JP4708624B2 - Endoscope operating device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope operating device capable of bending the vicinity of the distal end of an in-vivo insertion portion into a desired shape by manual operation.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
Endoscopes are known that include a bending mechanism that bends the vicinity of the distal end of the body insertion portion into a desired shape and a brake mechanism that prevents the bending mechanism from moving so that the bending shape can be maintained. . For example, the brake mechanism brakes or prevents the bending mechanism from operating due to the frictional force generated on both sides by bringing the friction member into close contact with the abutting member. Conventionally, an elastic member such as silicon rubber is generally used as the friction member, and a metal such as stainless steel is used as the abutting member. For this reason, when the brake is applied in the brake mechanism, the friction coefficient between the elastic member such as silicon rubber and the metal abutting member is too large, and the operation of the bending mechanism is completely prohibited. . For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the braking force that is troublesome and laborious, and even when the brake is applied, the angle operation near the distal end of the body insertion portion can be performed by the bending mechanism, so-called half-lock state Could not be set easily.
[0003]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to obtain an endoscope operating device that can easily adjust a brake and can stably maintain a half-locked state.
[0004]
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a bending mechanism that bends the vicinity of the distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into an observation object in accordance with a turning operation of the bending operation member; a first friction member fixed to the bending operation member; And a second friction member that can advance and retreat with respect to the friction member, and the second friction member and the first friction member are in a non-contact state and allow the turning operation of the bending operation member to be unlocked. A half-lock state in which the turning operation of the bending operation member is allowed in a contact state between the second friction member and the first friction member, and the second friction member in close contact with the first friction member. and switchable brake mechanism between a locked state that prevents the rotation operation of the bending operation member; the operation apparatus of an endoscope provided with a contact surface of the first, second friction member by applying a lubricant, setting the half-lock state of the brake mechanism this It is characterized in.
[0005]
According to the above configuration, the operation of the bending mechanism is not completely prohibited when the bending operation member is braked, and the adjustment of the braking force is facilitated. Thereby, even if the brake is applied, the half lock state in which the angle operation near the tip of the insertion portion is possible can be stably maintained.
[0006]
The brake mechanism includes a brake operation member that can be rotated, and a first friction member that moves the second friction member in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the brake operation member in response to the rotation operation of the brake operation member. And a cam member pressed against the member. The brake mechanism further includes a rotating member that rotates integrally with the brake operation member, and a brake member that is provided with a second friction member at a position facing the first friction member. preferable. In this case, one end of the cam member is fixed to the rotating member and the other end is engaged with a cam groove formed in the brake member, and the cam member is moved along the cam groove by the rotation of the rotating member. Moving the brake member and the second friction member in the axial direction.
[0007]
As another aspect, the brake mechanism includes a brake operation member that can be rotated, a brake ring that rotates integrally with the brake operation member, and a threaded engagement with the brake ring, and the brake mechanism linearly moves by the rotation of the brake ring. And a brake member that presses the second friction member against the first friction member.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an endoscope 10 to which the present invention is applied. The endoscope 10 includes an in-vivo insertion portion 11 having flexibility, a grip operation portion 12 that an operator grips, and a universal tube 13 that extends to the side of the grip operation portion 12. At the distal end of the universal tube 13, a light source insertion portion 14 for connecting a light source device that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 10 is provided. The in-vivo insertion portion 11 includes a distal end portion 11a, a bending portion 11b, and an insertion portion flexible tube 11c in this order from the distal end side (right side in FIG. 1), and the distal end portion 11a has an observation window as shown in FIG. 15, an illumination window 16, an air supply nozzle 17, a water supply nozzle 18, and a treatment instrument insertion channel outlet 19 are disposed. An objective lens (not shown) is disposed behind the observation window 15, and an image formed by the objective lens is transmitted from the eyepiece lens 20 through an optical fiber from the in-body insertion portion 11 to the grasping operation portion 12. Can be observed. Illumination light from the light source device connected to the light source insertion unit 14 is transmitted to the illumination window 16 by a light guide that passes from the universal tube 13 through the grasping operation unit 12 and the internal insertion unit 11. A treatment instrument insertion port protrusion 22 that communicates with the treatment instrument insertion channel outlet 19 is provided at the connecting portion 21 that is positioned between the body insertion section 11 and the grasping operation section 12.
[0009]
The above endoscope 10 is provided with an operating device having a bending mechanism for bending the bending portion 11b and a brake mechanism for braking (blocking) the operation of the bending mechanism. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the operating device 30. The operating device 30 includes a bending operation knob 31 that operates the bending mechanism, a brake lever 32 that operates the brake mechanism, and a rotation shaft 33 that is inserted into the bending operation knob 31 and the brake lever 32 and serves as a rotation center thereof. And.
