JP6787632B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a plurality of internal objects are inserted into an insertion portion including a curved portion.

Endoscopes are also used to perform therapeutic procedures in the body. An observation optical system or the like for capturing an observation image of the observation site is built in the tip of the elongated insertion portion to be inserted into the body. In addition, a treatment tool opening for leading the treatment tool into the body is formed at the tip of the insertion portion. Then, there is a case in which a curved portion is provided on the tip end side of the insertion portion.

The curved portion is configured as a curved pipe, for example, by rotatably connecting a plurality of curved pieces so as to be curved in two directions up and down or four directions up, down, left and right. Then, the bending portion is curved by, for example, a user rotating a rotary knob, which is a bending operation device provided in the operation portion, with a finger to pull and relax the bending wire.

By providing the curved portion in the insertion portion, the endoscope can be easily inserted into a deep part of the body, and the observation optical system at the tip portion can be directed in a desired direction. Then, for example, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or the like can be performed. At that time, the user derives the ESD knife, which is a treatment tool, from the treatment tool opening provided in the insertion portion while observing the endoscopic image. After that, the user adjusts the amount of drawing out of the ESD knife, performs a bending operation of the curved portion, and moves the knife to excise, peel, and the like of the lesion portion.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, an observation window 3A, an illumination window 3B, a treatment tool opening 4, and the like are provided on the insertion portion tip surface (hereinafter, abbreviated as the tip surface) 2 of the endoscope 1. And four wire fixing portions 5, 6, 7, and 8 are provided in the tip portion. The tips of the four curved wires (not shown) for bending the curved portions (not shown) in the four directions of up, down, left, and right are fixed to the four wire fixing portions 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively. Reference numeral 9 is an insertion portion.

In the endoscope 1 described above, the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen 10s of the display device 10 shown in FIG. 1B and the curved vertical and horizontal directions of the curved portion are aligned with each other. That is, after setting the vertically curved axis aUD and the left and right curved axis aLR that intersect and orthogonal to the center c2 of the tip surface 2 of FIG. 1A, the center c3 of the observation window 3A is arranged on the substantially vertical curved axis aUD, and the top The wire fixing portion 5 and the lower wire fixing portion 6 are arranged on the substantially vertical curved shaft aUD. Then, the left wire fixing portion 7 and the right wire fixing portion 8 are arranged on the substantially left-right curved shaft a2. Further, in this figure, the center c4 of the treatment tool opening 4 is arranged on the vertical bending direction axis aUD like the center c3 of the observation window 3A. As a result, the treatment tool opening 4 is located directly below the observation window 3A.
Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1B is a lesion.

When the above-mentioned ESD is performed using the endoscope 1, the ESD knife 12 is led out on the screen 10s from the lower center of the screen 10s shown in FIG. 1B as shown by the arrow Y1. Further, the ESD knife 12 moves to the right side of the screen 10s as shown by arrow Y2 by bending the curved portion to the right by the user's hand operation, and bends the curved portion to the left to move to arrow Y3. Move to the left as shown.

Therefore, the user observes the endoscopic image displayed on the screen 10s, and inserts the ESD knife 12 into the submucosal layer of the lesion portion 11, and adjusts the amount of the knife 12 to be drawn out to the curved portion. Can be curved to the right or left, and the lesion portion 11 can be gradually excised from the lower side of the screen with the ESD knife 12 without feeling stress.

In endoscopic surgery, it is desired to reduce the diameter of the insertion part. Then, in the insertion portion 9A shown in FIG. 2A and the insertion portion 9B shown in FIG. 2B, the wire fixing portion 5 from above the axis line La including the line segment L connecting the center c3 of the observation window 3A and the center c4 of the treatment tool opening 4. 6, 7, 8 or the wire fixing portions 13, 14, 15, 16 are arranged so as to be separated in advance. As a result, the outer diameter of the insertion portion 9A in FIG. 2A and the outer diameter of the insertion portion 9B in FIG. 2B can be made smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 9 shown by the alternate long and short dash line.
In the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 1A, the wire fixing portions 5 and 6 were arranged on the vertical bending direction axis aUD, which is the axis including the line segment L.

