JP7019558B2 - Endoscope and method of manufacturing endoscopes - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope and a method for manufacturing an endoscope.

The insertion portion of the endoscope is typically formed by connecting a relatively soft flexible portion to a curved portion configured so that the bending can be operated. The base end portion of the tubular body constituting the curved portion and the tip end portion of the tubular body constituting the flexible portion are fitted to each other, straddling the base end portion of the fitted curved portion and the tip end portion of the soft portion. A common connecting member is engaged and the curved portion and the flexible portion are connected to each other.

In the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the connecting member is provided at the base end portion of the curved portion arranged outside the fitting portion among the base end portion of the fitted curved portion and the tip end portion of the flexible portion. It is inserted into the engaging hole and is engaged with the engaging groove provided at the tip of the flexible portion arranged inside the fitting.

Then, in order to suppress the disconnection of the connecting member when an axial tensile force acts on the curved portion and the flexible portion, the connecting member is covered with a stopper member made of a thin metal tape or the like from the outer peripheral side, and further curved. It is fixed to the engaging hole of the portion and the engaging recess of the flexible portion by an adhesive or the like.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-115427

In addition to axial pulling, twisting around the shaft also acts on the connecting points of the curved portion and the flexible portion. In the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, tension and twist are received by a common connecting member, and appropriate strength is required for fixing the connecting member to the curved portion and the flexible portion.

Then, in the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the connecting member is adhered to the curved portion and the flexible portion, and when the fixing strength sufficient to receive the pulling and twisting is obtained by the adhesion, the connecting member is adhered to the curved portion and the flexible portion. It becomes difficult to separate the curved part and the soft part at the time of repair.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which a curved portion and a flexible portion of an insertion portion are separably and firmly connected to each other, and a method for manufacturing the same.

The endoscope of one aspect of the present invention has a plurality of annular pieces arranged in a row, and one of a curved portion in which two adjacent pieces are rotatably connected to each other and one of the curved portions. A flexible portion having a connecting ring connected to a base end piece arranged at an end portion, an insertion portion including an insertion portion, and at least one connecting member for connecting the base end piece and the connecting ring are provided. The connecting ring has a connecting portion that is internally fitted into the base end piece, and the base end piece is provided with at least one notch extending in the axial direction from the end of the base end piece, and the connecting portion is provided with the connecting portion. The outer peripheral surface is inserted into each of the notches along with the fitting with the base end piece, and rotates with the base end piece with respect to the relative rotation around the axis between the base end piece and the connection ring. At least one protrusion that engages in the direction and is provided with a protrusion that is integrally formed with the connecting ring. The connecting member is detachably attached to the base end piece and the connecting portion, and is described above. An elastically deformable strip portion and a strip plate that engage with the base end piece and the connecting portion in the axial direction with respect to the relative movement of the base end piece and the connecting ring in the axial direction, respectively. It has a pair of locking portions extending from both ends of the portions, and the base end piece is provided with a pair of first engaging holes through which the pair of locking portions are inserted. The connecting portion is provided with a pair of second engaging holes that overlap with the pair of first engaging holes and into which the pair of locking portions are inserted. The pair of locking portions are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the base end piece, and the pair of locking portions are inserted into two sets of the first engaging holes and the second engaging holes that overlap each other, and are inside the connecting portion. Each of the peripheral surfaces is engaged, and the base end piece and the connecting portion are bound to the strip portion, and the extending length of one of the pair of locking portions is the other. It is larger than the extended length of the locking part of .

Further, in the method for manufacturing an endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, the base end piece and the connecting portion are fitted to each other, and the protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion is used as the base end piece. When the connecting member is attached to the base end piece and the connecting portion in a state where the connecting member is inserted into the notch provided and the protrusion is inserted into the notch, the base end piece and the connecting portion are used. The extension length of the pair of locking portions is relative to one of the two sets of the first engaging hole and the second engaging hole that are fitted to each other and overlapped with each other. A state in which the first locking portion is inserted into the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion, the first locking portion is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion, and the first locking portion is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion. Then, the pair of engagements with the other of the two sets of the first engagement hole and the second engagement hole in which the base end piece and the connecting portion are fitted to each other and overlap each other. A second locking portion having a relatively long extension length is inserted through the stop portion, and the second locking portion is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion, so that the strip portion and the second locking portion are engaged with each other. The base end piece and the connecting portion are bound between the 1 locking portion and the second locking portion .

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope in which a curved portion and a flexible portion of an insertion portion are firmly and separably connected to each other, and a method for manufacturing the same.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an example of an endoscope and an endoscope system for demonstrating an embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the schematic structure of the insertion part of the endoscope shown in FIG. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the structural example of the tip part of the insertion part of an endoscope. It is a perspective view which showed the head piece of the head part and the curved part in the state which the balloon and the outer wall member were removed. It is a perspective view which showed the leading piece of a tip portion and a curved portion by omitting a tip sleeve and a balloon. It is a perspective view which showed only the tip main body from the base end side. It is a front view which showed the tip surface of the tip part (insertion part). It is a perspective view which showed only the tip sleeve from the tip side. It is a perspective view which showed the tip sleeve from the base end side. It is sectional drawing which showed the screw thread part enlarged. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the curved part of the insertion part of an endoscope. It is a perspective view of the four-way piece used for the curved part of FIG. It is a perspective view of the bidirectional piece used for the curved part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the connecting part of two adjacent pieces in the curved part of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other structural example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is a perspective view of the four-way piece used for the curved part of FIG. It is a perspective view of an example of a bidirectional piece used for the curved portion of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another example of the bidirectional piece used for the curved portion of FIG. It is a perspective view of the modification of the two-way piece of FIG. It is a perspective view of the modification of the two-way piece of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other structural example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the bidirectional piece in another configuration example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the bidirectional piece in another configuration example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the modification of the two-way piece of FIG. It is sectional drawing of another modification of the bidirectional piece of FIG. 23. It is sectional drawing of another modification of the bidirectional piece of FIG. 23. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the connection part of the bending part and the soft part of the insertion part of an endoscope. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a connection portion between a curved portion and a flexible portion in FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection process of the connection part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection process of the connection part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection process of the connection part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection process of the connection part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connection process of the connection part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is a side view of the modification of the connecting member used for the connection between the curved part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the other structural example of the connection part of the bending part and the soft part of the insertion part of an endoscope. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the soft part of the insertion part of an endoscope. FIG. 31 is a plan view of an example of an anchor portion of the outer skin that joins the reticulated tube of the soft portion and the outer skin shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXIII-XXXIII of FIG. It is a top view of another example of the anchor part of the outer skin. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XXXV-XXXV of FIG. 34. It is a top view of another example of the anchor part of the outer skin. It is sectional drawing of XXXVII-XXXVII of FIG. 36. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a joint portion of a connecting ring on the distal end side of the tubular body of the flexible portion shown in FIG. 31. It is an enlarged view of the part surrounded by the broken line circle XXXIX of FIG. 38. It is sectional drawing which shows the other structural example of the joint part of the connecting ring on the tip side of the tube body of a flexible part. It is sectional drawing which shows the other structural example of the joint part of the connecting ring on the tip side of the tube body of a flexible part. It is sectional drawing which shows the other structural example of the joint part of the connecting ring on the tip side of the tube body of a flexible part. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a joint portion of a connecting ring on the base end side of the tube body of the flexible portion shown in FIG. 31. It is an enlarged view of the part surrounded by the broken line circle XXXXIV of FIG. 43. It is sectional drawing which shows the other structural example of the joint part of the base end side connection ring of the tube body of a soft part. It is sectional drawing which shows the other structural example of the joint part of the base end side connection ring of the tube body of a soft part.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an example of an endoscope and an endoscope system for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

The endoscope system 1 includes an endoscope 2, a light source unit 3, and a processor unit 4. The endoscope 2 has an insertion unit 6 to be inserted into the subject, an operation unit 7 connected to the insertion unit 6, and a universal cord 8 extending from the operation unit 7.

The tip portion 10 of the insertion portion 6 is provided with an illumination window that emits illumination light that illuminates the subject, an image pickup unit that includes an image pickup device that captures the subject, and the like.

A connector 9 is provided at the end of the universal cord 8, and the endoscope 2 takes an image of the light source unit 3 and the tip portion 10 that generate the illumination light emitted from the illumination window of the tip portion 10 via the connector 9. It is connected to a processor unit 4 that processes an image signal acquired by the apparatus. The processor unit 4 processes the input image signal to generate image data of the subject, displays the generated image data on the monitor 5, and records the generated image data.

A light guide and a group of electric wires are provided inside the insertion unit 6, the operation unit 7, and the universal cord 8. The illumination light generated by the light source unit 3 is guided to the illumination window of the tip portion 10 via the light guide, and signals and electric power are transmitted between the image pickup unit of the tip portion 10 and the processor unit 4 via the electric wire group. Be transmitted.

The insertion portion 6 includes a curved portion 11 connected to the tip portion 10 and a flexible portion 12 connecting the curved portion 11 and the operating portion 7. The curved portion 11 is configured to be bendable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6, and the bending operation of the curved portion 11 is operated by the operation unit 7. Further, the flexible portion 12 is configured to be relatively flexible so as to be deformable according to the shape of the insertion path of the insertion portion 6.

The operation unit 7 is provided with a button for operating the image pickup operation of the image pickup device of the tip portion 10, a rotary knob for operating the bending operation of the bending unit 11, and the like. Further, the operation unit 7 is provided with a treatment tool insertion port 13 into which a treatment tool such as dark blue is inserted, and inside the insertion portion 6, the treatment tool insertion port 13 reaches the tip portion 10 for treatment. There is a channel through which the tool is inserted.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the insertion portion 6.

The tip portion 10 is attached to a cylindrical tip portion main body 22 to which various built-in objects mounted on the tip portion 10 such as the above-mentioned lighting window and an image pickup device are fixed, and a tip portion side of the tip portion main body 22. It includes a cap-shaped protective cover 23 forming the tip surface of 10, that is, the tip surface of the insertion portion 6, and a cylindrical tip sleeve 24 fixed to the proximal end side of the tip portion main body 22.

The curved portion 11 includes a plurality of annular pieces 20. These pieces 20 are arranged in a row with their central axes aligned, and are covered with a mesh tube or the like formed by braiding a metal wire, so that the curved portion 11 is formed by the above-mentioned light guide, electric wire group, and the like. And is formed into a tubular shape that can accommodate channels and the like. Two adjacent pieces 20 are rotatably connected around a rotation axis by a pair of shaft members 21 arranged on a rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bending portion 11. The curved portion 11 is curved as a whole by combining the individual rotations of the two adjacent pieces 20.

