JPH0723892A - Connector in endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the damage of internally packaged objects by providing another member with one knurling and forming an insertion part of an endoscope in such a manner that this part can be engaged and disengaged without moving the part in an axial direction in connection of a connecting fitting of the insertion part and a hollow member of an operating part by engagement of male and female knurlings. CONSTITUTION:The connecting fitting 33 of the insertion part 3 and the hollow member 31 of the operating part 2 are respectively provided with the male and female knurlings 34 detained at every prescribed angle by the rugged shapes engaging with each other on the circumference. Either one of the male and female knurlings is disposed on a sliding member 37 which is a part separate from the connecting fitting or the hollow member, is slidable in the engaging and disengaging directions of the knurlings and is formed detainably in the rotating direction with the connecting fitting or the hollow member. The insertion part is released from stopping of rotation by shifting this sliding member in the axial direction of the endoscope.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of a connecting device between an insertion portion and an operating portion in an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a light guide for illumination, a code for guiding an image, a wire for bending operation, forceps for sampling, etc. are provided inside an insertion portion of an endoscope to be inserted into a subject. A forceps tube, an air supply / water supply tube, and the like to be inserted are inserted, and a bending portion near the tip end portion is configured to be bent and deformed by the operation of the operation knob of the operation unit. Further, in the insertion portion, a portion connecting the bending portion and the operation portion is provided in the flexible portion having flexibility.

The base end portion of the insertion portion is connected to the operation portion, and various tubes and the like installed in the insertion portion are introduced into the operation portion through this connection portion, and the bending operation mechanism and the air / water supply conduit switching are performed. Connected to valves, forceps ports, connectors, etc.

In the connection between the insertion section and the operating section, the position adjustment in the rotational direction, that is, the rising adjustment, is performed so that the bending section rises and deforms in accordance with the reference direction of the operating section when the insertion section is operated. It is necessary to carry out the assembly by carrying out the above, and a rotation-adjustable connecting structure therefor is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-10490 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-270020.

As an example of the above-mentioned connecting structure, a structure in which the connecting portion between the insertion portion and the operating portion is abutted via the tapered surface and both tapered surfaces are pressed and fixed by tightening the annular member is adopted and loosened. The relative position of the two can be adjusted in this state. Further, as another connection structure, male and female knurls having protrusions and recesses are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference on the connection end surface or the peripheral surface of the insertion portion and the operation portion, and both are engaged and tightened. There is one provided in a structure in which, while being connected, it is loosened to disengage and the angle can be adjusted.

[0006]

However, in the coupling device for an endoscope as described above, the insertion portion is axially moved and pulled by loosening the coupling portion for adjusting the angle after assembly. In some cases, the tension may act on the interiors such as various tubes disposed inside when the tension is applied, which may damage the connection part and the like, and the predetermined function may not be obtained.

That is, in the above-mentioned conventional connecting structure via a tapered surface, if the tapered surface is not provided with a concavo-convex shape, the angle can be adjusted without much axial movement. The function of the rotation stopper at that time is small, and the adjustment angle may shift when a large force is applied.
In addition, in the connection structure by the knurled engagement of the unevenness, the rotation stop at the time of fastening is sure, but in order to disengage the unevenness, the connecting metal fitting of the insertion part must be moved in the axial direction according to the engagement amount. Therefore, a tensile force acts on the interior material arranged in the insertion portion, which causes a problem of failure.

Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention relates to surely connecting the connecting fitting of the insertion portion and the hollow member of the operating portion of the endoscope via the male and female knurls, by inserting the knurl into the insertion portion or the operating portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device for an endoscope that can be engaged and disengaged without moving in the axial direction.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, a connecting device for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises a connecting fitting disposed at an end of an insertion portion of the endoscope and an end of an operating portion. A hollow member arranged on the base is provided with male and female knurls that engage with each other at predetermined angles due to the concavo-convex shapes that engage with each other on the circumference, and the rising adjustment that fixes the insertion part to the operation part at the predetermined angle In order to connect and fix both of them, one of the male and female knurls can be slid in the engagement and disengagement direction of the knurl by a component different from the connection fitting or the hollow member, and the connection fitting or the hollow member. And a sliding member formed so as to be locked in the rotation direction, and configured to release the rotation stopper of the insertion portion by moving the sliding member in the axial direction of the endoscope. is there.