Japanese Patent No. 5351357

However, in the insertion portion 9A shown in FIG. 2A, when the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen 10s and the curved vertical and horizontal directions of the curved portion are matched, the center c4 of the treatment tool opening 4 is obliquely downward with respect to the center c3 of the observation window 3A. It is misaligned to the side. As a result, the ESD knife 12 is led out obliquely from the lower right side of the screen 10s shown in FIG. 3 toward the lesion portion 11 as shown by the arrow Y4. Therefore, when the user bends the curved portion to the right or left by the same hand operation as described above in order to peel off the lesion portion 11, the ESD knife 12 arranged obliquely with respect to the lesion portion 11 is used. It moves as shown by arrows Y5 and Y6. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to operate the peeling of the lesion portion 11 without feeling stress as in the above-mentioned insertion portion 9.

Further, in the insertion portion 9B shown in FIG. 2B, the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen 10s and the curved vertical and horizontal directions of the curved portion do not match. That is, when the curved wire fixed to the first wire fixing portion 13 is pulled, the curved portion is curved in the direction of arrow Y13, which is intermediate between the upward direction and the right direction, and the curved portion is fixed to the second wire fixing portion 14. When the wire is pulled, the curved portion is curved in the direction of arrow Y14, which is between the downward direction and the right direction, and when the curved wire fixed to the third wire fixing portion 15 is pulled, the curved portion is downward and left. It is curved in the direction of the arrow Y15 intermediate with the direction, and when the curved wire fixed to the fourth wire fixing portion 16 is pulled, the curved portion is curved in the direction of the arrow Y16 intermediate between the upward direction and the left direction. That is, in this insertion portion 9B, it is not possible to pull one curved wire and bend the curved portion so as to match the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen 10s. In other words, the user uses the bending operation technique in all directions including the twisted state described in Patent Document 1 and the like in order to perform the bending operation for matching the curved portion of the insertion portion 9B in the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen 10s. It is a heavy burden for inexperienced doctors who have to learn.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope having excellent operability while realizing a reduction in the diameter of the insertion portion.

The endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes an insertion portion, a curved tube provided in the middle of the insertion portion and forming a curved portion that can be curved in at least two directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, and the above-mentioned. A first traction member for bending a curved tube in a first direction and a second for bending the curved portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the longitudinal axis in between. And the inside of the curved pipe, from the first axis passing through the longitudinal axis and parallel to the first direction, provided within an angle of less than 90 degrees clockwise around the longitudinal axis. In addition, the first fixing portion to which the first traction member is fixed and the inside of the curved tube at an angle of less than 90 degrees counterclockwise from the first axis to the longitudinal axis. In addition, inside the curved pipe and the second fixing portion to which the first traction member is fixed, which is provided in a substantially symmetrical positional relationship between the first fixing portion and the first axis. A third fixing portion provided in the second direction to which the second traction member is fixed, and the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion inside the curved pipe. A long internal object arranged between the two, a first connecting portion provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion and connecting the proximal end side of the first traction member, and the second traction member. It has a second connecting portion to which the base end side of the above is connected, and pulls the first traction member by rotating in a predetermined direction about a predetermined axis, which is opposite to the predetermined direction. A rotating portion that pulls the second traction member by rotating in a direction is provided, and the first distance from the center of the rotating portion to the first connecting portion is such that the rotating portion is preliminarily used. The force for pulling the first traction member by rotating in a predetermined direction and the force for pulling the second traction member by rotating the rotating portion in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. , Are set shorter than the second distance from the center of the rotating portion to the second connecting portion so as to be substantially equivalent.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an endoscope having excellent operability while realizing a reduction in the diameter of the insertion portion.