In the illustrated example, as the rotation axes of the two adjacent pieces 20, the rotation axis X extending in the first direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 and the second rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and orthogonal to the first direction. Rotating shafts Y extending in two directions are alternately provided. The curved portion 11 is based on the reciprocal two directions (hereinafter referred to as the vertical direction) based on the rotation of the two adjacent pieces 20 around the rotation axis X and the rotation of the two adjacent pieces 20 around the rotation axis Y. It can be curved in a total of four directions (hereinafter referred to as the left-right direction) in two opposite directions.

The flexible portion 12 includes a flexible tube 28 for accommodating the light guide, the electric wire group, the channel, and the like. The tubular body 28 has a net shape formed by braiding, for example, a wire bundle formed by spirally winding a metal strip material around the outer circumference of a screw pipe, for example, a metal wire bundle is bundled in a strip shape. It is configured by covering it with a tube or the like. A tip-side connecting ring 29 for connecting the flexible portion 12 and the curved portion 11 is joined to the tip end portion (end portion on the curved portion 11 side) of the tubular body 28, and the base end portion (end portion) of the tubular body 28. A base end side connecting ring 30 for connecting the flexible portion 12 and the operating portion 7 is joined to the end portion on the operating portion 7 side).

The base end piece 20a located on the softest part 12 side of the plurality of pieces 20 included in the curved part 11 is connected to the tip side connecting ring 29 of the soft part 12. On the other hand, the tip piece 20b located closest to the tip portion 10 is connected to the tip sleeve 24 of the tip portion 10.

Inside the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12, a plurality of wires that bend the curved portion 11 according to the operation in the operating portion 7 are provided. In this example, in which the curved portion 11 is configured to be able to bend in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, a pair of wires 25 corresponding to the vertical bending and a pair of wires 26 corresponding to the horizontal bending are provided. There is. In the figure, one of the pair of wires 25 and the pair of wires 26 is shown.

A pair of wires 25 corresponding to the bending in the vertical direction extend from the operation portion 7, respectively, and the tip portion of the wire 25 is fixed to the tip sleeve 24 of the tip portion 10 via the flexible portion 12 and the bending portion 11. .. Inside the curved portion 11, one wire 25 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the upper region when the inside of the curved portion 11 is vertically divided into two with the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 as a boundary. The wire guides 27 are sequentially inserted through the wire guides 27 provided on the plurality of pieces 20, and the other wire 25 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the lower region and is provided on the plurality of pieces 20. It is inserted in order to 27.

A pair of wires 26 corresponding to the bending in the left-right direction also extend from the operation portion 7, respectively, and the tip portion of the wire 26 is fixed to the tip sleeve 24 of the tip portion 10 via the flexible portion 12 and the bending portion 11. ing. Inside the curved portion 11, one wire 26 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the left side region when the inside of the curved portion 11 is divided into two in the left-right direction with the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 as a boundary. The wire guides 27 are sequentially inserted through the wire guides 27 provided on the plurality of pieces 20, and the other wire 26 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the right side region and is provided on the plurality of pieces 20. It is inserted in order.

In the vertical curvature of the curved portion 11, one of the pair of wires 25 is towed and the other wire 25 is unwound as the operation unit 7 operates, whereby the curved portion 11 is moved upward or downward. Curved in the direction. In the left-right bending of the curved portion 11, one of the pair of wires 26 is towed and the other wire 26 is unwound in accordance with the operation in the operating portion 7, whereby the curved portion 11 is left or right. Curved in the direction.

Hereinafter, a configuration example of each portion of the insertion portion 6 will be described in order.

First, a configuration example of the tip portion 10 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tip portion 10 cut along the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tip portion 10 has a tip portion main body 22, a protective cover 23, and a tip sleeve 24 as described above. The base end side of the tip sleeve 24 is connected to the tip piece 20b of the curved portion 11, whereby the tip portion 10 is connected to the curved portion 11.

Here, in FIG. 4, the tip sleeve 24 and the tip piece 20b are shown from the base end side, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tip sleeve 24 has a cylindrical main body portion 40 on the tip side. And, it is connected to the base end side with a step from the main body 40, and is connected to the base end side with a step from the concave portion 41 and a cylindrical recess 41 whose diameter is smaller than that of the main body 40. It is composed of a connecting portion 42 having a diameter larger than that of the concave portion 41 and a diameter smaller than that of the main body portion 40.

The outer diameter of the recess 41 substantially matches the outer diameter of the tip piece 20b, the inner diameter of the connecting portion 42 substantially matches the outer diameter of the tip piece 20b, and the connecting portion 42 is placed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion of the tip piece 20b. By fitting, the tip sleeve 24 is connected to the tip piece 20b. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 42 is formed with holes 43 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface at a plurality of locations, and the joint portion between the connecting portion 42 and the tip piece 20b is soldered in the holes 43. By attaching, the tip sleeve 24 and the tip piece 20b are fixed to each other.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a balloon mounting groove 44 in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip sleeve 24, and as shown in FIG. 2, the balloon 45 is formed along the balloon mounting groove 44. The tip portion is pressed from the outside by the rubber fixing ring 46 and is fixed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tip sleeve 24. The balloon 45 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape in which both ends are narrowed by an elastic body such as rubber, and the base end portion is also fixed in the curved portion 11 or the like by a fixing ring in the same manner as the tip end portion. The fixing of both ends of the balloon 45 may be other than the method using a fixing ring, and for example, a thread may be wound and fixed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the tip portion 10 and the tip piece 20b by omitting the tip sleeve 24 and the balloon 45. As shown in the figure, the soft portion 12 and the curved portion are inside the tip portion 10. The tip portions of each of the electric wire group 47 extending from 11, the channel 48, the pair of light guides 49, the air supply water supply tube 50, and the balloon air supply tube 51 are arranged.

The tip body 22 is made of a hard material such as metal, and is formed in a columnar shape as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 6 showing only the tip body 22. The central axis of the tip body 22 is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6.

The tip body 22 is provided with a plurality of space portions 52 to 55 communicating from the base end surface 22a to the tip surface 10a of the tip portion 10 via a protective cover 23 (see FIG. 3), and the space portion 52 is provided with a plurality of space portions 52 to 55. As shown in FIG. 3, the image pickup device 56 to which the electric wire group 47 is connected is inserted and fixed as an integral part.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the tip surface 10a, and as shown in the figure, the tip surface 10a is located on the most objective side (tip side) of the objective optical system which is a component of the image pickup apparatus 56. The observation window 57 is arranged. As a result, the subject light from the observed portion existing in front of the tip surface 10a is taken into the objective optical system through the observation window 57, and the solid-state image sensor 58 (see FIG. 3) which is a component of the image pickup device 56. An optical image of the observed portion is formed on the image pickup surface. Then, the optical image is photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor 58, and the image signal is transmitted to the processor unit 4 connected to the endoscope 2 by the universal cord 8 via the electric wire group 47 connected to the image pickup device 56. Will be done.

In FIG. 6, a pipe 59 (see FIG. 3) to which the tip end side of the channel 48 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) is connected is fixed to the space portion 53 provided in communication with the space portion 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the tip surface 10a is provided with a treatment tool outlet 60 through which the tip of the pipe 59 communicates. The proximal end side of the channel 48 is connected to the treatment tool insertion port 13 shown in FIG. 1, and the treatment tool such as forceps inserted from the treatment tool insertion port 13 is connected to the treatment tool via the channel 48 and the pipe 59. It is derived from the outlet 60.

In FIG. 6, a light emitting portion (not shown) to which each tip portion of the light guide 49 (see FIG. 5) is connected is fixed to each of the pair of space portions 54. As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of illumination windows 61, which are components of the light emitting portions thereof, are arranged on the tip surface 10a. The illumination light from the light source unit 3 connected to the endoscope 2 by the universal cord 8 is guided to the light emitting portion by the light guide 49, emitted from the light guide 49, and reaches the observed portion via the illumination window 61. Be irradiated.

In FIG. 6, the space portion 55 forms a pipeline of the air supply / water supply channel, and the tip end side of the air supply / water supply tube 50 is connected to the space portion 55. As shown in FIG. 7, on the tip surface 10a, an air supply / water supply nozzle 62 for injecting water or gas into the observation window 57 for cleaning the observation window 57 is provided, and a space portion is provided in the air supply / water supply nozzle 62. 55 communicates. As a result, the gas or water supplied to the endoscope 2 by the pump of the processor unit 4 connected to the endoscope 2 by the universal cord 8 is supplied to the endoscope through the air supply water supply tube 50 and the space portion 55. It is jetted from 62 toward the observation window 57.

Further, the tip sleeve 24 is provided with a balloon air supply port 63 as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, and the balloon air supply port 63 is provided with a balloon air supply tube on the inner peripheral surface side of the tip sleeve 24. The tip side of 51 is connected. The base end side of the balloon air supply tube 51 is installed at the base end portion of the operation unit 7, and is connected to the balloon control device via the tube connected to the base end portion of the operation unit 7. As a result, gas is supplied and discharged to the inside of the balloon 45 through the balloon air supply tube 51 and the balloon air supply port 63 under the control of the balloon control device, and the balloon 45 expands or contracts.

Subsequently, a fixing structure for fixing the tip main body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 are fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 22 on the tip side of the tip sleeve 24 (main body 40) and on the inner peripheral surface 24a side of the tip sleeve 24. It is tightened and fixed by the screw 65 in the screw screw portion 64 provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the tip body 22 extends from the base end surface 22a along the central axis of the tip body 22 near the outer peripheral surface, and the screw 65 is screwed into the screw hole 66. Is formed.

On the other hand, on the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24, a screw receiving portion 68 having an insertion hole 67 that protrudes in the radial direction and into which the screw 65 is inserted is formed as shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 8 shows a perspective view showing only the tip sleeve 24 from the tip side. As shown in the figure, the tip sleeve 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is formed from a main body portion 40, a recess 41, and a connecting portion 42 having different diameters as described above. A screw receiving portion 68 projecting radially from the inner peripheral surface 24a is formed in the main body portion 40, and an insertion hole 67 through which the screw 65 is inserted is formed in the screw receiving portion 68.

The insertion hole 67 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the threaded portion, which is a portion where the male screw of the shaft portion of the screw 65 is formed, and smaller than the outer diameter of the head portion. Further, the central axis of the insertion hole 67 is parallel to the central axis of the tip sleeve 24.

The inner diameter of the main body 40 substantially matches the outer diameter of the tip main body 22, and when the tip sleeve 24 is fixed to the tip main body 22, the tip sleeve 24 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tip main body 22 from the base end side. The tip end side of the main body portion 40 is fitted, and the screw receiving portion 68 is brought into contact with the base end surface of the tip portion main body 22 as shown in FIG. Further, the position of the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 is aligned with the position of the screw hole 66 of the tip portion main body 22.

