JP6341488B2 - Insertion device having bending mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an insertion instrument having a bending mechanism.

  Conventionally, as an insertion instrument having a bending mechanism used in an endoscope or the like, a plurality of wires made of shape memory alloy are disposed around the inner tube arranged on the central axis of the insertion instrument, along the inner tube, There are some which bend in a desired direction by contracting a predetermined wire (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 5 and Non-Patent Document 1). However, in these insertion devices, since each wire is wired inside an individual wiring tube or arranged so as to contact the inner tube, a wire that contracts with respect to the inner tube when bent. The wire placed on the opposite side is bent and stretched together with the wiring tube and the inner tube. For this reason, there is a problem that the wire outside the bending becomes resistance to bending and is difficult to bend.

  Therefore, in order to make it easier to bend, an insertion instrument in which a wire made of a shape memory alloy is formed in a coil spring shape and a plurality of them are arranged around the inner tube has been developed (for example, see Patent Documents 6 to 8). ). In these insertion devices, since the wire is formed in a coil spring shape and has excellent stretchability, the coil spring disposed on the opposite side of the coil spring that contracts with respect to the inner tube extends when bent. Easy to bend.

JP-A-5-184528 JP 2011-14951 A Special table 2010-52029 JP 2010-38123 A JP 2012-52423 A Japanese Patent No. 3477570 Japanese Patent No. 4096325 JP 2000-262464 A

Hironobu Takizawa, Hiroshi Tosaka, Ryo Ohta, Shinji Kaneko, and Yasuhiro Ueda, “DEVELOPMENT OF A MICROFINE ACTIVE BENDING CATHETER EQUIPPED WITH MIF TACTILE SENSORS”, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, 1999. MEMS '99. Twelfth IEEE International Conference on, 21- 21 Jan. 1999, IEEE, p.412-417

  In the insertion instruments described in Patent Documents 6 to 8, since the wire made of shape memory alloy is formed in a coil spring shape, the contraction rate is large and the bending angle can be increased as compared with the straightly stretched wire. . However, since the wire to be used becomes long, the amount of heat generated when contracted becomes large, and there is a problem that the surface temperature becomes high. When considering use in the body, it is necessary to suppress the surface temperature to about 41 ° C. or less for safety.

  Moreover, since the wire to be used becomes long, the material cost increased. Since the wire formed in the shape of a coil spring has elasticity, there was also a problem that the bending force was weak. There is also a problem that it is difficult to control the bending angle, and the wire may be heated too much in order to adjust the bending angle. Since the wire is formed in the shape of a coil spring, there is a problem that the occupied space is increased and the entire diameter is increased.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and can suppress the surface temperature at the time of bending, can reduce the material cost, has a strong bending force, and can easily control the bending angle. An object of the present invention is to provide an insertion instrument having a bending mechanism that can prevent heating and can be reduced in diameter.

In order to achieve the above object, an insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to the present invention is arranged along a length direction of a flexible inner tube and an outer side of the inner tube along the length of the inner tube. Then, a contraction wire made of a shape memory alloy provided to bend and shrink the inner tube, and the inner tube of the contraction wire to bend along the curvature of the inner tube together with the inner tube. A limiting member provided in contact with the opposite side surface, a pair of end links provided at both ends of the predetermined section along the length direction of the inner tube, and the predetermined section on the inner side of the predetermined section One or more intermediate links provided to divide the inner tube, the outer tube provided to cover the inner tube, each contraction wire, and the restricting member, Each of the contraction wires is composed of a plurality of contraction wires, each of which is equiangularly spaced with respect to the central axis of the inner tube and spaced from the outer surface of the inner tube. It is provided so as to contact a side surface opposite to the inner tube and to open a side of each contraction wire on the inner tube side, and each end link has a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the inner tube. Open each of the contraction wires and fix the restricting member so as to contact the side surface of each contraction wire opposite to the inner tube, and leave a space between each contraction wire and the inner surface of the outer tube. The intermediate link is fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube, and the intermediate link holds each contraction wire at a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the inner tube, and the inner tube of each contraction wire Holds the limiting member so as to contact the side surface of the opposite side, so as to space between each contraction wire and the inner surface of the outer tube, characterized in that it is fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube .

  The insertion instrument having the bending mechanism according to the present invention can bend and bend the inner tube by energizing and heating the shrinkable wire made of shape memory alloy. At this time, the restriction member provided in contact with the side surface opposite to the inner tube of the contraction wire bends along the curve of the inner tube together with the inner tube. Bend along. For this reason, compared with the case where a contraction wire is not bent, a bending angle can be enlarged with the same contraction amount.

  In the insertion instrument having the bending mechanism according to the present invention, the contraction wire is arranged in the length direction of the inner tube while being stretched as it is, not in the form of a coil spring. The surface temperature can be suppressed. For this reason, safety when used in the body can be enhanced. Further, the amount of use of the shape memory alloy shrink wire can be shortened compared to the case of forming the coil spring shape, and the material cost can be reduced. Since the cost can be reduced, it can be used as a disposable.

  Since the insertion instrument having the bending mechanism according to the present invention can easily determine the bending angle from the amount of contraction of the contracting wire, the bending angle can be easily controlled and feedback control is also possible. For this reason, in order to adjust a bending angle, a contraction wire is not heated too much and it can prevent overheating. Although the contraction wire contracts due to energization heating, it does not expand and contract like a spring, so the bending force is strong. For this reason, a hard thing like an optical fiber can also be bent. Further, since the space occupied by the contraction wire is small, the diameter can be reduced.

  The insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to the present invention can be used by inserting a treatment tool such as forceps, an optical fiber, an observation means such as a CMOS image sensor, or the like inside the inner tube. In addition, a treatment instrument, an observation means, or the like may be arranged outside the inner tube and bendable together with the inner tube along the inner tube without putting anything inside the inner tube. The limiting member may be in linear contact with the contraction wire along the length direction of the contraction wire, or may be in contact with a plurality of locations at a predetermined interval.

Insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to the present invention, since there is a layer of air between the contraction wire and the outer tube, the heat of the contraction wire is not directly transmitted to the outer tube, suppressing the surface temperature at the time of bending be able to. For this reason, it is easy to suppress the surface temperature to about 41 ° C. or less, and safety when used in the body can be ensured.

Insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to the present invention, the contraction wire can be bent from a plurality because formed, in a plurality of directions, not only in one direction. In particular, when there are three or more contraction wires, they can be bent in any direction. In addition, since each contraction wire is arranged with a space between the inner tube and the restricting member is provided so as to open the side of each contraction wire on the inner tube side, The contraction wire on the side opposite to the contracted contraction wire is not bent together with the inner tube, and is projected toward the inner tube. Thereby, the resistance by the contraction wire with respect to bending can be made as small as possible. The limiting member may consist of one member that contacts all the contracting wires, or may be provided for each individual contracting wire.

Insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to the present invention is effective when the bending piece section is longer.

  The insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to the present invention has a control unit that controls energization heating to each contraction wire, and the control unit energizes and heats one or more contraction wires among the contraction wires. The inner tube is configured to bend in a desired direction, and when there are a plurality of patterns of current heating methods for each shrink wire to bend in the desired direction at a predetermined angle, It is preferable that the heating is performed by selecting a pattern in which the average amount of displacement of the wire in the desired direction is the smallest. In this case, the bending angle can be increased with a smaller amount of displacement.

  In the insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to the present invention, the restricting member has a coil spring shape, and the inner tube and each contraction wire are accommodated therein, and an inner surface is opposite to the inner tube of each contraction wire. It may be provided in contact with the side surface on the side. In this case, the limiting member easily bends along the curve of the inner tube together with the inner tube.

  According to the present invention, the surface temperature during bending can be suppressed, the material cost can be reduced, the bending force is strong, the bending angle can be easily controlled, overheating can be prevented, and the diameter can be reduced. Therefore, an insertion instrument having a bending mechanism can be provided.

