JP4502459B2 - End of flexible tube - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flexible tube connecting end portion of an endoscope provided with a bend stopper for preventing the flexible tube of the endoscope from being bent suddenly in the vicinity of the connecting end with a rigid body portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The flexible tube of the endoscope is connected to a rigid body part such as an operation part, and if the vicinity of the connection end is bent with a small radius of curvature, it will buckle much more easily than other parts, so elasticity Folding stoppers made of natural materials are attached.
[0003]
Such endoscopes are generally formed in a tapered tapered tube shape and are attached so as to surround the vicinity of the connecting end of the flexible tube, the proximal end portion is fixed to the rigid body portion, and the distal end portion is allowed. The dimensions are set to tighten the outer surface of the flexible tube.
[0004]
However, when the flexible tube is bent, a gap is generated between the inner peripheral surface of the tip end of the bend and the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube, and dirt or the like may enter the gap. Is very difficult and unfavorable for hygiene. Therefore, conventionally, the inner peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the folding stop has been bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube over the entire periphery.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as shown in FIG. 5, when the flexible tube 91 is bent, the outer portion of the curve is stretched and the inner portion is compressed. Force to peel off acts. For this reason, the adhesive portion A may be peeled off while the flexible tube 91 is repeatedly bent, and dirty liquid may enter the peeled portion and become unclean.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention provides an inner portion in which the adhesive portion between the end portion of the bend and the surface of the bend does not peel off even when the bend is repeatedly bent, and there is little possibility of infiltrating the inside of the bend. An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible tube connecting end portion of an endoscope.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the flexible tube connecting end portion of the endoscope of the present invention is formed of a flexible tube in which a bend formed by a resilient material is connected to a rigid body portion of the endoscope. At the flexible tube connection end of the endoscope, which is attached in a state of surrounding the connection end and the distal end portion of the bending prevention is bonded to the surface of the flexible tube, the portion near the proximal end of the bending prevention is attached to the flexible tube. In contrast, it is configured so as to be movable back and forth in the axial direction, and the space between the outer peripheral surface near the base end of the folding stop and the rigid portion is sealed.
[0008]
A stopper may be provided to restrict the movement of the base end portion of the folding stop to a position where it is separated from the seal portion between the rigid body portion and the rigid body portion. A cover member for sealing the gap may be detachable, and by removing the cover member, the fixing member for connecting and fixing the flexible tube to the rigid body portion may be removed.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an endoscope, and an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity such as the stomach is covered with an insertion portion flexible tube 1. The bending portion 3 connected to the distal end portion thereof can be bent remotely by rotating the operation knob 4 disposed on the operation portion 2 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 1. it can.
[0010]
A distal end body 5 incorporating an objective optical system and the like is connected to the distal end of the bending portion 3. Reference numeral 7 denotes a connecting flexible tube in which a connector connected to a light source device (not shown) is connected to the tip.
[0011]
The connecting end portion of the insertion tube flexible tube 1 and the connecting end portion of the connecting flexible tube 7 with respect to the operation portion 2 which is a rigid body are such that the base end portions of the flexible tubes 1 and 7 bend with a small radius of curvature. Folding stoppers 10 and 20 for regulation are attached.
[0012]
FIG. 3 shows a connecting portion between the insertion portion flexible tube 1 and the operation portion 2, and illustration of optical fiber bundles, tubes, signal cables, and the like inserted and disposed therein is omitted.
[0013]
The flexible tube base end cap 1 a fixed to the base end of the insertion portion flexible tube 1 is fixed to the lower end portion of the operation unit main body frame 2 a from the side by a cap fixing screw 11. 2c is a holding nut for pressing and fixing the insertion portion cover 2b to the operation portion main body frame 2a, and 1b, 2d and 11a are O-rings for sealing.
[0014]
The bend stopper 10 is formed in a tapered cylindrical shape made of a rubber material having elasticity (for example, neoprene rubber or polyurethane rubber), and is in a state in which the insertion portion flexible tube 1 is elastically tightened at the distal end portion. It is attached.
[0015]
Then, in a range A of, for example, about 1 cm from the tip of the folding stopper 10, the inner circumferential surface of the folding stopper 10 and the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion flexible tube 1 are bonded to each other without a gap with a sealing adhesive. ing. Hereinafter, it is referred to as “bonding portion A”.
[0016]
A circumferential groove 10a is formed on the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the bend stopper 10, and a flange 1c protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube base end cap 1a is formed in the circumferential groove 10a. It is loosely inserted.
[0017]
