JP5021529B2 - Endoscope flexible tube - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope flexible tube used for medical purposes and the like, and more particularly to a highly durable endoscope flexible tube.

  Conventionally, a flexible tube (for an endoscope) that is inserted into a living body such as a human body and used for diagnosis and treatment of an organ, collection of a specimen, etc. is wound with a thin strip-like plate spirally And a blade (net) that covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube, and a resin outer cover that covers the outer peripheral surface of the blade.

  In the conventional endoscope flexible tube (hereinafter also simply referred to as a flexible tube) configured as described above, the blade is positioned between the screw tube and the outer skin as described above, and By adhering to the inner peripheral surface, it plays the role of a rigid reinforcement for the flexible tube. That is, the blade increases the rigidity of the flexible tube as compared with the case where the blade is not used for the flexible tube, that is, compared with the case where only the outer skin covers the screw tube.

Such a blade is generally formed by knitting metal fibers such as stainless steel or brass. Therefore, for example, when a general resin outer skin is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the blade by a normal forming method such as extrusion, the chemical bond between the metal and the resin is originally due to intermolecular force. Since only weak bonding is used, the adhesiveness (adhesion or bonding) between the blade of the flexible tube and the outer skin often decreases while the endoscope is used.
In addition, since the chemical bond between metal and resin is very weak to water, the endoscope should be used in situations where water or water vapor exists, or in water, disinfectant, or cleaning liquid. In an endoscope that is often washed, the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin of the flexible tube is quickly reduced.

  In the flexible tube, if the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin is reduced as described above, the function of the blade as a rigid reinforcement for the flexible tube is reduced, causing a reduction in the rigidity of the flexible tube, It often interferes with the use of endoscopes. Furthermore, in the flexible tube, if the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin is reduced as described above, the blade and the outer skin are peeled off, the buckling of the flexible tube occurs, and the endoscope is used. May become impossible.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscope usable in which a network tubular blade formed by knitting a fibrous material and an outer skin (outer tube) are bonded (joined) with an adhesive interposed therebetween. A flexible tube is disclosed.
Further, in Patent Document 2, fibers made of a thermoplastic resin are wound around at least one metal wire of a metal wire set for knitting a blade, and fibers made of a thermoplastic resin are melted, An endoscope flexible tube in which a blade and an outer skin are bonded is disclosed.
Further, in Patent Document 3, a release agent is interposed between the screw tube (flex) and the blade, and the blade and the blade are synthesized by an adhesive of polyester urethane using toluene diisocyanate as a monomer applied to the surface of the blade. An endoscope flexible tube in which an outer skin made of resin is bonded (bonded) is disclosed.

JP 59-137030 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-256085 JP-A 61-46923

The flexible tube for an endoscope disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a blade and an outer skin adhered by an adhesive, so that it is possible to prevent the flexible tube from being cured when an adhesive is used. Separation of the blade and the outer skin of the flexible tube, that is, a decrease in adhesiveness can be prevented.
However, the flexible tube for an endoscope disclosed in Patent Document 1 can prevent hardening of the flexible tube that occurs when an adhesive is used, but the adhesive is also generally made of resin, Since the bond between the blade and the outer skin is weak, the decrease in adhesion between the blade and the outer skin is not different from that of a conventional flexible tube for an endoscope.

In addition, since the endoscope flexible tube disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a part of the blade made of thermoplastic resin, the blade and the fiber serving as an adhesive are physically separated from each other. The blade and the outer skin are bonded by force and the fibers are melted, so that the blade and the outer skin are bonded to each other rather than the flexible tube in which the blade and the outer skin are bonded (adhered) with only the adhesive. It is considered that the adhesive strength (adhesion strength or bond strength) is high.
However, as described above, the flexible tube for an endoscope disclosed in Patent Document 2 has an adhesive strength between the blade and the outer skin rather than the flexible tube in which the blade and the outer skin are bonded only through the adhesive. However, although it is high, as the flexible tube, that is, the endoscope is used, the adhesion (adhesion or bonding property) between the blade and the outer skin is lowered, and the rigidity of the flexible tube is lowered.

