JP4441067B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly, to a check valve structure provided at an inlet portion of a pipeline.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
In the endoscope, for the purpose of air supply, water supply, treatment instrument insertion, and the like, there are provided various pipelines that connect an outlet portion that opens at the distal end of the body insertion portion and an inlet portion that opens at the operation portion. When the endoscope is in use, the body cavity pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure, and therefore, the inlet portion of these conduits generally allows fluid flow from the inlet portion side of the conduit to the outlet portion, and the inlet portion enters the inlet portion. A check valve made of an elastic material is provided to prevent the backflow of the fluid flow to the part side.
[0003]
As one form of the check valve structure, there is known a structure in which an inlet container is provided at a pipe inlet and a check valve body is supported by a check valve adapter that is detachable from the inlet container. Conventionally, this check valve body has been formed in an umbrella shape in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inlet container. An umbrella-shaped check valve body, when fluid pressure is applied from the inlet to the outlet, allows the fluid flow by easily reducing its outer diameter, while the fluid in the opposite direction is used. If an attempt is made to widen the diameter when a flow pressure is applied, the inner peripheral surface of the inlet container prevents the diameter expansion, resulting in a check valve action.
[0004]
However, in this conventional check valve structure, for example, when a fluid pressure due to a large backflow momentarily acts, the umbrella-shaped check valve body is reversed, and the check valve action may not be obtained. It turned out to be. When the check valve action is impaired, the distal end of the body insertion portion opens into the body cavity, so that the filth in the body cavity flows backward and scatters around the operation portion, thereby contaminating the operator.
[0005]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to obtain an endoscope in which the check valve action of a check valve provided at the inlet of a conduit is not easily impaired based on the above problem awareness.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a conduit that connects an outlet portion that opens at the distal end of the body insertion portion and an inlet portion that opens to the operation portion; an inlet container provided at the inlet portion of the conduit; and the inlet container. An endoscope having a check valve adapter having a check valve that allows a fluid flow from the inlet portion to the outlet portion side and prevents a reverse flow of the fluid flow from the outlet portion to the inlet portion side; A large diameter portion and a small diameter portion are formed in order from the inlet side, and an annular taper bottom portion is formed between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion, and the inner diameter gradually decreases from the large diameter portion side to the small diameter portion side. In order from the inlet side of the inlet container to the check valve adapter attached to the inlet container, a liquid-tight fitting cylindrical portion that is liquid-tightly fitted to the large-diameter portion of the inlet container, and the liquid-tight fitting A liquid outflow part that forms a space between the large diameter part and a smaller diameter than the fitting cylindrical part and a check valve holding part are formed. Both are provided with a liquid flow path that communicates from the liquid tight fitting cylindrical part to the outer surface of the liquid outflow part, and the check valve holding part is in contact with the annular tapered bottom part of the inlet container and is concentric with the annular tapered bottom part. A check valve body made of an elastic material having an annular leg is held.
[0007]
According to this check valve structure, the annular leg provided on the check valve body contacts the bottom of the annular taper, so that the annular leg easily becomes inward with the pressure of the fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. On the other hand, while allowing the fluid flow by elastic deformation, the pressure of the fluid flow from the outlet portion to the inlet portion side prevents the reverse flow because the annular tapered bottom portion suppresses the deformation well. The size of the taper at the bottom of the annular taper is determined so that the check valve action can be obtained in consideration of the elasticity of the check valve body.
[0008]
Specifically, the check valve body has, for example, a shape having a disc portion held by the check valve holding portion of the check valve adapter and the annular leg portion extending from the disc portion toward the annular tapered bottom portion. can do. Further, the check valve body has an annular leg portion having a cylindrical shape with an inner peripheral surface and a conical surface whose diameter increases as the outer peripheral surface moves away from the bottom of the annular taper. Both action and easy cleaning can be obtained.
[0009]
The check valve adapter can be formed with an annular recess that removably supports an auxiliary water injection adapter for injecting liquid into the pipe line on the inner peripheral portion of the liquid tight fitting cylindrical portion. On the other hand, the auxiliary water injection adapter is provided with a snap ring fitted to the insertion portion into the liquid tight fitting cylindrical portion while restricting the axial movement. This snap ring can be expanded and contracted and has an urging force in the diameter expansion direction, can be fitted into the annular recess of the liquid tight fitting portion in the reduced diameter state, and can be expanded in the outer annular recess to Stop it.