As a result, the tip sleeve 24 is fitted to the tip body 22, and the tip sleeve 24 is arranged on the base end side of the tip body 22. Further, the central axis of the tip sleeve 24 is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6 and the central axis of the tip portion main body 22, and the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 is coaxial with the screw hole 66, that is, , The central axis of the insertion hole 67 (see FIG. 8) and the central axis of the screw hole 66 (see FIG. 6) are arranged substantially coaxially. The screw receiving portion 68 is arranged between the base end surface 22a of the tip portion main body 22 and the rib portion 69 described later as shown in FIG.

Further, when the tip sleeve 24 is fitted to the tip body 22, at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 22 and the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24 is previously joined to the joint portion thereof. Apply the sealing material to the area. For example, silicone RTV (room temperature vulcanization) rubber, which is initially cured at room temperature and is liquid, can be used as the sealing material.

As a result, the gap generated between the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 22 and the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24 and the joint portion is shielded by the sealing material, and the fitting portion between the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 is highly sealed. It will be secured.

The sealing material may be applied so as to seal the joint portion between the tip portion main body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 after fitting. Further, the sealing material may be either a liquid material that cures under predetermined conditions after application or a material that does not cure. Further, a sealing material whose initial state is solid may be used. However, the fitting portion between the tip portion main body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 may not be shielded by a sealing material.

After fitting the tip sleeve 24 to the tip body 22 in this way, the tip portion is a screw portion formed on the shaft portion of the screw 65 inserted into the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 as shown in FIG. It is screwed into the screw hole 66 of the main body 22. Then, the screw 65 is tightened, and the screw receiving portion 68 is pressed against the base end surface of the tip portion main body 22 by the head of the screw 65. As a result, the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 are tightened and fixed via the screw 65.

On the other hand, when the tip sleeve 24 is removed from the tip body 22, the screw screw portion 64 separates the tip body 22 from the tip sleeve 24 by rotating the screw 65 in the direction of loosening the screw 65 with a screwdriver, thereby separating the tip sleeve 24 from the tip body. It has a jack-up mechanism for jacking up the tip sleeve 24 with respect to 22 or the tip body 22 with respect to the tip sleeve 24.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, on the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24, a rib portion that protrudes from the screw receiving portion 68 toward the proximal end side along the radial direction with a substantially constant protrusion amount except for both ends. 69 is provided. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the tip sleeve 24 from the proximal end side, and the rib portion 69 is shown from the proximal end side. In the figure, the screw 65 inserted into the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 and the balloon for the balloon connected to the balloon air supply port 63 (see FIG. 4) formed in the main body portion 40 of the tip sleeve 24. The air supply tube 51 is also shown.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the screw threaded portion 64 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in which the screw threaded portion 64 is cut on a plane including the central axis of the tip sleeve 24 and the central axis of the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68, and the rib portion 69 is as shown in the figure. , Which is provided at a position intersecting the plane and has, for example, a shape symmetric with respect to the plane. In other words, the rib portion 69 is formed at a position where the center position of the tip sleeve 24 coincides with the center axis of the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 with respect to the direction (circumferential direction) around the center axis of the tip sleeve 24. When the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 are fixed, the central axis of the insertion hole 67 and the central axis of the screw hole 66 and the central axis of the screw 65 screwed into the screw hole 66 are substantially coaxial with each other. Placed on top.

In this rib portion 69, the protrusion amount Hr (diameter height) with respect to the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24 (main body portion 40) is the head 65a of the screw 65 screwed into the screw hole 66 and the tip sleeve 24. It has a shape that is larger than the length Hs of the gap between the inner peripheral surface 24a and the inner peripheral surface 24a.

Therefore, assuming that the screw 65 is moved straight in the direction of the central axis of the screw hole 66, the head portion 65a of the screw 65 comes into contact with the rib portion 69.

Further, in a state where the screw portion 65c, which is the portion where the male screw of the shaft portion 65b of the screw 65 is formed, is screwed into the screw hole 66 to the first position as shown in FIG. 10, the screw hole 66 and the screw 65 When the screwing length with the screw portion 65c is Lp and the distance between the head 65a of the screw 65 and the rib portion 69 in the axial direction of the screw hole 66 is Ls, the rib portion 69 is at a position satisfying Lp> Ls. It is provided.

That is, when the screw 65 is rotated in the loosening direction (counterclockwise direction) and moved straight in the direction of the central axis of the screw hole 66, the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are completely screwed. The rib portion 69 is formed at a position where the head portion 65a of the screw 65 abuts before being released.

Here, the first position is a state in which the tip surface of the screw receiving portion 68 is in close contact with the base end surface 22a of the tip portion main body 22 and the head 65a of the screw 65 is in close contact with the base end surface of the screw receiving portion 68. When the screw 65 is tightened into the screw hole 66, that is, the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are screwed to the maximum screwing range. The base end position of the screw portion 65c in the screwing range.

Further, the screw length Lp is the length of the screwing range between the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 in a state where the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 is screwed into the screw hole 66 to the first position. Specifically, it refers to the length from the tip position of the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 screwed into the screw hole 66 to the opening position of the screw hole 66 (the position of the base end surface 22a of the tip portion main body 22). Since the screw 65 shown in FIG. 10 has a screw formed on the entire shaft portion 65b, the entire shaft portion 65b is a screw portion 65c. However, the screw portion 65c may be formed in a part of the shaft portion 65b.

With this configuration, the screw screw portion 64 having the rib portion 69 is rotated in the direction in which the screw 65 is loosened by the driver as described later, and even after the head portion 65a of the screw 65 comes into contact with the rib portion 69, the screw screw portion 64 is in the same direction. A jack device for jacking up the tip body 22 with respect to the tip sleeve 24 by rotating the tip body 22 is configured. Then, when the tip portion 10 is disassembled for maintenance or the like, the tip sleeve 24 can be easily removed from the tip portion main body 22.

In the above configuration, when the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are screwed until the screw portion reaches the maximum screw range, the base end position of the screw portion 65c in the screw range is set to the first position. The position is not limited to 1, but when the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are screwed in a range smaller than the maximum screw range, the screwing range is set. The base end position of the threaded portion 65c may be set as the first position. Also in this case, a jack device for jacking up the tip body 22 with respect to the tip sleeve 24 can be configured, and when the tip 10 is disassembled for maintenance or the like, the tip sleeve 24 can be easily removed from the tip body 22. It can be removed.

Further, the rib portion 69 may be such that the head portion 65a of the screw 65 comes into contact with the rib portion 69 before the screwing between the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 is completely released. Therefore, the protrusion amount Hr of the rib portion 69 is not limited to the above-mentioned conditions of the present embodiment.

That is, the rib portion 69 has an abutting portion that overlaps with at least a part of the head portion 65a when the head portion 65a of the screw 65 and the rib portion 69 are projected onto a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the screw hole 66. It should be.

Next, a configuration example of the curved portion 11 will be described.

In the curved portion 11 shown in FIG. 2, as the rotation axes of the two adjacent pieces 20, the rotation axis X extending in the first direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bending portion 11 and the first rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. Although it has been described that the rotation shafts Y extending in the second direction orthogonal to the direction are alternately provided, as shown in FIG. 11, one of the rotation shaft X and the rotation shaft Y is rotated. Can be provided locally and continuously.

The curved portion shown in FIG. 11 includes two types of pieces, a four-way piece 20A and a two-way piece 20B.

As shown in detail in FIG. 12, the four-direction piece 20A has a body 100 formed in an annular shape, a pair of connecting pieces 101 connected to one of the pieces adjacent to each other on both sides in the arrangement of the pieces, and the other. It has a pair of connecting pieces 102 connected to the piece.

The pair of connecting pieces 101 extend from one end of the body 100 in the axial direction of the body 100, and are arranged substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 100 interposed therebetween. The connecting piece 101 is formed in a flat plate shape by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the annular body 100, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 101 and the body 100. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 101 formed by protruding toward the outer diameter side with respect to the body 100 is referred to as an outer connecting piece. The outer connecting piece 101 is formed with a through hole 130a through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The pair of connecting pieces 102 are provided so as to extend from the other end of the body 100 in the axial direction of the body 100, substantially symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the body 100, and with respect to the pair of connecting pieces 101. It is arranged at a position rotated about 90 degrees around the central axis. The connecting piece 102 is formed in a flat plate shape by sinking toward the inner diameter side with respect to the annular body 100, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 102 and the body 100. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 102 formed by settling toward the inner diameter side with respect to the body 100 is referred to as an inner connecting piece. The inner connecting piece 102 is formed with a through hole 130b through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The four-way piece 20A further includes a pair of wire guides 27 through which one of the wires 25 of the pair of wires 25 corresponding to the bending in the vertical direction or the pair of wires 26 corresponding to the bending in the left-right direction is inserted. In the illustrated example, the wire guide 27 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the body 100 in the vicinity of the outer connecting piece 101.

As shown in detail in FIG. 13, the two-way piece 20B includes a body 110 formed in an annular shape, a pair of connecting pieces 111 connected to one of two adjacent pieces in the arrangement of the pieces, and the other. It has a pair of connecting pieces 112 to be connected to the piece.

The pair of connecting pieces 111 extend from one end of the body 110 in the axial direction of the body 110, and are arranged substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween. The connecting piece 111 is formed in a flat plate shape by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 110, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 111 and the body 110. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 111 formed by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 110 is referred to as an outer connecting piece. The outer connecting piece 111 is formed with a through hole 130a through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The pair of connecting pieces 112 are provided so as to extend in the axial direction of the body 110 from the other end of the body 110, substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween, and with each of the pair of connecting pieces 111. They are arranged next to each other with the body 110 in between. The connecting piece 112 is formed in a flat plate shape by sinking toward the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 112 and the body 110. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 112 formed by settling toward the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110 is referred to as an inner connecting piece. The inner connecting piece 112 is formed with a through hole 130b through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The bidirectional piece 20B further includes a pair of wire guides 27 through which one of the wires 25 of the pair of wires 25 corresponding to the bending in the vertical direction or the pair of wires 26 corresponding to the bending in the horizontal direction is inserted. In the illustrated example, the wire guide 27 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the body 110 between the outer connecting piece 111 and the inner connecting piece 112 arranged adjacent to each other.

For the four-way piece 20A and the two-way piece 20B, for example, a molding material having a schematic shape of a piece is cut out from a pipe material having a circular cross section by laser cutting or the like, and a portion of the molding material corresponding to the connecting piece is press-molded into a flat plate. Can be made. The wire guide 27 is individually joined to the body of the press-formed piece by resistance welding or the like. At the time of press molding, a concave guide receiving portion may be formed at a position where the wire guide 27 is joined on the inner peripheral surface of the body of the piece. This facilitates temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining. Further, after joining the wire guide 27 by resistance welding, it may be further fixed by brazing or the like.