[0010]
The bending operation knob 31 is separately provided with an up / down operation knob 31a for bending the bending portion 11b in the up-down direction and a left / right operation knob 31b for bending in the left-right direction (see FIG. 1). A base portion 33 a is formed on the rotation shaft 33, and the rotation shaft 33 a cannot be rotated with respect to the parent plate 47 by fixing the base portion 33 a to the parent plate 47. Between the rotation shaft 33 and the bending operation knob 31, a first shaft portion 35 and a second shaft portion 36 having a longer axis than the first shaft portion 35 rotate in order from the bending operation knob 31 side. The first shaft portion 35 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the up / down operation knob 31a, and the second shaft portion 36 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the left / right operation knob 31b. A first pulley 37 and a second pulley 38 are fixed to the first shaft portion 35 and the second shaft portion 36 so as to be positioned at respective lower ends. The other end of a wire (not shown) having one end connected to the bending portion 11b is connected to the first pulley 37 and the second pulley 38.
[0011]
When the first shaft portion 35 (second shaft portion 36) is rotated by the rotation of the up / down operation knob 31a (left / right operation knob 31b), the wire connected to the bending portion 11b is changed according to the rotation direction to the first pulley. 37 (second pulley 38) or is wound out from the first pulley 37 (second pulley 38), and the bending portion 11b is bent in the vertical direction (left and right direction) by the winding or feeding operation of this wire. In the present embodiment, a bending mechanism is configured by the bending operation knob 31, the rotation shaft 33, the first shaft portion 35, the second shaft portion 36, the first pulley 37, the second pulley 38, and a wire (not shown).
[0012]
The brake lever 32 includes an upper and lower brake lever 32a that prevents the turning operation of the up and down operation knob 31a, and a left and right brake lever (not shown) that prevents the turning operation of the left and right operation knob 31b. The brake lever 32 is fixed to a rotating member 39 that is externally inserted to the fixed bearing 40 and rotates integrally with the rotating member 39. The fixed bearing 40 is extrapolated to the rotation shaft 33 while supporting the first shaft portion 35 and the second shaft portion 36, and is fixed to the base portion 33 a of the rotation shaft 33. A slide guide portion 40a that slides a brake member 42, which will be described later, in the vertical direction of the drawing is provided at the upper portion of the fixed bearing 40 in the drawing.
[0013]
Two cam pins 41 protrude from the side surface of the rotating member 39 with an interval of 180 degrees. The cam pin 41 includes a small diameter portion fixed to the rotating member 39 and a large diameter portion larger in diameter than the small diameter portion, and the large diameter portion is engaged with the cam groove 43 of the brake member 42. As shown in FIG. 4, the cam groove 43 is formed at a plurality of positions (two positions at symmetrical positions with an interval of 180 degrees in this embodiment) on the outer peripheral surface of the brake member 42, There are provided substantially circular click holes 43b and 43c provided at both ends of the inclined groove 43a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to give spring characteristics to the cam groove 43, a notch 43d opened to the outside from the click hole 43b and a narrow groove 43e extending from the click hole 43c are formed. When the brake lever 32 is rotated, the cam pin 41 moves between the click hole 43b and the click hole 43c along the inclined groove 43a. When the cam pin 41 is in contact with the click hole 43b, the turning operation of the bending operation knob 31 is in an unlocked state. When the cam pin 41 is positioned in the inclined groove 43a, the bending operation knob is When the cam pin 41 is in contact with the click hole 43c, it is in a locked state in which the turning operation of the bending operation knob 31 is completely prohibited.
[0014]
A non-circular slide portion 42a is provided at the central portion of the brake member 42. The slide portion 42a engages with the slide guide portion 40a of the fixed bearing 40 to allow the brake member 42 to slide in the vertical direction. It is said. That is, the brake member 42 moves along the slide guide portion 40a according to the principle of the cam when the brake lever 32 is rotated and the rotation member 39 and the cam pin 41 are rotated.
[0015]
A friction member 44 (second friction member) made of an elastic member having a large friction coefficient, such as cork or rubber, is fixed to the bottom surface of the brake member 42. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the friction member 44. The friction member 44 has a substantially donut shape, and has a large number of uneven portions 44 a radially on the surface fixed to the brake member 42. The friction member 44 has a structure that is easily elastically deformed in the thickness direction, that is, a structure that is easily crushed (FIG. 7). In addition, you may form the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 44a in the surface of the opposite side (side which contacts the abutting member 45).
