JP5844210B2 - Flexible tube folding prevention cover and endoscope provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible tube folding prevention cover and an endoscope provided with the same.

  Endoscopes are widely used not only in the medical field but also in the industrial field. The endoscope has an insertion part in which a camera unit or the like is stored at the tip, and an operation part to which the insertion part is connected. An image photographed by the camera unit is sent to the processor unit via the operation unit and displayed on the monitor.

  The insertion portion includes a hard distal end portion in which the camera unit is accommodated, a bendable bending portion provided continuously with the proximal end of the distal hard portion, and a flexible flexible member provided continuously with the proximal end of the bending portion. And a flexible tube is connected to the operation unit.

  In the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the outer periphery of the base end portion of the flexible tube is covered with a bend preventing member in order to prevent extreme bending near the base end portion of the flexible tube. In this Patent Document 1, the outer peripheral surface is formed in a tapered shape so that the anti-bending member becomes thinner as it goes to the distal end portion, and further, the inclination of the inner peripheral surface also changes midway, A thick-walled and high-rigidity bend-preventing portion is formed, and a tip portion is formed with a softer portion that is thinner and softer than the bend-preventing portion. When the flexible tube is bent, the soft part of the anti-bending member is also bent.

  In the endoscope of Patent Document 2, in order to eliminate the gap of the rubber cover due to the irregularities generated spirally on the outer skin surface of the flexible tube, the spiral irregularities that fit the irregularities are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rubber cover. doing. This rubber cover prevents the flexible tube from being bent extremely.

  In the endoscope of Patent Document 3, the hardness of the portion near the inner peripheral surface of the anti-bending member is made hard, and the hardness of the portion near the outer peripheral surface is made soft so that the anti-bending function and the flexible tube It keeps watertight.

Japanese Patent No. 3851702 Japanese Patent No. 3500526 Japanese Patent No. 4373514

  However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a taper angle changing portion that changes the inclination of the inner diameter surface between the distal end side and the proximal end side is provided, and a thin and soft soft portion can be prevented from bending toward the proximal end side at the distal end side. Even if a rigid anti-bending part is provided, if the distal end part is not sufficiently flexible and the bending angle at the base end part is large, there is a gap between the bending prevention member and the flexible tube. As a result, liquids or bacteria may enter the inside of the anti-bending member from this gap. Further, as in Patent Document 2, simply forming a rubber cover that fits the surface irregularities of the flexible tube on the inner peripheral surface of the rubber cover will break if the bending angle at the base end is large. There is a problem that a gap is formed between the distal end of the stopper member and the flexible tube. Furthermore, as in Patent Document 3, when the anti-bending member is integrally formed by two-layer molding, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.

  In addition, when the rubber folding member is formed long so as to cover the entire section of the bent portion at the base end portion of the flexible tube, the tip of the folding member is not positioned at the bent portion. Thereby, the clearance gap between a bending part and the front-end | tip of a bend prevention member can be eliminated. However, the effective length of the flexible tube is shortened by the length of the folding preventing member. For this reason, there exists a request | requirement which wants to shorten a bending prevention member so that the effective length of a flexible tube may not be sacrificed.

  The present invention is for solving the above-described problems, and can prevent a gap from being formed between the flexible tube even when the flexible tube is bent, and also ensure an effective length of the flexible tube. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible tube break-preventing cover and an endoscope including the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the flexible tube folding prevention cover of the present invention covers the proximal end portion of the flexible tube connected to the operation portion of the endoscope and prevents the proximal end portion from being folded . This flexible tube folding prevention cover includes an elastomer cylinder body and a thin portion. The tube body is inserted with a flexible tube, and the outer peripheral surface is formed in a tapered shape so that the tube body gradually becomes thinner from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion. The thin portion is formed by arranging a plurality of circumferential grooves formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body in the cylinder core direction. The circumferential groove is formed so that the groove depth gradually becomes deeper from the tip side arrangement toward the base end side arrangement. Further, the circumferential groove is formed so that the groove width gradually becomes wider from the tip side arrangement toward the base end side arrangement. The elastomer is a synthetic resin, and is a material having a property of returning to its original shape even when it is greatly bent, such as rubber.

The circumferential groove is preferably a plurality of grooves divided in the circumferential direction.

  The endoscope of the present invention is attached so as to cover the proximal end of the flexible tube between the insertion portion having the flexible tube, the operation portion to which the proximal end of the flexible tube is attached, and the insertion portion and the operation portion. And a flexible tube breakage cover.

  According to the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the tube main body of the flexible tube folding prevention cover is formed in a tapered shape so as to gradually become thinner from the base end portion toward the tip end portion, and the tube main body is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. Since the thin portion formed by arranging a plurality of formed circumferential grooves in the cylinder core direction is formed, when the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the flexible tube is bent, the tube body easily bends so as to follow the flexible tube. .