  Moreover, the flexible tube for endoscopes disclosed in Patent Document 3 uses a conventional adhesive because the blade and the outer skin are bonded to each other by a polyester-based urethane adhesive using toluene diisocyanate as a monomer. Although the adhesion between the blade and the outer skin is stronger than that of the flexible tube, the blade and the outer skin are basically bonded to each other by an adhesive made of resin. Even if the time is long, the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin is eventually lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a blade and an outer sheath in a flexible tube due to moisture in the operating environment of the endoscope (including a cleaning environment) even when the endoscope is continuously used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly flexible endoscope flexible tube that does not deteriorate its adhesiveness.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a screw tube formed by spirally winding a belt-like plate, a blade that covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube, and a resin-made resin that covers the outer peripheral surface of the blade. A flexible tube for an endoscope having an outer skin, wherein the blade is formed by mixing a metal fiber with a release agent and a heat-resistant resin fiber with an adhesive in a mesh shape. And providing a flexible tube for an endoscope which is adhered to the outer skin by the adhesive.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that only the resin fiber of the metal fiber and the resin fiber constituting the blade is bonded to the outer skin via the adhesive.

  In the present invention, the blade preferably has a single layer configuration.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the weight of the metal fiber which adhered the said mold release agent is increased by 10% or more compared with the weight of the metal fiber before adhering the said mold release agent.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to have a coat layer covering the outer peripheral surface of the outer skin.

  According to the present invention, a metal fiber having a release agent attached thereto and a heat-resistant resin fiber having an adhesive attached thereto have a braid mixed in a mesh shape, so that the time of use of an endoscope or the like is increased. An endoscope in which the adhesiveness (adhesion or bondability) between the blade and the outer skin due to moisture in the operating environment (including the cleaning environment) is reduced, that is, the rigidity of the flexible tube for endoscope is hardly reduced. Furthermore, by using such a flexible tube for an endoscope, the flexible tube does not cause buckling even when used for a long time. A malfunction during mirror operation is greatly suppressed, and an endoscope with high durability, cost performance, and high safety can be realized.

  Hereinafter, the flexible tube for an endoscope of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example of an endoscope using the flexible tube for an endoscope of the present invention.
An endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into an examination site such as a body cavity (gastrointestinal tract, otolaryngology, etc.) to observe the examination site, take a photograph or a movie, collect a tissue, and the like. .
The endoscope 10 is basically a known endoscope (endoscope apparatus) except for an endoscope flexible tube 26 (hereinafter also simply referred to as a flexible tube 26) of the present invention described later. It is the same thing, and is comprised by the insertion part 12, the operation part 14, and the universal cord 18 similarly to a normal endoscope.

The insertion part 12 is a long part to be inserted into an inspection part such as a body cavity, and includes a tip part 22 at the tip (tip on the insertion side = opposite end to the operation part 14), an angle part (curving part) 24, and the like. The flexible tube 26 of the present invention, which will be described later, has a distal end portion 22 connected to the distal end of the flexible tube 26 of the present invention via an angle portion 24.
The angle portion 24 is configured such that the direction of the distal end portion 22 can be changed by the operation knob 36 or 38 of the operation portion 14.

The operation unit 14 is a part that operates the endoscope 10.
Similar to a normal endoscope, a forceps port 28 for inserting a forceps, a suction button 30 for performing suction from an air / water supply nozzle at the distal end portion 22, and an air / water supply for performing air / water supply. A water supply button 32 and the like are arranged. As described above, the operation unit 14 is provided with operation means (the operation knob 36 or 38) for bending the angle portion 24 of the insertion unit 12.

  The universal cord (LG soft part) 18 is a part that connects the operation part 18 to a connector (not shown) for connecting the endoscope 10 with a water supply means, an air supply means, a suction means, and the like.

  In addition, in the endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1, a light guide for illuminating an unillustrated inspection site, an air / water channel connected to an air / water nozzle, a forceps channel for inserting forceps, and an inspection A built-in object such as a cable (image guide for observation) for imaging a part is inserted.

As described above, the flexible tube 26 of the present invention is configured to be connected to the distal end portion 22 via the angle portion 24, and inspects the portion connecting the distal end portion 22 and the angle portion 24 and the operation portion 14. It is a long one having sufficient flexibility for insertion into a part, and accommodates the light guide, air / water supply channel, forceps channel, cable and the like.
FIG. 2 conceptually shows an embodiment of the flexible tube 26 of the present invention.

