JPH06261855A - Endoscope device of endoscope cover system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the damage of a coating part for an insertion part in spite of contact with another member by providing an endoscope device with at least a part of the coating part for the insertion part with a hard coating part of a material having hardness to the extent of not receiving the damage based on friction with another member. CONSTITUTION:An insertion part cover skin 36 of an insertion part cover part 11 of the endoscope cover consists of a soft skin 36a covering the curving part 28 of a curving hard mirror 7 for the cover and a hard skin 36b which is the hard coating part to cover the hard part 27. The hard skin 36b is formed of a relatively hard resin, such as 'Teflon(R)' or urethane. The soft skin 36a and the hard kin 36b are watertightly and airtightly connected to each other. The abdominal cavity is internally inflated by feeding air therein at the time of observing the inside of the abdominal cavity by the hard mirror 7 with a soft sheath 71. The part of a hard sheath 71 in contact with an airtight gasket 72 provided at the operator side end thereof is the hard skin 36b and, therefore, the sheath withstands the sliding friction force with the airtight gasket 72 and is not damaged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus of an endoscope cover type having an endoscope cover attached to an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have come to be widely used in the medical field and the like. When performing an endoscopic examination using an endoscope used in this medical field, it is necessary to use a clean endoscope that has been thoroughly washed and disinfected before the examination.

However, since an endoscope is often provided with an air / water supply conduit, a forceps channel, etc.,
There is a problem that it takes a long time to completely wash or sterilize the inside of these pipe parts after use. If this kind of sterilization is not performed sufficiently, the effect cannot be expected, so there is no choice but to perform the treatment for a long time, which reduces the use efficiency of the endoscope, and the work such as sterilization is troublesome. There was a problem that was.

In view of these problems, the endoscope main body is used while being covered with the endoscope cover, and after the use, only the endoscope cover is replaced as a disposable body so that the endoscope can be used even after use. An endoscope cover-type endoscope apparatus that does not need to be cleaned or sterilized so as to prevent the mirror body from becoming unclean is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-54734, US Pat. No. 3,162,190, and US Pat. No. 5,050,585. It is proposed in US Pat. No. 4,646,722.

More specifically, in the endoscope for an endoscope to which such an endoscope cover is attached, the insertion portion thereof is cleaned and sterilized in advance, and the endoscope is used for endoscopy. It is designed to be inserted into the body cavity of the patient with the insertion portion of the mirror being covered to perform inspections and treatments, so that the endoscope does not directly touch the body cavity of the patient. After use, the endoscope cover that has covered the endoscope body is removed and discarded. In this way, by disposing the endoscope cover for each patient, cleaning of the endoscope,
It is extremely convenient because it does not require disinfection.

In the endoscope cover as described above, the conventional cover outer cover for covering the insertion portion of the endoscope is composed of a thin film member formed of a soft material. For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-54734, a hard cover that fits over the distal end portion of the endoscope and a flexible tubular cover that covers the insertion portion and is provided on the proximal side of the hard cover. An endoscope cover made of a material has been proposed.

The endoscope of the endoscope cover type as described above is
Used in various applications, for example, to observe the inside of the abdominal cavity, a rigid endoscope with a curved tip equipped with an endoscope cover,
There is also one in which the inside of the abdominal cavity is observed by inserting it through a hard sheath such as a trocar pierced into the abdomen of the subject. In such a case, it is common to insufflate the air to expand the inside of the abdominal cavity so that the field of view can be secured for easy observation. At this time, it is necessary to prevent the gas sent into the abdominal cavity from leaking between the hard sheath and the endoscope cover. Therefore, an airtight packing is provided in the rigid sheath to close a gap formed with the endoscope cover to keep airtightness.

However, since the conventional laparoscope is attached to the flexible endoscope cover, the laparoscope is attached to the hard sheath or the laparoscope is attached to the hard sheath. When operating with, frictional force acts on the sliding part between the cover skin of the endoscope cover and the airtight packing, so wrinkles etc. occur when it is forcibly inserted or removed or operated, and force was further applied. In some cases, there was a possibility of damage such as perforation. Therefore, it has been necessary to carefully insert and remove or operate the hard sheath so as to prevent such a situation.

