JPH0356451B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a guiding device for an endoscopic treatment instrument having a simple structure in which the guiding element is formed using an elastic member or the like.

In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion section into a body cavity, organs within the body cavity can be observed, and if necessary, in-vivo tissue can be collected using a treatment tool such as forceps inserted through the treatment channel. Medical endoscopes, which can diagnose affected areas in detail, are widely used. Also, in the industrial field, boilers,
Endoscopes are also used for maintenance purposes, such as observing the condition inside pipes of chemical plants and the like, or collecting and inspecting deposits on the pipe interior surface.

The above-mentioned endoscopes include flexible endoscopes that have a flexible insertion section and a bendable structure, and rigid endoscopes that have a rigid insertion section that is approximately linear.

These endoscopes include an illumination optical system that transmits illumination light supplied to the proximal side when the insertion section is inserted and emits the illumination light from the distal end of the insertion section to the object side, and the illumination optical system. An observation optical system is provided that can form an image of the object illuminated by the light and observe it from behind the eyepiece on the hand side.

Conventionally, in a side-viewing endoscope in which the side-viewing direction is the direction of the observation field, or in a strabismus-viewing endoscope in which the direction of the oblique view is the direction of the observation field, when performing treatment using a treatment instrument, the As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 17519, a treatment instrument guide is used to guide the treatment instrument to the vicinity of the center of the observation field where treatment can be easily performed. Thus, the inductor is remotely controlled by mechanical means such as moving a wire or the like passed through the distal end of the insertion section up to the inductor in a hand-operated portion of the endoscope.

Therefore, a mechanism for moving the wire forward and backward is inserted into the operation section, a wire and a guide tube for the wire are inserted into the insertion section, and the inserted wire is guided to the inductor storage chamber on the distal end side of the insertion section and stored inside. connected to the inductor.

In the conventional treatment instrument guide device having such a structure, many members are used between the operation section and the guide storage chamber formed at the distal end side of the insertion section. This increases the manufacturing cost of the endoscope. In addition, dirt may enter through the wire insertion port, making it impossible to operate the inductor, and the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion part becomes thick due to the wire and wire guide tube, which may cause the insertion part to touch the patient when inserted. It had drawbacks such as causing great pain.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and includes means for biasing an inductor in an inductor storage chamber formed near the outlet of a channel for a treatment tool, and a means for urging an inductor is formed in the inductor storage chamber, and the means for biasing the inductor comes into contact with the inductor to exit the channel. By adopting a structure that guides the treatment instrument protruding from the observation field toward the center of the observation field, it is possible to guide the treatment instrument with a simple structure without using a wire to control the guide, and it is possible to easily guide the treatment instrument through insertion. An object of the present invention is to provide a guide device for an endoscopic treatment instrument that can reduce the pain caused to a patient by reducing the outer diameter of the section.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a perspective-type flexible endoscope to which the first embodiment is applied, with forceps inserted through it;
The figure shows an enlarged view of the distal end side of the insertion section of FIG. 1 in which the first embodiment is formed without inserting a treatment tool such as forceps, and FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the tip of the forceps is in contact with the inductor, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the forceps are further projected forward from the treatment instrument channel.

In these figures, a flexible endoscope 1 equipped with the first embodiment includes an elongated and flexible insertion section 2 and an operation section having a large diameter and an angle operation knob 3 on the rear end side of the insertion section 2. 4, an eyepiece 5 provided at the rear end of the operating section 4, and a flexible light guide cable 6 extending outward from the side of the operating section 4.

By attaching a connector (not shown) attached to the tip of the light guide cable 6 of the flexible endoscope 1 to the light source device, illumination light is supplied from the light source treatment instrument side, and the illumination light is transmitted to the light guide cable 6.
and an illumination formed on the front end surface 9 of the distal end component 8 of the insertion section 2 through a light guide (formed by a fiber bundle) inserted through the insertion section 2 covered with a flexible mantle tube 7. The light is configured to be emitted from the windows 10, 10 toward the external object.

The illumination light emitted from the illumination windows 10, 10 is reflected by the object, and a part of the reflected light is transmitted through the illumination windows 10, 10 at the front end surface 9 of the tip structure part 8.
The light enters the observation window 11 formed between the two, and is focused on the front end surface of the image guide 13 by the objective lens system 12 disposed inside the observation window 11. transmitted,
Observation can be made from behind the eyepiece section 5.

