JPH07184828A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the squeezing of a flexible tubular member in an anti-kink pipe without the lowering of a treating device insertion property, suction performance, washability and the like. CONSTITUTION:An anti-kink pipe 36 is arranged at a connection part between a flexible tubular member such as an insertion part 3 and a hard member such as an operating part 7 to protect the tubular member. A channel pipe 30 is arranged inside the tubular member (the insertion part 3) and the hard member (the operating part 7) to be used for the insertion of a treating device such as forceps and the suction of filth. The channel pipe 30 employs a soft pipe 40 such as gored pipe and ilex pipe inside the anti-kink pipe 36 and a hard pipe 41 such as that using Teflon at other parts. Thus. the squeezing of the channel pipe 30 can be prevented by using a soft pipe 40 inside the anti-kink pipe 36.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to an endoscope capable of preventing collapse of a channel tube such as a treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube due to buckling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope has a flexible tubular insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity and an operation portion for operating the insertion portion. An optical system for illumination and observation, a treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube, and the like are provided. A treatment instrument such as forceps, a catheter, a high-frequency treatment instrument for performing a medical treatment is inserted through the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube, and dirt can be sucked through the treatment instrument.

A flexible tubular universal cord extends from the operating portion, and a connector is connected to the end of the universal cord opposite to the operating portion. The universal cord is connected through this connector. Is connected to an external suction device or light source device. In the universal cord, the above-mentioned illumination optical system extends and a suction channel tube is arranged. This suction channel tube
The filth that is in communication with the above-described treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube inside the operation portion and sucked by the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube is discharged toward the suction device through this suction channel tube.

By the way, a connection port is formed at the tip of the operating portion so as to be connected to the tubular insertion portion. This connection port has a larger diameter than the insertion part, and the insertion part is inserted into the connection port and fixed there. Since the operating portion is made of a hard material, the flexible connecting portion may bend along the edge of the connecting port at the connecting portion between the operating portion and the inserting portion.
When bent like this, the pipes inside the insertion portion are crushed. For example, if the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube is crushed, the operability of the treatment instrument, the suction force of waste, and the cleanability after use of the endoscope are deteriorated. For this reason, a short stop tube made of rubber or the like is arranged at the connecting portion between the insertion section and the operating section, and the stop tube is used to surround the insertion section to prevent bending of the insertion section. There is.

Further, the operation portion is also formed with a connection port for connecting with a tubular universal cord. This connection port is also larger in diameter than the universal cord, and the universal cord is inserted into the connection port and fixed there. Also at the connection part between the universal cord and the operation part,
In order to prevent the highly flexible universal cord from bending along the edge of the connection port, a stop tube similar to that described above is arranged so as to surround the universal cord. Further, a similar connection port is formed in the connector, and the universal cord is inserted into the connection port and fixed there. Since the connector is also made of a hard material, a similar stop pipe is arranged at the boundary between the universal cord and the connector to surround the universal cord. In this way, the universal cord is prevented from bending and, for example, the suction channel tube is crushed so that the suction action of dirt and the cleanability after use of the endoscope are not hindered.

However, even if the insertion portion and the universal cord are prevented from being bent as described above, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube and the suction channel tube disposed inside these are respectively made of a single relatively hard material. In the case of a tube, for example, a tube made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), that is, a so-called Teflon tube, prevention of collapse of the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube and the suction channel tube may not be sufficient.

In order to guide the observation window in the distal end portion of the insertion section to a desired position, the operation section may be twisted, and even the break pipe at the boundary between the insertion section and the operation section which is a hard member may be twisted. Torsional force is applied. In this case, the relatively hard treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube is also sharply bent by the twisting force. Further, the universal cord may draw a loop during the insertion operation, and in this case as well, the suction channel tube may be crushed inside the stop tube in the operation section or the connection section with the connector. In this case, the suction performance of the suction channel pipe may be deteriorated and cleaning may be difficult.

As means for preventing such a problem,
Conventionally, it has been proposed to form a spiral groove or wind a coil body on the outer side of the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube and the portion of the suction channel tube corresponding to the inside of the break tube. In this case, the collapse of the channel pipe is prevented. Alternatively, it has been proposed that the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube and the outside of the suction channel tube be covered with a reinforcing tube to be reinforced.

[0009]

However, it takes a lot of time and labor to form the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube and the spiral groove in the suction channel tube as described above.
In addition to poor productivity, it has been a factor in raising the price of these channel tubes and thus endoscopes. Further, when the coil body is wound or the reinforcing pipe is covered, the number of members is increased within the limited cross-sectional area of the insertion part and the universal cord, and the filling rate in the insertion part and the universal cord is increased. Since the temperature rises, not only the movement of the channel tube but also the movement of other components is deteriorated, and the operability of the treatment tool also deteriorates, and the durability of each component is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and prevents the surgical instrument insertion / suction channel tube and the suction channel tube from being bent at a steep angle in the stop tube, thereby improving the operability of the surgical instrument. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive endoscope that does not deteriorate suction performance and washability.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an endoscope according to the present invention is connected to a tubular member having flexibility and a tubular member having a diameter larger than that of the tubular member. Having a rigid member, a stop pipe that surrounds the tubular member at the connection between the tubular member and the rigid member to prevent bending of the tubular member, and a channel pipe that passes through the tubular member and the rigid member In the mirror, a portion of the channel tube inside the break tube is formed of a material having greater flexibility than other portions.

