JPH0731764Y2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of use] The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus in which interference between a protection member of a built-in member and a base is prevented during bending operation.

[Problems to be Solved by Conventional Techniques and Inventions] In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, the inside of the body cavity is observed and, if necessary, treatment is performed using a treatment tool. Alternatively, an endoscope apparatus which can insert the above-mentioned insertion portion into a tube hole and observe the inside of the tube hole is widely used.

An image transmitting means such as a signal cable and a built-in object such as a forceps channel through which the treatment tool is inserted are inserted into the insertion portion. Both ends of these built-in objects reach the distal end portion of the insertion portion and the operation portion at hand, and an image observed through the observation through hole of the distal end portion is transmitted to the operation portion side,
The forceps inserted from the operating portion side is configured to be guided to the distal end side.

In addition, a bending portion formed of, for example, node rings that are rotatable with respect to each other is provided near the distal end portion of the insertion portion. The bending portion and the flexible tube arranged on the operation portion side of the bending portion are connected via a mouthpiece, and the tip portion can be directed to the observed site by bending the bending portion. It is like this.

During this bending operation, the built-in object tends to move in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the bending portion. When this built-in object moves, it may slide against another built-in object or the inner wall of the node ring, which may cause damage.

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-11762, even if a built-in object slides in contact with another built-in object by covering a portion of the built-in object that is inserted into the curved portion, the built-in object is slidably contacted with the built-in object. There is disclosed a technique for preventing the occurrence of damage to the flexible tube and preventing the diameter of the flexible tube from increasing.

However, the mouthpiece that connects the curved portion and the flexible tube is generally provided on the inner peripheral side of the flexible tube or node ring in order to prevent the diameter of the insertion portion from increasing. For,
The end surface of the protection member faces the base. On the other hand, when the bending portion is operated to bend, the end portion of the protection member covered by the built-in object tends to move in the axial direction with respect to the built-in object.

Therefore, interference occurs between the end of the protection member and the end of the mouthpiece, making it difficult to bend the bending portion, or the end of the protection member enters the mouthpiece and the inside of the mouthpiece There is a possibility to increase the filling rate of the built-in components in. When the filling rate is increased, the degree of freedom of the built-in body in this elevated portion is reduced, and if the built-in body meanders in the curved portion and is serious, the built-in body may be damaged.

In order to cope with this, it is conceivable to shorten the protective member provided in the bending portion so that the end portion of the protective member does not reach the end portion of the base during the bending operation. However, with such a configuration, the effect of protection must be reduced, and the curved portion may be curved, and stress may concentrate near the end of the protective member, causing breakage.

It is also conceivable to insert the end portion of the protection member into the mouthpiece, but this protection member causes an increase in the diameter of the flexible tube.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and prevents interference between the end of the protection member of the built-in object and the mouthpiece, and changes the filling rate of the built-in article in the mouthpiece. To prevent the bending of the bending portion from becoming difficult, and to prevent the effect of protection by the protective member from decreasing, thereby preventing damage to the built-in object. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope device capable of avoiding an increase in the diameter of a portion.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] In the endoscope device of the present invention, the built-in object is inserted into the insertion portion in which the flexible tube and the bending section are connected to each other through the mouthpiece, and the bending section of the built-in object is inserted. In an endoscope device in which a protection member is coated on a portion inserted into the at least one portion, a cutout portion for preventing interference between the mouthpiece and the protection member is provided on at least one of the portions where the mouthpiece and the protection member abut each other during a bending operation. Is formed.

With such a configuration, even when the bending portion is operated to be bent, the notch formed in at least one of the protection member and the base prevents interference between the protection member and the base.

[Embodiment of the Invention] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a curved portion, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view indicated by an arrow III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an IV in FIG.
-IV line arrow view, FIG. 5 is an overall view of the endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a joined state of the coil pipe and the tip end main body.

In these drawings, reference numeral 1 is an endoscope device, and the endoscope device 1 has an elongated insertion portion 2 having flexibility, which can be inserted into a body cavity or the like, as shown in FIG. This insertion part 2
The operation part 3 having a large diameter is continuously provided on the rear end side.
A cable 5 in which light transmitting means, signal current transmitting means and the like are installed extends from a side portion of the operation portion 3.

