JPH07100105A - Endoscopec - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an endoscope capable of changing the angle of an operation part with ease, and without causing any damage to other inserted material in connecting tubes by preventing a liquid-flow tube inside a connecting tube from being twisted even if the angle of the operation part is changed. CONSTITUTION:A connector 10 is devided into the 1st block 21 having a connecting part to connect to a light source apparatus and the 2nd block 22 being connected to the top end of a connecting tube 4, and metal caps 13 and 14 are placed in the 2nd block 22 connected by top ends of liquid-flow tubes 47, 48 and 49, in order to position the 1st block 21 and the 2nd block 22 to be relatively rotatably.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a connector for connecting to a light source device or the like is provided with a base for connecting to an external pump device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a connector 1 of a conventional electronic endoscope.
01 is shown, and the connector 101 is attached to the distal end of the flexible connecting pipe 102 whose proximal end is connected to an operating portion (not shown).
Are rotatably connected around the axis of the connecting pipe 102.

FIG. 5 shows a VV cross section showing the rotating portion thereof. A stopper pin 105 is erected on a rotary cylinder 104 fixed by a screw to a tip mouthpiece 102a of a connecting pipe 102, and a stopper pin 105 is provided on the connector 101 side. The pin 105 can be rotated only within the range of the notch 107 formed in the frame cylinder 106 so that the rotary cylinder 104 with respect to the frame cylinder 106 can rotate.
The rotation angle of is regulated to 180 degrees, for example.

In this way, the connecting pipe 102 and the connector 101 are connected so as to be relatively rotatable about the axis of the connecting pipe 102. While the endoscope is in use, the direction of the operating portion changes variously due to insertion operation or the like with respect to the connector 101 which is always fixed. However, if a rotational force is applied to the connecting pipe 102 by this rotating structure. Since the connecting pipe 102 rotates without resistance with respect to the connector 101, the operation of changing the direction of the operating portion is not hindered by the connecting pipe 102, and the phenomenon that the connecting pipe 102 is twisted and damaged is prevented.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the connecting pipe 102, an air supply tube 111, a water supply tube 112, and a water supply tube 112 for a fluid conduit leading to an air supply / water supply operation valve and a suction operation valve of an operation unit (not shown). The suction tube 113 is inserted.

On the other hand, on the side of the connector 101, as shown in FIG. 6, an air / water supply mouthpiece 115 connected to an air supply pump and a water supply tank (not shown) and a suction pump are connected. The suction base 116 and the insulating plates 108, 1
It is fixed to the metal frame 110 via 09 and is projected from the connector 101.

The air supply tube 111 and the water supply tube 112 are connected to the air supply and water supply mouthpiece 115 via the connection pipes 118 and 119, respectively, and the suction tube 113 is connected to the suction mouthpiece 116 via the connection pipe 120. There is.

As shown in FIG. 4, 121 is a light guide receiver to which the incident end of a light guide fiber bundle for illumination is attached, and 122 is a solid-state image pickup device circuit at the tip of the endoscope insertion portion and a video processor circuit. And a video connector for connecting to a light source device with a video processor (not shown). 123 is the connector 10
Electronic circuit board arranged in 1. 124 is a connector 1
01 is a vent mouth ring that can be arbitrarily switched between an airtight state and a state communicating with the outside.

[0009]

The base ends of the tubes 111, 112, 113 for air supply, water supply, and suction are fixed to the operation valve on the operation part side, and the ends are fixed to the connector 101. Therefore, when the direction of the operating portion is changed with the connector 101 inserted in the light source device with a video processor, the connecting pipe 102 rotates with respect to the connector 101 and is not twisted.
1, 112, 113 are respectively twisted.

However, each tube 111, 112, 11
No. 3 is made of a material that is slippery and hard, such as a tetrafluoroethylene resin tube, so that the cleaning brush can be smoothly inserted over the entire length after use. Power is needed.

