JP3831049B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

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JP3831049B2
JP3831049B2 JP04441297A JP4441297A JP3831049B2 JP 3831049 B2 JP3831049 B2 JP 3831049B2 JP 04441297 A JP04441297 A JP 04441297A JP 4441297 A JP4441297 A JP 4441297A JP 3831049 B2 JP3831049 B2 JP 3831049B2
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JPH10234654A (en
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修 瑞田
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Olympus Corp
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Olympus Corp
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【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、挿入部に設けた湾曲部を操作部の固定基板上に設けた湾曲操作機構で操作する内視鏡に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来より、体腔内などへ細長の内視鏡を挿入して被検部位の観察や各種処置を行うようにした内視鏡装置が広く用いられている。
【０００３】
一般に、挿入部が軟性の内視鏡では挿入部に複数の湾曲駒を連接した湾曲部を設け、この湾曲部内に挿通させて最先端に位置する湾曲駒に固定した湾曲ワイヤなどの牽引部材を進退操作させることにより湾曲部を所望の方向に湾曲させる湾曲操作機構が設けられている。このような湾曲操作機構によって湾曲部を目的の角度に湾曲させることにより、挿入部先端部に配設した観察光学系を目的の方向へ向けて観察を行ったり、被検部位への挿入を容易に行えるようにしている。
【０００４】
一般に、内視鏡の湾曲操作では、所定の湾曲角度を超えることがないように湾曲部には、最大湾曲角度を規制するために湾曲ワイヤ側に当接部材を設ける一方、この当接部材に当接して湾曲ワイヤの動きを制約するストッパを設けらていた。
【０００５】
前記湾曲部の最大湾曲角度は、内視鏡単体の製造過程で調整される。１例をあげると、複数の湾曲駒をリベットで回動自在に連結し、先端部に固定した湾曲ワイヤを手元側に位置する操作部で牽引操作する場合には、先端部の湾曲角度を測定しながら最大湾曲角となる位置で前記ストッパを固定することによって、その内視鏡の最大湾曲角度を設定していた。
【０００６】
そして、実公昭６３−２００４号公報にはストッパの位置決め調節が確実かつ容易に行え、しかも衝突部材との衝突によって位置ずれすることなく固定することができるようにした内視鏡の湾曲操作装置が示されている。
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、前記実公昭６３−２００４号公報の内視鏡の湾曲操作装置では以下に示すように
・最大湾曲角度を規制するための部品点数が多く、組立が面倒である。
【０００９】
・湾曲操作ワイヤと湾曲操作機構とを連結する連結部の移動方向を規制するためのガイド（案内部）を構成する部品点数が多く、組立が面倒であるという問題点があった。
【００１３】
本発明は上記事情に鑑みてなされたものであり、部品点数が少なく、組立及び湾曲角度の調整が容易で最大湾曲角度より大きく湾曲することを確実に規制する操作部を備えた内視鏡を提供することを目的にしている。
【００１４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の内視鏡は、湾曲部と、該湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、該可撓管に連設され固定基板に前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構を配設した操作部と、一端が湾曲部の先端に固定され他端が湾曲操作機構に連結された湾曲操作ワイヤとを有する内視鏡であって、
前記湾曲操作機構に連結された、突き当て部を備えた連結部材と、前記操作部の操作により移動されることによって前記連結部材の前記突き当て部に当接するように形成されたストッパ部を有し、該ストッパ部と前記突き当て部とが当接することにより前記連結部材に接続固定された前記湾曲操作ワイヤの移動範囲を規制して、前記湾曲部の湾曲角度を設定する湾曲角度調整部材と、前記固定基板に対して移動することを規制して配設される調整部材固定板と、前記調整部材固定板に対して前記湾曲角度調整部材を一体的に固定し、且つ、前記調整部材固定板に対する前記湾曲角度調整部材の固定位置を調整可能にする調整機構とを具備している。
【００１５】
この構成によれば、固定基板上における湾曲角度調整部材が有するストッパ部の位置を移動させて固定することによって、湾曲部の湾曲角度が設定される。
【００１６】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、図面を参照して本発明の実施の形態を説明する。
【００１７】
図１ないし図３２は本発明の第１実施形態に係り、図１は内視鏡の概略構成を示す説明図、図２は操作部の内部構造の詳細を示す説明図、図３は操作部ケーシングの基端部側に設けた第１の係止部を示す説明図、図４は操作部ケーシングの先端部側に設けた第２の係止部を示す説明図、図５は固定基板の構成を説明する平面図、図６は図５のＡ−Ａ断面図、図７は図５のＢ−Ｂ断面図、図８は固定基板の側面図、図９は図５のＩ−Ｉ断面図、図１０は図５のＪ−Ｊ断面図、図１１は図５のＣ−Ｃ断面図、図１２は図５のＤ−Ｄ断面図、図１３は図２のＥ−Ｅ断面図、図１４は図２のＦ−Ｆ断面図、図１５はチェーン部材と挿入部側連結部材とをチェーン側連結部材を介して接続状態を示す側面から見た説明図、図１６は図１５の上面から見た説明図、図１７は基盤カバーの底面側から見たときの説明図、図１８は基盤カバーの側面図、図１９は手元側ガイドコイルの挿入部側の構造を示す説明図、図２０は可撓管内に配設される各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイルの位置を示す説明図、図２１は把持部ケーシングで覆われた部分の挿入部側の内部構造を示す図、図２２は、固定基板と筒状基盤との固定部の側面図、図２３は図２１のＨ−Ｈ断面図、図２４は筒状基盤の外周面側から見た固定ネジの固定状態を示す図、図２５は図２のＫ−Ｋ断面図、図２６は操作部ケーシング内の固定基板の位置関係を示す説明図、図２７は係止用凸部と第１の係止部との位置関係を示す説明図、図２８は図２７の係止用凸部と第１の係止部との位置関係を別の角度（固定基板方向）から見たときの図、図２９は基盤部と第２の係止部との位置関係を示す説明図、図３０は基盤部と第２の係止部との係止状態を示す図、図３１は係止用凸部と第１の係止部との係止状態を図２８に示した方向から見たときの図、図３２は図３１の係止用凸部と第１の係止部との係止状態を図２７に示した方向から見たときの図である。
【００１８】
図１に示すように本実施形態の内視鏡１は、体腔内等に挿入される細長の挿入部２と、この挿入部２の手元側端部に設けられた操作部３と、この操作部３の側部から延出するユニバーサルコード４とで主に構成されている。前記ユニバーサルコード４の基端部には内視鏡１の外部装置である図示しない光源装置等に着脱自在に接続されるコネクタ５が設けられている。
【００１９】
前記挿入部２は、先端側から順に硬質の先端構成部６、複数の湾曲駒を回動自在に連接して上下左右方向に湾曲自在な湾曲部７、可撓性を有する細長な可撓管８とを連結して構成されている。
【００２０】
前記先端構成部６には後述する処置具挿通管路の処置具開口部１１７や図示しない対物光学系の最外部に設けられた対物レンズカバー１１８、この対物レンズカバー１１８の表面に付着した汚れや体液を除去するための水または空気などを送るための送気送水ノズル１１９、図示しない照明光学系の最外部に設けられた照明レンズカバー１２０が設けられている。
【００２１】
前記操作部３は、手元側に設けられた操作部ケーシング９と、この操作部ケーシング９の先端側に水密的に連結して設けられた把持部ケーシング１０とで構成されている。
【００２２】
前記操作部ケーシング９には、前記湾曲部７を左右方向に湾曲させるための湾曲操作機構の操作部となる左右方向湾曲操作ノブ（以下左右ノブと略記する）９ＲＬや湾曲部７を上下方向に湾曲させるための上下方向湾曲操作ノブ（以下上下ノブと略記する）９ＵＤ、前記送気送水ノズル１１９へ水及び空気を供給する際の操作ボタンである送気送水ボタン１２１、処置具開口部１１７から体液等を吸収する際の操作ボタンである吸引ボタン１２２などが設けられている。一方、前記把持部ケーシング１０には把持鉗子などの処置具を後述する処置具導入管路、分岐部材を介して処置具挿通管路に導くための処置具導入口１０８が設けられている。
【００２３】
図２に示すように操作部ケーシング９及び把持部ケーシング１０で構成された操作部３の内部には固定基板１２が配設されている。この固定基板１２は、例えばアルミニウムを射出成形するダイカストにより形成されたものである。
【００２４】
前記固定基板１２の基端部側端にはこの固定基板１２を操作部ケーシング９に係止するための係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂが２箇所に設けられている。
【００２５】
そして、図３に示すように操作部ケーシング９には、前記係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂに対応するように前記固定基板１２の長手方向に対して垂直方向の少なくとも１方向に切り欠き開口１４ａ，１４ｂを有する第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂが設けられている。即ち、この第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂの切り欠き開口１４ａ，１４ｂに前記係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂを係入することによって、この係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂが第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂに係止される。このとき、図２で示す前記第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂ同士間の寸法Ｚと、第１の係止部１５ａの一端面と操作部ケーシング９の内周面との寸法Ｙとは前記係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂの幅寸法Ｘより大きく設定されている。
【００２６】
また、図４に示すように前記操作部ケーシング９の把持部ケーシング１０側の口元部の、前記固定基板１２の一側部に対応する位置には第２の係止部１６が設けられている。この第２の係止部１６には係止溝１６ａが形成されており、この係止溝１６ａで前記固定基板１２の一側部を係止するようになっている。このとき、固定基板１２の幅寸法Ｖは、操作部ケーシング９の内周面と前記第２の係止部１６の先端面との間の距離寸法Ｗより小さく設定されている。
【００２７】
図２に示すように操作部ケーシング９の把持部ケーシング１０側の口元部には、前記固定基板１２の長手方向に対して垂直な平面部１７ａ，１７ｂが設けられている。一方、固定基板１２には前記平面部１７ａ，１７ｂに略平行に相対する面部を有する当接面部１８ａ，１８ｂが設けられている。前記平面部１７ａ，１７ｂと当接面部１８ａ，１８ｂとの間には、操作部ケーシング９と把持部ケーシング１０とを組み合わせて操作部３を組み立てた際、この部分に生じる公差分だけの隙間が設けられている。なお、この隙間寸法は例えば、０．３ｍｍに設定されている。
【００２８】
図５に示すように固定基板１２の手元側の縁部を補強するための補強用リブとして第１リブ１９が基盤部２０が設けられている。図６に示すように前記第１リブ１９の厚み寸法は、固定基板１２の基盤部２０の肉厚と略同様の厚さで形成されており、この基盤部２０の平面に対して略垂直方向に凸設している。
【００２９】
また、図５に示すようにこの固定基板１２には第２リブ２１が設けられている。この第２リブ２１は、固定基板１２の長手方向に対して略平行であり、前記基盤部２０の平面より略垂直方向に凸設した１対の基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂと、この基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂに手元側部で連結しているこの固定基板１２の長手方向に対して略垂直方向に凸設している壁状凸設部となる第１の突き当て部１２３と、前記基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂの先端部側に位置して前記第１の突き当て部１２３と同様に固定基板１２の長手方向に対して略垂直方向に凸設して設けられた壁状凸設部となる第２の突き当て部１２４と、前記基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂの先端部側端で、固定基板１２の長手方向に対して略垂直方向の平面部を有する１対のガイド部材固定部２５ａ，２５ｂとで構成されている。
【００３０】
図７に示すように凸設した基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂの高さ方向の略中央部にはこの基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂから前記基盤部２０に対して略平行に凸設した平行部２３ａ，２３ｂが設けられている。前記基礎部２６ａ，平行部２３ａ及び基盤部２０によって形成される凹部は右方向ワイヤ固定部材摺動溝（以下右ワイヤ摺動溝と略記する）２７Ｒになり、前記基礎部２６ｂ，平行部２３ｂ及び基盤部２０によって形成される凹部は左方向ワイヤ固定部材摺動溝（以下左ワイヤ摺動溝と略記する）２７Ｌになる。
【００３１】
また、前記右ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｒ内の基礎部２６ａ側面部には、この右ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｒより幅寸法の狭い右方向湾曲角度規定溝（以下右湾曲規定溝と略記する）２８Ｒが形成され、前記左ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｌ内の基礎部２６ｂ側面部にはこの左ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｌより幅寸法の狭い左方向湾曲角度規定溝（以下左湾曲規定溝と略記する）２８Ｌが形成されている。
【００３２】
さらに、前記平行部２３ａを挟んで前記右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒと略等距離の位置の基礎部２６ａ側面部にはこの右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒと同様な下方向湾曲角度規定溝（以下下湾曲規定溝）２８Ｄが形成され、前記基礎部２６ｂの側面部には平行部２３ｂを挟んで略等距離の位置に前記左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌと同様な上方向湾曲角度規定溝（以下上湾曲規定溝）２８Ｕが形成されている。
【００３３】
図８及び図９に示すように右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒの手元側の一部には、前記基礎部２６ａ、２６ｂ、第１の突き当て部１２３及び第２の突き当て部１２４により形成される長方形溝２４（図５参照）に貫通した、右方向貫通部３０Ｒが形成されている。また、左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌにも前記右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒ同様の左方向貫通部３０Ｌが形成されている。なお、前記下湾曲規定溝２８Ｄ及び上湾曲規定溝２８Ｕにも前記右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒ及び左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌ同様の下方向貫通部３０Ｄ及び上方向貫通部３０Ｕが形成されている。そして、前記下方向貫通部３０Ｄ及び上方向貫通部３０Ｕより上方側に位置する基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂを切り取った状態にしている。前記各方向の貫通部３０Ｒ，３０Ｌ，３０Ｄ，３０Ｕの長手方向の寸法は、全ての機種の内視鏡の湾曲角度を調整することが可能な寸法であり、例えば各方向とも２７ｍｍ以上に設定されている。なお、図８及び図１０に示すように前記前記平行部２３ａ，２３ｂの根本部分の前記基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂを切り取るように形成した切り欠き部３１ａ，３１ｂが設けられている。
【００３４】
図１１に示すように前記ガイド部材固定部２５ａには前記右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒに対応する位置に外側部が開口した右方向ガイド部材固定用切り欠き部３２Ｒ及び前記下湾曲規定溝２８Ｄに対応する位置に外側部が開口した下方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｄが設けられている。また、前記ガイド部材固定部２５ｂには左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌに対応する位置に外側部が開口した左方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｌ及び上湾曲規定溝２８Ｕに対応する位置に外側部が開口した上方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｕが設けられている。
【００３５】
図１２に示すように固定基板１２の挿入部側端部には固定基板１２の長手方向に対して略平行で、基盤部２０の平面に対して略垂直方向に突出した１対の筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂが設けられている。この筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂの外側面は、この筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂ間の中点を中心にした一点鎖線に示す半径ｒの円に添ったＲ面形状になっている。
【００３６】
なお、前記筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂの根元部には固定基板１２の長手方向に対して略垂直で内側方向に凸設した第３リブ３５が設けられている。また、図５及び図８に示すように筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂと前記第２リブ２１との間には固定基板１２の長手方向に延び平面から凸設した第４リブ３６が設けられている。
【００３７】
また、前記固定基板１２を硬質な樹脂を射出成形して製造することにより固定基板の軽量化を図ることができる。さらに、前記固定基板１２は金属の粉末にバインダーを添加し材料を射出成形し、バインダーの除去及び焼結を行うメタルインジェクションモールドにより成形することによって高い強度の固定基板を得ることができる。
【００３８】
図２及び図１３に示すように基盤部２０の平面に対して略垂直方向に凸設した１対の基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂの間に形成されている長方形溝２４内にはこの長方形溝２４と略同幅寸法で細長な左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａが配設されている。そして、この左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａの上面には右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂが配設されている。
【００３９】
また、前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂの上面には長方形溝２４と略同幅寸法で細長な上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂが配設されている。そして、この上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂの上面に前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び前記左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂが配設されている。
