JPH09168506A - Endoscope with bent part protection mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to securely straighten a bent part and make the operation means therefor capable of being efficiently arranged in an airtight condition. SOLUTION: The inserting part of this bent part protection mechanism comprises a tip part, a bent part, and a rigid part. On this endoscope with the inserting part to be inserted into a body cavity using a mantle tube, a flexible guide tube is set from the above-mentioned tip part to an operation part 15 through a bent part to insert and set a correction rod into the guide tube. On the operation part 15, a correction rod operation lug 20 and a rotary member 42 are equipped to be rotated around a support shaft 37 of an angle operation lug 20 to convert the rotary motion of the rotary member 42 into a linear motion through a link mechanism (or a composition of lack and pinion. Thereby, when the correction rod 35 is moved into the guide tube, the bent part is straightened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a bending portion protection mechanism, and more particularly to a structure of a bending portion protection mechanism that can be used in an endoscope in which an insertion portion is introduced into a body cavity using an outer tube. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endoscopes (including electronic endoscopes) have been used as laparoscopes and the like.
An insertion portion including a tip portion, a curved (angle) portion and a rigid portion, and an operation portion are provided on the rear end side of the insertion portion. Then, the endoscope insertion portion is inserted into the body cavity using the outer tube.

FIG. 8 shows a state of use of an endoscope which is a laparoscope. During treatment and treatment, as shown in the drawing, first, the mantle tube (trocar) 1 is abdominal cavity from the body surface. The endoscope 2 is placed inside and the endoscope 2 is inserted into the abdominal cavity through the inner tube of the outer tube 1. An objective optical system is arranged at the tip portion 3 of the endoscope 2 for internal observation.
Is connected to the bend 4. Therefore, by operating the bending portion 4 with an angle operation knob (not shown), the tip portion 3 can be freely bent, and the tip portion 3 can be arranged at a desired position while observing with the objective optical system. It will be possible. After that, the treatment instrument is introduced into the abdominal cavity using the treatment instrument insertion channel in the endoscope 2, and surgical treatment such as cholecystectomy is performed.

[0004]

However, in the configuration of the endoscope 2 described above, when the endoscope 2 is removed from the outer tube 1 described above after the operation, the bending portion 4 is bent. If there is, there is a problem in that the outer cover of the bending portion 4 or the tip portion 3 is damaged to lose airtightness, or the angle ring or the like in the bending portion 4 is seriously damaged. That is, since the mantle tube 1 is inserted into the abdominal cavity, its tip is sharply processed, and if the curved portion 4 is bent even a little, it will be damaged when it is pulled out.

Therefore, in the endoscope having such a bending portion 4, the bending portion 4 is operated by the angle operation knob of the operation portion when the endoscope is pulled out.
It is necessary to fix straight and confirm this state. However, even if you intend to operate it straight, it may not be straight, or you may inadvertently contact the angle operation knob during removal and bend it unexpectedly, so the above problem with the angle operation knob operation There was a problem that could not be solved reliably.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to surely straighten a bending portion so as not to damage the insertion portion itself, and to bend the bending portion. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope provided with a bending portion protection mechanism in which the operation means for straightening can be efficiently arranged in an airtight state.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a distal end portion on which an observing means is arranged, and an insertion portion having a bending portion for bending the distal end portion.
An operating section having an angle operating member for bending the bending section is provided, and an endoscope in which the insertion section is inserted into a body cavity by using an outer tube, in a predetermined position from the tip section through the bending section. A flexible tube disposed up to, and a rigid straightening rod that is arranged in the flexible tube so as to be able to advance and retreat at least in the bending portion and that straightens the bending portion. The operation unit includes a straightening rod operating member that rotates about a rotation support shaft of the angle operating member, and a straightening rod driving unit that converts the rotational movement of the straightening rod operating member into a linear motion to drive the straightening rod. , Are provided. The invention according to a second aspect is characterized in that, as the straightening rod driving means, a link mechanism is connected between the straightening rod and the straightening rod operating member. A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, as the straightening rod driving means, a rack for fixing the straightening rod and a pinion that meshes with the rack and is connected to the straightening rod operating member are provided.