[0016]
An abutting member 45 (first friction member) made of a metal member such as stainless steel is positioned between the friction member 44 and the brake lever 32. The abutting member 45 is fixed to the bottom surface of the bending operation knob 31 and rotates integrally with the bending operation knob 31 at a constant height with respect to the rotation shaft 33. The friction member 44 can advance and retreat with respect to the abutting member 45.
[0017]
When the brake member 42 is slid downward by the turning operation of the brake lever 32, the friction member 44 is pressed against the abutting member 45, and the friction member 44 and the abutting member 45 are brought into close contact with each other. At this time, a frictional force is generated between the friction member 44 and the abutting member 45, and the rotation of the abutting member 45 is braked or prohibited by this frictional force, and the bending operation knob 31 (the vertical operation knob 31a, the left / right operation) The knob 31b) is in the brake state or the lock state. In this embodiment, the brake lever 32, the cam pin 41, the brake member 42, the friction member 44 (second friction member), and the abutting member 45 (first friction member) constitute a brake mechanism.
[0018]
The present embodiment described above is characterized in that a lubricant is applied to the friction member 44 (the contact surface between the friction member 44 and the abutting member 45). In other words, the lubricant is applied to the friction member 44 to prevent the rotation operation of the bending operation knob 31 from being completely prohibited when the bending operation knob 31 is braked. This facilitates adjustment of the braking force applied to the bending operation knob 31 and facilitates setting a half-lock state in which the angle operation of the bending portion 11b can be performed even when the brake is applied.
[0019]
The brake mechanism having the above configuration operates as follows.
In a state where the brake lever 32 is not operated to rotate (the most relaxed state), the friction member 44 and the abutting member 45 are held apart (FIG. 6A). Therefore, the braking force applied to the abutting member 45 (the bending operation knob 31) is zero, and the turning operation of the bending operation knob 31 is not restricted (unlocked state).
When the brake lever 32 is turned (tightened) from this unlocked state, the turning member 39 and the cam pin 41 turn together with the brake lever 32, and the cam pin 41 is moved along the inclined groove 43a of the brake member 42. Move to the click hole 43c side. Then, as the cam pin 41 moves, the brake member 42 slides downward in the drawing along the slide guide portion 40 a of the fixed bearing 40 and presses the friction member 44 against the abutting member 45. At this time, a frictional force is generated between the friction member 44 and the abutting member 45, and the rotation of the abutting member 45 is braked by this frictional force (braking state). In this embodiment, since the lubricant is applied to the friction member 44, the turning operation of the bending operation knob 31 is not completely prohibited only by bringing the friction member 44 into close contact with the abutting member 45.
In this brake state, when the brake lever 32 is further rotated (tightened) and the cam pin 41 is moved to the position of the click hole 43c, the friction member 44 is strongly pressed against the abutting member 45 (FIG. 6B). , FIG. 7). In this state, the turning operation of the bending operation knob 31 is completely prohibited by the frictional force, so that the bending state of the bending portion 11b can be maintained without the bending operation knob 31 being turned carelessly. (Locked state). Note that when releasing the locked state, the brake lever 32 is rotated in the opposite direction (releasing direction).
[0020]
In the above embodiment, the operation device including the brake mechanism that presses the friction member 44 against the abutting member 45 using the cam pin 41 has been described. However, the present invention uses the action of a screw instead of the cam pin 41. The operation device 130 (FIG. 8) including a brake mechanism that presses the friction member 44 against the abutting member 45 is also applicable.
[0021]
The brake mechanism (for the vertical direction) shown in FIG. 8 includes a brake lever 132, a brake ring 141, a brake member 142, a friction member 144 (second friction member), and an abutting member 145 (first friction member). The The brake lever 132 and the brake ring 141 are integrally attached by a fine adjustment screw 146 so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotation shaft 133. A female thread portion 141 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the brake ring 141. The brake member 142 has a male screw portion 142 a that is screwed into the female screw portion 141 a of the brake ring 141 on the outer peripheral surface, and is inserted and screwed into the brake ring 141. A slide portion is formed at the center of the brake member 142 so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the slide guide portion 140a of the fixed bearing 140, and the bottom portion is friction coated with a lubricant. The member 144 is fixed. The abutting member 145 is disposed immediately above the friction member 144, and rotates integrally with a rotating member 147 to which the vertical operation knob 131a is fixed.
