JPH0876026A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the assembling of a case structure from a soft part to an angle part or a leading edge, and to manufacture the endoscope at a low cost. CONSTITUTION: A spiral tube 16A obtained by engaging and combining a protruding part 17 having a movable space with an engaging projection 18 is disposed as the case structure of the soft part 1, the angle part 2 is constituted of a spiral tube 16B obtained by extending the tube 16A, and the tube 16B is arranged by releasing the engagement of the projection 18 to the protruding part 17. By this releasing of the engagement, the bending operation of the angle part 2 at a specified angle can be performed. The spiral pitch of the angle part 2 can be changed. The leading edge 3 can be constituted by the spiral tube (16C) obtained by further extending the tube 16B of the angle part, and the projection 18 of the spiral tube is engaged with the part 17 in this case.

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 a structure of an angle portion or a tip portion of an endoscope in which a spiral tube for imparting flexibility is arranged in a soft portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope (or an electronic endoscope) has an irradiation window,
The tip part where the observation window and the forceps mouth etc. are arranged, this tip part 2
Angle part for bending operation in four directions or four directions, a flexible part (also an insertion part) connected to this angle part,
It is composed of an operation section and the like arranged behind the flexible section.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the electronic endoscope on the distal end side. The flexible portion 1 is connected to an angle portion 2 and the angle portion 2 is connected to a distal end portion 3. This tip 3
Various members are arranged in the sleeve 4, and for example, a CCD
The (Charge Coupled Device) 5 is optically connected to the observation window 6 and arranged as shown. Angle part 2
Are connected to each other by caulking pins 8 arranged vertically and horizontally when viewed from the front. By alternately mounting the caulking pins 8 vertically and horizontally, the angle portion 2 is vertically and horizontally oriented. To turn into. An angle rubber 9 is attached to the outer periphery of the angle ring 7 via an angle net. And
Four wires 10 are arranged in the angle portion 2,
The angle portion 2 can be bent by pulling the wire 10 with an angle knob of an operation portion (not shown).

The flexible portion 1 behind the angle portion 2 has a structure in which a jacket 12 made of a resin material is formed on the outer periphery of a spiral tube 11 via a net, and the flexibility is provided by the spiral tube 11. Has been given. That is, the spiral tube 11 is provided with a convex portion (engaging portion) 13 having a movable space at one end (width direction) of a spirally formed strip and an engaging protrusion 14 at the other end. The engaging tube 14 is engaged with the convex portion 13 to assemble the spiral tube 11. Therefore, when the engaging projection 14 moves within the movable space (range of the length t) of the convex portion 13, the spiral tube 11 is bent. Then, in the flexible portion 1 and the angle portion 2, a signal cable supplied to the distal end portion 3, a treatment instrument insertion channel, an air / water feed pipe, etc. are arranged, and accordingly, the spiral pipe 11, the angle The ring 7 and the sleeve 4 serve as a case.

[0005]

However, in the conventional endoscope, since the structures of the flexible portion 1, the angle portion 2 and the tip portion 3 are different as described above, the sleeve 4 and the angle ring are different. 7. The structure for connecting the spiral tube 11 becomes complicated, and since the exteriors of these (net and angle rubber 9, outer jacket 12, etc.) are also formed separately, the number of assembling steps is increased and the cost is increased. was there. Further, since the angle portion 2 uses the angle ring 7 having a special shape, and the individual angle rings 7 are connected by the caulking pins 8, it is extremely expensive, which increases the cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to facilitate the assembling of the case structure from the flexible portion to the angle portion or the tip portion, and to manufacture it at a low cost. To provide an endoscope.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to the first aspect of the present invention is such that the flexible portion is provided with a spiral tube in which a projection is engaged with an engaging portion having a movable space and is joined thereto. In the endoscope described above, the angle portion is configured by the spiral tube obtained by extending the spiral tube of the flexible portion, and the angle portion is bent by disposing the projection portion of the spiral tube in a disengaged state. It is characterized in that it is made executable. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the tip portion is formed by a spiral tube obtained by further extending the spiral tube of the angle portion, and in the tip portion, the projection of the spiral tube is engaged with the engaging portion. It is characterized by being arranged. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the spiral tube of the angle portion, the spiral pitch is changed.

[0008]

According to the above construction, in the case of the spiral tube extended from the flexible part, the projection can be disengaged from the engaging part by reducing the diameter thereof, and this spiral tube can be replaced by the angle part instead of the angle ring. Used as a case structure. Further, in the spiral tube extended from this angle portion, if the projection is engaged with the engaging portion, it can be used as a case structure body at the tip portion instead of the sleeve. According to this
Connection of the structure between the flexible portion and the angled portion or between the angled portion and the tip portion becomes extremely simple. Further, the spiral pitch of the spiral tube of the angle portion can be changed, and in this case, the bending angle of the angle portion can be changed depending on the place.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an electronic endoscope according to a first embodiment, which is provided with a flexible portion (insertion portion) 1, an angle portion 2 and a tip portion 3 as in the conventional case. . A spiral tube 16A is disposed in the flexible portion 1 from the operating portion, and in the first embodiment, the same spiral tube 16B extended from the spiral tube 16A is disposed up to the angle portion 2. This spiral tube 16
As shown in FIG. 2, in A and 16B, a convex portion (engagement portion) 17 having a movable space inside is formed at one end in the width direction of the strip, and an engagement protrusion 18 is formed at the other end of the strip. And is formed by spirally winding this strip. And
The spiral tube 16A of the flexible portion 1 is in a state in which the engaging projection 18 is engaged in the convex portion 17, and the outer jacket 20 made of a resin material is formed around the spiral tube 16A via a net.
Therefore, in the flexible portion 1, the engagement protrusion 18 can move the length t in the movable space inside the convex portion 17, and thereby the flexibility is imparted.

