JPH01134415A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and surely insert an incorporated body into a flexible tube by setting the length of a channel so that an image guide does not flex too much and the channel never interferes with a ferrule fitted to the image guide. CONSTITUTION:The drooping dimension (a) of the other end of the image guide by its own weight is equal to the external diameter of the channel 14, l1 is the length of the opposite-side curving part of the image guide 12 from the tip end surface of the ferrule 18, and the length of the ferrule 18 is l2. The length of the channel 14 is so set that the position (x) of the tip end surface is (l1-l2). Consequently, the other end side of the channel 14 shifts in position from the ferrule 18 provided to the other end side of the image guide 12. Consequently, when the incorporated body is inserted into the flexible tube, the part of the ferrule 18 covered with a tube 15 is prevented from increasing in charging rate in the flexible tube and there is no intense interference with the flexible tube, so its insertion is facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope in which internal objects such as a light guide, an image guide, and a channel are inserted into an insertion portion.

[Prior Art] Generally, internal objects such as a light guide and an image guide made of an optical fiber bundle and a channel made of a flexible tube are inserted into the insertion portion of an endoscope. To incorporate the internal organs into the flexible tube of the insertion section, first, one end of these is connected and fixed to the tip member, and the longest light guide is first inserted into the flexible tube. The image guide and channel are then inserted into the flexible tube along with the light guide. The light guide is set to a length that allows it to be connected to the connector at the end of the universal cord, and the image guide is set to a length that allows the base provided at the other end to be connected to the eyepiece. In addition, the channel needs only to have enough room to cut the length necessary to connect to the channel cap after inserting the internal organs and fixing the tip member to the tip of the flexible tube, and the length does not need to be constant. good.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when such internal organs are incorporated into a flexible tube, there are the following drawbacks. In other words, if the length of the channel exceeds the cap at the other end of the image guide, the cap will be covered by the image guide's outer tube, and this part will have a larger diameter than the other parts. ing. Therefore, the filling rate of the internal organs in the flexible tube of the mouthpiece portion becomes high, making it difficult to insert the internal organs.

Additionally, if the length of the channel is extremely shorter than the mouthpiece of the image guide, when inserting internal organs into the flexible tube, the other end of the image guide, which is softer than the channel, will not be supported by the channel. , large deflection. This makes it difficult to insert internal organs.

This invention was made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent internal organs from interfering with the flexible tube or bending greatly when inserting internal organs into the flexible tube. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that does not become uncomfortable.

c. Means and operation for solving the problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides that at least one end of the light guide, the image guide, and the channel is connected and fixed to the tip member, and the other end of the image guide is connected and fixed to the tip member. In an endoscope that is connected to a cap and is assembled by inserting these into a flexible tube from the other end, the other end of the image guide is made a free end, and its own weight causes the other end to be attached to the channel channel. The length of the other end is l2, and the length of the channel is set such that the position of the other end is within a range of 12≦X≦11 from the other end of the image guide. This prevents the image guide from becoming difficult to insert due to being located at the other end of the channel or at the base of the image guide, or from causing the image guide to bend too much.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The endoscope shown in FIG. 3 includes an operating section 1. The endoscope shown in FIG. An insertion section 2 and one end of a universal cord 3 are connected to the operation section 1. The insertion section 2 is composed of a flexible tube 4 and a distal end member 6 provided at the distal end of the flexible tube via a curved section 5.

The operation section 1 is provided with an eyepiece section 7, a channel base 8, an operation knob 9 for remotely controlling the bending section 5, and the like. Furthermore, the above universal code 3
A connector 1 connected to a light source device (not shown) is provided at the other end.

As shown in FIG. 4, internal organs such as an image guide 12, a light guide 13, and a channel 14 are inserted into the flexible tube 4 of the insertion section 2. The image guide 12 is formed by covering an optical fiber bundle 1p with a flexible tube 113. Further, the light guide 13 is similarly formed by covering an optical fiber bundle with a tube 17 (not shown). The channel 14 is formed from a flexible tube, but has sufficient rigidity compared to the image guide 12.

These image guides 12 and light guides 13
The channel 14 has one end connected and fixed to the distal end member 6, and is inserted into the flexible tube 4 of the insertion section 2 from the other end. Incidentally, a base 18 connected to the eyepiece section 7 is attached to the other end of the image guide 12. One end of the cap 18 is covered with the tube 15, and this portion has the maximum outer diameter of the image guide 12.

The length of the channel 14 is set as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In other words, in FIG. 2, a is the dimension at which the other end of the image guide 12 hangs down due to its own weight.
This dimension a is equal to the outer diameter of the channel 14. Also, I
At this time, ll is the length of the curved portion on the other end side of the image guide 12 from the tip surface of the base 18. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the length of the cap 18 is 12. The length of the channel 14 is equal to the length of its tip end l.
2, (N1-112).

Next, the case where the above-mentioned internal organs are incorporated will be explained. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the longest light guide 13 among the internal components connected at one end to the tip member 6 is inserted into the flexible tube 4. When the remaining length of the light guide 13 becomes approximately equal to the length of the image guide 12 and the channel 14, these are also successively inserted into the flexible tube 4. After inserting the internal organs, the distal end member 6 may be connected and fixed to the curved portion 5.

When incorporating in this way, the length of the channel 14 is such that the position X of the tip surface thereof is as shown in FIG.
) is set. Therefore, the other end of the channel 14 is located at a position offset from the base 18 provided at the other end of the image guide. Therefore, when inserting internal organs into the flexible tube 4, the portion of the base 18 covered with the tube 15 is prevented from increasing the filling rate in the flexible tube 4, and strongly interferes with the flexible tube 4. Since they do not touch each other, the insertion can be easily performed.

Further, the other end side of the image guide 12 is prevented from being bent beyond the dimension a by the other end side of the channel 14. Therefore, the image guide 12 will not bend too much and become impossible to insert.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the length of the channel can be set to such a length that the image guide does not bend too much and does not interfere with the cap attached to the image guide. Set. Therefore, the internal organs can be easily and reliably inserted into the flexible tube, which improves productivity and reduces costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the length relationship of various internal organs, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram when the image guide is curved, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the endoscope. , FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the internal organs connected to the tip member. 4... Flexible tube, 6... Tip member, 12... Image guide, 13... Light guide, 14... Channel. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi Diagram 4 Procedural amendment 6-3.25 1939 Director General of the Patent Office Kunio Ogawa 1, Indication of case Patent application No. 1982-291925 2, Title of invention Endoscope 3 , Relationship with the person making the amendment Patent applicant (037) Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. 4, Agent UBE Building 3-7-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 1
00 Telephone 03 (502) 3181 (main representative)
7. Statement of contents of amendment, page 1, line 20, page 2, line 5, line 6, line 15, line 20, page 3, line 6, page 7
Line 10, Line 13, Line 16, Page 5, Line 11, Page 6, Line 19, Page 7, Line 1,
In the 6th line of the same page, the 13th line of the same page, the 8th line of the 8th page, the 13th line of the same page, and the 15th line of the same page, the words "internal organs" are replaced with "
"Built-in objects" is corrected.

Claims (1)

[Claims] At least one end of the light guide, image guide, and channel is connected and fixed to the tip member, and a base is connected to the other end of the image guide. In an endoscope, the other end of the image guide is made a free end, and when the other end hangs down by approximately the outer diameter of the channel due to its own weight, the curved length is l_1, and the length of the base of the image guide is l_2. , when the position of the other end of the channel is x, the length of the other end of the channel is set within a range l_2≦x≦l_1 from the other end of the image guide. mirror.