Front view of the insertion portion for explaining the positional relationship between the observation window and the treatment tool opening provided on the tip surface and the four wire fixing portions provided on the insertion tube. The figure explaining the relationship between the insertion part and the screen shown in FIG. 1A. Front view of the insertion portion for explaining an example of the positional relationship between the observation window and the treatment tool opening that realizes a reduction in the diameter of the insertion portion and the four wire fixing portions provided in the insertion tube. Front view of the insertion portion for explaining another example of the positional relationship between the observation window and the treatment tool opening for reducing the diameter of the insertion portion and the four wire fixing portions provided in the insertion tube. The figure explaining the relationship between the insertion part and the screen shown in FIG. 2A. The figure explaining the endoscope of this invention It is a schematic diagram explaining an endoscope, and is the figure mainly explaining a plurality of curved wires which insert through the insertion part and the operation part. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the endoscope of FIG. 5A viewed from the direction of arrow Y5B, and is a diagram illustrating a plurality of curved wires inserted into the insertion portion and the operation portion. FIG. 5B is a cross section in the direction of the arrows Y6A-Y6A and explains the inside of the curved tube. FIG. 5B is a cross section in the direction of the arrows Y6B-Y6B in FIG. 5B to explain the inside of the flexible pipe portion. A diagram illustrating a rotating plate to which the other end of an upwardly curved wire, a first tow wire, and a second tow wire is fixed. The figure explaining the rotating plate in which the other end of the left-direction curved wire and the right-direction curved wire is fixed. The figure explaining the rotating plate which provided the 1st position at the 1st distance from the center, and provided the 2nd position at the 2nd distance from the center. The figure explaining the inside of the curved pipe on the side opposite to FIG. 6A in a predetermined direction. The figure explaining the plurality of curved wires inserted in the insertion part and the operation part. The figure explaining the configuration example of the endoscope which further reduced the diameter of the insertion part. FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a plurality of curved wires inserted into the insertion portion and the operation portion of the endoscope of FIG. 9A. The figure explaining the configuration example of the endoscope which set the bending direction of a bending part in one direction of a predetermined direction. FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a plurality of curved wires inserted into the insertion portion and the operation portion of the endoscope. The figure explaining the two-part wire which is a traction member

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In each of the figures used in the following description, the scale may be different for each component in order to make each component recognizable on the drawing. That is, the present invention is not limited to the number of components, the shape of the components, the ratio of the sizes of the components, and the relative positional relationship of the components shown in these figures.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4-B.
As shown in FIG. 4, the endoscope 20 mainly has an insertion portion 21, an operation portion 22, and a universal cable 23. The insertion portion 21 is an elongated long member that is inserted into the observation target site. The insertion portion 21 is configured by connecting the tip portion 24, the curved portion 25, and the flexible tube portion 26 in order from the tip side.

The tip portion 24 has a built-in endoscope such as an illumination optical system provided with a light guide, an observation optical system provided with an imaging device, and a treatment tool channel that also serves as a suction channel. The curved portion 25 is provided in the middle of the insertion portion 21 and has a curved tube (see reference numeral 25p in FIG. 5A and the like) that is curved in two directions up and down or four directions up, down, left and right.

The curved pipe 25p is, for example, a curved piece set in which a plurality of curved pieces (not shown) are rotatably connected, or a curved pipe in which a plurality of slots (not shown) are formed in a hard pipe and can be curved. The flexible tube portion 26 is a long and flexible tubular member.

In the present embodiment, the bending portion 25 is, for example, a bending pipe in a downward direction which is a predetermined direction, an upward direction which is a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and a direction intermediate between the predetermined direction and the opposite direction. It curves in four directions, one to the left and one to the right.
The upward, downward, right, and left directions of the curved portion 25 coincide with the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen 10s of the display device 10 described above.

The curved portion 25 is composed of, for example, a curved pipe 25p, a mesh tube covering the curved tube 25p (not shown), and a curved rubber covering the mesh tube (not shown).
The flexible tube portion 26 includes, for example, a flex (not shown) which is a core material, a blade (not shown) which is a net-like tube coated on the outer periphery of the flex, and an outer skin resin (not shown) which covers the outer periphery of the blade. (Fig.) And the main part is composed of.

The operation unit 22 is provided with a bending operation device 27, various switches 30, an air supply / water supply button 31, a suction button 32, and the like. The bending operation device 27 includes a vertical knob 28 and a left and right knob 29. The various switches 30 are, for example, a release switch, a freeze switch, an observation mode changeover switch for switching between normal observation and fluorescence observation, and the like.
Reference numeral 33 is a treatment tool insertion port, which is connected to the treatment tool channel.

The curved wire inserted into the insertion portion 21 and the operation portion 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A-6B.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the endoscope 20 has an upward curved wire 34 and a downward curved wire 35 for opposite directions, a left curved wire 36 in one intermediate direction, and the other as traction members. A rightward curved wire 37, which is an intermediate direction of the above, is provided. In the present embodiment, the downwardly curved wire 35 includes a first tow wire 38 and a second tow wire 39 as traction members as shown in FIGS. 5A, 6A, and 6B.