(A) longitudinal cross-sectional view of an insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, (b) transverse cross-sectional view at the position of one-dot chain line, (c) vertical cross-sectional view of one section at the time of bending (D) It is the cross-sectional view in the dashed-dotted line position of (c) at the time of bending, (e) It is a perspective view at the time of bending. Regarding the insertion instrument shown in FIG. 1, (a) a schematic side view showing a state when the contraction wire is stretched in a string shape when bent, and (b) a schematic diagram showing a state when the contraction wire is bent in an arc shape when bent. It is a side view, and is a graph which shows the relationship between the shrinkage | contraction rate of a contraction wire and the bending angle at the time of (c) (a) and (b). (A) a graph showing the relationship between the distance from the center of the inner tube to the contraction wire and the bending angle when one contraction wire is contracted by a certain amount in the insertion instrument shown in FIG. 1, (b) 2 It is a schematic perspective view which shows a state when the shrink wire of a book is shrunk by the same amount. It is a graph which shows a bending angle when energizing and heating each contraction wire (SMA wires 1-3) of the insertion instrument shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between a bending angle and surface temperature of the modification which consists of only one contraction wire of the insertion instrument which has a bending mechanism of embodiment of this invention. It is the (a) cross-sectional view which shows the modification with which the limiting member was provided for every contraction wire of the insertion instrument which has a bending mechanism of embodiment of this invention, (b) It is a perspective view at the time of bending. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the use condition which has arrange | positioned the treatment tool, the observation means, etc. in the exterior of the inner side tube of the insertion instrument which has a bending mechanism of embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 7 show an insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion instrument 10 having a bending mechanism includes an inner tube 11, a contraction wire 12, a restricting member 13, an outer tube 14, a pair of end links 15, an intermediate link 16, and a control unit (not shown). ).

  The inner tube 11 is formed of a flexible elongated tube and is disposed at the center of the insertion instrument 10. The contraction wire 12 is made of a shape memory alloy whose length contracts when energized and heated, and is composed of a plurality of contraction wires. Each contraction wire 12 is arranged along the length direction of the inner tube 11 outside the inner tube 11 at equal angular intervals with respect to the central axis of the inner tube 11. Each contraction wire 12 is arranged with a space between the outer surface of the inner tube 11.

  The restricting member 13 has a coil spring shape and is provided so as to accommodate the inner tube 11 and the contracting wires 12 therein. The restricting member 13 is provided such that the inner surface is in contact with the side surface of each contraction wire 12 opposite to the inner tube 11, and the side of each contraction wire 12 on the inner tube 11 side is open. The restriction member 13 is in contact with each contraction wire 12 at a plurality of locations along the length direction of each contraction wire 12. The outer tube 14 is provided so as to cover the inner tube 11, each contraction wire 12, and the limiting member 13. The outer tube 14 is disposed with a space between the inner surface and each contraction wire 12.

  The pair of end links 15 have a disk shape having the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the outer tube 14, and are provided at both ends of the inner tube 11. Each end link 15 is fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube 14, and the inner tube 11 passes through the center. Each end link 15 fixes the inner tube 11. Each end link 15 fixes each contraction wire 12 so as to be spaced from the outer surface of the inner tube 11 by a predetermined distance and also from the inner surface of the outer tube 14. Further, each end link 15 fixes a restricting member 13 so as to be in contact with the side surface of each contraction wire 12 opposite to the inner tube 11. Note that the end link 15 does not necessarily have a disk shape as long as the above-described function is satisfied.

  The intermediate link 16 has a disk shape having the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the outer tube 14, and includes a plurality of intermediate links 16. Each intermediate link 16 is fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube 14 so as to divide the section between the end links 15 into a plurality of sections. Each intermediate link 16 has the inner tube 11 at the center and the contraction wires 12 and the restricting member 13 penetrated around the inner tube 11. Each intermediate link 16 holds each contraction wire 12 so as to be spaced from the outer surface of the inner tube 11 by a predetermined distance and also from the inner surface of the outer tube 14. Each intermediate link 16 holds the restricting member 13 so as to contact the side surface of each contraction wire 12 opposite to the inner tube 11. Note that the intermediate link 16 does not necessarily have a disk shape as long as the above-described function is satisfied.

