JPH09299315A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope having a locking mechanism by which an end cover can be freely removably, easily, and firmly locked to an end portion with high positioning accuracy. SOLUTION: An inserted part 2 has an end portion 5 constructed of a rigid end portion main body 8 fitted with an objective lens 10, etc., and an end cover 9 freely removably mounted on the end portion main body 8, the end cover 9 consisting of an end cover main body 26 made from an elastic material and a rigid insert part 28 molded integrally with the inside of the end of the cover main body 26; a locking recess 33 is formed in the insert part 28, and an L- shaped locking projection 32 is formed on the end face of the end portion main body 8, so that a structure is obtained which can firmly lock the end cover 9 to the end portion main body 8 through a simple operation with high positioning accuracy by fitting the locking projection 32 into the locking recess 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having a removable tip cover at the tip of an insertion section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes having an elongated insertion portion have been widely used in the medical and industrial fields. The distal end of the insertion portion is formed of a hard distal member to which the illumination means and the observation means are fixed.

When the hard distal end is inserted into a bent body cavity such as a human body, an operation of excessively pushing the insertion portion in a state where the hard distal end is in contact with the bent body cavity wall. Can damage the body cavity wall with the rigid tip.

For this reason, there is a front end portion of the distal end portion which is covered with an elastic distal end cover so as to prevent the distal end portion from damaging the body cavity wall at the time of insertion or the like.

[0005] In some cases, a storage portion for rotatably storing a raising table for raising the treatment tool is formed by a distal end cover.
In particular, when a raising table for raising the treatment tool is stored, it is necessary to sufficiently clean and disinfect after use, and the distal end cover is often configured to be detachable.

For example, in the conventional example of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-19509, a cap similar to the tip cover is screwed into a screw hole of the tip body with a fixing screw and fixed, and a sealing material is also adhered. Further, the cap is formed with a screw hole larger than the screw hole of the distal end body, and when removing the cap, after removing the fixing screw, the distal end body is pushed by the separating screw to be in an adhesive state by the sealing material. The cap can be separated (removed).

[0007]

However, in a structure in which the tip cover (cap) is fixed with screws (screw) as in the above-mentioned conventional example, a jig such as a driver is required when attaching the tip cover. If the jig is lost, the tip cover cannot be attached. Further, the screw is screwed to the tip body, and its size is naturally small. Therefore, if it is lost before the endoscopic inspection, the tip cover cannot be fixed and the inspection cannot be performed. And
Since it is fixed with screws, work becomes complicated. Further, a separating screw is required for removal.

[0008] On the other hand, as a simple detachable tip cover, one in which a hole of the tip cover made of an elastic member such as rubber is engaged with a projection provided on the tip body, is considered. There was a possibility that positioning could not be carried out due to insufficient fixation, deviation, or detachment during the inspection.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an endoscope having a fixing mechanism capable of detachably and easily fixing the tip cover to the tip portion with high positioning accuracy, and firmly. The purpose is to do.

[0010]

In an endoscope having a removable tip cover at the tip of an insertion portion, a rigid locking portion is provided on the tip cover made of an elastic body, and a tip cover of the tip body is provided. The present invention is characterized in that a rigid locking means for removably locking the locking portion is provided.

Since the tip cover and the tip body are locked between the rigid members, and the locking portion of the tip cover does not deform, the tip cover and the tip body are firmly fixed. Also, the positioning accuracy is high. Further, when the tip cover is attached to and detached from the tip end main body, no additional fixing means such as screws is required and no jig is required, so that the attaching and detaching work is easy.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 8 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view showing an entire endoscope of a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing the distal end portion of the insertion portion with the distal end cover removed, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the state in which the distal end cover is being attached to the distal end portion main body, and FIG. 4 is the distal end cover attached to the distal end portion main body. 4 is a sectional view showing a state, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4, and FIG.
7 is a vertical sectional view (partial side view) with the tip cover attached to the tip body.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has an elongated insertion portion 2, an operation portion 3 provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 2, and this operation portion. 3 and a universal cord 4 extending laterally. The insertion portion 2 includes a distal end portion 5 from the distal end side, a bendable bending portion 6, and a flexible flexible elongated portion 13,
A taper-shaped break-preventing portion 7 is provided at a base end portion of the flexible portion 13, and the operation portion 3 is connected to the base-end portion of the bend-preventing portion 7.

