JP6829638B2 - Endoscope attachment / detachment device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope attachment / detachment device.

In the endoscope, various devices that can be attached to and detached from the endoscope body and function in the attached state are used. For example, there is known an operation device for controlling the flow of a fluid such as suction, air supply, and water supply, in which an operation unit including a push button and the like can be attached and detached (see Patent Document 1). Among these types of attachment / detachment devices, there is a so-called disposable type in which parts are removed and discarded after the endoscope is used, and new parts are attached at the next use.

Japanese Patent No. 3143164

Disposable type detachable devices for endoscopes are required to comply with single use, but if the appearance is not conspicuous, there is a risk that parts to be discarded may be accidentally reattached. In particular, in an endoscope room in a dim environment, it is difficult to visually recognize the state of dirt on the parts after removal, so that such a problem is likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope attachment / detachment device that is unlikely to be erroneously attached to the endoscope body after use. ..

The endoscope attachment / detachment device of the present invention includes a support provided on the main body of the endoscope, a detachable body that is removable from the support and functions in a mounted state, and a detachable body provided on the detachable body with respect to the support. without damaging the mounting operation, and a fragile portion which is broken by removal operation from the support, Ru comprising a.

Supporting bearing member comprises a support body space that opens to the outer surface side of the endoscope, removable body includes a body member that can be inserted into and removed from the supporting body space of the support, it is supported to the body member, to the support body space and a detachment operating member is rotatable about an axis directed in the insertion and removal direction of the body member. The detachment operation member applies a moving force in the detachment direction from the support to the main body member by rotating the main body member in the removal rotation direction. A fragile portion is provided on the main body member, and the detachment operation member includes a destruction inducing portion that causes at least a part of the fragile portion to be destroyed by a rotational operation in the removal direction.

More specifically, the support penetrates the tubular portion surrounding the space inside the support and the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the tubular portion, and extends laterally from the opening of the space inside the support in the insertion direction of the main body member. It has a part. The main body member is connected to the insertion portion located inside the space inside the support when mounted on the support, and protrudes outward of the tubular portion through the lateral penetrating portion when mounted on the support. It is provided with a lateral protrusion. A fragile portion is formed in the lateral protrusion, and a resistance imparting portion that gives resistance to the movement of the lateral protrusion in the insertion / removal direction is provided at an intermediate position of the lateral penetration portion.

Of the lateral protrusions, it is preferable that a fragile portion is provided in a region located inside the lateral penetration portion when mounted on the support.

The fragile part is the first damaged part that is destroyed by the destruction inducing part of the detachment operation member, and the main body member in the detachment direction against the resistance of the resistance imparting part in the state where the first fragile part is destroyed. It is provided with a second damaged portion that is destroyed by a load when moving.

Each of the insertion portion and the lateral protrusion portion of the main body member has a removable internal space communicating with the support internal space inside, and the lateral protrusion is a tube body surrounding the detachable internal space, and is second to be destroyed. The portion includes a thin-walled portion located at the bottom of a bottomed recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lateral protrusion, and the first damaged portion is a pair of recesses facing each other in the extending direction of the pipe body. It is preferable to provide a bridging portion that bridges the inner surface of the above.

It is preferable to provide a plurality of bridging portions at intervals in the depth direction of the recess.

The cross-sectional area of the portion of the bridge that connects to at least one of the pair of inner surfaces of the recess may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the other portion.

A groove extending in the circumferential direction of the tubular body may be provided on the surface of the thin portion.

The recess forming the fragile portion is preferably formed on the outer surface of the tubular body on the side facing the detachment direction of the main body member from the support.

A pressing operation having a movable valve that is movably supported by the main body member in the insertion / detachment direction and moves to a blocking position that blocks fluid flow between the support internal space and the attachment / detachment internal space and a communication position that allows fluid flow. By providing the member and the urging means for urging the pressing operation member to the blocking position, it can be applied as an operation device for controlling the fluid flow.

For example, it is provided with a first conduit connected to the support internal space and a second conduit connected to the detachable internal space via a lateral protrusion, and the first conduit is used as an insertion part of the endoscope. By connecting to the provided suction port and connecting the second pipeline to the suction source, it can function as an operating device for suction.

According to the present invention, after the detachable body is removed, the detachable body is provided with a fragile portion that is not destroyed by the attachment operation to the support provided on the main body of the endoscope and is destroyed by the removal operation from the support. It is possible to easily identify whether or not the state is. As a result, it is possible to obtain an endoscope attachment / detachment device that is less likely to be erroneously attached after use of a part that can be attached / detached to the endoscope body.

It is a figure which shows the endoscope conceptually. It is sectional drawing of the state in which the button is not pressed by the suction operation device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which pressed the button with the suction operation device. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of FIGS. 2 and 3. It is a front view of the button unit which constitutes a suction operation device. It is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. It is a side view of the button unit which showed the part along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5 as a cross section. It is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the fragile part provided in the button unit. It is a side view which shows the state in the process of assembling the button unit to a cylinder. It is a side view of the suction operation device in the state where the button unit is assembled to the cylinder, (A) shows the whole suction operation device, and (B) shows the cam mechanism schematically. It is a side view of the suction operation device in the process of removing the button unit from the cylinder, (A) shows the whole suction operation device, and (B) shows the cam mechanism schematically. It is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 12A. It is a front view which shows the button unit after removal.

The endoscope 10 whose schematic configuration is shown in FIG. 1 is used in the medical field, and has a small-diameter insertion portion 11 to be inserted into the patient's body and an operation portion 12 connected to the base of the insertion portion 11. doing. A universal tube 13 which is a flexible tubular body extends from the operation unit 12, and a video connector 14 is provided at the tip of the universal tube 13. The video connector 14 is removable from the processor 15.

An image pickup lens system (not shown) and an image sensor (not shown) are provided at the tip of the insertion portion 11. An image to be observed is formed by an image pickup lens system and signalized by an image sensor. This signal is sent to the video connector 14 via an image signal cable, and is processed by an image processing circuit provided in the video connector 14 and the processor 15 to display an image on a monitor (not shown) or a recording medium. Image data can be recorded in (not shown). The endoscope 10 and the processor 15 further include an illumination means for distributing illumination light from a light distribution window provided at the tip of the insertion portion 11.

A suction pipe line (first pipe line) 16 is arranged inside the endoscope 10. The suction pipe line 16 connects a suction port 18 provided at the tip of the insertion portion 11 and a suction operation device 19 provided at the operation portion 12. The suction source 22 provided outside the endoscope 10 and the suction operation device 19 are connected by a suction pipe line (second pipe line) 23.

When the suction source 22 is driven, a suction force is generated. When the suction operation device 19 is not operated, the suction line 16 and the suction line 23 are not in communication with each other, and the suction force acts only between the suction source 22 and the suction operation device 19 through the suction line 23 to suck. The suction force does not reach the pipeline 16. When the suction operation device 19 is operated, the suction pipe line 16 and the suction pipe line 23 communicate with each other, and the suction force reaches the suction port 18, so that body fluids and filth can be sucked from the suction port 18. The specific structure of the suction operation device 19 will be described later.

The operation unit 12 is further provided with a plurality of push button switches 27. The push button switch 27 is provided as an operating means for transmitting an electric signal in response to the pressing operation to perform a predetermined operation (control). As an example, operations such as shooting (image recording) of an observation target and image freeze on a monitor can be performed using the push button switch 27.