The connecting fitting of the insertion portion is connected to the hollow fitting of the operating portion by a restricting mechanism that allows rotation but restricts movement of the endoscope in the axial direction. It is preferable to provide the structure in which the rotation is stopped by.

[0011]

According to the above construction, one of the knurls is provided on the sliding member which is a member different from the connecting fitting or the hollow member, and the sliding member is moved to separate the knurls so that the connecting fitting and the hollow member are separated from each other. The rotation stopper is released, the relative angle between the insertion portion and the operation portion is adjusted without applying an axial pulling force, and the sliding member is moved into the engaged and coupled state.

Further, in the case where the regulating mechanism is provided, the movement in the axial direction is regulated only by rotating the operating portion and the inserting portion with a predetermined clearance even when the sliding member is moved to separate the knurls. The structure is such that the tensile force does not act more reliably on the interior.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an endoscope according to an embodiment.

The endoscope 1 is provided with an operating section 2 which the operator holds and performs various operations, and an insertion section 3 (the tip section is not shown) for inserting into the subject on the tip side. The operation unit 2 is composed of a main body case 10 at a base end portion, a grip case 11 connected to the main body case 10, and a branch case 12 connected to the grip case 11.

On the other hand, although not shown, the insertion portion 3 is provided with a bending portion that can be bent and deformed in an arbitrary direction, and a tip observing portion is installed on the tip side of the bending portion, and an image is formed at this tip portion. An optical system such as a sensor and an imaging objective lens, and other various members are installed, and an opening for inserting forceps, a tube for feeding air, water, etc. are inserted, and the proximal end side of the bending portion is A flexible portion 13 having flexibility is connected, and the operation portion 2 is connected to the proximal end side of the flexible portion 13 for performing various operations such as photographing and bending operation.

The main body case 10 of the operating portion 2 has a bending operation mechanism (not shown) inside, and has up and down and left and right operation knobs for operating the bending operation mechanism on the opposite side of the drawing. , Air / water supply valve 17, suction valve 1
8. A photographing switch 19 is installed, and further, a light guide and other various tubes connected to an illumination light source (not shown), and a flexible connecting portion 20 for leading out cords are connected.

The gripping case 11 is formed into a thin and circular shape in order from the connecting portion with the main body case 10 and is connected to the branching case 12. The branching case 12 is provided with a forceps port 12a and is internally provided with forceps. Tube 23 (see Fig. 2) is a branch fitting 24
Is branched by. Further, a sub water supply system pipe fitting 25 is provided.

In the branch case 12 of the operation section 2, as shown in FIG. 2, a reinforcing tubular member is provided along the inner peripheral surface thereof.
A chassis 30 in which a sleeve-shaped hollow member 31 is disposed on the inner circumference of the tip of the tubular member 30, and the rear end of the tubular member 30 extends from the grip case 11 to the main body case 10. It is connected to a tip (not shown).

On the other hand, in the insertion portion 3, a sleeve-like connection fitting 33 is fixed to one end of the flexible portion 13 (flexible tube), and the connection fitting 33 of the insertion portion 3 and the hollow member 31 of the operation portion 2 are connected. It is connected by a connecting device to be described later so that the rising can be adjusted by changing the relative angle.

A protective cover rubber 14 is provided on the outer periphery of the connecting portion between the insertion portion 3 and the operating portion 2.
An insert fitting 15 is fixed to 14 and a protective sleeve 16 is provided between the insert fitting 15 and the tip of the branch case 12.

