JPH01313037A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely carry out the operation of curving, etc., of an endoscope having a long inserting portion by heating or cooling a metal hydride and feeding/discharging a hydrogen gas to operate a driving device, and operating an operated object via a transmitting member. CONSTITUTION:Since a metal hydride 22 in a curved upper driving device 13a is cooled by a Peltier element 23 to absorb and store a hydrogen gas, air pressure in a casing 14 is reduced to expand bellows 15 as shown by the figure (a) by receiving the negative pressure and the energizing force of a coil spring 18. Hence, a driving rod 17 is drawn in by the amount X to pull an angle wire 12 connected thereto. On the other hand, a metal hydride 22 in a lower driving device 13b is heated by the Peltier element 23 and discharges a hydrogen gas increasing air pressure in a casing 14, to contract bellows 15 as shown by the figure (b) against the energizing force of a coil spring 18. Hence, a driving rod 17 is pushed out by the amount X, to deliver an angle wire 12 connected thereto. Thereby, a curved portion 8 is curved upward.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention includes a drive operation mechanism for bending the curved portion of the insertion section, controlling the focusing and zooming of the optical system, raising the treatment instrument, etc. Regarding endoscopes.

[Prior Art] Generally, in an endoscope, bending operation of the curved part of the insertion section,
Various driving operations such as focusing and zooming of the optical system and lifting of the treatment instrument are performed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 10451/1983). These driving operations were performed by extending a driving operation wire into the elongated insertion section and pushing and pulling this wire using an operating section on the hand side.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, endoscopes generally have long insertion sections.

The insertion portion of industrial endoscopes for inspecting inside pipes, endoscopes for small intestine, etc. is particularly long. Therefore, when pushing or pulling a wire to be passed through the long insertion portion, the amount of tension in the wire is absorbed by its elongation.

Furthermore, the driving force is attenuated by the frictional force received along the way, making it impossible to obtain sufficient driving force. Therefore, reliable operation may not be possible. In particular, if the insertion portion is repeatedly bent in the middle, a situation where the insertion portion cannot be driven may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an endoscope that can reliably perform operations such as bending even if the endoscope has a long insertion section. There is a particular thing.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] In order to solve the above problems, the endoscope of the present invention has an operation mechanism for operating objects to be operated such as a curved part, an optical system, and a treatment instrument in the insertion section. a drive device disposed within the insertion portion that drives the operating mechanism via a transmission member and operates by supplying and discharging hydrogen gas from the metal hydride; and means for heating or cooling the metal hydride. It is equipped with the following.

However, if the metal hydride is heated or cooled,
The metal hydride compound supplies and discharges hydrogen gas to operate the drive device and operate the object to be operated via the transmission member. That is, the drive device is configured to be able to be installed inside the insertion section, and the drive device installed inside the insertion section can drive the object to be operated in the insertion section, so that an endoscope with a long insertion section can be used. Even though
The driving force for performing operations such as bending can be reliably transmitted, and stable and reliable operations can be performed.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an operating section 2 connected to an elongated insertion section 3 and a universal cord 4, and the extending end of the universal cord 4 has a connector that can be attached to and detached from an electric light source device 5. 6 is installed. The insertion section 3 of the endoscope 1 is formed by sequentially connecting a flexible tube section 7, a curved section 8, and a distal end section 9 from the proximal side. The curved portion 8 has a structure in which a plurality of curved portions 11 arranged in the longitudinal axis direction are rotatably connected to each other so that the curved portion 8 can freely curve in the vertical direction. The tips of a pair of upper and lower angle wires 12° 12 are connected to the tip portion 9, and constitute a bending operation mechanism that bends the bending portion 8 in the vertical direction by pushing and pulling the angle wires 12° 12. ing.

In other words, this bending operation mechanism uses each angle wire 12.
This is a curving operation. This bending operation mechanism is a drive device 13a which will be described later.

13b.

The drive devices 13a and 13b are arranged vertically inside the flexible tube section 7 of the insertion section 2 near the distal end thereof.

The drive devices 13a, 13b are constructed as shown in FIG. That is, this has a bellows 15 installed inside a cylindrical casing 14 with both ends closed. One end of the bellows 15 is attached to the tip wall of the casing 14, and the other end of the bellows 15 is attached to the casing. Expands and contracts in the axial direction.

