JP4827514B2 - Endoscope operation lever connection and fixing structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection fixing structure for an operation lever of an endoscope in which an operation lever is connected and fixed to a protruding end portion of a rotating shaft provided in an operation portion of the endoscope by screws.

In order to perform an operation to bend the bending portion provided near the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope by remote operation from the operation portion on the hand side, a bending operation lever is provided at the protruding end portion of the rotary shaft provided in the operation portion. The bending operation lever is fixed to the projecting end portion of the rotating shaft by screws because of the necessity for disassembling and repairing the operation portion (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2005-160791 JP 2000-126119 A

  FIG. 16 shows an example of a conventional connecting and fixing structure of an operation lever of an endoscope. A screw hole 92 is formed in a projecting end surface of a rotary shaft 91 provided in an operation portion 90 of the endoscope, and there is provided there. The bending operation lever 93 is pressed and fixed with a fixing screw 94.

  However, not only a large force for pulling the bending operation wire (not shown) acts on the rotation shaft 91 but also the rotation shaft 91 hits a stopper (not shown) so that further rotation is restricted. Even in such a case, a large operating force may be applied to the bending operation lever 93.

  Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 16 in which the bending operation lever 93 is fixed to the rotation shaft 91 only by the pressing force of the fixing screw 94 acting in the direction perpendicular to the rotational movement direction, rattling may occur immediately. .

  FIG. 17 shows another example of a conventional connecting and fixing structure of an operation lever of an endoscope. A groove 95 which is gradually narrowed to the bottom side is formed on the projecting end surface of the rotating shaft 91, and the bending operation lever is formed. The 93 side is also formed in a trapezoidal shape that fits perfectly into the groove 95, and the bending operation lever 93 is pressed and fixed to the rotating shaft 91 by a countersunk screw 96.

  However, when such a configuration is adopted, for example, when a force for rotating the rotation shaft 91 beyond the rotation limit position is applied by the bending operation lever 93, the reaction force received by the bending operation lever 93 from the groove 95 side. As a result, a force to lift the countersunk screw 96 upward is generated, so that the countersunk screw 96 is loosened and the bending operation lever 93 is likely to be loose with respect to the rotary shaft 91.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the operating portion cover 97 can be removed by plastic deformation of the protruding end portion of the rotating shaft 91 in which the groove 95 is formed to a state where it is expanded by the force received from the bending operation lever 93 side. In some cases, the operation unit 90 may not be disassembled.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a connection fixing structure for an operation lever of an endoscope that can connect and fix the operation lever to the rotating shaft in a stable and stable state by screwing without impairing the disassembly of the operation unit. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope operation lever coupling and fixing structure according to the present invention is such that an operation lever is coupled and fixed to a protruding end portion of a rotary shaft provided in an endoscope operation unit by screwing. In the connecting and fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope, a concave groove is formed on the protruding end surface of the rotating shaft and a screw hole is formed on the bottom surface of the concave groove, and the base end portion of the operating lever is fitted into the concave groove. A slit-shaped head corresponding to the shape of the countersink hole is formed by forming a slit that divides the baseplate into half widths to the base end and a countersink whose central axis passes through the slit. By tightening a countersunk screw with a threaded part into the screw hole from the countersink side, the seat plate elastically deforms in a state where the width of the slit is expanded, and the outer surface of the side wall of the seat plate becomes the inner surface of the concave groove of the rotating shaft The operation lever is fixed to the rotating shaft by being pressed.

  The groove may be formed in a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape that gradually widens toward the bottom, and the cross-sectional shape of the seat plate may be formed in a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the groove. The concave groove may be formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a constant width in the depth direction, and the seat plate may be formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the concave groove. A plurality of screw holes may be formed at the center line position in the direction along the groove.

  A pair of fork-shaped reinforcing arms that sandwich the rotation shaft may be formed on the operating lever side.In that case, the operating lever is installed from the base side of the reinforcing arm in parallel with the slit that divides the seat plate into half widths. A slit to be divided may be formed, and the inner wall surface of the reinforcing arm may be formed in an arc shape that fits to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft.

  Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the outer edge of a rotating shaft may be formed circularly, and the part which the reinforcement arm of the outer peripheral surface of a rotating shaft contact | abuts may be cut off planarly. The cross-sectional shape of the outer edge of the rotating shaft may be formed in a rectangular shape. In that case, a fitting wall that fits on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft may be formed on the operation lever side. The wall may be formed on the seat plate.

