JPH0975300A - Endoscope and endoscope apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope in which an angle wire is retained firmly on a head coupling with a simple structure and an endoscope apparatus for which the endoscope is used. SOLUTION: A retaining part is formed in a shape of a pipe and when it is pierced by an angle wire 6 while the angle wire 6 is pulled in one direction (to the right in the drawing), an end metal fastened on the angle wire 6 is hooked. For example, the retaining part may be given such a shape of a ring that it is pierced by the angle wire 6 while the end metal of the angle wire 6 is hooked likewise. In this manner, the use of integral molding eliminates parts soldered that allow corrosion as caused by the infiltration of water or the like and thus, enables the retaining of the angle wire 6 on the head coupling 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an industrial or medical device for diagnosing the inside of a subject or the inside of a lumen, particularly an endoscope scope and an endoscope apparatus using the endoscope scope. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional endoscope scope having a bending mechanism at an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is constructed, for example, as follows. That is, a head joint as a tip member and an angle joint as a support member connected to the head joint are connected via a curved portion having a plurality of angle pieces and capable of bending in a predetermined direction. The angle wire is engaged with the angle wire, and the angle wire penetrates the bending portion and the angle joint. Then, the operator operates the angle knob to pull / relax the angle wire, whereby the bending portion is bent around the angle joint as a fulcrum. Thus, the operator can direct the head joint provided with the image pickup system such as CCD and the illumination optical system such as guide light in a desired direction.

In such a conventional endoscope, the angle wire 200 is fixed to the head joint 100 by soldering or brazing as shown in FIG. 7, or as shown in FIG. Pipe-shaped locking device 4
00 is fixed to the head joint 100 by soldering or brazing.
When the angle wire 200 is pulled through in one direction and the angle wire 200 is pulled in one direction, the terminal metal fitting 500 provided at the end of the angle wire 200 is hooked on the locking tool 400. In such a structure, the soldered or brazed portion 300 is corroded by water immersion or the like, so that the tip of the angle wire 200 falls off from the head joint 100 during repeated pulling / relaxation of the angle wire 200. Alternatively, in the structure shown in FIG. 8, the locking tool 400 may fall off the head joint 100.

Further, in the conventional endoscope, a guide spiral as a tubular member for transmitting the force of pulling / relaxing a plurality of angle wires to the distal end by the angle operation of the surgeon has a guide spiral inside the guiding center part of the insertion part. It is installed in. FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the tip end of the guide spiral 700 is fixed to the angle joint 600 via a fixing tool 800, and the base end of the guide spiral 700 is fixed to the hand operation part (not shown). It is fixed through the tool. The angle wire 200 is provided inside the guide spiral 700. In such a structure, the soldered or brazed portion 300 may be corroded by water immersion or the like, and the guide spiral 700 may fall off the fastener 800 or the fastener 800 may drop off the angle joint 600. In addition, the work of performing such soldering or brazing requires a high degree of skill and requires a lot of man-hours.
There is also a possibility that a work problem may occur such that the guide spiral 700, which passes 0, is made to flow into the inside of the guide spiral 700.

Further, in the conventional endoscope, in order to protect it from an external impact or the like, the curved portion is covered with a metal mesh-shaped angle blade, and the upper portion is covered with, for example, an angle tube made of resin or the like as a covering member. Was. Further, a thread as a fixing member is tightly wound around both ends of the angle tube and fixed to the head joint and the angle joint, and the winding portion waterproofs the curved portion. An adhesive such as epoxy or urethane is manually applied to the surface of the bobbin for the purpose of protecting the thread and aesthetics. This has a problem that it takes a long time to work since it is necessary to wait until the adhesive is completely cured after the adhesive is applied to the bobbin. In addition, it requires a high degree of skill to apply the adhesive evenly and appropriately by hand to achieve a good appearance.
There was also a problem that it took time to work.

[0006]

As described above, the conventional endoscope apparatus has the following problems. (1) When the angle wire is directly fixed to the head joint, soldering or brazing causes corrosion.
The angle wire falls off from the head joint. Further, when the angle wire is locked to the head joint via the locking tool, the locking tool falls off from the head bonding due to corrosion of soldering or brazing points. (2) When fixing the guide spiral to the angle joint, solder or solder flows into the inside of the guide spiral, making it difficult to manufacture. Also, the solder or brazed portion will be corroded. (3) It takes time for the adhesive applied to the bobbin of the angle tube to cure. Further, the work of properly applying the adhesive requires skill.

