JPH0584220A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an endoscope which can supply sterilizing gas to every nook and corner an internal cavity of the endoscope with an extra fine diameter. CONSTITUTION:On the tip part of an endoscope inserting part 2, an aerator 9, a light guide fiber bundle 6, an image guide fiber bundle 7 and an objective lens 8 are provided. The aerator 9 is formed by fitting an aeration member 11 consisting of a high water absorptive resin which is set so as to form an aeration part at the time of drying, and to close the aeration part at the time of water absorption, into a cylindrical pipe.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope capable of gas sterilizing an internal cavity of the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, it is possible to observe internal organs in the body cavity or the like and, if necessary, perform various therapeutic treatments using a treatment instrument inserted in a treatment instrument channel. Medical endoscopes that can be used are widely used. Further, also in the industrial field, industrial endoscopes capable of observing and inspecting scratches and corrosion inside boilers, turbines, engines, chemical plants, etc. are widely used.

Since the medical endoscope is inserted into a body cavity or a blood vessel, if bacteria adhere to the endoscope, the bacteria may enter the body and cause infection. ..
Therefore, the medical endoscope is always sterilized before use. As a general sterilization method, a method of immersing an endoscope in a disinfectant solution or a method of gas sterilization with ethylene oxide gas or the like is used.

Further, in an endoscope inserted into a blood vessel,
Since it is necessary to pay particular attention to infections such as bacteria,
The endoscope must be sterile.

As described above, in the endoscope, the outer surface of the endoscope is kept sterile, and the internal cavity of the endoscope is also kept sterile to prevent infection even if an abnormality should occur. desirable. Therefore, the endoscope is provided with a ventilation portion that communicates from the endoscope inner cavity to the outside of the endoscope, and sterilization treatment is performed by supplying sterilizing gas from the ventilation portion to the endoscope inner cavity. There is. At this time, the ventilation part is provided on the proximal side of the insertion part of the endoscope, for example, on the operation part or the light guide connector.

[0006]

However, in the case where the insertion portion has an extremely small diameter as in a blood vessel endoscope, the internal cavity of the endoscope also has an extremely small diameter, so that the sterilizing gas is used for the operation portion, or
It is difficult to sterilize up to the tip of the internal cavity of the endoscope because it is not possible to reach all the parts of the internal cavity of the endoscope from the ventilation part provided in the light guide connector. Further, providing a ventilation part in the insertion part is effective in distributing the sterile gas to every corner of the internal cavity of the endoscope, but when using the endoscope, dust inside the endoscope is used. There was a risk that dust and dirt would enter the body.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, in which sterilizing gas is distributed all over the inner cavity of the endoscope and adheres to the inner cavity of the endoscope when the endoscope is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope in which dust and dirt that does not leak outside the endoscope.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the endoscope according to the present invention has a ventilation part which communicates with the internal cavity of the endoscope and supplies a sterilizing gas to the internal cavity of the endoscope. The opening / closing means is provided at the distal end of the mirror insertion portion and closes the ventilation portion at least when the endoscope is used.

[0009]

With such a structure, the sterilizing gas for sterilizing the endoscope is supplied from the ventilation portion provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion, whereby the sterilizing gas is supplied to the corner of the internal cavity of the endoscope. The ventilation part is closed when the endoscope is used.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of an endoscope, FIG. 2A is a schematic explanatory view of a ventilation device when a ventilation opening / closing member is in a dry state,
FIG. 3B is a schematic sectional view of the ventilation device when the ventilation opening / closing member is in a water absorbing state, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 3, an endoscope 1 includes an elongated and flexible insertion portion 2 which is inserted into a subject, and a large-diameter operation which is continuously provided at a rear end of the insertion portion 2. And part 3. An eyepiece section 4 for the operator to observe is provided at the rear end of the operation section 3, and a universal cord (not shown) is extended from the side. A light guide connector (not shown) is provided at the end of the universal cord and is connected to a light source device (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 covered with a flexible tube 5 having a flexible tip has a light guide for transmitting illumination light into the body cavity. A fiber bundle 6 and an image guide fiber bundle 7 for transmitting an observation image irradiated by the illumination light are inserted. Then, the image guide fiber bundle 7 is inserted through the insertion portion 2 and the operation portion 3, and the tip thereof is exposed to the eyepiece portion 4 provided at the rear end of the operation portion 3.
The tip end surface of the image guide fiber bundle 7 is arranged on the image forming surface of the objective lens 8 provided at the tip end portion of the flexible tube 5. Further, the light guide fiber bundle 6 is inserted into the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3 and a universal cord (not shown) to be fixedly connected to a light guide connector (not shown) and also connected to a light source device (not shown). ing.

