JPH09238892A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple and inexpensive tip structure so as to facilitate assembling by integrally fixing the tips of an illuminating light transmission fiber, an image transmission fiber and a bending operating rope of a turnable part to be inserted in a capillary resin tube at the forward end of the insert part with a resin. SOLUTION: An inset part 1 of an endoscope inserted in a living body comprises a tip hard part 2, a bent part 3 and a guide tube part 4 which are disposed in order from the forward end side, and the bent part 3 and the guide tube part 4 have a multi-lumen structure where two, large and small inner spaces are formed in the inside. An image transmission fiber 5 is inserted in the inner space with a large diameter, and plural illuminating light transmission fibers 6 are inserted in such a manner as to wrap the outer periphery thereof. In this case, at the time of forming the tip hard part 2, a resin 10 is piled outside the tip end surface of an object optical system 7 and the illuminating end surface of the illuminating light transmission fiber 6, and the resin 10 is forced to permeate into the clearance between a set of the pipe 8, the illuminating light transmission fiber 6 and a rope 9 and the outer periphery and solidified to form the tip hard part 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope which is inserted into a living body to optically observe the inside of a body cavity, and more particularly to an endoscope having a tip structure which can be manufactured easily at low cost.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an endoscope, an illuminating light transmitting fiber and an image transmitting fiber are inserted into an elongated resin tube, and the resin tube is inserted into a body cavity of a living body through an oral cavity or a nasal cavity so that the body cavity can be optically illuminated. It is for observing. In a conventional endoscope, a pedestal made of metal or the like is attached to the tip of a resin tube, and holes are formed in the pedestal for inserting the illuminating light transmission fiber and the image transmission fiber at their tips. The tip of the fiber was attached and fixed by a method such as adhesion. Further, as a structure for bending the resin tube, one end of a wire rope composed of a thin metal wire is fixed to the pedestal by soldering or the like, and this wire rope is pulled out through the resin tube to the outside, The structure in which the resin tube is bent by loosening is generally used.

[0003]

However, according to the conventional endoscope having the above-mentioned structure, a large number of holes are formed in a pedestal made of metal or the like by machining and the holes are respectively formed in the holes. Since the tip of the fiber must be inserted and fixed, there is a problem that processing and assembling are time-consuming and expensive. Further, since a large number of holes are formed on the pedestal having a small diameter, the wall thickness between the holes may be thin and there is a risk of breakage.

On the other hand, if the pedestal is omitted to simplify the structure, each fiber cannot be firmly fixed, and there is a problem that the performance of the endoscope cannot be sufficiently secured. In particular, there was a drawback that the rope meandered and the bending operation could not be performed well. If a rope guide is provided in the resin tube in order to prevent the rope from meandering, the structure becomes complicated and the cost becomes high.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an inexpensive endoscope which has a simple and inexpensive tip structure and can be easily assembled without impairing the performance. With the goal.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention as set forth in claim 1, has a bendable portion, and at least an illumination light transmission fiber for guiding illumination light to the tip, The living body has an insertion portion made of an elongated resin tube containing an image transmission fiber that transmits an image of a subject illuminated by the illumination light to the outside and a rope that performs a bending operation of the bendable portion. In the endoscope, the distal ends of the illumination light transmitting fiber, the image transmitting fiber, and the rope are integrally fixed by resin at the distal end of the insertion portion.

In the endoscope according to the second aspect, the resin tube has a large-diameter circular space through which the illumination light transmission fiber and the image transmission fiber are inserted, and a small-diameter inner space through which the rope is inserted. It is a double lumen tube having

An endoscope according to a third aspect is characterized in that an antifogging film formed integrally with the resin is provided at a tip of the insertion portion.

In the endoscope according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the tip of the image transmission fiber is integrally made of resin at the tip of the insertion portion through a pipe in which a lens is concentrically formed integrally with the resin. It is characterized by being fixed.

The endoscope according to claim 5 is characterized in that the rope is made of resin.

In the endoscope according to the first aspect of the present invention, the distal ends of the illumination light transmitting fiber, the image transmitting fiber and the rope are integrally fixed by resin at the distal end of the insertion portion. Since the pedestal for fixing each fiber and rope can be omitted and the fixing work can be performed at the same time, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling work can be facilitated.

In the endoscope according to the second aspect, the resin tube has a double-lumen structure having two large and small inner cavities, and the illumination light transmitting fiber and the image transmitting fiber are inserted into the larger inner cavity. Since the rope is inserted into the smaller inner space, the tip of each fiber can be firmly supported and fixed to the inner peripheral wall of the larger inner space. Also, the rope is slidably supported on the inner wall of the smaller inner space, and when the rope is tightened or loosened to bend the tip of the insertion part, play such as meandering of the rope in the middle is regulated, which is good. The bending performance can be obtained, and the observation of the inside of the body cavity by the endoscope can be performed well.