As shown in FIG. 6A, on the inner peripheral surface on the tip side inside the curved pipe 25p, an upper fixing portion 41 as a wire fixing portion, a first lower fixing portion 42, a second lower fixing portion 43, and a left A fixing portion 44 and a right fixing portion 45 are provided.

In the present embodiment, the fixing portions 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are, for example, pipe members, and are joined to the inner peripheral surface by, for example, solder. The upper fixing portion 41 is fixed to the upper inner peripheral surface in the direction opposite to the downward direction, and one end of the upward curved wire 34 is fixed. One end of the first tow wire 38, which is the first fixing portion, is fixed to the first lower fixing portion 42. One end of the second traction wire 39, which is the second fixing portion, is fixed to the second lower fixing portion 43. The left fixing portion 44 is fixed to the left inner peripheral surface which is intermediate between the downward direction and the upward direction, and one end portion of the left direction curved wire 36 is fixed. The right fixing portion 45 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface on the right side, which is intermediate between the downward direction and the upward direction, and one end of the rightward curved wire 37 is fixed.

Reference numeral 25c is the central axis of the curved tube 25p and coincides with the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 21. Reference numeral 25a is a vertical curved axis, and reference numeral 25b is a left-right curved axis. The vertically curved axis 25a and the left and right curved axis 25b are orthogonal to each other, and the intersection is located on or near the central axis 25c.

An imaging unit 51, a treatment tool channel tube 52, an illumination optical system 53A, 53B, etc., which are long built-in endoscopes, are inserted into the curved tube 25p along the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 21. Reference numeral 54 is a lens frame, reference numeral 55 is an optical lens, reference numeral 56 is a light guide fiber bundle, and reference numeral 57 is an exterior tube.

In the present embodiment, a substantially center of the upper fixing portion 41, a substantially center of the imaging unit 51, and a substantially center of the treatment tool channel tube 52 are arranged on the vertically curved shaft 25a. The first lower fixing portion 42 and the second lower fixing portion 43 have a symmetrical positional relationship with the vertical curved shaft 25a and are arranged so as to sandwich the treatment tool channel tube 52.
On the other hand, the left fixing portion 44 and the right fixing portion 45 are arranged on the left-right curved shaft 25b or in the vicinity of the shaft 25b.

The first lower fixing portion 42 is provided within an angle of less than 90 degrees clockwise from the lower direction, which is a predetermined direction about the longitudinal axis, and the second lower fixing portion 43 is centered on the longitudinal axis. It is provided in an angle of less than 90 degrees counterclockwise from below.

As shown in FIG. 6B, inside the flexible tube portion 26, an upper wire guide 61, a first tow wire guide 62, a second tow wire guide 63, a left wire guide 64, and so on. A guide 65 for the right wire is provided. Each wire guide 61-65 is a tightly wound coil. The wire guides 61, 62, 63, 64, and 65 are arranged in the flexible tube portion 26 in a positional relationship corresponding to the fixing portions 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45 described above.

Then, the upward curved wire 34 is inserted into the upper wire guide 61 and led out into the operation unit 22, and the left curved wire 36 is inserted into the left wire guide 64 and led out into the operation unit 22. The right-direction curved wire 37 is inserted into the right wire guide 65 and led out into the operation unit 22, and the first tow wire 38 is inserted into the first tow wire guide 62 to be led out to the operation unit 22. It is led out in 22, and the second tow wire 39 is inserted into the guide 63 for the second tow wire and led out into the operation unit 22. The other end, which is the opposite side of one end of each of the wires 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, is fixed at a predetermined position on the rotating plates 28b, 29b, which are traction actuating portions.
Reference numeral 58 is a signal cable extending from the image pickup unit 51. A plurality of signal lines (not shown) are inserted in the signal cable 58.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the other end of the upward curved wire 34, the other end of the first tow wire 38, and the other end of the second tow wire 39 are rotated up and down. It is fixed at a predetermined position on the plate 28b. The vertical rotating plate 28b is fixed to the end surface of the vertical shaft 28a integrated with the vertical knob 28.