  In addition, the difference between the bending compression amount inside the bending and the bending elongation amount outside the bending due to bending deformation does not become large, and no gap is generated in the inner periphery of the tip. Thereby, it is hygienic because liquid, bacteria, etc. do not invade into the inside of the flexible tube folding prevention cover from the gap.

It is a side view which shows an endoscope. It is sectional drawing which shows the flexible tube of an insertion part. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the operation part which has a flexible tube, and a flexible tube folding stop cover. It is a side view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the operation part and cover which have a flexible tube. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the flexible tube folding stop cover to the operation part which has a flexible tube. It is sectional drawing which shows the flexible tube folding stop cover of the state which bent the base end part of the flexible tube. It is a side view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the operation part which has a flexible tube of 2nd Embodiment, and a flexible tube folding stop cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the flexible tube folding stop cover to the operation part which has a flexible tube of 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the operation part which has a flexible tube of 3rd Embodiment, and a flexible tube folding stop cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the flexible tube folding stop cover to the operation part which has a flexible tube of 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the flexible tube folding stop cover to the operation part which has a flexible tube of 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the flexible tube folding stop cover to the operation part which has a flexible tube of 5th Embodiment. It is an expanded view which shows the state which expand | deployed the cylinder main body of the flexible tube bend prevention cover of 6th Embodiment. It is an expanded view which shows the state which expand | deployed the cylinder main body of the flexible tube bend prevention cover of 7th Embodiment.

[ Reference form]
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 10 is, for example, an upper digestive tract endoscope, and is connected to an insertion portion 11 to be inserted into the upper digestive tract and a proximal end (rear end) portion of the insertion portion 11. An operation unit 12 and a universal cord 13 connected to the operation unit 12 are provided. The universal cord 13 is connected to a processor device, a light source device or the like via a composite type connector (not shown).

  The insertion portion 11 has, in order from the distal end side to the proximal end side, a hard distal end hard portion 11a in which a camera unit (not shown) having a CCD is incorporated, a bendable bending portion 11b, and a flexibility. It is divided into the flexible tube 11c which has. Although not shown in the drawings, the distal end surface of the distal rigid portion 11a is provided with an observation window and an illumination window in addition to a treatment instrument outlet, which is an outlet of a treatment instrument such as forceps, and an air / water supply nozzle. In addition, a water jet outlet and other nozzles are provided as necessary. A camera unit is disposed behind the observation window, and an optical fiber cable is disposed behind the illumination window. The signal line and the optical fiber cable of the camera unit pass through the insertion portion 11 and the universal cord 13 and are connected to the processor device and the light source device, respectively.

The bending portion 11b has a unit in which each node ring is pin-coupled. The bending portion 11b is bent at an arbitrary angle in the vertical and horizontal directions by the rotation operation of the angle knob 14 provided in the operation portion 12. Thereby, the observation site | part in a body cavity can be imaged with a camera unit toward the front- end | tip hard part 11a in the desired direction in a body cavity. The captured image is displayed on the monitor after being processed by the processor device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible tube 11c includes a screw tube 16 called a flex that protects the inside while maintaining flexibility in order from the inside, and prevents the screw tube 16 from extending by being covered on the screw tube 16. And a net 17 called a blade, and a flexible rubber coating layer 18 coated on the net 17. The outer layer of the curved portion 11 b is also covered with the coating layer 18. A signal line and an optical fiber cable of the camera unit are arranged inside the flexible tube 11c.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the distal end portion of the operation portion 12 is provided with a metal connection portion 12 a connected to the proximal end portion of the flexible tube 11 c and an attachment recess portion 12 b surrounding the metal connection portion 12 a. It has been. The connecting portion 12a has a two-stepped shape.

  The proximal end portion of the flexible tube 11 c and the connecting portion 12 a are covered with a flexible tube break-preventing cover 20. The flexible tube break-preventing cover 20 includes a cylindrical main body 21 made of silicon rubber (for example, hardness 50 °) through which the flexible tube 11c is inserted, and a metal attachment disposed at the base end portion of the cylindrical main body 21. A cylinder 22.