In the endoscope according to the third aspect, since the antifogging film formed integrally with the resin is provided at the tip of the insertion portion, the antifogging film is prevented from peeling from the tip of the insertion portion. It is possible to prevent the tips of the illumination light transmission fiber and the image transmission fiber from becoming cloudy, and it is possible to obtain a stable image.

In the endoscope according to the fourth aspect, the tip of the image transmission fiber is integrally fixed by the resin at the tip of the insertion portion through a pipe in which the lens is concentrically formed integrally with the resin. Therefore, the cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where the objective optical system is configured by using the pipe and the lens separately at the tip of the image transmission fiber.

In the endoscope according to the fifth aspect, since the rope for bending the distal end of the insertion portion is made of resin, compared with the endoscope using the wire rope made of thin metal wire such as stainless steel. Can be cheap.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an endoscope of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the tip of FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an insertion portion 1 of an endoscope which is formed of a resin in an elongated tubular shape and is inserted into a living body includes a distal end hard portion 2, a bendable portion 3 and a guiding hollow tube. It is composed of a section 4. The bending portion 3 and the guiding hollow tube portion 4 have a multi-lumen structure in which two large and small inner cavities are formed in parallel with each other so as to penetrate in the axial direction. Made to be highly flexible. An image transmitting fiber 5 is inserted through the center of the larger inner space, and a plurality of illumination light transmitting fibers 6 are inserted around the outer periphery of the image transmitting fiber 5 so as to surround it. A pipe 8 for holding an objective optical system 7 composed of an objective lens is fitted to the tip of the image transmission fiber 5 and fixed with an adhesive. Further, a fiber 6 for transmitting illumination light
Is at the same position as the tip of the objective optical system 7.
A rope 9 formed by twisting resin fibers is inserted into the inner space of the smaller part of the multi-lumen tube.

Next, the structure of the hard tip portion 2 will be described. First, the tip end surfaces of the objective optical system 7 and the illumination light transmitting fiber 6 at the same position are set so as to slightly project from the tip end surface of the curved portion 3 of the resin tube. Next, a thick portion is formed at the tip of the rope 9 by knotting or heating and melting, and the thick portion is set so as to slightly project from the tip surface of the resin tube.
Then, the resin 10 is placed on this tip surface portion while avoiding the tip end surface of the objective optical system 7 and the irradiation end surface of the illumination light transmitting fiber 6. The resin 10 permeates and solidifies between the inner circumference of the holes of the multi-lumen tube and the outer circumferences of the pipe 8, the illumination light transmission fiber 6 and the rope 9 inserted through these holes, and the objective optical system 7 and the illumination The optical transmission fiber 6 and the rope 9 are firmly fixed to the tip of the resin tube to form the tip hard portion 2.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the fiber 6 for illumination light transmission, the fiber 5 for image transmission having the objective optical system 7 mounted on the tip thereof, and the tip of the rope 9 are respectively attached to the resin 10 at the tip of the insertion portion 1. Since it is fixed integrally by means of, it is not necessary to provide parts such as a pedestal having a complicated shape for fixing each fiber 5, 6 and the rope 9 at the tip portion, and the fixing work including the rope 9 can be performed at the same time. Since it can be performed, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling work can be facilitated.

Further, the resin tube has a double-lumen structure having two large and small inner cavities, the illumination light transmission fiber 6 and the image transmission fiber 5 are inserted into the larger inner cavity, and the rope 9 is inserted into the smaller inner cavity. Since the ends of the respective fibers 5 and 6 and the rope 9 are fixed to the end of the distal end hard portion 2 with the resin 10, the ends of the respective fibers 5 and 6 and the objective optical system 7 are larger. It can be firmly fixed and fixed to the inner wall of the inner space. Further, since the rope 9 is inserted into the inner space of the smaller one, when the rope 9 is tightened or loosened in order to bend the tip of the insertion portion, play such as meandering of the rope 9 on the way is restricted, and good bending performance is obtained. Is obtained, and the inside of the body cavity can be satisfactorily observed with an endoscope.

Further, since the rope 9 is constructed by twisting resin fibers together, it can be made cheaper than the one using a wire rope made of thin metal wires such as stainless steel. Moreover, the adhesive strength can be improved when the tip of the rope 9 is fixed with resin.

In the above embodiment, the case where the resin 10 is manually attached to the tip of the insertion portion 1 to fix the tip of the pipe 8, the illumination light transmitting fiber 6 and the rope 9 has been described. A mold 11 as shown may be used. On the upper surface of the mold 11, a concave portion 12 having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the insertion portion 1 and having a circular cross section is formed. Further, an injection port 13 that opens at the center of the bottom surface of the recess 12 is provided through the lower surface of the mold 11, and a side surface of the mold 11 is opened at a predetermined depth position on the inner peripheral surface of the recess 12. Outlet 14
Are provided through.