[0012]

As the above-mentioned flexible tubular member, there are, for example, an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity and a universal cord connected to an external device. Further, the hard member includes, for example, an operation unit and a connector. The hard member has a connection port having a diameter larger than that of the tubular member, and the tubular member is inserted and fixed in the connection port. A stop tube surrounds the tubular member at the connection between the rigid member and the tubular member.

A channel tube passes through the inside of the tubular member and the rigid member. As the channel tube, for example, a channel tube such as a treatment tool insertion / suction channel tube or a suction channel tube for inserting a treatment tool such as forceps or sucking a dirt in a body cavity. For example, when the insertion portion is inserted into the body cavity, the operation portion that is a hard member is twisted, or the insertion portion that is a soft member or the universal cord is twisted, the stop tube is bent. However, the portion of the flexible channel tube inside the stop tube curves without being crushed. In this way, it is possible to prevent sharp bending of the channel tube.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an endoscope 1 according to an embodiment.
The overall appearance is shown. The endoscope includes an electronic scope and a fiber scope, and the electronic scope will be described here as an example. The endoscope 1 has an operating section 2 that is manually operated, and a long flexible tubular insertion section 3 that is connected to the distal end of the operating section 2. The insertion portion 3 is a portion to be inserted into a body cavity, and has a flexible portion 4 on the operation portion 2 side, a curved portion 5 continuously provided at the distal end thereof, and a tip made of a rigid body continuously provided at the distal end thereof. It is composed of a component 6. The flexible portion 4 is made of a flexible material so as to be bent by an external force, and the bending portion 5 is controlled to be bent by the operation portion 2 as described later.

The operation section 2 has a hard grip section 7 to be gripped by the user's hand, and a focus section 8 provided at the rear end thereof. The grip portion 7 is provided with various switches for performing various operations of the endoscope 1. A flexible tubular universal cord 9 extends to the side of the grip portion 7, and an end of the universal cord 9 has a connector 10 to be described later for connecting to another device such as a light source device.
Is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the outer appearance of the tip forming portion 6. The tip forming section 9 includes a through hole 11, an observation window 12, and illumination windows 13 and 1.
4. A nozzle 15 for supplying air and water is provided. Figure 3
Shows schematically the inside of the endoscope 1. As shown in FIG. 3, a signal wire 16 for observing the inside of the body cavity is provided from the observation connector portion C of the connector 10 to the distal end constituent portion 6 of the insertion portion 3 through the grip portion 7. The light received by the observation objective lens group 17 arranged at the back of the observation window 12 is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device E, and transmitted to the observation connector unit C through the signal wire 16. A monitor device, such as a video processor, can be connected to the observation connector section C so that the inside of the body cavity can be observed or photographed.

Further, the illumination connector portion 1 of the connector 10
An illumination bundle (light guide) 19 for illuminating the inside of the body cavity is arranged from 8 to the universal cord 9 and the grip portion 7 to the tip forming portion 6 of the insertion portion 3. In FIG. 3, only the illumination connector portion 18 and the illumination bundle 19 up to the rear end of the universal cord 9 are shown. The lighting bundle 19 is a bundle of many optical fibers,
The inside of the body cavity is illuminated through the illumination windows 13 and 14 (FIG. 2) provided in the tip forming section 6 and connected to the light source device via the connector 10.

Inside the insertion portion 3, an air / water feeding tube 20 is arranged. The tip of the air / water feeding tube 20 communicates with the nozzle 15 of the tip forming portion 6. Insufflation
The water supply tube 20 supplies air to inflate the inside of the body cavity through the nozzle 15 so that the inside of the body cavity can be easily observed, or to clean the observation window 12 and the illumination windows 13 and 14 shown in FIG. Is.

The air / water feeding tube 20 is provided by joining an air feeding tube 22 and a water feeding tube 23. The air supply tube 22 passes through the front portion 22 a provided from the insertion portion 3 to the grip portion 7 and the universal cord 9 from the grip portion 7, and the air supply connector portion 2 of the connector 10.
4 and a rear portion 22b connected to the air feeding pump P1. The water supply tube 23 includes the insertion portion 3 to the grip portion 7.
A front portion 23a disposed up to and a rear portion 23b disposed from the grip portion 7 through the universal cord 9 to the water supply cap 25 of the connector 10. The rear part 22b of the air supply tube 22 is also branched in the connector 10, and the branched part extends to the water supply cap 25.

In the vicinity of the water supply cap 25, a connector 26 that can contact the water supply cap 25 is arranged. In this connection tool 26,
An air supply tube 27 and a water supply tube 28 are attached. The air supply tube 27 and the water supply tube 28 are airtightly connected to the water supply tank T. Further, the grip portion 7 of the operation portion 2 is provided with an air / water feeding switching valve 29, and by operating this, if the front portion 22a and the rear portion 22b of the air feeding tube 22 are connected, Air pump P
1 to the front part 22a and the rear part 22b of the air supply tube 22
Through this, the air is supplied to the air / water supply tube 20.