On the other hand, the insertion portion 2 includes a tip portion 6, a bending portion 7 adjacent to the rear side of the tip portion 6, and a flexible tube 10 between the bending portion 7 and the operating portion 3. There is. This flexible tube
10 is composed of a spiral tube, a flexible tube, etc., and a blade 10a formed by braiding metal thin wires in a mesh shape on the outer periphery or relatively loosely covered, and both ends thereof are fixed to the flexible tube 10 by soldering or the like. Has been done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bending portion 7 is composed of a large number of node rings 8, 8 ... The node rings 8 and 8 are formed with tongue pieces 8a that are layered on top of each other, for example, facing each other vertically.
A rivet 8b is inserted through a layered portion of 8a, and the node rings 8, 8 ... Can rotate left and right with respect to each other via the rivet 8b.

The node ring 8 located at the foremost end of these node rings 8,8 ...
Are fixed to the tip portion main body 9 disposed at the tip portion in a state where their positions in the rotational direction are matched with each other. That is,
A small diameter portion 9a having a diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the node ring 8 is formed on the curved portion 7 side of the tip body 9, and the node ring 8 is fitted into the small diameter portion 9a. The tip of the node ring 8 is in contact with an abutting portion 9b formed adjacent to the small diameter portion 9a.

On the other hand, a base 11 having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the node ring 8 is fixed to the distal end of the flexible tube 10, and the base 11 is rotated into the base 8 located at the rearmost end. It is inserted and fixed in the state of being positioned in the direction. An abutting portion 11a is formed on the inner side of the mouthpiece 11 and on the operating portion 3 side, and the end portions of the flexible tube 10 and the blade 10a abut on the corresponding abutting portion 11a.

A notch 14 is formed on one side of the base 11. The notch 14 is formed in the lower portion of the base 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the end of the base 11 which is not cut out.
A step portion 11d, which is a straight line parallel to the axis of the mouthpiece 11, is provided between 11b and the notched bottom portion 11c.

On the other hand, a pair of wire guides 12 are provided so as to oppose the left and right inner sides of the large number of node rings 8, 8 and the left and right cutout portions 14 inside the base 11. This wire guide
Is 12 formed by bending a part of the node ring 8?
Alternatively, another member is fixedly provided, and the angle wires 13 are inserted into the respective wire guides 12.

One end of the angle wire 13 is fixed to the inner circumference of the node ring 8 at the foremost end by, for example, brazing, while the other end is connected to the angle operation knob 3a provided on the operation portion 3. By operating the angle operation knob 3a, the angle wire can be pulled or loosened, and the bending portion 7 can be bent, for example, left and right.

By the way, the outer circumference of the plurality of node rings 8, 8 forming the curved portion 7 is relatively loosely covered with a blade 16 similar to the outer circumference of the flexible tube 10 described above. An outer skin 16a made of, for example, resin is coated on the outer periphery of the.

The outer skin 16a is formed to be longer than the blade 16, and its tip is fixed to another small-diameter portion 9c formed on the outer periphery of the tip body 9 with a spool and an adhesive 17a, while The end portion is in contact with the outer circumference of the portion of the mouthpiece 11 in contact with the blade 10a. The rear end of the outer skin 16a is formed in the same plane as the end surface of the mouthpiece 11 on the operating portion 3 side, and the outer surface of the flexible tube 10 is covered with the end surfaces of the mouthpiece 11 and the outer skin 16a. The end surface of the tip side of 10b is in contact. The rear end of the outer cover 16a and the front end of the other outer cover 10b are fixed to the flexible tube 10 with one bobbin and an adhesive 17b.

On the other hand, in the inside of the insertion portion 2, a channel tube 18 arranged above the insertion portion 2, a signal cable 19 as an example of a video transmission means arranged below the channel tube 18, and these channel tubes. A built-in object 21 such as a light guide 20 arranged in a pair with respect to a line connecting the 18 and the signal cable 19 is inserted. Also,
Corresponding to each of these built-in objects 21, a channel through hole 22, an observation through hole 23, and an illumination through hole in which an illumination lens system (not shown) is fixed in a watertight state are formed in the tip end main body 9. There is.