On the other hand, in the spiral tube 16B of the angle section 2,
The spiral tube 16B is arranged in a state where the diameter of the spiral tube 16B is once reduced and the engagement of the engaging projection 18 with the convex portion 17 is released. An angle rubber 22 is provided (the net may or may not be provided) on the outer circumference of the spiral tube 16B, and the angle rubber 22 is connected to the spool 23 by an adhesive agent between the angle rubber 22 and the flexible portion 1. The spiral tube 16B is connected to the connecting ring 2
The end of the wire 25 is fixed to the connecting ring 24 by means of the reference numeral 4. Moreover, the wire 25 is movably attached to the inside of the spiral tube 16B by the caulking pin 26. When the bending operation is performed in two directions, two wires 25 are arranged vertically, and when the bending operation is performed in four directions, four wires are arranged vertically and horizontally.

A sleeve 27 is provided on the tip portion 3 as in the conventional case, and the angle rubber 22 is adhesively arranged on the outer periphery of the sleeve 27. Of course, instead of the angle rubber 22, an outer cover made of a resin material may be formed. A cap 28 is attached to the tip portion 3, and a CCD 31 is provided through an observation window 29 and an optical system member 30.
And a signal cable 32 is connected to the CCD 31. In addition, a treatment tool insertion channel 33 for leading out forceps and the like is provided, and in addition, a light guide, air supply /
Water pipes and the like are provided, and these members including the signal cable 32 pass through the angle portion 2 and the flexible portion 1 and the operation portion,
The light source device, the external processor device, and the like are distributed to respective predetermined places.

According to the structure of the first embodiment, the spiral tube 16B is bent in the predetermined direction by the pulling operation of the wire 25, so that the angle portion 2 can be arbitrarily changed as in the case of the conventional angle ring. It becomes possible to perform a bending operation. The case structure of the angle part 2 is the flexible part 1
Spiral tube 16B which is an extension of the spiral tube 16A used in
The structure for connecting the flexible portion 1 and the angle portion 2 is extremely simple, and an expensive angle ring is not used.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a spiral tube is arranged from the flexible portion to the tip. That is, with respect to the angle portion 2, the engaging protrusion 18 is removed from the convex portion 17 as in the first embodiment, but in the spiral tube 16C of the tip portion 3, the engaging protrusion 18 is protruded like the flexible portion 1. The movable space 17 is engaged. Then, in the second embodiment, the outer cover (molding layer) 35 of the resin material is molded from the flexible part 1 to the tip part 3 via the net (the angle rubber may be attached only to the angle part 2), and the tip part is formed. A cap 3 having a spiral groove having the same pitch as the pitch of the protrusions on the outer circumference of the spiral tube 16C on the tip side of the portion 3
6 is screwed over. In addition, the wire 37
As shown in the figure, the tip of is attached to the inside of the spiral tube 16C on the tip side as much as possible by a caulking pin 26 or the like.

According to the configuration of the second embodiment, the case structure of the tip portion 3 is manufactured by the spiral tube 16C which is an extension of the spiral tube 16A used in the flexible portion 1. The connection structure with the angle portion 2 becomes extremely simple.

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, since the spiral tube 16B is used for the angle portion 2, the bending angle of the angle portion 2 can be partially changed. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, when the pitch of the spiral tube 16B of the angle portion 2 near the flexible portion 1 is P1, the pitch P2 of the spiral tube 16B on the tip portion 3 side is the above P1.
Larger value (P2> P1). According to this, although the diameter on the tip end side becomes slightly smaller, there is an advantage that the angle can be made larger (the radius of curvature can be made smaller) toward the tip.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the case structure of the angle part is composed of a spiral tube extending from the soft part, and the spiral tube is used as the case structure of the tip part, the connection part between the soft part and the angle part or the angle part and the tip part The configuration of the connecting portion with the portion becomes extremely easy, and the number of assembling steps can be significantly reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to use an angle ring,
It is possible to manufacture an endoscope at low cost.

Further, the spiral pipe of the angle portion can change its spiral pitch, and in this case, there is an advantage that the bending angle of the angle portion can be partially changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope (from a flexible portion to a tip side) according to a first embodiment of the present invention (a spiral tube is cut only at an upper side).

FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure of the spiral tube of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view (a spiral tube is cut only on an upper side) showing a configuration from a soft part to a tip side in a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional electronic endoscope (from the flexible portion to the tip side).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Soft part, 2 ... Angle part, 3 ... Tip part, 4,27 ... Sleeve, 9,22 ... Angle rubber, 10, 25, 37 ... Wire, 11, 16A, 16B, 16C ... Spiral tube, 13, 17 ... Projections, 14, 18 ... Engaging projections, 24 ... Connection ring.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope in which a spiral tube, in which a projection is engaged with an engaging portion having a movable space and is coupled thereto, is provided in a flexible portion, wherein an angle portion is formed by extending the spiral tube of the flexible portion. The endoscope is characterized in that the bending operation of the angle portion can be executed by arranging the spiral tube in a state where the projection of the spiral tube is disengaged. 2. A tip portion is formed of a spiral tube obtained by further extending the spiral tube of the angle portion, and at this tip portion, the protrusion of the spiral tube is arranged in a state of being engaged with the engaging portion. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is characterized. 3. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spiral pitch of the spiral tube of the angle portion is changed.