The flexible tube 26 of the present invention includes a screw tube (flex) 40 formed by spirally winding a thin strip plate, a blade (net) 42 covering the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 40, and an outer peripheral surface of the blade 42. The blade 42 is made of a metal fiber having a release agent attached thereto and a heat-resistant resin fiber having an adhesive agent mixed in a mesh shape.
The flexible tube 26 of the present invention preferably has a coat layer 46 that covers the outer peripheral surface of a resin outer shell 44 as shown in FIG.
In the present invention, a hollow tubular body in which the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 40 is covered with the blade 42 is referred to as an inner tube (intermediate product) 48.

  The screw tube 40 is not particularly limited, and may be attached to the flexible tube 26 of the endoscope 10 as long as it can accommodate and protect the light guide, the air / water supply channel, the forceps channel, the cable, and the like. What is generally used may be used.

In addition, you may use the screw tube 40 which attached the mold release agent as needed.
In this case, as the release agent attached to the screw tube 40, a known release agent such as a release agent attached to a metal fiber described later may be used, and a method of attaching the release agent to the screw tube 40 is also possible. What is necessary is just to perform by a well-known method.

  As described above, the blade 42 serves as a reinforcing material that covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 40 and reinforces the rigidity of the flexible tube 26. The heat-resistant resin fiber to which the agent is attached is a fiber-like blend.

  Here, in the present invention, as described above, the blade 42 is obtained by mixing a metal fiber having a release agent attached thereto and a heat-resistant resin fiber having an adhesive agent attached thereto in a mesh shape.

By the way, for example, in Patent Document 2, a blade in which a fiber made of a thermoplastic resin is wound around a metal fiber (metal wire) constituting the blade is used, and the thermoplastic resin is melted to bond the blade and the outer skin. A flexible tube is disclosed. Further, the present inventor has a blade 104 in which metal fibers 100 and resin fibers 102 are mixed as shown in FIG. 3 (FIG. 4) as an alternative to the conventional flexible tube, as shown in FIG. Then, an adhesive 106 was applied to the entire blade 104, and a flexible tube was devised in which the blade 104 and the outer skin 108 were adhered by the adhesive 106.
3 is a schematic view of a comparative example for explaining the flexible tube of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the blade shown in FIG.

  As described above, the bond between a metal and a resin is originally a very weak bond that is connected only by an intermolecular force, and is particularly susceptible to moisture such as water and water vapor. The adhesiveness (adhesiveness or bondability) between the metal blade and the resin outer skin is deteriorated due to change, moisture under use environment or cleaning environment. Even if an adhesive is used to enhance the adhesion between the metal blade and the resin outer shell, the adhesive is generally made of resin, so the metal blade and the adhesive The adhesion between the blade and the outer skin is insufficient to sufficiently bond the blade and the outer skin. With the use of the endoscope, the adhesiveness between the metal blade and the outer skin made of the resin is lowered.

  Compared to such a case, the flexible tube disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above has the blade as described above, so that the resin fiber and the metal fiber serving as an adhesive are physically separated. As a result, the bond between the adhesive and the metal fiber is strengthened. In addition, the adhesion between the blade and the outer skin is strengthened, and the metal blade and the resin outer skin are bonded only through the adhesive. There is less decrease in the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin than the flexible tube made.

  Further, the flexible tube using the blade 104 in which the metal fiber 100 and the resin fiber 102 are mixed as shown in FIG. 3 (FIG. 4) devised by the present inventor described above is originally an adhesive between the resin and the resin. The resin with low hardness penetrates and cures into the voids on the surface of the cured resin, and the anchor effect that works like a nail or wedge is firmly tied without being affected by time or moisture, Compared with a flexible tube in which a metal blade and a resin outer skin are bonded only through an adhesive, there is little decrease in the adhesive force between the blade and the outer skin.

  However, each of the flexible tubes is less deteriorated in adhesion between the blade and the outer skin of the flexible tube than the flexible tube in which the metal blade and the resin outer skin are bonded via an adhesive. However, it can solve the problem that the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin decreases due to the change over time of the endoscope, etc., and the moisture in the usage environment or cleaning environment, and the rigidity of the flexible tube decreases. There wasn't.

