JP3845171B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope having a built-in flexible tube for passing fluid, treatment instruments, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As flexible tubes built into an endoscope such as an air / water tube for passing air or water and a forceps channel for passing treatment tools, FEP (perfluoro (tetrafluoro) ethylene and hexafluoro) are generally used. A fluororesin tube such as a copolymer of propylene), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene) or the like is used.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In general, not only fluororesin tubes but also tubes made of synthetic resin, the heat-formed tube is cooled and stretched slightly due to its own weight or pulling for winding. Is fixed.
[0004]
Therefore, if the endoscope is placed in an autoclave (high pressure steam sterilization) device and sterilized after use, and heated to about 120 to 135 ° C., the tube built in the endoscope shrinks by the elongation during manufacture. An excessive force may be applied between the ends of the tube to cause a failure.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which a built-in tube does not shrink even when sterilization by an autoclave is performed, and sufficient sterilization processing can be repeated.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention is an endoscope in which a fluororesin tube is used as a flexible tube built in for passing a fluid, treatment instruments, or the like. Further, it is characterized in that it is annealed before being incorporated into an endoscope.
[0007]
The annealing treatment may be performed by placing the tube in an atmosphere of 130 to 150 ° C. for a predetermined time in a state where no tensile force is applied, or the predetermined time may be 30 minutes to 2 hours.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an endoscope. In an insertion portion 2 connected to an operation portion 1, an air supply tube 3 for passing air, a water supply tube 4 for passing water, and a treatment instrument are passed. The forceps channel tube 5 and the water supply tube 6 for jetting through which jet water passes are inserted and arranged.
[0009]
The distal end portions of the tubes 3, 4, 5 and 6 are connected and fixed to the distal end portion 2 a of the insertion portion 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes an air / water supply nozzle connected to the outlets of the air supply tube 3 and the water supply tube 4.
[0010]
The proximal end portions of the air supply tube 3 and the water supply tube 4 are connected and fixed to an air supply / water supply operation valve 11 provided in the operation portion 1, and the proximal end portion of the forceps channel tube 5 is connected to the operation portion 1 and the insertion portion 2. It is connected and fixed to the forceps insertion port 13 projecting in the vicinity of the connecting portion.
[0011]
The proximal end of the spray water supply tube 6 is connected and fixed to the spray water inlet 14 provided in the head of the operation unit 1, and the proximal end of the suction operation valve 12 and the forceps channel tube 5 provided in the operation unit 1. The connection tube 8 communicates with the vicinity of the portion. As a result, the forceps channel tube 5 is also used as a suction line.
[0012]
A connector portion 17 connected to a video processor (not shown) is attached to the distal end of the flexible connecting tube 16 attached to the operation portion 1, and a side surface of the connector portion 17 is connected to an external device. The air / water supply base 18 and the suction base 19 are provided in a protruding manner.
[0013]
Then, both ends of the air supply tube 21 and the water supply tube 22 inserted and arranged in the flexible connecting pipe 16 are connected to the air / water supply base 18 of the connector portion 17 and the air / water supply operation valve 11 of the operation portion 1. Both ends of the suction tube 23 are fixedly connected to the suction base 19 of the connector portion 17 and the suction operation valve 12 of the operation portion 1.
[0014]
Thus, the tubes 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 21, 22, and 23 incorporated in the endoscope are all FEP (copolymer of perfluoro (tetrafluoro) ethylene and hexafluoropropylene), PTFE ( It is a flexible tube made of a fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene) or PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene), and has a heat resistance of 150 ° C. or higher.
[0015]
These tubes 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 21, 22, and 23 are subjected to annealing treatment (annealing heat treatment) in a state where no tensile force is applied before being incorporated into the endoscope. .
[0016]
By applying the annealing treatment, the tubes 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 21, 22, and 23 are contracted by the elongation generated at the time of manufacture. In this case, no shrinkage occurs regardless of how many times it is heated.
[0017]
In the annealing treatment, the tubes 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 21, 22, and 23 are in a range of 130 to 150 ° C (more preferably 135 to 145, for example, higher than the temperature during autoclaving and lower than the heat resistance limit of the tube. A sufficient effect can be obtained by placing it in an atmosphere at (° C.) for 30 minutes or longer (practically 2 hours or more is wasteful, preferably about 1 hour).
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the fluororesin tube incorporated in the endoscope is annealed before being incorporated into the endoscope, so that the tube is contracted by the elongation generated during manufacture. After that, the tube does not shrink regardless of how many times it is heated by autoclave sterilization or the like. Therefore, sufficient sterilization by an autoclave can be repeatedly performed on the endoscope.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall piping diagram of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Air supply tube 4 Water supply tube 5 Forceps channel tube 6 Water supply tube for jet 8 Connection tube 21 Air supply tube 22 Water supply tube 23 Suction tube

Claims (1)

In an endoscope in which a fluororesin tube is used as a flexible tube built in to let fluid or treatment tools pass,
Wherein said tube, before write Murrell set to the endoscope, and is annealed in a state where the tensile force is not applied in the range of 135 to 145 ° C. until shrinks elongation amount that occurred when the tube is manufactured Endoscope.

Images