【００４０】
前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａは、前記長方形溝２４の幅寸法の略半分の幅寸法の細長な直方体形状であり、固定部４０とこの固定部４０の側面から外側方向に突出したストッパ部４１ａとにより構成されている。また、前記左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂは、前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａと左右対称形状に形成されており、固定部４０に設けられたストッパ部４１ｂが前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａとは反対方向に突出している。
【００４１】
前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂの固定部４０には固定ネジ７２ａ，７２ｂの頭部が配置される固定用長孔４２が形成されている。この固定部４０の固定用長孔４２に配置した固定ネジ７２ａ，７２ｂによって、前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂと左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂとがそれぞれ一体的に固定されるようになっている。
【００４２】
なお、前記固定用長孔４２の長さ寸法は、前記左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂに対する右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂの固定位置の調整範囲が、前記各方向の貫通部３０Ｒ，３０Ｌ，３０Ｄ，３０Ｕの長さ寸法と略同寸法になるように設定されている。また、前記ストッパ部４１ａ，４１ｂの大きさは図８に示した切欠き部３１ａ，３１ｂより小さく設定されており、前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂを、最も挿入部側に配設した際に前記ストッパ部４１ａ，４１ｂが前記切欠き部３１ａ，３１ｂに相対する位置に配設されるように設定されている。
【００４３】
図２に示すように第１リブ１９によって補強されている基盤部２０には湾曲操作用のチェーン部材４３を収納するための収納部材４４が設けられており、図１４に示すように収納部材４４は、基盤部２０に対して略垂直で左右対象形に形成された側壁部４７ａ，４７ｂと、前記側壁部４７ａ，４７ｂの高さ方向の略中央に基盤部２０の平面に対して略平行に設けた仕切板部４８とにより構成されている。
【００４４】
前記側壁部４７ａ，４７ｂの基盤部２０側端面部の下端部にはそれぞれスナップフィット部４９ａ，４９ｂが設けられており、基盤部２０に形成されている固定孔５０ａ，５０ｂにスナップフィット部４９ａ，４９ｂを係止することによって、収納部材４４と基盤部２０とが一体的に取り付けられるようになっている。
【００４５】
一方、前記仕切板部４８の操作部ケーシング９の外部に設けられる左右ノブ９ＲＬ，上下ノブ９ＵＤに対応する位置には貫通孔４５が形成されている。この貫通穴４５の仕切板部４８より下側部分には左右方向用スプロケット５１ａが、上側部分には上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂがそれぞれ配置されるようになっている。そして、前記左右方向用スプロケット５１ａには左右方向用チェーン部材４３ａが、前記上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂには上下方向用チェーン部材４３ｂがそれぞれ巻回して湾曲操作機構を構成している。また、前記左右方向用スプロケット５１ａには左右ノブ９ＲＬが連結され、上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂには上下ノブ９ＵＤが連結されるようになっている。さらに、前記仕切板部４８の上面及び下面の貫通穴４５挿入部側縁部には前記左右方向用チェーン部材４３ａ及び上下方向用チェーン部材４３ｂを前記左右方向用スプロケット５１ａ及び上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂから引き離すための突起部５２ａ，５２ｂが設けられている。
【００４６】
図１５及び図１６に示すように前記左右方向用チェーン部材４３ａの端部には前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａに設けたストッパ部４１ａに当接することによって、移動範囲を規定するための右方向突き当て部５３Ｒを形成した右方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｒが取り付けられている。この右方向突き当て部５３Ｒの一端部には雌ネジ部５５が形成されている。
【００４７】
前記左右ノブ９ＲＬによる右方向の湾曲操作を湾曲部７に伝達する右方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒが固定接続された右方向挿入部側連結部材５７Ｒには固定ネジ５８のネジ部５９が挿通可能で、円形の最大外径部６０が挿通不能な長孔６１が、前記右方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒの移動方向に形成されている。
【００４８】
そして、前記右方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｒと右方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒが固定接続された右方向挿入部側連結部材５７Ｒとが固定ネジ５８によって螺合固定されて右方向連結固定部６９Ｒを形成している。なお、右方向連結固定部６９Ｒ以外の各方向の連結固定部６９Ｌ，６９Ｄ，６９Ｕも同様に構成されている。
【００４９】
図２に示すように、下方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｄ、下方向挿入部側連結部材５７Ｄ及び下方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｄにより構成される下方向連結固定部６９Ｄは平行部２３ａの上面に、同様に上方向連結固定部６９Ｕは平行部２３ｂの上面に、右方向連結固定部６９Ｒは右ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｒに、同様に左方向連結固定部６９Ｌは左ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｌに、それぞれ固定ネジ５８が側方を向くように配設されている。
【００５０】
図１３に示すように各方向のチェーン側連結部材５４Ｒ、５４Ｌ、５４Ｄ、５４Ｕに設けられている各方向の突き当て部５３Ｒ、５３Ｌ、５３Ｄ、５３Ｕは、それぞれに対応した湾曲規定溝２８Ｒ、２８Ｌ、２８Ｄ、２８Ｕにはめ込まれた状態で配設されている。なお、これらの外周は基盤カバー７０によって覆われている。
【００５１】
図１７に示すように基盤カバー７０の上面には前記図１３に示すように上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂに対して右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂを固定している固定ネジ７２ｂが外側方向に露出するように形成した調整用切り欠き溝７１が設けられている。図１８に示すようにこの基盤カバー７０の基盤部２０側端面には係止用凸部７３が２対設けられており、この係止用凸部７３にはそれぞれ手元側が開口状態の切り欠き７４が設けられている。
【００５２】
前記係止用凸部７３に図５に示すように相対する固定基板１２の基盤部２０には、係止用長孔７５と固定基板側係止用凸部７６とが設けらている。前記固定基板側係止用凸部７６には基盤カバー７０の肉厚より幅寸法が広く、挿入部側に開口部を有する固定基板側切り欠き７７が設けられている。なお、前記係止用長孔７５の長さは、この係止用長孔７５の最も手元側に係止用凸部７３を配設した際に、基盤カバー７０の手元側端部が操作部ケーシング９によって覆われない位置になるように設定されている。
【００５３】
図２に示すように操作部３の右方向連結固定部６９Ｒ、左方向連結固定部６９Ｌ、下方向連結固定部６９Ｄ及び上方向連結固定部６９Ｕから延出する右方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、左方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｌ、下方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｄ及び上方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｕは、金属線を密巻きにして構成した右方向手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ、左方向手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｌ、下方向手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｄ及び上方向手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｕ内に内挿されている。
【００５４】
前記各方向の手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕの手元側端部には右方向位置出し部材７９Ｒ、左方向位置出し部材７９Ｌ、下方向位置出し部材７９Ｄ、上方向位置出し部材７９Ｕがそれぞれ配設されている。
【００５５】
前記右方向位置出し部材７９Ｒは、ガイド部材固定部２５ａに形成されている右方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｒに、左方向位置出し部材７９Ｌはガイド部材固定部２５ｂに形成されている左方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｌに、下方向位置出し部材７９Ｄはガイド部材固定部２５ａに形成されている下方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｄに、上方向位置出し部材７９Ｕはガイド部材固定部２５ｂに形成されている上方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｕにそれぞれ係止されている。そして、前記基盤カバー７０は、各方向の位置出し部材７９Ｒ，７９Ｌ，７９Ｄ，７９Ｕに当接して、側方への動きを規制する位置に配設されるように設定されている。
【００５６】
図１９に示すように前記各方向の手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕの挿入部側端部にはこの手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕと同様の構造の右方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ、左方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｌ、下方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｄ及び上方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｕの手元側端部がそれぞれ突き当てられている。前記手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕと前記挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕとの突き当て部の外周に熱収縮チューブ１０１を被覆することによって、各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕと各方向の手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕとを一体的に連結している。そして、前記各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕには略コの字形状の溝部１０９を形成した係止部材となる右方向係止ブロック１０２Ｒ、左方向係止ブロック１０２Ｌ、下方向係止ブロック１０２Ｄ及び上方向係止ブロック１０２Ｕがそれぞれ半田等によって一体的に固設されている。また、前記各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕは、挿入部２内に挿通されている。
【００５７】
なお、図２０に示すように前記挿入部２に内挿された各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕは、可撓管８の先端部の上方向に上方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｕが、下方向に下方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｄが、右方向に右方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒが、左方向に左方向挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｌがそれぞれ固定されている。また、各方向の手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕを介して各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕに内挿された各方向の湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、５６Ｌ、５６Ｄ、５６Ｕは、各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕと位置関係を同様にして湾曲部７を構成している複数の湾曲駒の最先端側に配置されている図示しない第１湾曲駒に上下左右の各方向が対応するように固定接続されている。
【００５８】
図２１に示すように固定基板１２の筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂにはその外周円径と略同じ内径寸法を有する筒状基盤１０３が外嵌され、基盤部２０の略同一平面上で、筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂに対して略垂直な方向からネジによって一体的に固定されている。
【００５９】
図２２に示すように筒状基盤１０３の固定基板１２側端の基盤部２０と相対する位置には、回転規制用切り欠き１２５が設けられ、基盤部２０の挿入部側端部が嵌合した状態で固定されている。
【００６０】
なお、図２１に示すように、操作部３内に配設されている筒状基盤１０３の内部には処置具挿通管路１０４と処置具導入管路１０５と吸引管路１０６とが合流する分岐部材１０７が図示しないネジによって固定されている。前記処置具挿通管路１０４は、挿入部２内に挿通されて前記処置具開口部１１７で開口し、処置具導入管路１０５は処置具導入口１０８で開口している。前記吸引管路１０６は、吸引ボタン１２２が取り付けられている後述する吸引シリンダ１３６を介して、ユニバーサルコード４内に挿通されてコネクタ５に開口を有している。前記筒状基盤１０３の分岐部材１０７より挿入部側には係止リング１１０が固定ネジ１１１によって固定されている。
【００６１】
図２３に示す２点鎖線は手元側における分岐部材１０７の位置を示している。前記係止リング１１０の周の一部には切り欠き部１２６が形成されており、この切欠き部１２６から時計廻りに左方向係止用溝部１１２Ｌ、上方向係止用溝部１１２Ｕ、右方向係止用溝部１１２Ｒ及び下方向係止用溝部１１２Ｄが形成されている。また、前記固定ネジ１１１を、係止リング１１０に形成されている雌ネジ部１４３に螺合させることによって、前記筒状基盤１０３と前記係止リング１１０とが一体的に固定されるようになっている。
【００６２】
前記各方向用の係止用溝部１１２Ｒ，１１２Ｌ，１１２Ｄ，１１２Ｕには各方向用の係止ブロック１０２Ｒ，１０２Ｌ，１０２Ｄ，１０２Ｕに形成した溝部１０９がそれぞれ係止されている。
【００６３】
図２４に示すように前記筒状基盤１０３のの外周面には固定ネジ１１１を等間隔に段階的に固定するための固定部長孔部１３８、突起部１３９及び係止溝部１４０が形成されている。
【００６４】
前記長孔部１３８は、内視鏡挿入部の長手方向に細長に形成されており、前記固定ネジ１１１のネジ部１４１が挿通可能で最大外径部１４２が挿通不可能な幅寸法になっている。この長孔部１３８の上面には円形溝を等間隔で複数連結することにより前記最大外径部１４２より幅の狭い突起部１３９を形成した最大外径部１４２の係止溝部１４０が形成されている。このことにより、固定ネジ１１１の最大外径部１４２と筒状基盤１０３の係止溝部１４０との配置位置を、変えることによって、前記筒状基盤１０３を長手方向に対して段階的に移動させられるようになっている。
【００６５】
前記固定ネジ１１１と相対する位置の筒状基盤１０３の外周には可撓管８の座屈を防止する軟質ゴムよりなる折れ止め部材１４９が被覆された折れ止め基盤１１３が配されている。折れ止め基盤１１３の手元側端部は、把持部ケーシング１０の端部に当接する当接部１１４を有し、この当接部１１４の内面には、雌ネジ部１１５が設けられている。この雌ネジ部１１５と相対する筒状基盤１０３の外側には、雄ネジ部１１６が設けられ、この雌ネジ部１１５と前記雄ネジ部１１６とは螺合されている。
【００６６】
図２５に示すように基盤部２０には、左右方向用チェーン部材４３ａ及び上下方向用チェーン部材４３ｂが巻回された左右方向用スプロケット５１ａ及び上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂの手元側の外周を覆うスプロケットカバー１３１がネジ固定されている。このスプロケットカバー１３１には左右ノブ９ＲＬ及び上下ノブ９ＵＤ方向に貫通孔１２９を有する円筒部１３０が設けられている。
【００６７】
前記左右ノブ９ＲＬは、貫通孔１２９に挿通された左右方向湾曲軸１２８ａを介して左右方向用スプロケット５１ａに連結され、前記上下ノブ９ＵＤは同様に上下方向湾曲軸１２８ｂを介して上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂに連結されている。
【００６８】
前記操作部ケーシング９の前記円筒部１３０に対応する位置にはスプロケットカバー１３１の固定部が挿通可能な大きさの開口孔１３２が形成されている。前記円筒部１３０の開口孔１３２に対向する位置の外周面には第１の水密部材１３３が設けられている。また、前記開口孔１３２には内径部が前記第１の水密部材１３３に接した状態で前記円筒部１３０に嵌合し、外径部が開口孔１３２に嵌合した状態になる水密リング１５０が配設されている。
【００６９】
さらに、この開口孔１３２と水密リング１５０との間には水密を確保するための第２の水密部材１３４が配設されている。そして、基盤部２０の裏面側に当接した状態で送気送水ボタン１２１が取り付けらている送気送水シリンダ１３５及び吸引ボタン１２２が取り付けられている吸引シリンダ１３６が配設されている。
【００７０】
なお、送気送水シリンダ１３５及び吸引シリンダ１３６の基盤部２０との当接位置は、左右方向湾曲軸１２８ａ及び上下方向湾曲軸１２８ｂの中心軸１３７より挿入部側に位置するように設けられている。また、水密リング１５０をスプロケットカバー１３１と一体的に設けてもよく、さらに上下ノブ９ＵＤと水密リング１５０とを一体的に設けるようにしてもよい。
【００７１】
上述のように構成した内視鏡の組立について説明する。
１．内視鏡操作部の挿入部側の組立を説明する。
【００７２】
基盤部２０の上面の所定の位置に左右方向用チェーン部材４３ａを巻回した状態の左右方向用スプロケット５１ａを配置する。このとき、右方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｒは右方向突き当て部５３Ｒを右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒに配設した状態で右ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｒに収納され、左方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｌは左方向突き当て部５３Ｌを左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌに配設した状態で左ワイヤ摺動溝２７Ｌに収納されている。
【００７３】
そして、収納部材４４の貫通穴４５の中心と左右方向用スプロケット５１ａの中心とを合わせた状態でスナップフィット部４９ａ，４９ｂを固定孔５０ａ，５０ｂに係止する。
【００７４】