Therefore, the present inventor examined a flexible tube manufactured by a conventional method for manufacturing a flexible tube in which heat is applied to melt the adhesive, and the blade and the outer skin are bonded via the adhesive. As a result, the metal part (metal fiber) and the outer skin of the blade are also bonded to each other, although they are weak compared to the adhesiveness between the resin part (resin fiber) and the outer skin of the blade. Is found to be included in the adhesive strength between the blade and the outer skin immediately after the production of the flexible tube, and this leads to a decrease in the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin even when resin fibers are used. I found out.
On the other hand, as a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have determined that the metal part of the blade whose adhesiveness is easily lowered due to aging or moisture is not allowed to adhere to the outer skin, and the blade whose adhesiveness does not deteriorate due to moisture or aging. It has been found that a flexible tube that does not deteriorate the adhesiveness between the blade and the outer skin can be realized by adhering only the fiber portion to the outer skin by the anchor effect described above.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the blade 42 includes the metal fiber 52 to which the release agent 56 is attached and the blade 42 so that the portion of the metal fiber 52 does not adhere to the outer skin 44. In order to ensure sufficient adhesion between the outer shell 44 and the outer skin 44, a mesh-like mixture of heat-resistant resin fibers 50 (hereinafter simply referred to as resin fibers 50) to which an adhesive 54 is attached is used. .
As described above, the blade 42 covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 40 and is positioned between the screw tube 40 and the outer skin 44 and serves as a rigid reinforcing material for the flexible tube 26. It is.
Furthermore, the flexible tube 26 of the present invention uses such a blade 42 to bond the blade 42 and the outer skin 44 due to a change with time such as the use time of the endoscope or moisture in the use environment or the cleaning environment. In other words, since the rigidity of the flexible tube 26 is hardly lowered, the highly durable endoscope 10 can be realized.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining in detail the flexible tube of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, the metal fibers 52 and the resin fibers 50 in the blade 42 are configured at a ratio of about half. However, in the present invention, the ratio of the metal fibers 52 and the resin fibers 50 in the blade 42 is acceptable. There is no particular limitation as long as the rigidity of the flexible tube 26 and the adhesiveness between the blade 42 and the outer skin 44 due to the adhesion between the resin fiber 50 and the outer skin 44 can be sufficiently secured, and may be appropriately determined.
In addition, the composition ratio of the metal fiber 52 and the resin fiber 50 preferable for fulfilling the above function includes a case where the metal fiber, the resin fiber, and the space per unit area of the blade 42 are 5: 4: 1.
Further, the method of blending the metal fibers 52 and the resin fibers 50 in the blade 42 (the knitting method and the mesh pattern) is not particularly limited, and the rigidity of the flexible tube 26 and the resin fibers 50 and the outer skin 44 are not limited. What is necessary is just to determine suitably so that the adhesiveness of the braid | blade 42 and the outer_layer | skin 44 by adhesion | attachment can fully be ensured.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the blade 42 is provided with a flexible tube 26 (endoscope 10) from the viewpoint of miniaturization, the operability improvement by weight reduction of the flexible tube 26, or the flexible tube 26 (internal view). From the viewpoint of suppressing the manufacturing cost of the mirror 10), it is preferable to have a single layer structure, but it may be determined as appropriate depending on the rigidity of the flexible tube 26 and the finished size.

The metal fiber 52 is not particularly limited as long as the metal fiber 52 can exhibit a sufficient rigidity effect with respect to the flexible tube 26 and can attach the release agent 56, and is generally used for the blade 42. A typical metal fiber may be used.
Suitable metal fibers 52 include stainless steel having a diameter of 0.1 mm.

  The release agent 56 attached to the metal fiber 52 is not particularly limited as long as the release agent 56 can exert its power as the release agent 56 even when the release agent 56 is exposed to a high temperature state when the flexible tube 26 is manufactured. However, examples of the release agent include silicon resin and fluorine resin.

  The amount of the release agent 56 attached to the metal fiber 52 is an amount that can maintain the surface state of the metal fiber of the blade 42 so that the metal fiber 52 of the blade 42 does not weld to the outer skin 44. Although there is no particular limitation, as an example, it is preferable to attach the release agent 56 so as to have a thickness of 1 μm to 100 μm.

  The method for attaching the release agent 56 to the metal fiber 52 is not particularly limited, and a known coating method may be suitably used. Specifically, the metal fiber is placed in a tank filled with the release agent. Examples of the method include dipping and dipping for a predetermined time, and then lifting the metal fiber from the tank and drying the solvent.

  On the other hand, the resin fiber 50 is not particularly limited as long as the resin fiber 50 has sufficient heat resistance against heat applied at the time of manufacturing the flexible tube 26, and is a general heat resistant resin fiber used for the blade 42. May be used.