In the portion where the four-direction pieces 20A are continuously arranged, the inner connection of the other four-direction piece 20A is on the inner diameter side of each of the pair of outer connection pieces 101 of the four-direction piece 20A of the two adjacent four-direction pieces 20A. The pieces 102 are overlapped, and the shaft member 21 is inserted into the through hole 130a of the overlapped outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. Two adjacent four-direction pieces 20A are rotatably connected by a pair of shaft members 21.

Since the pair of outer connecting pieces 101 and the pair of inner connecting pieces 102 of the four-way piece 20A are arranged at positions rotated by approximately 90 degrees around the central axis of the body 100, the four-way pieces 20A are lined up continuously. At the site, as the rotation axes of two adjacent pieces, the rotation axis X extending in the first direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the curved portion and the rotation axis extending in the second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and orthogonal to the first direction. The driving axis Y is provided alternately. In other words, the four-way piece 20A is rotatably connected to the piece adjacent to one side around the rotation axis X, and rotatably connected to the piece adjacent to the other side around the rotation axis Y. ..

On the other hand, in the portion of the four-way piece 20A and the portion where one or more two-way pieces 20B are interposed, the two-way piece 20B is adjacent to the inner diameter side of each pair of outer connecting pieces 111 and adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111 side. The inner connecting piece 102 of the matching four-way piece 20A or the inner connecting piece 112 of the other two-way piece 20B is overlapped, and the shaft member 21 is placed in the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. It is inserted. The bidirectional piece 20B and the other pieces adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111 side of the bidirectional piece 20B are rotatably connected by a pair of shaft members 21.

Further, on the outer diameter side of each of the pair of inner connecting pieces 112 of the two-way piece 20B, the outer connecting piece 101 of the four-way piece 20A adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112 side or the outer connecting piece of the other two-way piece 20B. The 111s are stacked, and the shaft member 21 is inserted into the through hole 130a of the superposed outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, respectively. The bidirectional piece 20B and the other pieces adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112 side of the bidirectional piece 20B are rotatably connected by a pair of shaft members 21.

Since the pair of outer connecting pieces 111 and the pair of inner connecting pieces 112 of the two-way piece 20B are arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween, the four-way piece 20A and one or more two-way pieces 20B are interposed. At the mounted portion, one of the rotation shaft X and the rotation shaft Y is continuously provided as the rotation shaft of two adjacent pieces. That is, the bidirectional piece 20B is rotatably connected to each of the two pieces adjacent to each other on both sides around the rotation axis of one of the rotation axis X and the rotation axis Y.

By interposing a four-way piece 20A and one or more two-way pieces 20B, for example, by continuously providing a rotation axis X, reciprocal two directions based on the rotation of two adjacent pieces around the rotation axis X. The radius of curvature at the portion where the bidirectional piece 20B is interposed can be reduced with respect to the curvature of the curved portion of the above. This makes it possible to facilitate the bending operation of the curved portion in a narrow place.

When the two pieces are connected by the shaft member 21, the two pieces are positioned with each other so that the connecting pieces of the two pieces overlap each other as described above. A plurality of positioning holes are provided in the body 100 of the four-way piece 20A and the body 110 of the two-way piece 20B.

The body 100 of the four-way piece 20A is provided with three first positioning holes 120 forming a set at predetermined positions with respect to the pair of outer connecting pieces 101, and three sets of three. A set of three second positioning holes 121 are provided at positions where the first positioning hole 120 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees around the central axis of the body 100.

Preferably, the three first positioning holes 120 forming a set are arranged at equal angles around the central axis of the body 100, and the three second positioning holes 121 forming a set are also arranged around the central axis of the body 100. Arranged at equal intervals. Further, preferably, as shown in the illustrated example, two sets of three first positioning holes 120 are symmetrically arranged with the central axis of the body 100 in between (in the figure, each set has a subscript " ₁ " or "". _Two sets of three second positioning holes 121 are also provided symmetrically with the central axis of the body 100 in between (in the figure, each set has a subscript " ₁ " or "2"). ₂ "is attached).

Similar to the body 100 of the four-way piece 20A, the body 110 of the two-way piece 20B is also provided with three first positioning holes 120 forming a set at predetermined positions with respect to the pair of outer connecting pieces 111. Further, a set of three second positioning holes 121 is provided at a position where the three first positioning holes 120 forming a set are rotated by approximately 90 degrees around the central axis of the body 110. ..

A rivet is used as the shaft member 21. As shown in FIG. 14, the shaft portion 131 of the rivet is inserted from the inner diameter side into the through hole 130a of the superposed outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and then the tip portion of the shaft portion 131 is crimped. Will be. The overlapped outer connecting piece and inner connecting piece are sandwiched and held between the head portion 132 of the rivet and the crimped tip portion of the shaft portion 131.

In the illustrated example, the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece is formed to have a smaller diameter than the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. The shaft portion 131 inserted into the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece has a large diameter portion 133 provided on the head 132 side and a small diameter portion 134 provided on the tip end side. The large diameter portion 133 is housed in the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and the small diameter part 134 is housed in the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece except for the tip portion to be crimped.

Preferably, the edges of the shaft insertion side openings of the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece are formed in a tapered shape, and the tip of the shaft 131 and the shoulder of the large diameter portion 133 are formed. The portion is also formed in a tapered shape. This facilitates the insertion of the shaft member 21 into the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece.

Further, preferably, the shaft member 21 is formed of a magnetic material. Although it depends on the type of endoscope, the piece is a small member having a diameter of about several millimeters, and the shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is smaller than the piece. It can be attracted and held by magnetic force, and the shaft member 21 can be easily inserted into the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. In this case, it is preferable that the piece is made of a non-magnetic material so that the piece is not attracted to a jig or the like that attracts and holds the shaft member 21 by magnetic force.

The curved portion shown in FIG. 15 includes two types of pieces, a four-way piece 20C and a two-way piece 20D.

As shown in detail in FIG. 16, the four-way piece 20C is configured in the same manner as the above-mentioned four-way piece 20A, except that the body 100 is provided with a pair of flat plate portions 103 and a pair of flat plate portions 104. There is.

The flat plate portion 103 is adjacent to the outer connecting piece 101, and is formed in a flat plate shape by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the annular body 100 like the outer connecting piece 101. The flat plate portion 103 extends axially across the body 100 with a width equal to or larger than that of the outer connecting piece 101. The outer connecting piece 101 extends from the flat plate portion 103 without a step.

The flat plate portion 104 is adjacent to the inner connecting piece 102, and like the inner connecting piece 102, the flat plate portion 104 is formed in a flat plate shape by settling toward the inner diameter side with respect to the annular body 100. The flat plate portion 104 extends axially across the body 100 with a width of the inner connecting piece 102 or more. The inner connecting piece 102 extends from the flat plate portion 104 without a step.

In the four-direction piece 20C, for example, a molding material having a schematic shape of a piece is cut out from a pipe material having a circular cross section, and the portion corresponding to the flat plate portion 103 supporting the outer connecting piece 101 and the outer connecting piece 101 in the molding material, and the inner connecting piece. A portion corresponding to the flat plate portion 104 that supports the 102 and the inner connecting piece 102 can be press-molded into a flat plate shape for each portion. In this case, the expansion and contraction of the materials in the flat plate portion 103 and the flat plate portion 104 are substantially aligned in the circumferential direction of the body 100, the inclination of the outer connecting piece 101 and the inner connecting piece 102 with respect to the central axis of the body 100 is suppressed, and the outer connecting piece is suppressed. The molding accuracy of 101 and the inner connecting piece 102 is improved. When the molding material is cut out from the tube material by laser cutting, the distance from the laser light source to the tube material becomes constant, and it is not necessary to adjust the depth of focus of the laser light source.

Further, the four-direction piece 20C can also be manufactured by directly cutting out from a pipe material formed in the same cross-sectional shape as the body. According to this, press molding for each piece becomes unnecessary, and productivity is improved.

The wire guide 27 is individually joined to the body 100 of the piece, which is press-molded or cut out directly from the pipe material, by resistance welding or the like. Here, in the four-way piece 20C, the flat plate portion 103 is provided adjacent to the outer connecting piece 101, and the wire guide 27 is provided on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 103. Since the joining portion of the wire guide 27 is a flat surface, the temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining becomes easier. When the four-way piece 20C is manufactured by press molding, even if a concave guide receiving portion is formed on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 103 to which the wire guide 27 is joined during press molding. good.

As shown in detail in FIG. 17, the bidirectional piece 20D is provided with a body 110 formed in an annular shape and extending from one end of the body 110 in the axial direction of the body 110, and is provided with a central axis of the body 110. A pair of outer connecting pieces 111a arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to each other, and a pair of outer connecting pieces 111a extending from the other end of the body 110 in the axial direction of the body 110, and substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween. It has each of the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween.

The body 110 is provided with a pair of flat plate portions 113. The flat plate portion 113 is provided between the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b arranged adjacent to each other, and has an outer diameter with respect to the annular body 110 like the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b. It rises to the side and is formed in a flat plate shape. The flat plate portion 113 extends axially across the body 110 with a width equal to or greater than that of the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b. The outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b extend from the flat plate portion 113 without a step.

Similar to the four-way piece 20C, the two-way piece 20D cuts out a molding material having a schematic shape of the piece from a pipe material having a circular cross section, and forms a portion of the molding material corresponding to the outer connecting piece and the flat plate portion supporting the outer connecting piece. Each part can be press-molded into a flat plate, and in this case, a press-molding mold common to the four-way piece 20C can be used. Further, the two-way piece 20D can be manufactured by directly cutting out from a pipe material formed in the same cross-sectional shape as each body, like the four-way piece 20C.

The wire guide 27 is individually joined to the body 110 of the piece, which is press-molded or cut out directly from the pipe material, by resistance welding or the like. Here, in the two-way piece 20D, the flat plate portion 113 is provided between the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b, and the wire guide 27 is provided on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 113. Since the joining portion of the wire guide 27 is a flat surface, the temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining becomes easier. When the bidirectional piece 20D is manufactured by press molding, a concave guide receiving portion may be formed on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 113 to which the wire guide 27 is joined during press molding. good.

When the four-way piece 20C and one two-way piece 20D are interposed, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the inner diameter side of each of the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a of the two-way piece 20D and the outer connecting piece 111a side. The inner connecting pieces 102 of the above are overlapped. Further, on the inner diameter side of each of the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b of the two-way piece 20D, the inner connecting piece 102 of the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111b side is overlapped. The shaft member 21 is inserted through the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and the two-way piece 20D, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111a side, and the outer connecting piece 111b are inserted. It is rotatably connected to the four-way pieces 20C adjacent to each other on the side.