A tip cover 9 is detachably attached to a hard tip body 8 (more specifically, made of a rigid member such as stainless steel) that constitutes the tip portion 5. ing. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the distal end portion 5 of the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1, showing the distal end cover 9 removed from the distal end portion main body 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end body 8 has an objective lens 10 whose side is perpendicular to the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the insertion section 2 and which has a field of view, and which emits illumination light in this field of view. An illumination lens 11 for illuminating is provided adjacently in the longitudinal direction, and the objective lens 10 is provided on the base end side of the tip end body 8.
Of a cleaning liquid for cleaning the lens, and the objective lens 10
The air / water nozzle 12 communicating with the air / water supply conduit (not shown) provided in the insertion part 2 is used to remove the water droplets adhering to the It is provided toward the objective lens 10.

An image pickup device such as a CCD (not shown) is arranged at the image forming position of the objective lens 10, and the formed image is photoelectrically converted and passed through a universal cable 4 and the like via a signal cable connected to the image pickup device. The image pickup signal photoelectrically converted is transmitted to the connected video processor or camera control unit. The video processor or camera control unit performs signal processing, converts the signal into a standard video signal, and displays the endoscopic image formed on the image sensor on a color monitor (not shown).

Further, the illumination lens 1 in the tip end main body 8
As shown in FIG. 6, the tip end surface of the light guide fiber bundle is arranged inside 1 and the light guide fiber bundle is inserted through the insertion portion 2 and the operation portion 3 into the universal cord 4 and the light guide at the end thereof. By connecting the connector to a light source device (not shown), the illumination light supplied from the light source device is transmitted, and the illumination light is emitted from the front end surface through the illumination lens 11 in the visual field direction of the objective lens 10.

Air / water nozzle 12, objective lens 10,
The tip end main body 8 adjacent to the semi-cylindrical portion provided with the illumination lens 11 is cut out leaving a side piece on the opposite side,
The treatment instrument raising base 15 is arranged in the notched space 31 (a portion of the distal end portion main body 8 close to the proximal end) in such a manner that the proximal end side thereof is rotatably supported by the distal end portion main body 8. The tip of the raising wire 16 inserted through the insertion portion 2 is connected to the portion of the treatment instrument raising base 15 near the tip. The tip side of the space 31 is attached to the tip cover 8
It is used for removal (more specifically, it is used as a space for attaching and removing the tip cover 8 while tilting it).

Further, the treatment instrument channel opening 14 is provided in the insertion portion 2 so as to be opposed to the treatment instrument raising base 15 in the distal end portion main body 8 and communicate with a treatment instrument channel (not shown).
(See FIG. 6) is formed, and the treatment tool (not shown) that projects from the treatment tool channel opening 14 allows the treatment tool to regulate its projecting direction by the inclination angle (raising angle) of the treatment tool raising base 15. ing.

The raising wire 16 whose one end is connected to the treatment instrument raising base 15 is inserted through the insertion portion 2 and connected to the raising operation mechanism in the operation portion 3, and the treatment instrument raising mechanism is connected to this raising operation mechanism. The upper lever 20 is connected, and by performing an operation of rotating the treatment instrument raising lever 20, the raising wire 16 is pulled to change the inclination angle of the treatment instrument raising base 15, so that the distal end side of the treatment instrument projects. The direction to be controlled can be variably controlled.

In order to prevent the high-frequency knife from being cut off, the insulating block 1 is provided in the distal end body 8 adjacent to the treatment instrument channel opening 14 and near the raising wire 16 is arranged.
7 are buried.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation portion 3 has a bending operation for bending the bending portion 6 on the base end side (upper side in FIG. 1) of the grip body 18 held by the user. Knob 1
9, treatment device raising lever 20, air supply / water supply button 21 for operating air supply / water supply, suction button 2 for operation of suction
2. A plurality of operation switches 23 for performing an image control instruction operation such as a still image instruction to the video processor or the camera control unit are provided.