According to the action above invention, by rotating the correcting rod operation member,
The driving means converts the rotational movement of the straightening rod operating member into a linear movement, so that the straightening rod is moved in the flexible tube. And when this straightening rod is pushed out into the bending part,
The curved portion is straightened and the state is maintained. Therefore, the endoscope insertion part is not damaged when the endoscope insertion part is removed from the outer tube.

[0009]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
The structure of an endoscope having a bending portion protection mechanism as an example is shown. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an operating unit, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the endoscope distal side, and FIG. 3 drives a correction rod. Schematic of link mechanism,
FIG. 4 is an overall view of the endoscope. First, in FIG. 4, the endoscope includes a distal end portion 11, a bending portion 12, and a rigid portion (insertion portion) 1.
3, an interlock unit 14, an operation unit 15, and the like. In the operation unit 15, a forceps port 16 for introducing a treatment instrument into the distal end portion 11 and an air supply / water supply to an observation window of the distal end portion 11,
Further, there are provided an operation valve member 17 for sucking unnecessary substances from the tip portion 11, an operation switch 18 for photographing, an angle operation knob 20 for performing a bending operation of the bending portion 12, and the like.

The operation portion 15 has a bifurcated cable 21.
Via the processor side connector 22 and the light source side connector 2
3 are connected. This endoscope is an electronic endoscope, and the video signal obtained by the image pickup device of the tip portion 11 is transmitted to the processor device through the connector 22, and the connector 23 from one end to the tip portion 11. Light for irradiating the body cavity is supplied through the light guide.

In FIG. 2, in the above-mentioned tip portion 11,
An objective optical system 25 is arranged, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is provided in the objective optical system 25 via a prism 26.
27 is connected, and the video signal obtained by the CCD 27 is supplied to the above-mentioned processor device through the signal line 28. An air / water feeding nozzle 29 is arranged in the vicinity of the objective optical system 25, and the operation valve member 17 sprays air or water onto the most distal observation window of the objective optical system 25. A light guide for irradiating light is also arranged at the tip 11.

The curved portion 1 on the rear side of the tip portion 11 is also provided.
2, the angle ring 30 with the outer periphery cut short
Are connected to each other, and by disposing the angle ring 30, the bending portion 12 can be bent vertically and horizontally.
Although not shown, a wire is connected between the tip portion 11 and the angle operation knob 20 of the operation portion 15, and the bending portion 12 is driven by driving the wire with the angle operation knob 20. Is bent.

In the tip portion 11 and the curved portion 12 as described above,
A flexible guide tube 32 is provided. The guide pipe 32 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin pipe in which a mesh member is incorporated, and is fixed to the support portion 33 of the distal end portion 11 with a fixing member 34.
It is fixed by and is provided up to the operation unit 15. Further, a straightening rod 35 that can move back and forth is arranged in the flexible guide tube 32, and the straightening rod 35 is a hard rod made of stainless steel or the like. The straightening rod 35 is retracted into the rigid portion 13 when not in use and positioned so that it can be introduced into the bending portion 12 when in use. Then, the straightening rod 35 is connected to the driving means of the operation unit 15.

As shown in the detailed view of the operating section 15 in FIG. 1, the above-mentioned angle operation knob 20 is composed of a left and right lock knob 20A, a left and right angle knob 20B, a vertical angle knob 20C, and a vertical lock knob 20D.
These members are assembled so as to rotate around the support shaft 37 and to be in an airtight state by using packing or the like. A wire take-up wheel 38 is connected to the left and right angle knobs 20B via a connecting tube, and a take-up wheel 39 is similarly connected to the upper and lower angle knobs 20C. The knobs 20B and 20C are rotated. Then, the wire connected to each of the winding wheels 38 and 39 is driven, whereby the bending portion 12 is bent.

A straightening rod operating knob 41 as a straightening rod operating member and a rotating member 42 are provided rotatably around a support shaft 37 below the angle operating knob 20. Further, the rotating member 42 is arranged between the upper member 43 and the case member 44 of the operation portion 15 via the X packing as shown in the figure, and thereby airtightness is maintained. A first link member 46 is mounted by a mounting member 45 at a predetermined position below the rotary member 42 to form a link mechanism, and a second link member is mounted on the first link member 46 via a connecting pin 47. 48 is swingably connected. Then, this second link member 48
Is guided in a support tube 49 fixed to a support section in the operation section 15, and is connected to the above-mentioned straightening rod 35 in the support tube 49. Although not shown, this straightening rod 3
The guide tube 32 of No. 5 is arranged up to the operation unit 15.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the above-mentioned link mechanism as viewed from below. According to this link mechanism, the rotating member 42 is
Is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow, the first link member 4
6 and the second link member 48 converts the rotational motion into a linear motion, and the second link member 48 sends the straightening rod 35 to the tip side. As shown in the drawing, it is preferable that the rotary member 42 is provided with a sliding groove 51 and a pin 52, and the rotation of the rotary member 42 is guided by the engagement of both.

The endoscope of the first embodiment is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described with reference to FIG. In the endoscope used as a laparoscope, as described in FIG. 8, first, the outer tube 1 is inserted into the abdominal cavity, and the insertion section (11, 12, 13) of the endoscope is guided by the outer tube 1 as a guide. It is inserted into the abdominal cavity. Then, by bending the bending portion 12, the distal end portion 11 is directed to the affected part or the like, and then the treatment tool is introduced from the forceps port 16 of FIG. 4 through the treatment tool insertion channel inside and the affected part or the like is observed. Meanwhile, predetermined treatments, treatments, etc. are performed.

After such treatments and treatments are completed,
When the straightening rod operating knob 41 is rotated in a predetermined direction while the angle operating knob 20 of the operating portion 15 of FIG. 1 is in a neutral state, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotating member 42 is rotated counterclockwise to link. The straightening rod 35 moves to the left side of the drawing through the members 46 and 48, and the straightening rod 35 is pushed out from the rigid portion 13 to the tip side. Then,
As shown in FIG. 5 (A), the guide tube 3 in the bending portion 12
The straightening rod 35 passes through the inside of 2, and at this time, the bending portion 12 is straightened as shown in FIG. After that, since the endoscope insertion portion is pulled out from the outer tube 1, the coating of the bending portion 12 or the tip portion 11 and the internal member are not damaged. After the removal is completed, if the straightening rod operation knob 41 is rotated in the reverse direction, the straightening rod 35
Is retracted and stored in the rigid portion 13.

Next, a second example of the embodiment using the rack and pinion configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
In FIG. 6, the rotary member 55 integrally formed with the straightening rod operation knob 54 is rotatably arranged around the support shaft 37 (FIG. 7) as in the above. Then, external teeth 56 are formed in a predetermined range on the outer circumference of the rotating member 55, and a pinion 57 is attached by a shaft 58 so as to mesh with the external teeth 56. In this pinion 57, the above-mentioned straightening rod 3
A rack 60 to which 5 are connected is arranged so as to mesh with each other, and the rack 60 is supported by a guide body 61.

According to the structure of the second example as described above, when the rotating member 55 is turned clockwise by the straightening rod operating knob 54, the straightening rod 3 is moved by the rack 60 and the pinion 57.
5 moves to the left side of the drawing and is pushed out from the rigid portion 13 to the tip side. Then, as in the case of the first example described above, as shown in FIG. 5, the straightening rod 35 moves into the guide tube 32 in the bending portion 12, so that the bending portion 12 becomes straight, and at the time of removal. It is possible to prevent the curved portion 12 and the like from being damaged.

As described above, in each of the embodiments, the straightening rod operating knobs 41 and 54 and the rotating members 42 and 5 are used.
Since 5 is arranged so as to rotate around the support shaft 37 together with the angle operation knob 20, the airtightness can be easily obtained and the operability is good as compared with the case where the operation member of the correction rod 35 is separately arranged. Has the advantage that That is, as an operation member of the correction rod 35, a rotation operation member,
It is possible to provide the slide operation member and the like at a position different from the position where the angle operation knob 20 is arranged, but in this case, the configuration for maintaining the airtightness at a new place becomes complicated.

If the angle operation knob 20 is arranged together with the angle operation knob 20, the straightening rod operation knobs 41 and 54 are checked while checking whether the angle operation knob 20 is in a neutral state for straightening the bending portion 12 for the time being. It can be operated. Therefore, the operation of the straightening rod operation knobs 41 and 54 becomes easy.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A flexible tube is arranged from the tip portion through the inside of the curved portion to a predetermined position, and a hard straightening rod is arranged in the flexible tube so as to be capable of advancing and retracting so that the straightening portion straightens the curved portion. Therefore, when the endoscope is removed, the curved portion can be surely straightened without using the angle operation member. Therefore, the bending portion and the tip portion are not damaged, and the loss of airtightness and the serious damage to the member inside the bending portion can be prevented.

Further, the operating portion is provided with a straightening rod operating member which rotates around the rotation supporting shaft of the angle operating member, and the rotational movement of the straightening rod operating member is linearly moved by a link mechanism or a rack and pinion structure. Since the straightening rod is driven to drive the straightening rod, the straightening rod operating member can be efficiently arranged in an airtight state, and the operability of the operating member is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a structure of an operation unit in an endoscope including a bending portion protection mechanism as a first example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a distal end portion and a bending portion in the endoscope of the first example.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a link mechanism that is a straightening rod driving unit of the first example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an entire endoscope of a first example.

5A and 5B show a state in which the endoscope of the embodiment is used, FIG. 5A is a state before a correction rod is inserted, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the correction rod is inserted.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a straightening rod drive means of a second example of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 6 (partially cross-sectional view with oblique lines omitted).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the endoscope is used as a laparoscope.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mantle tube, 3,11 ... Tip part, 4, 12 ... Bending part, 15 ... Operation part, 20 ... Angle operation knob, 32 ... Flexible guide tube, 35 ... Straightening rod, 37 ... Support shaft, 41, 54 ... Straightening rod operation knob, 42, 55 ... Rotating member, 46 ... First link member, 48 ... Second link member, 57 ... Pinion, 60 ... Rack.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An insertion part having a distal end portion on which an observation means is arranged and a bending portion for bending the distal end portion, and an operation portion having an angle operation member for bending the bending portion are provided, and the insertion portion is provided. In an endoscope in which a portion is inserted into a body cavity using an outer tube, a flexible tube disposed from the distal end portion through the inside of the bending portion to a predetermined position, and in the flexible tube at least within the bending portion. A straightening rod operating member is provided so as to be able to move back and forth, and a hard straightening rod for straightening the curved portion is provided, and the straightening rod operating member that rotates around the rotation supporting shaft of the angle operating member in the operating portion. An endoscope provided with a bending portion protection mechanism, which is provided with: a straightening rod drive means for converting the rotational movement of the straightening rod operating member into a linear movement to drive the straightening rod. 2. An internal view provided with a bending portion protection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a link mechanism is connected between the straightening rod and the straightening rod operating member as the straightening rod driving means. mirror. 3. The straightening rod driving means is provided with a rack for fixing the straightening rod and a pinion meshing with the rack and connected to the straightening rod operating member. An endoscope with a curved portion protection mechanism.