On the other hand, by operating the air / water feeding switching valve 29, the connection between the front portion 22a and the rear portion 22b of the air feeding tube 22 is disconnected, and the front portion 23a and the rear portion 23b of the water feeding tube 23 are connected. Is connected to the water supply tank T through the rear part 22b of the air supply tube 22 and the air supply tube 27, the water W in the water supply tank is compressed and the water supply tube 28 and the water supply tube 2 are connected.
Water is supplied to the air / water supply tube 20 through the rear part 23b and the front part 23a of No. 3. At this time, the air / water switching valve 29 shields the rear portion 22b of the air tube 22.

Further, a treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 is arranged from the distal end constituting portion 6 of the insertion portion 3 to the grip portion 7. The distal end of the treatment instrument insertion / inhalation channel tube 30 communicates with the through hole 11 of the distal end forming section 6. The treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 can be connected to the suction channel tube 32 via a suction switching valve 31 provided in the grip portion 7. The suction channel pipe 32 passes through the universal cord 9 from the grip portion 7 and is connected to the suction pump P2 via the suction mouthpiece 33 of the connector 10. By connecting the treatment instrument insertion / inhalation channel pipe 30 and the suction channel pipe 32 by operating the suction switching valve 31, the suction force of the suction pump P2 causes dirt in the body cavity to pass through the treatment instrument insertion / inhalation channel pipe. It is sucked through 30 and the suction channel pipe 32 and accumulated in a waste tank (not shown) in front of the suction pump P2.

In addition, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30
Is branched in the grip portion 7, and a treatment tool such as forceps, a catheter, or a high-frequency treatment tool is inserted through a treatment tool insertion port 34 provided in the grip portion 7, and the treatment tool is used for treatment in a body cavity. It is possible to take action. A forceps plug 35 is arranged in the treatment instrument insertion port 34, and even when the treatment instrument is inserted by the forceps plug 35, air is leaked from the treatment instrument insertion port 34 during the suction operation of the filth. There is no such thing.

Although not shown in the figure, a connection port is formed at the tip of the grip portion 7 for connection with the flexible portion 4 of the tubular insertion portion 3. This connection port has a larger diameter than the flexible part 4, and the flexible part 4 is inserted into the connection port and fixed there. Since the grip portion 7 is a rigid body, as shown in FIG. 1, the connection portion between the grip portion 7 and the flexible portion 4 is provided to prevent the flexible portion 4 from bending along the edge of the connection port. A short stop tube 36 made of rubber or the like is arranged so as to surround the flexible portion 4. In this way, the flexible portion 4 is prevented from being bent, so that the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 is not crushed, and the suction action of filth and the cleanability after use of the endoscope are not hindered. . Further, the front portion 22a of the air supply tube 22 and the front portion 23a of the water supply tube 23 are crushed so that the air supply / water supply performance is not deteriorated.

A connection port (not shown) is also provided in the grip portion 7 for connection with the tubular universal cord 9.
Are formed. Universal cord 9
The diameter is larger than that of the universal cord 9, and the universal cord 9 is inserted into the connection port and fixed there. In order to prevent the universal cord 9 having a large flexibility from bending along the connecting portion between the universal cord 9 and the grip portion 7, the same stop pipe 37 as that described above is used to prevent the universal cord 9 from bending. Are arranged to surround the.

Further, a similar connection port (not shown) is also formed in the connector 10, and the universal cord 9 is inserted into the connection port and fixed there. Since the connector 10 is also made of a hard material, a similar stop pipe 38 is arranged at the boundary between the universal cord 9 and the connector 10 to surround the universal cord 9. In this way, the universal cord 9 is prevented from bending, whereby the suction channel tube 32 is crushed, and the suction action of dirt and the cleanability after using the endoscope are not hindered. Further, the rear part 22b of the air supply tube 22 and the rear part 23b of the water supply tube 23 are crushed so that the air supply / water supply performance is not deteriorated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 has a rigid tube 39 inside the grip portion 7.
Thus, a soft tube 40 is provided inside the stop tube 36, and a hard tube 41 is provided inside the flexible portion 4 and the bending portion 5 of the insertion portion 3. The front end of the rigid pipe 39 is fitted into the rear end of the soft pipe 40 so that the rigid pipe 39 and the soft pipe 40 communicate with each other. Further, at the front end of the soft pipe 40 and the rear end of the hard pipe 41,
The soft tube 40 and the hard tube 41 communicate with each other by the fitting of the connection tube 42. Further, a connection pipe 43 fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 11 of the tip forming portion 6 is fitted into the front end of the hard pipe 41 so that the hard pipe 41 communicates with the through hole 11.

The bending portion 5 on the tip side of the hard tube 41
A spiral groove is formed in a portion arranged inside the coil, and the coil body 44 is wound in the spiral groove. As a result, the flexibility of the hard tube 41 in the bending section 5 is increased, and even when the bending section 5 is bent, the hard tube 41 follows this and bends.

