JPH01151433A - Endoscopic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the endurance of the elements mounted in an insert part, to adjust the flexibility of the insert part and to enhance an insertion property and inserting operation, by mounting a flexibility control member so that a leading end part is positioned on this side from the curving part formed to the leading end of the insert part. CONSTITUTION:The annular connection member 34 provided to the leading end of a soft part 12 is mounted in the rear end joint piece 33 of a plurality of joint pieces 33.... The connection member 34 is connected to the rear end of a leading end part main body 17 and the angle wire 37 composed of a flexible twisted wire provided so as to extend to a curving knob 13 is supported in an angle wire guide 36 formed of a metal coil pipe so as to be capable of being drawn and loosened and a leading end part 9 can be directed in up and- down/left-and-right directions by revolving the curving knob 13. A stylet 35 as a flexibility control member is inserted through an insert part 6 and the leading end part of a stylet channel tube 39 constituting a stylet channel 38 is provided on this side of a curving part 11 so as not to reach said curving part 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an endoscope device JD that can adjust the flexibility of an insertion portion and has good insertability.

[Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention] By inserting a long and narrow insertion section into the body cavity, it is possible to observe the inside of the body cavity and use treatment instruments without the need for an incision. Endoscopes, which can perform therapeutic procedures, have become widely used.

The insertion section of the endoscope can be inserted into a curved insertion path.
The flexibility is tilted to the right as shown in the figure, but due to this flexibility, the orientation of the tip side relative to the proximal side cannot be determined, making it difficult to introduce it in the target direction. In order to deal with this, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-30
211 Tan Publication 63 J:Bimi Kaisho 58-101602@
In the publication, the flexibility of the insertion section is changed by providing a flexible adjustment member (sometimes called a stylet or leading cord, etc.) inside the endoscope insertion section so that it can be inserted and removed. A technique has been disclosed that improves the ease of insertion into, etc.

However, when a hard stylet is inserted into the insertion section, other built-in components such as an image guide, a light guide, an air/water supply tube, etc. are likely to be damaged.

In particular, when a stylet is inserted into a curved part, weak built-in objects such as image guides and light guides may come into contact with the stiffness of the stiff stylet, and the resistance of these built-in objects may be affected. may cause serious damage. Furthermore, depending on the case, there is a risk of damaging the bending tube itself that constitutes the bending section. Furthermore, if the stylet is inserted in a curved state, in the worst case, there is a risk that it will break through the curved tube and puncture the body cavity.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has the objective of maintaining the resistance of the objects built into the insertion tube, adjusting the flexibility of the insertion tube, and improving insertability and insertion operation. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope device that can perform measurements.

[Means for Solving the Problems, 113 and Effects] The endoscope device of the present invention includes a flexible adjustment member such that the distal end portion is positioned closer to the proximal side than the curved portion formed at the distal end of the insertion portion. It is something that

In addition, the flexibility of only the flexible portion connected to the proximal side of the curved portion is adjusted.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a d1 clear view of the internal configuration of the endoscope, and Figure 2 is A of Figure 1.
-A' direction enlarged sectional view, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tip end of the flexible adjustment member, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the entire endoscope device.

In FIG. 4, the private celebration vt table device includes an endoscope 2, a light source unit that supplies illumination light to the endoscope vL2, and a signal processing unit that processes image signals sent from the endoscope 2. It consists of a device 3 and a monitor 4 that displays video signals output from the control device 3 on both sides.

Said introspection! a2 denotes an elongated insertion section 6, a large-diameter operation section 7 provided on the rear end side of this insertion section 6, and a light guide and signal extending from the side of this operation section 7. It is equipped with a cable 8 for use.

A hard tip portion 9 is provided on the tip side of the insertion portion 6, and a curved portion 1 adjacent to the tip portion 9 that can be bent rearward.
1 is provided. Furthermore, a flexible soft part 12 is connected to the rear of this curved part 11. Said curved part 1
1 can be bent vertically/horizontally by operating a bending operation knob 13 installed on the operating section 7.

At the rear end of the light guide and signal cable 8,
A light guide J3 and a signal connector 14 are provided and connected to the control device 3.

The control device 3 is connected to the monitor 4 by a signal cable 16.

In FIG. 1, the distal end portion 9 is provided with a distal end body 17 made of a hard material and formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A channel through hole 18 and an observation through hole 19 are provided. This forceps channel through hole 18 has a connecting tube 2.
A flexible forceps channel tube 23 forming a forceps channel 22 is connected to the rear part of the connecting tube 21 which projects backward from the tip body 17 of the connecting tube 21. This forceps channel duplex 23 is inserted through the insertion section 6 and communicates with a forceps port 24 provided in the operating section 7.

