JPH06217932A - Device for switching between air feed and liquid feed to endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely brush the insides of pipes by inserting a brush into both air and liquid feed pipes or an air-liquid feed pipe from a cylinder body. CONSTITUTION:An air-liquid feed pipe is connected to the bottom portion of a cylinder body on roughly the same axis as the cylinder body; or a cylinder body 121 is formed into a double-cylinder structure comprising inner 121b and outer 121a cylinders, with the inner cylinder 121b capable of being inserted into and removed from the outer cylinder 121a, and an air feed pipe 113b and a liquid feed pipe 113a are formed into a double-pipe structure comprising inner 113b and outer 113a pipes, the end portion of the inner pipe 113b being connected to the inner cylinder 121b of the cylinder body 121 and the end portion of the outer pipe 113a connected to the outer cylinder 121a of the cylinder body 121. The inner pipe 113b is pulled out of the outer pipe 113a by pulling the inner cylinder 121b out of the outer cylinder 121a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas / water switching device for an endoscope which performs a switching operation for selectively sending out gas and liquid from the tip of an insertion portion of the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air / water switching device for an endoscope of this type is
It is essential that the operation is easy, and it is necessary to be able to perform switching operation with one operation button among the three states of the air supply state, the water supply state and the standby state in which neither air supply nor water supply is performed.

Therefore, generally, in a cylinder body fixed to the operation portion of the endoscope, an air supply pipe to which gas is supplied from the outside, a liquid supply pipe to which liquid is supplied, and an air supply pipe and a liquid supply opening to the tip of the insertion portion. A pipe (or an air / liquid feeding pipe) is connected and the piston body is moved back and forth in the cylinder body so that three states are switched.

In such a gas / water switching device for an endoscope, it is necessary to connect each tube to the side surface of the cylinder body. However, since switching between the standby state and the air supply state generally only closes the outer opening of the piston body, the air supply pipe and the air supply pipe may be connected anywhere near the bottom of the cylinder body. There is also one in which one side is connected to the bottom of the cylinder body coaxially with the cylinder body (actually, Shokai 57).
-191305, JP-A-57-103621).

[0005]

It is a very important issue in recent years to completely clean the endoscope after use, and not only the outer surface of the endoscope but also dirt in the body flows back from the tip opening. It is necessary to surely clean the inside of the air supply pipe and the liquid supply pipe that may cause the above.

In order to reliably clean such an air supply pipe and a liquid supply pipe, it is necessary to brush the inside of each pipe.
However, since a nozzle is generally attached to the tip opening of each tube, the cleaning brush cannot be inserted into the tube from the tip side.

Therefore, the brush must be inserted from the cylinder body side to which the base end of the pipe is connected. However, if the pipe is connected to the side surface of the cylinder, even if the piston body is removed from the cylinder body, the brush is inserted into the pipe. It is difficult to insert a cleaning brush.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been one in which an air supply pipe is connected to the bottom of the cylinder body coaxially with the cylinder body and a cleaning brush can be inserted from the cylinder body side into the air supply pipe. There was a problem that a brush could not be inserted into the tube, so that the tube could not be reliably cleaned by brushing after use.

Therefore, according to the present invention, both the air supply pipe and the liquid supply pipe, or the air supply liquid supply pipe, a brush is inserted from the cylinder body side to reliably brush the inside of the pipe. An object is to provide a water supply switching device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an air / water supply switching device for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises an air supply pipe to which gas is supplied, a liquid supply pipe to which liquid is supplied, and an insertion portion. A cylinder body to which an air / liquid feeding pipe having an opening at the tip is connected, and an air feeding state in which the air is fed from the air feeding pipe to the air / liquid feeding pipe by advancing and retreating in the cylinder body, and from the liquid feeding pipe. A piston body detachably attached to the cylinder body, which can be switched between a liquid feed state in which a liquid is fed to the air feed tube and a standby state in which neither gas nor liquid is fed to the air feed tube. In the air / water supply / switching device for an endoscope provided with, the air / liquid feeding pipe is connected to the bottom of the cylinder body substantially coaxially with the cylinder body.

Further, in the air / water supply / switching device for an endoscope of the present invention, an air supply pipe to which gas is supplied, a liquid supply pipe to which liquid is supplied, an air supply pipe which opens at the tip of the insertion portion, and the tip of the insertion portion. A cylinder body to which an opening liquid feed pipe is connected, and by moving back and forth in the cylinder body, an air feed state in which gas is fed from the air feed pipe to the air feed pipe and liquid from the liquid feed pipe to the liquid feed pipe. It has a piston body detachably attached to the cylinder body, which can be operated to switch between a liquid delivery state for delivery and a standby state in which neither gas nor liquid is delivered to the air delivery pipe or the liquid delivery pipe. In an air / water switching device for an endoscope, the cylinder body is formed into a double cylinder structure including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder so that the inner cylinder can be inserted into and removed from the outer cylinder. Inner and outer tubes for trachea and liquid delivery A double structure consisting of: the base end of the inner pipe is connected to the inner cylinder of the cylinder body, and the base end of the outer pipe is connected to the outer cylinder of the cylinder body. It is characterized in that the inner pipe is pulled out from the outer pipe by pulling out the inner cylinder.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation section of the endoscope, and an insertion section 2 inserted into a body cavity and a flexible connection tube 3 connected to the light source device 5 are connected to each other.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a water storage tank whose inside is pressurized by an air supply pump 6 provided in the light source device 5, and an air supply pipe 11 inserted into the flexible connecting pipe 3 by the pressurizing pressure. Air and water are sent to the water supply pipe 12.

The operation unit 1 is provided with a switching valve device 20 for performing air / water supply operation, and the tip ends of the air supply pipe 11 and the water supply pipe 12 are connected to the side surface portion thereof. Further, the base end of the air / water supply pipe 13 which is passed through the inside of the insertion portion 2 for ejecting air and water from the opening at the tip of the insertion portion 2 is connected to the bottom portion of the switching valve device 20.

FIG. 3 shows the tip of the insertion portion 2, and is located at the image forming position of the objective lens 16 arranged in the observation window 15.
The image incident end face of the image guide fiber bundle 17 is arranged. The insertion portion 2 communicates with the tip of the air / water feeding pipe 13 and opens toward the surface of the observation window 15.
Is an air / water supply nozzle fixed to the tip of the.

FIG. 1 shows a switching valve device 20, in which a cylinder body 21 composed of an outer cylinder 21a and an inner cylinder 21b is attached to the operating portion 1. Reference numeral 23 is an O-ring for sealing.

The outer cylinder 21a of the cylinder body 21 is fixed to the operating portion 1 by a fixing nut 22, and the tip ends of the air supply pipe 11 and the water supply pipe 12 are connected to the side surface of the outer cylinder 21a. Further, the base end of the air / water supply pipe 13 is coaxially connected to the outer cylinder 21a at the central axis position of the bottom cap 25 that is screwed into the bottom of the outer cylinder 21a of the cylinder body 21.

The inner cylinder 21b of the cylinder body 21 can be inserted into and removed from the outer cylinder 21a as shown in FIG.
It is provided coaxially with 1a. The inner cylinder 21b is thinly formed with respect to the outer cylinder 21a except for the vicinity of the bottom portion, and the click groove 26 formed in the vicinity of the bottom portion has a small gap.
When the click ring 27 on the outer cylinder 21a side is engaged as shown in FIG. 5, the inner cylinder 21b is fixed in the outer cylinder 21a by the elastic force of the click ring 27.

A piston body 31 is axially slidably arranged in the cylinder body 21. The piston body 31 is
The cylinder body 31 includes a cylindrical outer piston 31a inserted between the outer cylinder 21a and the inner cylinder 21b, and an inner piston 31b inserted inside the inner cylinder 21b.
1a and the inner piston 31b can move independently of each other.

A circumferential groove 32 is formed at an intermediate position on the outer peripheral surface of the outer piston 31a, and a hole 33 is formed in the inner wall portion of the outer groove 31 so as to extend inward. A circumferential groove 34 is also formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 21b of the cylinder body 21 in alignment with the hole 33, and an inner hole 35 is bored in the inner wall portion.

Further, in alignment with the hole 35, a circumferential groove 36 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the inner piston 31b. Before and after each circumferential groove 32, 34, 36, etc., as shown in FIG.
An O-ring for sealing is attached as shown in FIG.