The connection fitting 33 of the insertion portion 3 and the operation portion 2
The detailed structure of the hollow member 31 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The connection fitting 33 and the hollow member 31 are provided with male and female knurls 34 and 35, which are locked at a predetermined angle by a concavo-convex shape that engages with each other on the circumference. Specifically, a male knurl 34 is formed annularly on the outer peripheral portion of the connection fitting 33 by a triangular wave-shaped unevenness in which projections (grooves) extend in the axial direction, and a male screw portion 33a is adjacent to the male knurl 34. O-ring groove 33b is formed on the outer circumference of the end portion, and a small diameter step portion 33c is formed on the opposite end portion. In addition, the end of the connecting side has a male threaded portion 33 with a diameter smaller than that of the small diameter stepped portion 33c.
d is provided.

On the other hand, the hollow member 31 has a ring shape, and engaging protrusions 31a are provided at three locations on the outer periphery thereof, and the engaging protrusions 31a are provided.
On the other hand, the tip of the tubular member 30 is fixed by screws 42 from the outer peripheral side. In addition, an engagement step portion 31b is formed in the end portion on the inner peripheral side, which is removed stepwise so that the inner diameter becomes large.

A sliding member 37 having a structure separately formed from the hollow member 31 is provided, and the sliding member 37 can be fitted and slid on the outer periphery of the hollow member 31. An engaging recess 37a is provided at one end of the hollow member 31 so as to match the engaging projection 31a of the hollow member 31 and engage with the engaging projection 31a. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the sliding member 37, there is annularly arranged a female knurl 35 formed by triangular wave-shaped irregularities in which projections (grooves) extend in the axial direction, and the female knurl 35 is formed on the outer periphery of the connection fitting 33. The male knurl 34 can be engaged with and disengaged from the male knurl 34 in an axial direction, and the inner diameter of the portion other than the female knurl 35 is formed to be larger than the male knurl 34 having the maximum diameter of the connecting fitting 33.

Further, the hollow member 31 is the connection fitting 33.
Hollow member that can be fitted and inserted into the small-diameter step portion 33c of
When the engaging projections 31a of the sliding member 37 are engaged with the engaging recesses 37a of the sliding member 37, the inner peripheral female knurl 35 of the sliding member 37 is
However, the positions of the two are set so as to engage with the male knurls 34 on the outer periphery of the connection fitting 33.

Further, a fastening ring 41 for fixing the hollow member 31 and the sliding member 37 is provided, and the fastening ring 41 is provided with a female screw 41a on the inner circumference of the ring member.
41 contacts the end surface of the sliding member 37 and is screwed into the male screw portion 33a of the connection fitting 33.

Further, a restriction ring 43 having an internal thread 43a which can be screwed into the external thread 33d of the connection fitting 33 is provided. The outer peripheral portion of the restriction ring 43 is the hollow member.
It is inserted into the engagement step portion 31b of 31 and is provided in a structure that restricts the movement of the connecting fitting 33 in the axial direction. The outer diameter of the restriction ring 43 is smaller than the inner diameter of the engagement step portion 31b of the hollow member 31, and the restriction ring 43 of the restriction ring 43 is inserted in the state of being fastened to the male screw portion 33d of the connection fitting 33. The part 3 is rotatable with respect to the hollow member 31.

The hollow member 31 and the connecting fitting 33 are rotatably connected to each other by the restriction ring 43 so that they cannot be separated in the axial direction, while the sliding member 37 connects the hollow member 31 and the connecting fitting 33 to the knurls 34 and 35. The relative angular position is regulated by the engagement, and the sliding member 37 is prevented from coming off by the fastening ring 41 to be connected.

To explain the operation of the above embodiment, the insertion portion 3
In order to adjust the rising edge of the operating portion 2, that is, to disassemble the operating portion 2 in order to adjust the position of the angle of the inserting portion 3, first, loosen the fastening ring 41 with the cover rubber 14 removed, and pull out the sliding member 37. The rotation stop of the insertion portion 3 is released by moving the knurls 34 and 35 out of engagement with each other and removing the engaging recess 37a from the engaging projection 31a of the hollow member 31 and pulling it out. In this state, the connection ring 33 can be relatively rotated by the restriction ring 43 without moving in the axial direction from the hollow member 31, and the operation knob (not shown) of the operation section 2 is operated to bend the insertion section 3. The connection fitting 33 (insertion portion 3) is rotationally adjusted so that the angle of the rising portion becomes a set value with respect to the reference angle of the operation portion 2.