The suction operation device 19 in the endoscope 10 described above is an attachment / detachment device according to the present invention. The details of the suction operation device 19 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and the following. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the suction operation device 19 includes a cylinder (support) 30, a valve body (main body member) 31, a piston (pressing operation member) 32, a button (pressing operation member) 33, and a compression spring (compression spring). It has a urging means) 34 and a sleeve ring (disengagement operation member) 35. Although the details will be described later, the cylinder 30 is fixedly supported by the operation unit 12, and the valve body 31, the piston 32, the button 33, the compression spring 34, and the sleeve ring 35 are button units that can be attached to and detached from the cylinder 30. (Detachable body) 80 is configured.

The direction in which the button unit 80 is inserted and removed from the cylinder 30 (vertical direction in FIGS. 2 to 8 and 10 to 14) is defined as the insertion / removal direction. Of the insertion / removal directions, the direction indicated by the arrow U in the figure is upward, and the direction indicated by arrow D is downward. The lower part is the insertion direction of the button unit 80 with respect to the cylinder 30, and the upper part is the detachment direction of the button unit 80 from the cylinder 30. Further, the virtual line extending through the center of the piston 32 in the insertion / removal direction is defined as the axis X (FIGS. 2 and 3), the radial direction with respect to the axis X is defined as the radial direction of the cylinder 30 and the button unit 80, and the axis X is defined as the axis X. The circumferential direction around the center is the circumferential direction of the cylinder 30 and the button unit 80. Since the orientation of the suction operation device 19 changes depending on the holding state of the endoscope 10, the insertion / removal directions (upper and lower) described in the following description do not always coincide with the vertical directions.

When the button unit 80 is mounted (inserted) on the cylinder 30, the valve body 31 is held with the relative movement with respect to the cylinder 30 regulated, and the piston 32 and the button 33 are supported so as to be able to be pressed downward against the valve body 31. Will be done. The sleeve ring 35 is rotatably supported around the axis X (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The cylinder 30 has a large diameter portion (cylindrical portion) 40 on the upper side in the insertion / removal direction and a small diameter portion 41 on the lower side. Inside the cylinder 30, a space inside the cylinder (space inside the support) 42 that penetrates the large diameter portion 40 and the small diameter portion 41 in the insertion / removal direction is formed. The upper end of the large diameter portion 40 is an upper end opening 30a (FIGS. 2 and 3) opened to the outer surface side of the endoscope 10. At the lower end of the small diameter portion 41, a conical tapered portion 41a whose diameter gradually decreases as it advances downward in the insertion / removal direction is formed, and a cylindrical pipeline connection is formed from the center of the tapered portion 41a downward. The portion 43 is protruding. The cylinder inner space 42 is a portion other than the tapered portion 41a and the pipeline connecting portion 43, and is surrounded by a cylindrical inner surface having a substantially constant inner diameter.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the large diameter portion 40 has a larger wall thickness in the radial direction than the small diameter portion 41, and the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 40 projects in the outer diameter direction from the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 41. There is. Due to the difference in outer diameter size between the large diameter portion 40 and the small diameter portion 41, a step portion 44 facing downward is formed on the outer surface of the cylinder 30.

As shown in FIG. 10, a side penetration portion 45 that penetrates the cylinder 30 in the radial direction (penetrates the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 40) is formed in a part of the large diameter portion 40 in the circumferential direction. Has been done. The upper end portion of the side penetrating portion 45 is opened so as to communicate with the upper end opening 30a, and is recessed downward from this open portion along the insertion / removal direction, and the introduction portion is sequentially provided from the upper side to the lower side. It has a constant width portion 45a, a narrow portion (resistance imparting portion) 45c, and a fitting holding portion 45d.

The width of the introduction portion 45a in the circumferential direction decreases from the upper side facing the upper end opening 30a to the lower side. The width of the constant width portion 45b in the circumferential direction is substantially constant. The narrow portion 45c has a shape narrower in the circumferential direction than the constant width portion 45b. The fitting holding portion 45d constitutes the bottom portion of the side penetrating portion 45, and has a circular shape with an open upper portion connected to the narrow portion 45c.

The cylinder 30 is further provided with a guide cam 46. The guide cam 46 is a convex end face cam provided on the upper end side of the large diameter portion 40, and three guide cams 46 are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction. Two of these guide cams 46 are shown in FIGS. 10, 11 (A) and 12 (A). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide cam 46 is formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the large diameter portion 40, and the inner cylindrical portion 40a which is a part of the large diameter portion 40 is formed on the inner diameter side of the guide cam 46. It is provided. The inner peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 40a is a smooth cylindrical surface, and the unevenness on the cylinder inner space 42 side due to the formation of the guide cam 46 does not occur.

Each guide cam 46 has a top surface 46a facing the upper end side of the large diameter portion 40, an insertion / removal direction surface 46b and an inclined surface 46c located on both sides of the top surface 46a in the circumferential direction. The top surface 46a is a surface extending in the circumferential direction and does not contain a tilting component in the insertion / removal direction. The insertion / removal direction surface 46b is a surface extending in the insertion / removal direction and does not contain a tilting component in the circumferential direction. The inclined surface 46c has an inclined component that increases the distance from the insertion / removal direction surface 46b as it moves downward away from the top surface 46a. When the cylinder 30 which is a tubular body is developed in a plane shape, the inclined surface 46c becomes an inclined surface having a substantially constant inclination angle over the entire surface. The insertion / removal direction surface 46b of one of the three guide cams 46 is in a relationship of overlapping with the inner surface of the constant width portion 45b of the side penetrating portion 45 (see FIG. 10).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve body 31 has an insertion support portion (insertion portion) 50 extending in the insertion / removal direction and a lateral pipe portion (lateral protrusion portion) protruding radially from the insertion support portion 50. Has 51. The insertion support portion 50 is formed with an internal space (detachable internal space) 52 penetrating in the insertion / detachment direction, and the lateral tube portion 51 is formed with an internal space (detachable internal space) 53 penetrating in the radial direction. One end of 53 communicates with the internal space 52. At the lower end of the insertion support portion 50, a tapered inner surface 54 having a conical inner surface shape whose inner diameter increases as it goes downward is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an outward protruding portion 56 having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylinder inner space 42 is provided at the upper end of the insertion support portion 50 in the valve body 31. An annular spring support groove 57 that is open upward is formed on the upper surface of the outward protrusion 56 at a position surrounding the internal space 52. A fitting recess 58 (FIGS. 2 and 3) facing the outer diameter side and a rotation restricting protrusion 59 (FIGS. 2 and 3) projecting in the outer diameter direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outward protrusion 56. There is.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, 7, 8, 10, 10, 11 (A), 12 (A), and 13, the side pipe portion 51 in the valve body 31 is a cylinder surrounding the internal space 53. It has a cross-sectional shape. A suction source connection port 60 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided at the tip of the side pipe portion 51.

A fragile portion 81 is formed in the side pipe portion 51 at a position close to the base end connected to the insertion support portion 50. The fragile portion 81 in the state before the button unit 80 is removed from the cylinder 30 is enlarged and shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 9. The fragile portion 81 has a bridging portion (first damaged portion) 83, a thin wall portion (second damaged portion) 84, and a groove portion in the recess 82 recessed on the outer peripheral surface of the side pipe portion 51. It has a configuration having 85.