[0022]
In the brake mechanism configured as described above, when the brake lever 132 is rotated, the brake ring 141 rotates integrally with the brake lever 132. Then, the brake member 142 is pushed up and down by the action of the female screw portion 141a and the male screw portion 142a, linearly moves along the slide guide portion 140a, and the friction member 144 is pressed against the abutting member 145. The frictional force generated thereby brakes (blocks) the rotation of the abutting member 145, and brakes (blocks) the rotation operation of the bending operation knob 131. Also in this brake mechanism, since the lubricant is applied to the friction member 144, the turning operation of the bending operation knob 131 is not completely prohibited only by bringing the friction member 144 and the abutting member 145 into close contact with each other. The brake force can be easily adjusted. Although the above description is about the brake mechanism for the vertical direction, the configuration and operation of the brake mechanism for the left / right direction that restricts (blocks) the rotation operation of the left / right operation knob 131b are the same, so the description is omitted. To do.
[0023]
In each of the above embodiments, the abutting member 45 is fixed to the bending operation knob 31 and the friction member 45 can be moved forward and backward with respect to the abutting member 45. However, the friction member 44 is fixed to the bending operation knob 31. Of course, the abutting member 45 may be movable back and forth with respect to the friction member 44.
[0024]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the endoscope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an electronic endoscope using an imaging means (CCD) instead of an eyepiece.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an endoscope operating device that can easily adjust a brake and can stably maintain a half-locked state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the body insertion portion as seen from the direction of arrow I in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of an operating device provided in the endoscope of FIG. 1;
4 is a view showing an outer peripheral surface of the brake member of FIG. 3. FIG.
5 is a perspective view showing the friction member of FIG. 3. FIG.
6A and 6B show the operation of the friction member of FIG. 5, in which FIG. 6A shows an unlocked state, and FIG.
7 is a view showing a shape change when the friction member of FIG. 5 is locked. FIG.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the operation device provided in the endoscope of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 11 Body insertion part 11a Tip part 11b Bending part 11c Insertion part Flexible tube 12 Grip operation part 13 Universal tube 14 Light source insertion part 15 Observation window 16 Illumination window 17 Air supply nozzle 18 Water supply nozzle 19 Treatment instrument insertion channel Exit 20 Eyepiece 21 Connecting portion 22 Treatment instrument insertion port protrusion 30 Operating device 31 Bending operation knob (bending operation member)
31a 131a Up / down operation knob 31b Left / right operation knob 32 132 Brake lever (brake operation member)
32a Vertical brake lever 33 133 Rotating shaft 34 Housing 35 First shaft portion 36 Second shaft portion 37 First pulley 38 Second pulley 39 147 Rotating member 40 140 Fixed bearing 40a 140a Slide guide portion 41 Cam pin (cam member)
42 142 Brake member 42a 142b Slide portion 43 Cam groove 43a Inclined groove 43b, 43c Click hole 43d Notch 43e Narrow groove 44 144 Friction member (first friction member)
44a Concavity and convexity 45 145 Abutting member (second friction member)
47 Parent plate 141 Brake ring 141a Female thread part 142a Male thread part 146 Fine adjustment screw

Claims (4)

A bending mechanism that bends the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion portion to be inserted into the observation target in accordance with the turning operation of the bending operation member;
A first friction member fixed to the bending operation member, and a second friction member capable of moving forward and backward with respect to the first friction member, and the second friction member and the first friction member An unlocked state in which the turning operation of the bending operation member is allowed in a contact state, and a half lock state in which the turning operation of the bending operation member is allowed in a contact state between the second friction member and the first friction member; a switchable brake mechanism between a locked state in which said second friction member is brought into close contact with the first friction member to prevent the rotation operation of the bending operation member; operation apparatus of the endoscope with the Because
An operating device for an endoscope , wherein a lubricant is applied to contact surfaces of the first and second friction members to set a half-lock state of the brake mechanism .   The endoscope operating device according to claim 1, wherein the brake mechanism includes a brake operation member that can be rotated, and the second friction member is connected to the brake operation member according to the rotation operation of the brake operation member. An operating device for an endoscope, comprising: a cam member that is moved in an axial direction of a rotation shaft and pressed against a first friction member.   3. The endoscope operating device according to claim 2, wherein the brake mechanism further includes a rotating member that rotates integrally with the brake operating member, and a second friction member at a position facing the first friction member. A brake member, and one end portion of the cam member is fixed to the rotating member, and the other end portion is engaged with a cam groove formed in the brake member. An operating device for an endoscope, which moves along a cam groove and moves a brake member and a second friction member in the axial direction.   2. The endoscope operating device according to claim 1, wherein the brake mechanism includes a brake operation member that can be rotated, a brake ring that rotates together with the brake operation member, and a screw that engages with the brake ring. An operating device for an endoscope, comprising: a brake member that linearly moves by rotating a ring and presses the second friction member against the first friction member.

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