JP5410008B2 - Endoscopy propulsion device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to an endoscope propulsion apparatus having a propulsion arm for an insertion tube to advance forward.

In the case of conventional endoscopes, when the insertion tube is advanced in the intestine, most of them perform an operation of manually feeding out the insertion tube from the endoscope main body side. Therefore, the inventor of the present application provides an openable / closable umbrella body on the distal end side of the insertion tube so that the tube body can be moved forward and backward. In this case, an umbrella type advance device configured to close is proposed (Patent Document 1).
Registration No. 1300882 Design Gazette

  The above-described umbrella-type advancement device has an appropriate action and effect. However, in order to improve medical technology, it is desired that the mechanism is simpler and the operability is improved.

  The present invention was made as a result of the inventor's earnest research on the improvement of the above-mentioned prior art, and the insertion tube self-advanced without damaging the intestinal wall, the mechanism was simple, and the operability was improved. An object is to provide an endoscope propulsion device.

Means for constructing the invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is that the insertion tube constituting the endoscope is formed of a long hole along the axial direction of the insertion tube, and is spaced apart in the circumferential direction. A plurality of arm operation holes formed, a propulsion arm pivotally supported by the base supported by the insertion tube and projecting outward from each arm operation hole, and being able to bend only backward; wherein a drive mechanism that operates in the longitudinal direction relative to the insertion tube, consist of a cover made of soft materials covered state to the insertion tube so as to cover the propulsion arm and the arm operation hole integrally, the propulsion arm plurality These arm component pieces are pivotally connected to each other, and each arm component piece is formed with a bending allowance portion.

Since the present invention is configured as described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The insertion tube of the endoscope moves forward by moving back and forth while raising and lowering the propulsion arm, and the practitioner does not need to send it out by hand. There is no excessive pressure on the wall and no discomfort to the patient.
(2) Since the propulsion arm is configured such that a plurality of arm component pieces are pivotally connected to each other, and a bending allowance portion is formed on each component piece, the propulsion arm can be bent only backward. The tip of the propulsion arm that hits the fold of the intestinal wall can be smoothly advanced without damaging the intestinal wall because the tip side is bent.
(3) The insertion tube is configured to move forward by the operation of the propulsion arm by the drive source, and the practitioner is not always required to perform an operation for moving forward, so that the original operation of the endoscope is not hindered.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an insertion tube constituting an endoscope, and the insertion tube 1 is basically different from the conventional insertion tube in its configuration. 2, 2,... Show four groove-like arm operating holes formed near the distal end of the insertion tube 1, and each arm operation hole 2 consists of a long hole along the axial direction of the insertion tube 1. Yes. And the arm standing piece 2A and the arm fall piece 2B which the propulsion arm 5 mentioned later contact | abuts at the front-end hole edge and rear-end hole edge of each arm operation | movement hole 2 each protrude toward the groove hole. Further, four arm operation holes 2 are formed in the cross direction so as to be separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the insertion tube 1, and the outer peripheral surface 1 </ b> A of the insertion tube 1 is in a state where the rear of each arm operation hole 2 is notched shallowly. A housing recess 1B is formed.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a tube propulsion mechanism disposed in the insertion tube 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a base constituting the tube propulsion mechanism 3. The base 4 is made of a cylinder, and has a boss 4A in which an internal thread is engraved on the inner peripheral surface and a cruciform shape projecting radially from the boss 4A. It is composed of four arm support portions 4B, 4B,... Projecting slightly outward from the operation hole 2, and each arm support portion 4B is composed of a pair of support pieces 4B ₁ , 4B ₁ .