The hard tube 41 is made of a material having relatively small flexibility. For example, as the hard tube 41, a so-called Teflon tube made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used. On the other hand, the soft tube 40 is made of a material having relatively large flexibility. For example, as the soft tube 40, for example, a tube in which PTFE is made porous (so-called Gore tube) or a cross-linked polyethylene tube (so-called Irax tube) is used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the suction channel pipe 32 is a hard connecting pipe 45 communicating with the suction switching valve 31 inside the grip portion 7, and a soft pipe inside the stop pipes 37 and 38. 46 and 47, which are hard tubes 48 inside the portions of the universal cord 9 that are not surrounded by the stop tubes 37 and 38. Further, the suction channel pipe 32 is a hard connecting pipe 49 inside the connector.
9 communicates with the suction cap 33.

The rear end of the connecting pipe 45 is fitted into the front end of the hard pipe 46 so that the connecting pipe 45 and the hard pipe 46 communicate with each other. Further, the connecting pipe 50 is fitted into the rear end of the hard pipe 46 and the rear end of the soft pipe 48, so that the hard pipe 46
And the soft tube 48 communicate with each other. Further, the connecting pipe 51 is fitted into the rear end of the soft pipe 48 and the rear end of the soft pipe 47, so that the soft pipe 48 and the hard pipe 47 communicate with each other. Further, the front end of the connecting pipe 49 is fitted into the rear end of the hard pipe 47 so that the connecting pipe 47 and the connecting pipe 49 communicate with each other.

The hard tubes 46 and 47 are made of a material having relatively small flexibility, like the hard tube 41 described above. For example, as the hard tubes 46 and 47, so-called Teflon tubes made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are used. On the other hand, the soft tube 48 is the soft tube 4 described above.
Like 0, it is made of a relatively flexible material. For example, as the soft tube 48, for example, a tube in which PTFE is porous (so-called Gore tube) or a cross-linked polyethylene tube (so-called Irax tube) is used.

In this way, the flexible tube 40, 46, 47 is provided in the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 and the suction channel tube 32 inside the stop tubes 36, 37, 38, so that the grip portion 7 is twisted. Insertion part 3 when twiddled
And when the universal cord 9 is twisted, the soft tube 4
0, 46 and 47 are correspondingly smoothly curved. In this way, it is possible to prevent the channel tubes 30 and 32 from collapsing. Therefore, the operability of the treatment instrument when inserting the treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30,
Aspirability when performing suction with the channel tubes 30 and 32,
The cleaning performance when cleaning the channel tubes 30 and 32 does not deteriorate.

Further, the soft tube 40 and the hard tube 41 are connected by the connection tube 42 to form the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30, and the soft tubes 46 and 47 and the hard tube 48 are connected to each other.
Since the suction channel pipes 32 are formed by connecting the channel pipes 0, 51, it is easy to manufacture the channel pipes 30, 32.
It is possible to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of the channel tubes 30 and 32 and thus the endoscope 1. In addition, since it is not necessary to increase the cross-sectional areas of the channel tubes 30 and 32 within the limited cross-sectional area of the insertion portion 3 and the universal cord 9, the filling rate in the insertion portion 3 and the universal cord 9 does not increase. . This allows the channel tubes 30,
It is possible to prevent not only the movement of 32 but also other components from deteriorating and the operability of the treatment instrument from deteriorating, and it is possible to improve the durability of each component.

Further, although Gore tubes or Irax tubes are used as the soft tubes 40, 46, 47, since the Gore tube is porous, the inner peripheral surface is easily soiled and difficult to clean.
There is a drawback that the frictional resistance of the inner peripheral surface is large and the penetrability of the treatment tool is poor. Further, the Irax tube also has a drawback that the frictional resistance of the inner peripheral surface is large and the penetrability of the treatment tool is poor. In the channel pipes 30, 32, the soft pipes 40, 46, 47 are used only inside the break pipes 36, 37, 38, and in other portions, the hard pipes 44, 48 which are Teflon pipes and the hard connecting pipe 4 are used.
2, 43, 45, 49, 50, 51 are used to minimize the above-mentioned problems due to dirt and frictional resistance.

In this embodiment, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 and the suction channel tube 32 are connected to the soft tube 40,
Although 46 and 47 are used, soft tubes may be used in the inner portions of the break pipes 37 and 38 of the air supply tube 22 and the water supply tube 23.

Now, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment different from the above. Here, the soft tube 52 is also used in the portion of the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 inside the bending portion 5. The soft tube 52 is made of the same material as the above-mentioned soft tube 40, and is connected to the tip of the hard tube 41 via a connection tube 53 similar to the connection tube 42. In this way, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of winding the coil body 44 by forming the spiral groove at the tip of the hard tube 41 as shown in FIG.