At the tip of the flexible tube 5, the objective lens 8, the light guide fiber bundle 6 and the ventilation device 9 are provided.
However, the tip end portion of the flexible tube 5 is disposed so as to substantially coincide with the tip end surface thereof, and is fixed by an adhesive.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the ventilation device 9
Is composed of a cylindrical pipe 10 and a ventilation part opening / closing member 11 made of a highly water-absorbent resin fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical pipe 10. The ventilation part opening / closing member 11 is substantially T
It is V-shaped and is composed of a fitting portion 12 formed by removing both side surfaces of a cylindrical shape in the axial direction and a rod-shaped portion 13 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped. The fitting portion 12 has a circumferential surface, and the diameter of the circumferential surface is formed to be slightly larger than the inner diameter dimension so as to fit into the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical pipe 10. That is, the ventilation device 9 is formed so that the ventilation portion 14 is provided between the ventilation portion opening / closing member 11 and the cylindrical pipe 10.

The superabsorbent resin is, for example, a blend of vinyl alcohol acrylic acid copolymer and vinyl chloride, which absorbs water and expands its volume several hundred times.

The operation of the ventilation device 9 of this embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the ventilation part opening / closing member 11 made of a highly water-absorbent resin disposed in the ventilation device 9.
When water is absorbed, the inner peripheral part of the cylindrical pipe 10 is set to be completely closed by the ventilation part opening / closing member 11. Further, the ventilation part opening / closing member 11 that has closed the inner peripheral part of the cylindrical pipe 10 contracts again by drying to form the ventilation part 14 as shown in FIG. 2A. ..

As described above, when the ventilation device 9 is provided at the tip of the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1, when the endoscope 1 is sterilized, first, the ventilation device 9 is provided. The ventilation part opening / closing member 11 that is being dried is sufficiently dried so that the ventilation part 14
The sterilizing gas can be supplied to every corner of the internal cavity of the endoscope through the minute gaps in the ventilation part 14 and the ventilation part opening / closing member 11.

When the endoscope 1 is inserted into a body cavity, the ventilation device 9 provided at the tip of the endoscope insertion portion 2 is immersed in water before use, for example. The ventilation part opening / closing member 11 arranged in the ventilation device 9 expands by absorbing water to fill the inside of the cylindrical pipe 10, and also has a fine gap inside the ventilation part opening / closing member 11. Block. Since the endoscope 1 is inserted into the body cavity after confirming that the distal end of the endoscope 1 is closed, it is possible to prevent dust and the like inside the endoscope from leaking into the body cavity. it can.

Further, in order to sufficiently spread the sterilizing gas to every corner of the endoscope internal cavity, the operating portion 3 or a light guide connector portion (not shown) is also provided with the same ventilation means as described above. And good.

FIG. 4 relates to a second embodiment of the present invention, (a)
Is a front view of the multi-lumen tube, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the multi-lumen tube.

As shown in FIG. 4A, two types of lumens are inserted in the multi-lumen tube 20. The first lumen 21 has an objective lens 8 on the tip side.
The image guide fiber bundle 7 connecting and fixing is arranged at the center, and the light guide fiber bundle 6 is adhesively fixed so as to wrap around the image guide fiber bundle 7. A wire member 23 for bending the tip of the multi-lumen tube 20 is inserted into the second lumen 22. One end of the wire member 23 has a multi-lumen tube 2
Since the adhesive 25 is adhered and fixed to the side hole 24 provided at the position rearward of the front end portion of 0, the space portion 26 is provided on the front end side of the second lumen 22.
Is provided. The other end of the operation wire 23 is connected to a bending operation means (not shown) provided in the operation portion 3.