The front end surface 9 of the distal end component 8, in which the illumination windows 10, 10 and the observation window 11 are formed, is inclined at an angle of θ degrees (see FIG. 2) with respect to the (straight) axial direction of the insertion section 2. The observation window 11 is formed in a perspective type in which the (observation) viewing direction is a direction inclined at an angle of θ degrees with respect to the axial direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to the end surface of the observation window 11 . Therefore, the light guide (not shown) inserted into the insertion section 2 from the operating section 4 side has its front end curved, and illumination light is emitted from each end face toward the viewing direction through the illumination windows 10, 10. It's becoming like that.

Further, a prism 15 is disposed inside a cover glass 14 that closes the observation window 11 on the way to the objective lens system 12 to change the traveling direction of the light.

A curved section 16 that can be bent vertically, horizontally, etc. is formed in the rear portion adjacent to the tip component 8, and can be bent by rotating the angle operation knob 3 provided on the side of the operating section 4 on the hand side. The bending portion 16 is configured to be able to bend by pulling and relaxing a bending operation wire (not shown).

In the above-mentioned oblique-view type flexible endoscope 1, a forceps 18 is inserted through a treatment instrument insertion port (forceps port) 17 formed in the operating section 4.
A treatment instrument channel 19 that allows treatment instruments such as the like to be inserted into the operating section 4 and the insertion section 3 is connected to the flexible tube 2
0 is formed inside. This flexible tube 20
The front end side of the mouthpiece 21 is fixed to the distal end forming part 8, and to the rear end outer periphery of a base 21 which is fixed to the inner wall of the through hole formed so as to be slightly inclined from the axial direction (the front end side thereof) in the oblique direction of the insertion part 2. The opening front end (tip) becomes the channel outlet 22, and this channel outlet 22
The front tip component 8 is provided with a wide opening recess adjacent to the observation window 11 to form an inductor storage chamber 23 .

Adjacent to the channel exit 22 (inductor)
The storage chamber 23 stores an inductor 24 that controls (guides) the protrusion direction of the front end of the treatment instrument that is protruded from the channel outlet 22, and the base of the inductor 24 is located in the storage chamber 23 adjacent to the channel outlet 23. One end of a coil spring 25 as a means for biasing the inductor 24 is attached to the back surface on the tip side of the inductor 24 (the surface close to the objective lens system 12 side). and the (coil) spring 2
The other end of 5 is fixed to the inner wall of the storage chamber 23 facing the back surface.

Due to the elastic force of the spring 25, the inductor 24 normally has its tip end facing the channel outlet 24.
The passage in the storage chamber 23 that extends forward (in the direction from the axial direction of the insertion section 2 to the perspective direction)
It is energized so as to partially block it. That is, the biasing means is formed so as to come into contact with the treatment tool inserted in the substantially axial direction of the insertion portion 2 and guide the protruding distal end side toward the viewing direction by the biasing force of the spring 25.

Note that the surface of the tip of the inductor 24 that protrudes to partially block the front of the channel exit 22 is formed into, for example, an arcuate surface so as to maintain smooth contact with the inserted forceps 18.

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention configured in this manner will be described below.

The insertion section 2 of the flexible endoscope 1 is inserted into the body cavity,
For example, when a forceps 18 having a cup portion 18A at its tip is inserted into the channel 19 from the forceps port 17 for biopsy, and the tip of the forceps 18 is projected toward the storage chamber 23 through the channel outlet 22, the tip cup 18A is inserted into the channel 19. The portion 18A comes into contact with the surface of the inductor 24 on the distal end side. Then, the forceps 18 presses the cup portion 18A and the cup portion 1.
Since the tip component 18B on the base side of 8A is hard, the spring 25 is contracted against the biasing force of the spring 25, as shown in FIG. 3, and the inductor 24 is retracted as shown by arrow A. .

When the forceps 18 are further protruded forward, the portion that contacts the inductor 24 becomes a flexible seal portion 18C formed of a tightly wound coil, etc., and the spring 25 is elastic, as shown in FIG. The inductor 24 and the sheath portion 18 that comes into contact with the inductor 24 by force
C is a spring 25 with the pivot point of the inductor 24 as a fulcrum.
returns to the extending direction and raises the tip side of the forceps 18 in the oblique direction from (close to) the axis of the insertion section 2, allowing the cup portion 18A at the tip of the forceps 18 to be guided to approximately the center of the observation field of view. .

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, by simply inserting the treatment instrument such as the forceps 18 through the forceps port 17,
Since the tip side of the treatment instrument such as the forceps 18 protruding from the channel 19 can be guided to the center of the visual field, treatments such as a biopsy can be easily performed.