The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide the following endoscope scope and an endoscope apparatus using this endoscope scope. (1) An endoscope scope in which an angle wire is firmly locked to a tip member with a simple structure, and an endoscope apparatus using the endoscope scope. (2) A tubular member for penetrating the angle wire,
An endoscope scope fixed to a supporting member serving as a curved fulcrum with a simple structure, and an endoscope apparatus using the endoscope scope. (3) An endoscope scope and an endoscope scope capable of appropriately and in a short time the work of protecting and fixing the fixing member for fixing both ends of the covering member for covering the bending member to the bending member. The endoscopic device used.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the objects, an endoscope scope of the present invention and an endoscope apparatus used for the endoscope are constructed as follows. (1) An endoscope scope according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a distal end member having a locking portion integrally formed, a bending member connected to the distal end member and capable of bending in a predetermined direction, and the bending member. A supporting member connected to the member; and a bending member having an end portion that is locked by the locking portion and an angle wire that penetrates through the supporting member and bends the bending member with the supporting member as a fulcrum. Characterize. (2) An endoscope scope according to claim 2 of the present invention includes a tip member, a bending member connected to the tip member and capable of bending in a predetermined direction, a tubular member having a thread on its surface, and a bending member. A supporting member having an engaging portion that is connected to the member and that engages with the thread of the tubular member; And an angle wire for bending. (3) The endoscope scope according to claim 3 of the present invention includes a tip member, a bending member connected to the tip member and capable of bending in a predetermined direction, and a support member connected to the bending member. A tubular encapsulating member encapsulating the bending member, and an anchoring member for anchoring both ends of the encapsulating member to the tip member and the supporting member,
And a ring-shaped heat-shrinkable member that shrinks when heated and encloses the fixing member. (4) An endoscope apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention provides a tip member having a locking portion integrally formed, a bending member connected to the tip member and capable of bending in a predetermined direction, and the bending member. An image of a subject, a support member connected to the member, an angle wire that has a tip portion that is locked by a locking portion, is provided through the bending member and the support member, and bends the bending member with the support member as a fulcrum. And an endoscope including a means for obtaining
It is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying an image of the subject obtained by this endoscope. (5) An endoscope apparatus according to claim 5 of the present invention includes a tip member, a bending member that is connected to the tip member and can bend in a predetermined direction, a tubular member having a thread on its surface, A supporting member connected to the bending member and having an engaging portion that engages with the thread of the tubular member, and a distal end portion that is locked to the distal end member, is penetrated through the bending member and the supporting member, and the supporting member is a fulcrum. An endoscope including an angle wire for bending the bending member and a means for obtaining an image of the subject is provided, and a display means for displaying the image of the subject obtained by the endoscope is further provided. Is characterized by. (6) An endoscope apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention includes a tip member, a bending member that is connected to the tip member and can bend in a predetermined direction, and a support member that is connected to the bending member. A tubular encapsulating member encapsulating the bending member, a fixing member that fixes both ends of the encapsulating member to the tip member and the support member, and a ring-shaped heat-shrinking member that contracts by heating and encloses the fixing member. An endoscope including a means for obtaining an image of the subject is provided, and a display means for displaying the image of the subject obtained by the endoscope is further provided.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope device using an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic endoscope apparatus of this embodiment is connected to an endoscope scope including an insertion portion 20, an operation portion 50, a Unicode portion 60, and a connector portion 70, and the connector portion 70 of the endoscope scope. , An image processing unit 80 for processing an image obtained by the endoscope
And a CRT 90 connected to the image processing unit 80.

The insertion portion 20 of the endoscope, which is inserted into the lumen of the subject, is composed of the bending portion 2 and the guiding center portion 4, and the bending portion 2 is formed by the operator operating the operating portion 50. It is configured to bend in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of such an insertion portion 20. The insertion portion 20 is connected to the head joint 1 as a tip member for mounting a built-in object 21 including an imaging system such as CCD and an illumination optical system such as a light guide including a glass fiber bundle, A bending portion 2 having a plurality of angle pieces and bendable in a predetermined direction, and an angle joint 3 as a support member for supporting the bending portion 2.
And a guiding middle portion 4 which is connected to the angle joint 3 and in which a guide spiral 8 as a tubular member is arranged. The guiding center portion 4 is connected to the operating portion 50.