On the other hand, the other end of the left curved wire 36 and the other end of the right curved wire 37 are fixed at predetermined positions of the left and right rotating plates 29b. The left and right rotating plates 29b are fixed to the end faces of the left and right shafts 29a integrated with the left and right knobs 29.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, the other end of the upward curved wire 34 is a first connecting portion that is fixed to the first wire fixing member 71 and is a predetermined connecting portion of the vertical rotating plate 28b. It is fixed at position 28d. On the other hand, the other end of the first tow wire 38 and the other end of the second tow wire 39 are fixed to the second wire fixing member 72 and then the vertical rotating plate 28b. It is fixed at the second position 28e, which is a connecting portion located on the opposite side of the center 28c from the first position 28d.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, the other end of the leftward curved wire 36 is fixed to the first wire fixing member 71 and is a third position 29d which is a predetermined connecting portion of the left and right rotating plates 29b. It is fixed in. On the other hand, the other end of the right-direction curved wire 37 is fixed to the first wire fixing member 71 and is positioned on the side opposite to the third position 29d with the center 29c of the left and right rotating plates 29b interposed therebetween. It is fixed at the fourth position 29e, which is the connecting portion to be connected.

The wires 34, 36, 37, 38, 39 are fixed to the wire fixing members 71, 72, and the wire fixing members 71, 72 are fixed to the rotating plates 28b, 29b. However, the other end of the wires 34, 36, 37, 38, 39 may be directly fixed to the rotating plates 28b, 29b with solder or the like.

When the curved portion 25 is in a straight line state as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first wire fixing member 71 and the second wire fixing member 72 are arranged on the first straight line axis 28 g as shown in FIG. 7A, and are also arranged. As shown in FIG. 7B, two first wire fixing members 71 are arranged on the second linear axis 29 g.
The vertical knob 28 is rotated, and the vertical rotary plate 28b of FIG. 7A rotates clockwise around the vertical shaft 28a in the drawing, so that the curved portion 25 is curved upward. At this time, the upward curved wire 34 is towed as the vertical rotating plate 28b rotates. On the other hand, the vertical knob 28 is rotated and the vertical rotary plate 28b of FIG. 7A rotates counterclockwise in the drawing around the vertical shaft 28a, so that the curved portion 25 is curved downward. At this time, the first tow wire 38 and the second tow wire 39 are towed as the vertical rotating plate 28b rotates.

The left and right knob 29 is rotated, and the left and right rotating plate 29b of FIG. 7B rotates clockwise around the left and right shaft 29a, so that the curved portion 25 is curved to the left. At this time, the left-direction curved wire 36 is towed as the left and right rotating plates 29b rotate. On the other hand, the left and right knob 29 is rotated, and the left and right rotating plates 29b of FIG. 7B rotate counterclockwise in the drawing around the left and right shaft 29a, so that the curved portion 25 is curved to the right. At this time, the rightward curved wire 37 is towed as the left and right rotating plates 29b rotate.

The rotating plates 28b and 29b described above are rotating portions that are rotated clockwise and counterclockwise.

Contrary to the above, the curved portion 25 is curved downward by rotating the vertical rotating plate 28b clockwise, and the curved portion 25 is curved upward by rotating counterclockwise. Alternatively, the curved portion 25 may be curved to the right by rotating the left and right rotating plates 29b clockwise, and the curved portion 25 may be curved to the left by rotating counterclockwise. Good.

Further, the first linear axis 28g is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 21 and orthogonal to the third linear axis 28f passing over the center 28c. The second linear axis 29g is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 21 and orthogonal to the fourth linear axis 29f passing over the center 29c.

In this way, the downwardly curved wire 35 that curves the curved portion 25 in a predetermined direction, for example, downwardly, is composed of two wires, a first traction wire 38 and a second traction wire 39. Then, the first lower fixing portion 42 for fixing one end of the first towing wire 38 and the second lower fixing portion 43 for fixing one end of the second towing wire 39 are treated. The tool channel tube 52 is sandwiched between the curved pipes 25p and arranged at positions symmetrical with the vertical curved shaft 25a.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, the fixing portion 46 shown by the broken line arranged on the vertically curved shaft 25a is eliminated, and two fixing portions 41 and 46 are arranged on the vertically curved shaft 25a. It is possible to provide the insertion portion 21 having a smaller diameter than the curved tube 25p1 shown on the chain line.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7A, the other end of the first tow wire 38 and the other end of the second tow wire 39 are fixed to the second wire fixing member 72 and then the second wire. The fixing member 72 is fixedly fixed to the second position 28e of the vertical rotating plate 28b.

