JP3810555B2 - Endoscope air / water supply system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope air / water supply device, and more particularly to a configuration of a connection pipe that connects an endoscope-side air supply pipe or water supply pipe to a pipeline control unit side air supply pipe or water supply pipe.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Endoscopes have conventionally been equipped with air pipes, water pipes, etc., and these pipes are configured to allow air supply and water supply (liquid supply) to the tip, and observation provided at the tip The window (lens surface) is washed, water droplets are removed, etc., and air is led out of the body to be observed to inflate the body cavity such as the stomach.
[0003]
FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a part of a conventional endoscope air / water supply apparatus. In this example, for example, a cable 1 of an electronic endoscope is connected to a light source unit 3 via a connector portion 2 and is connected to a processor device 5 via a signal cable 4 branched from the connector portion 2. That is, although not shown, a light guide and a signal line are arranged in the cable 1, and the light guide is connected to the light source unit 3 and the other signal line is connected to the processor device 5.
[0004]
Further, a water supply pipe 6B and an air supply pipe 7B are disposed in the cable 1, and the water supply pipe 6B and the air supply pipe 7B are connected to an electromagnetic valve unit (pipe line) via connection pipes 6C and 7C made of soft pipes. Control unit) 8. In the electromagnetic valve unit 8, a water supply pipe 6D connected to the connection pipe 6C and an air supply pipe 7D connected to the other connection pipe 7C and connected to the pump 9 are provided, and these pipes 6D, 7D are provided. Solenoid valves V1 and V2 for controlling the opening and closing of the pipeline are attached.
[0005]
The water supply pipe 6 </ b> D is connected to the water supply tank 10, and the water supply tank 10 is connected to the pump 9 through the pipe 11. An air release pipe 12 is connected to the pump 9, and an electromagnetic valve V 3 is attached to the air release pipe 12. The air / water supply operation switch is disposed, for example, in the endoscope operation unit.
[0006]
According to the above configuration, when the air / water switch is not operated, only the electromagnetic valve V3 is opened, and the air sent from the pump 9 is released from the atmosphere release pipe 12 to the atmosphere. When the water supply operation is performed by the air supply / water supply switch, the electromagnetic valve V1 is opened and the other electromagnetic valves V2 and V3 are closed, whereby the water in the water supply tank 10 passes through the water supply pipes 6D, 6C and 6B. Supplied to the endoscope side. On the other hand, when an air supply operation is performed, the electromagnetic valve V2 is opened and the other electromagnetic valves V1 and V3 are closed, so that air is sent through the air supply pipes 7D, 7C and 7D.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional endoscope air / water feeding device, since the connecting pipes 6C and 7C are made of a soft pipe such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the connecting pipes 6C and 7C are provided at the time of water feeding and air feeding. There are problems such as deformation, flow rate change, and lack of water on the observation window lens surface.
[0008]
That is, in the endoscope water supply pipe 6 or the like, for example, the pipe diameter (diameter) in the endoscope body is about 1 mm, the diameter of the pipe 6B in the cable 1 is about 2 mm, and the diameter of the connecting pipe 6C is about 5 mm. Then, the closer to the electromagnetic valve unit 8, the larger the pipe diameter, and a certain amount of internal pressure is applied to the pipe wall of the connecting pipe 6C (7C). Since the connecting pipes 6C and 7C are soft pipes, the pipe itself expands due to the pressure during water supply or air supply, and the flow rate changes at the start or end of the air supply / water supply.