Further, the operating portion 3 is provided with a raising wire cleaning ferrule 24 at a position adjacent to the suction button 22,
The raising wire cleaning ferrule 24 communicates with a base end portion of a raising wire conduit (not shown) through which the raising wire 16 is inserted,
Used for cleaning the riser wire conduit. Further, the proximal end side of the treatment instrument channel provided in the insertion portion 2 communicates with the channel insertion port 25, and the channel insertion port 2
The treatment tool can be inserted from the position 5.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the tip cover main body 26 forming the tip cover 9 is a cap in which one end of a substantially cylindrical shape is made substantially hemispherical by an elastic member such as rubber so as to cover the tip end main body 8. The objective lens 10,
An opening 27 is provided on the side corresponding to the illumination lens 11 and the treatment instrument raising base 15.

An insert portion 28 having a rigid locking portion made of stainless steel or the like is provided on the inner side of the tip end side of the tip cover 9 having a substantially hemispherical shape so as to cover a part of the tip end side of the tip end body 8. It is formed integrally with the tip cover body 26. The method of integrally molding is to insert 2
Either so-called insert molding, in which an elastic member is poured into a mold holding 8 to be integrated, or one made separately is integrated by using an adhesive or the like.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to detachably fix the tip cover 26 side to the tip portion body 8 inside the tip end surface of the tip cover body 26 on the tip cover 9 side having elasticity. The rigid insert portion 28 provided with the locking recess 33 (as a locking portion) (the portion adjacent to the locking wall portion 34) is integrally provided, while the rigid tip end body 8 has an engaging surface on the distal end surface thereof. By engaging with the stop recess 33, the tip cover 2
By providing the L-shaped locking convex portion 32 as the engaging means for making the 6 detachable, it is possible to form a fixing mechanism that can be easily attached and detached and firmly fixed with high positioning accuracy. It is a feature.

Next, a method of attaching the tip cover 9 to the tip body 8 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a state diagram (partial cross-sectional view) when the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8.

At the base end portion of the tip cover 9, there is provided a tightening portion 30 which is elastically tightened by being annularly attached to a close contact portion 51 near the base end of the tip end body 8 to attach the tip cover 9 to the tip end portion. The insert portion 28 of the distal end cover 9 is gripped from the outside with the main body 8 covered, and the locking means provided on the distal end side of the distal end portion main body 8 is tilted while inclining the space 31 in front of the treatment instrument raising base 15. L-shaped locking projection 3 to be formed
2 is fitted into the locking recess 33 of the tip cover 9.

At this time, the guide surface 3 is provided on the front end side of the locking projection 32.
Since the insertion guide surfaces 38 are provided on the opposite sides of the treatment instrument raising base 15, they serve as guides when they are fitted into the locking recesses 33 of the distal end cover 9.

While the tip cover 9 is tilted in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
4 and hits the rear end portion 35 of the front end cover 9 and the stepped contact surface 36 provided at the base end portion of the front end body 8.
By this work, the work of attaching the tip cover 9 to the tip body 8 of the endoscope 1 is completed, and the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 2, a concave portion 40 is provided behind the objective lens 10 of the tip end main body 8, and a convex portion 39 that engages with the concave portion 40 is provided on the tip end cover 9. As shown in FIG. 4, when the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8, the convex portion 39 and the concave portion 40 of the tip cover 9 are attached.
Is in the engaged state.

When the tip cover 9 is not securely attached to the tip end main body 8, a part of the objective lens 10 is covered by the convex portion 39 or a part of the visual field is blocked, so that an endoscopic image is displayed. Since the convex portion 39 is also reflected, the structure is such that it can be seen at a glance that it has not been securely mounted.

Further, as a method for confirming that the mounting is not sure, the step and the gap between the tip body 8 and the tip cover 9 on the tip side of the illumination lens 11 are reduced.
As shown in FIG. 2, a cover slope 41 is provided on the tip cover 9 side and a cover receiving slope 42 is provided on the tip body 8 side, but if it is not securely attached, the gap in that part should be opened by 1 mm or more. Therefore, it may be easier to visually confirm.

In the mounted state, a part of the locking concave part 33 of the tip cover main body 26 is provided with a convex surface 43 with which the tip side of the locking convex part 32 abuts, so that the tip cover 9 is moved from the tip side. I try not to rattle when I press it.