A backing plate 16 is provided at the free end of the bellows 15.
is attached and fixed, and a driving rod 17 connected to the angle wire 12.12 is connected to this backing plate 16. Further, within the bellows 15, a coil spring 1 is interposed between the tip wall of the casing 14 and the backing plate 16.
8 is provided, and this coil spring 18 urges the bellows 15 to expand. Further, inside the casing 14, a filter 21, a metal hydride compound 22, and a filter 21, a metal hydride compound 22, and a filter 21, a metal hydride compound 22,
A Vertier element 23 as a means for heating 2 is fixedly incorporated. A current-carrying wire 24 is connected to the Beltier element 23.
24 is connected, and this current-carrying wire 24.24 is connected to the electrical contact 25 of the connector 6 through the insertion section 3, the operating section 2, and the universal cord 4 of the endoscope 1. and,
This connector 6 is connected to the energization control section 26 in the main light source device 5 connected thereto. This energization control section 26 has a power source 27. Further, the energization f11vs section 26 includes a switch circuit 29 that controls the a current according to a command from an angle operation switch 28 provided on the operation section 2 of the endoscopy ml. This switch circuit 29 is energized! 124.24 through each drive 13a.

It is configured to switch to apply a voltage of opposite polarity to the Peltier elements 23, 23 of 13b. Further, the signal line 30 of the angle operation switch 28 is connected to the electrical contact 31 of the connector 6 through the operation section 2 of the endoscope 1 and the universal cord 4. The connector 6 is connected to the energization control section 26 in the main light source device 5 to which the connector 6 is connected.

On the other hand, the metal hydride compound 22 in the drive devices 13a and 13b absorbs and stores a large amount of hydrogen gas on the low temperature side,
It is a metal that has the property of emitting hydrogen gas at high temperatures.
For example, MmNi5, TiMn1.5, FeTi, C
It is made of a material such as a-Ni-Mm-A. In addition, the reaction form of the metal hydride 22 is l'1let
al +H2xMH+Qr. Here, MH represents a metal hydride compound, and Qr represents the reaction heat amount.

In addition, the filter 21 may be a metal mesh or a porous polymer membrane (
For example, it is made of stretchable foamable tetrafluoroethylene resin).

Next, the operation of the endoscope 1 will be explained.

When bending the bending part 8 of the insertion part 3 upward, first,
The angle operation switch 28 of the operation section 2 is operated to switch the switch circuit 29 of the energization control section 26 in the fluorescent source device 5 as shown in FIG. As a result, the voltage of the power supply 27 is increased to each of the driving devices 13a.

The polarity applied to each of the Peltier elements 23.23 in 13b is reversed. That is, the Bertier element 23 in the curved upper drive device 13a performs a cooling operation, and the lower drive device 1
The Bertier element 23 in 3b operates to generate heat. Thus, the metal hydride compound 22 in the curved upper driving device 13a is cooled by its Vertier element 23, absorbs and stores hydrogen gas. Therefore, the air pressure inside the casing 14 is reduced, and the bellows 15 expands as shown in FIG. 2(a) due to this negative pressure and the biasing force of the coil spring 18. Therefore, the drive rod 17 is pulled in by an amount of X, and the angle wire 12 connected thereto is pulled. On the other hand, the metal hydride 22 in the lower drive device 13b is heated by the Vertier element 23 and releases hydrogen gas. Therefore, the air pressure inside the casing 14 increases, and the bellows 15 is contracted against the biasing force of the coil spring 18, as shown in FIG. 2(b). Therefore, the drive rod 17 is pushed out by an amount of X, and the angle wire 12 connected thereto is let out. In this way, the curved upper angle wire 12 is pulled in and the lower angle wire 12 is let out, so that the curved portion 8 is curved upward.

Also, by operating the angle operation switch 28 of the operation section 2, the Vertier elements 23 in each drive device 13a, 13b.
By reversing the polarity applied to 23, the curved portion 8 can be curved downward.

Such operations can be repeated.

