JP4390474B2 - Endoscope curvature - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bending portion of an endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The curved part of an endoscope is generally composed of a plurality of node rings formed in the shape of a short cylinder arranged on the same axis so that adjacent node rings are partially overlapped with each other, and the overlapped part is rotatably connected with a rivet. And it is connected with the front-end | tip part of an insertion part flexible tube so that it can be bent by remote operation (for example, patent document 1).
[0003]
A so-called built-in object such as a signal cable or optical fiber is inserted through the bending portion of the endoscope into the insertion portion flexible tube, and when the bending portion is bent, the curve of the bending portion is changed. The built-in object arranged on the outer peripheral side is drawn into the bending part from the insertion part flexible tube, and the built-in object arranged on the inner peripheral side is pushed out from the bending part into the insertion part flexible tube.
[0004]
Therefore, if the built-in object does not move in the axial direction in the vicinity of the connecting part between the bending part and the insertion tube flexible tube, the built-in object is damaged as the bending operation is repeated, and the life of the endoscope is shortened. It may shrink significantly.
[0005]
Therefore, in general, when the bending portion is bent by forming the inner diameter dimension of the bending portion bent with a much smaller radius of curvature than the insertion portion flexible tube slightly larger than the inner diameter size of the insertion portion flexible tube. The built-in objects are easy to move in the axial direction.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-142033 [0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the bending portion of the endoscope configured as described above, the head of the rivet that connects adjacent node rings protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the node ring that constitutes the bending portion. Even if the node ring is formed to have a sufficient inner diameter with respect to the built-in object, the built-in object may be caught by the head of the rivet and damaged.
[0008]
Such a phenomenon is likely to occur particularly near the rear end of the curved portion near the connecting portion with the insertion portion flexible tube, and such a problem can be solved if the diameter of the curved portion is significantly increased. There is, however, greater pain for patients undergoing endoscopy.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention suppresses a phenomenon in which a built-in object is caught and damaged by a rivet connecting a node ring without increasing the bending portion and therefore without increasing the pain given to a patient undergoing endoscopy. An object of the present invention is to provide a bending portion of an endoscope that can be used.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the bending portion of the endoscope of the present invention includes a plurality of node rings formed in a short cylindrical shape arranged on the same axis, and the adjacent node rings are partially overlapped to overlap each other. Nodes connected by rivets at the bending portion of the endoscope connected to the distal end portion of the flexible tube so that the mating portions can be pivotally connected by rivets and bent by remote operation. Of the overlapping portions of the ring, one or a plurality of overlapping portions on the side adjacent to the distal end of the insertion portion flexible tube is displaced outward as compared with the other overlapping portions.
[0011]
In addition, the short cylindrical part of each node ring is formed in the same diameter, and in the overlapping part other than the overlapping part of the one place or the plurality of places, the overlapping part of one overlapping node ring Is the same surface as the short cylindrical part, and the overlapping part of the other node ring is recessed inward with respect to the short cylindrical part. The overlapped portion of one node ring may be flush with the short cylindrical portion, and the overlapped portion of the other node ring may protrude outward from the short cylindrical portion.
[0012]
In addition, a connection tube for connecting the node ring at the end of the bending portion and the tip of the insertion portion flexible tube is fixedly fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the node ring at the end, and the connection tube includes A notch may be formed to avoid interference between the end node ring and the overlapping portion of the adjacent node ring.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the endoscope. A distal end body 2 incorporating an objective optical system and the like is coupled to the distal end of a bending portion 10 coupled to the distal end of the insertion section flexible tube 1. Yes.
[0014]
A bending operation lever 4 for bending the bending portion 10 by remote operation is disposed on the operation portion 3 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the bending operation lever 4 is rotated. As a result, the operation wire not shown in FIG. 5 is pulled, and the bending portion 10 can be bent at an arbitrary angle in the vertical direction.
[0015]
1 is an enlarged front sectional view showing the vicinity of the connecting portion between the insertion portion flexible tube 1 and the bending portion 10, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of that portion, and FIG. It is III sectional drawing.
[0016]
The insertion portion flexible tube 1 covers a mesh tube formed by braiding a stainless steel fine wire on the outer surface of a spiral tube formed by spirally winding a stainless steel strip with a constant diameter, for example. The outer surface is covered with a skin.
[0017]
The frame portion of the bending portion 10 includes a plurality of (for example, about 10 to 20) node rings 11, 12, 13,... Formed in a short cylinder shape on the same axis, and adjacent node rings 11, 12, 13,. Each of the nodes 11, 12, 13... Is formed of a stainless steel pipe material having the same diameter. .
[0018]
The overlapping portions of the node rings 11, 12, 13... Are short cylinders as shown in FIG. 4 which is shown by separating the three node rings 11, 12, 13 on the rear end side of the bending portion 10. Tongue pieces 11a, 12b, 12a, 13b, 13a,... Projecting in a direction parallel to the axis at positions 180.degree.
[0019]
Therefore, only one pair of tongue pieces 11a is formed on the node ring 11 at the end of the bending portion 10 adjacent to the distal end of the insertion tube 1 and the other node rings 12, 13,. A pair of tongue pieces 12b, 12a, 13b, 13a... Are formed at both ends.
[0020]
And in the node rings 12, 13 ... other than the node ring 11 at the rearmost end, the rear tongue pieces 12b, 13b ... are flush with the short cylindrical portion of each node ring 12, 13 ... (i.e., material pipe material). The front tongue pieces 12a, 13a,... Are recessed inward with respect to the short cylindrical portion, and the tongue pieces 12a of the adjacent node rings 12, 13,. 13b, 13a are overlapped and connected by a rivet 14.
[0021]
Therefore, in the portion where the tongue pieces 12a, 13b, 13a,... Of the node rings 12, 13... Other than the node ring 11 at the rearmost end are overlapped, the one tongue piece 12a, 13a is recessed inward one step from the short cylindrical portion. The head of the rivet 14 protrudes further inward from there.
[0022]
On the other hand, the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end is formed to protrude outwardly with respect to the short cylindrical portion, and the tongue piece 11a is formed on the adjacent node ring 12 on the same surface as the short cylindrical portion. It overlaps with the tongue piece 12 b and is connected by a rivet 14.
[0023]
Therefore, in the portion where the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end and the tongue piece 12b of the node ring 12 adjacent thereto are overlapped, the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end is shifted one step further from the short cylindrical portion. The head of the rivet 14 protrudes inward from the tongue 12b on the same surface as the short cylindrical portion.
[0024]
In this way, the portion where the tongue piece 11a of the node ring 11 at the rearmost end and the tongue piece 12b of the node ring 12 adjacent thereto are overlapped is the tongue of the node rings 12, 13,. The pieces 12a, 13b, 13a... Are deviated outward as compared with the overlapping portions of the pieces, and the protruding amount of the head of the rivet 14 into the bending portion 10 is small by that amount.
[0025]
However, only the tongue piece 11a protrudes outward, and the diameter of the short cylindrical portion of the node ring 11 at the end is the same as that of the other node rings 12, 13,. Is not substantially fat at all and therefore does not increase the pain given to patients undergoing endoscopy.
[0026]
The outer surface of each node ring 11, 12, 13... Thus configured is covered with a mesh tube 15 formed by braiding a stainless steel fine wire, for example, and the outer surface is made of a rubber tube having elasticity. The outer skin 16 is covered.
[0027]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a connecting cylinder that connects the rearmost node ring 11 and the insertion portion flexible tube 1 and is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the rearmost node ring 11 to be soldered to the rearmost node ring 11. It is fixed.
[0028]
If the connecting cylinder 5 is simply fitted on the node ring 11 at the rearmost end, it will interfere with the tongue piece 11a protruding outward from the short cylindrical portion, so that it is notched to avoid interference with the tongue piece 11a. 5a is formed.