次に、上下方向用チェーン部材４３ｂを巻回した状態の上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂを貫通穴４５に合わせた状態で仕切板部４８の上面部側に配設する。このとき、下方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｄは下方向突き当て部５３Ｄを下湾曲規定溝２８Ｄに挿入した状態で平行部２３ａの上面に配設され、上方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｕは上方向突き当て部５３Ｕを上湾曲規定溝２８Ｕに挿入した状態で平行部２３ｂの上面に配設されている。
【００７５】
次いで、係止用凸部７３が係止用長孔７５の先端部側端に配設される位置で、前記係止用凸部７３を前記係止用長孔７５に挿入して、基盤カバー７０を手元側方向に位置ずれさせることによって、切り欠き７４と固定基板側係止用凸部７６の固定基板側切り欠き７７及び係止用長孔７５の手元側端部に噛み合わせる。
【００７６】
ここで、図２６ないし図３２を参照して上記状態での固定基板１２の操作部ケーシング９への取付方法を具体的に説明する。
図２６に示すように、上述した状態の固定基板１２と操作部ケーシング９との挿入部側の開口の位置関係を、基盤部２０の上面が第２の係止部１６の底面下側で、基盤カバー７０を操作部ケーシング９の第２の係止部１６と逆の面に当接するようにし、この状態で固定基板１２を所定の位置まで手元側に引き込む。
【００７７】
図２７に示すように、このときの係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂと第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂとの位置関係は、第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂ同士の間に係止用凸部１３ｂが配設され、第１の係止部１５ａと操作部ケーシング９の壁面との間に係止用凸部１３ａが配設された状態になっている。このとき、図２８に示すように、係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂと第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂとの位置関係は、第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂの底面より下側に係止用凸部１３ａの上面が配設された状態になっている。
【００７８】
図２９（ａ）に示すように、基盤部２０と第２の係止部１６の係止溝１６ａとが同一平面の位置に配設されるように固定基板１２を基盤部２０の上面方向に引き上げる。このとき、前記図４で示した固定基板１２の幅寸法Ｖと操作部ケーシング９の内周面と第２の係止部１６の先端面との間の距離寸法Ｗとの寸法関係により基盤部２０と第２の係止部１６とが干渉しない。
【００７９】
また、前記基盤部２０と第２の係止部１６の係止溝１６ａとが同一平面の位置に配設されることによって、同図（ｂ）に示すように、前記係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂが切り欠き開口１４ａ，１４ｂと同一面上に配設される。ここでも、前記図２で示した係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂの幅寸法Ｘ、第１の係止部１５ａの一端面と操作部ケーシング９の内周面との寸法Ｙ、第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂ同士間の寸法Ｚの寸法関係から係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂが第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂ及び操作部ケーシング９の壁面と干渉しない。
【００８０】
最後に、固定基板１２を第２の係止部１６方向に移動させる。すると、図３０に示すように基盤部２０の側部が係止溝１６ａに挟み込まれて係止されると共に、図３１及び図３２に示すように係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂは、第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂに挟み込まれて係止される。続いて、スプロケットカバー１３１を操作部ケーシング９の外側より開口孔１３２を通して挿入して基盤部２０に固定する。さらに、操作部ケーシング９の外側より水密リング１５０を落とし込み、貫通孔１２９を水密的に塞いだ後、上下ノブ９ＵＤの上下方向湾曲軸１２８ｂを貫通孔１２９に通して挿入して上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂに連結する。同様に左右ノブ９ＲＬの左右方向湾曲軸１２８ａを貫通孔１２９に通して挿入して左右方向用スプロケット５１ａに連結する。そして、送気送水シリンダ１３５及び吸引シリンダ１３６を基盤部２０の裏面に当接させた状態で操作部ケーシング９に固定する。
【００８１】
２．内視鏡操作部の挿入部側の組立を説明する。
まず、可撓管８の先端側の所定の位置に各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕを固定し、前記各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕの手元側端部にそれぞれに対応した各方向の係止ブロック１０２Ｒ，１０２Ｌ，１０２Ｄ，１０２Ｕを取り付ける。
【００８２】
次に、各方向の湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、５６Ｌ、５６Ｄ、５６Ｕの一端部を湾曲部７の所定の位置に接続固定し、これら湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、５６Ｌ、５６Ｄ、５６Ｕを対応する各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕ内に挿通し、この状態で、湾曲部７と可撓管８とを連結固定する。
【００８３】
次いで、処置具挿通管路１０４等の内蔵物を先端構成部６に固定し、これら内蔵物を湾曲部７及び可撓管８内に挿通させた後、前記先端構成部６と湾曲部７とを連結固定する。このとき、各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕは、あらゆる方向にそれぞれ単独で移動可能であるので、内蔵物の妨げにならない位置に配置しておく。例えば、各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕの先端側の固定位置と手元側との位置とを略同一な位置に配置させておくとよい。
【００８４】
次に、各方向の湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、５６Ｌ、５６Ｄ、５６Ｕの手元側からそれぞれの方向に対応した位置出し部材７９Ｒ，７９Ｌ，７９Ｄ，７９Ｕが固定されている各方向の手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕを外挿していき、この各方向の手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕと前記各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕとを付き当てた状態にし、この付き当て部の外周を熱収縮チューブ１０１によって被覆して一体的に連結する。
【００８５】
次いで、各方向の湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、５６Ｌ、５６Ｄ、５６Ｕの所定の位置に、それぞれのワイヤに対応する挿入部側連結部材５７Ｒ、５７Ｌ、５７Ｄ、５７Ｕを固定した後、各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕに取り付けられている係止ブロック１０２Ｒ，１０２Ｌ，１０２Ｄ，１０２Ｕを係止リング１１０のそれぞれ対応した各方向用の係止用溝部１１２Ｒ，１１２Ｌ，１１２Ｄ，１１２Ｕに係止する。
【００８６】
次に、処置具挿通管路１０４の手元側端部の所定の位置に分岐部材１０７を接続する。そして、筒状基盤１０３を挿入部２側から外挿し、最も手元側の係止溝部１４０に固定ネジ１１１を配設した状態で、この筒状基盤１０３を介して係止リング１１０をネジ固定する。このことにより、各方向の係止ブロック１０２Ｒ，１０２Ｌ，１０２Ｄ，１０２Ｕは、各方向の係止用溝部１１２Ｒ，１１２Ｌ，１１２Ｄ，１１２Ｕ及び筒状基盤１０３の内壁面に挟み込まれた状態で固定される。そして、前記筒状基盤１０３を挿入部２の後端部にネジによって固定すると共に分岐部材１０７を筒状基盤１０３にネジ固定する。
【００８７】
次に、筒状基盤１０３の手元側に筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂを内挿して、回転規制用切り欠き１２５に基盤部２０を係合した状態にして、前記筒状基盤１０３と固定基板１２とをネジ固定する。このとき、筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂは、基盤部２０に対して略垂直な状態で設けられ、固定位置が基盤部２０と略同一面上に設けられているので、筒状基盤１０３の内径部分を塞ぐ範囲が少ない。
【００８８】
３．湾曲操作機構の接続について説明する。
まず、基盤カバー７０を挿入部側にずらし、切り欠き７４と固定基板側切り欠き７７及び係止用長孔７５の手元側端部との噛み合い状態を外し、基盤カバー７０を基盤部２０の上面方向に引き上げることによって一旦取り外す。
【００８９】
次に、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂを最も挿入部側に配設した状態で、左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａに固定ネジ７２ａを仮止めしてこの左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａを長方形溝２４に落とし込む。このとき、ストッパ部４１ａ，４１ｂは、切欠き部３１ａ，３１ｂと相対する位置に配設されているためそれらが干渉することはない。
【００９０】
次いで、一旦前記固定ネジ７２ａを緩め、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂを最も手元側に配置させて再び仮止めする。このとき、前記長方形溝２４と左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａとが略同幅形状であるため、左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａが基盤部２０の水平な方向へ位置ずれすることがない。また、ストッパ部４１ａ，４１ｂが貫通部３０Ｒ及び貫通部３０Ｌに挟み込まれているため垂直方向へ位置ずれすることもないようになっている。
【００９１】
次に、右方向位置出し部材７９Ｒを対応する右方向ガイド部材固定用切欠き部３２Ｒに係止する。そして、右方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒに固定された右方向挿入部側連結部材５７Ｒと、それに対応する右方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｒとを噛み合わせた状態で重ね合わせる。
【００９２】
次に、固定ネジ５８のネジ部５９を長孔６１に挿入し、右方向湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒの張力が所定の値になる位置でネジ部５９を右方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｒの雌ネジ部５５に螺合していく。これにより、右方向用チェーン側連結部材５４Ｒと右方向挿入部側連結部材５７Ｒとが一体的に固定される。
【００９３】
そして、全方向の連結固定部６９Ｒ、６９Ｌ、６９Ｄ、６９Ｕの連結が完了した時点で、所望の方向に左右ノブ９ＲＬまたは上下ノブ９ＵＤを回転させてみる。すると、このノブ９ＲＬ，９ＵＤの操作に対応する左右方向用スプロケット５１ａ，上下方向用スプロケット５１ｂが回転し、対応する連結固定部６９Ｒ、６９Ｌ、６９Ｄ、６９Ｕ及び湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、５６Ｌ、５６Ｄ、５６Ｕが手元側引き込まれていく。このとき、挿入部２に生じる圧縮力は、各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイル８０Ｒ，８０Ｌ，８０Ｄ，８０Ｕ及び手元側ガイドコイル７８Ｒ，７８Ｌ，７８Ｄ，７８Ｕによって受けられているので、挿入部２が縮むことなく、対応する湾曲操作ワイヤ５６Ｒ、５６Ｌ、５６Ｄ、５６Ｕの牽引力が湾曲部７に伝わって、湾曲部７が所望の方向に湾曲していく。
【００９４】
４．湾曲角度の設定方法について説明する。
まず、左右ノブ９ＲＬを回転操作して湾曲部７が右方向に所望の角度湾曲させる。
【００９５】
次に、左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａに右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａを仮止めしている固定ネジ７２ａを一度緩め、前記右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａのストッパ部４１ａと右方向突き当て部５３Ｒとが当接する位置まで移動させる。そして、この当接する位置で固定ネジ７２ａを所定の力量で締め込んで固定する。このことにより、右方向の湾曲角度の設定を終了する。
続いて、左方向の設定を行う。なお、左方向の設定方法は右方向と同様であるため説明は省略する。
【００９６】
次いで、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂを最も手元側に配設した状態にして固定ネジ７２ｂで上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂを仮止めする。そして、前記上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂを、上記左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａに固定された右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒ及び左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌの上面の長方形溝２４に落とし込む。この後、上下ノブ９ＵＤを操作して上記右方向の場合と同様に、右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒ及び左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌの上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂへの固定位置を調整する。
【００９７】
全方向の調整が終了したら、基盤カバー７０を組み付ける。この状態で上下方向の湾曲角度の微調整が必要な場合には、調整用切り欠き溝７１より外側に露出している固定ネジ７２ｂを緩めて、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂの位置を調整した後、再度固定ネジ７２ｂを締め込むことにより、組み立て部分を全く分解することなく、調整作業が行える。
【００９８】
なお、左右方向の湾曲角度の微調整が必要な場合には、基盤カバー７０を一度取り外し、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂが所定の位置に固定された状態の上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂを基盤部２０の垂直方向に引き上げて取り外す。
【００９９】
このとき、下湾曲規定溝２８Ｄ及び上湾曲規定溝２８Ｕの上側の基礎部２６ａ，２６ｂは切りとらた形状になっているため、ストッパ部４１ａ，４１ｂが調整範囲のどの位置に配置されていても、上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂに対する右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂの固定位置をずらすことなく取り外すことが可能である。
【０１００】
この状態で、固定ネジ７２ａを一度緩め、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂの位置を調整して再度固定ネジ７２ａを締め込む。続いて、上記状態の上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂを所定の位置に落とし込む。このとき、上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂに対する右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂの固定位置は動かしていないので、上下方向の湾曲角度調整を行う必要はない。
【０１０１】
最後に、基盤カバー７０を取り付けることにより微調整を含めた湾曲角度の調整が完了する。
【０１０２】
なお、把持部ケーシング１０の組み付けに関しては、この把持部ケーシング１０を挿入部２側より外挿していき、操作部ケーシング９の一端に当接する位置に配設する。そして、折れ止め部材１４９により外周を被覆された折れ止め基盤１１３を挿入部２側より外挿し、雌ネジ部１１５と雄ネジ部１１６とを螺合して所定の力量で締め込む。最後に、処置具導入口１０８を有する処置具導入管路１０５を分岐部材に１０７に連結することにより組立てが完了する。
【０１０３】
５．各状態で作用する力と、その力を受ける固定手段について説明する。
組み立ての際、特に折れ止め基盤１１３の雌ネジ部１１５を筒状基盤１０３の雄ネジ部１１６に螺合するとき、筒状基盤１０３には回転力が作用する。しかし、その作用する力は、回転規制用切り欠き１２５が基盤部２０に係合しているため抑えられる。
【０１０４】
また、この際固定基板１２は、挿入部側に引き出され、その加重は初期において円筒部１３０のみで抑えられているが、操作部ケーシング９と固定基板１２とが相対的に移動することで、平面部１７ａ，１７ｂが当接面部１８ａ，１８ｂに当接するため、円筒部１３０に過剰な加重が加わることはない。
【０１０５】
湾曲操作を行う際には、湾曲方向のノブ９ＲＬ，９ＵＤを中心に基盤部２０のゆがみ及び捻れを生じさせる力が作用する。このとき作用する力に関しては、ノブ９ＲＬ，９ＵＤより手元側では係止用凸部１３ａ，１３ｂが第１の係止部１５ａ，１５ｂに係止され、湾曲操作ノブ９ＲＬ，９ＵＤを挟んだ挿入部側では係止溝１６ａに固定基板１２が係止され、さらには固定基板１２の裏面に送気送水シリンダ１３５及び吸引シリンダ１３６が当接しているため、ノブ９ＲＬ，９ＵＤを中心としたゆがみ及び捻れが抑えられる。
【０１０６】
また、湾曲操作を行ってストッパ部４１ａ，４１ｂと各方向の突き当て部５３Ｒ、５３Ｌ、５３Ｄ、５３Ｕとが突き当たった状態でさらに力が加えられたとき、この当接部分を中心に、前記ノブ９ＲＬ，９ＵＤを中心に基盤部２０に発生したのと同様の、ゆがみ及び捻れを生じさせる力が作用する。このとき、前記当接部分より手元側では上述したように固定基板１２は各部材に係止及び当接している。また、当接部分を挟んで挿入部側では前記回転規制用切り欠き１２５と基盤部２０とが係合しているため基盤部２０のゆがみ及び捻れが抑えられる。さらに、この状態ではストッパ部４１ａ，４１ｂがノブ９ＲＬ，９ＵＤ方向に引き込まれるため、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂを介して左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂが手元側に引きつけられる力が作用するが、このとき、前記左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂの手元側端面が第１の突き当て部１２３に当接して力が抑えられる。
【０１０７】
このように、固定基板１２には長手方向の略全長に渡って補強用リブが設けられているので、曲げ力に対して高い強度を得ることができると共に、前記補強用リブの一部が各方向の連結部のガイドが兼ねているため、部品点数を大幅に削減することができる。
【０１０８】
また、固定板の操作部への固定に際しては、力の支点である湾曲操作ノブの中心及びストッパ部と各方向の突き当て部との当接部を挟んだ両側部に、固定基板のゆがみ及び捻れを規制するための係止部及び当接部を設けているため、固定基板のゆがみ及び捻れを効率的に抑えて高い固定強度を得ることができると共に、固定基板と筒状基盤とを直接的に固定しているため部品点数を削減することができる。
【０１０９】
さらに、筒状基盤１０３と固定基板１２との固定を、基盤部２０と略同一面上で行っているため、固定のために筒状基盤１０３の内径が塞がれる範囲を少なくすることができるので、内蔵物を配設する際の引き回しの自由度が増す。
【０１１０】
又、基盤部２０を回転規制用切り欠き１２５に係合させているため、固定基板１２と筒状基盤１０３との相対的な捻れ及びゆがみに対して高い強度を有している。
【０１１１】