5,5, ... it is pivotally supported on the arm support portion 4B in a state where the sandwiched the pair of support pieces 4B _1, 4B _1, showing the four propulsion arms projecting from the outer peripheral surface 1A of the insertion tube 1 . Each propulsion arm 5 protrudes into the insertion tube 1 from the base end side of the first arm piece 5A pivotally supported by the support pieces 4B ₁ and 4B ₁ and the first arm piece 5A, and the front convex curved surface is an upright surface. 5B ₁ and a substantially claw-like undulation actuating piece 5B in which the rear concave curved surface is the inclining surface 5B ₂ (see FIG. 5), and the second end is pivotally supported by the distal end of the first arm piece 5A. The arm piece 5C is composed of an arm piece 5C and a tip piece 5D that is pivotally supported at the tip of the second arm piece 5C and curved at the tip side. Then, the rear corners of the first arm piece 5A, the rear corners of the second arm piece 5C, and the corners of the tip piece 5D are cut diagonally so that the propulsion arm 5 can only bend backwards. Therefore, the bending allowance portions 6, 6, and 6 are provided.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a drive mechanism for moving the tube propulsion mechanism 3 forward. The drive mechanism 7 has flexibility and a core made of a synthetic resin material, and has a screw shaft 8 formed with a male screw 8A screwed to the boss 4A of the base body 4 on the outer peripheral surface, and the screw shaft 8 is rotatable. A plurality of shaft support pieces 9 and 9 which are provided in the insertion tube 1 so as to be supported and are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the tube propulsion mechanism 3 at an appropriate interval and formed with a shaft sliding hole 9A in the center, and a screw shaft A drive motor 10 is provided in the insertion tube 1 to rotationally drive the motor 8 and is composed of a micro motor connected to the rear end of the screw shaft 8. Each shaft support piece 9 has a plurality of insertion holes 9B through which the optical fiber A, forceps B, camera cord C and the like are inserted.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a cover that covers the tube propulsion mechanism 3 and the arm operation holes 2, 2,. The cover 11 is made of a synthetic resin film that is soft and has an appropriate elasticity. The front and rear sides of the cover 11 are accordion-like cylindrical portions 11A so as to correspond to the relative longitudinal movement of the tube propulsion mechanism 3 with respect to the insertion tube 1. 11A, the middle is formed of a bulging portion 11B that accommodates each propulsion arm 5, and the cover 11 has a front end and a rear end adhered to the outer peripheral surface 1A of the insertion tube 1 in a liquid-tight manner. is there.

  The endoscope propulsion device according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and the number of insertion tubes 1 provided is not limited to one set, and a plurality of sets may be provided at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction of the insertion tube 1. Good. Next, the operation will be described. Each propulsion arm 5 is maintained in a state of extending substantially laterally by the shape holding force of the cover 11 and protrudes outward of the insertion tube 1 so that the tip of the tip piece 5D contacts the intestinal wall. It is locked in the intestine. Therefore, when the screw shaft 8 is rotated by the drive motor 10, the screw shaft 8 moves forward with respect to the base body 4 of the tube propulsion mechanism 3, whereby the insertion tube 1 moves forward in the direction indicated by the arrow. To do.

When the insertion tube 1 moves forward and the arm fall piece 2B pushes the hoisting action piece 5B forward, the propulsion arms 5 are separated from the intestinal wall and fall backward. When the screw shaft 8 is rotated in this state, each propulsion arm 5 in a lying state moves forward in the arm operation hole 2 without damaging the intestinal wall, and the undulation operation piece 5B comes into contact with the arm upright piece 2A. As a result of standing up and the tip contacting the intestinal wall, the initial state is obtained.

In this way, the insertion tube 1 is self-adjusted along the intestinal wall by alternately raising the propulsion arm 5 and contacting the intestinal wall, moving the insertion tube 1 forward, and lying down, moving forward and raising the propulsion arm 5. You can move forward. In addition, since the first arm piece 5A, the second arm piece 5C, and the tip piece 5D of the propulsion arm 5 are laid down backward, the propulsion arm 5 follows and operates even in a place where the intestinal wall has irregularities due to wrinkles, Does not damage the intestinal wall.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment. In addition, in this Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and used for the component same as the component of 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. In the figure, 21 is a pipe propulsion mechanism, 22 is a base constituting the pipe propulsion mechanism 21, and the base 22 protrudes in a cruciform shape from the boss 22A and the boss 22A in the radial direction. Are formed of four arm support portions 22B, 22B,..., And each arm support portion 22B is composed of a pair of support pieces 22B ₁ , 22B ₁ .