A circular groove 54 is formed around the through hole 11 of the tip forming portion 6. The inner diameter of the groove 54 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the soft tube 52, and the width thereof is slightly larger than the thickness of the soft tube 52. As a result, the connecting pipe portion 55 is provided at the rear end of the tip forming portion 6. The tip of the soft tube 52 is fitted into the groove 54, and the connecting tube portion 55 is inserted into the soft tube 52 and adhered thereto. Thereby, the soft tube 52 is connected to the tip forming section 6.
The connection structure in which such a groove is formed is applied not only between the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 and the tip forming portion 6 but also between the air / water feeding tube 20 (FIG. 1) and the tip forming portion 6. can do.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the hard portion of the insertion portion 3 can be shortened as compared with the case where the connecting pipe 43 is projectingly provided on the tip forming portion 6. Therefore, the insertion portion 3 is more easily bent, and the insertability into the body cavity and the operability in the body cavity are improved. Further, since the width of the groove 54 is only slightly larger than the thickness of the soft tube 52,
Even when the pressure inside the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 becomes high, the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the soft tube 52 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the groove 54, so that the soft tube 52 is separated from the connecting tube portion 55, and the treatment is performed. It is also possible to prevent the inhaled substance from the tool insertion / suction channel tube 30 from leaking.

FIG. 7 shows the internal structure of the bending portion 5 applicable to any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The curved portion 5 is the node ring 5
A large number of 6, 57 are connected in series and pivotally attached to each other, the periphery of which is covered with a mesh-like blade (not shown), and the periphery thereof is covered with a rubber tube (not shown).
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a pair of protrusions 59 are formed on the front end edges of the node rings 56 and 57, and a pair of protrusions 59 are also formed on the rear end edges. The through hole 6 is formed in each convex piece 59.
0 is drilled. Then, as shown in FIG.
9 pieces are piled up, and the rivet 6 is inserted into the matched through hole 60.
By inserting and crimping 1, node rings 56 and 57 are pivotally attached to each other. By repeating such connection of the node rings, the bending portion 5 can be bent vertically and horizontally.

Node rings 56 and 57 used in the bending portion 5
Have different shapes as shown in FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 8, the node ring 56 has two end edges 56a and 56b.
Has a steep slope. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, one end edge 57a of the node ring 57 has an extremely gentle slope and the other end edge 57b has a steep slope.
In other words, both end edges 56a and 56b of the node ring 56 and the through hole 60
The shoulder opening angle θ1 (FIG. 8) between the centerline of the vertical direction and the centerline of the vertical direction of
It is smaller than (FIG. 9) and is about the same as the shoulder opening angle θ3 (FIG. 10) formed by the edge 57b and the through hole 60.

As shown in FIG. 7, the distal end side 62 of the bending portion 5 is
In this case, the node rings 56 having large shoulder opening angles on both sides are combined, so that the maximum curvature of the distal end side 62 of the bending portion 5 is increased. Further, at the rear end side 63 of the bending portion 5, a node ring 57 having a small shoulder opening size on one side is combined, so that the maximum curvature of the rear end side 63 of the bending portion 5 is smaller than that at the front end side 62. That is, in the figure, the angle θ4 between the adjacent node rings 56 on the front end side 62 is larger than the angle θ5 between the adjacent node rings 57 on the rear end side 63. By thus bending the front end side 62 of the bending portion 5 more than the rear end side 63, it is possible to facilitate observation of the internal part of the body cavity and to orient the treatment tool at a desired angle at a desired angle. . Further, since the node rings 56 and 57 have different shapes, the bending portion 5 can be assembled without confusing the node rings 56 and 57.

Now, as shown in FIG. 7, each node ring 56, 5
A pair of tubular wire guides 64 are brazed to the inner peripheral surface of 7. Angle wires 65a and 65b are inserted through these wire guides 64. These angle wires 65 a and 65 b are connected to the tip forming portion 6 of the insertion portion 3.
To the grip portion 7 of the operation portion 2 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 11 shows the angle wires 65a and 65b.
3 shows the arrangement state of the tip forming section 6. In the figure, reference numeral 66 indicates a node ring at the tip of the bending portion 6. Reference numeral 6
7 is the above-mentioned mesh-shaped blade. A fitting portion 68 that is fitted into the node ring 66 is provided on the rear side of the tip forming portion 6.

Now, the angle wire 65a has a curved portion 5
It is folded back at the tip of and passes through the upper side and the right side of the curved portion 5. On the other hand, the angle wire 65a is folded back at the tip of the bending portion 5 and passes between the lower side and the left side of the bending portion 5.
Further, a U-shaped groove 69 is formed in the fitting portion 68. The angle wire 65a is embedded in the groove 69. The angle wire 65b is also embedded in the U-shaped groove that is diagonal to the groove 69. Further, the fitting portion 68 is fitted into the node ring 66 and sandwiched between the two,
The tip end portions of the angle wires 65a and 65b are the tip end forming portion 6
Stuck to.

As described above, the angle wires 65a, 65
The rear end portions of b are arranged in the grip portion 7 and are connected to each other, and since the bending portion 5 is bent to the upper right side, the angle wire 65b is loosened by pulling the angle wire 65a. On the contrary, since the bending portion 5 is bent to the lower left side, pulling the angle wire 65b loosens the angle wire 65a. An operating knob (not shown) is arranged on the grip portion 7, and the angle wire 65a,
65b is adjusted so that the curvature and the bending direction of the bending portion 5 are controlled.

As described above, since the tips of the angle wires 65a and 65b buried in the groove are clamped and fixed between the fitting portion 68 and the node ring 66, the assembling work can be carried out without any trouble. It is possible. For example, angle wire 6
Conventionally, the tips of the 5a and 65b are fixed by brazing to the node ring 66 at the tip of the bending portion 6, but the complicated work such as brazing is not required and the efficiency is improved. be able to. Further, since brazing is not performed, the tip forming portion 6 or the bending portion 5 can be downsized.