  Moreover, the slit which divides | segments a rotating shaft in the direction parallel to the axis line of a rotating shaft from the both ends position of the width direction of the bottom face of a ditch | groove may be formed.

  According to the present invention, by tightening the countersunk screw into the screw hole from the countersink side, the seat plate of the operation lever is elastically deformed so that the width of the slit formed on the control lever side is expanded, and the seat plate Since the outer surface of the side wall is in pressure contact with the inner surface of the side wall of the recess of the rotating shaft, the operating lever is fixed to the rotating shaft without plastically deforming the rotating shaft and the operating lever. And, it can be firmly fixed in a stable state by screwing without impairing the decomposability of the operation part.

  In the connecting and fixing structure of the operating lever of the endoscope, in which the operating lever is connected and fixed to the protruding end portion of the rotating shaft provided on the operating portion of the endoscope by screwing, a concave groove is formed on the protruding end surface of the rotating shaft. A screw hole is formed in the bottom surface of the concave groove, a base plate having a width that fits into the concave groove is formed at the base end portion of the operation lever, and a slit that divides the seat plate into a half width to the base end, and a center By forming a countersink in the seat plate with an axis passing through the slit, and tightening a countersunk screw with a countersunk head corresponding to the shape of the countersink into the screw hole from the countersink side, the slit width is pushed. The seat plate is elastically deformed so as to be spread, and the outer surface of the side wall of the seat plate is brought into pressure contact with the inner surface of the side wall of the concave groove of the rotation shaft so that the operation lever is fixed to the rotation shaft.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the entire configuration of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied. A bending portion 2 that is bent by remote operation is formed in the vicinity of the distal end of a flexible insertion portion 1 that is inserted into the body. The distal end portion main body 3 on which the observation window and the like are arranged is connected to the distal end of the bending portion 2.

  A bending operation lever 5 for bending the bending portion 2 is rotatably arranged on the operation portion 4 connected to the base end of the insertion portion 1. By rotating the bending operation lever 5, The bending operation wire 6 is pulled and the bending portion 2 is bent.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a rotary shaft that is rotatably arranged on the operation unit 4 so as to rotationally drive a pulley (not shown) to which the base end of the operation wire 6 is connected. Two bending operation levers 5 are provided on the projecting end surface. It is connected and fixed detachably with a countersunk screw 8.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fixed portion of the bending operation lever 5 with respect to the rotating shaft 7, and FIG. 2 is a front view. A concave groove 71 having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape gradually widening toward the bottom side is formed on the protruding end surface of the rotary shaft 7, and a center line in a direction along the concave groove 71 is formed on the bottom surface 71 a of the concave groove 71. Two screw holes 72 are formed at positions parallel to the axis of the rotary shaft 7.

  On the other hand, a seat plate 51 having a width that fits loosely into the recessed groove 71 of the rotating shaft 7 is formed at the proximal end portion of the bending operation lever 5, and the sectional shape of the seat plate 51 is the sectional shape of the recessed groove 71. It is formed in a trapezoidal shape that is slightly narrower and has the same angle as the concave groove 71. The sectional shape of the portion is clearly shown in FIG. 3, which is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bending operation lever 5 is formed with a center slit 52 that divides the seat plate 51 in half width so as to reach the base end side, and two dishes passing through the center slit 52. A hole 53 is formed in the plate surface of the seat plate 51 in alignment with the screw hole 72 on the rotating shaft 7 side. The center slit 52 is formed straight from the base end side of the bending operation lever 5 through the two countersinks 53 to a position further away from the countersink 53.

  The bending operation lever 5 has a pair of fork-shaped reinforcing arms 54 sandwiching the rotary shaft 7 from both the left and right sides, and is formed on both the left and right sides of the seat plate 51 in parallel with the seat plate 51. The outer peripheral surface portion of the rotating shaft 7 is cut into a flat shape. Reference numeral 73 denotes the cut portion. A side slit 55 that divides the bending operation lever 5 from the base side of the reinforcing arm 54 is formed in parallel with the center slit 52.

  The bending operation lever 5 and the rotating shaft 7 are composed of two countersunk screws 8 each having a countersunk head corresponding to the shape of the countersink 53, as shown in FIG. Is screwed into the screw hole 72 from the countersink 53 side, so that the bending operation lever 5 is connected and fixed to the protruding end of the rotating shaft 7.