Further, unlike the conventional example, there is no need for a wire for operating the inductor, and the outer diameter of the insertion portion 2 can be made thinner, thereby reducing the pain caused to the patient. Furthermore, since the structures of the insertion portions 2 and 4 can be simplified, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention (the main parts and their surroundings are shown in a simplified manner. The same applies to FIGS. 6 onwards).

As shown in the figure, in the second embodiment, an elastic rubber 31 is used as the biasing means in place of the spring 25 of the first embodiment. Thus, for example, a small diameter constriction is formed in a portion of the rubber 31 close to each unit, and the constriction of the rubber 31 is formed on the back surface of the tip side of the inductor 24 and the inner wall of the storage chamber 23 opposite to the back surface. The formed ends are respectively fitted and accommodated so that the distal end side of the inductor 24 is always biased in the direction of partially blocking the front of the channel outlet 22, and when the treatment instrument is inserted, it is removed from the storage chamber 23. A biasing means is formed to guide the distal end side of the protruding treatment instrument toward the viewing direction.

The effects of this second embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention using a plate-shaped member that also functions as an inductor.

As shown in the figure, a groove or the like is formed in the inner wall of the storage chamber 23 in which the proximal end of an elastic plate-shaped inductor 32 made of a leaf spring is formed in the distal end component 8. The inductor 32 is formed and fixed by press-fitting or brazing after press-fitting, and the tip side is always urged to protrude forward of the channel outlet 22 by the elasticity of the inductor 32 itself. Thus, a biasing means is formed that guides the inserted treatment tool in the visual field direction.

Although the third embodiment has a simpler structure than the first and second embodiments, its functions and effects are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.
Note that even if a rubber member is used, it can be formed in the same way, although the shape must be different.

In addition, only the base side of the inductor 32 can be made into a leaf spring.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which a magnet is used to bias the inductor.

As shown in the figure, recesses are formed on the back surface of the inductor 24 and on the inner wall surface of the storage chamber 23 facing the back surface, and each recess has a permanent magnet 33,
34 are fitted close to each other so that the opposing surfaces have the same polarity, such as S, S poles or N, N poles.

The inductor 24 has magnets 3 facing each other with the same polarity.
Due to the repulsive forces of 3 and 34, the channel exit 22
It is biased in the direction of blocking the front.

The effects of this fourth embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.

Although each of the embodiments described above uses a single biasing means, a plurality of biasing means may be used. Moreover, the number of inductors to be energized can also be plural.

Although each of the above-mentioned embodiments is applied to a perspective-viewing flexible endoscope, the present invention can be applied to a side-viewing flexible endoscope by, for example, increasing the biasing force or using a plurality of inductors. It can also be applied to flexible endoscopes. Further, the present invention is not limited to flexible endoscopes, but can be similarly applied to rigid endoscopes.

As described above, according to the present invention, the inductor stored in the storage chamber is provided with a biasing means for guiding the distal end side of the treatment instrument protruding from the storage chamber toward the center of the field of view. It is not necessary to insert such an operating wire or form an operating mechanism, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

In addition, the outer diameter of the insertion portion can be made thinner, reducing pain to the patient and allowing the insertion portion to be inserted into narrower insertion points. In addition, unlike conventional methods, it is not necessary to operate the treatment instrument at hand, and by simply inserting the treatment instrument, the distal end thereof can be guided to the center of the visual field, making it possible to perform the treatment easily and quickly. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flexible endoscope to which the first embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a flexible endoscope to which the first embodiment is applied. A sectional view showing the distal end side of the insertion part in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 are as follows.
A sectional view showing the distal end of the insertion section with the forceps inserted until the front end contacts the inductor, and FIG. 4 shows the distal end of the insertion section with the forceps inserted until the front end protrudes forward from the storage chamber. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic explanatory diagram. 1... Flexible endoscope, 3... Insertion section, 8... Tip component, 11... Observation window, 19... Channel,
22...Channel exit, 23...Storage room, 2
4, 32...inductor, 25...spring, 31...rubber, 33, 34...magnet.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An endoscope in which an inductor for guiding the protruding direction of the distal end of the treatment instrument is housed in a storage chamber formed near the outlet on the distal side of a channel through which the treatment instrument can be inserted, A guiding device for an endoscopic treatment instrument, characterized in that a biasing means for biasing an indoor guide in the direction of an observation field of view is formed. 2. The guiding device for an endoscopic treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is configured to bias the inductor using a coil spring or a leaf spring. 3. The guiding device for an endoscopic treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is configured to bias the guide element using an elastic rubber member. 4. The guiding device for an endoscopic treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is configured to bias the inductor using a magnet. 5. The guide device for an endoscopic treatment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is made of an elastic member to form a biasing means.