The recess 82 has a vertical wall shape that connects the bottom surface 82a located closer to the center of the side pipe portion 51 in the radial direction than the outer peripheral surface of the side pipe portion 51, and the bottom surface 82a and the outer peripheral surface of the side pipe portion 51. It has a pair of facing surfaces (inner surfaces of recesses) 82b and 82c. The facing surface 82b and the facing surface 82c are separated from each other in the extending direction (diameter direction of the button unit 80) of the side pipe portion 51 and face each other. Between the bottom surface 82a of the recess 82 and the inner peripheral surface of the internal space 53, there is a thin portion 84 having a wall thickness smaller than that of the other portion of the side pipe portion 51 (the portion where the recess 82 is not formed). ..

The fragile portion 81 is provided with three bridging portions 83 parallel to each other in the depth direction of the recess 82 (radial direction of the side pipe portion 51). Each bridging portion 83 is a thin plate-shaped portion extending in the extending direction of the side pipe portion 51 and connecting the facing surface 82b and the facing surface 82c. The three bridges 83 are arranged at intervals in the depth direction of the recess 82, and there is a gap 86 between them. Further, there is also a gap 86 between the bridging portion 83 located on the innermost side in the radial direction of the side pipe portion 51 and the thin-walled portion 84 (bottom surface 82a). That is, in the radial direction of the side pipe portion 51, the three bridging portions 83 and the one thin-walled portion 84 are intermittently arranged so as to be separated from each other by a gap 86. The outer surface of the bridging portion 83 located on the outermost side in the radial direction is substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the side pipe portion 51 (see FIG. 9).

As shown in FIG. 9, the end of each bridge 83 on the side connected to the facing surface 82c is narrower (smaller cross-sectional area) than the other parts of each bridge 83a. It has become.

In the circumferential direction of the side pipe portion 51, three bridging portions 83 are located substantially in the center of the recess 82. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the recess 82 has a maximum depth (height of the facing surface 82b and the facing surface 82c) at the central portion in the circumferential direction where the bridge entanglement portion 83 is provided, and is in the circumferential direction. It gradually becomes shallower as it moves away from the bridge 83. Therefore, the wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 84 is small at the portion along with each bridge-walled portion 83, and the wall-thickness of the thin-walled portion 84 gradually increases as the distance from the bridging portion 83 in the circumferential direction increases (see FIG. 8). FIG. 8 shows the depth Q1 of the portion of the recess 82 in which the bridge entanglement portion 83 is provided.

The groove portion 85 is a long groove formed on the bottom surface 82a (the surface of the thin-walled portion 84) and extends in the circumferential direction of the side pipe portion 51. As shown in FIG. 6, the groove 85 is located substantially in the center of the recess 82 in the extending direction of the side pipe 51. Further, when the recess 82 is viewed in a plan view from above, each bridge tie portion 83 crosses the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction of the groove portion 85.

The groove 85 has a V-shaped cross section. As shown in FIG. 4, the wall thickness of the thin portion 84 is further reduced in the portion where the groove portion 85 is formed. As described above, the thin-walled portion 84 has the smallest wall thickness at the portion along with the three bridging portions 83 (see FIG. 8). Therefore, when the recess 82 is viewed in a plan view from above, the depth of the groove 85 is added to the depth Q1 (FIG. 8) of the recess 82 at the intersection of each bridged portion 83 and the groove 85, so that the thin portion 84 is formed. The wall thickness is minimized. In other words, in the recess 82, the portion along the groove 85 is thin and the strength is low, and further, among the portions along the groove 85, the region overlapping (intersecting) with the bridge 83 is the thinnest and the thinnest. The strength is low.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the piston 32 has a columnar shaft portion 61 extending in the insertion / removal direction, a head portion 62 provided at the upper end of the shaft portion 61, and an annular shape provided in the middle of the shaft portion 61. It has a flange portion 63 and a movable valve 64 provided at the lower end of the shaft portion 61. The head portion 62 has a larger diameter than the shaft portion 61, and the flange portion 63 has a larger diameter than the head portion 62. The movable valve 64 has a conical outer surface shape in which the outer diameter increases as it advances downward.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the button 33 extends downward from the cylindrical central portion 65, the upper wall portion 66 extending in the outer radial direction from the upper end of the central portion 65, and the peripheral edge of the upper wall portion 66. It has an outer peripheral wall portion 67 that surrounds the central portion 65. At the lower end of the central portion 65, a retaining portion 65a protruding in the inner diameter direction is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve ring 35 is an annular body that surrounds the outward protrusion 56 of the valve body 31. As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 10, 11 (A), 12 (A), and 14, the outer peripheral portion of the sleeve ring 35 has a plurality of gripping surfaces at different positions in the circumferential direction. 70 is provided. Each gripping surface 70 is a surface having a shape flatter than the cylindrical surface centered on the axis X (FIGS. 2 and 3). The sleeve ring 35 further has a thick portion 71 at a position in the circumferential direction different from each gripping surface 70. The thick portion 71 is a portion in which the amount of protrusion in the outer diameter direction is increased.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 10 to 14, a lower protrusion (destruction inducing portion) 72 is projected from the lower end of the thick portion 71 of the sleeve ring 35. The amount of downward protrusion of the lower protrusion 72 is set to be larger than the depth Q1 (FIG. 8) of the recess 82 of the portion of the side pipe portion 51 where the bridge entanglement portion 83 is provided. A contact portion 72a (FIGS. 6 and 8) is formed on the side portion of the lower protrusion 72 so that the wall thickness is gradually reduced toward the removal direction F1 (FIG. 11 (B)) described later.

The inner peripheral surface of the sleeve ring 35 is provided with a rotation range limiting groove 73 (FIGS. 2 and 3) extending in the circumferential direction and a fitting projection 74 (FIGS. 2 and 3) protruding in the inner diameter direction.

The sleeve ring 35 is further provided with a guide cam 75. The guide cam 75 is a concave end face cam provided at the lower end of the sleeve ring 35, and three guide cams 75 are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction. Two of these guide cams 75 are shown in FIGS. 7, 10, 11 (A) and 12 (A).

Each guide cam 75 has a top surface 75a facing the lower end side of the sleeve ring 35, an insertion / removal direction surface 75b and an inclined surface 75c located on both sides of the top surface 75a in the circumferential direction. The top surface 75a is a surface extending in the circumferential direction and does not contain a tilting component in the insertion / removal direction. The insertion / removal direction surface 75b is a surface extending in the insertion / removal direction and does not include a tilting component in the circumferential direction. The inclined surface 75c has an inclined component that increases the distance from the insertion / removal direction surface 75b as it moves downward away from the top surface 75a. When the sleeve ring 35, which is an annular body, is developed in a plane shape, the inclined surface 75c becomes an inclined surface having a substantially constant inclination angle over the entire surface.

As shown in FIG. 11A, each guide cam 75 provided on the sleeve ring 35 and each guide cam 46 provided on the cylinder 30 have an uneven shape that fits each other. More specifically, the lengths of the top surfaces 46a and 75a of each other, the lengths of the insertion / removal direction surfaces 46b and 75b of each other, and the inclination angles and lengths of the inclined surfaces 46c and 75c of each other are substantially the same.