As shown in FIG. 18, a pair of inner connecting pieces 112a and a pair of inner connecting pieces 112a are used instead of the two-way pieces 20D in which the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b are arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween. A two-way piece 20E in which the inner connecting pieces 112b are arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween may be used. Hereinafter, the two-way piece 20D is referred to as a first two-way piece, and the two-way piece 20E is referred to as a second two-way piece.

A pair of flat plate portions 114 are provided on the body 110 of the second two-way piece 20E. The flat plate portion 114 is provided between the inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b arranged adjacent to each other, and is on the inner diameter side with respect to the annular body 110 like the inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b. It is formed in a flat plate shape by settling in. The flat plate portion 114 extends axially across the body 110 with a width of the inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b or more. The inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b extend from the flat plate portion 114 without a step. The wire guide 27 is provided on a flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 114.

When the four-way piece 20C and one second two-way piece 20E are interposed, the inner connecting piece 112a side is on the outer diameter side of each of the pair of inner connecting pieces 112a of the second two-way piece 20E. The outer connecting pieces 101 of the four-way pieces 20C adjacent to each other are overlapped with each other. Further, on the outer diameter side of each of the pair of inner connecting pieces 112b of the second two-way piece 20E, the outer connecting piece 101 of the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112b side is overlapped. The shaft member 21 is inserted through the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and the second two-way piece 20E, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112a side, and the inner one. It is rotatably connected to the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the connecting piece 112b side.

FIG. 19 shows a modified example of the first two-way piece 20D described above. In the body 110, a pair of flat plate portions 114 settled on the inner diameter side and formed in a flat plate shape sandwich the central axis of the body 110. It is provided at a position substantially symmetrically and rotated about 90 degrees around the central axis with respect to the pair of flat plate portions 113.

Further, FIG. 20 shows a modification of the above-mentioned second two-way piece 20E, in which a pair of flat plate portions 113 that are raised toward the outer diameter side and are formed in a flat plate shape are formed in the center of the body 110. It is provided at a position substantially symmetrical with respect to the shaft and rotated about 90 degrees around the central axis with respect to the pair of flat plate portions 114.

In the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E formed as described above, the cross-sectional shapes of the respective body 110s are the same as each other, and further, the body 100 of the four-way piece 20C shown in FIG. The cross-sectional shape is the same. This makes it possible to use a common pipe material when the first two-way piece 20D, the second two-way piece 20E, and the four-way piece 20C are manufactured by cutting directly from the pipe material, and by press molding. When manufactured, a common press molding die can be used.

The width W1 of the flat plate portion 113 and the width W2 of the flat plate portion 114 in the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E may be the same, or one of them may be larger than the other. .. Similarly, the width of the flat plate portion 103 and the width of the flat plate portion 104 in the four-way piece 20C may be the same, or one may be larger than the other.

Up to this point, the wire guide 27 of the four-way piece 20C has been described as being provided on the flat plate portion 103 raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 100, but on the flat plate portion 104 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 100. It may be provided. Further, also for the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E, the wire guide 27 may be provided on the flat plate portion 113 raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 110, or on the inner diameter side. It may be provided on the flat plate portion 114 which has settled down.

The curved portion shown in FIG. 21 is formed by interposing a four-way piece 20C, a first two-way piece 20D, and a second two-way piece 20E alternately and in an even number of consecutive pieces.

For example, in the curved portion shown in FIG. 15, a four-way piece 20C and one first two-way piece 20D are interposed. In this case, a pair of outer connecting pieces 101 or a pair of the four-way pieces 20C are interposed. Focusing on the direction of the inner connecting piece 102, the direction of the four-way piece 20C is reversed with the first two-way piece 20D interposed therebetween. Similarly, when the four-way piece 20C and one second two-way piece 20E are intervened, the direction of the four-way piece 20C is reversed with the second two-way piece 20E interposed therebetween.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21, the first two-way piece 20D is arranged at one end of the arrangement of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E which are alternately and evenly continuous. A second bidirectional piece 20E is placed at the other end. In this case, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the first two-way piece 20D arranged at one end is connected to the first two-way piece 20D by a pair of inner connecting pieces 102 as described above. Then, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the second two-way piece 20E arranged at the other end is connected to the second two-way piece 20E by a pair of outer connecting pieces 101 as described above, and the four-way piece 20E is connected to the second two-way piece 20E. The pair of inner connecting pieces 102 of 20C are directed in the same direction as the pair of inner connecting pieces 102 of the four-way piece 20C connected to the first two-way piece 20D.

In this way, by interposing the four-way piece 20C and the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E alternately and in an even number of consecutive pieces, the directions of the four-way piece 20C can be aligned. can. This facilitates the supply of the four-way piece 20C when assembling the curved portion.

Preferably, the continuous arrangement of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E is composed of one first two-way piece 20D and one second two-way piece 20E. Further, preferably, the axial length L1 of the first bidirectional piece 20D and the axial length L2 of the second bidirectional piece 20E are smaller than the axial length L3 of the four-way piece 20C. This suppresses an increase in the length of the curved portion. The axial lengths of the first two-way piece 20D, the second two-way piece 20E, and the four-way piece 20C are opposite to the center line of the through hole of the pair of connecting pieces provided on one side of the piece. It shall mean the distance to the center line of the through hole of the pair of connecting pieces provided on the side.

Here, the pair of wire guides 27 of the four-way piece 20C are typically arranged on a plane including the central axis of the body 100 and parallel to the rotation axis X, or include the central axis of the body 100 and the rotation axis. They are arranged on a plane parallel to Y and symmetrically across the central axis of the body 100. The pair of wire guides 27 for the first bidirectional piece 20D and the second bidirectional piece 20E are also typically located on a plane parallel to the axis X, including the central axis of the body 110, or the body. It is arranged on a plane including the central axis of 110 and parallel to the rotation axis Y, and is arranged symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween.

From the viewpoint of facilitating the supply of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E when assembling the curved portion, as shown in FIG. 22, the first two-way piece 20D and the second two Each of the pair of wire guides 27 of the direction piece 20E is formed symmetrically with a surface S1 orthogonal to the central axis of the body 110 and equally dividing the body 110 in the axial direction.

As a result, the first two-way piece 20D is inverted and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b are exchanged, and the second two-way piece 20E is inverted and becomes the pair of inner connecting pieces 112a. Even when the pair of inner connecting pieces 112b are replaced, the positional relationship of the pair of wire guides 27 with respect to the adjacent pieces does not change. Therefore, it is not necessary to pay attention to the orientation of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E, and it becomes easy to supply the pieces when assembling the curved portion.

The configuration of this example can be applied to any of the configuration examples of the curved portion shown in FIGS. 15 and 21, respectively.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of securing a storage space for accommodating internal objects such as the light guide, the electric wire group, and the channel, the first two-way piece 20D, the second two-way piece 20E, and the four-way piece 20C have a pair. One of the wire guides 27 may be displaced from the symmetrical position.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, in the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E, a pair of wire guides 27 are provided on the flat plate portion 114 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110. As shown, one wire guide 27 is arranged on a surface S2 including the central axis of the body 110 and parallel to the rotation axis X (or a surface including the central axis of the body 110 and parallel to the rotation axis Y), and the other. The wire guide 27 of the above is biased to one side with respect to the surface S2 and is arranged outside the symmetrical position. In this case, a relatively large accommodation space is secured on the side opposite to the side on which the wire guide 27 is biased.

When one wire guide 27 is biased, as shown in FIG. 24A, the width Wa of the flat plate portion 114 provided with the biased one wire guide 27 is set to the width Wa of the flat plate portion 114 provided with the other wire guide 27. It may be formed larger than the width Wb of the wire guide 27, which allows the wire guide 27 to be more biased within the range of the relatively wide flat plate portion 114. Further, the outer shape of the body 110 becomes asymmetrical, and the side where the biased wire guide 27 is located can be easily identified from the outside of the body 110, so that the workability when arranging the pieces is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24B, the wire guide 27 may be provided in the arc portion of the body 110 adjacent to the flat plate portion 114, which also makes the wire guide 27 more biased. Then, as shown in FIG. 24C, a flat plate portion 115 adjacent to the flat plate portion 114 may be provided, and the wire guide 27 may be provided on the flat plate portion 115. According to this, the joint portion of the wire guide 27 becomes a flat surface. , Temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining becomes easy.

Although the case where the pair of wire guides 27 are provided on the flat plate portion 114 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110 in the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E has been described as an example. When the pair of wire guides 27 are provided on the flat plate portion 113 raised on the outer diameter side, one of the wire guides 27 can be similarly deflected.

Further, also in the four-way piece 20C, one of the wires of the pair of wire guides 27 provided on the flat plate portion 104 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 100 or provided on the flat plate portion 103 raised on the outer diameter side. The guide 27 can be biased as well.

The configurations shown in FIGS. 23 and 24A to 24C, respectively, can be applied to any of the configuration examples of the curved portion shown in FIGS. 15 and 21, respectively.

Next, a configuration example of the connection portion between the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12 will be described.

FIG. 25 is an external perspective view of an example of the connection portion between the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12. Further, FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the connection portion of FIG. 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base end piece 20a located on the most flexible portion 12 side of the curved portion 11 is connected to the distal end side connecting ring 29 provided at the distal end portion of the tubular body 28 of the flexible portion 12, and the curved portion is formed. 11 and the flexible portion 12 are connected to each other.

In the example shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the distal end side connecting ring 29 is inserted inside the proximal end piece 20a, the proximal end piece 20a and the distal end side connecting ring 29 are fitted to each other, and one of the distal end side connecting rings 29 is fitted. A connecting portion 400 that is internally fitted into the base end piece 20a is provided at the end portion of the above. Further, a joint portion 401 to which the pipe body 28 is joined is provided at the other end portion of the distal end side connection ring 29. As described above, the pipe body 28 is configured by covering the outer periphery of the screw pipe with a net-like pipe or the like, and the joint portion 401 is externally fitted to the tip portion of the screw pipe to be joined to the screw pipe. The inner diameter of the joint portion 401 into which the tip of the screw tube is inserted is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the connecting portion 400, and the outer diameter of the joint portion 401 is the outer diameter of the base end piece 20a into which the connecting portion 400 is inserted. Is formed smaller than.

The base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 are connected to each other by using a clip 200 which is a connecting member. The clip 200 has an elastically deformable strip portion 210 and a pair of locking portions 211 extending from both ends of the strip portion 210.