An objective lens system 26 is provided at the front of the observation hole 19, and a solid-state image sensor 27 is provided at the imaging position of this objective lens system 26.

A signal 1D 28 that can send an image signal is extended to the rear end of the solid-state image sensor 27, and this Shinta wire 28 is inserted through the insertion section 6 and connected to the operating section 7, light guide, and signal cable 8. The inner and outer parts are connected to two contacts provided on the lie 1 through the guide and signal connector 14 using a shuttle. Note that illumination light emitted from a light source (not shown) is input to the light guide and signal connector 14.
A light guide M O'A section 32 to which a light guide 31 is connected is provided so that the light guide 31 can be connected. This light guide 31 is inserted into a light guide hole (not shown) provided in the tip body 17 via the light guide and signal cable 8, the operating section 7, and the insertion section 6, and can irradiate illumination light to the observation site. It looks like this.

A plurality of substantially annular joint pieces 33 are provided in the curved portion 11 of l1a.
... are mutually rotatable and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 6, and the joint pieces 33 at the tips of the joint pieces 33 are externally fitted and fixed to the rear end of the tip body 17. There is. An annular connecting member 34 provided at the tip of the flexible portion 12 is fitted into the l3I1 joint piece 33 at the rear end of the plurality of joint pieces 33. This connecting member 34 includes a tip main body 17.
Angle wire A737, such as a flexible stranded wire connected to the rear end and extended to the bending knob 13, is supported in an angle wire guide 36 formed of a metal coil pipe so that it can be pulled and loosened. By rotating the curved knob 13, the distal end portion 9 can be oriented vertically/laterally.

A stylet 35 serving as a flexibility adjustment member is inserted into the insertion portion 6, and a stylet channel tube 39 constituting the stylet channel 38 has its tip end on the proximal side of the curved portion 11, It is provided so as not to intersect with the curved portion 11. The rear end portion of this stylet channel duplex 39 communicates with the stylet 1 through the insertion port 41 provided in the operating section 7. Note that the rear end of this stylet channel duplex 39 is fixed to the operating section 7 and the insertion section 6
It is not fixed inside.

The forceps channel tube 23 shown in J3 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a composite tube whose main structure is, for example, a foamed tetrafluoroethylene resin tube (trade name: VORETEX), and is airtight. The strength is also determined by the compression resistance from the radial direction. Tube 2 for this forceps channel
3 adjacent to said stylet channel tube 3
9 is inserted. This stylet channel tube 39 has high flexibility, slipperiness J3, and radial compression resistance, and remains crushed even when compressed from the radial direction.
For example, foaming 4
It is made of fluorinated ethylene resin, etc.

It should be noted that this L-tube 39 for the style left 11-thickness is preferably made of fluororesin from the viewpoint of slipperiness.

A lid 42 is fitted into the distal end of the style left channel tube 39 so as to maintain watertightness, and is fixed to the bone. Since this stylet channel tube 39 is not airtight but watertight, the stylet channel 38 is watertight with respect to the inside of the insertion portion 6. Note that the tip of the lid 42 does not reach the curved portion 11.

The periphery of the forceps channel tube 23 and the stylet channel tube 39 is shaped like a lambda plate having an inner diameter slightly larger than the sum of the outer diameters of the forceps channel tube 23 and the stylet channel tube 39. It is surrounded by a flexible spiral tube 46 formed by spirally winding a member.

A mesh pipe 47 is provided on the outer periphery of the spiral pipe 46;
A flexible duplex 48 made of resin or the like is provided to fit and house the flexible duplex 7 .

The inside of the spiral tube 46 is divided into two in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 6 by the forceps channel tube 23 and the stylet channel duplex 39, and the signal line 28 is connected to one of the two divided spaces. The light guide 31 and the angle wire guide 36 are inserted into the other space, and the four air supply tubes, the water supply tube 51, and the angle wire guide 36 are inserted into the other space. Note that relatively mechanically weak internal components such as the water supply tube 51 and the air supply tube 49 may be covered with the protection tube.

Here, the forceps channel tube 23 and the style left tip 1? The inside of the insertion section 6 is
Since the parts are separated, the built-in parts do not cross or become entangled, which improves the durability of the built-in parts. Furthermore, since the stylet channel 38 and the stylet 35 are regulated at relatively constant positions inside the insertion section 6, the elastic force and hardness of the stylet 35 are directly reflected as the elastic force and hardness of the insertion section 6. It is now possible to do so.