The angle wire 6 is engaged with the head joint 1, penetrated through the curved portion 2 and the angle joint 3, and the guide spiral 8 of the guiding middle portion 4, and is connected to the operating portion 50. A plurality of such angle wires 6 (and guide spirals 8) are provided so that the operator can use the angle knob 5
By turning 1, the angle wire 6 is pulled / relaxed, whereby the angle joint 3 is used as a fulcrum to bend the bending portion 2.
Bends. That is, the head joint 1 can be oriented in a desired direction. The guide spiral 8 disposed in the guiding middle portion 4 is for transmitting the force of pulling / relaxing the angle wire 6 by the angle operation of the operator to the distal end.

Further, a drive signal is supplied to the CCD, and C
A bundle of electric wires 22 connected to the built-in object 21 for derivation of an electric signal from the CD or the like is provided so as to penetrate into the bending portion 2 and the guiding middle portion 4.

3A and 3B are views for explaining the detailed structure of the head joint 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the head joint 1 and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the head joint 1. Is. As shown in these drawings, in the present embodiment, the head joint 1 and the locking portion 1a for locking the angle wire 6 on the head joint are integrally molded.

The locking portion 1a has a pipe shape, and when the angle wire 6 penetrates and the angle wire 6 is pulled in one direction (right direction in the figure), the end fitting 7 fixed to the angle wire 6 is formed. Is designed to be caught. The shape of the locking portion 1a may be, for example, a ring shape such that the angle wire 6 penetrates and the end metal fitting 7 of the angle wire 6 is similarly caught.

The head joint 1 having such a locking portion 1a can be manufactured as follows. (1) The locking portion 1a is formed by subjecting the metal head joint 1 to cutting or milling.
Although these processing operations require time and labor, highly accurate products can be obtained. (2) The head joint 1 having the locking portion 1a is molded by pouring resin or the like into the mold. Suitable for mass production. (3) The head joint 1 having the locking portion 1a is molded by a die press. This is also suitable for mass production.

In this way, the head joint 1 and the angle wire 6 are formed by integrally molding and eliminating the soldering or brazing points that may be corroded by water immersion.
And can be firmly locked.

4A and 4B are views for explaining the detailed structure of the angle joint 3 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the angle joint 3 and FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the angle joint 3. Is. As shown in these figures, in the present embodiment, the engaging portion 3a of the angle joint 3 is tapped so that the guide spiral 8 can be twisted. As described above, the structure in which the guide spiral 8 is screwed into the engaging portion 3a of the angle joint 3 eliminates the step of attaching the guide spiral 8 by soldering or brazing, and the solder or brazing is performed inside the guide spiral 8. Anyone can easily do the work without any trouble such as rushing into. Further, by adjusting the amount of twisting, an error in the length of the guide spiral 8 can be allowed, and when one end of the plurality of guide spirals 8 provided is fixed to the angle joint 3, the other end becomes uneven. Never.

FIG. 5 shows the angle tube 10 of this embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the attachment of the head joint 1 and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the joint between the curved portion 2 and In the present embodiment, the thread winding portion 9 as a fixing member for fixing both ends of the angle tube 10 as a covering member for covering the curved portion 2 (the outside of the angle blade 12) to the head joint 1 and the angle joint 3. A ring-shaped heat-shrinkable tube 11 that is shrunk by applying heat and that encloses the bobbin 9 is mounted on the above.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), both ends of the angle tube 10 are fixed by bobbin winding portions 9, and as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the bobbin winding portion 9 is covered with a heat shrinkable tube 11, and a dryer or the like is used. The heat-shrinkable tube 11 is shrunk by heating at, and the heat-shrinkable tube 11 is brought into close contact with the spool 9 as shown in FIG. As a result, the waterproof of the bobbin winding portion 9,
It is possible to obtain the protection and beauty of the thread. Further, such work can be appropriately performed in a short time, which leads to prevention of defective products and reduction of man-hours.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, although the electronic endoscope apparatus has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it has a bending mechanism similar to that of the endoscope scope of the present embodiment, the subject of the subject is formed by the glass fiber bundle. The present invention can be applied to an optical endoscope for obtaining an optical image, an ultrasonic endoscope, or the like.