Among the components of the suction operation device 19 described above, the cylinder 30 is made of a material having a higher rigidity than the valve body 31 and the sleeve ring 35. Specifically, the cylinder 30 is made of metal, and the valve body 31 and the sleeve ring 35 can be made of a resin material such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

The assembly of the suction operation device 19 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the suction operation device 19 is roughly divided into a cylinder 30 which is fixedly supported by the main body portion of the endoscope 10 and a button unit 80 which is removable from the cylinder 30. When assembling the suction operation device 19, the valve body 31, the piston 32, the button 33, the compression spring 34, and the sleeve ring 35 are combined to form the button unit 80, and the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30.

The cylinder 30 is fixed to the operation unit 12 of the endoscope 10. The operation unit 12 is formed with a cylinder insertion opening (not shown), and the cylinder 30 is inserted into the cylinder insertion opening. In the cylinder 30, the entire small diameter portion 41 and the middle part of the large diameter portion 40 are embedded in the operation portion 12, and the step portion 44 comes into contact with the step portion formed in the cylinder insertion opening, whereby the cylinder 30 of the cylinder 30 Insertion is restricted. Specifically, the portion of the large-diameter portion 40 above the formed portion of the guide cam 46 (above the embedded boundary line L1 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 10) is exposed on the outer surface of the operating portion 12. The cylinder 30 is fixed to the operation unit 12 by a predetermined fixing means (screw, adhesive, etc.).

In the operation unit 12, the suction pipeline 16 (FIG. 1) is connected to the pipeline connection portion 43 of the cylinder 30. The suction pipeline 16 can be connected to the pipeline connection portion 43 at a stage before the cylinder 30 is inserted into the operation portion 12.

When forming the button unit 80, the sleeve ring 35 is attached to the outside of the outward protrusion 56 of the insertion support portion 50 in the valve body 31. When the sleeve ring 35 is inserted into the outward protrusion 56 from above to below, the fitting protrusion 74 fits into the fitting recess 58, and the sleeve ring 35 is inserted / removed from the valve body 31 in the insertion / removal direction. Movement is restricted (see FIGS. 2 and 3). As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 and the like, in this state, the lower end portion of the sleeve ring 35 is located close to the upper portion of the side tube portion 51 in the insertion / removal direction.

Subsequently, the piston 32 is inserted into the internal space 52 of the insertion support portion 50 of the valve body 31, and the compression spring 34 is inserted into the spring support groove 57. Further, the head portion 62 of the piston 32 is inserted into the central portion 65 of the button 33. By this insertion, the relative movement of the piston 32 and the button 33 in the radial direction is restricted. Further, the retaining portion 65a is fitted into the groove-shaped portion between the head portion 62 and the flange portion 63, and the relative movement of the piston 32 and the button 33 in the insertion / removal direction is restricted. That is, the piston 32 and the button 33 are integrated. Further, if necessary, the piston 32 and the button 33 are fixed with an adhesive or the like.

When the piston 32 and the button 33 are combined, the upper end portion of the compression spring 34 comes into contact with the upper wall portion 66 of the button 33, and the compression spring 34 is held between the lower surface of the upper wall portion 66 and the bottom surface of the spring support groove 57. (See Fig. 2). The compression spring 34 is supported so as to be able to expand and contract in the insertion / detachment direction without causing buckling by surrounding the tubular portion inside the spring support groove 57 and the central portion 65. The compression spring 34 urges the piston 32 and the button 33 upward with respect to the valve body 31, and the movable valve 64 abuts on the tapered inner surface 54 by this urging force (see FIG. 2). The position of the movable valve 64 in contact with the inner surface of the taper 54 is set as the shutoff position, and the position of the movable valve 64 away from the inner surface of the taper 54 is set as the communication position. The sleeve ring 35 is located on the outer diameter side of the compression spring 34 together with the outer peripheral wall portion 67 of the button 33 to prevent the compression spring 34 from being exposed to the outside (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

With the button unit 80 assembled as described above, the sleeve ring 35 is rotatably supported with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the outward protruding portion 56 about the axis X (FIGS. 2 and 3). The rotation of the sleeve ring 35 is in the range until the rotation restricting protrusion 59 enters the rotation range limiting groove 73 and the rotation regulating protrusion 59 abuts on one end (not shown) of the rotation range limiting groove 73. It is possible.

Further, when assembling the sleeve ring 35 to the valve body 31 in the assembly of the button unit 80, the position in the rotation direction is determined so that the thick portion 71 and the side pipe portion 51 are aligned in the insertion / removal direction (see FIG. 7). .. When the sleeve ring 35 is assembled in this positional relationship, a part of the lower protrusion 72 protruding downward from the thick portion 71 enters the recess 82 (see FIGS. 6 and 8).

When the sleeve ring 35 is rotated in the removal direction indicated by the arrow line F1 in FIG. 11B from the states of FIGS. 7 and 8, it is downward with respect to the bottom surface 82a of the recess 82 formed in the side tube portion 51. The protrusions 72 come into contact with each other. As shown in FIG. 8, since the bottom surface 82a has a curved shape in which the amount of protrusion upward increases as it approaches the bridging portion 83, the removal direction F1 (FIG. 8) is the direction in which the bottom surface 82a approaches the bridging portion 83. When the lower protrusion 72 tries to advance to 11 (B)), a resistance acts on the lower protrusion 72. That is, when the sleeve ring 35 is attached to the valve body 31 in the positional relationship in the circumferential direction shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the movement in the insertion / removal direction is restricted (the fitting protrusion 74 is in the fitting recess 58). At the stage of fitting), resistance is also applied to the rotation of the sleeve ring 35 with respect to the valve body 31, and the button unit 80 is in a state where the positional relationship of each member is stable. By aligning the side pipe portion 51 of the valve body 31 with the thick portion 71 of the sleeve ring 35 as an index, the appropriate mounting position of the sleeve ring 35 can be easily identified.

As shown in FIG. 10, the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30 in a state where the lateral pipe portion 51 and the thick portion 71 are aligned with each other in the circumferential direction with respect to the side penetrating portion 45. The button unit 80 is inserted downward from the upper end opening 30a of the cylinder 30 with the end portion of the insertion support portion 50 of the valve body 31 opposite to the outward protruding portion 56 at the head. The outer diameter size of the portion of the insertion support portion 50 below the outward protrusion 56 is slightly larger than the inner diameter size of the cylinder inner space 42. Therefore, the insertion support portion 50 is press-fitted into the cylinder inner space 42 with a predetermined load, and the space between the cylinder inner space 42 and the insertion support portion 50 is sealed. An O-ring made of an elastic material is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion support portion 50 (such as an annular groove portion near the lower end of the insertion support portion 50 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, 7, 10, and 14). May be attached and a configuration may be adopted in which the space between the cylinder and the inner space 42 is sealed via an O-ring.

