JPH0234645Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an endoscope anti-bend tube attachment device that has an improved attachment structure for a non-bend tube fitted into a connecting portion of a flexible tube.

FIG. 1 shows a light source device and an endoscope connected thereto. Operation panel 2 of light source device main body 1
There are sockets 3, switches 4 and various operation buttons 5.
is provided. The endoscope main body 6 is composed of an operating section 8 having an eyepiece section 7, an insertion section 9, and a light guide cable 10, and the tip of the light guide cable 10 has a socket for the light source device main body 1. 3 is provided with a connector 11 that is detachably connected to the connector 3.

When in use, the connector 11 is connected to the socket 3 to electrically and optically connect the light source device main body 1 and the endoscope main body 6, and the insertion section 9 is inserted into the body cavity to insert the eyepiece. From 7 onwards, the inside of the body cavity has been diagnosed.

By the way, when the connector 11 is connected to and removed from the socket 3 and during the diagnostic operation, the operation section 8, the insertion section 9 and the connection section 12, the connection section 13 between the operation section 8 and the light guide cable 10, and the connection section 13 between the operation section 8 and the light guide cable 10 and the connector 11 are connected. Bending force is applied to the connecting portion 14 of the connector 14, which may damage the optical fiber bundle and the air/water tube contained in the insertion portion 9 and the light guide cable 10. Therefore, conventionally, bend-stopping tubes 15 made of an elastic material are fitted to the connecting portions 12, 13, and 14 to prevent bending.

Furthermore, the mounting structure of the anti-bending tube 15 is as follows:
Taking the connection section 14 between the light guide cable 10 and the connector 11 as an example, it is conventionally configured as shown in FIG. That is, 16 is the casing of the connector 11, and this casing 16
A connection port body 18 having a threaded portion 17 on its outer circumferential surface projects from the rear end thereof. 19 is a flexible tube of the light guide cable 10, and the above-mentioned bending tube 15 is fitted to this flexible tube 19. This anti-bend tube 15 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and an insert member 21 having a female threaded portion 20 is fitted onto the inner circumferential surface of one end thereof. The anti-bend tube 15 is inserted into the female threaded portion 20 of the insert member 21.
It is attached by screwing into the male threaded portion 17 of the connection port body 18.

However, inserting the insert member 21 integrally when molding the anti-bend tube 15 causes an increase in manufacturing costs, and it is also necessary to grip and tighten the outer circumferential surface of the anti-bend tube 15 with a special tool when screwing. There is a risk of scratches or impressions being made on the outer surface of the tube 15. In addition, during cleaning and disinfection, chemical liquid may enter between the flexible tube 19 and the bendable tube 15, causing rust on the connection port body 18 and the insert member 21, which may prevent the bendable tube 15 from being removed during disassembly and repair. There is this inconvenience.

This idea was developed with the above-mentioned circumstances in mind, and its purpose is to make it easy to install and remove the bendable pipe, facilitate assembly work and disassembly and repair, and reduce manufacturing costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope bending tube attachment device that allows reliable connection.

This invention will be explained below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. In FIGS. 3 to 7, 31 is a connector as a member to be attached, and 32 is a casing thereof. A through hole 33 is bored in the rear end of the casing 32, and a mounting pipe 34 is provided inside the casing 32 facing the through hole 33. A male threaded portion 35 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the attachment tube 34, and a connection port body 36, which will be described later, is screwed into this male threaded portion 35 and fixed thereto. That is, the connection port body 36 has a fitting part 37 for the mounting pipe 34 at the distal end, a tapered part 38 at the tip, and a hole screwed into the male thread part 35 on the inner circumferential surface of the fitting part 37. A threaded portion 39 is carved. Therefore, the connection port body 36 passes through the through hole 33 of the casing 32 and projects rearward. Further, a flange portion 40 is provided in the middle of the connection port body 36.
is provided protrudingly, and engages with a step 41 provided at the opening edge of the through hole 33. An annular groove 42 is formed between the flange portion 40 and the fitting portion 37, and an O-ring 43 that presses against the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 33 is housed in the annular groove 42. Further, an annular engagement protrusion 44 is provided on the distal end side of the flange 40 of the connection port body 36, and an annular recess 45 is formed between the flange 40 and the annular engagement protrusion 44. Furthermore, a plurality of notches 46, four in this embodiment, are provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral edge of the engaging convex portion 44.

On the other hand, 47 is a bendable tube fitted into a flexible tube 48 such as a light guide cable. The anti-bend tube 47 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is tapered such that one end has a thick wall portion 49 and the other end has a thin wall portion 50. The inner diameter of the thick portion 49 is formed to such an extent that it fits tightly into the connection port body 36, and a tapered surface 51 is provided at the open end thereof. Furthermore, an annular engagement recess 5 is formed in the inner part of the tapered surface 51 via an annular projection 52.
3 is provided. Then, the annular convex portion 52 is inserted into the annular concave portion 45 of the connection port body 36 into the engagement concave portion 53.
are adapted to be elastically engaged with the engagement protrusions 44, respectively, and the inner peripheral surface of the engagement recess 53 has four protrusions corresponding to the notches 46 provided in the engagement protrusions 44. 54... are provided and form the second engagement means.