The space 26 provided in the second lumen 22 is set to have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second lumen 22 when dried and larger than the diameter of the second lumen 22 when absorbing water. The rod-shaped ventilation part opening / closing member 11a made of super absorbent resin is fixed by an adhesive 27 for sealing the tip of the second lumen 22. Then, on the side surface of the multi-lumen tube 20, there is provided a ventilation portion 28 for communicating the space portion 26 in which the ventilation portion opening / closing member 11a is provided and the outside of the multi-lumen tube 20.

Further, a communication hole 28 for communicating the space portion 26 provided in the second lumen 22 with the first lumen 21 is provided by processing from the side surface of the multi-lumen tube 20. The side hole 28a that connects the multi-lumen tube 20 and the first lumen 21 that is formed during this processing is sealed with an adhesive 27a.

As described above, by disposing the ventilation part opening / closing member 11a in the second lumen 22 for inserting the wire 23 provided in the multi-lumen tube 20,
When the multi-lumen tube 20 is sterilized, the ventilation part opening / closing member 11a is sufficiently dried to form a space 26 ', and the ventilation part 28 to the space 26'.
The sterilizing gas can be supplied to the first lumen 21 via the.

When the multi-lumen tube 20 is inserted into the body cavity, the ventilation part 28 provided at the distal end is immersed in water before use. The highly water-absorbent resin forming the ventilation part opening / closing member 11 a starts expansion by absorbing water and fills the space 26. Since the multi-lumen tube 20 is inserted into the body cavity after confirming the blockage of the ventilation part 28, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from leaking into the body cavity.

Further, a ventilation part 28 is provided in an unused part of the second lumen 22 through which the wire 23 is inserted, and this ventilation part 28.
By providing the opening / closing means, the diameter of the endoscope can be reduced.

FIG. 5 relates to a third embodiment of the present invention, (a)
Is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ventilation part opening / closing member arranged at the tip of the endoscope is closed, and (b) shows a state in which the ventilation part opening / closing member arranged at the tip of the endoscope is opened. It is an explanatory sectional view showing.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the endoscope insertion portion 2
A metallic tip frame 31 is connected and fixed to the tip of the flexible tube 5. Inside the tip frame 31, a light guide fiber bundle 6 and an image guide fiber bundle 7 having an objective lens 8a connected to the tip thereof are arranged. A male screw portion 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip frame 31 on the soft tube 5 side, and a side hole serving as a ventilation portion 33 is provided on the side surface on the tip side of the male screw portion 32.

Further, a cylindrical vent opening / closing ring 35 having a female screw portion 34 that is screwed into a male screw portion 32 provided on the tip frame 31 is attached to the tip frame 31. The ventilation part opening / closing ring 35 can be moved back and forth by rotating the ventilation part opening / closing ring 35. Then, when the ventilation part opening / closing ring 35 is moved to the position of FIG. 4B, a communication hole 36 for communicating with the outside of the endoscope is provided at a position that matches the ventilation part 33, while the ventilation part is provided. When one end of the opening / closing ring 35 is moved to a position where it abuts against the abutting portion 37 of the tip frame 31, a groove portion 38 is provided in the inner peripheral portion of the position where the ventilation portion 33 is closed, and the rubber portion is provided in the groove portion 38. The sealing member 39 having the property is inserted.

As described above, since the ventilation part opening / closing ring 35 is moved back and forth, when the endoscope 1 is sterilized, the ventilation part opening / closing ring 35 is moved to the distal end side for communication. A vent hole can be formed by matching the hole 36 with the vent portion 33, and sterilizing gas can be supplied to the endoscope internal cavity from this vent hole.

When the endoscope 1 is inserted into the body cavity, the ventilation opening / closing ring 35 is moved until it comes into contact with the abutting portion 37 of the tip frame 31 before use, and the ventilation is performed by the sealing member 39. After closing the portion 33, the endoscope 1 is inserted into the body cavity.

The same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained by the structure and operation as described above.

The present invention is not limited to an endoscope having an extremely small diameter such as an angioscope.

