JP5567766B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope including an operation unit having a gripping portion at a proximal end portion of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity.

  In a medical endoscope, an operation portion having a grip portion is provided at a proximal end portion of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity. Then, the operator grasps the grasping portion with one hand and holds the insertion portion with the other hand and inserts it into the body cavity of the patient to observe and treat the inside of the body cavity. Therefore, the operation portion is provided with a bending operation lever and various operation switches so that the operator can operate the bending operation, air supply / water supply / suction and photography while holding the holding portion.

  Moreover, the conventional medical endoscope is provided with an operation portion at the proximal end portion of the insertion portion, but the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion and the longitudinal axis of the operation portion are integrally provided substantially coaxially and operated. The part and the insertion part operate integrally.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, during the observation by inserting the insertion portion b of the rigid endoscope a into the body cavity d of the patient c, the distal end constituting portion e of the insertion portion b is changed in order to change the observation direction. To swing left and right (arrow f), the operator needs to extend the arm h holding the operation part g long and change the position of the distal end constituting part e of the insertion part b. For this reason, the operator stretches or shortens the arm h for a long time, and the surgeon is forced to take an unreasonable posture. .

Therefore, the operation part provided at the base end of the insertion part is composed of a connection part and a grip part as the operation part body connected to the insertion part, and the connection part and the grip part are rotatably connected by a pin. An endoscope is known in which an angle formed by a connecting portion and a gripping portion can be arbitrarily adjusted (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-171405

  However, in Patent Document 1, as a structure in which the connection portion and the gripping portion of the operation unit main body are rotatably connected by a pin, a piece-like portion that is surface-bonded to each other is provided on the connection portion side and the gripping portion side. The parts are connected to each other by pins. Therefore, when the connecting portion and the gripping portion are rotated, the piece-like portions are overlapped or exposed while sliding, so that there is a problem that it is not possible to clean every corner during cleaning after using the endoscope.

  Furthermore, the operation unit main body connected to the insertion unit is a pistol type in which the gripping unit is inclined downward with respect to the connection unit that coincides with the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit. It protrudes downward. Therefore, during the observation by inserting the insertion part into the body cavity from the patient's abdomen, the gripping part hits the patient's abdomen, and even if the gripping part is moved to change the observation direction, it cannot be moved smoothly. There is a problem that the operability is bad.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is that even when the viewing direction is greatly changed in a state where the insertion portion of the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity, It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can reduce an operator's fatigue without taking an unreasonable posture, is structurally simple, and has excellent cleanability after use of the endoscope.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the first aspect connects the insertion portion inserted into the body cavity, the operation portion having the grip portion, and the insertion portion and the operation portion so as to be rotatable. The rotation connecting portion includes a first form in which a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion and a longitudinal axis of the operation portion are substantially perpendicular to each other, and a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion and the operation portion. It can freely rotate between the second form and the longitudinal axis substantially coincide with each other, and further, the rotational connection portion includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion and the longitudinal axis of the operation portion. In the state where the inclined surfaces that are inclined with respect to each other face each other and the inclined surfaces are joined to each other , the insertion portion and the operation portion are rotatably connected to each other. When the positional relationship between the insertion part and the operation part is the first form and the second form, both the insertion part and the operation part are elastically engaged. In endoscope characterized by comprising click means for lifting.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the inclined surface of the insertion portion and the inclined surface of the operation portion of claim 1 are approximately 45 ° .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the rotational connecting portion according to the first aspect is provided at a connecting portion main body provided between the inserting portion and the operating portion, and at one end of the connecting portion main body, A first rotating part rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the part, and a second rotating part provided at the other end of the connecting part main body and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the operating part The first rotating part and the second rotating part are rotatable in opposite directions to each other .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the first rotating portion according to the third aspect has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the operating portion and an inclined surface inclined substantially 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion main body. In a state where the surface faces each other, the second rotating portion faces a surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion and a surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion main body. It is the state which was in the state .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion main body of the third aspect has a space portion through which a built-in object built in the inserting portion and the operating portion is inserted, and the inserting portion and the operating portion are the connecting portion main body. When rotating with respect to the built-in object, it is idle .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the gripping portion of the operation unit according to the first aspect has an operation table that is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the operation unit. Part and various operation switches are provided .