[0009]
In addition, when water is supplied to the lens surface for cleaning the observation window, a small amount of water leaks from the nozzle at the distal end of the endoscope even after the water supply ends due to the pushing force when the connecting pipe 6C expanded at the end returns. In addition, water drainage becomes worse.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to suppress expansion of a connecting pipe between an endoscope and a pipe line control unit, and to prevent a change in flow rate and deterioration of water drainage. It is an object to provide an air supply / water supply device for an endoscope.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects an air supply / water supply pipe arranged in an endoscope and an air supply / water supply pipe arranged in a pipeline control unit with a connection pipe , and in this connection tube is air water system of the endoscope is larger pipe diameter than the tube of the air or water in the endoscope, the upper Kise' connection tube is disposed within the endoscope above air or degree of expansion with respect to the internal pressure as compared to the water supply tube is small fence was, and characterized by being constituted by a tube having flexibility.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the connecting pipe is formed by covering the outer periphery of the flexible tube with a reinforcing member that retains flexibility and suppresses the expansion of the flexible tube.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, for example, the connecting pipe is made of a material that is flexible but has a small expansion deformation, and the thickness of the connecting pipe is adjusted to control the degree of expansion of the connecting pipe on the endoscope side. It can be made smaller than the trachea or water pipe. Further, by covering the connecting pipe with a reinforcing member such as a heat-shrinkable tube, a net or a close coil, the degree of expansion of the connecting pipe can be reduced as compared with the endoscope side pipe. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the connection pipe from expanding due to air pressure or water pressure.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 and 2 show the configuration of an air / water supply device for an endoscope according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope (electronic endoscope) 14 includes A water supply pipe 16A for supplying water to the observation window (lens surface of the objective optical system), a gas supply pipe 17A for supplying air to the observation window, and a suction pipe 18A are disposed from the distal end portion 14A to the operation portion 14B. . A detachable cap 19 is attached to the distal end of the endoscope distal end portion 14A, and a nozzle or the like for supplying air / water to the observation window is provided on the cap 19.
[0014]
As shown in the figure, the operation unit 14B is provided with an air / water switch 20, a suction switch 21, a photographing button 22, and the like, which are two-stage switches. The operation control signals of these switches 20, 21 are as follows. , And supplied to the solenoid valve unit 24 of FIG. Further, a water supply pipe 16B and an air supply pipe 17B are provided in the cable 14C so as to connect the operation unit 14B and the electromagnetic valve unit 24. A conduit unit 14D is detachably provided on the rear side of the operation unit 14B, and the water supply pipes 16A and 16B and the air supply pipes 17A and 17B are provided by a folded portion formed when the conduit unit 1D is connected. Connected. The water supply pipes 16A and 16B and the air supply pipes 17A and 17B are made of polytetrafluoroethylene (trade name Teflon) or the like, and are formed so as not to expand due to the water supply pressure or the air supply pressure.
[0015]
A suction pipe 18B extending to the electromagnetic valve unit 24 is attached to the pipe unit 14D, and a forceps port 25 is provided in the suction pipe 18B so as to be separated from the middle. The member 26 shown in the figure is a lens surface flush port for supplying air / water by attaching a syringe or the like when the degree of contamination of the observation window lens surface is high.
[0016]
In FIG. 2, the light guide disposed in the cable 14C is connected to the light source unit 3 via the connector portion 28, and the signal line disposed in the cable 14C is a signal cable branched from the connector portion 28. 4 to the processor unit 5. In this example, a solenoid valve unit 24 is provided separately from each of the above devices, and the solenoid valve unit 24 and the connector section 28 are connected to a water supply connecting pipe 16C made of a soft pipe (polyvinyl chloride or the like) and a feed pipe. The connection is made with a care pipe 17C.
[0017]
In the electromagnetic valve unit 24, a water supply pipe 16D connected to the connection pipe 16C and an electromagnetic valve V1 as an on-off valve are provided, and the water supply pipe 16D is connected to a water supply tank 28. A pump 29 is disposed in the electromagnetic valve unit 24, and the water supply tank 28 is connected to the pump 29 via a pipe (air supply pipe) 30. On the other hand, an air supply pipe 17D and an electromagnetic valve V2 as an on-off valve are provided in connection with the connection pipe 17C, and the air supply pipe 17D is connected to the pump 29. The pump 29 is provided with an atmosphere release pipe 31 and a solenoid valve V3.
[0018]
Further, the solenoid valve unit 24 is provided with a suction pipe 18C connected to the suction pipe 18B and an electromagnetic valve V4, and a suction tank 32 connected to a suction pump (not shown) is connected to the suction pipe 18C. . The suction pipe 18C is connected to an atmosphere release pipe 33 and a solenoid valve V5. A control unit for opening / closing the solenoid valves V1 to V5 is also provided.