[0029]
The operation wire 17 having the distal end connected to the distal end portion of the bending portion 10 is loosely inserted into the guide coil 6 in the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the operation wire 17 is pulled from the operation portion 3 side. Each of the node rings 11, 12, 13... Tilts at the connecting portion by the rivet 14, and the bending portion 10 bends by an angle corresponding to the pulling amount of the operation wire 17.
[0030]
Reference numeral 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a so-called built-in object such as a signal cable, an optical fiber, a tube, or the like inserted through the bending portion 10 to the insertion portion flexible tube 1. When the bending operation is performed, the built-in object 20 arranged on the outer peripheral side of the curve of the bending part 10 is drawn into the bending part 10 from the insertion portion flexible tube 1, and the built-in object 20 arranged on the inner peripheral side is On the contrary, it is pushed out from the bending portion 10 into the insertion portion flexible tube 1.
[0031]
At this time, in the bending portion of the endoscope of the present embodiment, the amount of protrusion of the rivet 14 at the rear end of the bending portion 10 that is most easily damaged by the built-in object 20 is caught is small. Therefore, even if the bending portion 10 is repeatedly bent, damage to the built-in object 20 is greatly suppressed.
[0032]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, in the said Example, only the last end part is connected among the parts 11a, 12b, 12a, 13b, 13a which overlapped with the rivet 14. Is displaced outward compared to other parts, but a plurality of overlapped parts may be displaced outwardly compared to other overlapped parts from the rear end side. .
[0033]
Moreover, although the bending part 10 of the said Example is what is called a two-way bending part bent only to an up-down direction, this invention can also be applied to the four-way bending part bent to an up-down and left-right direction.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, one or a plurality of overlapping portions on the side adjacent to the distal end of the insertion portion flexible tube among the overlapping portions of the node rings connected by rivets are compared with other overlapping portions. As a result, the internal parts are caught on the rivets that connect the node rings without thickening the curved portion and thus increasing the pain on the patient undergoing endoscopy. This can greatly suppress the phenomenon of breakage and contribute to improving the durability of the endoscope.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a vicinity of a connecting portion between an insertion portion flexible tube and a bending portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of a connecting portion between an insertion portion flexible tube and a bending portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1 of the bending portion of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the three node rings on the rear end side of the curved portion according to the embodiment of the present invention in a separated state.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part flexible tube 10 Bending part 11 Nodal ring 11a of the last end The tongue piece protruded outward (the overlapping part of the nodal ring)
12, 13 Node ring 12a, 13a Tongue piece recessed inward (overlapping portion of the node ring)
12b, 13b A tongue piece on the same surface as the short cylindrical part (overlapping part of the node ring)
14 Rivet 20 Built-in

Claims (2)

A plurality of joint rings formed in a short cylindrical shape is arranged on the same axis line, are each other node adjacent wheels partially overlapped, the overlapping portion is rotatably connected by rivets, by remote control In the bending portion of the endoscope connected to the distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube so that it can be bent,
The insertion portion one place or overlapping portions of a plurality of locations on the side adjacent to the distal end of the flexible tube of the partial superposition of the node ring that is connected by the rivet, outboard compared to other overlapped portion Is deviated to
The short cylindrical portion of each node ring is formed in the same diameter,
In the overlapping portion other than the overlapping portion in one or more places, the overlapping portion of one of the node rings that is overlapped is the same surface as the short cylindrical portion, and the overlapping of the other node ring The part is recessed inward with respect to the short cylindrical part,
In the one or a plurality of overlapping portions, the overlapping portion of one node ring that is overlapped is the same surface as the short cylindrical portion, and the overlapping portion of the other node ring is a short cylindrical portion. The bending portion of the endoscope characterized by protruding outward . A connection tube for connecting the node ring at the rearmost end of the curved portion and the distal end of the flexible tube of the insertion portion is fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the node ring at the rearmost end. curved portion of the end edge node ring and claim 1 Symbol placement of the endoscope cutout for avoiding interference is formed between the overlapped portion of the node ring adjacent thereto.

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