The base end piece 20a arranged on the outer side of the fitting is provided with a pair of first engagement holes 214 through which the locking portions 211 at both ends of the clip 200 are inserted. In the illustrated example, two clips 200 are used to connect the fitted base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29, and the pair of the first engaging holes 214 is the central axis of the base end piece 20a. Two pairs are provided symmetrically with the. Further, the base end piece 20a is provided with a notch 217 extending from one end of the base end piece 20a in the axial direction of the base end piece 20a, that is, in the fitting direction with the tip end side connecting ring 29. In the illustrated example, two notches 217 are also provided symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the base end piece 20a.

The connecting portion 400 of the distal end side connecting ring 29 arranged inside the fitting is provided with a pair of second engaging holes 216 through which the locking portions 211 at both ends of the clip 200 are inserted. A protrusion 201 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 400. The protrusion 201 is integrally formed with the tip side connecting ring 29 by embossing or the like. In the illustrated example, two pairs of the second engagement holes 216 are provided symmetrically with the central axis of the distal end side connecting ring 29 interposed therebetween, and the protrusion 201 also sandwiches the central axis of the distal end side connecting ring 29. Two are provided symmetrically.

27A to 27B and 28A to 28C show a connection process between the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12.

First, as shown in FIGS. 27A to 27B, the connecting portion 400 of the tip-side connecting ring 29 is inserted inside the base end piece 20a. The protrusion 201 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 400 is inserted into the notch 217 of the base end piece 20a as the connecting portion 400 is inserted into the inside of the base end piece 20a.

With the protrusion 201 inserted into the notch 217 and the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 being fitted, each of the first engaging holes 214 of the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29. It overlaps with each of the second engagement holes 216 of 29. The locking portion 211 of the clip 200 is inserted into each of the two sets of the first engaging hole 216 and the second engaging hole 214 that are overlapped with each other, and the clip 200 is inserted into the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29. Is installed.

As shown in FIGS. 28A to 28C, in mounting the clip 200, first, one of the locking portions 211 of the clip 200 is overlapped with two sets of the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 214. It is inserted into one of the 216 sets from the outside of the base end piece 20a and engages with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side connecting ring 29. Subsequently, while the strip portion 210 of the clip 200 is elastically deformed, the other locking portion 211 is made of two sets of the first engagement hole 214 and the second engagement hole 216 that are overlapped with each other. It is inserted into the other set and engages with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side connecting ring 29. The base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 are bound between the strip portion 210 of the clip 200 and the pair of locking portions 211, and are connected to each other.

Here, as shown in FIG. 29, the extended length La of one locking portion 211 of the clip 200 may be smaller than the extended length Lb of the other locking portion 211. In mounting the clip 200 described above, the relatively short locking portion (first locking portion) 211 is first inserted into the set of the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216 that are overlapped with each other. Then, the relatively long locking portion (second locking portion) 211 is inserted into the pair of the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216 which are overlapped with each other. , The clip 200 is attached by suppressing interference with various built-in objects (wire group 47, channel 48, pair of light guides 49, and air supply / water supply tube 50) housed in the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12. Workability can be improved.

The clip 200 is the second of the first engaging hole 214 of the base end piece 20a and the tip side connecting ring 29 with respect to the axial pull acting on the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 fitted to each other. It engages with the engagement hole 216 in the axial direction, and the relative movement of the base end piece 20a and the distal end side connecting ring 29 in the axial direction is prevented.

Further, the protrusion 201 of the distal end side connecting ring 29 is circumferentially oriented with the notch 217 of the proximal end piece 20a against the twist around the axis acting on the proximal end piece 20a and the distal end side connecting ring 29 fitted to each other. It engages and prevents the relative rotation of the proximal piece 20a and the distal end side connecting ring 29 around the axis.

When the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 are separated, the locking portion 211 is the first engaging hole 214 of the base end piece 20a and the second engaging hole 216 of the tip end side connecting ring 29. The clip 200 is removed from the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 by being pulled out from the base end piece 20a. The engagement between the protrusion 201 of the tip end side connecting ring 29 and the notch 217 of the base end piece 20a does not restrict the axial movement of the tip end side connecting ring 29 in the direction of being detached from the base end piece 20a. , The base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 can be easily separated only by removing the clip 200.

A protrusion 201 that engages with the notch 217 of the base end piece 20a in the circumferential direction and prevents the relative rotation of the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 around the axis is integrally formed with the tip end side connecting ring 29. As a result, there is no possibility that the protrusion 201 will be separated from the tip side connecting ring 29, and the base end piece 20a and the tip side connecting ring 29 can be firmly connected to each other by twisting around the axis. As a result, the twisting around the shaft is suppressed from acting on the clip 200, so that the clip 200 can exhibit the desired joint strength, and the base end piece 20a can be used even when pulled in the axial direction. The tip side connecting ring 29 can be firmly connected.

The height of the protrusion 201, that is, the amount of protrusion of the connecting portion 400 of the distal end side connecting ring 29 from the outer peripheral surface may be less than or equal to the thickness of the base end piece 20a, or may be larger than the thickness of the base end piece 20a. .. When the height of the protrusion 201 is equal to or less than the thickness of the base end piece 20a, the head of the protrusion 201 is formed on the base end piece 20a with the protrusion 201 inserted into the notch of the base end piece 20a. It does not protrude to the outer circumference and contributes to reducing the diameter of the curved portion 11. Further, when the height of the protrusion 201 is larger than the thickness of the base end piece 20a, the engagement portion of the base end piece 20a with the notch 217 increases, and the base end piece 20a and the tip end side twisted around the axis. The connection strength with the connection ring 29 is increased.

Since the twist around the axis between the base end piece 20a and the tip end side connecting ring 29 is suppressed from acting on the clip 200, the first engaging hole 214 through which the locking portion 211 of the clip 200 is inserted is inserted. And the rotational clearance around the axis between each of the second engagement holes 216 and the clip 200, between each of the first engagement holes 214 and the second engagement holes 216 and the clip 200. It may be larger than the axial clearance. As a result, in the mounting of the clip 200 described above, the locking portion 211 can be easily inserted into the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216.

In this way, the clip 200 receives the axial pull acting on the proximal piece 20a and the distal end side connecting ring 29 fitted to each other, and the twist around the axis is dispersed and received by the protrusion 201, thereby bending. The portion 11 and the flexible portion 12 can be separated and firmly connected.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the protrusion 201 of the tip-side connecting ring 29 is formed in a substantially columnar shape, but the protrusion 201 is not limited to a substantially columnar shape, and as shown in FIG. 30, for example, It may have a key shape that extends in the axial direction of the tip-side connecting ring 29 and fits into the notch 217.

Next, a configuration example of the flexible portion 12 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 31, the flexible portion 12 includes a flexible tube body 28 for accommodating a light guide, a group of electric wires, a channel, and the like, and the tube body 28 is a screw tube (also referred to as a flex) 300. , A mesh tube (also referred to as a blade or a net) 302 covering the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300, and an elastomer outer skin 303 covering the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302.

The screw tube 300 is formed flexibly by winding a strip material with a spiral gap and winding it at a constant diameter. Although not shown, the screw tube 300 may have a double winding structure, that is, the same as the first screw tube in which the strip material is spirally wound with a gap and has a constant diameter. The strip material is spirally wound with a gap of a certain diameter, and has a second screw tube whose spiral direction is opposite to that of the first screw tube, and is a first screw tube and a second screw tube. May have a structure in which is coaxially arranged. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the diameter of the flexible portion 12 or expanding the internal space without changing the outer diameter of the flexible portion 12, the screw tube 300 has a single winding structure as in the example shown in FIG. 31. Is preferable.

The material for forming the screw tube 300 is not particularly limited as long as the mechanical strength for preventing the tube body 28 from being crushed is secured, and a metal such as stainless steel can be used, and the metal can be used. Alternatively, an engineering plastic such as polycarbonate, or an engineering plastic reinforced with glass fiber, carbon fiber, or the like may be used and molded as a screw tube by injection molding or the like.

The net-like pipe 302 covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw pipe 300 and serves as a reinforcing material for enhancing the rigidity of the pipe body 28, and also serves as a shield for the electric wires group accommodated in the flexible portion 12. Is. The net-like tube 302 is formed flexibly by braiding a wire bundle 305, which is a bundle of a plurality of wires 306 in a band shape, in a net shape.

The material for forming the strand 306 is not particularly limited as long as the mesh tube 302 serves as a reinforcing material and mechanical strength is ensured, and for example, a metal such as stainless steel can be used. Further, although a resin such as aramid can be used for some of the strands instead of the metal, it is preferable to use only a metal such as stainless steel in consideration of the role of the mesh tube 302 as a shield.

The outer skin 303 is a flexible tube made of an elastomer, and serves to cover the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302 and protect the inside of the tube body 28.

The elastomer forming the outer skin 303 is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect the living body when the endoscope 2 is inserted into the body, and is polyurethane resin, vinyl chloride, nylon, polyester, and Teflon (registered trademark). ) Etc., polystyrene-based resin, polyethylene-based resin, polypropylene-based resin, polyester-based resin, polyurethane-based resin, polyamide-based resin, polyvinyl chloride-based resin, fluorine-based resin, and mixtures thereof are preferable examples. Is mentioned as.

Explaining an example of the manufacturing method of the pipe body 28, the molten elastomer is formed in a state where the screw pipe 300 is inserted into the mesh tube 302 and the core material is inserted into the screw tube 300 inserted into the mesh tube 302. By a known extruder or the like, the elastomer adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302 to a uniform thickness, and the elastomer adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302 is immediately cooled, so that the outer skin is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302. 303 is directly molded. For example, in the process before the outer skin 303 is formed, the net-like tube 302 and the outer skin 303 are coated with an adhesive dispersed in a spot shape on the outer peripheral surface of the net-like tube 302, and are joined by this adhesive.

Further, as another example of the method for manufacturing the tubular body 28, in a state where the core material is inserted into the mesh tube 302, the melted elastomer is uniformly applied to the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302 by a known extrusion molding machine or the like. The elastomer adhered to the thickness of the mesh tube 302 and attached to the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302 is immediately cooled, so that the outer skin 303 is directly formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302. Then, the core material inserted in the mesh tube 302 is pulled out from the mesh tube 302, and the screw tube 300 is inserted into the mesh tube 302 from which the core material is pulled out. The mesh tube 302 and the outer skin 303 may be bonded, for example, by applying an adhesive in a spot-like manner on the outer peripheral surface of the network tube 302 in the process before the outer skin 303 is formed. An anchor portion engaging with the mesh tube 302 may be formed on the outer skin 303 from the inner diameter side of the mesh tube 302, and may be joined by the anchor portion.

32 and 33 show a configuration example of the anchor portion of the outer skin 303 that joins the net tube 302 and the outer skin 303.