さらにまた、固定基板１２の長手方向に対する配置位置は、円筒部１３０によってのみ規定されているので、各部品の公差を考慮する必要がなく、部品点数を削減することができる。また、長手方向に対して過剰な加重が加わった場合には平面部１７と当接面部１８とが当接するため高い固定強度が得られる。
【０１１２】
湾曲角度の調整機構においては、基礎部２６ａ、２６ｂ、第１の突き当て部１２３及び第２の突き当て部１２４によって形成される長方形溝２４に落とし込んだ左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂに、右下方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ａ及び左上方向湾曲角度調整部材３８ｂを固定するだけで、左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂを固定基板１２等に固定するなどの作業をする必要なく行えるため部品点数を削減することができると共に組立てを容易に行うことができる。
【０１１３】
また、左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂに手元側に引き込まれる力が作用したとき、第１の突き当て部１２３と、左右方向調整部材固定板３７ａ及び上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂの手元側の側面とがその力が作用する方向に対して垂直な面に当接するので、十分な強度が得ることができる。このことにより、位置ずれすることなく安定的に固定される。
【０１１４】
また、上下方向の湾曲角度調整機構と左右方向の湾曲角度調整機構を積み重ねた状態で配しているため、操作部の小型化を可能にすると共に、部品の共通化を図ることができる。
【０１１５】
さらに、基盤カバー７０の着脱は、基盤カバー７０を係止用長孔７５に沿って移動させること及び垂直方向に移動させることによる行えるので、他の部位を分解する必要が無くなり、作業が大幅に簡略化される。
【０１１６】
また、左右方向の湾曲角度の調整に際しては、基盤カバー７０と右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒ及び左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌとが固定されている上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂを外すだけで調整が行えるので、分解する部位が少なく、ネジ等による固定が不要な部位となるため作業性を向上させることができる。
【０１１７】
また、上下方向調整部材固定板３７ｂに対する右湾曲規定溝２８Ｒ及び左湾曲規定溝２８Ｌの固定位置をずらすこと無く調整作業を行うことができるので、左右方向のみの調整作業や微調整を行う場合、作業性が極めて良好になる。
【０１１８】
また、固定ネジ５８の固定方向が固定基板１２の側方であるため、基盤カバー７０を取り外すだけで全ての方向の固定ネジ５８を外側に露出されることができるので、調整作業を容易に行うことができる。
【０１１９】
図３３を参照して固定基板１２と筒状基盤１０３との接続部の他の構成を説明する。
図に示すように本実施形態の筒状基盤１０３の内面には筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂの外周面形状に略同形状の嵌合溝１４７ａ，１４７ｂが形成されている。前記嵌合溝１４７ａ，１４７ｂに前記筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂを嵌合させた際、それぞれの筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂの端部が筒状基盤１０３の内周面に対して突出しないように嵌合溝１４７ａ，１４７ｂの溝深さ及び筒状基盤固定部３３ａ，３３ｂの垂直方向の厚み寸法が設定されている。その他の構成は前記第１実施形態と同様であり同部材には同符号を付して説明を省略する。
【０１２０】
このように、筒状基盤固定部３３ａを嵌合溝１４７ａに、筒状基盤固定部３３ｂを嵌合溝１４７ｂにそれぞれ嵌合させた状態で前記第１実施形態と同様にネジ固定することによって、固定基板１２と筒状基盤１０３との間の相対的な捻れ及びゆがみに対する強度をさらに向上させることができる。また、筒状基盤固定部３３が筒状基盤１０３の内周面方向に突出しないため筒状基盤１０３の内径部をさらに大きく確保することができる。その他の作用及び効果は前記第１実施形態と同様である。
【０１２１】
図３４を参照して基盤カバー７０の他の構成を説明する。
図に示すように本実施形態の基盤カバー７０の側方には、内部に配設される各方向の固定ネジ５８と相対する位置に、連結固定部６９より幅寸法は狭いが、固定ネジ５８を操作するためのドライバーを挿通することが可能な調整用長孔１４８を設けている。
【０１２２】
固定ネジ５８の固定位置を調整して湾曲操作ワイヤ５６の弛みを除去する際には、基盤カバー７０を取り付けた状態で調整用長孔１４８を介して固定ネジ５８をゆるめて、再度締め付けを行うことによって位置調整を簡単に行うことができる。このことにより、基盤カバー７０を外すこと無く連結固定部６９での湾曲操作ワイヤ５６の弛みの除去作業が行えるので作業性が向上する。
【０１２３】
なお、本発明は、以上述べた実施形態のみに限定されるものではなく、発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲で種々変形実施可能である。
【０１２４】
［付記］
以上詳述したような本発明の上記実施形態によれば、以下の如き構成を得ることができる。
【０１２５】
（１）複数の湾曲駒を回動自在に連接した湾曲部と、この湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、この可撓管の基端部に連結され前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲機構が配設される固定基板を有する操作部と、一端が湾曲部の先端に固定され他端が湾曲操作機構に連結された湾曲操作ワイヤとを有する内視鏡において、
前記湾曲操作機構が配設される固定基板に凸設させた突き当て部を形成する壁状凸設部と、前記湾曲部の湾曲角度を調節するため湾曲角度調整部材と、この湾曲角度調整部材が固定され前記壁状凸設部に少なくとも最大湾曲時に当接する調整部材固定板とを備え、
前記調整部材固定板に対する湾曲角度調整部材の固定位置を調整可能に設けた内視鏡。
【０１２６】
（２）前記壁状凸設部は、固定基板の平面に対して略垂直である付記１に記載の内視鏡。
【０１２７】
（３）前記壁状凸設部は、湾曲操作ワイヤの牽引方向に対して略直交する付記１に記載の内視鏡。
【０１２８】
（４）前記調整部材固定板は、壁状凸設部に当接するように配設される付記１に記載の内視鏡。
【０１２９】
（５）前記調整部材固定板に少なくとも２つの湾曲角度調整部材が固定されている付記１に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３０】
（６）前記調整部材固定板を少なくとも２つ設けた付記１に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３１】
（７）前記調整部材固定板を垂直方向に重ねた状態で配設した付記６に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３２】
（８）前記調整部材固定板を横方向に併設した状態で配設した付記６に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３３】
（９）前記調整部材固定板の上側に湾曲角度調整部材を固定する付記７に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３４】
（１０）前記調整部材固定板の側面に湾曲角度調整部材を固定する付記８に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３５】
（１１）少なくとも上側に配された前記調整部材固定板を、湾曲角度調整部材の固定位置を変えることなく着脱可能にした付記７に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３６】
（１２）湾曲角度調整部材と突き当て部との間に設けられた壁面と、この壁面を貫通する貫通部とよりなり、
この貫通部に湾曲角度調整部材の一部を突出させた状態で、
前記湾曲角度調整部材と、前記突き当て部とを付き当てることによって湾曲角度を規制すると共に、少なくとも上側に配された前記湾曲角度調整部材の一部が突出した貫通部の上側部分を切り欠いている付記１１に記載の内視鏡。
【０１３７】
（１３）少なくとも２方向の湾曲角度調整部材を同一形状で形成した付記７または付記８に記載の内視鏡。
このことにより、部品の種類が削減される。
【０１３８】
（１４）湾曲部と、この湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、この可撓管に連設され板状の固定基板に前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構を配設した操作部と、一端が湾曲部の先端に固定され他端が湾曲操作機構に連結された湾曲操作ワイヤとを有し、前記湾曲部の最大湾曲角度を、湾曲操作ワイヤまたは湾曲操作機構に設けられた突き当て部を湾曲角度調整部材に付き当てることにより規制する内視鏡において、固定基板の略全長にわたって湾曲操作ワイヤの牽引方向と略平行なリブを設けた内視鏡。
【０１３９】
（１５）前記固定基板を射出成形で形成した付記１４に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４０】
（１６）前記固定基板をアルミニウムを射出成形するダイカストで形成した付記１４に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４１】
（１７）前記固定基板を硬質樹脂を射出成形して形成した付記１４記載の内視鏡。
【０１４２】
（１８）前記固定基板を金属の粉末にバインダーを添加した材料を射出成形し、バインダーの除去及び焼結を行うメタルインジェクションモールドにより形成した付記１４に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４３】
（１９）前記壁状凸設部を固定基板と一体的に成形する付記１または付記１４に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４４】
（２０）前記壁面を固定基板と一体的に成形する付記１２または付記１４に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４５】
（２１）前記湾曲操作ワイヤの軸方向に略平行な１対のリブを設け、それらのリブを前記壁状凸設部に連続して形成し、この壁状凸設部と略平行な壁状部材を該リブの先端部側端近傍に、前記リブと連続させて形成される長方形溝と、調整部材固定板の幅寸法を略同一にした付記１または付記１４に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４６】
（２２）前記リブが突き当て部の湾曲操作による移動方向を規制するガイド機能を有する付記２１に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４７】
（２３） 前記ガイド機能は、リブの高さ方向の略中央に、固定基板の平面に平行な平行部を突出させ、固定基板の平面と、リブと平行部とにより形成される空間及び前記リブと平行部とにより形成される空間に、突き当て部を有する湾曲操作ワイヤと湾曲操作機構の連結部とを配すると共に、その外周をカバー部材により覆う付記２２に記載の内視鏡。
【０１４８】
（２４）前記操作部の外装を、手元側に配設した操作部ケーシングとその挿入部側に配設した把持部ケーシングとにより構成し、
前記カバー部材の一部が操作部ケーシング内に配設されるように固定または係止し、このカバー部材を挿入部側に移動させることによって、固定または係止が解除され、固定または係止が解除された状態において、前記カバー部材を操作部ケーシングによって覆われない位置に配設する付記２３に記載の内視鏡。
付記１９ないし２４によって操作部の部品数及び組立作業が削減される。
【０１４９】
（２５）湾曲部と、この湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、この可撓管に連設され板状の固定基板に前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構を配設した操作部と、一端が湾曲部の先端に固定され他端が湾曲操作機構に連結された湾曲操作ワイヤとを有する内視鏡において、
少なくとも２方向の湾曲操作機構を固定基板の平面に対して垂直方向に積み重ねた状態で配し、
湾曲操作ワイヤの操作部側端に設けた挿入部側連結部材と、湾曲操作機構側に設けた操作部側連結部材とを固定ネジによって固定し、その固定位置を湾曲操作ワイヤの牽引方向に対して調節する固定ネジの調節部を、固定基板の平面に対して垂直で、湾曲操作ワイヤの牽引方向に対して垂直な方向に設けた内視鏡。
このことにより、全ての方向の固定ネジの調節部が側方に配されるため湾曲操作ワイヤの弛みの除去が容易に行え、各方向の湾曲操作ワイヤの弛みの除去がそれぞれ単独で行える。
【０１５０】
（２６）湾曲部と、この湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、この可撓管に連設され板状の固定基板に前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構を配設した操作部とよりなり、
この操作部の内部構造を、操作部内の手元側に配設される湾曲操作機構が固定された固定基板と、固定基板の挿入部側に配設される固定基板と挿入部を連結する筒状基盤とにより構成した内視鏡において、
固定基板の挿入部側端部の平面と略垂直な平面部を設け、この平面部に対して筒状基盤を固定する内視鏡。
【０１５１】
（２７）前記固定基板と筒状基盤との固定位置を、固定基板の平面と略同一面上に設けた付記２６に記載の内視鏡。
このことにより、操作部内の空間が大きくなる。
【０１５２】
（２８）前記筒状基盤の手元側端部に、固定基板が係合可能な切り欠き部を周上に設け、その切り欠き部に固定基板を係合させて、一体的に固定する付記２６に記載の内視鏡。
【０１５３】
このことにより、固定基板と筒状基盤の総体的な捻れ及びゆがみに対して高い強度の操作部となる。
【０１５４】
（２９）湾曲部と、この湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、この可撓管に連設した操作部と、この操作部の手元側の外形を形成する操作部ケーシングと、操作部の挿入部側の外形を形成する把持部ケーシングと、両ケーシング内の手元側に配された固定基板と、この固定基板上に設けられ、前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構と、前記操作ケーシングの外部に配された湾曲操作ノブと、前記湾曲操作機構と前記湾曲操作ノブとを連結する湾曲軸とを有する内視鏡において、
前記湾曲軸を挟んで固定基板の長手方向の両側に、固定基板のゆがみを規制す手段を設けた内視鏡。
【０１５５】
（３０）前記操作部ケーシングの手元側端部と固定基板とが対応する位置に、固定基板の上下方向の動きを規制する第１の係止部と、湾曲軸を挟み挿入部側に配設される操作部ケーシングの挿入部側口元と固定基板との側面部が対応する位置の少なくとも一方に固定基板の上下方向の動きを規制する第２の係止部と、を設けた付記２９に記載の内視鏡。
【０１５６】
（３１）前記操作部ケーシングに送気送水シリンダ及び吸引シリンダを固定した内視鏡において、前記送気送水シリンダまたは吸引シリンダの少なくとも一方を固定基板に当接させる付記２９に記載の内視鏡。
【０１５７】
（３２）湾曲部と、この湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、この可撓管連設され固定基板に湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構を配し、前記固定基板と前記可撓管とを連結する筒状基盤を設けた操作部と、一端が湾曲部の先端に固定され他端が湾曲操作機構に連結された湾曲操作ワイヤとを有し、湾曲部の最大湾曲角度を、湾曲操作ワイヤまたは湾曲操作機構に設けられた突き当て部を湾曲角度調整部材に付き当てることにより規制する内視鏡において、
突き当て部と湾曲角度調整部材との付き当て位置を挟んで固定基板の長手方向の両側に固定基板の捻れを規制する手段を設けた内視鏡。
【０１５８】
（３３）少なくとも前記切り欠き部と、前記第１の係止部とを設けると共に、前記切り欠き部と前記第１の係止部との間に突き当て部と湾曲角度調整部材との突き当て位置を設けた付記２８または付記３０または付記３２に記載の内視鏡。 付記２９ないし付記３３により、力が作用する点を中心にとして、その両側部で固定基板のゆがみ等を規制しているため、固定基板の操作部への固定が効率的に行え、しかも高い強度が得られる
（３４）湾曲部と、この湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、この可撓管連設された湾曲部と、この操作部の手元側の外形を形成する操作部ケーシングと、前記操作部の挿入部側の外形を形成する把持部ケーシングと、前記両ケーシング内の手元側に配された固定基板と、この固定基板上に設けられ前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構と、前記操作ケーシングの外部に配された操作ノブと、前記湾曲操作機構と前記操作ノブを連結する湾曲軸とを有する内視鏡において、
前記操作部ケーシングの操作ノブ挿通用の開口に、湾曲操作機構の一部を嵌合させると共に、前記固定基板の平面に対して、垂直方向のみの動きを規制する手段を設けた内視鏡。
このことにより、水密の確保が容易で、部品点数の少ない内視鏡になる。
【０１５９】
（３５）前記操作部ケーシングの操作ノブ挿通用の開口と前記湾曲操作機構の嵌合部に、弾性部材よりなる液密保持部材を配設する付記３４記載の内視鏡。
このことにより、更に水密の確保が容易になる。
【０１６０】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように本発明によれば、部品点数が少なく、組立及び湾曲角度の調整が容易で最大湾曲角度より大きく湾曲することを確実に規制する操作部を備えた内視鏡を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】図１ないし図３２は本発明の第１実施形態に係り、図１は内視鏡の概略構成を示す説明図
【図２】操作部の内部構造の詳細を示す説明図
【図３】操作部ケーシングの基端部側に設けた第１の係止部を示す説明図
【図４】操作部ケーシングの先端部側に設けた第２の係止部を示す説明図
【図５】固定基板の構成を説明する平面図
【図６】図５のＡ−Ａ断面図
【図７】図５のＢ−Ｂ断面図
【図８】固定基板の側面図
【図９】図５のＩ−Ｉ断面図
【図１０】図５のＪ−Ｊ断面図
【図１１】図５のＣ−Ｃ断面図
【図１２】図５のＤ−Ｄ断面図
【図１３】図２のＥ−Ｅ断面図
【図１４】図２のＦ−Ｆ断面図
【図１５】チェーン部材と挿入部側連結部材とをチェーン側連結部材を介して接続状態を示す側面から見た説明図
【図１６】図１５の上面から見た説明図
【図１７】基盤カバーの底面側から見たときの説明図
【図１８】基盤カバーの側面図
【図１９】手元側ガイドコイルの挿入部側の構造を示す説明図
【図２０】可撓管内に配設される各方向の挿入部側ガイドコイルの位置を示す説明図
【図２１】把持部ケーシングで覆われた部分の挿入部側の内部構造を示す図
【図２２】固定基板と筒状基盤との固定部の側面図
【図２３】図２１のＨ−Ｈ断面図
【図２４】筒状基盤の外周面側から見た固定ネジの固定状態を示す図
【図２５】図２のＫ−Ｋ断面図
【図２６】操作部ケーシング内の固定基板の位置関係を示す説明図
【図２７】係止用凸部と第１の係止部との位置関係を示す説明図
【図２８】図２７の係止用凸部と第１の係止部との位置関係を別の角度（固定基板方向）から見たときの図
【図２９】基盤部と第２の係止部との位置関係を示す説明図
【図３０】基盤部と第２の係止部との係止状態を示す図
【図３１】係止用凸部と第１の係止部との係止状態を図２８に示した方向から見たときの図
【図３２】図３１の係止用凸部と第１の係止部との係止状態を図２７に示した方向から見たときの図
【図３３】固定基板と筒状基盤との接続部の他の構成を示す説明図
【図３４】基盤カバーの他の構成を示す説明図
【符号の説明】
１２…固定基板
２１…第２リブ
２６…基礎部
１２３…第１の突き当て部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope that operates a bending portion provided in an insertion portion with a bending operation mechanism provided on a fixed substrate of an operation portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope apparatus in which an elongated endoscope is inserted into a body cavity or the like to observe a test site and perform various treatments has been widely used.