[0010]
It is practical that the inlet container at the inlet of the conduit is detachable from the inlet.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 7 shows an endoscope 10 provided with a conduit having a check valve that is a subject of the present invention. The endoscope 10 includes a flexible in-vivo insertion portion 11 and an operation portion 12 connected to the base thereof, and an objective lens 13, a light distribution lens 14, an air / water supply nozzle are provided at the distal end portion of the in-vivo insertion portion 11. 15, a treatment instrument insertion channel outlet 16 and the like are arranged. The image in the body cavity by the objective lens 13 is observed by the optical fiber and the eyepiece 17 from the in-vivo insertion section 11 to the operation section 12, and the light distribution lens 14 is similarly in the operation section 12 and the illumination path 18 from the in-body insertion section 11. Illumination light is given through the illumination fiber leading to and the illumination device connected to the tip of the illumination fiber. The distal end portion of the body insertion portion 11 is bent by a bending operation portion 19 provided in the operation portion 12. The operation unit 12 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion channel inlet 20 leading to the treatment instrument insertion channel outlet 16. Such an endoscope is well known, and an electronic endoscope using a CCD instead of the optical fiber and the eyepiece 17 is also well known.
[0012]
In the endoscope 10 described above, a sub-water supply inlet (inlet part) 21 is provided in the operation part 12 as a pipe line having a check valve which is a target of the present embodiment. A sub-water supply outlet hole (exit portion) 22 (FIG. 8) communicating with the sub-water supply inlet 21 is provided. FIGS. 1 to 3 are enlarged sectional views of the sub-water supply inlet 21. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the check valve adapter 30 and the sub-water injection adapter 40 are mounted, and FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state where the check valve adapter 30 is further removed.
[0013]
The operation portion 12 is provided with a sub-water supply inlet projection 23 communicating with the inside, and a metal pipe connection member 24 that is prevented from rotating in a non-circular cross section is located in the sub-water supply inlet projection 23. A metal pipe 25 is fixed to the metal pipe connecting member 24, and a soft tube that communicates with the auxiliary water supply outlet hole 22 is connected to the tip of the metal pipe 25. The metal pipe 25 and the soft tube are pipes that connect the auxiliary water supply inlet (inlet part) 21 of the operation unit 12 and the auxiliary water supply outlet hole (exit part) 22 at the tip of the body insertion part 11.
[0014]
An inlet container (sub-water supply cylinder) 26 is screwed and fixed to the upper end portion of the metal pipe connecting member 24 in the figure, and the inlet container 26 is interposed between the inlet container 26 and the auxiliary water-supply inlet protrusion 23. A retainer ring 27 is fixedly engaged with the auxiliary water supply inlet projection 23. Reference numeral 28 denotes a sealing O-ring.
[0015]
The inlet container 26 has a large-diameter portion 26a and a small-diameter portion 26b (24 connecting portions) in order from the inlet portion side of the injection port 21, and between the large-diameter portion 26a and the small-diameter portion 26b, An annular tapered bottom portion 26c is formed to gradually reduce the inner diameter from the large diameter portion 26a side to the small diameter portion 26b side.
[0016]
The check valve adapter 30 is inserted into the inlet container 26 and is screwed and fixed to the retainer ring 27. The check valve adapter 30 is formed in the large diameter portion 26a of the inlet container 26 in order from the inlet side of the inlet container 26. A liquid-tight fitting cylindrical portion 31 that is tightly fitted, a liquid outflow portion 32 that forms an annular space between the liquid-tight fitting cylindrical portion 31 and a larger-diameter portion 26a having a smaller diameter than the liquid-tight fitting cylindrical portion 31; And a valve holding portion 33. A rotation operation unit 34 is integrally provided at the outer end of the liquid-tight fitting cylindrical portion 31, and the rotation operation unit 34 is located outside the inlet container 26. The outer surface of the rotation operation unit 34 is covered with an annular cover member 35. An axial liquid flow path 36 is formed in the rotation operation section 34 and the liquid tight fitting cylindrical section 31, and this axial liquid flow path 36 is a radial liquid that opens on the outer peripheral surface of the liquid outflow section 32. It communicates with the flow path 37. FIG. 6 shows a single shape of the check valve adapter 30.
[0017]
A check valve body 38 made of an elastic material such as rubber is supported on the check valve holding portion 33 of the check valve adapter 30. The check valve holding portion 33 has an inner flange 33b that forms a disc-shaped space portion 33a on the end face of the check valve adapter 30, and the check valve body 38 has a single shape as shown in FIG. The disc portion 38a has a disc portion 38a that is detachably fitted in the disc-like space portion 33a, and an annular leg portion 38b that extends concentrically from the disc portion 38a. The annular leg portion 38b has a cylindrical portion 38c whose inner peripheral surface is a constant diameter, and a conical surface 38d whose diameter increases as the outer peripheral surface approaches the disk portion 38a. The annular leg portion 38b of the check valve body 38 has a tip that contacts the annular tapered bottom portion 26c of the inlet container 26, and is concentric with the annular tapered bottom portion 26c.