The inner surface of the inner cylinder 21b of the cylinder body 21 is slightly thin in the front and back of the portion where the above-mentioned hole 35 is formed, and a pair of sealing O-rings 50a, 50b mounted on the inner piston 31b. Is brought into contact with both mouth portions of the small diameter portion of the inner cylinder 21b, so that the gap between the inner cylinder 21b and the inner piston 31b is closed. The upper half of the inner cylinder 21b has a first compression coil spring 43.
It has a large inner diameter so that it can be loaded.

A ventilation hole 39 is formed in the outer half of the inner piston 31b on the outer end side. The ventilation hole 39 is open to the outer end surface. The inner cylinder 21b of the cylinder body 21 and the inner piston 31 are provided near the bottom of the ventilation hole 39.
A hole 40 is provided so as to communicate with the gap between the hole b and the hole b. Four
Reference numeral 1 is an O-ring for sealing.

The inner piston 31b is biased in the direction of being pushed outward by the first compression coil spring 43 mounted between the inner piston 31b and the inner cylinder 21b, and is screwed onto the head of the outer piston 31a. It contacts the stopper 44 and is stationary. Reference numeral 42 is a spring support cylinder which is pressed and fixed in the inner cylinder 21b by the first compression coil spring 43 so that the first compression coil spring 43 is not displaced.

Further, the outer piston 31a is biased outward by a second compression coil spring 45 arranged so as to engage with the inner piston stopper 44, and the outer piston 21a of the outer cylinder 21a of the cylinder body 21 is pushed toward the mouth. The outer piston stopper 46 to be screwed is brought into contact with and stationary.

The outer piston stopper 46 is composed of a metal portion 46a which is a main body and a plastic portion 46b which covers the metal portion 46a.
The piston body 31 can be pulled out from the cylinder body 21 by loosening it from the mouth of 1a and removing it.

An operation button 49 is attached to the head of the inner piston 31b, and a ventilation port 48 communicating with the ventilation hole 39 is formed in the center of the operation button 49. This operation button is formed of a metal part 49a which is a main body and a plastic part 49b which covers the metal part 49a.
Is closed and pushed.

Then, the piston body 31 is replaced with the cylinder body 21.
When the operation button 49 is pushed in so as to be pushed in,
During the stroke L1 until the operation button 49 hits the inner piston stopper 44, only the inner piston 31b is pushed into the inner cylinder 21b of the cylinder body 21.
Stroke L2 until the inner piston stopper 44 hits the outer piston stopper 46 by pushing 9
During this period, both the inner and outer pistons 31b and 31a are pushed into the cylinder body 21 together.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a standby state in which no operation is performed. The water supply pipe 12 for supplying water is blocked by the outer piston 31a and supplied from the air supply pipe 11 for supplying air into the outer cylinder 21a. The air passes through the circumferential grooves 32, 34, 36 of each part, the holes 33, 35, 40, and the ventilation hole 39, and the ventilation port 4
8 has been released into the atmosphere.

The passage leading to the air / water supply pipe 13 has an inner piston 3
It is closed by an O-ring 50a attached to the end of 1b. Therefore, neither air nor water is sent to the air / water supply pipe 13.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation button 49
When the piston is pushed only by the stroke L1, the outer piston 31a does not move, so the water supply stop state does not change,
The inner piston 31b moves inward.

As a result, a gap is created between the O-ring 50a mounted on the end of the inner piston 31b and the inner cylinder 21b, the passage from the hole 35 to the air / water pipe 13 is opened, and the middle of the inner piston 31b is opened. The O-ring 50b attached to the portion is in close contact with the inner cylinder 21b, and the passage from the hole 35 to the ventilation port 48 is closed. As a result, the air sent from the air supply pipe 11 is sent to the air / water supply pipe 13 side, and the air is jetted from the nozzle 18 toward the surface of the observation window 15.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the operation button 4
When 9 is pushed further by the stroke L2, the outer piston 31a moves together with the inner piston 31b, and the intake pipe 11
Is closed and the water supply pipe 12 is in a state of communicating with the outer peripheral groove 32. As a result, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 12 is sent out to the air / water supply pipe 13, and the water is jetted from the nozzle 18 toward the surface of the observation window 15.