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the grip portion of the operation portion according to claim 1 has an operation table, and the operation table is provided with a curved holding release lever so as to be rotatable .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the gripping portion of the operation unit of the first aspect has an operation table, and the operation table is provided with a curved holding release lever so as to be rotatable. A switch is provided .

  According to the present invention, the first form in which the longitudinal axis of the insertion part and the longitudinal axis of the operation part are substantially perpendicular to each other and the second form in which the longitudinal axis of the insertion part and the longitudinal axis of the operation part substantially coincide with each other. Since the endoscope can be rotated freely, even when the observation direction is greatly changed with the insertion portion of the endoscope inserted into the body cavity, the operator is not forced to take an unreasonable posture. Can be reduced. In addition, there is an effect that the structure is simple and the cleaning property after use of the endoscope is excellent.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a rigid endoscope, FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a longitudinal axis of an insertion portion and a longitudinal axis of an operation portion are substantially perpendicular, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view of the insertion portion. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the shaft and the longitudinal axis of the operation portion are substantially coincident, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of a rotation connecting portion that rotatably connects the insertion portion and the operation portion, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows A line.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rigid endoscope 11 includes an insertion portion 12 that is inserted into a body cavity and an operation portion 13 that is provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion portion 12. The insertion portion 12 has a pipe-like hard portion 14, and a distal end constituting portion 16 is provided on the distal end side of the hard portion 14 via a bending portion 15. The distal end component 16 is provided with an illumination window, an observation window, and an air / water supply / suction port (none of which are shown).

  The operating unit 13 is provided with a gripping part 17 that is held by an operator, and an operating table 18 is provided at the distal end of the gripping part 17. The operation table 18 includes a bending operation lever 19 for bending the bending portion 15, an operation switch 20 for air / water supply / suction, a shutter switch 21 for operating a camera body (not shown) built in the operation portion 13, and a bending operation. A holding release ring 22 is provided. The operator can operate the bending operation lever 19, the operation switch 20, and the shutter switch 21 with fingers while holding the grip portion 17.

  A universal cord 23 is connected to the operation unit 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the universal cord 23 includes a light guide fiber 23 a, a video signal line 23 b, and the like that communicate with the distal end configuration portion 16 of the insertion portion 12. The universal cord 23 is connected to an optical power supply device and a camera control unit (both not shown). A TV monitor is connected to the camera control unit so that an endoscopic image transmitted from the camera body is displayed. Furthermore, an angle wire 23 c connected to the bending portion 15 of the insertion portion 12 is provided in the operation portion 13.

  The base end portion 12a of the insertion portion 12 and the base end portion 13a of the operation portion 13 are rotatably connected via a rotation connecting portion 24. The inside of the rotation connecting portion 24 is connected to a light guide fiber 23a, The video signal line 23b and the angle wire 23c are inserted.

The rotation connecting part 24 is configured as shown in FIGS. That is, the base end portion 12 a of the insertion portion 12 is provided with an inclined surface 25 of approximately 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis S ₁ of the insertion portion 12, and the base end portion 13 a of the operation portion 13 is provided with the operation portion 13. the inclined surface 26 of approximately 45 ° to the axis S ₂ of the longitudinal axis is provided. An annular groove 25a is provided on the inclined surface 25 of the insertion portion 12 in the circumferential direction of the proximal end portion 12a. An O-ring 27 is fitted in the annular groove 25a, and the O-ring 27 is in close contact with the inclined surface 26 of the operation portion 13 to seal the insertion portion 12 and the operation portion 13 in a watertight manner.