The signal line 28 is made up of a plurality of shield lines 43 and is connected to J3.
The east line is made by soaking the binding resin 44. The light guide 31 is covered with a protective dicove 52 made of, for example, foamable tetrafluoroethylene resin, which has good flexibility and slipperiness, and has strong compression resistance in the d radial direction.

The stylet 35 inserted into the stylet channel 38 includes, for example, seven flexible metal pipes 53.
is covered with an outer skin 54, and the metal vibrator 5
3 and the proximal side of the outer skin 54 are fixed to a large diameter portion 56 that abuts the stylet insertion port 41. Since the metal vibrator 53 and the outer skin 54 are not fixed in the axial direction except for the large diameter portion 56, when the stylet 35 is bent, the metal vibrator 5
The relative position in the axial direction with the third outer skin 5/I is adapted to be locally displaced. At the distal end of this stylet 35, a distal end depth 57 formed in a tapered shape and tapered toward the front is fitted and fixed to the outer skin 54. In addition,
When the insertion portion 6 is bent, this distal tip 57 will be damaged! 42, and the metal vibrator 53 is set so as not to contact the distal tip 57.

The operation of the endoscope neck mount 1 configured as described above will be explained.

In the case of colon examination, the insertion part 6 of the endoscope 112 is inserted from the patient's anus.
Insert. At the beginning of insertion, it is easier to insert if the tube has good flexibility, but as the insertion progresses, the large intestine is complicatedly curved, so the insertion portion 6 begins to form a loop, making insertion difficult. In such a case, the stylet 35, which is harder than the insertion part 6' and has more elasticity, is inserted through the stylet insertion opening 41. Insertion of the stylet 35 increases the hardness and elasticity of the insertion section 6, straightens the insertion section 6, and facilitates insertion. Please note that the insertion part 6
It is sufficient to not linearize ′C
It may be locally hardened in the axial direction.

As for how to use it, experienced doctors prefer a hard insertion part 6, while beginners prefer a soft insertion part 6 because a hard insertion part 6 may cause a lot of pain to the patient. If the endoscope 2 and the stylet 35 having different hardness and elasticity are used, the most suitable stylet 35 may be used depending on the user's choice.

In addition, since the insertion section 6 of the endoscope 2 becomes soft after use, the hardness of the insertion section 6 can be adjusted by preparing a plurality of stylets 35 of different hardness and selecting and using them as appropriate. It may be kept constant. Further, a plurality of stylets 35 may be prepared depending on the length of the insertion portion 6.

Furthermore, the hardness and elasticity of the stylet 35 can be set to a desired value by appropriately selecting the number of metal vibrators 53, the wall thickness of the metal vibrators 53, the material, etc. Furthermore, the metal pipe 153 may be a stainless steel pipe, a phosphor bronze pipe, or the like. Further, the metal vibrators 53 do not necessarily have to be provided over the entire length of the stylet 35, and the hardness of the stylet 35 may be partially changed by partially changing the number of metal vibrators 53. Furthermore, even if the metal vibrator 53 is fixed by hard soldering or the like, the hardness may be partially changed.

According to this embodiment, the stylet 35 can be selectively inserted and removed.
By doing so, the hardness and elasticity ('I) of the insertion section 6 can be changed, and the insertion operation of the endoscope 2 can be performed according to the usage situation.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the electronic screen is implemented using the solid-state image sensor 27, the image guide, which is the most easily damaged image guide, is not used in the insertion section 6. For this reason, the endoscope 2 can be said to have excellent durability without the image guide being bent. Furthermore, since the signal line 28 is an east line, the mechanical durability f1 can be made high.

In addition, when cleaning the endoscope 2 and extinguishing the chemical solution i31,
The entire endoscope 2 is immersed in the liquid, but at that time, a plugging member of a rubber Ft tube is attached to the stylet insertion port 41 to prevent the liquid from entering the stylet channel 38 (1) But that's fine. In the unlikely event that you forget to attach the plugging member and liquid gets into the stylet 1 to tunnel 38, the stylet 1 to the tunnel 38 is watertight, so water will not leak, but the stylet 1 to the tunnel 38 will not leak. It is better to quickly drain the liquid and dry the body to prevent it from decomposing. Style left tip 1/Nel 38 and stylet 35 do not touch the name, so it feels 9
, never becomes a route.

Further, the configuration of the stylet 35 is not limited to this embodiment, and a plurality of pipes may be stacked concentrically, and two or more pipes may be stacked concentrically.
The hardness may be changed by twisting the T111j-j file.

Furthermore, when preparing and using a plurality of endoscopes 2 of different lengths and a plurality of stylets 35 of similarly different lengths, in the vicinity of the stylet insertion port 41 and the stylet 35, Identification marks related to length may also be provided. Further, a mechanism for preventing erroneous insertion may be provided. Identification marks may be provided even when stylet channels 38 and squillettes 35 having different outer diameters are used.