When a predetermined amount of the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30, the side pipe portion 51 enters the side penetrating portion 45. The opening width of the introduction portion 45a in the side penetration portion 45 is larger than the outer diameter size of the side pipe portion 51, and even if the cylinder 30 and the button unit 80 are slightly displaced in the circumferential direction, the introduction portion 45a laterally The side pipe portion 51 can be guided into the side penetration portion 45 by guiding the pipe portion 51. The opening width of the constant width portion 45b is substantially the same as the outer diameter size of the side pipe portion 51, and the side pipe portion 51 advances downward along the constant width portion 45b. The opening width of the narrow portion 45c is smaller than the outer diameter size of the side pipe portion 51, and when the side pipe portion 51 reaches the narrow portion 45c, resistance to insertion is added downward. When a force resisting this resistance is applied and the insertion is continued, the side pipe portion 51 made of a material having a lower rigidity than the cylinder 30 passes through the narrow portion 45c while elastically deforming in the radial direction. Since the inner surface of the side penetrating portion 45 from the constant width portion 45b to the narrow portion 45c has a tapered shape along the outer peripheral surface of the side pipe portion 51, the elasticity of the side pipe portion 51 in the diameter reduction direction Deformation can occur smoothly.

When the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30, the side pipe portion 51 receives resistance due to the passage of the narrow portion 45c of the side penetrating portion 45. A load is applied to the fragile portion 81 by this resistance, but the fragile portion 81 is reinforced with a plurality (three) bridging portions 83 on the outside of the thin-walled portion 84 including the groove portion 85 to maintain a predetermined strength. Since it is in a state, it is not destroyed by the resistance at the time of insertion into the lateral penetrating portion 45.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fragile portion 81 provided in the side pipe portion 51 is a region that overlaps with the side penetration portion 45 (fits within the side penetration portion 45) in the extending direction of the side pipe portion 51. Is located in. More specifically, the outermost diameter side portion (opposing surface 82c) of the fragile portion 81 is on the inner diameter side (on the axis X shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 40 having the side penetrating portion 45. It is located on the near side), and the difference S1 at this position is shown in FIG. By setting the position of the fragile portion 81 with respect to the side penetrating portion 45 in this way, when the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30 (especially when the side pipe portion 51 passes through the narrow portion 45c), it is vulnerable. An excessive load is not applied to the portion 81, and the fragile portion 81 can be prevented from being destroyed.

Further, the fragile portion 81 is formed in a region of the side pipe portion 51 facing the side opposite to the insertion direction (disengagement direction) of the button unit 80 into the cylinder 30 (see FIG. 4). This arrangement also contributes to preventing the fragile portion 81 from being destroyed when the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30.

The insertion support portion 50 can be inserted into the cylinder inner space 42 at a portion below the outward protrusion 56, and at a position where the outward protrusion 56 abuts on the upper end of the cylinder 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Insertion into the cylinder space 42 is restricted. In this state, the outward projecting portion 56 projects upward from the cylinder inner space 42.

When the side pipe portion 51 passes through the narrow portion 45c against the resistance at the time of insertion, the side pipe portion 51 is fitted into the fitting holding portion 45d as shown in FIG. 11A. Since the fitting holding portion 45d has an inner surface shape along the outer peripheral surface of the side pipe portion 51, the side pipe portion 51 fits in the fitting holding portion 45d in a stable state. The movement of the lateral pipe portion 51 in the circumferential direction or downward is regulated by the inner surface of the fitting holding portion 45d. Further, since the narrow portion 45c is provided in the opening portion above the fitting holding portion 45d, resistance is added to the detachment of the side pipe portion 51 upward from the fitting holding portion 45d.

When the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30 until the side pipe portion 51 is fitted into the fitting holding portion 45d, the button unit 80 is provided on the button unit 80 side as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. Each of the three guide cams 75 fits into the three guide cams 46 provided on the cylinder 30 side. More specifically, the top surface 75a faces the top surface 46a, the insertion / removal direction surface 75b faces the insertion / removal direction surface 46b, and the inclined surface 75c faces the inclined surface 46c. As described above, the side pipe portion 51 of the valve body 31 and the thick portion 71 of the sleeve ring 35 also function as a position index for fitting each guide cam 46 and each guide cam 75. At the steps shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the assembly of the button unit 80 to the cylinder 30 is completed. In this state, the button 33 and the sleeve ring 35 are located above the embedding boundary line L1 (FIG. 10) and can be operated from the outside.

In the assembled state of FIG. 11A, the rotation of the valve body 31 is restricted by the contact of the side pipe portion 51 with the inner surface of the side penetration portion 45 (fitting holding portion 45d). Further, the contact between the insertion / removal direction surfaces 46b and 75b of the guide cams 46 and 75 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B) and the contact between one end of the rotation range limiting groove 73 and the rotation restricting protrusion 59. The contact (not shown) restricts the rotation of the sleeve ring 35 in the direction opposite to the removal direction F1 (FIG. 11B). Further, the contact of the lower protrusion 72 with the bottom surface 82a (thin wall portion 84) of the recess 82 of the side pipe portion 51 imparts resistance to the rotation of the sleeve ring 35 in the removal direction F1. Therefore, in the button unit 80, the valve body 31 is restricted from rotating forward and reverse with respect to the cylinder 30, and the sleeve ring 35 is in a state in which resistance is added to the rotation in the removal direction F1.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the suction operation device 19 in the assembled state of FIG. 11 (A). In the suction operation device 19, the cylinder inner space 42 and the internal space 52 form a flow path in the insertion / removal direction, and the internal space 53 forms a flow path in the radial direction.

With the button unit 80 assembled to the cylinder 30, the side pipe portion 51 projects to the side of the operation portion 12 through the side penetrating portion 45 (fitting holding portion 45d). Although specific illustration is omitted, a suction pipe line 23 (FIG. 1) is connected to the suction source connection port 60 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and the suction force of the suction source 22 is applied to the internal space 53 through the suction pipe line 23. Can affect

When the piston 32 and the button 33 are not pressed, the suction operation device 19 is in the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 11 (A). In this state, the piston 32 and the button 33 that receive the urging force of the compression spring 34 increase the amount of protrusion upward, and the movable valve 64 is pressed against the tapered inner surface 54 by the urging force of the compression spring 34 to shut off. Held in position. The movable valve 64 at this shutoff position blocks the fluid flow between the cylinder inner space 42 and the inner space 52. On the other hand, a gap for leakage is formed between the outer peripheral wall portion 67 of the button 33 and the sleeve ring 35, and between the shaft portion 61 of the piston 32 and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion support portion 50, and an internal space is formed. The suction force acting on the 53 sucks the outside air from the leak gap.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the piston 32 and the button 33 are pressed downward against the urging force of the compression spring 34, the movable valve 64 moves from the shutoff position in contact with the tapered inner surface 54 to the tapered inner surface 54. On the other hand, it moves to a communication position that is separated downward, and the cylinder inner space 42 and the internal space 52 communicate with each other to enable fluid flow. On the other hand, the lower end surface of the central portion 65 of the button 33 closes the vicinity of the upper end of the internal space 52, and the inflow of outside air into the internal space 52 from the gap between the button 33 and the sleeve ring 35 is blocked. Therefore, the suction force of the suction source 22 reaches the suction pipeline 16 via the internal space 53, the internal space 52, the cylinder internal space 42, and the pipeline connection portion 43, and suction from the suction port 18 can be performed. it can.

When the pressure on the piston 32 and the button 33 is released, the movable valve 64 moves upward by the urging force of the compression spring 34 and returns to the shutoff position (FIG. 2) in which the movable valve 64 abuts on the tapered inner surface 54. As a result, the suction force from the suction source 22 does not reach the suction pipe line 16 and the suction port 18.