[0003]
In general, an endoscope having a flexible insertion portion is provided with a bending portion in which a plurality of bending pieces are connected to the insertion portion, and a pulling member such as a bending wire that is inserted into the bending portion and fixed to the bending piece located at the foremost end. A bending operation mechanism is provided that bends the bending portion in a desired direction by advancing and retracting. By bending the bending portion at a desired angle by such a bending operation mechanism, the observation optical system disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion can be observed in a desired direction, or can be easily inserted into a test site. To be able to.
[0004]
In general, in a bending operation of an endoscope, a bending member is provided on the bending wire side in order to regulate the maximum bending angle so that a predetermined bending angle is not exceeded. A stopper that abuts and restricts the movement of the bending wire has been provided.
[0005]
The maximum bending angle of the bending portion is adjusted during the manufacturing process of the endoscope alone. As an example, when a plurality of bending pieces are rotatably connected with rivets, and the bending wire fixed to the distal end portion is pulled by the operation portion located on the proximal side, the bending angle of the distal end portion is measured. However, the maximum bending angle of the endoscope is set by fixing the stopper at a position where the maximum bending angle is obtained.
[0006]
In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-2004, there is an endoscope bending operation device which can perform positioning adjustment of a stopper reliably and easily and can be fixed without being displaced due to a collision with a collision member. It is shown.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the endoscope bending operation device disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-2004, as shown below.
-There are many parts to regulate the maximum bending angle, and assembly is troublesome.
[0009]
-The number of parts constituting the guide (guide unit) for restricting the moving direction of the connecting portion that connects the bending operation wire and the bending operation mechanism is large, and the assembly is troublesome.There was a problem.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an endoscope including an operation unit that has a small number of parts, can be easily assembled and adjusted in a bending angle, and reliably regulates bending larger than the maximum bending angle. The purpose is to provide.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Endoscope of the present inventionThe bayMusic part,TheA flexible tube connected to the bending portion;TheFlexible tubeConnected toFixed substrateIs provided with a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending portion.An endoscope having an operation portion and a bending operation wire having one end fixed to the distal end of the bending portion and the other end connected to a bending operation mechanism,
  The bending operation mechanismAnd a stopper member formed so as to come into contact with the abutting portion of the connecting member by being moved by the operation of the operating portion. The movement range of the bending operation wire connected and fixed to the connecting member by abutting the portion and the abutting portion,The bending angle of the bending portionSettingYouRuA bending angle adjusting member;Restricted to move relative to the fixed substrate.An adjustment member fixing plate;Fixing the bending angle adjusting member integrally with the adjusting member fixing plate; andThe fixing position of the bending angle adjusting member with respect to the adjusting member fixing plate can be adjusted.Adjustment mechanisming.
[0015]
  According to this configuration,By moving and fixing the position of the stopper portion of the bending angle adjustment member on the fixed substrate, the bending portionBend angleIs set.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
1 to 32 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the internal structure of the operation unit, and FIG. 3 is an operation unit. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a second locking portion provided on the distal end side of the operation portion casing, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the first locking portion provided on the base end side of the casing. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a side view of the fixed substrate, and FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 5, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 5, FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 14 is an FF cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, FIG. 15 is an explanatory view seen from the side showing the connection state of the chain member and the insertion portion side connecting member via the chain side connecting member, and FIG. 16 is an upper surface of FIG. Seen from FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the bottom side of the base cover, FIG. 18 is a side view of the base cover, FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the insertion guide side of the proximal guide coil, and FIG. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the insertion portion side of the portion covered with the grip portion casing, and FIG. 22 is a fixed substrate. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH of FIG. 21, FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a fixing state of the fixing screw viewed from the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical substrate, and FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line KK, FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship of the fixed substrate in the operation unit casing, and FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the locking convex portion and the first locking portion. 28 is a diagram when the positional relationship between the locking convex portion and the first locking portion in FIG. 27 is viewed from another angle (fixed substrate direction); 29 is an explanatory view showing a positional relationship between the base portion and the second locking portion, FIG. 30 is a view showing a locking state between the base portion and the second locking portion, and FIG. 31 is a locking convex portion. FIG. 32 is a diagram when the locking state with the first locking portion is viewed from the direction shown in FIG. 28, and FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating the locking state between the locking convex portion and the first locking portion in FIG. FIG. 28 is a diagram when viewed from the direction shown in FIG.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1 according to this embodiment includes an elongated insertion portion 2 that is inserted into a body cavity or the like, an operation portion 3 that is provided at the proximal end of the insertion portion 2, and the operation It is mainly comprised by the universal cord 4 extended from the side part of the part 3. FIG. A connector 5 that is detachably connected to a light source device (not shown) that is an external device of the endoscope 1 is provided at the base end of the universal cord 4.
[0019]
The insertion portion 2 includes a rigid distal end constituting portion 6 in order from the distal end side, a bending portion 7 that can be bent in the vertical and horizontal directions by connecting a plurality of bending pieces in a rotatable manner, and an elongated flexible tube having flexibility. 8 is connected.
[0020]
The distal end component 6 includes a treatment instrument opening 117 of a treatment instrument insertion tube, which will be described later, an objective lens cover 118 provided at the outermost part of an objective optical system (not shown), and dirt and dust adhered to the surface of the objective lens cover 118. An air / water supply nozzle 119 for sending water or air for removing body fluid, and an illumination lens cover 120 provided at the outermost part of an illumination optical system (not shown) are provided.
[0021]
The operation unit 3 includes an operation unit casing 9 provided on the hand side and a gripping unit casing 10 provided in a watertight manner on the front end side of the operation unit casing 9.
[0022]
The operation portion casing 9 includes a left / right bending operation knob (hereinafter abbreviated as a left / right knob) 9RL and a bending portion 7 which are used as an operation portion of a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending portion 7 in the left / right direction. From an up / down direction bending operation knob (hereinafter abbreviated as an up / down knob) 9UD for bending, an air / water supply button 121 which is an operation button for supplying water and air to the air / water supply nozzle 119, and a treatment instrument opening 117 A suction button 122, which is an operation button for absorbing body fluid or the like, is provided. On the other hand, the grasping section casing 10 is provided with a treatment instrument introduction port 108 for guiding a treatment instrument such as grasping forceps to a treatment instrument insertion duct through a branching member, which will be described later.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, a fixed substrate 12 is disposed inside the operation unit 3 constituted by the operation unit casing 9 and the gripping unit casing 10. The fixed substrate 12 is formed by die casting, for example, by injection molding aluminum.
[0024]
Locking convex portions 13 a and 13 b for locking the fixed substrate 12 to the operation portion casing 9 are provided at two ends on the base end side end of the fixed substrate 12.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, the operating portion casing 9 has a notch opening 14a in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12 so as to correspond to the locking convex portions 13a and 13b. , 14b having first locking portions 15a, 15b. That is, by engaging the locking projections 13a and 13b into the notch openings 14a and 14b of the first locking portions 15a and 15b, the locking projections 13a and 13b are connected to the first locking portions 15a and 15b. Locked to the stop portions 15a and 15b. At this time, the dimension Z between the first locking portions 15a and 15b shown in FIG. 2 and the dimension Y between the one end surface of the first locking portion 15a and the inner peripheral surface of the operation portion casing 9 are as described above. It is set larger than the width dimension X of the locking convex portions 13a and 13b.
[0026]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a second locking portion 16 is provided at a position corresponding to one side portion of the fixed substrate 12 in the mouth portion of the operation portion casing 9 on the gripping portion casing 10 side. . A locking groove 16a is formed in the second locking portion 16, and one side portion of the fixed substrate 12 is locked by the locking groove 16a. At this time, the width dimension V of the fixed substrate 12 is set to be smaller than the distance dimension W between the inner peripheral surface of the operation portion casing 9 and the distal end surface of the second locking portion 16.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, flat portions 17 a and 17 b perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12 are provided at the mouth portion of the operation portion casing 9 on the gripping portion casing 10 side. On the other hand, the fixed substrate 12 is provided with contact surface portions 18a and 18b having surface portions facing substantially parallel to the flat surface portions 17a and 17b. Between the flat surface portions 17a and 17b and the contact surface portions 18a and 18b, when the operation portion 3 is assembled by combining the operation portion casing 9 and the gripping portion casing 10, there is a gap corresponding to a tolerance generated in this portion. Is provided. The gap dimension is set to 0.3 mm, for example.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 5, a first rib 19 and a base portion 20 are provided as reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the edge on the proximal side of the fixed substrate 12. As shown in FIG. 6, the first rib 19 has a thickness dimension substantially the same as the thickness of the base portion 20 of the fixed substrate 12, and is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base portion 20. Projected to
[0029]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixed substrate 12 is provided with second ribs 21. The second rib 21 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12, and has a pair of base portions 26 a and 26 b that protrude in a substantially vertical direction from the plane of the base portion 20, and the base portions 26 a and 26 a. 26b, a first abutting portion 123 serving as a wall-like projecting portion projecting in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12 connected at the hand side portion, and the base portion 26a, Similar to the first abutting portion 123, the second protruding portion 26b is a wall-like protruding portion that is provided so as to protrude in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12, as is the case with the first abutting portion 123. The abutting portion 124 is composed of a pair of guide member fixing portions 25a and 25b each having a plane portion substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12 at the tip end side end of the base portions 26a and 26b. ing.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 7, parallel portions 23 a and 23 b that protrude substantially parallel to the base portion 20 from the base portions 26 a and 26 b are provided at the substantially central portions in the height direction of the protruding base portions 26 a and 26 b. Is provided. A recess formed by the base portion 26a, the parallel portion 23a, and the base portion 20 is a right direction wire fixing member sliding groove (hereinafter abbreviated as a right wire sliding groove) 27R, and the base portion 26b, the parallel portion 23b, A recess formed by the base portion 20 becomes a left-direction wire fixing member sliding groove (hereinafter abbreviated as a left-wire sliding groove) 27L.
[0031]
Further, a right-side bending angle defining groove (hereinafter abbreviated as a right-curving defining groove) 28R having a narrower width than the right wire sliding groove 27R is formed on the side surface of the base portion 26a in the right wire sliding groove 27R. A left-side bending angle defining groove (hereinafter abbreviated as left-curving defining groove) 28L having a narrower width than the left wire sliding groove 27L is formed on the side surface of the base portion 26b in the left wire sliding groove 27L. ing.
[0032]
Further, a downward bending angle defining groove (hereinafter referred to as a lower bending defining groove) similar to the right bending defining groove 28R is formed on the side surface portion of the base portion 26a at a position substantially equidistant from the right curved defining groove 28R across the parallel portion 23a. ) 28D is formed, and an upward curve angle defining groove (hereinafter referred to as an upper curve defining groove) 28U similar to the left curve defining groove 28L at a substantially equidistant position across the parallel portion 23b on the side surface portion of the base portion 26b. Is formed.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a rectangle formed by the base portions 26 a and 26 b, the first butting portion 123, and the second butting portion 124 is formed on a part of the proximal side of the right-curved regulation groove 28 </ b> R. A right direction through portion 30R penetrating through the groove 24 (see FIG. 5) is formed. Further, a left-direction through portion 30L similar to the right-curved defining groove 28R is also formed in the left-curved defining groove 28L. The lower curved defining groove 28D and the upper curved defining groove 28U are also formed with a downward penetrating portion 30D and an upward penetrating portion 30U similar to the right curved defining groove 28R and the left curved defining groove 28L. And the base parts 26a and 26b located above the said lower direction penetration part 30D and the upper direction penetration part 30U are made into the state cut off. The longitudinal dimensions of the through portions 30R, 30L, 30D, and 30U in each direction are dimensions that can adjust the bending angle of all types of endoscopes, and are set to 27 mm or more in each direction, for example. ing. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, notches 31a and 31b formed so as to cut out the base portions 26a and 26b at the base portions of the parallel portions 23a and 23b are provided.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 11, the guide member fixing portion 25a corresponds to the right guide member fixing notch portion 32R having an outer portion opened at a position corresponding to the right curve defining groove 28R and the lower curve defining groove 28D. A lower guide member fixing notch 32D having an outer portion opened at a position is provided. Further, the guide member fixing portion 25b has an outer portion opened at a position corresponding to the left guide member fixing notch portion 32L having an outer portion opened at a position corresponding to the left curve defining groove 28L and an upper curve defining groove 28U. The upper guide member fixing notch 32U is provided.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 12, a pair of cylindrical bases that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12 and protrude in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the plane of the base part 20 at the insertion portion side end of the fixed substrate 12. Fixed portions 33a and 33b are provided. The outer side surfaces of the cylindrical base plate fixing portions 33a and 33b have an R-plane shape along a circle with a radius r indicated by a one-dot chain line centering on a midpoint between the cylindrical base plate fixing portions 33a and 33b.
[0036]
A third rib 35 is provided at the base of the cylindrical base fixing portions 33a and 33b so as to protrude inward and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, a fourth rib 36 extending in the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12 and protruding from a plane is provided between the cylindrical base fixing portions 33 a and 33 b and the second rib 21. ing.
[0037]
Further, the fixed substrate 12 can be reduced in weight by manufacturing the resin by injection molding a hard resin. Further, the fixed substrate 12 can be obtained by adding a binder to a metal powder, injection molding the material, and molding the fixed substrate 12 by a metal injection mold for removing and sintering the binder.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 13, the rectangular groove 24 and the rectangular groove 24 formed between a pair of base portions 26 a and 26 b that protrude in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base portion 20. A slender left and right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37a having substantially the same width dimension is disposed. A right lower direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and an upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are disposed on the upper surface of the left / right direction adjusting member fixing plate 37a.
[0039]
Further, on the upper surface of the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b, an elongated vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b having the same width as the rectangular groove 24 is disposed. The lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are disposed on the upper surface of the vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b.
[0040]
The lower right direction curve angle adjusting member 38a has an elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape having a width dimension substantially half of the width dimension of the rectangular groove 24, and a fixing portion 40 and a stopper portion protruding outward from the side surface of the fixing portion 40. 41a. Further, the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b is formed in a bilaterally symmetric shape with the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a, and a stopper portion 41b provided on the fixed portion 40 is provided with the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38b. It protrudes in the opposite direction to 38a.
[0041]
The fixing portion 40 of the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b is formed with a fixing long hole 42 in which the heads of the fixing screws 72a and 72b are disposed. By means of fixing screws 72a and 72b disposed in the fixing long holes 42 of the fixing portion 40, the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a, the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b, the left and right direction adjusting member fixing plate 37a, and the up and down direction adjusting member. The fixing plate 37b is fixed integrally with each other.
[0042]
It should be noted that the length of the fixing long hole 42 is such that the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are fixed to the left and right direction adjusting member fixing plate 37a and the vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b. The adjustment range is set to be approximately the same as the length of the through portions 30R, 30L, 30D, and 30U in each direction. Further, the sizes of the stopper portions 41a and 41b are set smaller than the notches 31a and 31b shown in FIG. 8, and the lower right direction bending angle adjustment member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjustment member 38b are most The stopper portions 41a and 41b are set so as to be disposed at positions facing the notches 31a and 31b when disposed on the insertion portion side.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 2, the base member 20 reinforced by the first ribs 19 is provided with a storage member 44 for storing a chain member 43 for bending operation. As shown in FIG. Are substantially perpendicular to the base part 20 and formed in a right and left object shape, and substantially parallel to the plane of the base part 20 at the approximate center of the side walls 47a and 47b in the height direction. The partition plate portion 48 is provided.
[0044]
Snap fit portions 49a and 49b are respectively provided at the lower end portions of the side wall portions 47a and 47b on the side of the base portion 20, and snap fit portions 49a and 49b are formed in the fixing holes 50a and 50b formed in the base portion 20, respectively. The storage member 44 and the base portion 20 are integrally attached by locking 49b.
[0045]
On the other hand, a through-hole 45 is formed at a position corresponding to the left / right knob 9RL and the upper / lower knob 9UD provided outside the operation portion casing 9 of the partition plate portion 48. A left and right sprocket 51a is disposed below the partition plate 48 of the through hole 45, and a vertical sprocket 51b is disposed on the upper portion. A left and right direction chain member 43a is wound around the left and right direction sprocket 51a, and a vertical direction chain member 43b is wound around the up and down direction sprocket 51b to form a bending operation mechanism. A left / right knob 9RL is connected to the left / right sprocket 51a, and an up / down knob 9UD is connected to the up / down sprocket 51b. Further, the left and right direction chain members 43a and the up and down direction chain members 43b are connected to the side holes of the through holes 45 on the upper and lower surfaces of the partition plate portion 48 from the left and right direction sprockets 51a and 51b. Protrusions 52a and 52b are provided for pulling apart.