  When the countersunk screw 8 is screwed in tightly, the seat plate 51 is elastically deformed so that the width of the center slit 52 is widened by the head of the countersunk screw 8 as shown by the arrow X in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer surface of the side wall of the seat plate 51 is strongly pressed against the inner surface of the side wall of the concave groove 71 of the rotating shaft 7.

  Then, the pressure contact surface between the seat plate 51 and the recessed groove 71 is a slight but downward slope and faces the tightening direction of the countersunk screw 8, so that the seat plate 51 is placed on the bottom surface 71 a of the rotating shaft 7. It will be firmly pressed against the state where it is going to dive, and the flat screw 8 will not be loosened or the fixed part will not rattle.

  Further, in the vicinity of the projecting end portion of the rotating shaft 7, the force to spread laterally mainly acts only from the position near the bottom surface 71 a of the groove 71, and is also sandwiched by the bending operation lever 5. Therefore, there is no problem in disassembling the operation unit 4 because the plastic part is not plastically deformed in a laterally extended state.

  In this manner, the bending operation lever 5 can be firmly and stably connected and fixed to the rotating shaft 7 with only the two countersunk screws 8. Then, if the countersunk screw 8 is loosened, the bending operation lever 5 can be removed from the rotating shaft 7, and the seat plate 51 that has been elastically deformed in a state of spreading laterally returns to its original shape and is repeatedly used. Can do. The lengths of the center slit 52 and the side slit 55 are set so that the seat plate 51 is not plastically deformed when the seat plate 51 is expanded by the countersunk screw 8.

  FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the cross-sectional shape of the outer edge of the rotating shaft 7 is formed in a rectangular shape (for example, a square shape). If comprised in this way, the contact area of the reinforcement arm 54 and the rotating shaft 7 can be enlarged, and the bending operation lever 5 can be connected and fixed to the rotating shaft 7 more firmly.

  FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a concave groove 71 formed on the projecting end surface of the rotary shaft 7 is formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a constant width in the depth direction, and a seat is formed. The plate 51 is also formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the groove 71.

  With this configuration, the connection strength of the bending operation lever 5 to the rotating shaft 7 is slightly lower than that in the first embodiment, but the outer surface of the side wall of the seat plate 51 is strongly pressed against the inner surface of the side wall of the concave groove 71 of the rotating shaft 7. Therefore, it can be connected and fixed much more firmly than the conventional connecting and fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope.

  FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a fitting wall 56 to be fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 7 is formed on the back surface portion of the seat plate 51 of the bending operation lever 5. is there. By configuring in this way, lateral displacement in a direction that cannot be stopped by fitting of the seat plate 51 to the recessed groove 71 can be suppressed by fitting, so that the connecting and fixing strength of the bending operation lever 5 to the rotating shaft 7 is improved.

  FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the inner wall surface of the reinforcing arm 54 ′ is formed in an arc shape that fits to the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 7. In this embodiment, the reinforcing arm 54 is formed. ′ Is formed to extend from the front and the rear half. Even if comprised in this way, the connection fixed intensity | strength of the bending operation lever 5 with respect to the rotating shaft 7 can be improved.

  12 and 13 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which slits 74 that divide the rotating shaft 7 in the direction parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft 7 are formed from both end positions of the bottom surface 71a of the concave groove 71. It is a thing. By configuring in this way, when the seat plate 51 pressed by the countersunk screw 8 is elastically deformed into a state of being spread sideways and pressed against the inner wall surface of the groove 71, it is pressed and further rotated. Since the vicinity of the protruding end portion of the shaft 7 is strongly pressed against the inner wall surface of the reinforcing arm 54, the connecting and fixing strength of the bending operation lever 5 with respect to the rotating shaft 7 can be improved.

  14 and 15 show a reference example of the present invention, in which two screw holes 72 are formed on the projecting end surface of the rotating shaft 7, and the mouth portion thereof has a dish shape. A slit 78 passing through the center position of the two screw holes 72 divides the vicinity of the protruding end of the rotating shaft 7 into two.

  A convex portion 77 having an outer wall gradually narrowing downward is formed to project from the projecting end surface of the rotary shaft 7 in a direction parallel to the slit 78, and the convex portion 77 of the rotary shaft 7 is formed on the bending operation lever 5. Is formed in a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 77.

