to the outside of the foreskin member is lower than the melting point of the layer in contact with the thread member.
[0101]
Additional Item 29; The endoscope according to Additional Item 23, wherein the adhesive has a low viscosity.
[0102]
Additional Item 30: The endoscope according to Additional Item 29, wherein the adhesive has a viscosity of 8.5 Ps · s or less.
[0103]
Additional Item 31; The endoscope according to Additional Item 23, wherein the color of the adhesive is black.
[0104]
Additional Item 32; The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein the foreskin member is in the form of an elongated sheet.
[0105]
Additional Item 33; The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein the thread-like member is black.
[0106]
Additional Item 34: The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein an inner diameter of at least both end fixing portions of the outer skin member is equal to or smaller than an outer diameter of a component member to be attached to the both end fixing portions.
[0107]
Additional Item 35; The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein the thread-like member is wound around the outer skin four times or more.
[0108]
Additional Item 36; The endoscope according to Additional Item 21, wherein the thread-like member is wound with a tensile force of 2N or more.
[0109]
Additional Item 37; In Additional Item 21, the distal end component portion includes a distal end hard portion that is a main body, and a distal end cover that covers the distal end rigid portion and is made of resin or the like, and is disposed on the entire circumference to which at least the outer skin member of the distal end rigid portion is attached. Is an endoscope in which ring-shaped members are liquid-tightly arranged.
[0110]
Additional Item 38; The endoscope according to Additional Item 37, wherein one end of the ring-shaped member is liquid-tightly connected to the tip cover over the entire circumference.
[0111]
Additional Item 39; The endoscope according to Additional Item 37, wherein the ring-shaped member is a thin member made of a metal foil.
[0112]
There is JP-A-8-154890 as a prior art of additional items 10-14.
Examples of the prior art of the additional items 21 to 39 include those disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication Nos. 62-23444 and 9-299319.
[0113]
The problem of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-154890 is that when the treatment instrument inserted through the insertion portion protrudes from the distal end of the endoscope, a wall that comes into contact with the side surface of the treatment instrument raising base of the distal end configuration portion, and the treatment instrument raising base When the treatment tool is held so as to be sandwiched between the treatment tool, the treatment tool is raised without being guided along the guide groove of the treatment tool raising base, and when the treatment tool is raised to a certain angle, the treatment tool falls into the guide groove. Will occur.
[0114]
In this case, the treatment tool cannot be guided to the target site during the endoscopic examination, which hinders the examination.
[0115]
-The problem of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-23444 was that an adhesive or the like had to be applied and smoothly applied to the end of the ring-shaped band protruding from the surface of the mantle so as not to be caught.
However, since this work is going to the insertion section, it has a high skill in the work to finish smoothly, and there is a point that the variation by the worker becomes large.
[0116]
-The problem of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-299319 is that the thermoplastic resin must be formed in the flexible tube portion or the tip constituting portion that is in contact with the outer skin member, and therefore the insertion portion corresponding to the constitution thickness of the thermoplastic resin. The diameter of will increase.
[0117]
In addition, a part of the outer skin member is formed of a thermoplastic resin and is heated and melted at the time of assembly. Therefore, the outer skin member may be partially thinned, and this part is likely to be damaged by stress such as tension. It is in.
[0118]
The purpose of the additional items 10 to 14 is to reliably guide the treatment tool inserted through the insertion portion to the target site.
[0119]
The purpose of the supplementary items 21 to 33 is to smoothly finish the both-end fixing portion of the outer skin member with respect to the tip constituent portion and the flexible tube without requiring high skill.
[0120]
The purpose of the additional items 34 to 39 is to maintain the waterproofness of both end portions of the outer skin member in the insertion portion.
[0121]
The effects of the additional items 10 to 14 are that the treatment instrument is guided and projected from the tip without being caught, and the treatment instrument is reliably guided to the guide groove formed on the treatment instrument raising base, The purpose is to make the work related to the treatment smooth.
[0122]
The effects of the additional items 21 to 33 are that the outer skin member is securely fixed to the tip component part and the flexible tube, and the surface exposed to the outside of the fixing part is not required to have high skill. It is simply and smoothly finished.
[0123]
The effect of the additional items 34-39 is that the both end portions of the outer skin member can be surely liquid-tightly fixed only by the thread-like member regardless of the technical difference of the operator.
[0124]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to eliminating the trouble of attaching and detaching the distal end cover and obstructing the visual field due to the displacement of the distal end cover during the inspection, it is formed on the back surface and the distal end constituting portion of the treatment instrument raising base. Can be easily cleaned.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire system incorporating an endoscope and various external devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention along the treatment instrument raising base.
3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion along the line BB in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of one use state of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention.
6A is a perspective view of the slope portion of the treatment instrument raising base, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the slope portion cut along the X plane shown in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention cut along the illumination lens and the objective lens.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the raising operation of the treatment instrument raising base by cutting along the treatment instrument raising base at the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention, cut along the illumination lens and the objective lens.
12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion along the line DD in FIG.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bending tube portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an exterior connection portion of a distal end portion, a bending tube portion, and a flexible tube portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exterior connection portion of a distal end portion, a bending tube portion, and a flexible tube portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another type of exterior connection portion of the distal end portion, the bending tube portion, and the flexible tube portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an operation unit for showing an elevator raising mechanism operating mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an operation unit for illustrating an elevator raising mechanism operating mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 12 ... Insertion part, 13 ... Operation part, 14 ... Universal cord,
15 ... flexible tube part, 16 ... curved part, 17 ... tip part, 21 ... tip hard part,
22 ... tip cover, 23 ... channel, 24 ... introduction guideway, 25 ... accommodation room,
26 ... treatment tool, 27 ... treatment tool raising base, 28 ... raising base rotation fulcrum, 29 ... guide surface,
31 ... Back of the raising stand, 34 ... Raising wire.

Claims

An insertion portion having a channel into which the treatment tool is inserted;
A guide surface provided in the insertion portion for guiding the treatment instrument inserted through the channel and a range of 80 to 100 with respect to the axial direction of the insertion portion when the treatment instrument raising base is raised to the maximum. A treatment instrument elevator having a back surface positioned at an angle ;
A wire for operating movement of the treatment instrument elevator;
A distal end cover that is attached to the distal end of the insertion portion and has a storage chamber for storing the treatment instrument raising base, the storage chamber having an opening for exposing the raised treatment instrument raising base;
When the treatment instrument elevator is stored in the storage chamber, it is located in the storage chamber, and when the treatment instrument elevator is raised to the maximum, an opening end portion located on the distal end side of the opening of the storage chamber A wire support portion that is located at a part that goes out and is partially protruded from the back surface and provided on the back surface, and supports the wire on the treatment instrument raising base,
A fulcrum portion that is provided in the insertion portion and supports the treatment instrument raising base in a rotatable manner between a position where the wire support portion is housed in the opening and a position exposed from the opening;
The endoscope characterized by having.