  Further, the inclined surface 25 of the insertion portion 12 is provided with a flange portion 28 that protrudes inward, and the inclined surface 26 of the operation portion 13 is also provided with a flange portion 29 that protrudes inward. An annular coupling ring 30 is provided inside the flange portions 28 and 29. The coupling ring 30 is provided with an engagement flange portion 30 a that engages with the flange portion 29 of the operation portion 13. A threaded portion 30 b is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the coupling ring 30, and a tightening ring 31 that engages with the flange portion 28 of the insertion portion 12 is screwed into the threaded portion 30 b. Therefore, the inclined surfaces 25 and 26 are rotatably coupled in the joined state by the coupling ring 30 and the tightening ring 31.

  Further, guide grooves 32 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flange portion 29 of the operation portion 13 over approximately 180 °. Engagement recesses 33 formed by recesses deeper than the guide grooves 32 are provided at both ends of the guide grooves 32. Is provided. A through-hole 34 is formed in a radial direction in a part of the coupling ring 30 in the circumferential direction, and an engagement element 36 that is pressed radially outward by a biasing spring 35 is provided in the through-hole 34. The engagement element 36 is engaged with the guide groove 32, and the coupling ring 30 rotates integrally with the insertion portion 12 in a state where the engagement element 36 is engaged with the guide groove 32. Therefore, when the insertion portion 12 is rotated 180 ° to the right or left with respect to the operation portion 13, a click means is configured to engage and elastically engage the engaging element 36 into the engaging recess 33. ing.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

State shown in FIG. 1 is an axis line S ₂ is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the operation portion 13 with respect to the axial lines S ₁ of the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12 (first embodiment), the longitudinal axis horizontal state of the insertion portion 12 The longitudinal axis of the operation unit 13 is in the vertical direction, and the gripping unit 17 is above the insertion unit 12. At this time, in the rotation connecting portion 24, the engaging portion 36 falls into the engaging recess 33 and is elastically engaged, so that the operating portion 13 may not rotate carelessly with respect to the insertion portion 12. Absent. In this state, the gripping portion 17 of the operation unit 13 is gripped with the left hand, the operation unit 13 is rotated in the left-right direction, and is rotated about the axis S ₁ of the insertion unit 12, so Direction) can be changed. At the same time, the surgeon can operate the bending operation lever 19 with, for example, the thumb, and the operation switch 20 and the shutter switch 21 such as air / water supply / suction with the index finger.

  At this time, even if the longitudinal axis of the insertion part 12 is horizontal, the longitudinal axis of the operation part 13 is at the upper part. It can be rotated to change the field of view and is easy to operate.

  In addition, the endoscopic image captured by the camera body built in the operation unit 13 is displayed on the TV monitor of the camera control unit, and the surgeon can operate while viewing the endoscopic image on the TV monitor.

The state shown in FIG. 2 is the same as the state shown in FIG. 1 except that the rotary connecting portion 24 is rotated 180 ° about the longitudinal axis S ₁ of the insertion portion 12 with respect to the operation portion 13. there the longitudinal axis of the operation portion 13 with respect to the axial lines S ₁ the axis S ₂ is substantially coincident with a straight line (second embodiment), the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal axis and the operating portion 13 of the insertion portion 12 in a straight line .

That is, from the state of FIG. 1, in a state of fixing the base end portion 13a of the operation unit 13, rotates the insertion portion 12 of the axis S ₁ as the axis, the inclined surface of the insertion portion 12 of the pivotably connecting section 24 25 and the inclined surface 26 of the operation unit 13 rotate while sliding. At this time, the engagement between the engagement element 36 and the engagement recess 33 is once released, and the engagement element 36 is rotated by 180 ° while being guided by the guide groove 32, and is lowered into the engagement recess 33 on the other end side to be engaged. And elastically engage. Therefore, it is fixedly held on a straight line that substantially coincides with the axis S ₂ of the longitudinal axis of the operating portion 13 with respect to the axis S ₁ of the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12.

Even in this state, the gripping portion 17 of the operation unit 13 is gripped with the right hand, the operation unit 13 is rotated in the left-right direction, and is rotated about the axis S ₁ of the insertion unit 12, so (Viewing direction) can be changed. At the same time, for example, the bending operation lever 19 can be operated with the thumb, and the operation switch 20 for air / water supply / suction and the shutter switch 21 can be operated with the index finger.