[0009]

As described above, the conventional endoscope apparatus of the endoscope cover type is used when the rigid sheath is attached to the endoscope with the endoscope cover attached or when the endoscope is attached. When operating an endoscope with a mirror cover attached to a rigid sheath, it may be damaged if excessive force is applied. And in order to avoid this, it was necessary to carefully insert and remove or operate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an endoscope of the endoscope cover system in which the insertion portion coating portion is not damaged by the frictional force even when it comes into contact with other members. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an endoscope in which an insertion portion is extended from an operation portion, and In an endoscope cover-type endoscope apparatus including an endoscope cover including an insertion portion covering portion that covers an insertion portion of an endoscope, at least a part of the insertion portion covering portion is provided with another member. A hard coating portion made of a material having a hardness that is not damaged by friction with is provided.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the overall configuration of an endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus using a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover, FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an insertion portion cover portion of an endoscope cover (hereinafter abbreviated as a cover) attached to a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover, and FIG. 3 is an endoscope with the cover attached. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cover-bending flexible endoscope is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a rigid sheath, and FIG. 4 shows a connection portion between the insertion portion cover portion and the operation portion cover and a connection between the universal cord cover and the operation portion cover. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope showing a portion, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover.

The endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment processes a signal from a light source apparatus 2 having a light source for illuminating a subject, for example, in a movable cart 1 and an image pickup device at the tip of the endoscope. A video processor 3, a fluid control device for controlling air supply, water supply, etc. 4, a monitor 6 for observing images, etc. are housed or placed, and further, the light source device 2 has a distal end bending for an endoscope cover. A hardened mirror (hereinafter, referred to as a curved hardened mirror for a cover) 7 is connected and constitutes a main part thereof.

The curving rigid endoscope 7 for a cover is a rigid endoscope whose distal end side can be curved. As shown in FIG. 5, an elongated inserting portion 17 is extended from the operating portion 16 on the hand side, and From the side of the operating section 16 to the universal cord 18
Has been extended. The insertion portion 17 includes a rigid portion 27, a bending portion 28, and a tip forming portion 29 from the proximal side toward the distal side, and the bending portion 28 is operated to be bent by the bending operation knob 21. . An objective optical system 31 and a plurality of illumination optical systems 32 are arranged in the tip forming section 29.

On the other hand, a connector 18a is provided at the tip of the universal cord 18 and the light source device 2 is provided.
1 and a cable 8 is extended from its side as shown in FIG. 1 to be connected to the video processor 3, and an image pickup device 9 provided inside the tip portion 29 of the insertion portion 17 is connected.
The output signal 6 (see FIG. 11) is transmitted and input.

The operating section 16 is formed by connecting a gripping section 19 for gripping the rigid endoscope 7 to the distal end side of the operating section main body 20, and the operating section main body 20 is provided with the bending operation knob 21 and the air supply / supply.
A water supply control switch 22, a suction control switch 23, an image switching switch 24 for switching between still images and the like are provided. The bending operation knob 21 is detachably attached to the operation section body 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope cover 10 attached to the rigid endoscope 7 has an insertion portion cover portion 11 as an insertion portion covering portion, an operation portion cover 12, and a universal cord in order from the distal end side. The cover 13 constitutes a main part. Details of the insertion portion cover portion 11 of the cover 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The cover rigid endoscope 7 is mounted in a state where the insertion portion cover portion 11 is held by a cover holder 15 (see FIG. 1). In addition, an endoscope with an endoscope cover method (hereinafter,
The cover-type endoscope is abbreviated as a cover-type endoscope in which the cover rigid endoscope 7 is covered with a cover 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion portion cover portion 11
Is a distal end portion 35 and an insertion portion cover outer cover 3 in order from the distal end side.
6, the main portion is constituted by the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 37, and the insertion portion cover outer skin 36 is provided with respect to the distal end portion 35 and the endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 37. Both ends are connected in a watertight and airtight manner. An endoscope insertion channel 46 for inserting the endoscope 7 is provided inside these, and an air / water feeding conduit 38 made of a soft resin and a suction conduit made of a soft resin are also provided. 39 etc. are inserted.

The tip portion 35 is provided with an observation window 41 made of transparent resin at a position corresponding to the front of the optical axes of the objective optical system 31 and the illumination optical system 32 of the cover endoscope 7, and An air / water feeding nozzle (hereinafter abbreviated as a nozzle) 42 which opens toward the window 41 for cleaning the observation window 41 and communicates with the air / water feeding conduit 38.
And a forceps outlet 43 communicating with the suction conduit 39.

In the mouthpiece portion 37 for fixing the endoscope operation portion, a forceps insertion opening 44 is provided so as to project from its side portion, and an endoscope insertion channel 46 is provided at the proximal end portion of the mouthpiece portion 37. Is provided with an opening 46a of the air supply / water supply conduit 3
8 and the suction conduit 39 extend.