[0046]
  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the end of the left-right chain member 43a is in contact with a stopper portion 41a provided on the lower right direction curve angle adjusting member 38a, thereby defining a right movement range. Direction abutting portion 53RA right-hand side chain-side connecting member 54R is attached. A female screw portion 55 is formed at one end of the right abutting portion 53R.
[0047]
A screw portion 59 of a fixing screw 58 can be inserted into a right direction insertion portion side connecting member 57R to which a right direction bending operation wire 56R for transmitting a right direction bending operation by the left and right knob 9RL to the bending portion 7 is fixedly connected. A long hole 61 through which the circular maximum outer diameter portion 60 cannot be inserted is formed in the moving direction of the rightward bending operation wire 56R.
[0048]
The right-direction chain-side connecting member 54R and the right-direction insertion portion-side connecting member 57R to which the right-direction bending operation wire 56R is fixedly connected are screwed and fixed by a fixing screw 58 to form a right-direction connecting and fixing portion 69R. is doing. The connection fixing portions 69L, 69D, and 69U in each direction other than the right direction connection fixing portion 69R are configured in the same manner.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 2, the downward connection fixing portion 69D configured by the downward chain side connection member 54D, the downward insertion portion side connection member 57D, and the downward bending operation wire 56D is similar to the upper surface of the parallel portion 23a. The upper connection fixing portion 69U is fixed to the upper surface of the parallel portion 23b, the right direction connection fixing portion 69R is fixed to the right wire sliding groove 27R, and similarly the left direction connection fixing portion 69L is fixed to the left wire sliding groove 27L. 58 is arranged to face sideways.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 13, the abutting portions 53R, 53L, 53D, 53U in the respective directions provided on the chain side coupling members 54R, 54L, 54D, 54U in the respective directions are respectively provided with the curve defining grooves 28R, 28L corresponding thereto. , 28D, and 28U. These outer peripheries are covered with a base cover 70.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 17, the upper right direction bending angle adjusting member 38b and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are fixed to the upper surface of the base cover 70 with respect to the vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b as shown in FIG. An adjustment notch groove 71 is provided so that the fixing screw 72b is exposed to the outside. As shown in FIG. 18, two pairs of locking convex portions 73 are provided on the end surface of the base cover 70 on the base portion 20 side, and each of the locking convex portions 73 has a notch 74 whose open side is open. Is provided.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 5, the base plate portion 20 of the fixed substrate 12 facing the locking convex portion 73 is provided with a locking long hole 75 and a fixed substrate side locking convex portion 76. The fixed board side latching convex part 76 is provided with a fixed board side cutout 77 having a width wider than the thickness of the base cover 70 and having an opening on the insertion part side. The length of the locking long hole 75 is such that when the locking convex portion 73 is disposed on the most proximal side of the locking long hole 75, the proximal end of the base cover 70 is the operating portion. The position is set so as not to be covered by the casing 9.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 2, the right-direction bending operation wire 56 </ b> R extending from the right-direction connection fixing portion 69 </ b> R, the left-direction connection fixing portion 69 </ b> L, the lower-direction connection fixing portion 69 </ b> D and the upper-direction connection fixing portion 69 </ b> U of the operation portion 3 The bending operation wire 56L, the downward bending operation wire 56D, and the upward bending operation wire 56U include a right proximal guide coil 78R, a left proximal guide coil 78L, and a downward proximal guide that are configured by densely winding metal wires. It is inserted in the coil 78D and the upper proximal guide coil 78U.
[0054]
At the proximal end portions of the proximal guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, 78U in the respective directions, a right positioning member 79R, a left positioning member 79L, a downward positioning member 79D, and an upward positioning member 79U are provided. Each is arranged.
[0055]
The right direction positioning member 79R is formed in the right direction guide member fixing notch 32R formed in the guide member fixing portion 25a, and the left direction positioning member 79L is formed in the left direction formed in the guide member fixing portion 25b. The guide member fixing notch 32L, the lower positioning member 79D is formed in the guide member fixing notch 32D formed in the guide member fixing portion 25a, and the upper positioning member 79U is the guide member fixing portion. The upper guide member fixing notches 32U formed in 25b are respectively locked. The base cover 70 is set so as to be in contact with the positioning members 79R, 79L, 79D, and 79U in each direction so as to restrict the lateral movement.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 19, right-side insertion portions having the same structure as the proximal-side guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, and 78U are provided at the insertion-portion-side end portions of the proximal-side guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, and 78U in the respective directions. The proximal end portions of the side guide coil 80R, the left insertion portion side guide coil 80L, the lower insertion portion side guide coil 80D, and the upper insertion portion side guide coil 80U are abutted. By covering the outer periphery of the abutting portion between the proximal guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, 78U and the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U, the insertion portion side in each direction is covered. The guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U and the proximal guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, 78U in each direction are integrally connected. Then, the right-side locking block 102R, the left-side locking block 102L, which are locking members having substantially U-shaped groove portions 109 formed in the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U in the respective directions, The lower locking block 102D and the upper locking block 102U are integrally fixed by solder or the like. The insertion portion side guide coils 80 </ b> R, 80 </ b> L, 80 </ b> D, 80 </ b> U in the respective directions are inserted into the insertion portion 2.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 20, the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, and 80U inserted in the insertion portion 2 in the respective directions are located above the distal end portion of the flexible tube 8 in the upward insertion portion side. The guide coil 80U has a downward insertion portion side guide coil 80D fixed in the downward direction, a right insertion portion side guide coil 80R in the right direction, and a left insertion portion side guide coil 80L in the left direction. Further, the bending operation wires 56R, 56L, 56D in the respective directions inserted into the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U in the respective directions via the hand side guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, 78U in the respective directions. , 56U are arranged on the foremost side of the plurality of bending pieces constituting the bending portion 7 in the same positional relationship as the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U in the respective directions. The bending piece is fixedly connected so that the upper, lower, left, and right directions correspond to each other.
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 21, a cylindrical base 103 having an inner diameter dimension substantially the same as the outer peripheral circular diameter is externally fitted to the cylindrical base fixing portions 33 a and 33 b of the fixed substrate 12. It is integrally fixed with screws from a direction substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical base fixing portions 33a and 33b.
[0059]
As shown in FIG. 22, a rotation regulating notch 125 is provided at a position facing the base portion 20 at the end of the cylindrical base plate 103 on the fixed substrate 12 side, and the insertion portion side end portion of the base portion 20 is fitted. It is fixed in the state.
[0060]
In addition, as shown in FIG.ArrangedA branching member 107 where the treatment instrument insertion conduit 104, the treatment instrument introduction conduit 105, and the suction conduit 106 join is fixed by screws (not shown) inside the cylindrical base 103 provided. The treatment instrument insertion conduit 104 is inserted into the insertion portion 2 and opened at the treatment instrument opening 117, and the treatment instrument introduction conduit 105 is opened at the treatment instrument introduction port 108. The suction pipe 106 is inserted into the universal cord 4 through a suction cylinder 136 (described later) to which a suction button 122 is attached and has an opening in the connector 5. A locking ring 110 is fixed by a fixing screw 111 from the branching member 107 of the cylindrical base 103 to the insertion portion side.
[0061]
A two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 23 indicates the position of the branching member 107 on the hand side. A notch 126 is formed in a part of the circumference of the locking ring 110, and the left locking groove 112L, the upward locking groove 112U, and the right locking are formed clockwise from the notch 126. A stop groove 112R and a downward locking groove 112D are formed. Further, the cylindrical base 103 and the locking ring 110 are integrally fixed by screwing the fixing screw 111 into a female screw part 143 formed on the locking ring 110. ing.
[0062]
Grooves 109 formed in the locking blocks 102R, 102L, 102D, 102U for the respective directions are locked to the locking grooves 112R, 112L, 112D, 112U for the respective directions.
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 24, a fixing portion long hole portion 138, a protrusion portion 139, and a locking groove portion 140 for fixing the fixing screw 111 stepwise at equal intervals are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical base 103. .
[0064]
The elongated hole portion 138 is formed to be elongated in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope insertion portion, and has a width dimension that allows the screw portion 141 of the fixing screw 111 to be inserted and the maximum outer diameter portion 142 not to be inserted. Yes. A locking groove portion 140 of the maximum outer diameter portion 142 is formed on the upper surface of the long hole portion 138 by connecting a plurality of circular grooves at equal intervals to form a protrusion 139 having a width narrower than the maximum outer diameter portion 142. Yes. Accordingly, the cylindrical base 103 can be moved stepwise in the longitudinal direction by changing the arrangement positions of the maximum outer diameter portion 142 of the fixing screw 111 and the locking groove 140 of the cylindrical base 103. It is like that.
[0065]
On the outer periphery of the cylindrical base 103 at a position facing the fixing screw 111, a folding stop base 113 covered with a bending stop member 149 made of soft rubber for preventing buckling of the flexible tube 8 is disposed. The proximal end of the anti-bending base 113 has an abutting portion 114 that abuts against the end of the gripping portion casing 10, and a female screw portion 115 is provided on the inner surface of the abutting portion 114. A male screw portion 116 is provided outside the cylindrical base 103 facing the female screw portion 115, and the female screw portion 115 and the male screw portion 116 are screwed together.
[0066]
As shown in FIG. 25, the base portion 20 has a sprocket cover that covers the outer periphery of the left and right direction sprocket 51a and the up and down direction sprocket 51b around which the left and right direction chain member 43a and the up and down direction chain member 43b are wound. 131 is fixed with screws. The sprocket cover 131 is provided with a cylindrical portion 130 having a through hole 129 in the direction of the left / right knob 9RL and the up / down knob 9UD.
[0067]
The left / right knob 9RL is connected to the left / right sprocket 51a via a left / right curved shaft 128a inserted through the through-hole 129, and the up / down knob 9UD is similarly connected to the vertical sprocket 51b via a vertical curved shaft 128b. It is connected to.
[0068]
An opening hole 132 is formed at a position corresponding to the cylindrical portion 130 of the operation portion casing 9 so that the fixing portion of the sprocket cover 131 can be inserted therethrough. A first watertight member 133 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 130 at a position facing the opening hole 132. The opening hole 132 has a watertight ring 150 that fits into the cylindrical portion 130 with an inner diameter portion in contact with the first watertight member 133 and has an outer diameter portion fitted into the opening hole 132. It is arranged.
[0069]
Further, a second watertight member 134 for securing watertightness is disposed between the opening hole 132 and the watertight ring 150. An air supply / water supply cylinder 135 to which an air supply / water supply button 121 is attached while being in contact with the back surface side of the base portion 20 and a suction cylinder 136 to which the suction button 122 is attached are provided.
[0070]
In addition, the contact position of the air / water supply cylinder 135 and the suction cylinder 136 with the base portion 20 is provided so as to be positioned closer to the insertion portion than the central axis 137 of the left / right direction bending shaft 128a and the up / down direction bending shaft 128b. . Further, the watertight ring 150 may be provided integrally with the sprocket cover 131, and the upper and lower knobs9UDAnd the watertight ring 150 may be provided integrally.
[0071]
The assembly of the endoscope configured as described above will be described.
1. The assembly on the insertion portion side of the endoscope operation portion will be described.
[0072]
The left-right sprocket 51a in a state where the left-right chain member 43a is wound is disposed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the base portion 20. At this time, the right-side chain-side connecting member 54R is housed in the right-wire sliding groove 27R with the right-side butting portion 53R disposed in the right-curved regulation groove 28R, and the left-side chain-side connecting member 54L is left The direction abutting portion 53L is housed in the left wire sliding groove 27L in a state in which the direction abutting portion 53L is disposed in the left curved regulation groove 28L.
[0073]
Then, the snap fit portions 49a, 49b are locked to the fixing holes 50a, 50b in a state where the center of the through hole 45 of the storage member 44 and the center of the left-right sprocket 51a are aligned.
[0074]
Next, the up-down direction sprocket 51 b in a state where the up-down direction chain member 43 b is wound is disposed on the upper surface portion side of the partition plate portion 48 in a state where the up-down direction sprocket 51 b is aligned with the through hole 45. At this time, the downward chain side connecting member 54D is disposed on the upper surface of the parallel portion 23a with the downward abutting portion 53D inserted into the lower curved regulation groove 28D, and the upward chain side connecting member 54U is upward. The abutting portion 53U is disposed on the upper surface of the parallel portion 23b in a state where the abutting portion 53U is inserted into the upper curve defining groove 28U.
[0075]
Next, the locking projection 73 is inserted into the locking slot 75 at a position where the locking projection 73 is disposed at the distal end side end of the locking slot 75, and the base cover By shifting the position of 70 in the proximal direction, the notch 74 and the fixed substrate side notch 77 of the fixed substrate side engaging convex portion 76 and the proximal end of the engaging long hole 75 are engaged.
[0076]
Here, with reference to FIG. 26 thru | or FIG. 32, the attachment method to the operation part casing 9 of the fixed board | substrate 12 in the said state is demonstrated concretely.
As shown in FIG. 26, the positional relationship of the opening on the insertion portion side of the fixed substrate 12 and the operation portion casing 9 in the above-described state is such that the upper surface of the base portion 20 is below the bottom surface of the second locking portion 16. The base cover 70 is brought into contact with the surface opposite to the second locking portion 16 of the operation portion casing 9, and in this state, the fixed substrate 12 is pulled to the near side to a predetermined position.
[0077]
As shown in FIG. 27, the positional relationship between the locking projections 13a and 13b and the first locking portions 15a and 15b at this time is such that the locking is between the first locking portions 15a and 15b. The convex portion 13 b is disposed, and the latching convex portion 13 a is disposed between the first locking portion 15 a and the wall surface of the operation portion casing 9. At this time, as shown in FIG. 28, the positional relationship between the locking projections 13a and 13b and the first locking portions 15a and 15b is lower than the bottom surfaces of the first locking portions 15a and 15b. The upper surface of the stopping convex portion 13a is disposed.
[0078]
As shown in FIG. 29 (a), the fixed substrate 12 is placed in the upper surface direction of the base portion 20 so that the base portion 20 and the locking groove 16a of the second locking portion 16 are disposed on the same plane. Pull up. At this time, the base portion is determined by the dimensional relationship between the width dimension V of the fixed substrate 12 shown in FIG. 4 and the distance dimension W between the inner peripheral surface of the operation portion casing 9 and the distal end surface of the second locking portion 16. 20 and the 2nd latching | locking part 16 do not interfere.
[0079]
Further, the base portion 20 and the locking groove 16a of the second locking portion 16 are disposed at the same plane position, so that the locking convex portion 13a as shown in FIG. , 13b are arranged on the same plane as the cutout openings 14a, 14b. Here again, the width X of the locking projections 13a and 13b shown in FIG. 2, the dimension Y between the one end surface of the first locking portion 15a and the inner peripheral surface of the operating portion casing 9, and the first relationship. Due to the dimensional relationship of the dimension Z between the stoppers 15 a and 15 b, the locking projections 13 a and 13 b do not interfere with the first locking parts 15 a and 15 b and the wall surface of the operation unit casing 9.
[0080]
Finally, the fixed substrate 12 is moved in the direction of the second locking portion 16. Then, as shown in FIG. 30, the side portion of the base portion 20 is sandwiched and locked in the locking groove 16a, and the locking convex portions 13a and 13b are formed as shown in FIGS. Are held between the locking portions 15a and 15b. Subsequently, the sprocket cover 131 is inserted from the outside of the operation portion casing 9 through the opening hole 132 and fixed to the base portion 20. Further, after the watertight ring 150 is dropped from the outside of the operation portion casing 9 to close the through hole 129 in a watertight manner, the vertical curved shaft 128b of the vertical knob 9UD is inserted through the through hole 129, and the vertical sprocket 51b is inserted. Connect to Similarly, the left / right bending shaft 128a of the left / right knob 9RL is inserted through the through hole 129 and connected to the left / right sprocket 51a. Then, the air / water supply cylinder 135 and the suction cylinder 136 are fixed to the operation portion casing 9 in a state where they are in contact with the back surface of the base portion 20.
[0081]
2. The assembly on the insertion portion side of the endoscope operation portion will be described.
First, the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U in each direction are fixed at predetermined positions on the distal end side of the flexible tube 8, and the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U in the respective directions are fixed. The locking blocks 102R, 102L, 102D, and 102U in the respective directions corresponding to the respective hand side end portions are attached.
[0082]
Next, one end of the bending operation wires 56R, 56L, 56D, and 56U in each direction is connected and fixed to a predetermined position of the bending portion 7, and the bending operation wires 56R, 56L, 56D, and 56U are inserted in the corresponding directions. The portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, 80U are inserted, and in this state, the bending portion 7 and the flexible tube 8 are connected and fixed.
[0083]
Next, after fixing a built-in object such as the treatment instrument insertion conduit 104 or the like to the distal end constituting part 6 and inserting these built-in objects into the bending part 7 and the flexible tube 8, the distal end constituting part 6 and the bending part 7 Are connected and fixed. At this time, the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, and 80U in each direction can be moved independently in all directions, and thus are arranged at positions that do not interfere with the built-in objects. For example, the fixed position on the distal end side of the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, and 80U in each direction and the position on the proximal side may be arranged at substantially the same position.
[0084]
Next, proximal guide coils 78R, 78R, 79L, 79D, 79U corresponding to the respective directions from the proximal sides of the bending operation wires 56R, 56L, 56D, 56U in the respective directions are fixed. 78L, 78D, and 78U are extrapolated, and the hand side guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, and 78U in each direction are brought into contact with the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, and 80U in each direction. The outer periphery of the abutting portion is covered with the heat shrinkable tube 101 and integrally connected.
[0085]
Next, after fixing the insertion portion side connecting members 57R, 57L, 57D, and 57U corresponding to the respective wires to predetermined positions of the bending operation wires 56R, 56L, 56D, and 56U in each direction, the insertion portion side in each direction is fixed. The locking blocks 102R, 102L, 102D, and 102U attached to the guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, and 80U are engaged with the locking grooves 112R, 112L, 112D, and 112U for the corresponding directions of the locking ring 110, respectively. Stop.
[0086]
Next, the branch member 107 is connected to a predetermined position at the proximal end of the treatment instrument insertion conduit 104. And the cylindrical base | substrate 103 is extrapolated from the insertion part 2 side, and the locking ring 110 is screw-fixed through this cylindrical base | substrate 103 in the state which has arrange | positioned the fixing screw 111 in the locking groove part 140 of the nearest hand side. . Thus, the locking blocks 102R, 102L, 102D, and 102U in each direction are fixed in a state of being sandwiched between the locking grooves 112R, 112L, 112D, and 112U in each direction and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical base 103. . Then, the cylindrical base 103 is fixed to the rear end portion of the insertion portion 2 with screws and the branch member 107 is fixed to the cylindrical base 103 with screws.
[0087]
Next, cylindrical base plate fixing portions 33a and 33b are inserted into the proximal side of the cylindrical base plate 103 so that the base plate portion 20 is engaged with the rotation restricting notch 125, and the cylindrical base plate 103 and the fixed substrate are inserted. 12 is fixed with screws. At this time, the cylindrical base plate fixing portions 33a and 33b are provided in a substantially vertical state with respect to the base plate portion 20, and the fixing positions are provided on substantially the same plane as the base plate portion 20. There is little range to block the inner diameter part.
[0088]
3. Connection of the bending operation mechanism will be described.
First, the base cover 70 is shifted to the insertion portion side, the engagement state between the notch 74, the fixed substrate side notch 77 and the proximal end of the locking long hole 75 is removed, and the base cover 70 is removed from the top surface of the base portion 20. Remove once by pulling in the direction.
[0089]
Next, in a state where the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are disposed on the most insertion portion side, a fixing screw 72a is temporarily fixed to the left and right direction adjusting member fixing plate 37a, and the left and right direction is adjusted. The adjustment member fixing plate 37 a is dropped into the rectangular groove 24. At this time, since the stopper portions 41a and 41b are disposed at positions facing the notches 31a and 31b, they do not interfere with each other.
[0090]
Next, the fixing screw 72a is once loosened, and the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are arranged closest to each other and temporarily fixed again. At this time, since the rectangular groove 24 and the left-right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37 a have substantially the same width, the left-right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37 a is not displaced in the horizontal direction of the base portion 20. Further, since the stopper portions 41a and 41b are sandwiched between the penetration portion 30R and the penetration portion 30L, they are not displaced in the vertical direction.
[0091]
Next, the right positioning member 79R is locked to the corresponding right guide member fixing notch 32R. Then, the right direction insertion portion side connecting member 57R fixed to the right direction bending operation wire 56R and the corresponding right direction chain side connecting member 54R are overlapped with each other.
[0092]
Next, the screw portion 59 of the fixing screw 58 is inserted into the elongated hole 61, and the screw portion 59 is inserted into the female screw portion of the right-side chain side connecting member 54R at a position where the tension of the right-direction bending operation wire 56R becomes a predetermined value. Thread into 55. As a result, the right-side chain-side connecting member 54R and the right-direction insertion portion-side connecting member 57R are integrally fixed.
[0093]
Then, when the connection fixing portions 69R, 69L, 69D, and 69U in all directions are completed, the left and right knobs 9RL or the upper and lower knobs 9UD are rotated in a desired direction. Then, the left and right direction sprocket 51a and the up and down direction sprocket 51b corresponding to the operation of the knobs 9RL and 9UD rotate, and the corresponding connection fixing portions 69R, 69L, 69D, and 69U and the bending operation wires 56R, 56L, 56D, and 56U. Will be pulled in at hand side. At this time, the compressive force generated in the insertion portion 2 is received by the insertion portion side guide coils 80R, 80L, 80D, and 80U and the proximal side guide coils 78R, 78L, 78D, and 78U in each direction. The traction force of the corresponding bending operation wires 56R, 56L, 56D, and 56U is transmitted to the bending portion 7 without contracting, and the bending portion 7 is bent in a desired direction.
[0094]
4). A method for setting the bending angle will be described.
First, the left and right knob 9RL is rotated to cause the bending portion 7 to bend to the right by a desired angle.
[0095]
Next, the fixing screw 72a temporarily fixing the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a to the left and right direction adjusting member fixing plate 37a is once loosened, and the stopper portion 41a of the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a is abutted to the right direction. Move to a position where the portion 53R contacts. Then, the fixing screw 72a is tightened and fixed with a predetermined amount of force at the abutting position. This completes the setting of the rightward bending angle.
Subsequently, the left setting is performed. Since the setting method in the left direction is the same as that in the right direction, the description is omitted.
[0096]
Next, the lower-right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper-left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are disposed in the most proximal side, and the vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b is temporarily fixed with the fixing screw 72b. Then, the vertical direction adjustment member fixing plate 37b is dropped into the rectangular groove 24 on the upper surface of the right curve defining groove 28R and the left curve definition groove 28L fixed to the left and right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37a. Thereafter, the vertical knob 9UD is operated to adjust the fixing positions of the right curve defining groove 28R and the left curve defining groove 28L to the vertical adjustment member fixing plate 37b in the same manner as in the right direction.
[0097]
When the adjustment in all directions is completed, the base cover 70 is assembled. If fine adjustment of the vertical bending angle is necessary in this state, the fixing screw 72b exposed outside the adjustment notch groove 71 is loosened, and the lower right bending angle adjustment member 38a and upper left bending are performed. After adjusting the position of the angle adjusting member 38b, the fixing screw 72b is tightened again, whereby the adjusting operation can be performed without disassembling the assembly part at all.
[0098]
If fine adjustment of the bending angle in the left-right direction is necessary, the base cover 70 is once removed, and the lower right bending angle adjustment member 38a and the upper left bending angle adjustment member 38b are fixed at predetermined positions. The vertical adjustment member fixing plate 37b is pulled up in the vertical direction of the base portion 20 and removed.
[0099]
At this time, since the upper base portions 26a and 26b of the lower curve defining groove 28D and the upper curve defining groove 28U are cut off, the stopper portions 41a and 41b can be disposed at any position in the adjustment range. The fixing position of the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b with respect to the vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b can be removed without shifting.
[0100]
In this state, the fixing screw 72a is once loosened, the positions of the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b are adjusted, and the fixing screw 72a is tightened again. Subsequently, the vertical adjustment member fixing plate 37b in the above state is dropped into a predetermined position. At this time, since the fixed positions of the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b with respect to the vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b are not moved, it is not necessary to adjust the vertical bending angle.
[0101]
Finally, the adjustment of the bending angle including the fine adjustment is completed by attaching the base cover 70.
[0102]
As for the assembly of the gripping part casing 10, the gripping part casing 10 is extrapolated from the insertion part 2 side and disposed at a position where it abuts on one end of the operation part casing 9. Then, the folding base 113 whose outer periphery is covered with the folding member 149 is extrapolated from the insertion portion 2 side, the female screw portion 115 and the male screw portion 116 are screwed together and tightened with a predetermined amount of force. Finally, the assembly is completed by connecting the treatment instrument introduction conduit 105 having the treatment instrument introduction port 108 to the branch member 107.
[0103]
5). A force acting in each state and a fixing means for receiving the force will be described.
During assembly, in particular, when the female screw portion 115 of the anti-bending base 113 is screwed into the male screw portion 116 of the cylindrical base 103, a rotational force acts on the cylindrical base 103. However, the acting force is suppressed because the rotation regulating notch 125 is engaged with the base portion 20.
[0104]
Further, at this time, the fixed substrate 12 is pulled out to the insertion portion side, and the weight is initially suppressed only by the cylindrical portion 130, but the operation unit casing 9 and the fixed substrate 12 are relatively moved, Since the flat portions 17a and 17b are in contact with the contact surface portions 18a and 18b, an excessive load is not applied to the cylindrical portion 130.
[0105]
When the bending operation is performed, a force that causes distortion and twisting of the base portion 20 acts on the knobs 9RL and 9UD in the bending direction. With regard to the force acting at this time, the locking projections 13a and 13b are locked to the first locking portions 15a and 15b on the proximal side from the knobs 9RL and 9UD, and the insertion portion sandwiching the bending operation knobs 9RL and 9UD. On the side, the fixed substrate 12 is locked in the locking groove 16a, and further, the air / water supply cylinder 135 and the suction cylinder 136 are in contact with the back surface of the fixed substrate 12, so that distortion and twisting about the knobs 9RL and 9UD are centered. Is suppressed.
[0106]
Further, when a bending operation is performed and further force is applied in a state where the stopper portions 41a, 41b and the abutting portions 53R, 53L, 53D, 53U in the respective directions are abutted, the knob is centered on the abutting portion. The same force that causes distortion and twisting acts on the base portion 20 around 9RL and 9UD. At this time, as described above, the fixed substrate 12 is engaged and abutted on each member on the hand side from the abutting portion. Further, since the rotation restricting notch 125 and the base part 20 are engaged with each other on the insertion part side across the contact part, distortion and twisting of the base part 20 can be suppressed. Furthermore, in this state, since the stopper portions 41a and 41b are pulled in the knobs 9RL and 9UD, the left and right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37a and the up and down direction are provided via the lower right direction bending angle adjustment member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjustment member 38b. A force that attracts the adjustment member fixing plate 37b to the proximal side acts. At this time, the proximal side end surfaces of the left and right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37a and the vertical direction adjustment member fixing plate 37b abut against the first abutting portion 123. The power can be reduced by touching.
[0107]
As described above, the fixing substrate 12 is provided with reinforcing ribs over substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction, so that it is possible to obtain high strength against bending force, and a part of the reinforcing ribs are each Since the guide for the connecting portion in the direction is also used, the number of parts can be greatly reduced.
[0108]
When the fixing plate is fixed to the operation portion, the center of the bending operation knob, which is a fulcrum of force, and both sides sandwiching the contact portion between the stopper portion and the abutting portion in each direction, Since the locking part and the contact part for restricting the twist are provided, it is possible to efficiently suppress the distortion and the twist of the fixed substrate and obtain a high fixing strength, and to directly connect the fixed substrate and the cylindrical base. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced.
[0109]
Furthermore, since the cylindrical base 103 and the fixed substrate 12 are fixed on substantially the same plane as the base portion 20, the range in which the inner diameter of the cylindrical base 103 is blocked for fixing can be reduced. Therefore, the degree of freedom in routing when the built-in object is disposed is increased.
[0110]
Further, since the base portion 20 is engaged with the rotation regulating notch 125, the base portion 20 has high strength against relative twisting and distortion between the fixed substrate 12 and the cylindrical base 103.
[0111]
Furthermore, since the arrangement position in the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate 12 is defined only by the cylindrical portion 130, it is not necessary to consider the tolerance of each component, and the number of components can be reduced. Further, when an excessive load is applied to the longitudinal direction, the flat surface portion 17 and the contact surface portion 18 come into contact with each other, so that a high fixing strength can be obtained.
[0112]
In the adjustment mechanism of the bending angle, the horizontal adjustment member fixing plate 37a dropped in the rectangular groove 24 formed by the base portions 26a and 26b, the first butting portion 123 and the second butting portion 124 and the vertical adjustment By simply fixing the lower right direction bending angle adjusting member 38a and the upper left direction bending angle adjusting member 38b to the member fixing plate 37b, the left and right direction adjusting member fixing plate 37a and the vertical direction adjusting member fixing plate 37b are fixed to the fixed substrate 12 and the like. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly can be easily performed.
[0113]
Further, when a force pulled toward the hand side acts on the left-right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37a and the up-down direction adjustment member fixing plate 37b, the first abutting portion 123, the left-right direction adjustment member fixing plate 37a, and the up-down direction adjustment member A sufficient strength can be obtained because the side surface of the fixing plate 37b is in contact with a surface perpendicular to the direction in which the force acts. Thereby, it is stably fixed without being displaced.
[0114]
In addition, since the bending angle adjustment mechanism in the vertical direction and the bending angle adjustment mechanism in the horizontal direction are arranged in a stacked state, it is possible to reduce the size of the operation unit and to make components common.
[0115]
Furthermore, since the base cover 70 can be attached and detached by moving the base cover 70 along the locking slot 75 and in the vertical direction, it is not necessary to disassemble other parts, which greatly increases the work. Simplified.
[0116]
Further, when adjusting the bending angle in the left-right direction, the adjustment can be performed simply by removing the vertical adjustment member fixing plate 37b to which the base cover 70, the right bending defining groove 28R and the left bending defining groove 28L are fixed. Since there are few parts to be fixed and fixing with screws or the like is unnecessary, workability can be improved.
[0117]
In addition, since the adjustment work can be performed without shifting the fixing positions of the right curved regulation groove 28R and the left curved regulation groove 28L with respect to the vertical direction adjustment member fixing plate 37b, when performing the adjustment work or the fine adjustment only in the horizontal direction, Workability is extremely good.
[0118]
In addition, since the fixing direction of the fixing screw 58 is the side of the fixing substrate 12, the fixing screw 58 in all directions can be exposed to the outside simply by removing the base cover 70, so that the adjustment work is easily performed. be able to.
[0119]
With reference to FIG. 33, another configuration of the connecting portion between the fixed substrate 12 and the cylindrical substrate 103 will be described.
As shown in the figure, fitting grooves 147a and 147b having substantially the same shape as the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical base fixing portions 33a and 33b are formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical base 103 of the present embodiment. When the cylindrical base plate fixing portions 33a and 33b are fitted into the fitting grooves 147a and 147b, the ends of the cylindrical base plate fixing portions 33a and 33b protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical base plate 103. The groove depths of the fitting grooves 147a and 147b and the thickness dimension in the vertical direction of the cylindrical base fixing portions 33a and 33b are set so as not to be. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0120]
In this way, by fixing the cylindrical base fixing part 33a to the fitting groove 147a and the cylindrical base fixing part 33b to the fitting groove 147b, respectively, by screwing in the same manner as in the first embodiment, The strength against relative twisting and distortion between the fixed substrate 12 and the cylindrical substrate 103 can be further improved. Further, since the cylindrical base fixing portion 33 does not protrude in the inner peripheral surface direction of the cylindrical base 103, it is possible to secure a larger inner diameter portion of the cylindrical base 103. Other operations and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0121]
Another structure of the base cover 70 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, on the side of the base cover 70 of this embodiment, the width dimension is narrower than the connection fixing portion 69 at a position facing the fixing screw 58 in each direction disposed inside, but the fixing screw 58 An adjustment slot 148 is provided through which a screwdriver for operating can be inserted.
