JPH01274729A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate selection of the shape of a control knob according to preference and to improve controllability and assembly property, by a method wherein a coalescent member having an inner size large enough to allow engagement of it with a control knob formed in a columnar shape and the outside of which is formed in an arbitrary shape is provided. CONSTITUTION:A control knob 7 is secured on the rotary shaft of a drum situated in a control-at-hand part 5, and forms a part of an angle control mechanism part. A coalescent member 8 removably mounted to the control knob 7 is annularly molded in an arbitrary shape by using plastic, and its inner size is approximately equal to the outer size of the control knob 7. An outer shape, for example, a shape in which one or four levers are protruded radially, a square shape or a triangular shape on the outer periphery of which a waveform is formed, is selectable. The coalescent member 8 is engaged with the control knob 7, and is secured in a proper phase by means of a screw and the like. Thus, by previously marking display, e.g., upper, lower, right, and left, displaying a phase during control of an angle on the coalescent member 8, easy and accurate assembly can be effected for securing.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an endoscope that is provided with an operation knob on the hand operation section that can angle the distal end of the scope, and particularly relates to an endoscope that is equipped with an operation knob that can angle the distal end of the scope. Regarding the improvement of the structure of.

(Prior Art) As shown in FIG. 3, this type of endoscope usually includes a rigid distal end portion 1 constituting the distal end of the scope, a bendable portion 2 formed by connecting a plurality of nodal rings in a bendable manner, and a flexible It consists of an insertion section 4 formed by connecting a flexible section 3 made of a flexible tube, and a hand operation section 5. A drum (not shown) is provided in the hand control section 5, and one end thereof is connected to the tip of the bending section 2. A drum (not shown) is wound around the base ends of a plurality of control wires (not shown), and one end of the drum is connected to the tip of the bending section 2. It penetrates through the operating section 5 and projects to the outside, and an operating knob 6 is attached to this projecting end.

By turning this operating knob 6, the angle of the rigid tip portion is operated via an operating wire.

Conventionally, the outer periphery of the operating knob 6 has been formed with an uneven portion or knurled to improve rotational operability. It was fixed to the rotating shaft and constituted a part of the angle operation mechanism.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, according to the shape of the operation knob as described above,
Since it is fixed to the rotating shaft, it is difficult to position the display position of the rotational phase, such as up, down, left, and right, and there is a problem that assembly is poor. In addition, the outer periphery must be processed to create an uneven shape, resulting in a complicated shape and an increased processing cost. Furthermore, there is another problem in that the shape of the operating knob cannot be changed depending on the preference of the endoscope operator.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which the shape of the operating knob can be easily selected according to the operator's preference.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an endoscope in which an operating knob that can angle the distal end of the scope is provided in the operating section at hand, wherein the operating knob is formed in a cylindrical shape. In addition, the main feature is that the cylindrical operation knob is equipped with a combined member having an inner diameter that can be fitted into the operating knob and having an arbitrary outer shape.

(Action) According to the present invention? ! In the case of a four-mirror system, a combined member of any shape can be attached to and detached from the operating knob, so the endoscope technician can select the knob shape according to his or her preference, improving operability. Furthermore, the outer periphery of the operating knob body, which forms part of the angle operating mechanism, is circular, which reduces processing costs and improves assembly efficiency.

Furthermore, since the parts directly touched by the operator are removable, cleaning can be easily performed.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a grip part according to an embodiment of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a removable knob that fits into the operation knob of FIG. 1. FIG.

In FIG. 1, parts that are the same or equivalent to those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and explanations thereof will be omitted. The feature of this embodiment lies in the shape of the operating knob 7, which has a cylindrical outer shape. As in the conventional example, this operating knob 7 is fixed to a rotating shaft of a drum provided in the hand operating section 5, and constitutes a part of the angle operating mechanism section.

A combination member 8 having an arbitrary shape as shown in FIG. 2 can be attached to and detached from the operation knob 7. As shown in FIG. This combined member 8 is formed into a substantially ring shape from plastic or the like, and its inner diameter is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the operating knob 7. For example, the external shape may be one with one or four levers protruding in the radial direction, as shown in (a) and (b), or (c).
) and (d), it is possible to select any shape that suits the endoscopist's preference, such as a rectangular or triangular shape with a waveform formed on the outer periphery.

This combined member 8 is fitted into the operation knob 7 and fixed in proper phase with screws or the like. Therefore, even if the combination member 8 is previously marked with upper, lower, left, right, etc. to indicate the phase during angle operation, it can be easily assembled and fixed in the correct phase.

According to this embodiment, depending on the preference of the endoscope operator,
The knob shape can be easily selected. Further, since the operating knob 7 on the fixed side has a circular outer shape, processing costs can be reduced, and since the phase when fixed to the rotating shaft can be set freely, ease of assembly is improved. Further, since the knob 8 that is directly touched by the operator is removable, it can be easily cleaned.

Furthermore, by knurling the circular outer periphery of the operating knob 7 to prevent it from slipping, or by wrapping or embedding rubber or the like, the operating knob 7 can be directly operated without using the combining member 8. You can.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, an endoscope to which the present invention is applied is equipped with a combined member having an arbitrary shape on the outside and having an inner diameter that can be fitted to an operation knob formed in a cylindrical shape. Therefore, the shape of the operation knob can be easily selected according to the preference of the endoscope operator, thereby improving operability. Further, it is possible to reduce the processing cost of the operation knob and improve the ease of assembly.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a member attached to the operation knob of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view without showing a conventional endoscopic mirror. 1...Tip rigid part 5...Grip part 6.7
...Operation knob 8...Representative for combined parts Patent attorney Norihiro Kensuke Kondo Representative Patent attorney Takeshi Kondo

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an endoscope in which an operation knob that can angle the distal end of the scope is provided in the hand operation section, the operation knob is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the operation knob is fitted into the cylindrical shape. What is claimed is: 1. An endoscope characterized in that the endoscope is equipped with a combined member having an arbitrary outer shape and an inner diameter dimension that can be obtained.