The channel through hole 22 has a small diameter portion 24 on the outer periphery on the rear end side.
The channel base 24 having a is fixed, and the small diameter portion 2
Between the end 4a and the inner periphery of the channel through hole 22, the distal end of the channel tube 18 is gripped and fixed while maintaining watertightness. Also, the rear end side of this channel tube 18 is
It extends to the side of the operation portion 3 through the inside of the curved portion 7 and a portion of the mouthpiece 11 which is not cut out, and communicates with a forceps insertion hole 3b formed in the operation portion 3. The forceps inserted through the forceps insertion hole 3b is the channel tube 18
Is guided in the direction of the tip portion 6.

Further, an objective lens system 23a composed of a plurality of optical lenses is fixed in the observation through hole 23 in a watertight state by, for example, an adhesive or the like. A solid-state image sensor 25 is fixed to the curved portion 7 side of the objective lens system 23a with an adhesive or the like in a focused state. A plurality of terminals 25a are provided on the back surface of the solid-state imaging device 25.
The core wire 19a exposed on the tip side of the signal cable 19
Are fixed with solder or the like.

On the rear end side of the signal cable 19, the curved portion 7, the substantially central portion of the cutout portion 14 of the base 11, and the flexible tube 10 are extended to the connector 5a provided at the tip of the cable 5. The connector 5 is connected to a control device (not shown).

A protective member 26 made of resin or the like is coated on the outer periphery of the portion of the signal cable 19 that is inserted into the curved portion 7. The tip end of the protection member 26 is cut into the same plane as the tip end of the signal cable 19 so that the spool 26a
Being tied up in. Further, the signal cable 19, a portion from the tip portion of the protective member 26 to the solid-state imaging device 25,
Also, the channel tube 18 and the portion extending to the rear end side of the tip portion main body 1 are filled with a filler 27 such as an adhesive to reinforce and fix these portions. This filler is injected, for example, through a hole, a notch, or the like (not shown) formed in the node ring 8 on the most distal side.

On the other hand, the rear end side of the protective member 26 is extended into the node ring 8 at the rearmost end, and the end portion thereof is cut substantially in the same plane as the non-notched end portion 11b of the base 11. ing.
Therefore, the rear end of the protection member 26 and the bottom portion 11 of the base 11 are
It is separated from c by an amount corresponding to the step portion 11b of the base 11. Further, the rear end portion of the protection member 26 is the rearmost node ring 8
Even if the bending portion 7 is operated to be bent, the rear end portion of the protection member 26 is closer to the front end portion 6 than the front end of the node ring 8 arranged at the rearmost end. It is set not to move to.

Further, the tip end side of the light guide 20 is inserted into an illumination through hole (not shown) formed in the tip end body 9, and the inserted portion is adhesively fixed. The tip end of the light guide 20 faces the illumination lens system fixed in the illumination through hole, while the rear end side has the curved portion 7, the cutout portion 14 of the base 11, and the flexible tube 10. It extends to a connector 5a formed at the tip of the cable 5 through the connector, and is connected to a lighting device (not shown) via the connector 5a.

The outer circumference of the light guide 20 is covered with a flexible outer tube 20a over its entire length. Further, the signal cable 19 is provided on the outer peripheral end side of the outer tube 20a.
A protective member 20b similar to that coated on the outer periphery of the above is covered, and its tip end is fixed to the exterior tube 20 and the light guide 20 or the tip end body 9. The rear end side of the protective member 20b extends to substantially the same portion as the rear end portion of the protective member 26 of the signal cable 19, is separated from the bottom portion 11c of the base 11 by a predetermined distance, and is curved. It is set so that this end portion does not move from the rearmost node ring 8 to the tip portion 6 side even if is curved.

The tip portion 6, the bending portion 7, and the flexible tube 10 are assembled according to the following assembly procedure. That is, the channel tube 18, the signal cable 19, and the light guide 20 are inserted into the flexible tube 10 and the bending portion 7, and the tip side of these built-in objects is attached to the tip portion main body 9
After fixing to the part to be fixed, the tip end main body 9 and the frontmost end node ring 8 are fixed so that their positions in the rotational direction match. Then, at this time, the filler 27 is injected to fix the tip side of the built-in object 21.

Further, by inserting the rear end side of the built-in object 21 into the flexible tube 10 and then fixing the node ring 8 and the mouthpiece 11 located at the rearmost end in a state in which they are positioned in the rotational direction, Base 11
The notch 14 is made to face the observation through hole 23 and the illumination through hole (not shown). Thereafter, the curved portion 7 and the flexible tube 10 are covered with the blades 10a, 16 and the outer skins 10b, 16a, and the blades 10a, 16 and the outer skins 10b, 16a are fixed with a spool and adhesives 17a, 17b. .