As a result, the first tow wire 38 and the second tow wire 39 are towed or relaxed and curved at the same time by rotating the up / down knob 28 clockwise or counterclockwise. The portion 25 is curved in the vertical direction. That is, the curved portion 25 can be curved downward, which is a predetermined direction, by rotating the vertical rotating plate 28b in a predetermined direction.
That is, according to the endoscope having the above-described configuration, it is possible to realize an endoscope having excellent operability in which the bending operation of the curved portion can be performed with the conventional specifications and the diameter of the insertion portion is reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, when the curved portion 25 is curved upward, one upward curved wire 34 is pulled, and when the curved portion 25 is curved downward, the first tow wire 38 is used. Two tow wires 39 and the second tow wire 39 are towed at the same time. Therefore, there is a possibility that the burden on the user will increase when the curved portion 25 is curved downward.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7C, the second distance L2 from the center 28c of the vertical rotating plate 28b to the second position 28e is set shorter than the first distance L1 from the center 28c to the first position 28d. To do.

As a result, the force for pulling one upwardly curved wire 34 and the force for pulling the first tow wire 38 and the second tow wire 39 at the same time are reduced and made equal. Therefore, the up / down knob 28 can be operated clockwise and counterclockwise with the same force, the burden on the user is reduced, and the discomfort in operability is eliminated.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the upward curved wire 34 that curves in the upward direction, which is the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, may be composed of the first tow wire 38a and the second tow wire 39a. In this case, a first upper fixing portion 47 as a first fixing portion for fixing one end of the first towing wire 38a and a second fixing portion for fixing one end of the second towing wire 39a. The second upper fixing portion 48 and the second upper fixing portion 48 are arranged at positions symmetrical to the vertically curved shaft 25a with the imaging unit 51 interposed therebetween.

Similar to the above, the first upper fixing portion 47 is provided within an angle of less than 90 degrees counterclockwise from the upper direction, which is a predetermined direction about the longitudinal axis, and the second upper fixing portion 48 is longitudinally It is provided within an angle of less than 90 degrees clockwise from above with respect to the axis. Then, a downwardly curved wire 35 composed of one is fixedly attached to the lower fixing portion 49.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the other end of the first tow wire 38a and the other end of the second tow wire 39a are fixed to the second wire fixing member 72 and the first position 28d of the vertical rotating plate 28b. It is fixed in. The other end of the downwardly curved wire 35 is fixed to the first wire fixing member 71 and fixed at the second position 28e of the vertical rotating plate 28b. In the present embodiment, the first distance L1 is set shorter than the second distance L2.

As a result, similarly to the endoscope described above, it is possible to realize an endoscope having excellent operability in which the bending operation of the curved portion can be performed with the conventional specifications and the diameter of the insertion portion is reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the upward curved wire 34 is composed of the first tow wire 38a and the second tow wire 39a, and the downward curved wire 35 is composed of the first tow wire 38 and the second tow wire 39. You may try to do it. In this case, the first upper fixing portion 47 and the second upper fixing portion 48 are arranged at positions symmetrical to the vertically curved shaft 25a of the curved tube 25p2 with the imaging unit 51 sandwiched therein, in the same manner as described above, and the first lower portion is arranged. The fixing portion 42 and the second lower fixing portion 43 are arranged at positions symmetrical to the vertically curved shaft 25a with the treatment tool channel tube 52 interposed therebetween in the same manner as described above.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, the other end of the first tow wire 38a and the other end of the second tow wire 39a are fixed to the second wire fixing member 72, and the wire fixing member 72 is rotated vertically. It is fixed at the first position 28d of the plate 28b. On the other hand, the other end of the first tow wire 38 and the other end of the second tow wire 39 are fixed to the second wire fixing member 72, and the wire fixing member 72 is fixed to the second upper and lower rotating plate 28b. It is fixed at the position 28e.

As a result, similarly to the endoscope described above, the bending operation of the curved portion can be performed with the conventional specifications, and the curved tube 25p2 of the present embodiment has a smaller diameter than the above-mentioned curved tube 25p to further reduce the diameter of the insertion portion. It is possible to construct an endoscope with a reduced diameter.