By the way, the light guide connector (not shown) has a small number of light guide fibers, and the strength of the bundle itself is weak. It was bad. Therefore, the light guide connector may be configured as shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in the drawing, the light guide fiber bundle 6 covered with a thin protective tube 50 extending from the operating portion is adhered and fixed to the inner circumference of the base pipe 51, and the protective tube 50 is It is adhesively fixed to the step portion 52 of the mouthpiece pipe 51. And the protection tube 5
A reinforcing member made of a flexible member such as a heat-shrinkable tube 52 is covered in the vicinity of the mouthpiece pipe 52 so as to further cover 0.

As described above, by further covering the vicinity of the mouthpiece pipe 51 of the protective tube 50 with a flexible member such as the heat-shrinkable tube 52, the strength near the mouthpiece pipe 51 is increased, so that the workability is improved and the light is lighted. It is possible to prevent the guide fiber bundle 6 from being damaged.

Further, the structure of the connecting portion between the inserting portion 2 and the operating portion 3 may be as follows. As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting portion 60 includes a male screw portion 63 having one or a plurality of axial notches 61 and a through hole 62, which is provided at the end of the operating portion 3 on the insertion portion 2 side. The male screw portion 63 is fitted in the cylindrical portion 64 to be inserted into the through hole 62 of the male screw portion 63 and the cutout portion 61, and matches the male screw portion 63.
Insertion portion connecting member 66 having flange portion 65 having a
And a break preventing member 68 formed of rubber or the like having an internal thread portion 67 having a helisert fixed to the external thread portion 63, which is formed on the inner peripheral portion thereof.

With this structure, the insertion portion 2
While inserting the cylindrical portion 64 of the insertion portion connecting member 66 into the flexible tube 5 of No. 3, the cylindrical portion 64 of the insertion portion connecting member 66 and the flange portion 65 having the male screw portion 63a are cut out to form the step portion 61.
The flexible tube 5 of the insertion portion 2 is fixedly connected by fitting the end portion 3a of the operation portion 3 and the end surface 68a of the end portion 68a of the insertion portion 2 to each other by connecting the end portion 3a of the operation portion 3 and the end portion 68a of the operation portion 3 by connecting them. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the gap between the end surface 3a of the operation portion 3 and the end surface 68a of the break preventing member 68.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sterilizing gas is distributed all over the inner cavity of the endoscope and adheres to the inner cavity of the endoscope when the endoscope is used. This has the effect of preventing dust and other foreign matter from leaking outside the endoscope.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic explanatory view of a ventilation device when the ventilation opening / closing member is in a dry state, and FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ventilation device when the ventilation opening / closing member is in a water absorbing state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope.

FIG. 4 relates to a second embodiment of the present invention (a) is a front view of the multi-lumen tube, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the multi-lumen tube.

5A and 5B relate to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5A is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which a ventilation part opening / closing member arranged at the distal end of the endoscope is closed, and FIG. 5B is a distal end of the endoscope. Explanatory sectional view showing a state when the ventilation part opening / closing member arranged in

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a light guide connector.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a connection configuration of an operation unit, an insertion unit, and a bending prevention member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 5 ... Flexible tube 6 ... Light guide fiber bundle 7 ... Image guide fiber bundle 8 ... Objective lens 9 ... Venting device 10 ... Cylindrical pipe 11 ... Venting part opening / closing member

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 23, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As shown in FIG. 2A, the ventilation device 9
Is composed of a cylindrical pipe 10 and a ventilation part opening / closing member 11 made of a highly water-absorbent resin fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical pipe 10. The ventilation part opening / closing member 11 is substantially T
It is V-shaped , and is composed of a fitting portion 12 formed by removing both side surfaces of a cylindrical shape in the axial direction and a rod-shaped portion 13 formed in a cylindrical shape . The fitting portion 12 has a circumferential surface, and the diameter of the circumferential surface is formed to be slightly larger than the inner diameter dimension so as to fit into the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical pipe 10. That is, the ventilation device 9 is formed so that the ventilation portion 14 is provided between the ventilation portion opening / closing member 11 and the cylindrical pipe 10.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ventilation part that communicates with the internal cavity of the endoscope and supplies a sterilizing gas to the internal cavity of the endoscope is provided at the distal end of the endoscope insertion part, and the ventilation is performed at least when the endoscope is used. An endoscope comprising an opening / closing means for closing a portion.