JPH08160313A - Curved pipe of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a curving pipe of an endoscope which does not require special connecting parts, such as rivets, allows connection of nodal rings with each other with simple constitution, is easy to assemble and is inexpensive. CONSTITUTION: One end face 1a of the annular nodal ring 1 is projectingly provided with engaging parts 2 on both sides thereof and the other end face 1b of the nodal ring 1 is provided with detaining parts 3 on both sides intersecting orthogonally with these engaging parts 2. The engaging parts 2 and the detaining parts 3 are alternately engaged to connect the many nodal rings 1, 1, by which the curving pipe is constituted. Each engaging part 2 consists of a neck part 2a projectingly formed at the end face 1a and a disk- shaped head part 2b formed at its front end and each detaining part 3 is formed as an Ω-shaped blanking 3a. Then, the engaging parts 2 and the detaining parts 3 are freely disassembled when these parts are moved in the radial direction of the nodal rings 1. The outer periphery of the curving pipe is covered with a flexible pipe 6 to prohibit the radial movement of the nodal rings 1, 1 to each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a curved tube provided at the tip of the insertion portion of an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bending tube that can be bent vertically and horizontally is attached to the tip of an endoscope, and the operation of an angle knob at hand can be transmitted by a wire to direct the observation section at the end in any direction. It has a structure that allows it.

As a curved tube for such an endoscope, conventionally,
The one disclosed in JP-A-64-8946 is known. This curved pipe has a first ear portion having an arc-shaped head provided at one end in the axial direction of the node ring and an inner diameter approximately the same as the head provided at the other end in the axial direction of the node ring. Prevents the second ear portion having a female portion partially cut out in an arc shape, the first ear portion and the second ear portion engaged with each other from coming off due to the radial movement of the node ring. It is composed of a shaft member having a jaw portion, and specifically, each node ring is connected using a rivet as the shaft member.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the curved pipes are assembled by crimping the tips of the nodal rings one by one through the rivets, a great deal of labor and labor is required for the assembly. Along with the increase in the number of parts, the cost was high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and does not require a special connecting component such as a rivet, can connect the nodal rings with a simple structure, is easy to assemble, and is inexpensive. The purpose is to provide a curved tube for a mirror.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the curved tube of the endoscope of the present invention has engaging portions projecting on both sides of one end face of an annular node ring and is In a curved tube of an endoscope in which locking parts are provided on both sides of the end surface orthogonal to the engaging parts, and the engaging parts and the locking parts are alternately engaged to connect a plurality of node rings. The engaging portion and the locking portion are configured to be disassembled when the node rings are moved in the radial direction, and a radial direction restraining means for preventing the node rings from moving in the radial direction is provided. It is characterized by that.

In this case, as described in claim 2, the engaging portion comprises a neck portion projecting from the end face of the node ring and a disk or semi-circular head portion formed at the tip of the neck portion. The locking portion may be an Ω-shaped punched hole.

Further, as described in claim 3, it is preferable that a flexible tube covering the outer circumference of the curved tube is used as the radial direction restraining means.

Further, as described in claim 4, the sectional shape of the node ring is circular and the engaging portion and the locking portion integrally extended with the node ring are formed in a plane. Item 5
It is preferable that the node ring has an octagonal cross-sectional shape as described in 1 above, and the engaging portion and the locking portion are formed on a plane portion corresponding to the sides of the octagon.

[0010]

In the bending tube for an endoscope of the present invention having the above structure, the engaging portions and the engaging portions provided on both end surfaces of the annular node ring are alternately engaged with each other to tilt the node rings. Connect as much as possible, and connect a large number of them to form a curved pipe. Here, the engaging part and the locking part are rotatably engaged, but can be disassembled by the radial movement of the node ring. Therefore, the engaging parts and the locking parts are assembled by combining the node rings while shifting them in the radial direction and aligning the centers of the node rings. After assembling in this way, the radial restraint means prevents the radial movement,
Avoid bending the curved pipe.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of a curved tube for an endoscope according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 3 are views showing a curved tube of an endoscope according to a first embodiment. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the node ring 1, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the curved pipe, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the curved pipe as viewed in the direction of arrow A.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an annular node ring obtained by cutting a thin-walled cylindrical tube into short pieces. As will be described later, a plurality of node rings 1 are connected by alternately engaging an engaging portion 2 and an engaging portion 3. That is what constitutes the curved tube of the endoscope.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an engaging portion projecting on both sides of one end face 1a of the node ring 1, which is integrally formed with a neck portion 2a extending integrally from the end face 1a and a tip of the neck portion 2a. It is formed of a disk-shaped head 2b.

Denoted at 3 are locking portions projecting on both sides of the other end face 1b of the node ring 1 so as to be orthogonal to the projecting position of the engaging portion 2, and the engaging portion 2 is reversed. Ω type punched hole 3a
Are formed. The engaging portions 2 of adjacent node rings are fitted into the punched holes 3a when the node rings 1 are assembled together as described later. A portion of the punching hole 3a corresponding to the head portion 2b of the engaging portion 2 is punched to have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the head portion 2b, and a portion of the engaging portion 2 corresponding to the neck portion 2a is a neck portion. Two
It is punched out to be slightly wider than the width a, and the engaging portions 2 of adjacent node rings are rotatable within a fixed angle range. That is, when the engaging portion 2 and the locking portion 3 are assembled, adjacent node rings are connected so as to be capable of rolling and tilting within a certain angle range with the line connecting the facing heads 2b as the central axis.