When the tip of the insertion portion 1 is fixed with resin using the mold 1, the pipe 8 and the illumination light transmission fiber 6 are used.
And the tip of the insertion part 1 with the rope 9 set at the tip is inserted into the recess 12 of the mold 11, and the resin 10 is injected from the injection port 13. When the liquid surface of the injected resin 10 reaches the height of the outlet 14, even if the resin 10 is further injected, the outlet 14
And the liquid level of the resin 10 becomes equal to the height of the outflow port 14, and the height of the liquid level of the resin 10 can be controlled to be constant. The amount of the resin 10 to be injected may be controlled by omitting the outflow port 14. The excess resin 10 attached to the end surface of the insertion portion 1 is removed by polishing.

FIG. 4 shows the tip structure of the insertion portion 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the antifogging film 15 is formed on the entire surface of the resin 10 placed on the tip of the insertion portion 1.
Was integrally molded.

According to the present embodiment, since the antifogging film 15 is provided at the tip of the insertion portion 1, it is possible to prevent the tips of the objective optical system 7 and the illumination light transmitting fiber 6 from being fogged.
A stable image can be obtained. Moreover, when the conventional metal pedestal is used, the cloud proof film must be adhered to the pedestal with an adhesive, and there is a problem that it easily peels off. However, the anti-fog film 15 is formed integrally with the resin 10. This can solve this problem.

FIG. 5 shows the tip structure of the insertion portion 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the pipe 8 that holds the objective optical system 7 is made of resin, and the lens 16 of the objective optical system 7 is made of resin integrally with the pipe 8. By thus integrally forming the pipe 8 and the lens 16 with resin, it is possible to further reduce the cost.

[0027]

As described above, according to the endoscope of the present invention, the distal ends of the illumination light transmission fiber, the image transmission fiber and the rope are integrally fixed by resin at the distal end of the insertion portion. Since it is not necessary to provide parts such as a pedestal for fixing each fiber and rope at the tip, fixing work can be done at the same time including the rope, reducing the number of parts and facilitating assembly work. be able to.

Further, the insertion portion has a double lumen structure having two large and small inner cavities, the illumination light transmission fiber and the image transmission fiber are inserted into the larger inner cavity, and the rope is inserted into the smaller inner cavity. Since the tip of each fiber and the rope is fixed to the tip of the insertion portion with resin, the tip of each fiber can be firmly supported and fixed to the inner peripheral wall of the larger inner space. In addition, since the rope is inserted through the inner space of the smaller one, when tightening the rope to bend the tip of the insertion part, play such as meandering of the rope is restricted and good bending performance is obtained. Therefore, the inside of the body cavity can be satisfactorily observed with the endoscope.

Further, since the anti-fog film formed integrally with the resin is provided at the tip of the insertion portion, the exfoliation of the anti-fog film is prevented and the tips of the illumination light transmission fiber and the image transmission fiber are prevented from being fogged. And, a stable image can be obtained.

Further, since the tip of the image transmission fiber is fixed integrally with the resin at the tip of the insertion portion through the pipe in which the lens is concentrically molded integrally with the resin, the tip of the fiber is used for image transmission. The cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the objective optical system is configured with the pipe and the lens as separate bodies at the tip of the fiber.

Further, since the rope is made of resin, it can be made cheaper than that using a wire rope made of thin metal wires.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an endoscope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tip of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a method of manufacturing the endoscope of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the distal end structure of the insertion portion according to the second embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the distal end structure of the insertion section according to the third embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Insertion Part 3 Curved Part (Flexible Part) 5 Image Transmission Fiber 6 Illumination Light Transmission Fiber 8 Pipe 9 Rope 10 Resin 15 Anti-fog Film 16 Lens

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fiber for transmitting illumination light, which has a bendable portion and guides illumination light to at least a tip thereof, and an image transmission fiber which transmits an image of a subject illuminated by the illumination light to the outside. In an endoscope having an insertion part into a living body made of a slender tubular resin tube containing a rope for performing a bending operation of the bendable portion, the illumination light transmission fiber, the image transmission fiber, and the rope. An endoscope characterized in that each of the distal ends of the above is integrally fixed by resin at the distal end of the insertion portion. 2. The resin tube is a double lumen tube having a large diameter inner space through which the illumination light transmission fiber and the image transmission fiber are inserted, and a small diameter inner space through which the rope is inserted. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an antifogging film formed integrally with the resin is provided at a tip of the insertion portion. 4. The end of the fiber for image transmission is integrally fixed by resin at the end of the insertion portion via a pipe in which a lens is concentrically formed integrally with resin by a pipe. The endoscope according to item 1. 5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the rope is made of resin.