  The insertion instrument 10 can bend the inner tube 11 by energizing and heating one or a plurality of contraction wires 12 to contract. In addition to the inner tube 11, the restricting member 13 and the outer tube 14 bend along the curve of the inner tube 11. In the specific example shown in FIG. 1, the contraction wires 12 are composed of three wires, which are arranged at intervals of 120 degrees with respect to the central axis of the inner tube 11. Further, the intermediate link 16 is composed of two.

  The control unit is provided so that each contraction wire 12 can be energized and heated, and the current to be energized can be controlled. The controller is configured to bend the inner tube 11 in a desired direction by energizing and heating one or more of the contracting wires 12. When there are a plurality of energization heating methods for each contraction wire 12 for bending in a desired direction at a predetermined angle, the control unit calculates the average displacement amount of each contraction wire 12 that is energized and heated in the desired direction. It is configured to perform energization heating by selecting the smallest pattern.

Next, the operation will be described.
The insertion instrument 10 is used by being attached to the tip of an endoscope, for example. The insertion instrument 10 can bend and bend the inner tube 11 in a desired direction by energizing and heating one or more of the contraction wires 12 made of a shape memory alloy. At this time, the restricting member 13 provided in contact with the side surface of the contracting wire 12 opposite to the inner tube 11 bends along the curve of the inner tube 11 together with the inner tube 11, so that the contracted contracting wire 12 is also the limiting member. 13 along the curve of the inner tube 11.

  FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the contraction rate and the bending angle of the contraction wire 12 when the contracted contraction wire 12 is bent into an arc shape and when it is stretched into a string shape. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the length of the contraction wire 12 before contraction and the length of the object to be bent (for example, the inner tube 11) are L, the radius of the object to be bent is a, Assuming that the length of the contracted wire 12 is l and the bending angle at the time of contraction is θ, the contraction rate x = (L−1) / L of the contraction wire 12 is expressed by the equation (1) in FIG. Thus, the case of FIG. 2B is expressed by the equation (2).

  From this equation, the relationship between the shrinkage ratio x and the bending angle θ when L = 35 mm and a = 1.0 mm is obtained and shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the contracted wire 12 contracts along the curve of the inner tube 11 as compared with the case where the contracted wire 12 is not bent (corresponding to the case of the string shape in FIG. 2 (a)). In the case of the bending insertion instrument 10 (corresponding to the arc shape in FIG. 2B), the bending angle can be increased with the same contraction amount.

  The insertion instrument 10 is provided such that each contraction wire 12 is spaced from the inner tube 11 and the restriction member 13 is provided to open the side of each contraction wire 12 on the inner tube 11 side. As shown in FIGS. 1C to 1E, the contraction wire 12 opposite to the contraction wire 12 contracted with respect to the inner tube 11 at the time of bending does not bend together with the inner tube 11, and the inner tube 11 is not bent. It will be overhanging. Thereby, the resistance by the contraction wire 12 against bending can be made as small as possible.