[0019]
Thus, in the water supply connecting pipe 16C and the air supply connecting pipe 17C described above, the outer periphery thereof is covered with the heat-shrinkable tubes 34A and 34B which are reinforcing members. The heat-shrinkable tubes 34A and 34B are provided with heat after being put on the connecting pipes 16C and 17C, so that they closely adhere to the outer periphery and also have flexibility. Expansion of the connection pipes 16C and 17C of (polyvinyl chloride) can be suppressed.
[0020]
Instead of the heat-shrinkable tubes 34A and 34B as the reinforcing members, a close contact coil may be attached to the outer periphery of the connecting pipes 16C and 17C, or the connecting pipes 16C and 17C themselves are flexible pipes with a net. It can also be formed. By covering such a reinforcing member, the connecting pipes 16C and 17C are prevented from being deformed or expanded due to water supply pressure or air supply pressure.
[0021]
The connecting pipes 16C and 17C are made of polytetrafluoroethylene (fluororesin) which is a material of the water supply pipes 16A and 16B and the air supply pipes 17A and 17B on the endoscope side, and the pipe wall is made to have an appropriate thickness. The degree of deformation with respect to the internal pressure can be made substantially the same as that of the tubes 16 (A, B) and 17 (A, B) on the endoscope side.
[0022]
This example has the above configuration. When the power supply of the solenoid valve unit 24 is turned on, the pump 29 is operated, the solenoid valve V3 is opened, and the air from the pump 29 is discharged to the atmosphere (on the suction side). V5 is open). When the first stage of the air / water switch 16 is pressed, the electromagnetic valve V2 of the air supply pipe 17D is opened, the other electromagnetic valves V1 and V3 are closed, and air is supplied via the air supply pipe 17 (D to A). Done. When the second stage of the air / water supply switch 16 is pushed, the electromagnetic valve V1 of the water supply pipe 16D is opened and the other electromagnetic valves V2 and V3 are closed, so that water supply is made through the water supply pipe 16 (D to A). Done.
[0023]
In such an operation, a predetermined water supply pressure is applied to the connecting pipe 16C and a predetermined air pressure is applied to the connecting pipe 17C. However, the expansion of the connecting pipes 16C and 17C is caused by the covering of the heat shrinkable tubes 34A and 34B. It is suppressed. Therefore, the air supply flow rate or the water supply flow rate does not change, and it is possible to prevent the water from running out in the cleaning of the observation window lens surface.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the connection pipe between the endoscope and the pipe control unit, whose pipe diameter is larger than that of the air supply or water supply pipe in the endoscope, since the degree of swelling was so set to be small compared to the tube of the air or water within the endoscope, and also reinforced with a reinforcing member to the connecting tube for the expansion of the connection pipe There is an advantage that the change of flow rate and the deterioration of water shortage can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration on an endoscope side of an air / water supply device for an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration on the side of an electromagnetic valve unit connected to the endoscope of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration on the electromagnetic valve unit side of a conventional endoscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
6 (BD), 16 (AD) ... water pipe,
7 (BD), 17 (AD) ... air pipe,
8, 24 ... Solenoid valve unit,
14 ... Endoscope,
20 ... air / water switch,
34A, 34B ... heat shrinkable tube,
V1 to V5 ... Solenoid valves.

Claims (2)

An air supply / water supply pipe arranged in the endoscope and an air supply / water supply pipe arranged in the pipeline control unit are connected by a connection pipe, and the connection pipe is connected to the air supply / water supply pipe in the endoscope. In an endoscope air / water supply device having a larger pipe diameter than an air or water supply tube ,
And characterized in that the upper Kise' connection tube and the degree of expansion relative to the internal pressure as compared with a tube of air or water disposed endoscope above is constituted by a tube with a small fence becomes, and flexible Endoscope air / water supply device. The connection tube is feed in to retain the flexibility on the outer periphery of the flexible tube and the endoscope to that請 Motomeko 1 wherein characterized in that it is formed by coating a suppressing reinforcing member expansion of the flexible tube Pneumatic water supply device.

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