[0022]

According to the present invention, the following endoscope scope and an endoscope apparatus using this endoscope scope can be provided. (1) An endoscope scope in which an angle wire is firmly locked to a tip member with a simple structure, and an endoscope apparatus using the endoscope scope. (2) A tubular member for penetrating the angle wire,
An endoscope scope fixed to a supporting member serving as a curved fulcrum with a simple structure, and an endoscope apparatus using the endoscope scope. (3) An endoscope scope and an endoscope scope capable of appropriately and in a short time the work of protecting and fixing the fixing member for fixing both ends of the covering member for covering the bending member to the bending member. The endoscopic device used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an insertion portion of the endoscope scope according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a detailed structure of a head joint included in the insertion portion.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a detailed structure of an angle joint included in the insertion portion.

FIG. 5 is a view showing how the heat-shrinkable tubes are attached to the bobbin winding portions at both ends of the angle tube that covers the curved portion of the insertion portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when a heat shrink tube is attached to the bobbin winding portions at both ends of the angle tube that covers the curved portion of the insertion portion.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the structure of fixing the tip of the angle wire to the head joint of the conventional endoscope scope.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a structure of locking an angle wire to a head joint of a conventional endoscope scope.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a structure in which a guide spiral is fixed to an angle joint of a conventional endoscope scope.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Head joint, 2 ... Curved portion, 3 ... Angle joint, 4 ... Guide middle portion, 50 ... Operating portion, 51 ... Angle knob, 6 ... Angle wire, 7 ... End fitting, 8 ... Guide spiral, 9 ... Winding portion, 10 ... Angle tube, 11 ... Heat shrink tube, 12 ... Blade, 80 ... Image processing part, 90 ... CRT, 100 ... Head joint, 200 ... Angle wire, 300 ... Solder, 400 ... Pipe, 500 ... End fitting, 600 ... Angle joint, 700 ... Guide spiral, 800 ... Guide spiral fixing device.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A tip member having a locking portion integrally formed, a bending member connected to the tip member and capable of bending in a predetermined direction, a support member connected to the bending member, and the locking member. An angle wire that has a tip portion that is locked to a portion and that extends through the bending member and the supporting member and that bends the bending member with the supporting member as a fulcrum. scope. 2. A tip member, a bending member which is connected to the tip member and can bend in a predetermined direction, a tubular member having a thread on its surface, and a thread of the tubular member which is connected to the bending member. A support member having an engagement portion that engages with the tip member, and a tip portion that is locked to the tip member, is provided to penetrate the bending member and the support member, and bends the bending member with the support member as a fulcrum. An endoscopic scope comprising: an angle wire. 3. A tip member, a bending member which is connected to the tip member and can bend in a predetermined direction, a support member which is connected to the bending member, and a tubular encapsulating member which encloses the bending member. And a fixing member that fixes both ends of the encapsulating member to the tip member and the supporting member, and a ring-shaped heat-shrinking member that contracts by heating and encloses the fixing member. Endoscope scope. 4. A tip member having a locking portion integrally formed, a bending member connected to the tip member and capable of bending in a predetermined direction, a support member connected to the bending member, and the locking An angle wire that has a tip portion that is locked to the member and that penetrates through the bending member and the supporting member, and that bends the bending member with the supporting member as a fulcrum, and means for obtaining an image of the subject An endoscopic device comprising a scope and further comprising display means for displaying an image of a subject obtained by the scope. 5. A tip member, a bending member connected to the tip member and capable of bending in a predetermined direction, a tubular member having a thread on its surface, and a thread of the tubular member connected to the bending member. A support member having an engagement portion that engages with the tip member, and a tip portion that is locked to the tip member, is provided to penetrate the bending member and the support member, and bends the bending member with the support member as a fulcrum. An endoscopic scope including an angle wire and a means for obtaining an image of a subject is provided, and a display means for displaying an image of the subject obtained by the endoscopic scope is further provided. Endoscope device. 6. A tip member, a bending member that is connected to the tip member and can bend in a predetermined direction, a support member that is connected to the bending member, and a tubular encapsulating member that encloses the bending member. A fixing member that fixes both ends of the encapsulating member to the tip member and the supporting member; a ring-shaped heat-shrinking member that contracts by heating to enclose the fixing member; and an image of the subject is obtained. An endoscopic device comprising: an endoscopic scope including means, and further comprising display means for displaying an image of a subject obtained by the endoscopic scope.