When the stylet 35 is inserted into the stylet channel 38, the vicinity of the abutting portion between the stylet insertion port 41 and the large diameter portion 56 (the stylet channel 38 may be plugged).

In this case, the stylet 35 is inserted into the stylet channel 38 in the normal state, and the stylet 35 is cleaned, disinfected, and gas sterilized in that state, and the stylet 35 is removed only when it is particularly desired to soften the insertion part 6. You may also do so.

Further, in this embodiment, the stylet channel 38 is
Although it is a book, there are multiple style left tips, 1 funnel, and 3 pieces.
8 may be provided and the hardness of the insertion portion 6 may be changed depending on the number of stylets 35 inserted.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a flexible portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A stylet channel 38 is provided in the flexible portion 12 constituting the insertion portion 6 of the endoscope 2 in the direction of the insertion portion 6.
A flexible spiral tube 46, which is formed by spirally winding a thin plate-like member so as to surround the built-in objects, is inserted therethrough. This spiral tube 46 is made of a material with good solder wettability, or is made of a material with good solder wettability.
raul.

It is plated with chrome, tin, etc.).

The outer periphery of the spiral tube 46 is covered with a mesh tube 47.
3.Furthermore, a flexible tube 4 is attached to the outer periphery of this mesh pipe 47.
8 accommodates the mesh pipe 47. J: Sea urchin is covered.

The stylet 1t is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the spiral tube 46.
It is formed so as to surround three chicoves for tunnels,
A solder-plated stylet channel guide 58, such as a non-tightly wound coil, is inserted through the helical tube 46 with a portion of its periphery appropriately soldered to the inner circumferential surface of the helical tube 46. In addition, the stylet channel guide 58 and the stylet 1r
Since the channel tube 1-39 is not fixed within the insertion portion 6, only the force in the radial direction of the stylet 35 is transmitted to the flexible portion 12.

To assemble the insertion section 6, a part of the outer periphery of the style left channel 11 channel guide 58 and the inner periphery of the helical tube 46 are brought into contact with each other using a jig in the state without the flexible duplex 48, and the soldering is done at certain points. It is then heated by irradiating it with a ray light or the like. The solder plated on the stylet channel guide 58 is melted by heating, and the spiral tube 46 and the stylet channel guide 58 are fixed. In this case, the spiral tube 46 and y! I tube 4 tube upper 7 is not fixed so insertion part 6
Due to its flexibility, the tube will not be damaged. Note that the base 1 may be fixed by pouring solder, UV adhesive, etc. from the gate of the spiral pipe 46 through the mesh pipe 47 and heating or UV irradiation.

The other configuration J3 and operation are the same as in the first embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the stylet channel guide 58
Since the insertion position of the stylet channel tube 39 for the stylet left channel 12 is restricted by providing a . Further, the elasticity of the stylet 35 is more directly transmitted to the flexible portion 12 via the stylet channel guide 58, so that the straightening effect is large.

Other effects are the same as in the first practical example.

In each of the above embodiments, a squillette channel is provided as a dedicated V-channel for the stylet, but the stylet channel may also be used as the stylet left channel and the forceps channel. In this case, a two-channel endoscope is better because forceps and the like can be used even when using a stylet. However, since forceps are often used to remove the endoscope after insertion, even a 1-channel endoscope will not have a major effect.

In addition, if the forceps channel and stylet channel are used together, the inner diameter of the forceps channel in front of the curved part may be made smaller to prevent the stylet from being inserted ahead of the curved part. .

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may be applied to fiberscopes.

[Effects of the invention] Above)! As described above, according to the present invention, the durability of the built-in material of the insertion part can be maintained, the flexibility of the insertion part can be adjusted, and insertion ease and insertion operation can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the internal configuration of the endoscope, and Figure 2 is Δ- of Figure 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the flexible adjustment member, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the entire endoscope device, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of such a flexible portion. 1... Endoscope device 2... Endoscope 6... Insertion section 7... Operating section 11... Curved section 35... Stylet 38... Stylet channel Fig. 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 M , ゛

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope having a curved portion near the distal end of the insertion portion and having an insertion channel for a flexible adjustment member inside the insertion portion, and an endoscope that can be freely inserted into and removed from the insertion channel for the flexible adjustment member. An endoscope device comprising a flexible adjustment member provided in the insertion section, the flexibility of the insertion section being adjustable by placing the flexibility adjustment member in an inserted state or a withdrawn state, comprising: An endoscope device characterized in that the tip of the flexible adjustment member is located closer to the user's hand than the curved portion.