Therefore, it becomes a resistance against the movement to change the direction of the operating portion, and deteriorates the operability of the endoscope. Further, depending on how the tubes are twisted, other inserts such as the light guide fiber bundle for illumination inserted in the connecting pipe may be sandwiched between the tubes and damaged.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the direction of the operating portion is changed, the tube for fluid conduit in the connecting pipe is not twisted so that the operation of changing the direction of the operating portion can be easily performed, and other inserts in the connecting pipe are provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that is not damaged.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope of the present invention is for connecting a light source device or the like to the distal end side of a flexible connecting tube whose base end is connected to an operating portion. In the endoscope in which the connector for connecting the connector and the base for connecting to an external pump device or the like is provided in the connector, and the fluid conduit tube inserted into the connecting pipe is connected to the base side of the base, The connector is divided into a first block provided with a connecting portion for connecting to a light source device and the like and a second block to which the tip of the connecting pipe is connected, and the base is arranged in the second block, The first and second blocks are provided so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

The first and second blocks of the connector are preferably rotatable relative to each other about an extension line of the central axis of the tip portion of the connecting pipe.

[0015]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows an endoscope, in which a flexible insertion tube 2 is provided at the lower end of the operation unit 1.
Is connected, and a solid-state image pickup device for converting an observation image into an electric signal is built in the tip end main body 3 provided at the tip thereof.

A flexible connecting pipe 4 is provided on the upper rear surface of the operating portion 1.
The base end of is connected, and a connector 10 for connecting to a light source device with a video processor (not shown) is connected to the tip of the connecting pipe 4.

A light guide receiver 1 having an illumination light guide fiber bundle incidence end for allowing illumination light from a light source lamp to enter at the tip of the connector 10.
1 and an electrical connector 12 for connecting the solid-state image pickup device circuit in the tip portion main body 3 to the solid-state image pickup device control circuit of the video processor are provided so as to project forward.

Further, an air / water supply mouthpiece 13 connected to an air supply pump and a water supply tank and a suction mouthpiece 14 connected to a suction pump are directed to the side in the small diameter portion of the latter half of the connector 10. Is projected.

A space between the air / water supply operation valve 5 and the air / water supply mouthpiece 13 provided between the operation section 1 and a space between the suction operation valve 6 and the suction mouthpiece 14 are inserted into the connecting pipe 4. Each is connected by a tube for a fluid line.

Tubes that open in the tip end main body 3 are connected to the air / water feeding operation valve 5 and the suction operation valve 6, respectively. Air supply, water supply, and suction can be arbitrarily performed.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of the connector 10. The connector 10 is provided with a light guide receiver 11 which is a connecting portion for connecting to a light source device with a video processor, and an electric connector 12, and a first block on the front side in which an electronic circuit board 20 is provided. 21 is connected to the tip of the connecting pipe 4, and the second block 22 provided with the air / water supply mouthpiece 13 and the suction mouthpiece 14 is relatively rotatably connected.

In the first block 21, the metal frame 2
The outer side of 3 is covered with a case 24 made of plastic, and the rotation support cylinder 26 fixed to the frame 23 with an electric insulating member 25 is fixed to the second block 22.
It is rotatably fitted to the side cylindrical frame 27. Numeral 28 is a nut for retaining.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stopper pin 29 provided upright on the rotation support cylinder 26 moves only in the notch 30 formed in the cylindrical frame 27, so that the first and second The two blocks 21, 22 can rotate relatively, for example 180 degrees.

The central axis of rotation 32 is on an extension of the central axis 33 at the tip of the connecting pipe 4. Therefore, when a torsional force is applied to the connecting pipe 4 with the first block 21 fixed, the second block 22 easily rotates with respect to the first block 21.

A light guide fiber bundle which is covered with a silicone rubber tube or the like and a cable or the like for transmitting an electric signal are inserted into the rotation support cylinder 26, but the illustration thereof is omitted.

The cylindrical frame 27 of the second block 22
Is covered with a plastic case 35, and an X-ring 37 for sealing is attached to the rotation surface between the inner peripheral surface of the tip of the case 35 and the case 24 which covers the first block 21. There is.

The tip cap 4a of the connecting pipe 4 is fixed to the end of a joint cylinder 39 which is formed in a shape that extends the cylindrical frame 27 and fixed to the cylindrical frame 27 with screws. A rubber break member 40 is attached from that portion to the connecting pipe 4. Four
Reference numeral 0a is a mouthpiece of the bending prevention member 40.

Both the air and water supply mouthpiece 13 and the suction mouthpiece 14 are provided on the case 35 of the second block 22 so as to project laterally. Reference numerals 41 and 42 are press nuts for pressing and fixing the caps 13 and 14.

Holes are formed in the cylindrical frame 27 so as to correspond to the respective mouthpieces 13 and 14, and air is supplied to the bottom of the air / water supply mouthpiece 13 from the back side (that is, the inside of the connector 10). The connection pipe 44 and the water supply connection pipe 45 are connected and fixed, and the suction connection pipe 46 is connected and fixed from the back side to the bottom portion of the suction mouthpiece 14.