When a force (arrow F2 in FIG. 4) that pushes up the side pipe portion 51 from below to the tip side of the fragile portion 81 is applied, the side pipe portion 51 is vulnerable. A bending load acts in the direction of bringing the facing surface 82b and the facing surface 82c of the portion 81 close to each other. The bridging portion 83 included in the fragile portion 81 has particularly high strength against such a compressive load in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, since the configuration is such that a plurality of bridging portions 83 extending in the extending direction of the side pipe portion 51 are arranged side by side, the strength is higher. Further, the groove 85 can absorb the bending in the direction in which the facing surface 82b and the facing surface 82c are brought close to each other by narrowing the width of the V-shaped inner surface. Therefore, even if a slight load (particularly, a load for bending to the arrow F2 in FIG. 4) is applied to the side tube portion 51 during the operation of the endoscope 10, the fragile portion 81 is not destroyed.

In the suction operation device 19, the button unit 80 can be removed after using the endoscope 10, the cylinder 30 and the suction pipe line 16 can be cleaned, and the button unit 80 can be replaced. The button unit 80 is removed by rotating the sleeve ring 35 in the removal direction F1 shown in FIG. 11B.

As described above, when the sleeve ring 35 is to be rotated in the removal direction F1, resistance is received by the contact between the lower protrusion 72 and the recess 82 (bottom surface 82a) of the side pipe portion 51. When a predetermined force or more is applied to the removal direction F1 against this resistance, the sleeve ring 35 starts rotating while moving the lower protrusion 72 along the bottom surface 82a.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the inclined surface 75c of the guide cam 75 changes the contact position of the guide cam 46 with respect to the inclined surface 46c due to the rotation of the sleeve ring 35 in the removal direction F1. .. Since the inclined surface 46c and the inclined surface 75c each have an inclined shape that changes their positions upward (in the detaching direction) as they proceed in the removing direction F1, the sleeve ring 35 rotates in the removing direction F1 with respect to the cylinder 30. While moving upwards.

Three guide cams 46 of the cylinder 30 and three guide cams 75 of the sleeve ring 35 are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction. Further, each guide cam 76 and each guide cam 75 generate an upward force by sliding contact between the inclined surface 46c and the inclined surface 75c which are substantially parallel to each other. Therefore, when the sleeve ring 35 is rotated, it can be efficiently moved upward with high stability without causing inclination.

Due to the fitting relationship between the fitting recess 58 and the fitting protrusion 74, the valve body 31 moves upward together with the sleeve ring 35. Further, the piston 32 and the button 33 also move upward along with the valve body 31. That is, the entire button unit 80 moves upward. When the valve body 31 moves upward, the side pipe portion 51 abuts on the narrow portion 45c and receives resistance. When the rotation of the sleeve ring 35 in the removal direction F1 is continued against this resistance, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 13, the side pipe portion 51 made of a material having a lower rigidity than the cylinder 30 contracts. It passes through the narrow portion 45c while elastically deforming in the radial direction. When the side pipe portion 51 completely passes through the narrow portion 45c and enters the constant width portion 45b, the movement resistance with respect to the side pipe portion 51 becomes small, and the button unit 80 is moved upward through the upper end opening 30a of the cylinder 30. Can be pulled out.

By removing the button unit 80 as described above, the inside of the suction pipe line 16 and the cylinder 30 can be easily cleaned. In the button unit 80, the sleeve ring 35 is supported on the outside of the outward protrusion 56 protruding from the cylinder 30. Further, the guide cam 46 for moving the sleeve ring 35 in the detaching direction (upward) of the button unit 80 is an end face cam provided at the upper end portion of the cylinder 30. Therefore, unevenness is not formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 30 due to the effect of providing the sleeve ring 35, and the inside of the cylinder 30 has a smooth shape that is easy to clean (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

The button unit 80 of the present embodiment is a type that is replaced every time it is used. The button unit 80 removed from the cylinder 30 is discarded, and after cleaning the suction pipe line 16 and the cylinder 30, a new button unit 80 is attached to the cylinder 30. When the button unit 80 is removed, the fragile portion 81 is in a destroyed state as shown in FIG. 14, and it can be identified that the button unit 80 should be discarded after use.

The vulnerable part 81 is destroyed as follows. First, when the sleeve ring 35 rotates by a predetermined amount in the removal direction F1 from the attached state of the button unit 80 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the lower protrusion 72 approaches each bridge tangent portion 83 and hits the contact. Get in touch. At this time, due to the relationship between the inclined surface 75c of the guide cam 75 and the inclined surface 46c of the guide cam 46, the button unit 80 moves slightly upward and the downward protrusion 72 comes into contact with each bridged portion 83. As shown in FIG. 8, the amount of downward protrusion of the downward protrusion 72 is larger than the depth Q1 (FIG. 8) of the recess 82 of the portion where the bridge entanglement portion 83 is provided, so that the button unit 80 moves upward. In the state of rotating while moving, the lower protrusion 72 can be surely brought into contact with all the bridging portions 83.

With the further rotation of the sleeve ring 35 in the removal direction F1, the lower protrusion 72 applies a shear load to each bridged portion 83 having an elongated thin plate shape while pressing in the lateral width direction thereof. When the shear load exceeds a predetermined value, each bridge engagement portion 83 breaks (see FIGS. 12A and 13). In particular, since each bridging portion 83 partially has a narrow portion 83a having a small cross-sectional area, it is easily broken by pressing the lower protrusion 72. Further, the downward protrusion 72 abuts the contact portion 72a (FIGS. 6, 8, and 13) having a shape in which the wall thickness decreases as the removal direction F1 progresses, and abuts the bridge engagement portion 83. As a result, it becomes easy to apply a load for breaking the bridges 83 from the lower protrusions 72.

The strength of each bridge 83 is broken by the downward protrusion 72 when the sleeve ring 35 is rotated with the intention of removal, and the sleeve ring 35 wobbles when the endoscope 10 is used (without the intention of removal). It is set so that it will not be broken by. Such strength setting can be appropriately changed according to the cross-sectional shape and arrangement of each bridging portion 83. More specifically, the size of the width of each bridging portion 83 in the rotational direction of the sleeve ring 35 and the wall thickness of each bridging portion 83 in the radial direction of the lateral pipe portion 51 (of the bridging portion 83 and the gap 86). This can be achieved by changing factors such as the size ratio) and the number and position of the narrow width portions 83a. For example, if the cross-sectional area (width and wall thickness) of each bridging portion 83 and each narrow width portion 83a is reduced, the force required for breaking is reduced. Further, by increasing the number of narrow width portions 83a in each bridge connection portion 83 or expanding the forming range of the narrow width portion 83a, the force required for breaking is reduced. On the contrary, the cross-sectional area (width and wall thickness) of each bridging portion 83 is increased, the number of bridging portions 83 is increased, and the formation range of the narrow portion 83a in each bridging portion 83 is reduced (or By not providing the narrow portion 83a), the force required for breaking is increased.

Further, on the premise that the strength of each bridging portion 83 can be ensured when the endoscope 10 is used, the abutting portion 72a fits the side portion of each bridging portion 83 on the side facing the lower projection 72. It is also possible to make it concave. By doing so, the position when the lower protrusion 72 is brought into contact with each bridged portion 83 is stabilized, and each bridged portion 83 can be easily broken efficiently.