Thus, in a state where the insertion portion 12 is inserted into the body cavity, even when significantly changing the orientation (viewing direction) of the insertion portion 12 and rotated about the axis S ₁ tip member 16, the operator However, the operator's fatigue can be reduced without taking an unreasonable posture. Further, an O-ring 27 is interposed between the inclined surface 25 and the inclined surface 26 of the insertion portion 12, and even if the operation portion 13 rotates at the same angle with respect to the insertion portion 12, the O-ring 27 is watertight. It is sealed. In addition, the inclined surface 25 and the inclined surface 26 are always opposed to each other regardless of the angle of the operation unit 13 with respect to the insertion unit 12 and is not exposed or hidden. Excellent cleanability after use.

Further, when the operation unit 13 is rotated by 180 ° about the axis S ₁ of the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit 12, the endoscopic image displayed on the TV monitor is in an inverted state. It is also possible to detect the moving angle and correct the endoscopic image displayed on the TV monitor by the detection signal to an upright state.

  5 and 6 show the second embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a connecting cylinder body 41 as a connecting portion main body is provided between the base end portion 12 a of the insertion portion 12 and the base end portion 13 a of the operation portion 13. The connection cylinder 41 is provided with a first rotation connection portion 42a and a second rotation connection portion 42b, which are rotatable in opposite directions.

The connecting cylinder 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the first rotating connecting portion 42a provided at one end thereof is basically the same as the rotating connecting portion 24 of the first embodiment, and An inclined surface 25 of approximately 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis S ₁ is provided, and an inclined surface 26 of approximately 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis S _{2 of} the operating portion 13 is provided at the base end portion 13 a of the operating portion 13. Are provided with the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

Referring to the second pivot coupling portion 42b provided at one end of the connection cylinder 41, perpendicular to the axis lines S ₁ of the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12 to the end of the connecting cylinder 41 the flange portion 43 Is provided. Guide grooves 44 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flange portion 43 over approximately 180 °, and engaging recesses 45 formed by recesses deeper than the guide grooves 44 are provided at both ends of the guide grooves 44.

  An annular coupling ring 46 having an engaging flange portion 46 a that engages with the flange portion 43 is provided inside one end portion of the connecting cylinder 41. A screw portion 46b is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the coupling ring 46, and a tightening ring 47 fitted to the proximal end portion 12a of the insertion portion 12 is screwed into the screw portion 46b.

  Therefore, the coupling cylinder 41 and the coupling ring 46 are rotatably coupled to each other in the joined state by the coupling ring 46 and the tightening ring 47. Further, a through hole 48 is formed in a radial direction in a part of the coupling ring 46 in the circumferential direction, and an engagement element 50 pressed outward in the radial direction by an urging spring 49 is provided in the through hole 48. Yes. The engaging element 50 is engaged with the guide groove 44, and the coupling cylinder 41 and the coupling ring 46 are rotated in a state where the engaging element 50 is engaged with the guide groove 44. When the operation unit 13 is rotated 180 ° to the right or left with respect to 12, the click member is configured to engage and elastically engage the engaging element 50 by dropping into the engaging recess 45.

  Note that an annular groove 51 is provided in the engagement flange 46 a of the coupling ring 46. An O-ring 52 is fitted into the annular groove 51, and the O-ring 52 is in close contact with the inner surface of the flange portion 43 of the connecting cylinder 41 to seal the insertion portion 12 and the connecting cylinder 41 in a watertight manner.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the guide grooves 32 and 44 provided in the first rotation connection portion 42a and the second rotation connection portion 42b are reversed left and right with a vertical line as a boundary. The first rotation connecting portion 42a is capable of rotating, for example, the connecting cylinder 41 in the right direction with respect to the operation portion 13, but the second rotation connecting portion 42a is provided in the first rotation connecting portion 42a. 42b allows the insertion portion 12 to rotate, for example, to the left with respect to the connecting cylinder 41.

