JPH01242026A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the small turn of a leading end hard part possible, to facilitate observation and to reduce the pain of an examinee, by forming a curved part so that the filling ratio of the content in the curved part increased on the side of a soft part and reduced on the side of a hard part. CONSTITUTION:A soft part 4 composed of a flexible tubular body, the curved part 3 connected to the leading end of the soft part 4 and having a plurality of nodal rings successively connected in a bendable manner, the hard part 2 connected to the leading end of the curved part 3 and the contents 8-11 inserted in the soft part 4, the curved part 3 and the hard part 2 are mounted. The curved part 3 is formed so that the filling ratio of the contents 8-11 of the curved part 3 is made high on the side of the soft part 4 and low on the side of the hard part 2. As a result, the small turn of the leading end hard part becomes possible and observation becomes easy and the pain of an examinee can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an endoscope for observing the inside of a body cavity of a living body, and particularly relates to an endoscope that has a curved part that can reduce the curved shape. Regarding endoscopy.

(Prior Art) An endoscope is used to observe the inside of a narrow tubular space such as the gastrointestinal tract within a body cavity of a living body. FIG. 4 shows the structure of a general endoscope 1. In the figure, the tip of an endoscope 1 is provided with a rigid part 2 to which an objective lens is attached, and the base end of this rigid part 2 has several nodal rings connected in a bendable manner. The tips of the curved portions 3 are connected. The proximal end of this curved part 3 is connected to the distal end of a flexible part 4 made of a fillable tube, and the proximal end of this flexible part 4 is further connected to an operating part 5. And these hard part 2, curved part 3,
Although not shown in the flexible part 4 and the operating part 5, there are image guide fibers or COD wires for observation, light guides for illumination, forceps channels for suction and biopsy, air and water supply tubes for cleaning the observation window, etc. , through which contents are inserted to obtain various functions.

The conventional structure of the curved portion 3 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The curved portion 3 has several identical nodal rings 6 formed into a substantially tubular shape.
are connected to each other so as to be able to bend in the right angle direction alternately via caulking pins 7, and are passed through the inside in the axial direction to connect the image guide fiber 8, forceps channel 9,
A light guide 10 and an air/water supply tube 11 are provided.

Furthermore, vibrator-shaped guide rings 12 are fixed to the inner diameter surface of the joint ring 6 by brazing or the like at positions that divide the inner circumference into four equal parts, and each of these guide rings 12 has an angle wire 13 attached thereto. It is slidably inserted. These 4
The tips of the book angle wires 13 are respectively connected to the rigid portion, and the Mra are each wound around a drum (not shown) provided in the operating portion 5. By operating the handle 14 of the operating section 5, the respective angle wires 13 are expanded and contracted to bend the rigid section 2 vertically and horizontally.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional endoscope 1 configured as described above
According to the structure of the curved part 3, the angle wire 13 has a lower sliding resistance on the guide ring 12 on the side of the soft part 4 than on the side of the hard part 2, so that when the curved part 3 is bent, the base of the curved part 3 There was a drawback that the curved shape started to become more curved and the curved shape became larger. On the other hand, in such an endoscope 1, the smaller the curved shape, that is, the more the rigid portion 2 can turn, the easier the observation will be, and the less pain the subject will experience.

In this respect, in the conventional curved part 3, it is difficult for the rigid part 2 at the distal end to make small turns, which makes it difficult to observe the affected area and increases the pain of the subject.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes:
The purpose is to provide an endoscope that allows the rigid portion at the tip to turn in a small radius, facilitates observation, and alleviates pain for the subject.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention comprises a flexible section made of a flexible tube, and a plurality of node rings connected to the tip of the flexible section so as to be able to bend in sequence. a curved portion, a rigid portion connected to the tip of the curved portion,
In the endoscope configured to include the flexible part, the curved part, and the content inserted into the rigid part, the filling rate of the content in the curved part is larger on the flexible part side and on the rigid part side. The main point is that it was formed small.

(Function) In the endoscope according to the present invention, the filling rate of the inserted contents is smaller on the hard side of the distal end of the curved part than on the soft side of the proximal end, so when the nodal ring tries to curve. The resistance on the hard part side is smaller than on the soft part side.

As a result, it is possible to provide a bending mechanism with a small turning radius, which starts bending from the hard part side ring at the distal end, which has little resistance to bending, as soon as the bending operation is performed.

(Example) Fig. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first example of an IA mirror.

In the figures, parts that are the same or equivalent to those of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and explanations thereof will be omitted. The feature of this embodiment is that there is a
Vibrator-shaped duplex 1 made of resin or rubber, etc.
It is at the point where 5 was installed. In addition, illustration of the guide ring 12 and the angle wire 13 is omitted in the figure.

Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be explained. Since the tube 15 is attached to the inner periphery of the node ring 6 on the side of the flexible portion 4 of the curved portion 3, the filling rate of the contents in this portion is greater than that in other portions. Therefore, when the node ring 6 tries to bend during the bending operation, the resistance is smaller on the hard part 2 side and larger on the soft part 4 side.

As a result, the curved part 3 begins to curve from the hard part 2 side at the tip, allowing the hard part 2 to turn easily, making it easier to observe the acupuncture part by the inner gift 111, and reducing the patient's pain. be able to. Note that the tube 15 may cover the entire contents at once, or may cover the contents one by one or a plurality of tubes at a time.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a second endoscope to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a hard part side nodal ring 6a and a soft part side nodal ring 6b, respectively, according to the embodiment.

In the figures, parts that are the same or equivalent to those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. The Vf characteristic of this embodiment lies in the fact that the inner diameter of the node ring 6 is changed as a means for changing the filling rate of the contents in the curved all 3. In other words, the inner diameter of the hard side nodal ring 6a at the distal end is set to a size that is sufficiently large compared to the cross-sectional area occupied by the contents, and conversely, the inner diameter of the soft side nodal ring 6a at the proximal end is
The cross-sectional area is made slightly smaller than that occupied by the contents. The inner diameter of the nodal ring 6 gradually becomes smaller and the filling rate gradually increases as it approaches from the hard part side to the soft part side. At this time, the outer diameters of the nodal rings 6 are all constant, and the external shape of the curved portion 3 is unchanged from that of the conventional one.

This embodiment also has the same functions and effects as the first embodiment described above.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the endoscope to which the present invention is applied, the filling rate of the contents in the curved part is made larger on the soft part side and smaller on the hard part side, so that the bending operation can be performed easily. When this occurs, the nodal ring on the hard side of the tip begins to curve, making it possible to make a small turn, making it easier to observe the inside of the body cavity with an endoscope, and reducing the patient's pain.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a first embodiment of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a general endoscope, Fig. 5 is a side view showing the curved part of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 shows a conventional articulation ring. FIG. 1... Endoscope 2... Hard part 3... Curved part 4... Soft part 6... Nodal ring 8.9.10.11... Patent attorney representing contents 1ill i hill : Gosuke Toirii I Rinshi Takeshi Kondo

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A soft part made of a flexible tube, a curved part connected to the tip of the flexible part and made up of a plurality of nodal rings connected in a sequentially bendable manner, and a hard part connected to the tip of the curved part. and a content inserted into the flexible part, the curved part, and the rigid part, wherein the filling rate of the content in the curved part is larger on the side of the flexible part, and An endoscope that is characterized by a smaller portion.