  The adhesive 54 attached to the resin fibers 50 of the blade 42 is used so that the adhesiveness between the resin fibers 50 of the blade 42 and the outer skin 44 does not deteriorate when the endoscope 10 is used. Is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of adhering to the outer surface 44, but is preferably a polyester-based resin or a polystyrene-based resin, more preferably, an outer skin 44 formed of a thermoplastic polyurethane-based elastomer, A good polyurethane resin is preferably exemplified.

  Further, the amount of the adhesive 54 attached to the resin fiber 50 is not particularly limited, but the adhesive 54 is attached so that the adhesiveness between the resin fiber 50 and the outer skin 44 of the blade 42 is sufficiently exhibited. The weight of the resin fiber 50 is preferably adhered so as to increase by about 10% or more as compared with the weight of the resin fiber 50 before the adhesive 54 is adhered.

  A method for attaching the adhesive 54 to the resin fiber 50 is not particularly limited, and a known impregnation method or the like may be suitably used. Specifically, the resin fiber 50 is placed in a tank filled with the adhesive 54. And after dipping for a predetermined time, the resin fiber 50 is pulled up from the tank and the solvent is dried.

  The method of forming the blade 42 is not particularly limited as long as the metal resin 52 to which the release agent 56 is attached and the resin fiber 50 to which the adhesive 54 is attached can be formed by mixing them in a mesh shape. However, as an example, an apparatus as shown in FIG. 6 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-70235 may be used.

In FIG. 6, the conceptual diagram of an example of the braiding apparatus used when mixing the blade 42 which concerns on this invention is shown.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 6 (disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-70235) is formed in two strips that meander endlessly and meander over and over the entire circumference of the guide disc 122. A plurality of bobbins 125... Which move in half opposite directions along the guide grooves 123 and 124 are arranged, and the resin fibers 50 and the metal resin 52 are disposed on the bobbins 125. Are bundled and wound. Furthermore, the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 has a pulley 127 and a gear mechanism that transmits a driving force to the pulley 127.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 6 has a long resin cylinder by feeding out the resin fibers 50 and the metal fibers 52 while moving the bobbins 125 along the guide grooves 123 and 124 by a moving operation mechanism (not shown). The blade 42 is knitted on the outer peripheral surface of the member 115. At this time, the blade 42 is wound around the pulley 127 and transferred.
The blade knitted as described above is cut into a predetermined length, and the resin cylindrical member 115 is removed to obtain the cylindrical blade 42.

In the present invention, the method of covering the outer surface of the screw tube 40 with the blade 42 is not particularly limited. As an example, the screw tube 40 is inserted inside the hollow (tubular) blade 42, After the insertion, there is a method in which the blade 42 is stretched by an appropriate means until there is no gap between the screw tube 40 and the blade 42, and the blade 42 is covered so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 40.
In this way, the inner tube 48 in a state where the blade 42 is covered can be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 40.

The outer skin 44 is made of resin and is not particularly limited as long as it can protect the inside of the flexible tube and does not affect the living body when the endoscope 10 is inserted into the body.
The resin forming the outer skin 44 is not particularly limited, but synthetic resin such as polyurethane resin, vinyl chloride, nylon, polyester, Teflon (registered trademark), polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin. Preferred examples include polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, fluorine resins, and mixtures thereof.

  The method of forming the outer skin 44 is not particularly limited, and the hollow tubular outer skin 44 may be formed by a method of manufacturing a known hollow tube. In addition, for example, a known extruder is used. A method of directly forming the outer skin 44 on the outer peripheral surface of the blade 42 of the inner tube 48 by extruding and adhering the molten resin to the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 48 to a uniform thickness and then immediately cooling it. Is mentioned.

  As described above, when the outer skin 44 is directly formed on the outer peripheral surface of the blade 42, the adhesive 54 attached to the resin fiber 50 of the blade 42 and the metal fiber 52 are attached by the heat of the resin used. The release agent 56 is melted, and the metal fiber 52 is not bonded to the outer skin 44 by the action of the release agent 56, but only the resin fiber 50 is firmly bonded to the outer skin 44 by the adhesive 54. The blade 42 is covered with an outer skin 44.