Further, in the above-mentioned endoscope 20, the curved portion 25 is said to be curved in four directions of up, down, left and right. However, the curved portion 25 may be configured to be actively curved only in a predetermined direction, for example, downward. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10A, the downwardly curved wire 35 that is curved downward is composed of the first tow wire 38 and the second tow wire 39 in the same manner as described above.

Then, the first lower fixing portion 42 for fixing one end of the first towing wire 38 and the second lower fixing portion 43 for fixing one end of the second towing wire 39 are described above. Similarly to the above, the treatment tool channel tube 52 is sandwiched and arranged at the above-mentioned position symmetrical to the vertical curved shaft 25a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the other end of the first tow wire 38 and the other end of the second tow wire 39 are fixed to the second wire fixing member 72, and then the second wire fixing member. 72 is fixed to, for example, the second position 28e of the vertical rotating plate 28b.
As a result, it is possible to realize an endoscope having excellent operability and a smaller diameter of the insertion portion.

In the above-described embodiment, the downwardly curved wire 35 that is curved in a predetermined direction is composed of the first tow wire 38 and the second tow wire 39. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the traction member may be, for example, a bisected wire 80 in which one traction wire is divided into two in the middle and only one end side is divided into two.

The bipartite wire 80 has a first split wire 81 having one end fixed to the first lower fixing portion 42 and a second having one end fixed to the second lower fixing portion 43. The split wire 82 is provided with a wire body 83 in which the first split wire 81 having an end portion fixed to the first wire fixing member 71 and the second split wire 82 are put together.

The position where the wire body 83 is divided into the first dividing wire 81 and the second dividing wire 82 may be in the curved portion 25 or in the flexible pipe portion 26, but it is long. The inside of the flexible tube portion 26 is desirable in order to avoid interference with the image pickup unit 51, the treatment tool channel tube 52, the illumination optical systems 53A, 53B, etc., which are built-in endoscopes.

According to this configuration, when the curved portion 25 is curved downward, the wire main body 83 fixed to the vertical rotating plate 28b is pulled by rotating the vertical knob 28 in a predetermined direction, and the wire is pulled. As the main body 83 is pulled, the first dividing wire 81 and the second dividing wire 82 are pulled at the same time, and the curved portion 25 is curved downward.
Further, the traction member for bending in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction may be a two-piece curved wire.

By replacing the traction member with the first traction wire 38 and the second traction wire 39 with the two-split wire 80, the same operations and effects as those in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Tip surface 3A ... Observation window 3B ... Illumination window 4 ... Treatment tool opening
5 ... Upper wire fixing part 6 ... Lower wire fixing part 7 ... Left wire fixing part 8 ... Right wire fixing part 9 ... Inserting part 10 ... Display device 10s ... Screen 11 ... Worm part 12 ... ESD knife 13 ... First wire fixing Part 14 ... 2nd wire fixing part 15 ... 3rd wire fixing part 16 ... 4th wire fixing part 20 ... Endoscope 21 ... Inserting part 22 ... Operation part
23 ... Universal cable 24 ... Tip 25 ... Curved part 25a ... Vertical curved shaft 25b ... Left and right curved shaft 25c ... Central axis 25p ... Curved tube 26 ... Flexible tube 27 ... Curved operation device 28 ... Vertical knob 28a ... Vertically Shaft 28b ... Vertical rotating plate 28c ... Center 28d ... First position 28e ... Second position 28f ... Third straight shaft 28g ... First straight shaft 29 ... Left and right knob 29a ... Left and right shaft 29b ... Left and right rotating plate 29c ... Center 29d ... 3rd position 29e ... 4th position 29f ... 4th linear axis 29g ... 3rd linear axis 30 ... Various switches 31 ... Air supply and water supply button 32 ... Suction button 33 ... Treatment tool insertion port 34 ... Above Directionally curved wire 35 ... Downwardly curved wire 36 ... Leftwardly curved wire 37 ... Rightwardly curved wire 38, 38a ... First tow wire 39, 39a ... Second tow wire 41 ... Upper fixing portion 42 ... First lower Fixed part 43 ... Second lower fixed part 44 ... Left fixed part 45 ... Right fixed part 46 ... Fixed part
47 ... 1st upper fixing part 48 ... 2nd upper fixing part 49 ... Lower fixing part 51 ... Imaging unit 52 ... Treatment tool channel tubes 53A, 53B ... Illumination optical system 61 ... Upper wire guide 62 ... First traction Wire guide 63 ... Second tow wire guide 64 ... Left wire guide 65 ... Right wire guide 71 ... First wire fixing member 72 ... Second wire fixing member 80 ... Two-split wire 81 ... First split wire
82 ... 2nd split wire 83 ... Wire body

Claims (9)

Insertion part and
A curved tube provided in the middle of the insertion portion and forming a curved portion that can be curved in at least two directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion.
A first traction member for bending the curved pipe in the first direction,
A second traction member for bending the curved portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the longitudinal axis interposed therebetween.
The first, which is inside the curved tube and is provided within an angle of less than 90 degrees clockwise around the longitudinal axis from a first axis that passes through the longitudinal axis and is parallel to the first direction. The first fixing part to which the traction member of the
Inside the curved pipe, within an angle of less than 90 degrees counterclockwise from the first axis to the longitudinal axis, and substantially symmetrical with the first fixed portion and the first axis in between. A second fixing portion for fixing the first traction member, which is provided in such a positional relationship, and
A third fixing portion inside the curved pipe and provided in the second direction to which the second traction member is fixed, and a third fixing portion.
Inside the curved tube, a long internal object arranged between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, and
A first connecting portion provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion and connecting the proximal end side of the first traction member, and a second connecting portion connecting the proximal end side of the second traction member. The first towing member is towed by rotating in a predetermined direction about a predetermined axis, and the second towing member is towed by rotating in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. The rotating part to be towed and
Equipped with
The second connecting portion is provided on the side opposite to the first connecting portion with the center of the rotating portion interposed therebetween.
The first distance from the center of the rotating portion to the first connecting portion is the force for pulling the first traction member by rotating the rotating portion in the predetermined direction and the rotating portion. From the center of the rotating portion to the second connecting portion so that the force for pulling the second traction member by rotating the second traction member in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction is substantially the same. An endoscope characterized in that it is set shorter than two distances . The first traction member is a first traction wire and a second traction wire.
The tip-side end of the first tow wire is fixed to the first fixing portion, and the tip-side end of the second tow wire is fixed to the second fixing portion.
The first fixing portion, the end portion of the first tow wire not fixed to the second fixing portion, and the proximal end side of the second tow wire are attached to the first connecting portion. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the end portion of the endoscope is fixed. 2. The second aspect of the present invention, wherein the rotating portion simultaneously pulls the first tow wire and the second tow wire by rotating around the predetermined axis in the predetermined direction. The endoscope described. The first traction member is a single traction wire.
The tow wire has a wire body having a base end side end portion fixed to the first connecting portion and a first tip side portion divided into two in the middle portion and fixed to the first fixing portion. 1. A two-split wire comprising a first split wire having an end portion and a second split wire having a second end end side fixed to the second fixing portion. The endoscope described in. The rotating portion is characterized in that the wire body is pulled by rotating around the predetermined axis in the predetermined direction, and the first split wire and the second split wire are pulled at the same time. The endoscope according to claim 4. The rotating portion has a circular rotating plate and has a circular rotating plate.
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are provided on a flat surface of the rotating plate. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the long internal organ is a treatment tool channel tube. In addition to the first direction and the second direction, the curved portion has a third direction, which is an intermediate direction between the first direction and the second direction, and the third direction. It can be curved in the opposite fourth direction across the longitudinal axis,
further,
A third traction member for bending the curved portion in the third direction,
A fourth traction member for bending the curved portion in the fourth direction,
A second rotating portion provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion and having a plurality of connecting portions for fixing the third traction member and the proximal end side of the fourth traction member, respectively.
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is provided with. The end portion on the tip end side of the third traction member is fixed to a fourth fixing portion provided in the third direction inside the curved pipe.
The end portion of the third traction member on the base end side is fixed to one of two connecting portions provided with the center of the second rotating portion interposed therebetween.
The end portion on the tip end side of the fourth traction member is fixed to a fifth fixing portion provided in the fourth direction inside the curved pipe.
The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the end portion of the fourth traction member on the base end side is fixed to the other of the two connecting portions of the second rotating portion. mirror.

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