  By fitting the attachment tube 22 into the attachment recess 12 b, the flexible tube break-preventing cover 20 is attached to the operation unit 12. A concave portion 22a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting cylinder 22, and a rubber O-ring 23 for closely contacting the outer peripheral wall surface of the mounting concave portion 12b is accommodated in the concave portion 22a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a front recess 12c is formed in the front stage of the connecting portion 12a, and a rubber front O-ring 24 for tightly contacting the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body 21 is housed in the front recess 12c. ing. A rear concave portion 12d is formed at the rear stage of the connecting portion 12a, and a rubber rear O-ring 25 for closely contacting the inner peripheral surface of the mounting cylinder 22 is accommodated in the rear concave portion 12d.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder main body 21 is formed in a straight line shape at the base end portion, and is formed in a tapered shape so as to gradually become thinner from the straight line portion toward the distal end portion. The inner peripheral surface of the cylinder main body 21 is formed with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 11c in order from the distal end side toward the proximal end side, and the distal end taper has an inner diameter gradually increasing toward the proximal end side. The surface 21a, an intermediate tapered surface 21b formed with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 11c and gradually increasing in diameter toward the proximal end side, and a circumference with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the previous stage of the connecting portion 12a It becomes the surface 21c and the attachment surface 21d to which the attachment cylinder 22 is fixed. The tip tapered surface 21a and the intermediate tapered surface 21b of the tube body 21 are in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube 11c. A front stage of the coupling part 12a is inserted into the insertion coupling part 26 having the circumferential surface 21c, and the circumferential surface 21c is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the front stage of the coupling part 12a.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a thin portion 27 is formed at a substantially central portion in the tube core direction of the intermediate tapered surface 21 b of the tube body 21. Three circumferential grooves 28a, 28b, 28c are formed in the middle tapered surface 21b of the thin portion 27 so as to be arranged in the cylinder core direction along the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. The cross-sectional shapes of these circumferential grooves 28a to 28c are semicircles of the same size. Each of the circumferential grooves 28a to 28c is formed at a position where the tube main body 21 is bent most when the flexible tube 11c is bent, or at a center position in the tube core direction of the bend.

  As shown in FIG. 6, during use of the endoscope 10, the vicinity of the proximal end of the flexible tube 11c may be extremely bent. When the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the flexible tube 11c is bent, the tube main body 21 of the flexible tube break-preventing cover 20 is also bent. Since the circumferential grooves 28a to 28c are formed in the intermediate taper surface 21b of the cylinder body 21, the cylinder body 21 is easily bent so as to follow the flexible tube 11c. Since the circumferential grooves 28a to 28c are formed on the intermediate tapered surface 21b that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the flexible tube 11c, the circumferential grooves 28a to 28c are formed so as to form circumferential grooves on a surface having a gap from the outer circumferential surface of the flexible tube 11c. Compared with the flexible tube 11c of the cylinder body 21, the followability to the flexible tube 11c is high, and it bends easily.

  Further, the difference between the amount of bending compression on the inner side of bending (upper side in FIG. 6) and the amount of bending elongation on the outer side of bending (lower side in FIG. 6) due to bending deformation does not increase, and a gap is generated in the inner periphery of the tip. There is nothing. Thereby, it is hygienic because no liquid, germs, etc. enter the inside of the flexible tube break-preventing cover 20 from the gap. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to lengthen the flexible tube folding stop cover 20, the effective length of the flexible tube 11c is ensured.

  Since the circumferential grooves 28a to 28c are formed only around the portion with the largest bend when the tube main body 21 is bent, the cylinder main body 21 is suppressed while suppressing a decrease in rigidity (anti-bending performance). 21 can bend easily.

[ First Embodiment]
In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thin tube portion 31 is formed in the tube main body 31 of the flexible tube folding prevention cover 30, and the three circumferential grooves 33 a to 33 c of the thin wall portion 32 are formed at the base end portion. The arc is gradually increased toward the surface and the groove depth is increased. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structural member similar to the thing of a reference form, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The cylinder main body 31 is formed in a tapered shape so as to become gradually thinner toward the distal end portion. When bent, the cylindrical base end portion has a larger amount of elongation than the thinner distal end portion. The circumferential grooves 33a to 33c are formed so that the depth of the groove gradually increases toward the proximal end portion of the cylinder body 31, and the circumferential groove 33c on the proximal end side is more than the circumferential groove 33a on the distal end side. The groove depth is deep. Thereby, since the cylinder main body 31 extends reliably even at the base end where the amount of elongation increases, the cylinder main body 31 is easily bent so as to follow the flexible tube 11c.

[ Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the thin wall portion 42 is formed in the tube main body 41 of the flexible tube folding prevention cover 40, and the three circumferential grooves 43 a to 43 c of the thin wall portion 42 are formed at the base end portion. The groove width is gradually increased toward the surface, but the groove depth is substantially the same. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structural member similar to the thing of 1st Embodiment, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The cylinder body 41 is manufactured by injection molding using a mold. Since each of the circumferential grooves 43a to 43c is a recess in a direction orthogonal to the die removal (opening) direction of the mold, the recess is formed by using a nest and moving the nest in the above-described orthogonal direction during molding. In this 3rd Embodiment, since the depth of each circumferential groove 43a-43c is shallower than the said 2nd Embodiment, and the length (depth) of the undercut part shape | molded using a nest | insert, it is easy to shape | mold. Become. Furthermore, since the groove depth of the circumferential groove 43c on the proximal end side is the same as the groove depth of the circumferential groove 43a on the distal end side, the thickness on the proximal end side of the cylinder main body 41 can be increased. . Thereby, the rigidity of the base end part side of the cylinder main body 41 is kept high.

  In the above-described embodiment, the three circumferential grooves are formed only around the central portion of the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder main body and the largest bending portion when the cylinder main body is bent. The number of grooves can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a thin-walled portion 52 in which circumferential grooves 53 a to 53 g are arranged over the entire width may be formed in the tube main body 51 of the flexible tube folding prevention cover 50.

Further, in the first embodiment, three circumferential grooves are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder main body so that the arc gradually increases and the groove depth increases toward the base end portion. As shown, a thin-walled portion 62 is formed in the cylindrical main body 61 of the flexible tube folding prevention cover 60 in which circular grooves 63a to 63c having the same arc size and gradually increasing in depth toward the base end are arranged. May be.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the continuous circumferential groove | channel extended in the circumferential direction is formed in the internal peripheral surface of a cylinder main body, as shown in a developed view in FIG. A thin portion 72 in which a plurality of grooves 73a to 73c are arranged with a predetermined gap may be formed. Further, as shown in a developed view in FIG. 14, a thin portion 82 in which a plurality of round hole grooves 83 a to 83 c are arranged with a predetermined gap may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body 81. In addition, the number of the long hole groove | channel and the round hole groove | channel can be changed suitably. Moreover, you may arrange | position so that adjacent groove | channels may become zigzag. Further, the depth of each groove and the length (groove width) in the cylinder core direction may be changed in the cylinder core direction as shown in FIGS.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the circumferential groove extended in the circumferential direction is formed in the inner peripheral surface of a cylinder main body so that two or more may be arranged in a cylinder core direction, the spiral groove which has the same cross-sectional shape as the said circumferential groove May be formed.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the circular-arc-shaped groove | channel is formed in the internal peripheral surface of a cylinder main body, you may form grooves, such as a triangle, a square, and a trapezoid.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the intermediate taper surface of the cylinder body is formed with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube, and the groove is formed on the intermediate taper surface that is in close contact with the flexible tube. The intermediate tapered surface may be formed with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the flexible tube, and a groove may be formed in the intermediate tapered surface having a gap with the flexible tube.

  Furthermore, although the said embodiment applies this invention to the endoscope for medical diagnoses, this invention is not restricted to a medical diagnostic use, It applies to other endoscopes, probes, etc. for industrial use etc. It is also possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 11 Insertion part 11c Flexible tube 12 Operation part 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 Flexible tube folding prevention cover 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 Cylinder main body 22 Mounting cylinder 27, 32 , 42, 52, 62, 72, 82 Thin portions 28a to 28c, 33a to 33c, 43a to 43c, 53a to 53g, 63a to 63c Circumferential groove 73a to 73c Long hole groove 83a to 83c Round hole groove

Claims (4)

A flexible tube folding cover that covers a proximal end portion of a flexible tube connected to an operation unit of an endoscope and prevents the proximal end portion from being folded,
The tube body made of elastomer in which the outer peripheral surface is formed in a tapered shape so that the flexible tube is inserted and gradually becomes thinner from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion;
A thin portion formed by arranging a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder main body in the cylinder core direction;
With
The flexible tube break-preventing cover , wherein the circumferential groove is formed so that the groove depth gradually becomes deeper from the distal end side arrangement toward the proximal end side arrangement . A flexible tube folding cover that covers a proximal end portion of a flexible tube connected to an operation unit of an endoscope and prevents the proximal end portion from being folded,
The tube body made of elastomer in which the outer peripheral surface is formed in a tapered shape so that the flexible tube is inserted and gradually becomes thinner from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion;
A thin portion formed by arranging a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder main body in the cylinder core direction;
With
The flexible tube folding-preventing cover , wherein the circumferential groove is formed so that the groove width gradually increases from the distal end side arrangement toward the proximal end side arrangement .   3. The flexible tube folding prevention cover according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential groove is a plurality of grooves divided in the circumferential direction. An insertion portion having a flexible tube;
An operation unit to which a proximal end of the flexible tube is attached;
The flexible tube anti-folding cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is attached so as to cover a proximal end of the flexible tube between the insertion portion and the operation portion.
An endoscope comprising:

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