[0122]
When removing the slack of the bending operation wire 56 by adjusting the fixing position of the fixing screw 58, the fixing screw 58 is loosened through the adjustment long hole 148 with the base cover 70 attached, and then tightened again. Therefore, the position adjustment can be easily performed. As a result, it is possible to remove the slack of the bending operation wire 56 at the connecting and fixing portion 69 without removing the base cover 70, so that workability is improved.
[0123]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0124]
[Appendix]
According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above in detail, the following configuration can be obtained.
[0125]
(1) A bending portion in which a plurality of bending pieces are rotatably connected, a flexible tube connected to the bending portion, and a bending end connected to a proximal end portion of the flexible tube for bending the bending portion. In an endoscope having an operation portion having a fixed substrate on which a bending mechanism is disposed, and a bending operation wire having one end fixed to the distal end of the bending portion and the other end connected to the bending operation mechanism.
A wall-like protruding portion that forms an abutting portion protruding from a fixed substrate on which the bending operation mechanism is disposed, a bending angle adjusting member for adjusting the bending angle of the bending portion, and the bending angle adjusting member An adjustment member fixing plate that is fixed and contacts the wall-shaped convex portion at least at the time of maximum bending,
An endoscope provided so that the fixing position of the bending angle adjusting member with respect to the adjusting member fixing plate can be adjusted.
[0126]
(2) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the wall-shaped projecting portion is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the fixed substrate.
[0127]
(3) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the wall-shaped protruding portion is substantially orthogonal to the pulling direction of the bending operation wire.
[0128]
(4) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the adjustment member fixing plate is disposed so as to contact the wall-shaped protruding portion.
[0129]
(5) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein at least two bending angle adjustment members are fixed to the adjustment member fixing plate.
[0130]
(6) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein at least two adjustment member fixing plates are provided.
[0131]
(7) The endoscope according to appendix 6, wherein the adjustment member fixing plate is disposed in a state where the adjustment member fixing plates are stacked in a vertical direction.
[0132]
(8) The endoscope according to appendix 6, wherein the adjustment member fixing plate is disposed side by side.
[0133]
(9) The endoscope according to appendix 7, wherein a bending angle adjusting member is fixed to the upper side of the adjusting member fixing plate.
[0134]
(10) The endoscope according to appendix 8, wherein a bending angle adjusting member is fixed to a side surface of the adjusting member fixing plate.
[0135]
(11) The endoscope according to appendix 7, wherein the adjusting member fixing plate disposed at least on the upper side is detachable without changing the fixing position of the bending angle adjusting member.
[0136]
(12) Consists of a wall surface provided between the bending angle adjusting member and the abutting portion, and a penetrating portion that penetrates the wall surface,
In a state in which a part of the bending angle adjusting member protrudes from this penetrating part,
The curving angle is regulated by abutting the curving angle adjusting member and the abutting portion, and at least the upper portion of the penetrating portion from which the curving angle adjusting member arranged on the upper side protrudes is cut out. The endoscope according to appendix 11.
[0137]
(13) The endoscope according to appendix 7 or appendix 8, in which at least two bending angle adjusting members are formed in the same shape.
This reduces the types of parts.
[0138]
(14) An operation in which a bending portion, a flexible tube connected to the bending portion, and a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending portion on a plate-like fixed substrate connected to the flexible tube are arranged. A bending operation wire having one end fixed to the distal end of the bending portion and the other end connected to the bending operation mechanism, and the bending operation wire or the bending operation mechanism has a maximum bending angle of the bending portion. An endoscope in which a rib is provided substantially parallel to a pulling direction of a bending operation wire over substantially the entire length of a fixed substrate in an endoscope that regulates by applying a butting portion to a bending angle adjusting member.
[0139]
(15) The endoscope according to appendix 14, wherein the fixed substrate is formed by injection molding.
[0140]
(16) The endoscope according to appendix 14, wherein the fixed substrate is formed by die casting of aluminum by injection molding.
[0141]
(17) The endoscope according to appendix 14, wherein the fixed substrate is formed by injection molding a hard resin.
[0142]
(18) The endoscope according to appendix 14, wherein the fixed substrate is formed by injection molding a material obtained by adding a binder to a metal powder, and removing and sintering the binder.
[0143]
(19) The endoscope according to appendix 1 or appendix 14, wherein the wall-shaped projecting portion is formed integrally with a fixed substrate.
[0144]
(20) The endoscope according to appendix 12 or appendix 14, wherein the wall surface is formed integrally with a fixed substrate.
[0145]
(21) A pair of ribs substantially parallel to the axial direction of the bending operation wire is provided, and the ribs are formed continuously with the wall-shaped projecting portion, and the wall shape is substantially parallel to the wall-shaped projecting portion. The endoscope according to appendix 1 or appendix 14, wherein a member has a rectangular groove formed in the vicinity of the end portion side end of the rib and the width of the adjustment member fixing plate is substantially the same.
[0146]
(22) The endoscope according to appendix 21, wherein the rib has a guide function for regulating a moving direction by a bending operation of the abutting portion.
[0147]
(23) The guide function projects a parallel portion parallel to the plane of the fixed substrate at a substantially center in the height direction of the rib, and a space formed by the plane of the fixed substrate, the rib and the parallel portion, and the rib The endoscope according to appendix 22, wherein a bending operation wire having a butting portion and a connecting portion of the bending operation mechanism are arranged in a space formed by the parallel portion and the outer periphery thereof is covered with a cover member.
[0148]
(24) The exterior of the operation unit is configured by an operation unit casing disposed on the hand side and a gripping unit casing disposed on the insertion unit side,
The cover member is fixed or locked so that a part of the cover member is disposed in the operation portion casing, and the cover member is moved to the insertion portion side, whereby the fixing or locking is released, and the fixing or locking is performed. The endoscope according to appendix 23, wherein in the released state, the cover member is disposed at a position not covered by the operation portion casing.
By the additional notes 19 to 24, the number of parts of the operation unit and the assembly work are reduced.
[0149]
(25) An operation in which a bending portion, a flexible tube connected to the bending portion, and a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending portion on a plate-like fixed substrate connected to the flexible tube are arranged. And a bending operation wire having one end fixed to the distal end of the bending portion and the other end connected to the bending operation mechanism.
Arranging at least two bending operation mechanisms stacked in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the fixed substrate;
The insertion portion side connecting member provided at the operation portion side end of the bending operation wire and the operation portion side connecting member provided on the bending operation mechanism side are fixed by a fixing screw, and the fixing position thereof is relative to the pulling direction of the bending operation wire. An endoscope in which an adjustment portion of a fixing screw to be adjusted is provided in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the fixed substrate and perpendicular to the pulling direction of the bending operation wire.
As a result, the adjustment portions of the fixing screws in all directions are arranged on the sides, so that the slack of the bending operation wire can be easily removed, and the slack of the bending operation wire in each direction can be removed independently.
[0150]
(26) An operation in which a bending portion, a flexible tube connected to the bending portion, and a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending portion on a plate-like fixed substrate connected to the flexible tube are arranged. Part and
The internal structure of the operation unit includes a fixed substrate to which a bending operation mechanism disposed on the hand side in the operation unit is fixed, and a cylindrical shape that connects the fixed substrate disposed on the insertion unit side of the fixed substrate and the insertion unit. In an endoscope configured with a base,
An endoscope that provides a flat portion substantially perpendicular to the flat surface at the insertion portion side end of the fixed substrate, and fixes the cylindrical base to the flat portion.
[0151]
(27) The endoscope according to appendix 26, wherein a fixed position between the fixed substrate and the cylindrical base is provided on substantially the same plane as the plane of the fixed substrate.
This increases the space in the operation unit.
[0152]
(28) A notch that can be engaged with a fixed substrate is provided on the peripheral side end of the cylindrical base on the circumference, and the fixed substrate is engaged with the notch and fixed integrally. The endoscope according to 1.
[0153]
As a result, the operation portion has a high strength against the overall twist and distortion of the fixed substrate and the cylindrical base.
[0154]
(29) a bending portion, a flexible tube provided continuously to the bending portion, an operation portion provided continuously to the flexible tube, an operation portion casing forming an outer shape of the operation portion, and an operation portion A gripping part casing that forms an outer shape of the insertion part side, a fixed board disposed on the proximal side in both casings, a bending operation mechanism that is provided on the fixed board and is used for bending the bending part, In an endoscope having a bending operation knob disposed outside an operation casing, and a bending shaft that connects the bending operation mechanism and the bending operation knob.
An endoscope provided with means for restricting the distortion of the fixed substrate on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate across the curved axis.
[0155]
(30) A first locking portion for restricting the vertical movement of the fixed substrate and a position at which the proximal end of the operation unit casing corresponds to the fixed substrate, and a curved shaft is disposed on the insertion portion side. 29. A supplementary note 29, wherein a second locking portion for restricting the vertical movement of the fixed substrate is provided at at least one of the positions corresponding to the side portions of the insertion portion side of the operation portion casing and the fixed substrate. Endoscope.
[0156]
(31) The endoscope according to appendix 29, wherein at least one of the air / water supply cylinder or the suction cylinder is brought into contact with a fixed substrate in the endoscope in which the air / water supply cylinder and the suction cylinder are fixed to the operation unit casing.
[0157]
(32) A bending portion, a flexible tube connected to the bending portion, and a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending portion on the fixed substrate connected to the flexible tube are arranged, and the fixed substrate and the movable substrate are arranged. An operation portion provided with a cylindrical base for connecting the flexible tube, a bending operation wire having one end fixed to the distal end of the bending portion and the other end connected to the bending operation mechanism, and having a maximum bending angle of the bending portion. In the endoscope that regulates by abutting the abutting portion provided on the bending operation wire or the bending operation mechanism against the bending angle adjustment member,
An endoscope provided with means for restricting torsion of the fixed substrate on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the fixed substrate across the contact position between the abutting portion and the bending angle adjusting member.
[0158]
(33) At least the notch portion and the first locking portion are provided, and the butting portion and the bending angle adjusting member are abutted between the notch portion and the first locking portion. The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 28, Supplementary Note 30, or Supplementary Note 32 provided with a position. According to appendix 29 to appendix 33, the fixed substrate is distorted on both sides with respect to the point where the force acts, so that the fixed substrate can be efficiently fixed to the operation portion and has high strength. Is obtained
(34) A bending portion, a flexible tube connected to the bending portion, a bending portion connected to the flexible tube, an operation portion casing forming an outer shape of the operation portion, and the operation portion A gripping part casing that forms the outer shape of the insertion part side, a fixed substrate disposed on the proximal side in the two casings, a bending operation mechanism provided on the fixed substrate for bending the bending part, In an endoscope having an operation knob arranged outside the operation casing, and a bending shaft that connects the bending operation mechanism and the operation knob.
An endoscope in which a part of a bending operation mechanism is fitted in an opening for inserting an operation knob of the operation unit casing, and means for restricting a movement only in a vertical direction with respect to a plane of the fixed substrate is provided.
This makes it easy to ensure watertightness and an endoscope with a small number of parts.
[0159]
(35) The endoscope according to appendix 34, wherein a liquid-tight holding member made of an elastic member is disposed in an opening for inserting the operation knob of the operation portion casing and a fitting portion of the bending operation mechanism.
This further facilitates securing watertightness.
[0160]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope including an operation unit that has a small number of parts, can be easily assembled and adjusted in a bending angle, and reliably restricts bending more than the maximum bending angle. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 to FIG. 32 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the internal structure of the operation unit.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a first locking portion provided on the base end side of the operation portion casing.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a second locking portion provided on the distal end side of the operation portion casing.
FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a fixed substrate.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a side view of a fixed substrate.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.
10 is a sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG.
11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.
12 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.
13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG.
14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory view seen from a side surface showing a connection state of the chain member and the insertion portion side connecting member via the chain side connecting member.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the top of FIG.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram when viewed from the bottom side of the base cover.
FIG. 18 is a side view of the base cover.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the insertion guide side of the proximal guide coil.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the position of the insertion portion side guide coil in each direction arranged in the flexible tube.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an internal structure on the insertion portion side of a portion covered with the gripping portion casing.
FIG. 22 is a side view of a fixing portion between a fixing substrate and a cylindrical base.
23 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH in FIG. 21.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a fixing state of the fixing screw viewed from the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical base.
25 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line KK in FIG.
FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship of the fixed substrate in the operation unit casing.
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the locking convex portion and the first locking portion.
FIG. 28 is a diagram when the positional relationship between the locking convex portion and the first locking portion in FIG. 27 is viewed from another angle (fixed substrate direction).
FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the base portion and the second locking portion.
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a locked state between the base portion and the second locking portion.
FIG. 31 is a diagram when the locking state of the locking convex portion and the first locking portion is viewed from the direction shown in FIG.
32 is a view when the locking state of the locking convex portion and the first locking portion in FIG. 31 is viewed from the direction shown in FIG. 27.
FIG. 33 is an explanatory view showing another configuration of the connection portion between the fixed substrate and the cylindrical base.
FIG. 34 is an explanatory view showing another configuration of the base cover.
[Explanation of symbols]
12 ... Fixed substrate
21 ... 2nd rib
26 ... Fundamental part
123 ... 1st butting part

Claims (1)

湾曲部と、該湾曲部に連設する可撓管と、該可撓管に連設され固定基板に前記湾曲部を湾曲操作するための湾曲操作機構を配設した操作部と、一端が湾曲部の先端に固定され他端が湾曲操作機構に連結された湾曲操作ワイヤとを有する内視鏡において、
前記湾曲操作機構に連結された、突き当て部を備えた連結部材と、
前記操作部の操作により移動されることによって前記連結部材の前記突き当て部に当接するように形成されたストッパ部を有し、該ストッパ部と前記突き当て部とが当接することにより前記連結部材に接続固定された前記湾曲操作ワイヤの移動範囲を規制して、前記湾曲部の湾曲角度を設定する湾曲角度調整部材と、
前記固定基板に対して移動することを規制して配設される調整部材固定板と、
前記調整部材固定板に対して前記湾曲角度調整部材を一体的に固定し、且つ、前記調整部材固定板に対する前記湾曲角度調整部材の固定位置を調整可能にする調整機構と、
を具備することを特徴とする内視鏡。A curved portion, a flexible tube to continuously provided to the bending portion, an operation portion which is disposed a bending operation mechanism for bending operation the bending portion on the fixed substrate is provided continuously to the flexible tube, one end In an endoscope having a bending operation wire fixed to the distal end of the bending portion and connected to the bending operation mechanism at the other end,
A connecting member that is connected to the bending operation mechanism and that has a butting portion;
It has a stopper part formed so that it may contact by abutting part of the connecting member by being moved by operation of the operation part, and when the stopper part and the abutting part contact, the connecting member connected fixed said restricts the movement range of the bending operation wire, and the bay songs angle adjusting member to set the bending angle of the bending portion,
An adjustment member fixing plate disposed to restrict movement relative to the fixed substrate ;
An adjustment mechanism that integrally fixes the bending angle adjustment member to the adjustment member fixing plate , and that allows adjustment of a fixing position of the bending angle adjustment member with respect to the adjustment member fixing plate ;
An endoscope comprising:
JP04441297A 1997-02-27 1997-02-27 Endoscope Expired - Fee Related JP3831049B2 (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP04441297A JP3831049B2 (en) 1997-02-27 1997-02-27 Endoscope

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JP3831049B2 true JP3831049B2 (en) 2006-10-11

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4267017B2 (en) 2006-10-05 2009-05-27 オリンパスメディカルシステムズ株式会社 Endoscope
JP5308716B2 (en) 2008-05-21 2013-10-09 オリンパスメディカルシステムズ株式会社 Electronic endoscope device
JP2013150700A (en) * 2012-01-25 2013-08-08 Fujifilm Corp Endoscope
JP5309279B1 (en) * 2012-02-22 2013-10-09 オリンパスメディカルシステムズ株式会社 Endoscope
EP3114981A4 (en) * 2014-03-04 2018-03-28 Olympus Corporation Insertion instrument

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