In the apparatus of the embodiment thus constructed, both the inner and outer pistons 31b and 31a can be pulled out from the cylinder body 21 by loosening and removing the outer piston stopper 46 after using the endoscope. The inner cylinder 21b of the cylinder body 21 can be pulled out from the outer cylinder 21a by pulling it with a little force.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the base end of the air / water supply pipe 13 is opened at the center of the bottom of the cylinder body 21 coaxially with the outer cylinder 21a.
The inside of the air / water supply pipe 13 can be brushed over the entire length by inserting the air / water supply pipe 13 from the mouth side of 1a.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which both the inner and outer cylinders 21b and 21a of the cylinder body 21 are screwed together at the bottom. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the screwing is released. As described above, various mechanisms can be used as the engaging means between the inner and outer cylinders 21b and 21a. The other parts are the same as in the first embodiment.

10 to 18 show a third embodiment of the present invention, which is an air supply pipe 113b and a water supply pipe 113a.
Is formed into a double pipe structure in which the air supply pipe 113b is an inner pipe and the water supply pipe 113a is an outer pipe.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the air supply pipe 113b which is the inner pipe is coaxially connected to the bottom of the inner cylinder 121b of the cylinder body 121, and the water supply pipe 113a which is the outer pipe is the cylinder. It is coaxially connected to the bottom of the outer cylinder 121a of the body 121.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tip of the air supply pipe 113b is open in the tip portion of the water supply pipe 113a, and the tips of both pipes 113a and 113b communicate with the same nozzle 18. ing.

As shown in FIG. 13, the cylinder body 12
The first inner cylinder 121b is locked to the outer cylinder 121a by the click ring 27 as in the first embodiment. Then, when the inner cylinder 121b is pulled out from the outer cylinder 121a,
At the same time, the inner tube 113b (air supply tube) is replaced by the outer tube 113a.
Drawn from.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 14, the water passage groove 16 is formed in the large diameter portion of the lower end of the inner cylinder 121b.
0 is formed, the inner cylinder 121b and the outer piston 131
A space between the water supply pipe 113a and the space between the water supply pipe 113a and the water supply pipe 113a communicates with each other.

In this embodiment, the air pipe 11 having a double pipe structure is used.
3b and the water supply pipe 113a, the air supply pipe 11 and the water supply pipe 1
2, the outer piston 131a has a circumferential groove 132 for selectively feeding air or water from
Two sets of a and 132b and holes 133a and 133b are formed corresponding to the positions of the air supply pipe 11 and the water supply pipe 12, respectively.

The inner piston 131b is connected to the air supply pipe 1
It is formed shorter than in the first embodiment so as to correspond to the position of the hole 133a communicating with 1. Since other parts are almost the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, FIG. 10 shows a standby state, in which the water supply pipe 12 is closed by the outer piston 131a and the air supply pipe 11 to the outer cylinder 121 of the cylinder body 121.
The air supplied to the inside of a is discharged to the atmosphere from the ventilation port 48.

The passage leading to the air supply pipe 113b is closed by an O-ring 50a attached to the end of the inner piston 131b. Therefore, the air supply pipe 113b and the water supply pipe 1
Neither air nor water is sent to 13a.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, when the operation button 49 is pushed by the stroke L1, only the inner piston 131b moves, and the O-ring 50a at the end of the inner piston 131b moves away from the inner cylinder 121b. Trachea 11
The passage leading to 3b is opened, and as a result, the air sent from the air supply pipe 11 is sent out into the air supply pipe 113b.

Then, as shown in FIG. 16, when the operation button 49 is further pushed by the stroke L2, the inner piston 131b and the outer piston 131a move, the air supply pipe 11 is closed, and the water supply pipe 12 is connected to the water supply pipe. Water is supplied from the water supply pipe 12 to the water supply pipe 113a in communication with the water supply pipe 113a.

In the apparatus having the above-described structure, after the endoscope is used, the outer piston stopper 46 is loosened and removed to remove both the inner and outer pistons 131b and 131a.
Can be extracted from the inside of the cylinder body 121, and further, from the outer cylinder 121a to the inner cylinder 121b of the cylinder body 121.
Can be pulled out.

Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the air supply pipe 113b is connected to the inner cylinder 121b of the cylinder body 121 and is withdrawn from the outer cylinder 121a of the cylinder body 121. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the inner cylinder 121
The cleaning brush 52 can be inserted into the air supply pipe 113b from b to brush the inside of the air supply pipe 113b, and as shown in FIG. 18, the inside of the water supply pipe 113a is cleaned from the outer cylinder 121a of the cylinder body 121. Brush 53
Can be inserted to brush the inside of the water supply pipe 113a.

19 and 20 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the structure of the third embodiment,
Similar to the second embodiment, both the inner and outer cylinders 1 of the cylinder body 121.
21b and 121a are configured to be screwed together at the bottom, and other parts are the same as in the third embodiment.

[0051]

According to the air / water supply / switching device for an endoscope of the present invention, since the air / liquid supply pipe is connected to the bottom of the cylinder body substantially coaxially with the cylinder body, the piston body is moved from the cylinder body. By removing it, the inside of the air / liquid feeding pipe can be easily brushed from the cylinder body side, or the air / liquid feeding pipe and the liquid feeding pipe have a double pipe structure consisting of an inner pipe and an outer pipe to form a double cylinder structure. Since the inner tube is pulled out from the outer tube by pulling out the inner tube from the outer tube of the cylinder body, the air feeding pipe and the liquid feeding pipe can be easily brushed from the cylinder body side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a standby state of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic view of the endoscope of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the insertion portion of the endoscope of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air supply state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the water supply state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the brushing state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second embodiment in a standby state.

FIG. 9 is a partially exploded view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a standby state of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an overall schematic view of an endoscope of a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope of the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a partially exploded view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air supply state according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the water supply state of the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inside of the air supply pipe of the third embodiment is brushed.

FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inside of the water supply pipe of the third embodiment is brushed.

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional view of a standby state according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a partially exploded view of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 air supply pipe 12 water supply pipe 13 air supply water supply pipe 20 switching valve device 21,121 cylinder body 21a, 121a outer cylinder 21b, 121b inner cylinder 31,131 piston body 31a, 131a outer piston 31b, 131b inner piston 113a water pipe (outer Tube) 113b Air pipe (inner tube)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cylinder body to which a gas supply pipe to which a gas is supplied, a liquid supply pipe to which a liquid is supplied, and an air supply and liquid supply pipe which opens at a tip of an insertion portion are connected, and which is moved forward and backward in the cylinder body. An air supply state in which gas is sent from the air supply pipe to the air supply liquid supply pipe, a liquid supply state in which liquid is sent from the liquid supply pipe to the air supply liquid supply pipe, and neither gas nor liquid is sent to the air supply liquid supply pipe. In an air / water supply / switching device for an endoscope provided with a piston body detachably attached to the cylinder body, which can be switched between a standby state and a cylinder body, the air / liquid feed pipe is connected to the cylinder body. An air / water supply switching device for an endoscope, which is connected to the bottom portion substantially coaxially with the cylinder body. 2. A cylinder body to which an air supply pipe to which a gas is supplied, a liquid supply pipe to which a liquid is supplied, an air supply pipe which opens at the tip of the insertion part, and a liquid supply pipe which opens at the end of the insertion part are connected. By advancing and retracting in the cylinder body, an air feeding state in which gas is sent from the air feeding pipe to the air feeding pipe, a liquid feeding state in which liquid is fed from the liquid feeding pipe to the liquid feeding pipe, and the air feeding pipe and the liquid feeding pipe In an air / water supply switching device for an endoscope having a piston body detachably attached to the cylinder body, which can be operated to switch between a standby state in which neither gas nor liquid is delivered. Is formed into a double cylinder structure including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder so that the inner cylinder can be inserted into and removed from the outer cylinder, and the air supply pipe and the liquid supply pipe are composed of an inner pipe and an outer pipe. Formed into a heavy pipe structure, By connecting the end portion to the inner cylinder of the cylinder body and the base end portion of the outer pipe to the outer cylinder of the cylinder body, and extracting the inner cylinder from the outer cylinder, the inner pipe is separated from the outer pipe. An air / water switching device for an endoscope, which is characterized in that it is pulled out.