Each of the plurality of wire bundles 305 constituting the network tube 302 alternates between the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side of the network tube 302 every other wire bundle 305 (in the example shown, every two wire bundles 305). It is located at and intersects with other strands 305. Then, the gap P is surrounded by four strand bundles 305 of two strand bundles 305 extending in parallel adjacent to each other and two strand bundles 305 intersecting with these two strand bundles 305 and extending in parallel adjacent to each other. It has been. The outer skin 303 is provided with an anchor portion 310 that engages with the mesh tube 302 from the inner diameter side of the mesh tube 302 for each gap P.

In the anchor portion 310, the elastomer forming the outer skin 303 penetrates between the mesh tube 302 and the core material inserted into the mesh tube 302 through the gap P, and the infiltrated elastomer solidifies and is integrally formed with the outer skin 303. ing. The anchor portion 310 overlaps the edge portion of the wire bundle 305 located on the outer diameter side of the mesh tube 302 among the two wire bundles 305 intersecting each other at each corner Pc of the gap P. It is engaged with the portion from the inner diameter side of the mesh tube 302.

The overlap margin between the anchor portion 310 and the edge portion of the wire bundle 305 can be appropriately adjusted by the pressure applied to the elastomer, for example, when the outer skin 303 is extruded.

In this way, a plurality of anchor portions 310 provided for each gap P of the mesh tube 302 and integrally formed with the outer skin 303 engage with the edge of the wire bundle 305 from the inner diameter side of the network tube 302 to form a mesh. The tube 302 and the outer skin 303 are joined to each other.

34 and 35 show other configuration examples of the anchor portion of the outer skin 303.

Similar to the anchor portion 310 shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the anchor portion 311 of the outer skin 303 shown in FIGS. 34 and 35 is provided for each gap P of the mesh tube 302, and further, the surrounding anchor portion 311. And are connected to each other via a bridge 312. The bridge 312 is formed so as to straddle a wire bundle 305 sandwiched between two anchor portions 311 connected to each other by the bridge 312.

The location where the bridge 312 is formed can be appropriately set by the pressure applied to the elastomer, for example, when the outer skin 303 is extruded. In the example shown in FIG. 34, the bridge 312 is located between two strands 305 extending in parallel adjacent to each other, where both of the two strands 305 are located on the inner diameter side of the mesh tube 302. Of the two strand bundles 305 extending in parallel next to each other, one of the two strand bundles 305 is located on the inner diameter side of the mesh tube 302, and the other is located on the inner diameter side of the mesh tube 302. It can also be formed at a location located on the outer diameter side of the (see bridge 312 shown by a broken line in FIG. 34).

By sandwiching the wire bundle 305 straddling the bridge 312 between the outer skin 303 and the bridge 312, the joint strength between the mesh tube 302 and the outer skin 303 is increased.

36 and 37 show other configuration examples of the anchor portion of the outer skin 303.

In the example shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the anchor portion 313 of the outer skin 303 is individually provided for each gap P of the mesh tube 302, similarly to the anchor portion 310 shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, and the gap P is provided. It is engaged with the edge of the wire bundle 305 surrounding the wire bundle 305. Of the plurality of strands constituting the strand bundle 305, some of the strands are arranged at the edges on both sides of the strand bundle 305, and one or more strands 306a from the end are in the central portion. It is formed to have a smaller diameter than the wire 306b.

Since the wire 306a at the edge of the wire bundle 305 is formed to have a relatively small diameter, a gap is created between the wire 306a and the core material inserted into the mesh tube 302, and the outer skin 303 is formed. The elastomer easily penetrates between the wire 306a and the core material through the gap P, and the overlapping portion of the anchor portion 313 with the edge of the wire bundle 305 is formed more reliably. Further, the anchor portion 313 is not only the edge portion of the wire bundle 305 located on the outer diameter side of the mesh tube 302 among the two strand bundles 305 intersecting each other at each corner Pc of the gap P, but also the mesh tube. It is also formed so as to overlap with the edge of the wire bundle 305 located on the inner diameter side of 302. As a result, the joint strength between the reticulated tube 302 and the outer skin 303 is increased.

Further, since the wire 306b at the center of the wire bundle 305 is formed to have a relatively large diameter, the wire 306b is arranged so as to project toward the inner diameter side of the mesh tube 302 from the anchor portion 313 and is made of an elastomer. Contact between the anchor portion 313 and the screw tube 300 inserted into the mesh tube 302 after the core material is removed is suppressed. As a result, the friction generated between the mesh tube 302 and the outer skin 303 and the screw tube 300 can be reduced, and the flexibility of the flexible portion 12 can be increased.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 38 and 39, a configuration example of the joint portion between the tubular body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the distal end side connecting ring 29 will be described.

As described above, the flexible portion 12 is connected to the curved portion 11 via the distal end side connecting ring 29 joined to the distal end portion of the tubular body 28. In the tip side connecting ring 29, a connecting portion 400 connected to the base end piece 20a of the curved portion 11, a joining portion 401 joined to the screw pipe 300 of the pipe body 28, and a net-like pipe 302 of the pipe body 28 are fixed. It has a fixing portion 402.

Although not shown, the connecting portion 400 has, as described above, a second engaging hole 216 (see FIG. 26) through which a clip 200 used for connecting the base end piece 20a of the curved portion 11 is inserted. A protrusion 201 (see FIG. 26) is provided.

The joint portion 401 is fitted to the tip of the screw pipe 300, and for example, the inner peripheral surface of the joint portion 401 and the outer peripheral surface of the screw pipe 300 are welded by laser welding or resistance welding, and the joint portion 401 is a screw pipe. It is joined with 300.

The fixing portion 402 to which the net-like pipe 302 is fixed is provided between the connecting portion 400 and the joining portion 401. The net-like pipe 302 extends to the front side of the tip portion of the screw pipe 300 that is internally fitted in the joint portion 401, and extends beyond the joint portion 401 to cover the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 402. The tip of the reticulated tube 302 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 402 is exposed without being covered by the outer skin 303 of the tube body 28.

A crimping ring 403 is attached to the outer periphery of the tip of the exposed mesh tube 302. When the outer skin 303 is directly molded on the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302 by a known extrusion molding machine or the like, the crimping ring 403 may be attached to the tip end portion of the mesh tube 302 before the outer skin 303 is formed. , Or the outer skin 303 may be attached to the tip of the reticulated tube 302 after being molded. If the crimping ring 403 is attached to the tip of the mesh tube 302 before the outer skin 303 is formed, the edge on the base end side of the crimping ring 403 can be covered by the outer skin 303.

By crimping the crimping ring 403 mounted on the outer periphery of the tip of the net tube 302, the tip of the net tube 302 is sandwiched by the fixing portion 402 and the crimping ring 403, and the net tube 302 is attached to the fixing portion 402. It is stuck. The net-like tube 302 fixed to the fixing portion 402 is electrically connected to the screw tube 300 via the tip side connecting ring 29. As a result, the function of the mesh tube 302 as a shield is enhanced.

The fixing portion 402 to which the crimping ring 403 is crimped is formed to have a smaller diameter than the connecting portion 400 and the joining portion 401, and is an annular recess on the outer peripheral surface of the tip-side connecting ring 29. At the boundary between the joint portion 401 and the fixing portion 402, a tapered portion 404 whose diameter is reduced toward the fixing portion 402 is provided.

The thickness of the fixing portion 402 is t1, the thickness of the crimping ring 403 is t2, and t1> t2 is preferable. By keeping the outer diameter of the crimping ring 403 constant and setting t1> t2, the force required for crimping the crimping ring 403 can be made smaller than when t1 ≦ t2, and the crimping ring 403 can be crimped. It is also possible to suppress the deformation of the tip side connecting ring 29 due to the above.

Further, the tapered portion 404 reduces the shearing force acting on the tip of the networked tube 302 sandwiched between the fixing portion 402 and the crimping ring 403, and the shearing force cuts the strands constituting the networked tube 302. It suppresses being done. From the viewpoint of reducing the shearing force, the inclination angle of the tapered portion 404 (extension of the contour line of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 402 appearing on the cut surface including the central axis of the tip side connecting ring 29 and the contour line of the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 404). The angle between the two is preferably θ ≦ 45 °, and more preferably θ ≦ 30 °.

Further, since the distal end side connecting ring 29 is a hard portion that cannot be bent in the flexible portion 12, the smaller the axial length of the distal end side connecting ring 29 is, the more preferable it is. Then, from the viewpoint of reducing the axial length of the tip side connecting ring 29, a non-slip structure for suppressing slippage of the mesh tube 302 is provided on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 402 and the inner peripheral surface of the crimping ring 403. It is preferable to be provided. As the non-slip structure, an unevenness composed of a plurality of grooves or a plurality of dimples can be exemplified.

By providing a non-slip structure on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 402 and the inner peripheral surface of the crimping ring 403, the fixing strength of the mesh tube 302 can be maintained and the axial length of the fixing portion 402 can be reduced. As a result, the axial length of the distal end side connecting ring 29 can be reduced. The width of the strip material constituting the screw tube 300 is W3, the axial length of the fixing portion 402 is L4, and L4 ≦ W3 × 1/2 is preferable within the range in which the fixing strength of the mesh tube 302 is maintained. ..

FIG. 40 shows another configuration example of the joint portion between the tubular body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the distal end side connecting ring 29, and the distal end side connecting ring 29 is a joint portion to be joined to the screw tube 300 of the tubular body 28. It has a joint portion 405 that is abutted axially with the screw tube 300 of the tube body 28. The end face of the joint portion 405 and the end face of the screw pipe 300 that are butted against each other are welded by, for example, friction welding, and the joint portion 405 is joined to the screw pipe 300.

By abutting and joining the tip side connecting ring 29 to the screw tube 300 in the axial direction, the axial length of the tip side connecting ring 29 is reduced as compared with the case where the tip side connecting ring 29 is fitted and joined to the screw tube 300. That is, the hard portion of the flexible portion 12 that is flexibly configured can be shortened.

FIG. 41 shows another configuration example of the joint portion between the tubular body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the distal end side connecting ring 29, and the distal end side connecting ring 29 is a joint portion joined to the screw tube 300 of the tubular body 28. It has a joint portion 405 shown in FIG. 40. Then, the crimping ring 403 is crimped to the fixing portion 402, the joint portion 405, and the screw pipe 300.

A part of the crimping ring 403 is put on the screw tube 300, and the tip portion of the reticulated tube 302 is sandwiched between the fixing portion 402 and the joint portion 405 and the screw tube 300 and the crimping ring 403. The axial length of the fixing portion 402 can be reduced while maintaining the fixing strength. As a result, the axial length of the tip-side connecting ring 29 can be further reduced, that is, the hard portion of the flexible portion 12 can be further shortened. Further, since the crimping ring 403 is crimped to both the joint portion 405 and the screw pipe 300 which are abutted and joined in the axial direction, the crimping ring 403 provides a joint portion between the joint portion 405 and the screw pipe 300. It can also be reinforced.