The insertion portion cover outer cover 36 includes a soft outer cover 36a that covers a portion corresponding to the curved portion 28 of the curving rigid endoscope 7 for cover, and a hard outer cover 36b that is a hard coating portion that covers a portion corresponding to the hard portion 27. And the soft outer skin 36a
Is made of a soft polymer material to be thin (for example, about 0.1 to 3 mm), and the hard skin 36b is made of a relatively hard resin such as Teflon or urethane. The soft outer skin 36a and the hard outer skin 36b are watertightly and airtightly connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portions of the insertion portion cover portion 11 and the operation portion cover 12 and the universal cord cover 13 and the operation portion cover 12 have their ends overlapped with each other. There is no portion where the rigid endoscope 7 inside is exposed to the outside.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the curving hard endoscope 7 with the cover 10 attached is inserted into the hard sheath 71 to observe the inside of the abdominal cavity. Such a rigid sheath 71 is also called a trocar,
Various known ones have been proposed.

When observing the inside of the abdominal cavity with the rigid endoscope 7 through such a rigid sheath 71, a field of view is secured and air is supplied to inflate the inside of the abdominal cavity so as to be suitable for observation, and the inflated state is maintained. Need to keep. Therefore, the proximal end of the hard sheath 71 is provided with an airtight packing 72 for maintaining airtightness, and does not leak the gas in the abdominal cavity to the outside when the rigid endoscope 7 is inserted. It is like this. At this time, since the portion in contact with the airtight packing 72 has the hard outer skin 36b as described above, it can withstand the sliding frictional force with the airtight packing 72 and is not damaged. Hard skin 3 at this time
The hardness of 6b may be such that it can withstand the sliding frictional force with the airtight packing 72, and does not need to be completely hard like metal.

The present invention is not limited to the curved rigid endoscope for a cover, but can be applied to an endoscope such as a flexible endoscope with a curved curved body without a cover which is usually used without a cover. . Further, a cover may be used to cover an intraperitoneal ultrasonic probe for performing ultrasonic diagnosis of an intraperitoneal organ. In the case of a flexible endoscope, the cover outer cover that covers the curved portion and the flexible tube portion that is desired to be bent as necessary may be a soft outer cover, and the cover outer cover that covers the other insertion portions may be a hard outer cover. Further, in the case of a non-curving rigid endoscope or the like, it goes without saying that the cover outer cover that covers the insertion portion may be a hard outer cover.

According to the first embodiment described above, since the airtight packing 72 of the hard sheath 71 and the hard outer skin 36b of the insertion portion cover portion 11 are in close contact with each other, even if the curving rigid scope 7 is operated. Airtightness can be maintained and air in the abdominal cavity does not escape. Further, the airtight packing 72 of the cover outer skin 36
Since the sliding portion with and is a hard outer skin 36b, wrinkles and the like due to friction with the airtight packing 72 do not occur, and there is no damage such as perforation. As a result, the endoscope in the endoscope cover is not exposed to the outside, and even if bacteria or the like adhere to the endoscope, the endoscope does not enter the body cavity of the patient and become infected. Furthermore, since the cover has a hard portion, it is easier to insert and remove the endoscope than to insert and remove the endoscope in the full-length flexible cover. In addition, since the portion corresponding to the bending portion 28 of the bending rigid endoscope 7 for cover is covered with the soft outer skin 36a, the bending operation is not hindered.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an insertion portion cover portion of the endoscope cover in a state where the endoscope cover is attached to the endoscope-curving rigid endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment described above, only different parts will be described.

In the second embodiment, the mouthpiece portion 37 for fixing the endoscope operation portion and the hard skin 36b of the first embodiment described above are integrally molded to fix the endoscope operation portion as a hard coating portion. The hard skin 75 is used. The other parts are the same as in the first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the number of parts can be reduced, so that the workability at the time of assembly is improved,
Further, the cost can be reduced.

7 to 11 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example of a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover, and FIG. 8 is a tip for an endoscope cover. Sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the endoscope cover to the bending | flexion rigid endoscope, FIG. 9: AA sectional drawing of the said FIG. 8, FIG. 10: Longitudinal sectional view which shows the outline of a bending operation mechanism, FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the front-end | tip vicinity of the rigid mirror with a front-end bending for mirror covers.

A curved rigid mirror 8 for a cover according to the third embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7, 1 is configured by extending the insertion portion 17 from the operation portion 82 to the distal end side, and extending the universal cord 18 from the proximal side thereof.

A bending operation portion 83 is provided on the operation portion 82, and a convex portion 84 is provided on the circumferential surface of the bending operation portion 83.
Is provided, and the bending portion 28 is operated to be bent by rotating the bending operation portion 83 in the radial direction (this bending operation mechanism will be described later).

As shown in FIG. 8, the cover 10 mounted on the curving rigid endoscope 81 for cover has a universal cord cover 13 for covering the universal cord 18, and
It is composed of the operation portion 82 and an operation portion insertion portion cover 86 that covers the insertion portion 17.

The operation portion insertion portion cover 86 is composed of an insertion portion cover portion 87, an endoscope operation portion fixing mouth portion 88, and an angle ring 89 in order from the front end side toward the hand side.