Furthermore, by controlling the amount of heating and cooling, that is, the amount of electricity applied, the amount of curvature can be controlled.

Note that when no voltage is applied to the Vertier elements 23, 23, the curved portion 8 of the insertion portion 3 is in a neutral state in which it does not curve in any direction. That is, each drive rod 17,1
The protrusion amount of 7 is X/2.

In the above embodiment, the driving devices 13a, 13b, etc. are provided only on the top and bottom to bend the bending portion 8 only in the vertical direction, but they may also be provided on the left and right to bend the bending portion 8 vertically and horizontally.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is applied to a structure in which a multi-jointed insertion section 3 is constructed by connecting rigid joint sections 41. Each joint 42 is provided with a joint shaft 43 rotatably supported on one joint 41, and the other joint 41 and a driving pulley 44 are fixed to the joint shaft 43. An angle wire 45 is hung on each pulley 44. Both ends of this angle wire 45 are connected to a drive device 13a similar to the above.

13b. Then, similarly to the above, the drive device 13a
, 13b, by pushing and pulling both ends of the angle wire 45, the pulley 44 is rotated, and the joint shaft 43 and joint portion 41, which are integral with the pulley 44, are rotated. By configuring each joint portion 42 in this manner, each joint portion 41 can be bent to bend the insertion portion 3 in various ways as a whole. Note that each joint portion 42 is fitted with a bellows 46 for protection. Furthermore, a TV camera 4 is provided at the distal end 9 of the insertion section 3.
7. A tip of a light guide fiber 48 is provided.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the jacket 51 that houses the metal hydride compound 22 is installed in a location other than the insertion section 3, which has a relatively large amount of space, such as inside the operating section 2.

This jacket 51 has a storage chamber 5 for the metal hydride compound 22.
A water supply pipe line 54 and a drainage pipe line 55 are connected to a heat exchange chamber 53 which is separated from the storage chamber 2 and formed through the wall of the storage chamber 52. Hot water or cold water is supplied to this heat exchange chamber 53 through a water supply pipe 54, and the metal hydride compound 22 is supplied with hot water or cold water.
exchange heat with.

The heat exchanged material is discharged through the drain pipe 55. Further, a pressurizing tube 56 is connected to the storage chamber 52 for the metal hydride compound 22, and this pressurizing tube 56 is connected to the driving device 13a installed inside the insertion section 3.

1'3b. Drive device 13 of this embodiment
a and 13b consist of a cylinder 61 and a piston 62, and the piston 62 is connected to the drive rod 17 and angle wire 12 similar to those described above. The pressurizing tube 56 communicates with the inside of the cylinder 61.

Therefore, in the configuration of this embodiment, heated water is supplied to the heat exchange chamber 53 through the water supply pipe 54 to heat the metal hydride compound 22, while cooled water is supplied to the heat exchange chamber 53.
3 to cool the metal hydride compound 22. As a result, the metal hydride compound 22 releases or absorbs hydrogen gas, which is caused by the pressurizing tube 56. Through the drive device 13a.

Hydrogen gas is supplied to and discharged from the cylinder 61 of 13b. As a result, the piston 62 can be moved forward and backward.

Then, if the operations of the drive devices 13a and 13b are reversed,
The curved portion 8 of the insertion portion 3 can be curved by pushing and pulling the upper and lower angle wires 12°12. Note that liquid or gas other than water may be used for heat exchange.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example of driving the operation mechanism for changing the observation field in the insertion section 3. The operation mechanism 65 is composed of a mirror 66 that switches between direct view and side view, and this mirror 66 is supported by a shaft provided with a pulley 67. ing. As shown in FIG. 6(a), a side viewing window 69 is interposed on the optical path on the side of the direct viewing window 68.
a side viewing state in which light from the side is reflected toward the imaging lens 71 side;
As shown in FIG. 6(b), it is designed to be retracted from the optical path on the side of the direct viewing window 68 and switched to a direct viewing state in which light is passed from the side of the direct viewing window 68 to the imaging lens 71 side.

Further, this mirror 66 is biased by a beard spring 72 in a direction to be in a direct viewing state as shown in FIG. 6(b).

Further, a mirror operation wire 73 is hooked to the pulley 67, and by pulling this mirror operation wire 73, the mirror 66 is rotated so as to be placed on the optical path on the direct viewing window 68 side, as shown in FIG. 6(a). When the mirror operation wire 73 is let out, the mirror 66 is rotated by the beard spring 72 and moved onto the optical path on the side of the direct viewing window 68 as shown in FIG. 6(b). It retreats and switches to a direct view state.

Further, the mirror operation wire 73 is connected to the drive device 13 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and is pushed and pulled by the drive device 13.

Note that the imaging lens 71 is configured to form an observation image on the solid-state imaging probe 74 .

7 and 8 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The same drive device 13 as described above drives the operation mechanism of the forceps raising stand 76 provided on the forceps lower 5.

That is, the forceps raising stand 76 is pivotally supported by a shaft 77, and a forceps operating wire 78 is connected to the rotating tip side portion thereof. Then, it is connected to the driving bag M1' via a forceps operating wire 78. Therefore, if this drive device 13 is driven in the same manner as described above to push and pull the forceps operation wire 78,
The forceps raising table 76 can be rotated to raise a treatment tool such as forceps.

In addition, in FIG. 8, 81 is an illumination window, and 82 is an observation window.

FIG. 9 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is based on the driving devices 13a and 1 in the first embodiment.
In the modified example of 3b, the difference is that the Peltier element 23
A heating wire 85 such as a nichrome wire is used instead. Further, the connection arrangement of the angle wire 12.12 and the drive rods 17, 17 is reversed as shown in the figure, so that the angle wire 12.12 is pulled when the temperature is high.

In this example, when the metal hydride compound 22 is heated by applying electricity to the heating wire 85, hydrogen gas is released, as shown in FIG. 9 (b).
), the bellows 15 is contracted, and the drive rod 17 is
stick out and pull the angle wire 12. Further, the metal hydride compound 22 in the other drive device 13a absorbs hydrogen gas and draws the drive rod 17, and the angle wire 12. Let out. Thereby, the bending operation of the bending portion 8 can be performed. Note that the metal hydride compound 22 is cooled by natural heat radiation. Further, the opposite angle wire 12.12 is moved and loosened by the elastic force of the coil spring 18.18.

The arrangement of the drive devices 13a and 13b shown in this embodiment can also be applied to the other embodiments described above. Further, in each of the embodiments described above, means for detecting the amount of drive may be incorporated as necessary.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the endoscope of the present invention, an operating mechanism for operating objects to be operated such as a curved portion, an optical system, and a treatment instrument in the insertion section is disposed within the insertion section. It is driven by a drive device that operates by supplying and discharging hydrogen gas from a metal hydride compound, so if the metal hydride compound is heated or cooled, the drive device operates and transmits the object to be operated via a transmission member. Can manipulate things. In other words, the drive device is configured so that it can be disposed inside the insertion section, and the drive device installed inside the insertion section can drive the object to be operated in the insertion section. Even with mirrors, the driving force for bending and other operations can be reliably transmitted, allowing for stable and reliable operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the endoscope of the first embodiment;
Figures (a) and (b) are side sectional views of the drive device in the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a side view of the bending section in the bending operation state in the first embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the curved portion in the second embodiment, and FIG.
A schematic configuration diagram of the configuration in the embodiment, FIG. 6(a)
(b) is a schematic configuration diagram of the configuration in the fourth embodiment,
FIG. 7 is a side view of the distal end of the insertion section in the fifth embodiment, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the distal end in the fifth embodiment, and FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are the sixth embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the structure in an example. 1... Endoscope, 2... Operation section, 3... Insertion section, 8
... Curved part, 12 ... Angle wire, 13, 13
a. 13b... Drive device, 22... Metal hydride, 2
4... energizing line, 26... energizing control section. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 2f Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 8 Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] An operating mechanism for operating objects to be operated such as a curved section, an optical system, and a treatment tool in the insertion section, and a control mechanism disposed within the insertion section that drives the operating mechanism via a transmission member and a mechanism for transmitting hydrogen gas from a metal hydride compound. An endoscope comprising: a drive device that operates in response to supply and discharge; and means for heating or cooling the metal hydride compound.