When the distal end portion 6 is directed to the site to be observed in the endoscope device having such a configuration, the angle operation knob 3a provided on the operation portion is operated. Then, for example, the pair of angle wires 13 in the insertion portion 2 are pulled or loosened, and are respectively rotated through the plurality of node rings 8 or the rivets 8b forming the bending portion 7, and the bending portion 7 is bent. As a result, the tip portion 6 is directed to the site to be observed.

During this bending operation, the signal cable 19 and the light guide 20
There is a possibility that contact or sliding contact may occur between the built-in objects 21 such as the above, or between the built-in objects 21 and the inner wall of the node ring 8. However, the portion inserted into the curved portion 7 on the outer circumference of the signal cable 19 is covered with the protective member 26, and the light guide 20 has the outer tube 20a over its entire length.
And the outer periphery thereof is further covered with another protective member 20b. Therefore, even if there is contact or sliding contact between the built-in objects 21 or between the built-in objects 21 and the inner wall of the node ring 8, the built-in objects 21 are prevented from being damaged.

Further, when the bending portion 7 is bent, the length inside the center line of the bending portion 7 is reduced, while the length outside is extended. Is moved axially within. Further, since the tip ends of the protective members 20b, 26 covered with the built-in object 21 are fixed by the filler 27 or the like, the rear end sides of these protective members 20b, 26 follow the bending operation of the bending portion 7. It is moved a predetermined distance in the axial direction.

However, the signal cable 19 and the pair of light guides 20 are extended through the cutout portion 14 formed in the base 11, and the rear end portions of the protection members 20b and 26 are formed in the cutout portion 14. The step portion 11d is separated from the bottom portion 11c. The wire guides 12 are provided on the left and right sides inside the node ring 8 and the like, and in particular, the signal cable 29 extends below the node ring 8, that is, via the central portion of the cutout portion 14. Therefore, when the bending portion 7 is bent, the signal cable 19 is positioned substantially on the neutral surface of the curvature. As a result, the movement of the protective member 26 covered with the signal cable 19 in the axial direction is suppressed.

Even if the rear end portions of the protection members 20b and 26 are moved to the operation portion 3 side when the bending portion 7 is bent, the rear end portions of the protection members 20b and 26 are cut as described above. Bottom 11c of the notch 14
Since the step portions 11d are further separated from each other, the rear end portions of the protection members 20b and 26 do not interfere with each other such that the rear end portions of the protection members 20b and 26 come into contact with the end portions of the base 11, and the bending of the bending portion 7 becomes difficult. It never happens. In addition, the rear end portion and the cutout portion of the protective member 20b, 26.
The bottom portion 11c of 14 is separated from the bottom portion 11c by the amount of the step portion 11d. It is possible to prevent the filling rate of the inside of the mouthpiece 11 or the flexible tube 10 from changing to restrict the movement of the built-in object 21 and to prevent the built-in object 21 from meandering or the like.

Further, even when the rear ends of the protection members 20b, 26 move to the front end portion 6 side, the rear ends of the protection members 20b, 26 are inserted into the node ring 8 arranged at the rear end with a sufficient length. Therefore, the rear end of the protection member 20 does not move to the tip 6 side of the node ring 8 and the rear end abuts the end of the node ring 8 to make the bending operation difficult. There is no such thing.

Further, the base 11 and the node ring 8 arranged at the rearmost end are fixed, so that the base 11 and the node ring 8 are integrated. The portions of the signal cable 19 and the light guide 20 corresponding to the rear ends of the protective members 20b and 26, that is, the portions where stress concentration is most likely to occur are located inside the node ring 8 and the base 11 which are integrated. Being protected by Therefore, even if the built-in object 21 is bent along with the bending of the bending portion 7, stress is prevented from being concentrated on a portion corresponding to the rear end portions of the protection members 20b and 26, and bending or the like is prevented at this portion. It never happens.

In this embodiment, the signal cable 19 which is an example of the built-in object 21
Is disposed on the neutral surface of the curvature, the bending of the signal cable 19 during the bending operation is small, and the protection member 26 is correspondingly small.
It has an effect of suppressing the movement in the axial direction and the generation of stress.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the angled wire 13 is arranged, for example, on the left and right sides of the bending portion 7 so that the bending portion 7 can be bent only on the left and right sides has been described. It should not be limited to this example,
It is of course possible to arrange the angle wires 13 above and below the bending portion 7 so that the tip portion 6 can be directed in all directions.