Therefore, the bending tube 47 is attached to the connection port body 36 attached to the casing 32 of the connector 31.
To protect the connection part 55 of the flexible tube 48, push the bend-proof tube 47 fitted into the flexible tube 48 in advance toward the connection port body 36, and use the elasticity of the bend-proof tube 47. and fit into the connection port body 36.
In this case, since the connection port body 36 has a tapered portion 38 and the non-bending tube 47 has a tapered surface 51, the non-bending tube 47 gradually expands, and when pushed in even more forcefully, the annular convex portion 52 engages. The engagement protrusion 44 is crossed over and engaged with the annular recess 45 , and at the same time, the engagement protrusion 44 is engaged with the engagement recess 53 . next,
When the bending tube 47 is rotated in the circumferential direction, the engagement recess 5
3 in the notch 4 on the engagement protrusion 44
6..., and the bending tube 47 becomes unable to rotate. Therefore, the anti-bend tube 47 is attached to the connection port body 36 in such a manner that it is prevented from rotating.

In addition, when removing the bending tube 47 from the connection port body 36 when disassembling and repairing the connector 31,
The engagement between the engagement protrusion 44 and the engagement recess 53 can be disengaged by grasping the bending tube 47 with fingers, rotating it in the circumferential direction from the connection port body 36, and pulling it in the direction of separation. Therefore, the bending tube 47 can be easily removed.

Note that FIGS. 8 and 9 show other embodiments of this invention, and show a structure for attaching a bending tube 59 at a connecting part 58 between an operating part 56 and an insertion part 57 of an endoscope. be. That is, 60 is a casing of the operating portion 56, and a base 62 as an attached member is connected and fixed to an opening 61 of the casing 60. A connection port body 64 passes through the through hole 63 of this cap 62, and this connection port body 6
An engaging protrusion 65 is provided on the outer surface of the portion protruding from the casing 60 of No. 4, and an elliptical hole 66 is provided at the opening edge of the through hole 63.
On the other hand, the anti-bend tube 59 fitted into the flexible tube 67 of the insertion portion 57 is tapered, and the large diameter portion 68 at one end is shaped into an ellipse so as to tightly fit into the oval hole 66. It is formed. Furthermore, an engagement recess 69 that engages with the engagement convex portion 65 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the large diameter portion 68 of the anti-bend tube 59 .

Therefore, when attaching the bending tube 59 to the connection port body 64, the oval hole 66 of the cap 62
By pushing the bending prevention tube 59 into the connection port body 64 with the bending prevention tube 59 facing each other, the engagement protrusion 65 and the engagement recess 69 can be elastically engaged. Large diameter portion 6 of stop tube 59
8 fits into the oval hole 66 of the base 62 to prevent the bending tube 59 from rotating.

Therefore, the outer shape of the bending tube 59 can be used as it is as the second engagement means of the bending tube 59, and the second engagement means provided with a notch and a protrusion as in the embodiment described above can be used as the second engagement means of the bending tube 59. The structure is simpler than that of a combination method.

As explained above, this invention provides an engaging convex part on the connection port body of the attached member and an engaging concave part on the bending tube, and uses the elasticity of the bending tube to connect the engaging convex part and the engaging concave part. Because it is attached by elastically engaging the
It becomes easy to attach and detach the bend-stopping pipe, and it is possible to facilitate assembly work and disassembly and repair, and moreover, it is possible to make a reliable connection. Furthermore, since there is no need to embed the insert member in the anti-bend pipe,
It is easy to form the bend-proof tube, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a light source device and an endoscope, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a conventional bending tube mounting structure, and Figs. 3 to 7 show an embodiment of this invention. Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway side view, Fig. 4 is a half-sectional view showing the attachment state of the connection port body, Fig. 5 is a front view of the connection port body, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bending pipe, and Fig. 7
The figures are a sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 6, Figs. 8 and 9 show other embodiments of this invention, Fig. 8 being a partially cutaway side view, and Fig. 9 being a front view of the base. It is a diagram. 31... Connector (attached member), 36, 64
... Connection mouth body, 44, 65 ... Engagement convex portion, 47,
59...Breakproof tube, 53, 69...Engagement recess,
62...Cap (mounted member).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a pipe attachment device for attaching a bend-preventing tube made of an elastic material to be fitted to a connecting portion of a flexible tube connected to an attached member, a connecting port protruding from the outer circumferential surface of a connecting port protruding from the attached member is provided. a first engagement means comprising an annular engagement protrusion and an engagement recess provided on the inner circumferential surface of the bending tube and elastically engaged with the engagement protrusion; and at least one of the engagement protrusions. a second engaging means for preventing rotation in the circumferential direction of the connection port body by providing a deformed part in the part and engaging an engaging recess having the same shape as the engaging convex part; A bend-preventing tube attachment device for an endoscope, characterized by: