JPH09294710A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust the flexibility of an inserting part by arranging a hardness varying means inside the inserting part without enlarging the diameter of the inserting part. SOLUTION: The hardness varying means constituted while having a hardness adjusting wire 24 and a coil pipe 25, through which this hardness adjusting wire 24 is inserted, is extended inside the inserting part of an endoscope so that the hardness of a soft part 10 can be adjusted. The top end of the coil pipe 25 is fixed at a fixing part 26 in the middle of the hardness adjusting wire 24, only the hardness adjusting wire 24 is extended on the top end side from the fixing part 26, and the top end of the hardness adjusting wire 24 is connected and fixed to a connection pipe 18 for linking a bent part 9 and the soft part 10. At one part of a place where protection cylinders 28a, 28b and 28c for covering objects 27a, 27b and 27c built in the inserting part are existent, at least, only the hardness adjusting wire 24 thinner than the hand side coil pipe 25 is arranged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope in which the flexibility of an insertion portion can be variably adjusted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, a site to be inspected in the body cavity can be observed without the need for an incision, and a therapeutic treatment can be performed using a treatment tool if necessary. Endoscopes that can be used have become widely used.

The insertion portion of the endoscope is made flexible so that it can be inserted into a bent insertion path. Due to this flexibility, the orientation of the distal end side with respect to the proximal side is increased. However, it may be difficult to introduce the target direction. To deal with this, for example, the actual Kaihei 3-
No. 43802 discloses an endoscope provided with a hardness varying means including a coil pipe and a wire inside an endoscope. With this configuration, the operator performing the endoscopy can adjust the flexibility of the insertion portion by a simple operation, and the insertion can be facilitated even in the bent path.

[0004]

However, the conventional hardness varying means for changing the flexibility of the insertion portion as described above has a problem that the outer shape becomes large when it is provided in the insertion portion. In the configuration in which the hardness varying means including the coil pipe and the wire is incorporated in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-43802, the outer diameter of the insertion portion becomes large due to the space for disposing the hardness varying means, which may impair the insertability. .

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and the hardness varying means can be provided in the insertion portion without increasing the diameter of the insertion portion, and the flexibility of the insertion portion can be adjusted. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope.

[0006]

An endoscope according to the present invention comprises:
An insertion part having a bendable bending part and a bendable soft part, an elongated built-in object arranged in the insertion part, a protective cylinder for covering the built-in object in the bending part, and an insertion part in the insertion part. And an elongated hardness varying means for changing the hardness of the flexible portion by changing the hardness of itself, and at least a part of the insertion cylinder where the protection cylinder is present, the hardness varying means or the hardness varying means. The member connected to the means is arranged so as to have a smaller diameter than the proximal side.

In this structure, the hardness varying means or the member connected to the hardness varying means has a diameter smaller than that of the proximal side thereof in at least a portion of the insertion portion where the protective cylinder exists. Even with the provision, it is possible to avoid increasing the diameter of the insertion portion.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope device, and FIG. 2 is a connecting portion between a bending portion and a flexible portion in an endoscope insertion portion. FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the vicinity, FIG. 3 is a structural explanatory view showing the structure of a hardness adjusting operation mechanism of the hardness varying means provided in the operation part, and FIG. It is an operation explanatory view explaining an insertion method.

The endoscope according to the present embodiment shows an example of the configuration of an electronic endoscope having a solid-state image pickup device at its tip.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope 1, a light source unit that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 1, and a signal processing unit that processes an image signal sent from the endoscope 1. And a monitor 3 for displaying a video signal output from the control device 2 on a screen.

The endoscope 1 includes an elongated insertion portion 4, a large-diameter operating portion 5 connected to the rear end side of the insertion portion 4, and a universal portion extending from the side portion of the operating portion 5. The universal cable 6 is provided with a connector 7 at the end thereof.

The insertion portion 4 has a hard tip portion 8 on the tip side.
Is provided, and a bendable portion 9 adjacent to this tip portion 8 is provided on the rear side so as to be bendable. Further, a flexible soft portion 10 is continuously provided behind the curved portion 9.

The operation section 5 is provided with a bending operation knob 11, and by operating the bending operation knob 11,
The bending portion 9 can be bent vertically / horizontally. In the vicinity of the bending operation knob 11 of the operation unit 5,
A hardness adjusting knob 12 is provided, and the hardness adjusting knob 12 is used to operate a hardness varying means, which will be described later.
The hardness of can be changed.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the insertion portion 4 near the connecting portion between the bending portion 9 and the flexible portion 10.

The bending portion 9 comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical bending pieces 13.
Are rotatably connected by a pin 14. Each bending piece 13 is provided with a wire receiver 16 for passing a plurality of bending wires 15 inserted through the insertion portion 4, and the tip of the bending wire 15 is connected and fixed to a tip bending piece (not shown). By pushing and pulling the bending wire 15, the bending piece 13 is rotated to bend the bending portion 9 into a desired shape, so that the distal end portion 8 of the insertion portion 4 can be directed in an arbitrary vertical / horizontal direction. Has become.

A connecting pipe 18 is internally fitted and connected to the rear end bending piece 17 of the rear end of the bending part 9 from the rear end, and a flexible portion forming a flexible part 10 is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the rear end of the connecting pipe 18. Inner tube 1
The tip of 9 is inserted and connected. A knitted tube 20 is attached to the outer periphery of the bending piece 13 of the bending portion 9, and the knitted tube 2
The outer periphery of 0 is covered with the covering tube 21. The outer circumference of the inner tubular tube 19 of the flexible portion 10 is covered with an outer tube 22.

Inside the inner tubular tube 19, a coil pipe 23 is provided.
Is provided and the tip of the coil pipe 23 is fixed to the connecting pipe 18 by a fixing means such as brazing, and the bending wire 15 is inserted into the coil pipe 23. Further, a hardness adjusting wire 24 is inserted through the inner cylindrical tube 19, and the tip of the hardness adjusting wire 24 is fixed to the connecting tube 18 by a fixing means such as brazing similarly to the coil pipe 23.

The hardness adjusting wire 24 is inserted through the lumen of the coil pipe 25, and the tip of the coil pipe 25 is firmly fixed at a fixing portion 26 in the middle of the hardness adjusting wire 24. The fixed portion 2 of the hardness adjusting wire 24
On the hand side from 6, the hardness adjusting wire 24 and the coil pipe 25 are not fixed and are in a free state.
With the hardness adjusting wire 24 and the coil pipe 25,
Hardness varying means is configured.

Built-in objects 27a, 2 disposed in the insertion portion 4
7b and 27c are covered with protective cylinders 28a, 28b and 28c in the curved portion 9 so as to prevent damage such as buckling due to bending with a small radius of curvature. These built-in objects 27 (representing 27a, 27b, and 27c) are, for example, a light guide, a signal cable connected to the solid-state imaging device, air supply, water supply, a suction conduit, a channel conduit, and the like. 2 shows only some of them.

The protective cylinder 28 (28a, 28b, 28)
(representing c) is formed of, for example, a resin tube, a coiled tubular body, a knitted tube, or the like. The fixing portion 26 is provided closer to the hand side than the rear ends of the protective cylinders 28a and 28b. It should be noted that there may be an internal member 27c in which the rear end of the protective cylinder 28c is located closer to the hand side than the fixed portion 26. That is, the fixing portion 26 may be positioned closer to the hand side than the rear end of the protective cylinder 28 of at least one built-in object 27, depending on the amount of the built-in object 27.

If the protective cylinder 28 is provided only up to the middle of the bending portion 9, the fixing portion 26 at the tip of the coil pipe 25 may be located inside the bending portion 9, but the bending portion 9 is small. The fixed part 2
When 6 or the coil pipe 25 itself is in a hard state, other built-in objects may be damaged or the bending piece 13 may be destroyed. For this reason, it is desirable that the fixing portion 26 be arranged closer to the hand side than the pin 14 that is closest to the hand side of the bending portion 9.

The distance between the rear end of the protective cylinder 28 and the fixed portion 26 is preferably 5 mm or more. This is because the protective cylinder 28 bends back and forth by ± 5 mm when the bending portion 9 bends.
This is because there is a possibility of movement. If the protective cylinder 28 moves 5 mm or more due to the bending operation due to the built-in object,
The distance from the fixed portion 26 is increased by a corresponding amount.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the hardness adjusting operation mechanism of the hardness changing means provided in the operation section 5.

Inner tube 1 which constitutes the flexible portion 10 of the insertion portion 4
The proximal end portions of the outer tube 9 and the outer tube 22 are connected and fixed to the hand connecting pipe 29, and the rear end portion of the hand connecting pipe 29 is attached to the operation portion main body 30. Connection pipe 29 at hand
Bending stoppers 31 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of, that is, the outer peripheral portion of the connecting portion between the insertion portion 4 and the operating portion 5.

An abutting member 32 is attached and fixed to the inner peripheral portion of the hand connection pipe 29, and the abutting end of the coil pipe 25 abuts against the abutting member 32. The hardness adjusting wire 24 inserted through the inside of the coil pipe 25 extends further rearward through the through hole of the abutting member 32. The extended hardness adjusting wire 24 is hung on a pulley 33 provided in the operation portion 5 and folded back by the pulley 33.
The end of the wire turn-back portion 24a is fixed to the hand connection pipe 29.

One end of a slide member 34, which is a rod-shaped member, is rotatably connected to the rotary shaft 33a of the pulley 33, and one end of an arm 35, which is a rod-shaped member, is connected to the other end of the slide member 34 by a pin 36. It is rotatably connected. The other end of the arm 35 is rotatably connected to the drive portion 12a at the tip of the hardness adjusting knob 12 by a pin 36. The hardness adjustment knob 12 is rotatably provided around the shaft 37. Further, the pulley 33 and the slide member 34 are provided so as to slide in a substantially straight line along the longitudinal axis direction of the operation section 5.

As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3, the coil pipe 25 is pushed into the flexible portion 10 and abuts the abutting member 32 in a slightly meandering state. This is because the length of the coil pipe 25 is elastically deformed and slightly contracted when the hardness adjusting wire 24 is pulled and a compressive force is applied to the coil pipe 25. Therefore, the contraction amount is absorbed. is there. In the present embodiment, the coil pipe 25 is pushed into the flexible portion 10 by an amount equal to or more than the amount of contraction so that the hardness adjusting wire 24 does not directly pull the connecting pipe 18.

The rear end of the coil pipe 25 and the abutment member 32 may be fixed not only in abutment but also in a non-rotatable manner. When a compressive force is applied to the coil pipe 25 by pulling the hardness adjusting wire 24, the coil pipe 25 rotates in a direction in which the diameter increases, but this rotation also causes the coil length to contract, so both ends of the coil pipe 25 do not rotate. By fixing in this way, the shrinkage of the coil pipe 25 can be eliminated.

In the structure of the present embodiment, when the hardness adjusting knob 12 is rotated, the slide member 34 and the pulley 33 slide in the longitudinal axis direction of the operating portion 5 in association with the hardness adjusting knob 12 to move the hardness adjusting wire 24. Tow. At this time, the hand side of the hardness adjusting wire 24 is hung on the pulley 33 so that the end of the wire folding portion 24a is connected to the hand connecting pipe 29.
Since the hardness adjusting wire 24 is fixed to, the hardness adjusting wire 24 can be pulled with half the force as compared with the case where the hardness adjusting wire 24 is directly pulled.

When the hardness adjusting wire 24 is pulled, a compressive force is applied to the outer coil pipe 25 and the coil pipe 25
Hardness increases, and as a result, the soft portion 10 becomes hard. In this way, the hardness of the flexible portion 10 is adjusted by operating the hardness adjusting knob 12.

Here, the insertion portion 4 of the endoscope 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The operation in the case of transanal insertion into the large intestine will be described as an example.

First, the hardness adjusting knob 12 is set to the initial state,
With the soft portion 10 being soft without applying a compressive force to the coil pipe 25, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the insertion portion 4 is passed from the anus 41 to the rectum 42 and into the meandering S-shaped colon 43. Insert it while bending it so that it runs along. At this time, since the flexible portion 10 is soft, the patient's pain can be reduced. If the soft part 10 has a large diameter as in the configuration of the conventional example, the soft part cannot be made sufficiently soft, or the flexibility of the soft part in the intestine is reduced, so that the insertability may decrease. .

After that, the tip of the insertion part 4 has an S-shaped colon 43.
4 through the descending colon 44 to the vicinity of the splenic flexure portion 45, the flexible portion 10 and the sigmoid colon 43 are substantially removed by pulling the proximal side of the insertion portion 4 as shown in FIG. 4 (b). Straighten. At this time, if the flexible portion 10 remains soft,
Even if an attempt is made to insert it into a deeper portion than this, the flexible portion 10 is bent in the middle and the tip of the insertion portion is hard to advance.

Therefore, in the state of FIG. 4B, the hardness adjusting knob 12 is operated to apply a compressive force to the coil pipe 25,
The soft part 10 is hardened. In this state, if the insertion part 4 is inserted into the deep part, as shown in FIG.
The flexible part 10 can be inserted into the transverse colon 46, the hepatic curve 47, and the ascending colon 48 so that the flexible part 10 draws a large curve without bending in the middle of 0, and the tip of the insertion part 4 can be easily attached to the cecum 49. Can be reached.

Inside the flexible portion 10 and the bending portion 9 of the insertion portion 4, the filling rate of the internal components is high in the portion where the protective cylinders 28a and 28b are located, and there is not much gap. ing. In the present embodiment, the protective cylinder 28
Where there are a and 28b, only the hardness adjusting wire 24 is provided, and the coil pipe 25 has the protective cylinders 28a and 2b.
Since the coil pipe 25 is arranged so as to be located closer to the hand side than the rear end of 8b, the filling rate of the built-in material is relatively low, and there is some gap, the flexible portion 10 may have a large diameter. Absent.

Further, since the tip of the hardness adjusting wire 24 is fixed to the connecting pipe 18, the coil pipe 25 is entangled with other built-in objects during repeated use of the endoscope 1 to prevent the other built-in objects. It does not damage and the contents are always kept in the specified layout.

The hardness adjusting wire 24 and the coil pipe 25 may be made of a super elastic alloy. In this case, since the hardness adjusting wire 24 and the coil pipe 25 are less likely to be plastically deformed, even if the hardness adjusting operation is repeated, the plastic deformation such as the elongation of the hardness adjusting wire 24 and the contraction of the coil pipe 25 is reduced (or eliminated). It is possible to prevent deterioration of the function.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the hardness varying means can be provided in the insertion portion while preventing the diameter of the insertion portion from increasing, and the flexibility of the insertion portion can be adjusted. It becomes possible to do.

In the following second to fourth embodiments, configuration examples in which the configurations of the hardness adjusting wire 24 and the tip portion of the coil pipe 25 in the hardness varying means of the first embodiment are changed will be shown. FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 relate to the second to fourth embodiments, respectively, and show only the portion different from the first embodiment in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the bending portion 9 and the flexible portion 10.

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view showing the structure of the main part of the hardness varying means in the endoscope insertion portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the connecting coil 38 is provided in front of the tip of the coil pipe 25,
5 and the connecting coil 38 are connected and fixed, and the tip of the connecting coil 38 and the tip of the hardness adjusting wire 24 are connected to the connecting pipe 1.
It is firmly fixed to 8. The tip of the coil pipe 25 is not fixed to the hardness adjusting wire 24.

The connecting coil 38 has an inner diameter substantially the same as that of the coil pipe 25, but has a smaller outer diameter. Further, the connection coil 38 is configured by winding a wire of a different shape (for example, a square) instead of a circular cross section in a coil shape. The connection coil 38 may be formed of a wire having a circular cross section, like the coil pipe 25.

The structure of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, a connection coil 38 is provided together with the hardness adjusting wire 24 on the distal end side of the coil pipe 25, and the connection coil 38 is located where the protective cylinders 28a and 28b are present. Is the protective cylinder 2
It is located closer to the hand than the rear ends of 8a and 28b. Since the connecting coil 38 has a smaller diameter than the coil pipe 25, the flexible portion 10 does not have a large diameter.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, the flexibility of the flexible portion 10 in front of the tip of the coil pipe 25 cannot be made variable, but in the second embodiment, the connecting coil 38 can also be applied with a compressive force. The hardness of the connection coil 38 can also be changed. Therefore, the hardness can be varied up to the tip of the flexible portion 10. However, the connecting coil 38 is the coil pipe 25.
Since the diameter is smaller, the hardness when hardened does not reach the coil pipe 25.

If the strands of the connecting coil 38 have a circular cross section, the strands are smaller in diameter than the strands of the coil pipe 25, so that the strands tend to shift when a compressive force is applied, or Although there is a possibility that the contacts are easily crushed, in the present configuration example, by making the strands have a non-circular (rectangular) cross section, the above problems can be avoided even if the diameter is small.

The tip of the coil pipe 25 and the rear end of the connecting coil 38 may be butted against each other, but it is more preferable that they be firmly fixed. In this way connection coil 3
By fixing the front end of the coil pipe 25 and the rear end of the coil pipe 25 so as not to rotate, it is possible to prevent the connection coil 38 and the coil pipe 25 from rotating and contracting even when a compressive force is applied.

As described above, according to the structure of the second embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the effect that the hardness can be varied over the entire length up to the tip of the flexible portion 10 is obtained.

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view showing the structure of the main part of the hardness varying means in the endoscope insertion portion according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, the connecting wire 39 separate from the hardness adjusting wire 24 is connected and fixed to the tip of the coil pipe 25, and the tip of the connecting wire 39 is fixed to the connecting pipe 18. Further, the tip of the hardness adjusting wire 24 is fixed to the tip of the coil pipe 25, and
5, the hardness adjusting wire 24, and the connecting wire 39 are fixed parts 2
At 6, the structure is connected and fixed.

The connecting wire 39 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the coil pipe 25. The connecting wire 39 is
It may be composed of a single wire, a pipe material, a coil-shaped member, or the like. Further, the connecting wire 39 may be softer or harder than the hardness adjusting wire 24.

The structure of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the connecting wire 39 is provided on the tip side of the coil pipe 25, and the protective tubular members 28a, 28 are provided.
The connection wire 39 is located where b is present, and the coil pipe 25 is located closer to the hand side than the rear ends of the protective tubular bodies 28a and 28b. Since the connecting wire 39 has a smaller diameter than the coil pipe 25, the diameter of the flexible portion 10 does not increase.

If the connecting wire 39 is made softer than the hardness adjusting wire 24, it is possible to prevent other internal components from being damaged when the flexible portion 10 is bent. On the other hand, when the connecting wire 39 is made harder than the hardness adjusting wire 24, it becomes difficult to twist, so that when the compressive force is applied to the coil pipe 25, the rotation of the coil pipe 25 is suppressed, and the elastic deformation and plasticity of the coil pipe 25 are suppressed. It is possible to eliminate shrinkage due to deformation.

As described above, according to the configuration of the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the hardness of the connecting wire 39 is set to prevent the damage of other internal components, or The effect of preventing shrinkage of the coil pipe 25 is obtained.

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view showing the structure of the main part of the hardness varying means in the endoscope insertion portion according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the fourth embodiment, the hardness adjusting wire 24
The tip end of the coil pipe 25 and the tip end of the coil pipe 25 are fixed by the fixing portion 26, and there is no structure extending beyond the fixing portion 26 toward the tip end side. Therefore, the tip of the coil pipe 25 is not fixed to the connecting pipe 18 either, and is in a free state.

The structure of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, nothing extends to the place where the protective cylinders 28a, 28b on the tip side of the fixed portion 26 of the coil pipe 25 are present, and the coil pipe 25 has the protective cylinders 28a, 28b. Since it is located closer to the hand side than the rear end, the flexible portion 10 does not have a large diameter.

Further, since the tip of the coil pipe 25 is in a free state, there is a possibility that the coil pipe 25 will be entangled with other built-in objects during repeated use of the endoscope 1, but Since the assembly work of fixing the tip of 25 to another member is not necessary, the assembly work is simplified and the cost is reduced.