Therefore, the rear end portion of the folding stopper 10 is not fixed to another member, and can move in the axial direction in the range of play between the circumferential groove 10a and the flange 1c. Correspondingly, a gap B is formed between the rear end face of the folding stopper 10 and its adjacent members.
[0018]
A cylindrical cover 19 is disposed so as to cover a range from the vicinity of the base end of the folding stopper 10 to the lower end of the operation portion cover 2b. The cylindrical cover 19 is made of elastic rubber or plastic, and a metal insert metal 19a inserted in the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical cover 19 can be removably screwed from below to the lower end portion of the operation unit main body frame 2a. Match.
[0019]
As a result, the end surface of the cylindrical cover 19 is pressed against the lower end surface of the operation portion cover 2b to seal that portion. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a convex portion 10b is formed on the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the base end of the bend stopper 10, and the convex portion 10b is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the insert hardware 19a. Thus, the space between the outer peripheral surface of the folding stopper 10 and the front inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical cover 19 is sealed.
[0020]
In the flexible tube connecting end portion of the endoscope configured as described above, the portion near the proximal end of the anti-bending 10 can move forward and backward in the axial direction with respect to the insertion portion flexible tube 1. When the vicinity of the base end of 1 is bent, as shown in FIG. 1, the base end portion of the folding stop 10 is pushed toward the operation unit 2 at the portion inside the curve, and the portion at the outside of the curve is not bent as shown in FIG. It operates so that the proximal end portion of 10 is pulled out to the distal end side. Therefore, the force which pulls or compresses the folding stopper 10 in the axial direction is not generated, and the bonded portion A does not peel off.
[0021]
Further, the anti-folding 10 is not movable in the axial direction without limitation, but the circumferential portion is set so that the convex portion 10b of the anti-folding 10 does not come off from the sealing position where it contacts the inner peripheral surface of the insert metal piece 19a of the cylindrical cover 19. The movement range is regulated by the groove 10a and the flange 1c.
[0022]
In addition, if the screwing of the cylindrical cover 19 (insert metal piece 19a) to the operation unit main body frame 2a is loosened and the cylindrical cover 19 is shifted to the front side, the cap fixing screw 11 is loosened and the insertion portion flexible tube 1 is bent. It can be removed from the operation unit 2 together with the stopper 10, and similarly, the insertion portion flexible tube 1 can be attached to the operation unit 2 together with the folding stopper 10.
[0023]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, you may employ | adopt this invention to the folding stop 20 etc. by the side of the connection flexible tube 7. FIG.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the portion near the base end of the folding stop is configured to be movable back and forth in the axial direction with respect to the flexible tube, and the space between the outer peripheral surface near the base end of the folding stop and the rigid portion is sealed. Therefore, even if the flexible tube is repeatedly bent, the adhesive portion between the end portion of the folding tube and the surface of the flexible tube is not peeled off, and there is little possibility that filthy liquid or the like enters the inside of the folding tube. Can keep the state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state where a flexible tube connecting end portion of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention is bent.
FIG. 2 is an external view of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention in a state where a flexible tube connecting end portion is straight.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a single folding stop according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a flexible tube connecting end portion of a conventional endoscope is bent.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part flexible tube 1a Flexible pipe base end cap 1c 鍔 2 Operation part (rigid body part)
2a Operation part main body frame 10 Breaking prevention 10a Circumferential groove 10b Protrusion part 19 Cylindrical cover A Bonding part B

Claims (3)

A bend formed by an elastic material is attached so as to surround the vicinity of the connection end of the flexible tube connected to the rigid body portion of the endoscope, and the distal end portion of the bend stop is attached to the flexible tube. At the flexible tube connection end of the endoscope adhered to the surface,
A portion near the base end of the anti-folding is configured to be movable forward and backward in the axial direction with respect to the flexible tube, and a seal is provided between the outer peripheral surface near the base end of the anti-folding and the rigid portion. The flexible tube connecting end of the endoscope. The flexible tube connecting end portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a stopper for restricting the movement of the base end portion of the bend preventing member is provided at a position deviating from the seal portion between the rigid body portion and the rigid body portion. A cover member surrounding a region from the vicinity of the proximal end of the bend prevention to the vicinity of the connection portion between the rigid body portion and the flexible tube is detachably provided, and between the rigid body portion and the cover member, and the bend prevention A space between the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the base end and the cover member is sealed, and the fixing member for connecting and fixing the flexible tube to the rigid body portion can be removed by removing the cover member. The flexible tube connecting end of the endoscope according to 1 or 2.

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