[0018]
The rotation operation portion 34 of the check valve adapter 30 is formed with an annular recess 34a on the inner peripheral surface for mounting the auxiliary water injection adapter 40. On the other hand, an annular groove 42 corresponding to the annular recess 34a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the insertion portion 41 of the auxiliary water injection adapter 40 to the check valve adapter 30, and the snap ring 43 is attached to the annular groove 42. It is fitted so that no directional movement occurs and expansion and contraction are possible. That is, the snap ring 43 is an incomplete ring (C-shaped ring), and its thickness (axial length) is set to fit in the annular groove 42 without a gap. When the snap ring 43 is contracted against its elasticity, the snap ring 43 can be fitted into the annular recess 34 a of the check valve adapter 30. When fitted into the annular recess 34a, the diameter thereof is expanded (returned) by its own elasticity and is locked to the annular recess 34a, so that the auxiliary water injection adapter 40 is prevented from coming off. The snap ring 43 can be reduced in diameter by applying an insertion / removal force of a certain magnitude or more to the rotation operation unit 34. The sub-water supply injection adapter 40 includes a sub-water supply pipe 44 that is continuous with the insertion portion 41, and a liquid such as a cleaning liquid and a staining liquid is supplied from the sub-water supply pipe 44.
[0019]
The endoscope having the above configuration is used as follows. FIG. 2 shows a state where the auxiliary water injection adapter 40 is not attached to the auxiliary water inlet 21. In this state, the check valve adapter 30 is inserted into the inlet container 26 fixed to the auxiliary water supply inlet protrusion 23 via the retainer ring 27, and the check valve adapter 30 is screwed into the retainer ring 27. It is in a fixed state. In this state, the annular leg portion 38b of the check valve body 38 abuts on the annular tapered bottom portion 26c of the inlet container 26, and the tip portion thereof is elastically deformed inward along the inclination of the annular tapered bottom portion 26c. Even if a backflow pressure is applied to the check valve body 38 through the metal pipe 25 in this state, the outer peripheral portion of the annular leg portion 38b is in contact with the annular tapered bottom portion 26c having a higher outer side. There is no possibility that 38b is reversed. That is, a reliable check valve action can be obtained.
[0020]
Next, at the time of sub-water feeding operation for feeding various liquids from the sub-water feeding inlet 21 toward the sub-water feeding outlet hole 22, as shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion 41 of the sub-water feeding inlet adapter 40 is inserted into the check valve adapter 30. The snap ring 43 is pressed and contracted to fit into the annular recess 34a. Liquid tightness between the insertion part 41 and the liquid tight fitting cylindrical part 31 is held by the O-ring 28. In this state, when a liquid such as a cleaning liquid or a staining liquid is supplied from the auxiliary water supply pipe 44, the liquid flows out through the axial liquid flow path 36 and the radial liquid flow path 37 of the check valve adapter 30. 32 flows out into the gap between the large diameter portion 26a and the fluid reaches the outer periphery of the annular leg portion 38b of the check valve body 38. Then, since the annular leg portion 38b is elastically deformed inward in contact with the annular tapered bottom portion 26c having a low inner side in the state of being attached to the inlet container 26, the annular leg portion 38b is further elastically deformed inward easily and flows through the flow path. The liquid is supplied from the metal pipe 25 to the auxiliary water supply outlet hole 22. In the clinical examination, the filth in the field of view is removed by the cleaning liquid supplied from the auxiliary water supply outlet hole 22 or the staining liquid is supplied to a desired position.
[0021]
When the metal pipe 25 and the check valve adapter 30 are washed after the clinical examination is finished, the auxiliary water injection adapter 40 and the check valve adapter 30 are both connected to the auxiliary water injection inlet 21 (injection inlet) as shown in FIG. Remove from container 26). In this state, the metal pipe 25 can be easily cleaned by the cleaning brush 50 put from the inlet container 26. Further, the check valve adapter 30 can also be cleaned by inserting a cleaning brush 50 into the axial liquid flow path 36 and the radial liquid flow path 37 as shown in FIG. The annular leg portion 38b of the check valve body 38 can be easily washed because it can be removed from the disk-shaped space portion 33a (inner flange portion 33b) of the check valve holding portion 33 by elastically deforming the disc portion 38a. In addition, when the check valve body 38 is cleaned while attached to the check valve holding portion 33, the annular leg portion 38b has a constant diameter cylindrical portion 38c, so that the cleaning is not performed. It is easy and there is little possibility that filth will stay.