  When there are a plurality of energization heating methods for each contraction wire 12 for the control unit to bend at a predetermined angle in a desired direction in the insertion instrument 10, each of the contraction wires 12 that are energized and heated in the desired direction. Since it is configured to perform energization heating by selecting a pattern with the smallest average displacement, the bending angle can be increased with a smaller displacement. Here, FIG. 3A shows the relationship between the distance from the center of the inner tube 11 to the contraction wire 12 and the bending angle when one contraction wire 12 is contracted by a certain amount. As shown in FIG. 3A, the relationship between the distance and the bending angle is inversely proportional.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, when there are three contraction wires 12, if the two contraction wires 12 are contracted by the same amount, an intermediate position (action point) between the two contraction wires 12 is obtained. ), The contraction wire 12 can be regarded as contracted by the same amount as the component in the direction from the center of the inner tube 11 toward the action point, of the contraction amounts of the two contraction wires 12. At this time, the components in the direction from the action point toward each contraction wire 12 out of the contraction amounts of the two contraction wires 12 cancel each other, so that no displacement occurs in that direction. For this reason, when the distance between each contraction wire 12 and the center of the inner tube 11 is determined from FIG. 3A, the same contraction amount (displacement) can be obtained by bringing the action point closer to the center of the inner tube 11. Amount), the bending angle can be increased. In order to bring the point of action closer to the center of the inner tube 11, it is effective to arrange each contraction wire 12 as close as possible to the inner tube 11, but as shown in FIGS. 1 (c) to (e). It should be noted that the effect of the outer contracting wire 12 projecting toward the inner tube 11 at the time of bending is contrary to the effect.

  Since the insertion instrument 10 is arranged along the length direction of the inner tube 11 in a state where each contraction wire 12 is not stretched as a coil spring but is stretched as it is, the amount of heat generated at the time of bending can be minimized. The surface temperature can be suppressed. Further, since an air layer exists between the contraction wire 12 and the outer tube 14, the heat of the contraction wire 12 is not directly transmitted to the outer tube 14, and the surface temperature during bending can be suppressed. For this reason, safety when used in the body can be enhanced.

  The insertion instrument 10 can shorten the amount of use of the shape memory alloy-made contraction wire 12 as compared to when it is formed in a coil spring shape, and can reduce the material cost. Since the cost can be reduced, it can be used as a disposable. Disposal eliminates the need for cleaning and sterilization after use, can reduce medical costs, and can be used in relatively small hospitals such as private hospitals. In addition, the insertion tool 10 can be bent with less energy and a calorific value because the length of the contraction wire 12 is shorter than a conventional one using a shape memory alloy wire that is straightly stretched.

  Moreover, since the insertion instrument 10 can obtain | require a bending angle easily from the contraction amount of the contraction wire 12, the control of a bending angle is easy and feedback control is also possible. For this reason, in order to adjust a bending angle, the contraction wire 12 is not heated too much, and overheating can be prevented. Although the contraction wire 12 contracts by energization heating, it does not expand and contract like a spring, so that the bending force is strong. For this reason, a hard thing like an optical fiber can also be bent. Moreover, since the space occupied by the shrink wire 12 is small, the diameter can be reduced. Since the limiting member 13 has a coil spring shape, it is easy to bend along the curve of the inner tube 11 together with the inner tube 11. Thus, since the insertion instrument 10 is thin and flexible, it can be inserted even in a narrow and complicated place. Therefore, by using a small optical imager in combination, the inside of the body and the like can be observed precisely and freely.

  With respect to the insertion instrument 10 shown in FIG. 1, the bending angle when each contraction wire 12 (SMA wires 1 to 3) is individually energized and heated is measured, and the result is shown in FIG. The insertion instrument 10 has a bending length of 35 mm, an outer diameter of 1.7 mm, and two intermediate links 16. In the measurement, the contracting wire 12 to be contracted is energized and heated to bend, and the bending angle at that time is measured using a camera. As shown in FIG. 4, it was confirmed that any of the contraction wires 12 (SMA wires 1 to 3) have substantially the same bending angle according to the energized current. When the supply current was 280 mA, the bending angle was about 59 degrees (the radius of curvature was 34 mm), and it was confirmed that it was sufficiently practical.