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a support rod for supporting the base 22 on the insertion tube 1, and the support rod 23 is made of a flexible and cored wire, and the boss 22A is inserted in the middle portion. The support rod 23 is supported approximately at the center of the insertion tube 1 by a pair of fixing pieces 24 and 24 that are positioned in front of and behind the arm operation hole 2 and fixed inside the insertion tube 1.

25, 25,... Are four propulsions which are pivotally supported by the respective arm support portions 22B while being sandwiched between the respective pair of support pieces 22B ₁ and 22B ₁ and project outward from the arm operation holes 2 Showing arms. Each of the propulsion arms 25 is basically the same as the propulsion arm 5 in the first embodiment, and is composed of a first arm piece 25A, a second arm piece 25B, and a tip piece 25C that are pivotally supported in sequence. The folding allowance portions 26, 26,... Are formed at the rear corners of the pieces 25A, 25B, 25C so that they can be folded, but the undulating operation piece 5B is not formed.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a drive mechanism for operating the tube propulsion mechanism 22. Reference numeral 28 denotes an operating rod made of a flexible and cored wire constituting the drive mechanism 27. The operating rod 28 is slidably inserted into the fixed piece 24, and the distal end 28A is the base end of the first arm piece 25A. The base end side 28B (not shown) is connected to an actuator (not shown) provided in the operation portion of the endoscope. is there. Then, by actuating the actuator, the operating rod 28 pushes the propulsion arm 25 in the front-rear direction along the axial direction of the insertion tube 1, and the propulsion arm 25 advances the insertion tube 1 while making contact with and separating from the intestinal wall. Can do.

  The present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and when the insertion arm 1 is moved forward in the intestine by moving the propelling arm 25 backward and returned to the front, at least the distal end piece 25C is bent, thereby smoothing the inside of the intestine. The operation that can be moved back and forth is the same as in the first embodiment. The operating rod 28 may be operated manually instead of the actuator or selectively.

  In the present embodiment, the cover 11 covering the arm operating hole 2 and the propelling arm 25 of the insertion tube 1 is not shown, but the cover 11 is provided as in the first embodiment. is there.

  In the first and second embodiments, the four propulsion arms 5 and 25 are used, but three propulsion arms may be configured as one set or five as one set.

  Further, an artificial muscle may be provided on the propulsion arm 4 and the propulsion arm 4 may be laid down by reducing the artificial muscle.

1 to 7 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a front view of an endoscope propulsion device. It is an external appearance perspective view of the propulsion device for endoscopes. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view of the propulsion apparatus for endoscopes. It is an enlarged plan view of the propulsion device for endoscope. It is a VV arrow direction sectional view in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a motion of a propulsion arm. It is explanatory drawing of the state which bent the whole propulsion arm. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view of the endoscope propulsion apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion tube 2 Arm operation hole 3, 21 Pipe propulsion mechanism 4, 22 Base | substrate 5, 25 Propulsion arm 6, 26 Folding allowance part 7, 27 Drive mechanism 8 Screw shaft 10 Drive source 11 Cover

Claims (1)

The insertion tube constituting the endoscope has a plurality of arm operation holes formed of elongated holes along the axial direction of the insertion tube and spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction, and a base end on a base supported by the insertion tube A tube propulsion mechanism having a propulsion arm that is pivotally supported and protrudes outward from each arm actuation hole and can only bend backward, and the propulsion arm of the tube propulsion mechanism operates in the front-rear direction with respect to the insertion tube A driving mechanism and a cover made of a soft material covering the insertion tube so as to integrally cover the propulsion arm and the arm operation hole, and the propulsion arm is pivotally connected to a plurality of arm constituent pieces. , der Ru in propulsion assembly obtained by forming a倒屈allowing portion in respective arm component piece.

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