In the state before rotating the sleeve ring 35, instead of giving resistance to rotation in the removal direction F1 by contact between the lower protrusion 72 and the bottom surface 82a of the recess 82, between the valve body 31 and the sleeve ring 35. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the sleeve ring 35 is held by fitting the click stop mechanism provided in the above. The click stop mechanism may be configured by changing the shapes of the lower protrusion 72 and the recess 82 (for example, adding a click recess on the recess 82 side and adding a click protrusion on the lower protrusion 72 side). Alternatively, it may be provided at a position different from the lower protrusion 72 and the recess 82. By rotating the sleeve ring 35 in the removal direction F1 with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force, the holding by the click stop mechanism is released, and the lower protrusion 72 can be brought into contact with each bridge engagement portion 83.

12 (A) and 13 (A) show the rotational position of the sleeve ring 35 in the middle of breaking each bridging portion 83 by the contact portion 72a of the lower protrusion 72. When the sleeve ring 35 rotates in the removal direction F1 (FIG. 11 (B)) from the positions shown in FIGS. 12 (A) and 13 (FIG. 11 (B)), the lower protrusion 72 passes through the positions of the bridges 83 and each bridge. The part 83 is completely broken.

As described above, when the button unit 80 is pulled upward from the cylinder 30, the side pipe portion 51 having the fragile portion 81 comes into contact with the narrow portion 45c and receives resistance. When the button unit 80 is moved upward against this resistance, the relationship between the insertion support portion 50 that tends to be pulled upward together with the sleeve ring 35 and the side tube portion 51 that receives the movement resistance due to the narrow portion 45c. As a result, a load is applied to the base end portion of the side pipe portion 51, that is, the fragile portion 81. Due to this load, the thin portion 84 is broken along the groove portion 85 in the recess 82 (see FIG. 14).

More specifically, when each bridging portion 83 is broken by the rotational operation of the sleeve ring 35, the strength of the fragile portion 81 is weakened. In particular, since each bridging portion 83 bridges the facing surface 82b and the facing surface 82c at a position corresponding to the portion of the thin portion 84 having the smallest wall thickness (see FIGS. 8 and 13), each bridging portion 83. The breakage of the portion 83 has a great influence on the decrease in the strength of the fragile portion 81. When the button unit 80 tries to move in the detaching direction in this state, a force acts on the fragile portion 81 to bend the side pipe portion 51 in the direction of widening the distance between the facing surface 82b and the facing surface 82c of the recess 82. .. Here, among the thin-walled portions 84 formed in a thin wall, stress is concentrated on the formed portion of the groove portion 85 having a particularly small wall thickness, and the bottom portion (V-shaped) of the groove portion 85 having a V-shaped cross-sectional shape. The thin portion 84 is broken along the apex portion).

As shown in FIG. 4, in the radial direction of the button unit 80 centered on the axis X (FIGS. 2 and 3), the outermost diameter side portion (opposing surface 82c) of the fragile portion 81 is the large diameter portion 40. By making the configuration located on the inner diameter side (the side closer to the axis X) than the outer peripheral surface (the difference in S1 in FIG. 4 occurs), the fragile portion 81 becomes fragile when the button unit 80 is inserted into the cylinder 30. It is not easily destroyed, and the fragile portion 81 is easily destroyed when the button unit 80 is removed from the cylinder 30.

In the button unit 80 removed from the cylinder 30 as described above, the fragile portion 81 is destroyed and the side pipe portion 51 is in a bent state (see FIG. 14). This makes it possible to easily identify the state of the button unit 80 after use by appearance. In the structure of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the thin portion 84 is likely to be broken along the groove 85, but the form of destruction of the fragile portion 81 is not limited to this. ..

As described above, in the suction operation device 19 of the present embodiment, the valve body 31 constituting the suction flow path is supported by the cylinder 30 in a state where rotation is restricted, and is provided separately from the valve body 31. The button unit 80 including the valve body 31 is removed by rotating the sleeve ring 35. The sleeve ring 35 is an annular body that surrounds the outward protrusion 56 of the valve body 31, and has a portion that protrudes long in the radial direction, such as the side pipe portion 51 of the valve body 31 and the suction source connection port 60. Absent. Further, the sleeve ring 35 is not connected to an external device such as the suction pipe line 23, and there is no possibility that a strong force is applied from the outside when the endoscope 10 is routed. Therefore, the sleeve ring 35 does not unintentionally rotate in the removal direction F1, and the assembled state of the button unit 80 can be reliably maintained when the endoscope 10 is used.

Further, the sleeve ring 35 itself is not intended because the sleeve ring 35 itself is configured to receive resistance to rotation in the removal direction F1 due to the contact between the lower protrusion 72 and the side pipe portion 51 (recess 82). The rotation operation can be prevented and the assembled state of the button unit 80 can be maintained more reliably.

Further, as described above, the valve body 31 constituting the button unit 80 includes a fragile portion 81 which is destroyed by the operation of removing from the cylinder 30. Since it is possible to identify that the button unit 80 has been used by destroying the fragile portion 81, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the button unit 80 will be reattached after it has been removed. The fragile portion 81 is not damaged by the operation when the button unit 80 is attached to the cylinder 30 (insertion downward), and the operation when the button unit 80 is removed from the cylinder 30 (rotation of the sleeve ring 35 and pulling out upward). It is a configuration that is damaged by. Therefore, the effect can be obtained only by performing normal attachment / detachment without requiring complicated operation on the button unit 80.

Although the above description has been made based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment. The present invention includes a support provided on the main body of the endoscope (corresponding to the cylinder 30 of the embodiment) and a detachable body (corresponding to the button unit 80 of the embodiment) that can be attached to and detached from the support, and is attached to the support. Any device may have a basic configuration in which the detachable body is provided with a fragile part that is not damaged by the mounting operation but is damaged by the removal operation from the support, and the detailed structure and the type of device to be applied can be arbitrarily selected. Is.

For example, although the above embodiment is applied to the suction operation device 19, it is also possible to apply the operation device for air supply and water supply. The operation device for air supply and water supply has a valve structure in which the opening / closing state is changed by an external pressing operation, such as the relationship between the valve body 31 and the piston 32 of the suction operation device 19, and constitutes this valve structure. A configuration having a fragile portion as in the above embodiment can be used for attaching and detaching the portion to be used.

More specifically, the operation device for air supply / water supply has an air supply / water supply button that can be pressed against a cylinder supported by an operation unit of the endoscope. In the endoscope, an air supply water pipe line for connecting a nozzle and a cylinder provided at the tip of an insertion portion, and an air supply line and a water supply line for connecting a total air supply water source and a cylinder are provided. A leak hole is formed in the air supply water supply button, and when the air supply water supply button is not touched (the leak hole is not blocked), the air sent from the air supply water supply source to the cylinder via the air supply pipeline is sent from the leak hole. Exit to the outside. If the leak hole of the air supply / water supply button is closed with a finger or the like, air is supplied to the air supply / water supply pipeline, and air can be ejected from the nozzle. In addition, when the air supply / water supply button is not pushed in, the water supply from the water supply line to the air supply / water supply line is blocked, and when the air supply / water supply button is pushed in, the water supply line and the air supply / water supply line are communicated with each other and the nozzle is used. Water can be spouted from. The nozzle is suitable for the objective window provided at the front of the image pickup lens system and the light distribution window provided at the front of the lighting means, and the cleaning water is ejected from the nozzle to clean the objective window and the light distribution window. After cleaning, air can be ejected from the nozzle to remove water droplets from the objective window and the light distribution window. In the operation device for air supply / water supply constituting such an air supply / water supply system, a fragile portion may be provided in the button unit including the air supply / water supply button.