As described above, according to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, there are effects that the assembling work can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

The hardness varying means in the present invention is not limited to the combination of the hardness adjusting wire 24 and the coil pipe 25 as shown in the above embodiment, but an elongated member such as the coil pipe 25. Any of them can be applied. For example, a shape memory alloy that becomes hard and linear when heated and becomes soft when cooled may be used, or a resin that is hardened by heat may be used.

[Supplementary Note] (1) An insertion portion having a bendable bending portion and a bendable soft portion, an elongated built-in object arranged in the insertion portion, and the built-in object covered in the bending portion. A protective cylinder and an elongated hardness varying means provided in the insertion part for changing the hardness of the soft part by a change in the hardness of itself are provided, and at least a part of the place where the protection cylinder is present in the insertion part. An endoscope characterized in that the hardness varying means or a member connected to the hardness varying means is disposed so as to have a smaller diameter than a proximal side thereof.

(2) The hardness varying means comprises a coil pipe and a wire inserted into the coil pipe, and changes the hardness by pulling the wire and compressing the coil pipe. The endoscope according to appendix 1.

(3) The endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein the tip of the wire of the hardness varying means is fixed in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the bending portion and the soft portion.

(4) At a position where the protective cylinder is present in the insertion portion, a wire alone extending from the hardness varying means or connected to the hardness varying means is arranged. The described endoscope.

(5) A second wire, which is a separate body from the first wire provided in the coil pipe of the hardness varying means, is used as a single wire disposed in the insertion portion where the protective cylinder is present. The endoscope according to appendix 4, further comprising:

(6) The endoscope according to appendix 5, wherein the second wire is harder than the first wire.

(7) The endoscope according to appendix 5, wherein the second wire is softer than the first wire.

(8) A second coil having a diameter smaller than that of the first coil pipe located nearer to the protection cylinder in the hardness varying means at a position where the protection cylinder is present in the insertion portion. The endoscope according to appendix 3, wherein a pipe is provided.

(9) The endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein the coil pipe of the hardness varying means is attached to the insertion portion so as not to rotate.

(10) The endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein the coil pipe of the hardness varying means has a non-circular wire cross section.

(11) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the hardness varying means is disposed so as not to exist at a portion of the insertion portion where the protective cylinder is present.

(12) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the hardness varying means is located closer to the hand than the bending portion.

(13) The boundary between the small-diameter portion of the hardness varying means or the member connected to the hardness varying means and the large-diameter portion on the proximal side is provided at a distance of 5 mm or more from the rear end of the protective cylinder. The endoscope according to Appendix 1, which is characterized in that

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, the hardness varying means can be provided in the insertion portion without increasing the diameter of the insertion portion, and the flexibility of the insertion portion can be adjusted. It has the effect of providing a mirror.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view showing an overall configuration of an endoscope device.

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration in the vicinity of a connecting portion between a bending portion and a flexible portion in the endoscope insertion portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a hardness adjusting operation mechanism of hardness changing means provided in an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view illustrating an insertion method when the endoscope insertion portion of the present embodiment is inserted into the large intestine.

FIG. 5 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of the hardness varying means in the endoscope insertion portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of the hardness varying means in the endoscope insertion section according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of the hardness varying means in the endoscope insertion section according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 4 ... Insertion part 5 ... Operation part 9 ... Bending part 10 ... Soft part 12 ... Hardness adjusting knob 18 ... Connection pipe 24 ... Hardness adjusting wire 25 ... Coil pipe 26 ... Fixing part 27a, 27b, 27c ... Built-in Objects 28a, 28b, 28c ... Protective cylinder

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An insert portion having a bendable bendable portion and a bendable soft portion, an elongated built-in object disposed in the insertable portion, and a protective cylinder body that covers the built-in object in the bendable portion. And an elongate hardness varying means that is provided in the insertion portion and that changes the hardness of the flexible portion by a change in the hardness of the flexible portion. At least a part of the insertion cylinder where the protection cylinder is present, the hardness variation is performed. An endoscope characterized in that the means or a member connected to the hardness varying means is arranged so as to have a smaller diameter than the proximal side thereof.