Then, the air supply tube 47 and the water supply tube 4 which are the tubes for the fluid conduit inserted in the connecting pipe 4.
8 and the tip of the suction tube 49 are the second block 22.
Is connected to the connection pipes 44, 45, 46 in the base 1
It communicates with 3,14.

Air supply, water supply and suction tubes 47, 4
Both 8 and 49 are made of tetrafluoroethylene resin, and the base end side thereof is connected and fixed to the air / water supply operation valve 5 or the suction operation valve 6 in the operation portion 1 as described above.

When the endoscope thus constructed is used, the light guide receiver 11 and the electric connector 12 of the connector 10 are connected to the light source device with the video processor, and the air / water supply mouthpiece 13 is connected to the air supply pump. A double pipe tube leading to the water supply tank is connected to the suction mouthpiece 14 and a suction tube leading to a suction pump or the like is connected.

When the direction of the operating portion 1 is changed during the operation of the endoscope, a twisting force is applied to the connecting pipe 4, but the second block 22 of the connector 10 to which the tip of the connecting pipe 4 is connected and fixed is Since it freely rotates with respect to the block 21 of No. 1, the direction of the operation unit 1 can be lightly and easily changed without twisting the connecting pipe 4. Moreover, since the center of rotation is on the extension line of the central axis of the tip portion of the connecting pipe 4, the first and second blocks 2 are rotated by the rotational force applied to the connecting pipe 4.
Smooth rotation between 1 and 22.

Further, the air supplied through the inside of the connecting pipe 4,
Since the tips of the tubes 47, 48, 49 for water supply and suction are also fixed to the second block 22,
It moves integrally with the connecting pipe 4 and the second block 22, and does not become a resistance against the operation of changing the direction of the operation unit 1.

Since the rotation amount of the second block 22 with respect to the first block 21 is regulated to 180 degrees, the light guide for illumination connected to the first block 21 through the rotation support cylinder 26. The phenomenon that the fiber bundle, the signal cable, and the like are twisted and broken does not occur.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the connector may be connected to only one of the video processor and the light source device,
The endoscope may use an image guide fiber bundle instead of the solid-state image sensor to transmit an observation image. Also,
The side cap of the connector is not limited to the air / water supply cap and the suction cap, and may be a cap for connecting a carbon dioxide gas cylinder or the like.

[0037]

According to the endoscope of the present invention, the distal end of the connecting pipe, through which the fluid conduit tube is inserted, can rotate with respect to the first block connected to the light source device or the like. Since the mouthpiece provided on the block and connected to the fluid conduit tube is provided on the second block, the orientation of the operation portion to which the base end of the connecting pipe is connected is changed when the endoscope is inserted. When a twisting force is applied to the connecting pipe by means of the connecting pipe and the fluid conduit tube therein, the connecting pipe and the fluid conduit tube freely rotate together with the second block of the connector relative to the first block. The tube for pipes is not twisted, and the direction of the operating part can be changed lightly and freely. In addition, since the fluid conduit tube is not twisted in the connecting pipe, other inserts in the connecting pipe such as the light guide fiber bundle for illumination are not damaged.

Since the first and second blocks of the connector are rotatable about the extension line of the central axis of the tip portion of the connecting pipe, when a twisting force is applied to the connecting pipe, the space between the two blocks is extremely smooth. Rotate relative to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a connector according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a II-II sectional view of the connector of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the endoscope of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a conventional connector.

FIG. 5 is a VV sectional view of a conventional connector.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a conventional connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 13 Air supply water supply mouthpiece 14 Suction mouthpiece 21 First block 22 Second block 47 Air supply tube 48 Water supply tube 49 Suction tube

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector for connecting to a light source device or the like is connected to the distal end side of a flexible connecting pipe whose base end is connected to an operating portion, and a base for connecting to an external pump device or the like is provided with the connector. In the endoscope in which the fluid conduit tube inserted into the connecting pipe is connected to the base side of the base, a first connecting part is provided for connecting the connector to a light source device or the like. The base is arranged in a second block divided into a block and a second block in which the tip of the connecting pipe is connected, and the first and second blocks are provided so as to be relatively rotatable. And an endoscope. 2. The first and second blocks of the connector are:
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is relatively rotatable around an extension line of the central axis of the tip portion of the connecting pipe.