In the illustrated example, the angle wire 65a passes through the upper side and the right side of the bending portion 5, and the angle wire 65b
Passes through the lower side and the left side of the curved portion 5, but even when the angle wires pass through the upper side and the left side of the curved portion 5 and the lower side and the right side, the angle wires are fixed as described above. It goes without saying that it is possible to do so.

Now, FIG. 12 shows the observation objective lens group 17 embedded in the tip forming section 6. The objective lens group 17 includes
A concave lens 71, a convex lens 72, and a concave lens 73 are arranged in order from the front end side, and are housed inside a tubular lens frame 70. A flange 74 is formed at the tip of the lens frame 70 toward the inside. On the other hand, a step portion 75 is formed on the tip side of the outer peripheral surface of the concave lens 71 at the tip. The stepped portion 75 is brought into contact with the flange 74 of the lens frame 70, and the stepped portion 75 and the flange 74 are bonded to each other, and the outer periphery of the concave lens 71 and the lens frame 70 are bonded to each other.

By thus providing the stepped portion 75 and the flange 74 and adhering between them, the concave lens 71 is formed.
The contact area between the lens frame 70 and the lens frame 70 becomes large, and the airtightness between them increases. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the intrusion of water vapor into the lens frame 70 through the space between the concave lens 71 and the lens frame 70, and to reduce the fogging of the observation objective lens group 17.

Inside the insertion portion 3 configured as described above, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube is housed as shown in FIG. First, in the bending portion 5, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 is linearly arranged in parallel with other components (only the illumination bundle 19 and the air / water feeding tube 20 are shown in the drawing). There is. On the other hand, in the flexible portion 4, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 is wound around the other components and arranged in a spiral shape.

The reason why the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 is formed in a spiral shape is that the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 moves in the axial direction when the bending portion 5 is bent. is there. That is, when the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 is linear in the flexible portion 4, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 bends and meanders in an unexpected direction during the bending operation, and other components are not formed. May be pressured. However, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 3
By setting 0 as a spiral shape from the beginning, even when it receives an axial force, it slides around other components and expands and contracts like a spring. Therefore, the treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 3
The zero does not meander in the flexible portion 4 and presses other components. Therefore, the durability of these components is improved.

Now, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, in the above-described embodiment, the through hole 11, the observation window 12, the illumination windows 13 and 1 are provided.
4 is provided on the tip surface of the tip forming portion 6 so that the inside of the body cavity can be directly viewed, but these can also be provided on the side surface of the tip forming portion 6. FIG. 14 shows the distal end configuration portion 6 of the endoscope capable of laterally looking inside the body cavity by such an arrangement.

An observation window 76, an illumination window 77, and an elongated hole 78 are provided on the side surface of the tip forming section 6. Further, a flange 79 is formed in the center of the tip forming portion 6, and an air / water feeding nozzle 80 is provided on the flange 79. Further, a treatment instrument raising base 81 is arranged in the front part of the through hole 78. Pins 82 are provided on both sides of the rear end of the treatment instrument raising base 81.
Is projected. On the other hand, in front of the through hole 78, a groove 83 that is bent at a substantially right angle is engraved.

Then, the pin 82 is fitted into the groove 83, guided therein, and disposed inside the groove 83, whereby the treatment instrument raising base 81 is detachably mounted in the through hole 78. A raising base operating wire 84 is connected to the tip of the treatment instrument raising base 81. The raising base operating wire 84 is inserted into the wire tube 85, passes through the insertion portion 3, and is guided into the grip portion 7 (see FIG. 1) of the operating portion 2.

The wire tube 85 is inserted into the inside of the connector 86 at the grip portion 7. The connector 86 is a tubular member that can be disassembled, and an O-ring 87 is fixed inside it. A thick portion 88 is formed at the rear end of the wire tube 85, and the thick portion 88 is sandwiched between O-rings 87. An O-ring 89 is fixed inside the connector 86, and a rod 90 is inserted and clamped in the O-ring 89. The tip of the rod 90 is formed as a tip cracked portion 91 which is split into two or more. This tip cracked part 9
1 is positioned so that the elevator operating wire 84 is sandwiched. The inner peripheral surface 86a of the connector 86 is formed in a tapered shape that gradually narrows toward the rear end side. Rod 90
The rear end of the treatment tool operating lever 92 provided on the grip portion 7 is provided.
It is connected to the.

Then, when the operating lever 92 is operated to pull the rod 90 rearward, the cracked portion 91 is sandwiched by the tapered inner peripheral surface 86a of the connecting tool 86 and closed, whereby the raising base operating wire is pulled. 84 is pinched by the front crack portion 91 and pulled backward. When the raising base operating wire 84 is pulled backward in this manner, the treatment instrument raising base 81 rotates around the pin 82 and rises. This makes it possible to bend a treatment tool such as forceps protruding from the through hole 78 and adjust the position within the field of view of the observation window 76.