Up to this point, the net-like tube 302 of the tubular body 28 has been described as being fixed to the distal end side connecting ring 29 by the crimping ring 403, but the method of fixing the net-like tube 302 is not limited to the crimping ring 403.

FIG. 42 shows another configuration example of the joint portion between the tube body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the tip side connecting ring 29, and the tip portion 302a of the reticulated tube 302 exposed without being covered by the outer skin 303 is laser welded. Alternatively, it is welded to the outer peripheral surface (fixed portion) of the tip side connecting ring 29 by resistance welding or the like.

According to the welding in which the materials of the tip side connecting ring 29 and the mesh tube 302 are fused with each other, the tip side connecting ring 29 and the tip side connecting ring 29 are compared with the case where the same fixing strength is obtained by friction-based fixing using the crimping ring 403. The contact area with the mesh tube 302 can be reduced, and the axial length of the portion where the mesh tube 302 is welded on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end side connecting ring 29 can be shortened. As a result, the axial length of the tip-side connecting ring 29 can be reduced, that is, the hard portion of the flexible portion 12 can be shortened. Further, since the crimping ring 403 is omitted, the diameter of the flexible portion 12 can be reduced.

In the example shown in FIG. 42, the joint portion of the tip side connecting ring 29 joined to the screw pipe 300 of the pipe body 28 is the joint portion 401 shown in FIG. 38 which is fitted onto the tip portion of the screw pipe 300. However, it can also be the joint portion 405 shown in FIG. 40, which is abutted against the screw tube 300 in the axial direction.

Next, a configuration example of the joint portion between the tubular body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the proximal end side connecting ring 30 will be described.

43 and 44 show a configuration example of a joint portion between the tubular body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the proximal end side connecting ring 30.

As described above, the flexible portion 12 is connected to the operating portion 7 via the proximal end side connecting ring 30 joined to the proximal end portion of the tubular body 28. The proximal end side connecting ring 30 includes an inner ring 500 inserted into the proximal end portion of the threaded tube 300 of the tubular body 28, and an outer ring 501 accommodating the inner ring 500. As the material for forming the inner ring 500 and the outer ring 501, a metal such as stainless steel can be used as in the case of the tip side connecting ring 29.

The outer ring 501 has a screw tube 300, a mesh tube 302 covering the outer circumference of the screw tube 300, and an outer circumference of the mesh tube 302 between the inner ring 500 inserted into the base end portion of the screw tube 300. It sandwiches the outer skin 303 that covers it, and is crimped to the inner ring 500. The inner ring 500 and the outer ring 501 crimped to the inner ring 500 integrally sandwich the screw tube 300, the mesh tube 302, and the outer skin 303. As a result, the proximal end side connecting ring 30 is joined to the tubular body 28.

The inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 501 is provided with irregularities composed of a plurality of grooves or a plurality of dimples, and when the outer ring 501 is crimped, a part of the outer skin 303 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 501. It bites into the recess 502, and the convex portion 503 on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 501 bites into the outer skin 303. As a result, the joint strength between the tubular body 28 and the proximal end side connecting ring 30 is increased.

FIG. 45 shows another configuration example of the joint portion between the tube body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the proximal end side connecting ring 30, and is attached to the proximal end portion of the screw tube 300 sandwiched by the inner ring 500 and the outer ring 501. A plurality of protrusions 504 protruding toward the outer diameter side, that is, the mesh tube 302 side are provided. By crimping the outer ring 501, a plurality of protrusions 504 are pierced into the mesh tube 302, and the screw tube 300 and the network tube 302 are electrically connected. As a result, the function of the reticulated tube 302 as a shield can be enhanced. It is preferable that the protrusion 504 is formed sharper than the convex portion 503 on the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring 501.

FIG. 46 shows another configuration example of the joint portion between the tube body 28 of the flexible portion 12 and the proximal end side connecting ring 30, and shows the end of the proximal end portion of the network tube 302 sandwiched by the inner ring 500 and the outer ring 501. 302b is exposed without being covered by the outer skin 303. By crimping the outer ring 501, the screw tube 300 covering the inner ring 500 and the end 302b of the base end of the exposed network tube 302 come into contact with each other, and the screw tube 300 and the network tube 302 are electrically connected. To. As a result, the function of the reticulated tube 302 as a shield can be enhanced.

The present invention can be used for an endoscope in which a curved portion and a flexible portion of an insertion portion are separably connected.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but this is merely an example, and the present invention can be carried out in a mode in which various modifications are made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. This application is based on a Japanese patent application filed on February 25, 2016 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-034403), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1 Endoscope system 2 Endoscope 3 Light source unit 4 Processor unit 5 Monitor 6 Insertion part 7 Operation part 8 Universal cord 9 Connector 10 Tip part 10a Tip surface 11 Curved part 12 Flexible part 13 Treatment tool insertion port 20 Piece 20a Base end Piece 20b Tip piece 20A Four-way piece 20B Two-way piece 20C Four-way piece 20D First two-way piece 20E Second two-way piece 21 Shaft member 22 Tip body 22a Base end surface 23 Protective cover 24 Tip sleeve 24a Inner peripheral surface 25 Wire 26 Wire 27 Wire guide 28 Pipe 29 Tip side connecting ring 30 Base end side connecting ring 40 Main body 41 Recessed 42 Connecting part 43 Hole 44 Balloon mounting groove 45 Balloon 46 Fixing ring 47 Wire group 48 Channel 49 Light guide 50 Sending Air supply tube 51 Air supply tube for balloon 52 Space part 53 Space part 54 Space part 55 Space part 56 Imaging device 57 Observation window 58 Solid image pickup element 59 Pipe 60 Treatment tool outlet 61 Lighting window 62 Air supply water supply nozzle 63 Balloon air supply Mouth 64 Screw thread 65 Screw 65a Head 65b Shaft 65c Thread 66 Thread hole 67 Insertion hole 68 Thread receiving part 69 Rib 100 Body 101 External connecting piece 102 Inner connecting piece 103 Flat plate part 104 Flat plate part 110 Body 111 Outside Connecting piece 111a Outer connecting piece 111b Outer connecting piece 112 Inner connecting piece 112a Inner connecting piece 112b Inner connecting piece 113 Flat plate portion 114 Flat plate portion 115 Flat plate portion 120 First positioning hole 121 Second positioning hole 130a Through hole 130b Through hole 131 Shaft 132 Head 133 Large diameter 134 Small diameter 200 Clip (connecting member)
201 Protrusion 210 Band plate portion 211 Locking portion 214 First engagement hole 216 Second engagement hole 217 Notch 300 Screw tube 302 Reticulated tube 302a Tip portion 302b Base end end 303 Outer skin 305 Wire bundle 306 Wire 306a Wire 306b Wire 310 Anchor part 311 Anchor part 312 Bridge 313 Anchor part 400 Connecting part 401 Joint part 402 Fixing part 403 Clamping ring 404 Tapered part 405 Joint part 500 Inner ring 501 Outer ring 502 Recessed part 503 Convex part 504 Projection A Spot welded part H Protrusion height Hr Protrusion amount Hs Gap length La Extension length Lb Extension length Lp Screw length Ls Distance L1 Axial length L2 Axial length L3 Axial length P Gap Pc Corner S1 Surface S2 Surface t1 Fixed portion thickness t2 Crying ring thickness W1 Width W2 Width Wa Width Wb Width X Rotation axis Y Rotation axis θ Tilt angle

Claims (7)

It has a plurality of annular pieces arranged in a row, and is connected to a curved portion in which two adjacent pieces are rotatably connected to each other and a base end piece arranged at one end of the curved portion. A flexible portion having a connecting ring, and an insertion portion including,
At least one connecting member that connects the base end piece and the connecting ring,
Equipped with
The connecting ring has a connecting portion that is internally fitted into the base end piece.
The base piece is provided with at least one notch extending in the axial direction from the end of the base piece.
The base is inserted into each of the notches on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion as it fits into the base piece, and the base is relative to the relative rotation of the base piece and the connecting ring around the axis. At least one protrusion that engages with the end piece in the rotational direction, and is provided with a protrusion that is integrally formed with the connection ring.
The connecting member is detachably attached to the base end piece and the connecting portion, and is axially attached to the base end piece and the connecting portion with respect to the axial relative movement of the base end piece and the connecting ring. They are engaged with each other
It has a strip portion that can be elastically deformed and a pair of locking portions that extend from both ends of the strip portion.
The base end piece is provided with a pair of first engaging holes through which the pair of locking portions are inserted.
The connecting portion is provided with a pair of second engaging holes that overlap with the pair of first engaging holes and are inserted into the pair of locking portions.
The strip portion is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the base end piece, and is arranged.
The pair of locking portions are inserted into two overlapping sets of the first engaging hole and the second engaging hole and engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion, respectively, and the strip plate is provided. The base end piece and the connecting portion are bound between the portions.
An endoscope in which the extended length of one of the pair of locking portions is larger than the extended length of the other locking portion . The endoscope according to claim 1 .
An endoscope in which the rotational clearance between each of the first engaging hole and the second engaging hole and the connecting member is larger than the axial clearance. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2 .
An endoscope in which the height of the protrusion is equal to or less than the thickness of the base end piece. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2 .
An endoscope in which the height of the protrusion is larger than the thickness of the base end piece. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .
The flexible portion has a tubular body including a flexible screw tube made of a strip material wound in a spiral shape.
The connecting ring has a joint that fits onto one end of the threaded tube.
An endoscope in which the inner diameter of the joint portion is larger than the inner diameter of the joint portion. The endoscope according to claim 5 .
An endoscope in which the outer diameter of the joint portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the base end piece. The method for manufacturing an endoscope according to claim 1.
The base end piece and the connecting portion are fitted to each other, and the protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion is inserted into the notch provided in the base end piece.
When the connecting member is attached to the base end piece and the connecting portion with the protrusion inserted into the notch, the connecting member is attached to the base end piece and the connecting portion.
The pair of locking portions are attached to one of two sets of the first engaging hole and the second engaging hole in which the base end piece and the connecting portion are fitted and overlapped with each other. Of these, a first locking portion having a relatively short extension length is inserted, and the first locking portion is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion.
With the first locking portion engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion, the two sets of the first engaging holes and the said first engaging hole in which the base end piece and the connecting portion are fitted and overlapped with each other. A second locking portion having a relatively long extension length of the pair of locking portions is inserted through the other set of the second engaging hole sets, and the second locking portion is inserted into the second locking portion. Engage with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting part,
A method for manufacturing an endoscope in which the base end piece and the connecting portion are bound between the strip portion and the first locking portion and the second locking portion .

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