In the present embodiment, the so-called electronic endoscope in which the signal cable 19 is used as an example of the image transmitting means has been described as an example, but the present invention is used in an endoscope apparatus having other configurations such as a fiberscope. It is also possible to provide a protective member on the outer periphery of the channel tube 18, and to form the notch 14 of the mouthpiece 11 at the position where the rear end of the protective member is located.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the protective members 20b, 26 are made of, for example, resin has been described, but the protective members 20b, 26 may have other configurations such as coil pipes.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the protection member 20a arranged on the outer periphery of the light guide 20 is formed of a coil pipe, for example.
In this example, a through hole 15 for illumination is formed in the tip end main body 9, and a base 15a is inserted and fixed to the rear end side of the through hole 15 for illumination. Further, a small diameter portion 15b is formed at the rear end of the mouthpiece 15a, and the end portion of the outer tube 20a covering the outer circumference of the light guide 20 is fixed to the small diameter portion 15b.

Further, a coil pipe 20b, which is an example of a protective member formed by winding the coil 28, is relatively gently covered on the outer circumference of the outer tube 20a. The end portion of the coil 28 extends substantially parallel to the axis of the coil pipe 20b, and the tip end portion 28a is inserted into the engaging hole 28b formed in the tip end body 9 and fixed with an adhesive 29. Has been done.

Further, the rear end side of the coil pipe 20b is located in substantially the same plane as the uncut end 11a of the mouthpiece 11, similarly to the above-mentioned protection member 26.

In such a configuration, the end face of the coil pipe 20b is brought into contact with the rear end face of the tip end portion main body 9, and the abutting portion is easier to construct and assemble as compared with, for example, a device that is fixed by adhesion. It is possible to improve the fixing strength of the coil pipe 20b.

In this example, the protection member 20b of the light guide 20 has been described as an example, but the protection member 26 of the other built-in object 21 such as the signal cable 19 can of course have the same configuration.

7 to 11 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a curved portion, FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line IX-IX of the figure, FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line XX of FIG. 7, and FIG. 11 is a view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. The same members as those in the first embodiment and members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a portion of a plurality of node rings 8, particularly the node ring on the rearmost end side, that faces the light guide 20 is curved to the outside of the node ring 8 to protect the light guide 20.
A predetermined gap 30 is formed between the inner ring and the inner wall of the node ring 8. As a result, the front end inner peripheral edge 31 of the node ring 8 located at the rearmost end is moved to the outside of the inner peripheral edge of the other node ring 8, and the curvature of the bending portion 7 is greatly curved so that the light guide 20 of the light guide 20 moves. The protection member 20b is located at the front end portion 6 rather than the front end inner peripheral edge 31.
Even if the protective member 20b is moved to the side, the rear end portion of the protection member 20b and the inner peripheral edge 31 of the front end do not interfere with each other.

Therefore, it is possible to set the bendable curvature of the bending portion 7 to be large, and it is possible to shorten the lengths of the node ring 8 and the mouthpiece 11 at the rear end, and the bending portion 7 is lengthened accordingly. It is possible to increase the degree of freedom of observation.

In addition, as described in the first embodiment, the signal cable
Since 19 is positioned on the neutral plane during bending, the bending rate is large, and even if the node ring 8 at the rearmost end is set to be short, the protection member 26 covered by the signal cable 19 is the node ring. 8 does not move forward of the inner peripheral edge 31 of the front end. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the gap 31 or the like at the portion of the node ring 8 facing the signal cable 19, but when the bending portion 7 is configured to be bendable not only in the left and right but also in the up and down directions. It is desirable to provide a gap 31 also at a portion facing the signal cable 19.

In the present embodiment, only one of the plurality of node rings 8, 8 ... Constituting the bending portion 7, and only a part thereof is bent outward, so that the entire bending portion 7 is When the endoscope apparatus of the present invention is used for medical purposes, for example, the diameter is not increased, and it has an effect of not increasing the pain of the subject.
Further, even when this endoscope device is used for industrial purposes, there is an effect that it is possible to observe the inside of a small-diameter tube hole because the increase in diameter is prevented.