  Note that the insertion instrument 10 may be configured such that one contraction wire 12 is folded back and can be bent only in one direction. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the bending angle and the surface temperature when the number of the contraction wires 12 is one. The used insertion instrument 10 has a bending length of 35 mm, an outer diameter of 4.1 mm, an inner tube 11 having an inner diameter of 0.50 mm, and two intermediate links 16. In the measurement, first, the insertion instrument 10 is placed in a thermostatic chamber (38 ° C., humidity 95%), and the surface temperature when the one contraction wire 12 is bent by applying heat to the contraction wire 12 is measured, so that the surface temperature becomes constant. The bending angle is measured using a camera.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the curvature radius was 23 mm or more, the bending angle was 86 degrees or less, the surface temperature was 41 ° C. or less, and it was confirmed that safety when used in the body can be secured. From this, it can be said that the insertion instrument 10 can be bent to a bending angle of 86 degrees even when used in the body, and is sufficiently practical. In order to make the curvature radius 23 mm or more and the bending angle 86 degrees or less, the current flowing through the contraction wire 12 is 210 mA or less.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the insertion instrument 10, the limiting member 13 may be provided for each contraction wire 12 instead of one coil spring that contacts all the contraction wires 12. Even in this case, it is possible to obtain the effect that the outer contracting wire 12 projects toward the inner tube 11 at the time of bending, and the resistance of the contracting wire 12 against bending is as small as possible.

  The insertion instrument 10 can be used by inserting a treatment tool such as forceps, an observation means such as an optical fiber, and a CMOS image sensor into the inner tube 11. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the treatment instrument 21, the observation means 22, and the like are placed outside the inner tube 11 and bendable along with the inner tube 11 along the inner tube 11 without putting anything inside the inner tube 11. It can also be arranged.

  Since the insertion instrument 10 can be formed thin and soft, for example, it is inserted into a forceps hole at the tip of an existing large intestine endoscope to perform observation or treatment in the small intestine, or the intestinal contents as a small intestine endoscope Can be used to drain or to observe and treat. Thereby, while reducing the pain and burden to a patient, the medical cost by minimally invasive medical treatment can be reduced. In addition, since an optical fiber can be used, it can be used for laser ablation treatment or diagnosis using a spectroscope. Furthermore, it can be used not only in the medical field but also in industrial fields such as in-pipe inspection and building maintenance, and disaster relief.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Inner tube 12 Shrink wire 13 Restriction member 14 Outer tube 15 End link 16 Intermediate link

Claims (3)

A flexible inner tube;
A shrinkable wire made of a shape memory alloy, arranged outside the inner tube, along the length direction of the inner tube, and provided to bend and lengthen the inner tube when energized and heated.
A limiting member provided in contact with a side surface of the contraction wire opposite to the inner tube so as to bend along the inner tube together with the inner tube ;
A pair of end links provided at both ends of a predetermined section along the length direction of the inner tube;
One or more intermediate links provided inside the predetermined section so as to divide the predetermined section into a plurality of sections;
An outer tube provided to cover the inner tube, each contraction wire, and the restricting member;
The contraction wire is composed of a plurality, each being equiangularly spaced with respect to the central axis of the inner tube, and spaced from the outer surface of the inner tube,
The restriction member is provided so as to contact a side surface of each contraction wire opposite to the inner tube and to open a side of the contraction wire on the inner tube side,
Each end link fixes each contraction wire at a predetermined interval from the outer surface of the inner tube, fixes the restriction member so as to contact the side surface of the contraction wire opposite to the inner tube, Fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube such that there is a gap between the contraction wire and the inner surface of the outer tube;
The intermediate link holds each contraction wire at a predetermined interval from the outer surface of the inner tube, holds the restricting member so as to contact the side surface of the contraction wire opposite to the inner tube, and each contraction wire. It is fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube so that there is a gap between the wire and the inner surface of the outer tube.
An insertion device having a featured bending mechanism. It has a control part that controls energization heating to each contraction wire,
The control unit is configured to bend and heat the inner tube in a desired direction by energizing and heating one or a plurality of contraction wires among the contraction wires, and for bending at a predetermined angle in the desired direction. When there are a plurality of energization heating methods for each contraction wire, electrification heating is performed by selecting a pattern that minimizes the average displacement amount of each contraction wire that is energized and heated in the desired direction. The insertion device having a bending mechanism according to claim 1 . The restricting member is formed in a coil spring shape, accommodates the inner tube and each contraction wire inside, and is provided so that an inner surface is in contact with a side surface of each contraction wire opposite to the inner tube. An insertion instrument having a bending mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 .