When the operating lever 92 is operated to move the rod 90 forward, the tip crack portion 91 of the rod 90 is moved.
Are released from the inner peripheral surface 86 a of the connector 86. As a result, the raising base operating wire 84 can be pulled out from the cracked portion 91. As described above, the pin 82 is fitted into the groove 83 in the treatment instrument raising base 81, so that the through hole 78 is formed.
Since it is detachably attached to the treatment instrument raising stand 8
When 1 is removed, the elevator operating wire 84 extracted from the tip cracked portion 91 can also be taken out through the through hole 78. It is possible to easily clean the treatment tool raising base 81 and the raising base operating wire 84 thus removed.

Now, in the focus section 8 shown in FIG.
A focus ring 93 for moving the solid-state imaging device E shown in FIG. 1 to focus the observation objective lens group 17 is provided. FIG. 15 shows the internal structure of the focus ring 93. The focus ring 93 is integrally fixed to the inner ring 95 by screws 94. A female screw is engraved on the inner peripheral surface 96 of the inner ring 95, and an objective lens operating screw 97 is screwed therein. An inner wall 98 is arranged inside the inner ring 95 so as not to come into contact with the internal thread of the inner peripheral surface 96.

The inner wall 98 is fastened to the inner flange 99 at the rear end of the grip portion 7 with bolts 100 and nuts 101. The pipe 102 is fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the inner wall 98,
A ring 103 is fitted in the tube 102. Ring 1
03 is fastened to the ring 104 by bolts 105 and nuts 106. A ring 107 is sandwiched between the inner ring 95 and the ring 104. The objective lens operating screw 97 is housed in a recess 98a formed in the inner wall 98.

An O-ring 109 is sandwiched between the ring 104 and the ring 107, an O-ring 110 is sandwiched between the ring 104 and the inner ring 95, and the O-ring 110 is sandwiched between the inner flange 99 and the inner ring 95. O ring 1 between
11 and the retaining ring 112 are sandwiched. In this way, for example, when the endoscope is washed, the inside of the grip portion 7 is waterproofed so that moisture does not adhere to the inside observation bundle or the like.

Now, the O-ring 111 and its periphery A are shown in FIG. 16, and the O-ring 110 and its periphery B are shown in FIG.
Is shown in. As shown in FIG. 16, the inner ring 95
A groove 113 is formed in the groove, and the O-ring 111 is fitted in the groove 113. The front side of the concave groove 113 is a tapered surface that gradually increases toward the front. Figure 15
As shown in, the front side of the protection ring 112 is surrounded by the inner flange 99 and the inner wall 98 and has high watertightness, but there is a possibility that water may enter the rear side of the protection ring 112. However, as shown by the thick arrow in FIG. 16, when water enters between the protective ring 112 and the inner ring 95 from the rear, the O-ring 111 is pressed and moves forward. Since the front side of the concave groove 113 has a tapered surface, the O-ring 111 is in close contact with the protection ring 112 and the inner ring 95 at this time, and the watertightness between them is increased.

Also, as shown in FIG. 17, the inner ring 9
The groove 5 is formed with a groove 114, and the O-ring 110 is fitted in the groove 114. The rear side of the concave groove 114 is a tapered surface that gradually increases rearward. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 5, the O-ring 109 is located behind the ring 107.
Is arranged to have high water-tightness, but water may enter the front of the ring 107. However, as shown by the thick arrow in FIG. 17, when water enters between the ring 107 and the inner ring 95 from the front, the O-ring 110 is pressed and moves rearward. Since the rear side of the concave groove 114 has a tapered surface, the O-ring 110 at this time is the ring 107.
And the inner ring 95, and the watertightness between them is enhanced.

When both the O-rings 110 and 111 are used with an endoscope that is not pressed by cleaning water, the concave groove 1 is used.
It is located on the wider side of 13,114. Thus, the waterproofness of the O-rings 110 and 111 is enhanced only when necessary, and when the endoscope is used, the O-rings 110 and 1
The frictional force due to 11 is reduced. Therefore, the waterproofness can be ensured, and the focus ring 9 integrated with the inner ring 95 can be used when the endoscope is used.
It is possible to rotate 3 with a light force.

When the focus ring 93 is rotated while looking at the monitor connected to the observation connector C, the inner ring 95 integral with the focus ring 93 is driven, and the objective lens operating screw 97 screwed into the inner ring 95 is moved. Rotate.
Then, the operation wire 115 attached to the objective lens operation screw 97 moves back and forth, and the solid-state image pickup device E (FIG. 3) arranged in the distal end forming section 6 and connected to the operation wire 115 moves back and forth, and the objective lens group 17 and Focusing between

Now, FIG. 18 shows the internal structure of the universal cord 9 applicable to any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The universal cord 9 is a multi-lumen structure tube having a plurality of holes formed along the axial direction. That is, the universal cord 9 includes the suction channel tube 3
2, a suction channel tube hole 116 for inserting the air supply tube 22, an air supply tube hole 117 for inserting the rear portion 22b of the air supply tube 22, an illumination bundle hole 118 for inserting the illumination bundle 19, and a signal. An electric wire hole 120 for inserting the electric wire 16 is formed. Although not shown, the universal cord 9 is also formed with a water supply tube hole 117 for inserting the rear portion 23b of the water supply tube 23.