12 to 15 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a curved portion, FIG. 13 is a view taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12, and FIG. Figure XIV-XIV line arrow diagram, Figure 15 is the 12
It is the XV-XV arrow line view of a figure.

In this embodiment, the cutout 14 is eliminated from the base 11 and the base is removed.
The end portion 11b of the tip 11 on the side of the tip portion 6 is formed in a plane shape orthogonal to the axis of the base 11, while the rear ends of the protection members 20b and 26 covered by the signal cable 17 and the light guide 20. The inclined portion 32 as an example of the cutout portion is provided in the.
The inclined portion 32 corresponds to the end portion 11b.

As shown in FIG. 14, since the portion left obliquely due to the formation of the inclined portion 32 faces the center of the node ring 8, the bending portion 7 is bent so that the protection member 20b,
Even if 26 moves in the axial direction of the curved portion 7, the protective member 20b,
The rear end of 26 does not interfere with the end 11b of the base 11.

Further, although part of the protection members 20b, 26 are inserted into the base 11, the part of the protection members 20b, 26 inserted into the base 11 is, therefore, the base 11 and Flexible tube 10
Is never thickened.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the protection members 20b, 26 of the remaining portion by forming the inclined portion 31 are directed to the center of the node ring 8, but it is also possible to direct the remaining portion to the outside. is there.

When the mouthpiece 11 and the built-in object 21 are moved relative to each other in the axial direction due to the bending of the bending portion 7 in the case of being oriented outward in this way, the inner peripheral edge of the front end of the mouthpiece 11 is Since the protective members 20b and 26 are always interposed between the built-in object 21 and the built-in object 21, there is an effect that the built-in object 21 and the base 11 are not slidably contacted with each other.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a light guide according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the protection member 20b covering the outer periphery of the light guide 20 is provided with a cutout 32 at a predetermined distance from the rear end. That is, a flat surface 32a is formed at the rear end of the protection member 20 so as to pass through the axis of the protection member 20 and parallel to the axis. The plane 32a is continuous with an inclined surface 32b that is formed obliquely with respect to the axis of the protection member 20b at a portion spaced apart from the rear end of the protection member 20b by a predetermined distance.

Then, for example, the central portion of the plane 32a is the end portion 11b of the base 11.
The light guide 20 and the protection member 20b are arranged so as to face the.

Even if the protective member 20 relatively moves toward the distal end portion 6 due to the curved portion 7 being curved in such a configuration, the portion of the protective member 20b where the flat surface 32a is formed is always in the base 11. Since the flat surface 20b is formed in parallel with the axis of the protection member 20b while remaining, the filling rate of the internal material 21 in the base 11 does not change, and the movement of the internal material 21 does not change. Has an effect that is always constant and smooth.

In the present embodiment, only the protective member 20b coated on the outer periphery of the light guide 20 has been described as an example, but the protective member 26 coated on the signal cable 19 can be similarly configured. .

[Advantages of the Invention] As described above, in the inner peripheral device according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of interference between the end of the protection member covered by the built-in object and the mouthpiece, and It is possible to prevent the filling rate of the built-in object from changing and prevent the bending of the bending portion from becoming difficult. Damage and the like are prevented from occurring. Further, it is possible to prevent the diameter of the insertion portion from increasing.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a curved portion, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view indicated by an arrow III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an IV in FIG.
-IV line arrow view, FIG. 5 is an overall view of the endoscope apparatus, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a joined state of the coil pipe and the tip end main body,
7 to 11 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a curved portion, FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, and FIG. Figure IX-IX line arrow view, Figure 10 is a XX line arrow view of Figure 7, Figure 11 is a XI-XI line arrow view of Figure 9,
12 to 15 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a curved portion, FIG. 13 is a view taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12, and FIG. Figure XIV-XIV line arrow diagram, Figure 15 is the 12
FIG. 16 is a side view of the light guide according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 2 …… Insertion part 7 …… Bending part 10 …… Flexible tube 11 …… Base 14 …… Notch part 21 …… Internal component 32 …… Inclined part

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An endoscope apparatus in which a built-in object is inserted into an insertion section in which a flexible tube and a bending section are connected via a mouthpiece, and a portion of the built-in object inserted into the bending section is covered with a protective member. An endoscope apparatus characterized in that a cutout portion for preventing interference between the base and the protection member is formed on at least one of the portions of the base and the protection member that abut each other during a bending operation.