[0022]
9 and 10 show a conventional check valve body 38 'having an umbrella shape for reference. Since this umbrella-shaped check valve body 38 'comes into contact with the cylindrical portion inner peripheral surface 26a' of the inlet container 26, when a backflow pressure is applied, it is relatively easy (low pressure) as shown in FIG. Inverted (turned over), and the check function could be impaired. Further, in order to apply the valve portion of the umbrella-shaped check valve body 38 'to the tubular portion inner peripheral surface 26a', the outer diameter of the umbrella-shaped check valve body 38 'is always larger than the tubular portion inner peripheral surface 26a'. When the check valve adapter having the umbrella-shaped check valve body 38 ′ is attached (inserted), the valve portion is easily turned over. If the valve part is turned over, normal check valve action cannot be obtained. Compared to this conventional apparatus, according to this embodiment, a more reliable check action can be obtained.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention provides an inlet container at an inlet portion of a conduit connecting an outlet portion opened at the distal end of the body insertion portion and an inlet portion opened at the operation portion, and the check valve having a check valve in the inlet container. In an endoscope provided with an adapter, a check valve having an annular tapered bottom formed in an inlet container and a check valve adapter having an annular leg concentric with the annular tapered bottom contacting the annular tapered bottom Since the body is held, a reliable check valve action can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in an operating state showing an embodiment of an endoscope provided with a check valve according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the auxiliary water injection adapter is removed from the use state of FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the check valve adapter is further removed from the state of FIG. 2 to clean the pipeline.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a single check valve attached to a check valve adapter.
5 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow V in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a check valve adapter is removed and washing is performed.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of an example of an endoscope.
8 is a view taken along arrow VIII in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing an endoscope provided with a conventional check valve.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the check effect of the check valve is impaired in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 11 Internal body insertion part 12 Operation part 21 Auxiliary water supply inlet (inlet part)
22 Sub-water supply outlet hole (exit part)
23 Sub-water supply inlet projection 24 Metal pipe connection member 25 Metal pipe (pipe)
26 Inlet container (sub-feed cylinder)
26a Large diameter part 26b Small diameter part 26c Annular taper bottom part 27 Retainer ring 30 Check valve adapter 31 Liquid tight fitting cylindrical part 32 Liquid outflow part 33 Check valve holding part 36 Axial liquid flow path 37 Radial direction liquid flow path 38 Check valve body 38a Disk portion 38b Annular leg portion 38c Constant diameter cylindrical portion 38d Conical surface 40 Sub-water feeding adapter

Claims (5)

A conduit connecting an outlet portion opening at the distal end of the body insertion portion and an inlet portion opening in the operation portion; an inlet container provided at the inlet portion of the conduit; and an inlet portion attached to the inlet container An endoscope having a check valve adapter having a check valve that allows fluid flow to the outlet side and prevents reverse flow of the fluid flow from the outlet part to the inlet side;
An annular taper that forms a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion in order from the inlet side in the inlet container, and gradually reduces the inner diameter between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion from the large diameter portion side to the small diameter portion side. Forming the bottom,
A liquid-tight fitting cylindrical portion that is liquid-tightly fitted to a large-diameter portion of the inlet container in order from the inlet side of the inlet container, to the check valve adapter attached to the inlet container, A liquid outflow portion that is smaller in diameter than the liquid tight fitting cylindrical portion and forms a space between the large diameter portion and a check valve holding portion, and a liquid outflow portion from the liquid tight fitting cylindrical portion A liquid flow path communicating with the outer surface is provided,
An endoscope characterized in that a check valve body made of an elastic material having an annular leg portion concentric with the annular tapered bottom portion, which is in contact with the annular tapered bottom portion of the inlet container, is held in the check valve holding portion. . The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the check valve body includes a disc portion held by the check valve holding portion of the check valve adapter, and the annular leg portion extending from the disc portion toward the annular taper bottom portion. Having an endoscope. 3. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the annular leg portion of the check valve body has a cylindrical shape with an inner peripheral surface having a constant diameter, and the outer peripheral surface is expanded from a conical surface that increases in diameter as the distance from the annular tapered bottom portion increases. Endoscope that becomes. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the check valve adapter is an auxiliary water injection adapter for injecting liquid into the pipe line on the inner peripheral portion of the liquid tight fitting cylindrical portion. The secondary water injection adapter has a snap ring that is fitted in the insertion portion of the liquid-tight fitting cylindrical portion so as to restrict axial movement. The ring can be expanded and contracted and has a biasing force in the diameter expansion direction, and can be fitted into the annular recess of the liquid-tight fitting portion in the reduced diameter state, and the diameter is expanded in the outer annular recess to prevent the auxiliary water injection adapter from coming off. Endoscope. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inlet container at the inlet of the conduit is detachable from the inlet.

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