If comprised in this way, the bending operation lever 5 can be connected and fixed to the rotating shaft 7 by expanding the rotating shaft 7 side with the countersunk screw 8 screwed into the rotating shaft 7 and pressing it against the bending operation lever 5 side.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, it can also apply to the connection fixed part of operation levers other than a bending operation lever like a treatment tool raising operation lever.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the connection fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the connection fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2 of the connecting and fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2 of the connecting and fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view corresponding to a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2) in which the countersunk screw of the connecting and fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention is tightly screwed. 1 is an external view of an example of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied. It is a front view of the connection fixation structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing (sectional drawing equivalent to the III-III sectional drawing in FIG. 2 of 1st Example) of the connection fixation structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of 3rd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing (sectional drawing equivalent to IV-IV sectional drawing in FIG. 2 of 1st Example) of the connection fixation structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of 4th Example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the connection fixation structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of the 4th Example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the connection fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of the 5th Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing (sectional drawing equivalent to the III-III sectional drawing in FIG. 2 of 1st Example) of the connection fixation structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of 6th Example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the connection fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope of the 6th Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the reference example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the reference example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of an example of the connection fixation structure of the operation lever of the conventional endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the other example of the connection fixation structure of the operation lever of the conventional endoscope. It is sectional drawing which illustrates the state of the malfunction which arises in the connection fixed structure of the operation lever of the conventional endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

5 Bending operation lever 7 Rotating shaft 8 Countersunk screw 51 Seat plate 52 Center slit 53 Countersink 54 Reinforcing arm 55 Side slit 56 Fitting wall 71 Concave groove 71a Bottom surface 72 Screw hole 73 Cutting part 74 Slit

Claims (11)

In the connecting and fixing structure of the operating lever of the endoscope in which the operating lever is connected and fixed to the protruding end portion of the rotating shaft provided in the operating portion of the endoscope by screws.
Forming a groove on the projecting end surface of the rotating shaft and forming a screw hole on the bottom surface of the groove;
The base end portion of the operating lever is formed with a seat plate having a width that fits into the concave groove, and a slit that divides the seat plate into a half width up to the base end, and a countersink with a central axis passing through the slit. Are formed on the seat plate,
The concave groove is formed into a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape that gradually widens to the bottom side, and the cross-sectional shape of the seat plate is also formed into a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the concave groove,
By tightening a countersunk screw having a countersunk head corresponding to the shape of the countersink into the screw hole from the countersink side, the seat plate elastically deforms in a state where the width of the slit is expanded. The operation of the endoscope, wherein the outer surface of the side wall of the seat plate is in pressure contact with the inner surface of the side wall of the concave groove of the rotating shaft so that the operating lever is fixed to the rotating shaft. Lever connecting and fixing structure. Coupling structure for fixing the screw hole the operating lever of the endoscope according to claim 1 Symbol placement are formed in a plurality of numbers in the center line position in a direction along said grooves. The endoscope operation lever connecting and fixing structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a pair of fork-shaped reinforcing arms sandwiching the rotation shaft is formed on the operation lever side. The endoscope operation lever connecting and fixing structure according to claim 3, wherein a slit for dividing the operation lever from the base side of the reinforcing arm is formed in parallel with the slit for dividing the seat plate into half widths. 5. An endoscope operation lever connecting and fixing structure according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein an inner wall surface of the reinforcing arm is formed in an arc shape that fits to an outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. 6. The connecting and fixing structure for an operation lever of an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein a cross-sectional shape of an outer edge of the rotating shaft is formed in a circular shape. 7. The connecting and fixing structure for an operation lever of an endoscope according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft that comes into contact with the reinforcing arm is cut into a flat shape. 6. The connecting / fixing structure for an operation lever of an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein a cross-sectional shape of an outer edge of the rotating shaft is formed in a rectangular shape. The connecting and fixing structure for an operation lever of an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein a fitting wall that is fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft is formed on the operation lever side. The connection fixing structure of the operation lever of the endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the fitting wall is formed on the seat plate. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein slits are formed to divide the rotary shaft in parallel to the axis of the rotary shaft from both end positions in the width direction of the bottom surface of the concave groove. Connecting and fixing structure of operation lever.

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