Further, when it is securely attached, A in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, which is a cross-section taken along the line A, the solid portion 44 of the distal end cover body 26 is also brought into close contact with the locking projection 32 on the treatment instrument raising base 15 side. The tip cover 9 does not easily come off the tip body 8 even if an external force is applied.

The rigid locking projection 32 and the insert portion 28 are provided with a male side engaging portion 47 and a female side engaging portion 48, respectively, so that the male side engaging portion 47 receives the external force in the rotational direction. Since the portion 47 and the female side engaging portion 48 are engaged with each other, the structure is such that it is difficult to rotate. At this time, if the engaging convex portion 32 and the insert portion 28 are made of the same material, for example, abrasion can be less likely to occur even if they are repeatedly attached and detached.

Further, the female side engaging portion 4 of the tip cover 9 of another product.
By setting the width of 8 smaller than the width of the male side engaging portion 47, erroneous mounting is prevented. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the engagement distance a between the engaging projection 32 and the engaging wall portion 34 is 5% or more of the outer diameter b of the tip cover 9 (see FIG. 4), so that sufficient engagement is achieved. Maintains strength.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking wall portion 3
4 has a vent hole 49, so after the inspection is completed, the tip cover 9 is removed from the tip body 8 and washed with a washing liquid, and then the liquid accumulated in the locking recess 33 flows out from the vent hole 49. If air is sent from the tip cover ventilation hole 49 with a syringe or the like without remaining, it can be dried quickly, and thus the cleaning property of the tip cover 9 is improved.

In order to secure a large radius on the tip side of the tip cover 9 over the entire circumference thereof and to make the thickness of the tip cover main body 26 uniform, a slope 46 in the circumferential direction is provided outside the locking recess 33. The endoscope 1 can be easily inserted into the body cavity while maintaining the strength of the tip cover 9.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rigid insert portion 28 integrally formed with the distal end cover 9 serves as a treatment instrument raising base 15.
Since at least the opposite side of the opening 27 is covered, even if the treatment instrument raising base 15 is operated so as to invert (or raise) too much, the treatment instrument raising base 15 abuts on the rigid insert portion 28. It does not happen too much, and damage to the elastic body of the tip cover 9 is eliminated.

Further, even if an external force is applied, the insert portion 28 serves as a protector for the treatment instrument raising base 15, and damage to the treatment instrument raising base 15 can be prevented. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, by setting the fitting length c of the insert portion 28 with respect to the tip end main body 8 in the circumferential direction to be larger than 180 °, the insert portion 28 will always receive the tip end portion even if a radial external force is applied. Since it overhangs the main body 8, the insert portion 28,
That is, the tip cover 9 does not come off from the tip body 8.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the axial distance L1 between the locking wall portion 34 of the front end cover 9 and the rear end portion 35 and the locking wall portion 34 of the locking projection 32 of the distal end portion main body 8 are shown. The relationship between the abutting surface 50 with which the abutting is made and the axial distance L2 between the abutting surface 36 is L1> L2.

Therefore, when the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8, the tip cover body 26 made of an elastic material is used.
Due to the elastic force of the engaging wall portion 34 of the insert portion 28 which is always rigid, the abutting surface 50 of the engaging convex portion 32 of the rigid portion 28 which is always rigid.
Therefore, the locking wall portion 34 of the insert portion 28 does not easily come off from the locking convex portion 32 of the tip portion main body 8.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the relationship between the outer diameter d of the contact portion 51 provided at the rear of the tip body 8 and the inner diameter e of the portion of the tightening portion 30 of the tip cover 9 that covers the contact portion 51 is as follows. Since d> e, and when the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8, the tight contact portion 51 of the tip body 8 is fastened by the elastic force of the fastening portion 30 of the tip cover 9 made of an elastic body. The tip cover 9 has a structure that does not easily come off the tip body 8.

Further, the tightening portion 30 of the tip cover 9 is provided in a part of the rear side, and is set so that the attachment / detachment force does not become too heavy. The two-dot chain line in FIGS. 7 and 8 shows the shape of the single body before the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8.

Further, the force of attaching and detaching the tip cover 9 to and from the tip end main body 8 is 250 gf or more and 2000 gf or more.
Because it is set below, it will not come off easily, and the tip cover 9 can be attached and removed with an appropriate amount of force for the user.
Is provided.

Furthermore, since the method of attaching the tip cover 9 to the tip body 8 is the same for a plurality of endoscopes, the user does not get confused when attaching the tip cover 9.

In the thus constructed endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, the tip cover 9 is attached to the rigid insert portion 28 integrally formed with the tip cover 9 made of an elastic body.
The locking recess 33 of L is provided on the tip side of the tip body 8.
This can be performed only by tilting and hooking the tip cover 9 using the space portion 31 to the locking projection 32 having a character-shaped rigidity. Therefore, in order to fix the tip cover 9 to the tip body 8, an additional screw or the like is added. It can be carried out without using any fixing means, and the mounting and dismounting work becomes easy and the user can easily use it.

The tip cover 9 cannot be attached because the screw and the jig for fixing the screw are lost. Further, since the tip cover 9 and the tip end main body 8 are locked between the rigid members, the fixing force is also strong. Further, compared with the elastic body, it can be manufactured with higher accuracy and the positioning accuracy is higher, so that it does not shift or come off during the inspection.

Furthermore, in the attached state, the solid portion 44 of the tip cover body 26 is in close contact with the locking projection 32 on the tip side of the tip body 8 on the treatment instrument raising base 15 side, and the tip cover 9 The axial distance L1 between the locking wall portion 34 and the rear end portion 35 and the axis of the abutting surface 50 and the contact surface 36 with which the locking wall portion 34 of the locking convex portion 32 of the front end portion main body 8 abuts. Directional distance L
By setting the relationship with 2 to L1> L2, the elasticity of the tip cover body 26 made of an elastic body causes the tip body 8 to move.
Since the locking convex portion 32 is urged, the locking force becomes stronger.

The relationship between the outer diameter d of the contact portion 51 provided at the rear of the tip body 8 and the inner diameter e of the portion of the tightening portion 30 of the tip cover 9 that covers the contact portion 51 is set to d> e. Therefore, when the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8, the tightening portion 30 of the tip cover 9 made of an elastic material is used.
Since the tight contact portion 51 of the tip portion main body 8 is tightened by the elastic force of, the tip cover 9 is prevented from falling off.

Further, since the insert portion 28 provided with the locking concave portion 33 for detachably attaching to the tip portion main body 8 is integrally provided inside the tip cover 9, the fixing screw in the conventional example is removed. There is no fear of doing it.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 is a plan view of attaching the tip cover 9 to the tip body 8, FIG. 10 is a plan view of the tip cover 9 attached to the tip body 8, and FIG. 11 is a view of the tip cover 9 attached to the tip body 8. Longitudinal section or partial side view about to be attached,
12 is a vertical cross-section or a partial side view of the tip cover 9 attached to the tip body 8, and FIG. 13 is a cross-section taken along the line CC of FIG. 10, in which the insert portion 28 of the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8. Shows the mated state.

The inner diameter of the tip cover body 26, which is made of an elastic material of the tip cover 9, is uniform over the portions corresponding to the front contact portion 53 and the rear contact portion 49 of the tip portion body 8, and the thickness t with the outer diameter is t. Is uniform, the moldability of the tip cover 9 made of rubber, for example, is good. A step portion 52 is provided between the front close contact portion 53 and the rear close contact portion 54 of the front end portion main body 8, and when the front end cover 9 is attached, the front close contact portion 53 and the rear close contact portion 54 of the front end cover 9 are attached. The relationship between the outer diameters f and g respectively corresponding to is f <g (see FIG. 10).

At this time, the front contact portion 53 and the rear contact portion 54
Has a strong fixing force tightened by the tip cover main body 26 which is an elastic body, and the tightening rate of the front contact portion 53 is lower than the tightening rate of the rear contact portion 54. Hateful.

Further, when the tip cover 9 is attached to the tip body 8, the insert portion 28 of the tip cover 9 is attached from the outside so that (the tightening portion 30 of) the tip cover 9 covers the tip body 8. While gripping, moving as shown by the arrow to the right in FIG. 11, and tilting to the side opposite to the opening 27,
Rigid engagement recess 55 provided on the tip side of the tip body 8
Rigid body engaging projection 56 formed integrally with the tip cover 9
12 and by tilting again toward the opening 27 side (as indicated by the arc-shaped arrow in FIG. 11), that is, the operation of attaching the tip cover 9 to the tip body 8 of the endoscope 1. Is complete.

At this time, the insert portion 28 of the tip cover 9
Since has a substantially semicircular shape, it has some elasticity and can engage with the tip end main body 8. The insert portion 28 has a partially deformed portion 57 (a non-deformed shape is shown by a broken line in FIG. 13) to prevent the tip body 8 and the insert portion 28 from rotating. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the thus constructed endoscope of this embodiment, the distal end cover 9 is attached to the distal end portion of the engaging projection 56 of the rigid insert portion 28 integrally formed with the distal end cover 9 made of an elastic body. Since only the operation of tilting and hooking the tip cover 9 by utilizing the opening 27 in the rigid engagement concave portion 55 provided on the tip side of the body 8, the tip cover 9 is attached.
Since no additional fixing means such as a screw is used for fixing to, the mounting and dismounting work becomes easy and the user can easily use it.

The tip cover 9 cannot be attached due to the loss of the screw and the screw fixing jig.
Further, since the tip cover 9 and the tip portion main body 8 are locked between the rigid members, the fixing force becomes strong. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the space portion 31 has a small space, and has the effect of making the tip portion thin.

Further, since the tip cover main body 26, which is an elastic body of the tip cover 9, is fastened over the front contact portion 53 and the rear contact portion 54, the fixing force becomes stronger. Note that, in FIG. 2 and the like, the description has been made in the case of a side-view endoscope in which the viewing direction is a side direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion portion, but the present invention is a perspective endoscopic view in which the oblique front direction is the viewing direction. It can also be applied to a mirror. It should be noted that the embodiments and the like configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments also belong to the present invention.

[Additional Notes] 1. In an endoscope having a detachable tip cover at the tip of the insertion section, a rigid locking portion is provided on the tip cover made of an elastic body, and the tip body is detachably locked with the locking portion of the tip cover. An endoscope characterized by being provided with a rigid locking means.

[0062] 2. The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the locking portion is provided on the distal end side of the distal end cover. 3. The endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein an inner diameter of a fitting portion of the tip cover is smaller than an outer diameter of a fitting portion behind a tip body around which the tip cover is annularly mounted. .

4. At least one of the locking portion of the tip cover and the locking means of the tip body is L-shaped,
The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the other is locked to the L-shaped locking portion. 5. The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the locking means of the distal end portion main body and a part of the elastic body of the distal end cover are in close contact with each other when mounted.

6. Note 1. The relationship between the distance L1 between the tip cover contact surface of the tip body and the locking means and the distance L2 between the contact rear end surface of the tip cover and the locking portion is L1 <L2. Endoscope. 7. The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the tip cover is attached / removed by inclining to a space where the tip cover and the tip body are not fitted.

8. 8. The endoscope according to appendix 7, wherein the space is a space for accommodating a distal end cover and a forceps base rotatably provided on the distal end portion main body. 9. 8. The endoscope according to appendix 7, wherein the space is an opening of a front end cover on the side of the objective and the illumination lens provided in the main body of the front end.

(Operations of Supplementary Notes 1, 2, 4, 7 to 9) Since the tip cover and the tip end main body are locked between the rigid bodies and the tip cover does not deform, the tip cover and Firmly fixed to the tip body. Also, the positioning accuracy is high. Also, when attaching and removing the tip cover to the tip body, no additional fixing means such as screws is required,
Since no jig is required, installation and removal work is easy.

(Operation of Appendix 3) Since the elastic body at the rear of the tip cover tightens the tip body over the entire circumference, the tip cover does not fall off the tip body during the inspection. The fixing force becomes stronger and does not shift during the inspection.

(Operations of Supplementary Notes 5 and 6) Since the locking means of the tip end main body is urged by the elastic body of the tip cover to enhance the adhesive force, the locking portion is less likely to come off, and the fixing force becomes stronger. Become.

10. In an endoscope including a removable tip cover having a substantially uniform inner and outer diameter over the entire length of the contact portion and a tip body to which the tip cover is attached, in the state where the tip cover is attached, An endoscope characterized in that a step is provided at a close contact portion on the distal end main body side so that the outer diameter on the proximal side is larger than the outer diameter on the distal end side.

(Problems of the prior art with respect to Appendix 10) A tip cover made of rubber is inserted in the axial direction of the tip body, and a convex portion provided at the tip of the tip body is fitted into a concave portion on the tip cover side. There was a way to put them together and fix the tip cover. It is desirable that the tip of the tip cover has a large radius at the corner in terms of insertability, and as a result, the area of the above-mentioned rubber fitting portion is substantially very small. That is, the fixing force of the tip cover was very weak, and there was a possibility that the tip cover would fall off with a small impact. In order to prevent this, the structure of Appendix 10 is adopted.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 10) As shown in FIG.
Since the step portion 52 is provided in the rear contact portion 54 of the tip end body 8, the cover tightening rate is higher in the latter half of the mounting process than in the latter half. Also, since the cover is tightened all around, the contact area is wide and the fixing force is strong. Since the tightening rate in the first half is low, the wearability is not bad.

11. In an endoscope including a removable distal end cover integrally formed with a reinforcing member and a treatment instrument raising table distal end main body to which the distal end cover is attached, in the state where the distal end cover is attached, the reinforcing member is An endoscope characterized in that it covers at least a part of the back side of the treatment instrument raising base.

(Problem of the prior art with respect to Appendix 11) The tip cover made of rubber has been used in the past, but if the portion that contacts the back of the treatment instrument raising base is rubber, even if the raising base is inverted, It was deformed more and more, and it was necessary to provide a separate stopper on the inverted side. Further, the rubber may be damaged on the treatment tool raising base. Further, when the tip of the endoscope is accidentally dropped on the floor, for example, if the backside of the raising base is covered only with rubber, the raising base may be damaged. In order to prevent this, the structure of Appendix 11 is adopted.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 11) When the tip cover body 26 is attached to the tip body 8 as shown in FIG. 6, the insert portion 28 of the tip cover body 26 covers the back side of the treatment instrument raising base 15. . Therefore, it is not necessary to newly provide the inversion side stopper, and the treatment tool raising base 15 can be prevented from being damaged. That is, the insert portion 28 is the tip cover body 26.
And also functions as a stopper and a damage preventing member of the treatment tool raising base 15 on the inverted side.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the endoscope having the detachable tip cover at the tip of the insertion portion, the tip cover made of an elastic body is provided with a rigid locking portion, Since the rigid locking means for detachably locking the locking portion of the tip cover is provided in the tip body, the tip cover and the tip body are locked between the rigid members, and Since the locking portion is not deformed, the fixation of the tip cover and the tip body is firm. Also, the positioning accuracy is high.
Further, when the tip cover is attached to and detached from the tip end main body, no additional fixing means such as screws is required and no jig is required, so that the attaching and detaching work is easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an entire endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of an insertion portion with a distal end cover removed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip cover is being attached to the tip body.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a tip cover is attached to a tip body.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4;

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view with the tip cover attached to the tip body.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view with the tip cover attached to the tip body.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a configuration of a tip portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a tip cover removed.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the tip portion with the tip cover attached in the state of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip cover is being attached to the tip body.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip cover is attached to the tip body in FIG.

13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 5 ... Tip part 6 ... Bending part 8 ... Tip part body 9 ... Tip cover 10 ... Objective lens 11 ... Illumination lens 12 ... Air supply / water supply nozzle 14 ... Treatment instrument channel Opening 15 ... Treatment tool raising base 16 ... Raising wire 19 ... Curving operation knob 26 ... Tip cover body 27 ... Opening 28 ... Insert 30 ... Tightening 32 ... Locking projection 33 ... Locking recess 34 ... Locking Wall portion 35 ... Rear end portion 36 ... Abutment surface 37 ... Guide surface 39 ... Convex portion 40 ... Recessed portion 41 ... Coated inclined surface 42 ... Coated receiving inclined surface 43 ... Convex surface

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Takahiro Kishi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Haruhiko Kaiya 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Oka ▲ saki ▼ Tsukisei 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Yokoi 2-chome, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 43-2 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having a detachable distal end cover at the distal end portion of an insertion portion, wherein a rigid locking portion is provided on the distal end cover made of an elastic body,
An endoscope comprising a distal end body provided with rigid locking means for detachably locking with a locking part of a distal end cover.