Further, the present invention can be applied to other than the type of operation device such as the suction operation device 19 and the air supply / water supply operation device that changes the flow state of the fluid by the pressing operation.

When the present invention is applied to a detachable device other than such a suction operation device, the configuration and shape of the detachable body are different from those of the button unit 80 of the above embodiment. Therefore, the position where the fragile portion is provided and the form of the fragile portion can be arbitrarily changed according to the configuration of the detachable body. Specifically, the position where the fragile portion is provided is not limited to the base end portion of the side pipe portion 51 protruding from the valve body 31 as in the embodiment, and the form of the fragile portion is the fragility of the embodiment. It may be different from the part 81.

If the fragile portion is gradually destroyed by movements in a plurality of different directions (rotation of the sleeve ring 35 and pulling out of the button unit 80) as in the above embodiment, there is a risk of unintended destruction. It is easy to meet the requirement that it be destroyed only when it is removed. However, the present invention does not exclude a fragile portion in a form that is destroyed by only one operation when the detachable body is removed.

For example, the direction of the load acting on the side pipe portion 51 differs between when the button unit 80 is inserted and when it is pulled out. Conditions such as the opening direction of the recess 82, the wall thickness and cross-sectional shape of the thin portion 84, and the cross-sectional shape and formation direction of the groove 85 are set so that the strength can be controlled according to the difference in the load direction in the insertion / removal direction. As a result, it is possible to obtain a vulnerable portion that is completely destroyed only by moving the button unit 80 in the pulling direction while satisfying the condition that the button unit 80 is not destroyed by the insertion operation. That is, the bridging portion 83 in the embodiment can be omitted to provide a fragile portion of a type that does not require breakage due to rotation of the sleeve ring 35 at the time of fracture. On the contrary, it is also possible to adopt a fragile portion of a type in which the destruction is completed only by the fracture due to the rotation of the sleeve ring 35 and the operation of the button unit 80 in the pulling direction is not included in the requirements for destruction.

10 Endoscope 11 Insertion part 12 Operation part 13 Universal tube 14 Video connector 15 Processor 16 Suction line (first line)
18 Suction port 19 Suction operation device 22 Suction source 23 Suction line (second line)
27 Push button switch 30 Cylinder (support)
30a Upper end opening 31 Valve body (main body member)
32 Piston (pressing operation member)
33 buttons (pressing operation member)
34 Compression spring (urging means)
35 Sleeve ring (detachment operation member)
40 Large diameter part (cylindrical part)
41 Small diameter 42 Cylinder space (supporting space)
43 Pipeline connection part 44 Step part 45 Side penetration part 45a Introduction part 45b Constant width part 45c Narrow part (resistance imparting part)
45d Fitting holding part 46 Guide cam 50 Insertion support part (insertion part)
51 Side pipe (side protrusion)
52 Internal space (detachable internal space)
53 Internal space (detachable internal space)
54 Tapered inner surface 56 Outer protrusion 57 Spring support groove 58 Fitting recess 59 Rotation control protrusion 60 Suction source connection port 61 Shaft 62 Head 63 Flange 64 Movable valve 65 Center 65a Retainer 66 Upper wall 67 Outer circumference Wall 70 Grip surface 71 Thick wall 72 Lower protrusion (destruction inducing part)
72a Contact part 73 Rotation range limiting groove 74 Fitting protrusion 75 Guide cam 80 Button unit (detachable body)
81 Vulnerable part 82 Recess 82a Bottom surface 82b Facing surface (inner surface of recess)
82c Opposing surface (inner surface of recess)
83 Bridge part (first damaged part)
83a Narrow width portion 84 Thin wall portion (second damaged portion)
85 Groove F1 Removal direction

Claims (11)

The support provided on the body of the endoscope and
A detachable body that can be attached to and detached from the support and functions in the attached state,
A fragile portion provided on the detachable body, which is not destroyed by the attachment operation to the support but is destroyed by the removal operation from the support.
Equipped with a,
The support includes a space inside the support that opens to the outer surface side of the endoscope.
The detachable body
A main body member that can be inserted into and removed from the support body space of the support,
It is supported by the main body member and can rotate about an axis oriented in the insertion / removal direction of the main body member into the space inside the support body, and is separated from the support by rotation in the removal rotation direction with respect to the main body member. A detachment operation member that imparts a moving force to the main body member and
With
The fragile portion is provided on the main body member.
The detachment operation member is an endoscope attachment / detachment device including a destruction inducing portion that causes destruction of at least a part of the fragile portion by a rotational operation in the removal direction . The support
The tubular part surrounding the space inside the support and
A lateral penetrating portion that penetrates the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion and extends from the opening in the insertion direction of the main body member.
With
The main body member
An insertion portion located inside the support body space in the mounted state,
A lateral projecting portion that is connected to the insertion portion and projects outward from the tubular portion through the lateral penetrating portion in the mounted state,
With
The fragile portion is formed on the lateral protrusion,
In the middle position of the side through portions, and a resistance application portion that provides resistance to the movement of the lateral projection of the said insertion and removal direction, detaching device of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein. The attachment / detachment device for an endoscope according to claim 2 , wherein the fragile portion is provided in a region of the lateral protrusions located inside the lateral penetration portion in the mounted state. The vulnerable part is
A first portion to be destroyed, which is destroyed by the destruction inducing portion of the detachment operation member,
In a state where the first fragile portion is destroyed, a second damaged portion that is destroyed by a load when the main body member moves in the detaching direction against the resistance of the resistance applying portion.
The device for attaching / detaching an endoscope according to claim 2 or 3 . Each of the insertion portion and the lateral protrusion portion has a removable internal space communicating with the support internal space, and the lateral protrusion is a tube body surrounding the detachable internal space.
The second fractured portion includes a thin-walled portion located at the bottom of a bottomed recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lateral protrusion.
The device for attaching / detaching an endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein the first damaged portion includes a bridging portion that bridges a pair of inner surfaces of the recesses that face each other apart from each other in the extending direction of the tubular body. The device for attaching / detaching an endoscope according to claim 5 , wherein a plurality of the bridging portions are provided at intervals in the depth direction of the recess. The endoscope attachment / detachment device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the portion connected to at least one of the pair of inner surfaces of the recess is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the other portion. The device for attaching / detaching an endoscope according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , wherein a groove extending in the circumferential direction of the tubular body is provided on the surface of the thin-walled portion. The endoscope attachment / detachment device according to any one of claims 5 to 8 , wherein the recess is formed on the outer surface of the tubular body on the side facing the detachment direction. A movable valve that is movably supported by the main body member in the insertion / removal direction and moves to a blocking position that blocks fluid flow between the support internal space and the detachable internal space and a communication position that allows fluid flow. Pressing operation member with
An urging means for urging the pressing member to the blocking position,
The endoscope attachment / detachment device according to any one of claims 5 to 9 , further comprising. A first conduit connected to the support internal space and a second conduit connected to the detachable internal space via the lateral protrusion are provided, and the first conduit is used to insert an endoscope. The device for attaching / detaching an endoscope according to claim 10 , wherein the second conduit is connected to a suction source provided in the portion.

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