Then, when the position is determined, the sliding member 37 is slid to engage the engaging recess 37a at the tip with the engaging projection of the hollow member 31, while the female knurl 35 on the inner periphery is moved. Connection fitting
It meshes with the male knurled 34 on the outer periphery of 33. As a result, the relative rotational position between the connection fitting 33 (insertion portion 3) and the hollow member 31 (operation portion 2) is regulated, and then the fastening ring 41 is tightened to prevent the sliding member 37 from coming off. It becomes a connected state. After that, the branch case 12, the cover rubber 14 and the like are attached.

In the above embodiment, male and female knurls are used.
34 and 35 show an example in which irregularities are formed in the circumferential direction on the outer circumference of the connection fitting 33 and the inner circumference of the sliding member 37, but the male and female knurls 34 and 35 are formed on the entire circumference. It is not necessary to form it partially, and the engagement shape can be variously modified. As an example, the connection fitting 33 and the sliding member
Male and female knurls may be provided on the butt end surface of the butt 37 so as to form an unevenness in the axial direction, and the shape of the unevenness can be appropriately changed to a conventionally known shape such as a comb tooth shape.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sliding member 37 is formed as a separate member from the hollow member 31 of the operating portion 2, but it is formed as a separate member from the connecting fitting 33 of the insertion portion 3. Good.

On the other hand, in the above embodiment, the axial movement of the connecting fitting 33 with respect to the hollow member 31 is regulated by the screwing of the regulating ring 43, but this regulating structure can be changed to another structure. , For example, an annular groove may be formed in the connection fitting 33 so that the pin is engaged with the hollow member 31 to allow rotation but to restrict axial disengagement. You may use 15. However, by installing this restriction structure, if the axial length of the connection fitting 33 becomes longer, or the connecting fitting 33 projects in the axial direction, or if the radial dimension becomes large, the internal accommodation space of the branch case 12 becomes narrow and the assemblability is reduced. Therefore, it is preferable to use the internal structure of the restriction ring 43, etc.

[0033]

According to the connecting device of the endoscope of the present invention, either one of the male and female knurls is
The sliding member is provided separately from the connecting fitting or the hollow member so as to be slidable in the engagement / disengagement direction of the knurl and lockable to the connecting fitting or the hollow member in the rotation direction. Since the rotation stopper of the insertion part is released by shifting the insertion part in the axial direction of the endoscope, the sliding member can be rotated in the axial direction when releasing the connection between the two for rotational adjustment. It can be done without moving the insertion part in the axial direction by disengaging the knurls by moving it to the inside of the insertion part, and tension is not applied to the interior parts such as various tubes arranged inside the insertion part. It is possible to obtain a reliable rotation stopping structure at the time of engagement, which can be prevented and does not damage the connecting portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a connecting device portion of an endoscope.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a connecting device portion of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Endoscope 2 Operation part 3 Insertion part 12 Branch part case 13 Flexible part 30 Cylindrical member 31 Hollow member 31a Engagement protrusion 33 Connection metal fitting 34 Male knurl 35 Female knurl 37 Sliding member 37a Engagement recess 41 Fastening ring 43 Regulation ring

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connecting device for connecting a connecting fitting arranged at an end of an insertion portion of an endoscope and a hollow member arranged at an end of an operating portion, wherein the connecting fitting and the hollow member are hollow. The members are provided with male and female knurls that lock each other at a specified angle due to the concavo-convex shapes that engage with each other on the circumference, and the insertion part is fixed to the operating part at a specified angle and the two are connected and fixed. Regarding to, either one of the male and female knurls,
The connecting member or the hollow member is provided as a separate component which is provided on a sliding member which is slidable in the knurling engagement / disengagement direction and lockable with the connecting member or the hollow member in the rotation direction. A coupling device for an endoscope, wherein a rotation stop of an insertion portion is released by moving a sliding member in an axial direction of the endoscope. 2. The sliding fitting of the insertion portion is connected to the hollow fitting of the operating portion by a restriction mechanism that allows rotation but restricts axial movement of the endoscope. The coupling device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the rotation is stopped by.