Although the node ring 1 has a circular cross section,
The engaging portion 2 and the locking portion 3 that are integrally extended to this
Has a flat cross-sectional shape. This is to enable smooth rotation when the engaging portion 2 and the locking portion 3 are connected.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a wire receiver fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the node ring 1 by brazing, and is attached to two inner surface portions of both sides of the node ring 1 where the engaging portions 2 are provided. Wires 5 are inserted through the wire receivers 4, respectively, and these wires 5 are fixed to the most distal node ring of the curved pipe, and the curved pipe is curved by pushing and pulling the wire 5.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a flexible tube for covering the outer circumference of the node ring 1, which is a radial direction restraining means for preventing the node ring 1 from moving in the radial direction. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the node ring 1 is 0.5 to 1 mm.
A heat-shrinkable tube having a large diameter (material such as heat-polymerization type polyethylene) was used.

In the present embodiment, since a medical endoscope is assumed, a synthetic resin tube is used as the flexible tube. However, for example, an endoscope for industrial use such as inspection of the inner surface of the pipe is not required. The outer circumference of the ring may be covered with a coil spring or a net-shaped tube woven with a metal wire. Further, the radial restraint means need not necessarily be provided on the outer circumference of the curved pipe, as long as it can prevent the radial movement of each node ring.
For example, an elastic sleeve may be interposed between the inner circumference of the node ring and the optical fiber bundle (in this case, it is necessary to form a groove on the outer circumference of the sleeve to secure a passage for the operation wire). .

When assembling the curved tube of the endoscope of the embodiment thus constructed, the adjacent joint rings 1 are engaged with each other by the engaging portion 2.
The lock portion 3 and the locking portion 3 are engaged with each other so as to be tiltable, but they are easily disassembled when they are displaced in the radial direction. Therefore, conversely, the node rings 1 are combined while being displaced in the radial direction, and the centers of the node rings 1 are aligned, whereby the engagement portion 2 and the locking portion 3 are assembled. After connecting the required number of node rings 1 in this manner, the node rings 1 are inserted into the flexible tube 6, and the flexible tube 6 is heated and shrunk until the movement of the node ring 1 in the radial direction can be prevented. As a result, radial movement of the node rings 1 is prevented and the curved pipe is not disassembled.

The node ring 1 of this embodiment may be integrally machined together with the engaging portion 2 and the engaging portion 3 by laser cutting or gas cutting while rotating a long pipe.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the engaging portion 2 and the locking portion 3 project from the end surface of the node ring 1, the adjacent node rings 1
The gap between the two becomes large, and even when the curved pipe is greatly curved, the node rings do not come into contact and wear.

(Embodiment 2) Next, another example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIG. 6, the node ring 1 of this embodiment is different from the node ring 1 of the above embodiment in that the node ring 1 has an octagonal cross section. The engaging portion 2 and the engaging portion 3 are formed on a flat surface portion corresponding to an octagonal side. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to press-form a flat surface after processing the engaging portion 2 and the engaging portion 3 as in the first embodiment. Further, in this embodiment, the node ring 1 is press-molded to integrally form the wire receiver 4. Therefore, the number of parts can be further reduced.

[0024]

As described above, according to the curved tube of the endoscope of the present invention, when connecting the node rings, a special connecting part such as a conventional rivet is not necessary and the rivet is caulked. No complicated work such as crushing is required, so the structure is simple and the number of work steps is small.
The bending pipe can be easily assembled. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a node ring 1 of a curved tube of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a curved tube of the endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the curved tube of the endoscope according to the first embodiment as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a node ring 1 of a curved tube of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a curved tube of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a side view of the curved tube of the endoscope according to the second embodiment as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Node ring 1a, 1b End surface 2 Engagement part 2a Neck part 2b Disc part 3 Locking part 3a Punching part 4 Wire receiving 5 Wire 6 Flexible pipe (radial direction restraining means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An engagement portion is provided on both sides of one end surface of an annular node ring so as to project, and locking portions are provided on both sides of the other end surface of the node ring orthogonal to the engagement portion. In a curved tube of an endoscope in which a large number of joint rings are connected by alternately engaging the engagement portion and the engagement portion, the engagement portion and the engagement portion are disassembled when the joint rings are moved in the radial direction. It is freely configured, and
A curved tube for an endoscope, which is provided with a radial restraint means for preventing radial movement of the node rings. 2. The engaging portion comprises a neck portion projecting from the end face of the node ring and a disc or semi-circular head portion formed at the tip of the neck portion, and the engaging portion is an Ω-shaped striking member. The curved tube for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the curved tube is a hole. 3. The flexible tube that covers the outer circumference of the curved tube, wherein the radial restraint means is a flexible tube.
Curved tube of the endoscope according to any one of the above. 4. The sectional shape of the node ring is circular, and the engaging portion and the locking portion extending integrally with the node ring are formed in a plane. A curved tube for an endoscope according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. The sectional shape of the node ring is an octagon,
The engaging portion and the locking portion are formed on a plane portion corresponding to the sides of the octagon.
3. A curved tube for an endoscope according to any one of items.