In this way, each component is connected to the holes 116, 11
Since these components are arranged in the universal cord 9 by inserting them into 7, 118, 120,
As compared with the case where one hole is provided in the universal cord and the constituent elements are collectively inserted into the one hole, the universal cord is more efficient and the assembling work and the repair work can be simplified.

A ground terminal 121 is attached to the connector 10 as shown in FIG. The ground terminal 121 prevents a high-frequency leakage current from being transmitted through a metal part inside the endoscope when the high-frequency treatment tool is used as the above-mentioned treatment tool, so that the subject is not electrocuted or burned. It is provided in. As shown in FIG. 20, the ground terminal 121 is made of metal and includes a head 122, a neck 123, a flange 124, a step 125, and a body 126. A male screw is formed on the outer periphery of the head 122 so as to be screwed with other parts, and a hole 127 is further formed from the end surface of the head 122 to the neck 123. A screw hole 129 is formed on the outer wall 128 of the connector 10, and a male screw is formed on the outer periphery of the body 126. The body 126 is screwed into the screw hole 129, and the ground terminal 121 is fixed to the outer wall 128 of the connector 10.

An O-ring 130 is fitted to the step portion 125, so that an extra force generated by fastening the ground terminal 121 and the connector 10 is absorbed. A linear groove 131 is formed on the end surface of the body 126. Then, one end of the grounding lead wire 132 is fitted into the groove 131 and is brazed there. This lead wire 1
The other end of 32 passes through the inside of the universal cord 9 and is connected to the metal portion inside the grip portion 7, and the lead wire 132
Through the above, the above-mentioned leakage current can be transmitted to the ground terminal 121. Although not shown in FIG. 18, the universal cord 9 has holes 116, 117, 1
Holes similar to 18, 120 are also provided for the lead wire 132.

As shown in FIG. 20, since the lead wire 132 is fitted into the groove 131 and brazed here, the solder does not rise and the space inside the connector 10 is not eroded. ing. Therefore, the connector 10 can be downsized.

[0071]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the endoscope of the present invention, when the operation portion which is a hard member is twisted, the insertion portion which is a soft member and the universal cord are When twisted, even if the stop tube bends, the flexible portion of the channel tube within the stop tube will flex smoothly. In this way, it is possible to prevent collapse of the channel pipe. Therefore, the operability of the treatment tool when inserting the treatment tool into the channel tube, the suction property when performing suction with the channel tube, and the cleaning property when cleaning the channel tube are not deteriorated.

Furthermore, since it is possible to eliminate forming a spiral groove in the channel tube, winding a coil body, and covering the reinforcing tube, the channel tube can be produced without trouble. it can. Therefore, it is possible to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of the channel tube and thus the endoscope. Moreover, since it is not necessary to increase the cross-sectional area of the channel tube within the limited cross-sectional area of the soft member, the filling rate in the insertion portion and the universal cord does not increase. As a result, it is possible to prevent the movement of other components as well as the channel tube from being deteriorated and the operability of the treatment tool from being deteriorated, and it is possible to improve the durability of each component.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a distal end forming portion 6 of the endoscope 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a piping state inside the endoscope 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of a treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 disposed inside the endoscope 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a configuration of a suction channel tube 32 arranged inside the endoscope 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a configuration of a treatment tool insertion / suction channel tube 30 of an endoscope according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a bending portion 5 applicable to any of the above embodiments.
3 is a side sectional view showing the structure of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a node ring 56 that constitutes the bending portion 5.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a node ring 57 that constitutes the bending portion 5.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the node ring 57.

FIG. 11 is a front end forming portion 6 continuously provided at the front end of the bending portion 5.
And an angle wire 65a for controlling the curvature of the bending portion 5,
It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of 65b.

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of an observation lens group 17 arranged in the tip forming section 6.

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing a disposition state of a treatment instrument insertion / suction channel tube 30 applicable to any of the above embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an exploded view of a treatment instrument raising base 81 and its operating means used for the distal end constituting part 6 having a structure different from that of the above-mentioned distal end constituting part 6.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing the internal structure of a focus ring 93 applicable to any of the above embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of an O-ring 111 used inside the focus ring 93 and its periphery.

FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of an O-ring 110 used inside the focus ring 93 and its periphery.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing the internal structure of a universal cord 9 applicable to any of the above embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a connector 10 applicable to any of the above embodiments.

FIG. 20 is a ground terminal 121 used in the connector 10.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Operation part (hard member) 3 Insertion part (tubular member) 9 Universal cord (tubular member) 30 Treatment tool insertion / suction channel pipe 32 Suction channel pipe 36, 37, 38 Stop pipe 40, 46, 47 Soft pipe 44, 48 hard pipe 42,43,45,49,50,51 connecting pipe

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flexible tubular member, a rigid member having a diameter larger than that of the tubular member and connected to the tubular member, and the tubular member for preventing bending of the tubular member. And a rigid tube surrounding the tubular member at a connection portion with the rigid member, and an endoscope having a channel tube that passes through the tubular member and the rigid member, wherein the channel tube is inside the stationary tube. An endoscope characterized in that a part is formed of a material having greater flexibility than other parts.