In the present invention, there is no particular limitation on the method for covering the outer peripheral surface of the blade 42 of the inner tube 48 with the outer skin 44. As described above, the outer skin 44 is directly formed on the outer peripheral surface of the blade 42, and the blade 42. The outer skin 44 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner surface. As another example, the inner tube 48 is covered with a preformed hollow tubular skin 44, and the whole is subjected to a temperature of about 160 ° C. to 180 ° C. The heat causes the adhesive 54 attached to the resin fiber 50 of the blade 42 and the release agent 56 attached to the metal fiber 52 to melt, and the resin fiber 50 and the outer skin 44 are passed through the adhesive 54. And the outer skin 44 is coated on the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 48. Also in this case, the metal fiber 52 of the blade 42 is not bonded to the outer skin 44 by the action of the release agent 56.
The temperature range of about 160 ° C. to 180 ° C. is such that when the polyurethane resin adhesive 54, the silicone resin mold release agent 56, and the outer skin 44 made of polyurethane elastomer or polyester elastomer are used, the blade 42 is placed inside. When the outer peripheral surface of the tube 48 is coated, the adhesive 54 and the release agent 56 are melted, and the adhesive 54 does not adhere the blade 42 and the screw tube 40, and the resin fiber 50 and the outer skin 44 of the blade 42. And the mold release agent 56 is in a suitable temperature range in which the metal fibers 52 and the outer skin 44 of the blade 42 are prevented from adhering to each other.

  As described above, the flexible tube 26 of the present invention includes the resin fiber 50 to which the adhesive 54 is adhered and the metal fiber 52 to which the release agent 56 is adhered, regardless of the method that is used. By having the mesh-blended blade 42, the resin fiber 50 of the blade 42 is firmly bonded to the outer skin 44 via the adhesive 54, while the metal fiber 52 is caused by the action of the release agent 56. Since there is no adhesion with the outer skin 44, there are almost no bonds in which the adhesiveness (adhesiveness) decreases due to the influence of time or moisture in the bonding that bonds the blade 42 and the outer skin 44 by the anchor effect. As a result, the flexible tube 26 according to the present invention does not deteriorate the adhesiveness between the grade 42 and the outer skin 44 due to the usage time of the endoscope or the moisture in the usage environment. It is possible to provide a highly durable endoscope 10 that does not decrease in rigidity.

In the present invention, the coating layer 46 is a non-adhesive layer, protects the outer skin 44, prevents body filth from adhering to the outer surface portion of the endoscope 10, and the endoscope 10. This is to increase the resistance of the flexible tube 26 inserted into the body cavity of the patient, and to increase the resistance to chemicals.
The material for forming the coat layer 46 is not particularly limited, and any material used for the conventional flexible tube 26 may be used. Also, the formation method is not particularly limited, and may be formed by a known method. Good.
Furthermore, the method for covering the outer peripheral surface of the outer skin 44 with the coat layer 46 is not particularly limited, and may be performed by a known method.

  Although the endoscope flexible tube of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it's also good.

It is the schematic of one Example of the endoscope using the flexible tube for endoscopes of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of one Example of the flexible tube for endoscopes of this invention. It is a reference figure of the comparative example for demonstrating the flexible tube of this invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the blade shown in FIG. 3. It is a schematic diagram of one Example of the flexible tube for endoscopes of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of one Example of the braiding apparatus used when the blade which concerns on this invention is mixed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 12 Insertion part 14 Operation part 18 Universal code 22 Tip part 24 Angle part 26 Endoscope flexible tube 28 Forceps port 30 Suction button 32 Air supply / water supply button 36,38 Operation knob 40,110 Screw tube 42 , 104 Blade 44, 108 Outer skin 46 Coat layer 48 Inner tube 50, 100 Metal fiber 52, 102 Resin fiber 54, 106 Adhesive agent 56 Release agent 115 Cylindrical member 122 Guide disk 123, 124 Guide groove 125 Bobbin 127 Pulley 128 Gear mechanism

Claims (5)

A screw tube formed by spirally winding a belt-like plate;
A blade covering the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube;
A flexible tube for an endoscope having a resin outer shell covering the outer peripheral surface of the blade,
The blade is obtained by mixing a metal fiber having a release agent attached thereto and a heat-resistant resin fiber having an adhesive agent attached thereto in a mesh shape, and is adhered to the outer skin by the adhesive agent. A flexible tube for an endoscope.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein only the resin fiber of the metal fiber and the resin fiber constituting the blade is bonded to the outer skin via the adhesive.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the blade has a one-layer configuration.   4. The weight according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the metal fiber to which the release agent is attached is increased by 10% or more compared to the weight of the metal fiber before the release agent is attached. Endoscopic flexible tube.   The flexible tube for endoscopes according to claim 1, further comprising a coat layer that covers an outer peripheral surface of the outer skin.