  Further, the connecting cylinder 41 has a cylindrical shape, and a space 41a is provided therein, and built-in objects such as a light guide fiber 23a, a video signal line 23b, and an angle wire 23c are inserted through the space 41a. Therefore, the rotating contents of the connecting cylinder 41 rotate around the contents, thereby preventing twisting and entanglement of the built-in objects.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

An axial line S ₂ is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the operation portion 13 with respect to the axial lines S ₁ of the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12, located in the longitudinal axis horizontal state of the insertion portion 12, the longitudinal axis of the operation portion 13 vertically In the upper part of the insertion part 12. At this time, in the first rotation connection part 42a and the second rotation connection part 42b, the engaging elements 36, 50 fall into the engagement recesses 33, 45, and are elastically engaged. 12 does not rotate the operating unit 13 carelessly. In this state, the gripping portion 17 of the operation unit 13 is gripped with the left hand, the operation unit 13 is rotated in the left-right direction, and is rotated about the axis S ₁ of the insertion unit 12, so Direction) can be changed.

Further, while fixedly holding the connecting cylinder 41 and rotating the insertion portion 12 around the axis S _1, the engagement between the engaging member 50 and the engaging recess 45 is released once, engaging elements 50 While being guided by the guide groove 44, it is rotated by 180 °, and is lowered into the engagement recess 45 on the other end side to engage elastically. Therefore, it is fixedly held on a straight line obtained by substantially matching the axis S ₂ of the longitudinal axis of the operation portion 13 with respect to the axial lines S ₁ of the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12.

Next, in a state of fixedly retaining the connection cylinder 41 and rotating the operating portion 13 around the axis S _2, the engagement between the engaging member 36 and the engaging recess 33 is released once, the engaging element 36 Is rotated by 180 ° while being guided by the guide groove 32, and is lowered into the engagement recess 33 on the other end side to be elastically engaged. Therefore, the endoscopic image displayed on the TV monitor is not turned upside down, and the rotation angle is detected by the first and second rotation connecting portions 24a and 24b, and the endoscope image displayed on the TV monitor is detected by the detection signal. There is no need to correct the endoscopic image to an upright state.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, the operating unit 13 is provided with a gripping part 17 that is held by an operator, and an operating table 56 is provided at the distal end of the gripping part 17 via a second rotation connecting part 55. Control console 56 is freely 180 ° rotation of the axis S ₂ of the longitudinal axis of the operation portion 13 as a center axis, a bending operation lever 57 for bending operation of the bending portion 15 in the operation console 56, the air water-suction etc. , An operation switch 58, a shutter switch 59 for operating a camera body (not shown) built in the operation unit 13, and a curved holding release ring 60 are provided.

According to the present embodiment, since the operation table 56 is rotatable by 180 ° about the axis S ₂ of the longitudinal axis of the operation unit 13 with respect to the grasping unit 17, the operator grasps the grasping unit 17. Thus, the operation switch 58 and the shutter switch 59 can be moved in any direction, and the operability can be improved.

  FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, the operation portion 13 is provided with a grip portion 17 that is held by an operator, and an operation table 61 is provided at the distal end portion of the grip portion 17. A pair of bending holding release levers 62 (only one is shown) for turning up and down and turning left and right are provided on both sides of the operation table 61 so as to be rotatable about a pin 63 as a fulcrum. The pair of bending holding release levers 62 can hold and release the bent state of the bending portion 15 in the vertical and horizontal directions by rotating with fingers.

  FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, the operation portion 13 is provided with a grip portion 17 that is held by an operator, and an operation table 61 is provided at the distal end portion of the grip portion 17. The operation table 61 is provided with a curved holding release lever 64 so as to be rotatable about a pin 65 as a fulcrum. The bending state of the bending portion 15 can be held and released by rotating the bending holding release lever 64 with fingers. Further, the curved holding release lever 64 is provided with an operation switch 58 for air supply / water supply / suction.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of disclosure, and the same components as those in the first and third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the present disclosure example, the operation unit 13 is provided with a grasping portion 17 that is grasped by an operator via a first universal joint 66a such as a ball joint. Furthermore, an operating table 56 is provided at the distal end of the gripping part 17 via a second universal joint 66b such as a ball joint. Therefore, the gripping part 17 can freely tilt in the direction with respect to the operation part 13, and the operation table 56 can tilt in any direction with respect to the gripping part 17. The operation table 56 includes a bending operation lever 57 for bending the bending portion 15, an operation switch 58 for air / water supply / suction, a shutter switch 59 for operating a camera body (not shown) built in the operation portion 13, and a bending operation. A holding release ring 60 is provided.

  According to the present disclosure example, since the grip portion 17 and the operation table 56 can be tilted in any direction, the operation switch 58 and the shutter can be operated while the operator tilts the grip portion 17 and the operation table 56 to an arbitrary position. The switch 59 can be operated.

  In each of the above embodiments, a rigid endoscope has been described as an endoscope, but it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to various flexible endoscopes. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the gist thereof in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

The side view of the endoscope which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the endoscope which shows the same embodiment. The longitudinal section side view of the rotation connection part of the insertion part and operation part which shows the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the same embodiment and follows the AA line of FIG. The longitudinal section side view of the endoscope which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The same embodiment is shown, (a) is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. 5, (b) is sectional drawing which follows the CC line of FIG. The side view of the endoscope which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the endoscope which shows the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the endoscope which shows the 5th Embodiment of this invention. The side view of an endoscope which shows the example of an indication of the present invention. The use explanatory drawing of the conventional endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Insertion part, 13 ... Operation part, 17 ... Gripping part, 19 ... Curve operation lever, 20 ... Operation switch, 21 ... Shutter switch, 22 ... Curve holding release ring, 24 ... Rotation connection part

Claims (8)

An insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity;
An operation unit having a gripping unit;
It consists of a rotation connecting part that rotatably connects the insertion part and the operation part,
The rotation connecting portion has a first configuration in which the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion and the longitudinal axis of the operation portion are substantially perpendicular to each other, and the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion and the longitudinal axis of the operation portion substantially coincide with each other. It can freely rotate between the two forms,
Furthermore, the rotation connecting part is a state in which an inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion part and an inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the operation part face each other and the inclined surfaces are joined to each other . Then, the insertion part and the operation part are rotatably connected,
Moreover, when the positional relationship between the insertion portion and the operation portion is the first form and the second form, the rotation connecting portion is a click that elastically engages and holds both the insertion portion and the operation portion. An endoscope comprising the means. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an inclined surface of the insertion portion and an inclined surface of the operation portion are approximately 45 ° . The rotating connecting portion is provided at a connecting portion main body provided between the inserting portion and the operating portion, and at one end of the connecting portion main body, and is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the inserting portion. A first rotation portion; and a second rotation portion that is provided at the other end of the coupling portion main body and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the operation portion. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the part and the second rotating part are rotatable in opposite directions . The first rotating unit is configured such that the inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the operation unit faces the inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the coupling unit main body by approximately 45 °. The rotating part of 2 is in a state in which a surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion part faces a surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting part main body. The endoscope according to 3 . The connecting portion main body has a space portion through which a built-in object built in the insertion portion and the operating portion is inserted, and the inserting portion and the operating portion are inserted into the built-in portion when rotating with respect to the connecting portion main body. The endoscope according to claim 3 , wherein the endoscope is idle with respect to an object . The gripping portion of the operation unit has an operation table that is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the operation unit, and the operation table is provided with a bending operation unit, a bending holding release unit, and various operation switches. The endoscope according to claim 1. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion of the operation portion includes an operation table, and the operation table is provided with a curved holding release lever so as to be rotatable . The gripping portion of the operation unit includes an operation table, the operation table is provided with a curved holding release lever so as to be rotatable, and the operation switch is provided with various operation switches. 1. The endoscope according to 1.

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