The insertion portion cover portion 87 has a hard outer skin 36.
b, a soft outer skin 36a, and a tip portion 35. The tip portion 35 is provided with a transparent observation window 41 at a position corresponding to the front of the optical axis of the optical system of the curving rigid endoscope 81 for cover. The soft outer skin 36a covers the portion corresponding to the curved portion 28, and the soft outer skin 36b covers the portion corresponding to the hard portion 27. The distal end portion 35, the soft outer skin 36a, the hard outer skin 36b, and the endoscope operating portion fixing mouth portion 88 are hermetically connected to each other.

The angle ring 89 is rotatably attached to the endoscope operating portion fixing mouth portion 88. A concave portion 90 that fits into the convex portion 84 of the bending operation portion 83 is provided inside the angle ring 89.
By rotating the angle ring 89 in the radial direction, the bending operation portion 83 is also integrally rotated, and the bending operation can be performed.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a portion for performing such a bending operation. As illustrated, inside the bending operation portion 83, an image pickup cable 91 for transmitting a signal output from the image pickup device 96 shown in FIG. 11, and a light guide 92 for transmitting illumination light from the light source device 2. , The most advanced bending piece 9
The angle wire 93 that is fixed to 7 and that bends and operates the bending portion 28 of the rigid endoscope with a bending tip 81 for a cover by being pulled is inserted. This angle wire 9
The other end of 3 is fixed to a helicoid piece 94 described later.

Next, the bending operation mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. On the inner peripheral surface of the bending operation portion 83, two
Two helicoid portions 95a and 95b are provided, and the directions of these helicoids are opposite to each other. Two helicoid pieces 94 are screwed into the helicoid portions 95a and 95b, respectively, and one end of the angle wire 93 is fixed to each of the helicoid pieces 94 as described above. This helicoid coma 94
As shown in FIG. 9, the rotation in the radial direction is restricted, and only the movement in the axial direction is performed.

When a bending operation is performed by the bending operation mechanism having such a structure, the operator turns the angle ring 89 to integrally rotate the bending operation portion 83 to integrally rotate the helicoid. The parts 95a and 95b rotate. Since the helicoid portions 95a and 95b are provided such that the grooves are in opposite directions as described above, the helicoid pieces 9 screwed into each other by the rotating operation.
One of the four 4 starts moving axially upward, and the other 4 starts moving axially downward. The angle wire 93 is pulled along with the movement of the helicoid piece 94 to perform a bending operation.

The universal cord cover 13 shown in FIG. 8 is a bag-shaped member whose both ends are open, and its operation-side end 13a has a large opening for inserting the angle ring 89, and is elastic. The ring 48 is fixed to the end of the angle ring 89.

According to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments described above can be obtained, and only one member of the operation portion insertion portion cover 86 can be used to provide the curved bending hardness for the cover. Since the insertion portion 17 of the mirror 81 and the operation portion 82 can be covered and the bending operation portion 83 can be attached together, the workability of attaching the cover is good. Further, there is an advantage that the angle operation can be easily performed from the top of the cover.

In each of the above-described embodiments, it is better to reduce the friction with other members by performing the treatment for smoothing the surface of the insertion portion covering portion. Needless to say, a lubricant may be applied to the surface.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, an endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus in which the insertion portion coating portion is not damaged by frictional force even when it comes into contact with other members. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the entire configuration of an endoscope device of an endoscope cover system that uses a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an insertion portion cover portion of the endoscope cover in a state where the endoscope cover is attached to a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope having a cover attached is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a rigid sheath.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover showing a connection portion between an insertion portion cover portion and an operation portion cover and a connection portion between a universal cord cover and an operation portion cover.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an insertion portion cover portion of an endoscope cover in a state where the endoscope cover is attached to a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 to 11 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example of the rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the endoscope cover is attached to a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the outline of a bending operation mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the tip of a rigid endoscope with a curved tip for an endoscope cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7, 81 ... Rigid endoscope with curved tip for endoscope cover 10 ... Endoscope cover 11 ... Insert cover part (insert part cover part) 16, 82 ... Operation part 17 ... Insert part 36b ... Hard outer cover (hard cover part) ) 75 ... Hard outer skin for fixing endoscope operation section (hard coating section) 86 ... Operation section insertion section cover section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Tashiro 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Suzuki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Minoru Yamazaki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Osamu Mizuta 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having an insertion section extending from an operation section,
In an endoscope cover-type endoscope apparatus having an insertion portion covering portion that covers the insertion portion of the endoscope, and at least a part of the insertion portion covering portion, other An endoscope cover type endoscope apparatus comprising a hard coating portion formed of a material having a hardness that is not damaged by friction with a member.