JPH10276966A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which can easily solve the slackness of a manipulation wire without damaging housed components. SOLUTION: This endoscope is composed of an insertion part 2 with a curving part, a manipulation part which is provided at the insertion part 2 and has a curve-manipulation mechanism to curvedly manipulate the curving part, a manipulation wire 18 one end of which is connected to the curving part and the other end of which is connected to the curve-manipulation mechanism, and a guide coil one end of which is connected to the front end of the insertion part 2 and the other end of which is connected to the manipulation part and which houses the manipulation wire 18. The end of the insertion part 2 at hand is fixed so that it does not move to the manipulation part, and a fixing position of the guide coil against the manipulation part is adjusted in the traveling direction of the manipulation wire 18.

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 bending operation mechanism for bending a bending portion by pushing and pulling an operation wire inserted into an insertion portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an endoscope, an insertion portion is connected to a flexible tube, a bending portion connected to a distal end of the flexible tube, and a rear end of the flexible tube, and the bending portion is operated to bend. And an operation section having one end of the operation wire having one end fixed to the bending section, and the other end of the operation wire connected to the bending operation mechanism.
Then, the operation wire is inserted into the guide coil inserted in the insertion portion, and moves back and forth inside the guide coil.

As this type of endoscope, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Japanese Patent Publication No. 264041 is known. In this endoscope, the base end of the guide coil is immovably attached to the base end of the insertion section, and the insertion section is relatively movable with respect to the operation section, and furthermore, the insertion section and the operation section are relatively moved. A disabling fixing means is provided.

A flexible member made of a soft rubber is provided around the connecting portion between the operating portion and the flexible tube to prevent buckling of the flexible tube at that portion. The inner diameter of the buckling member on the insertion portion side is set slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube, and is arranged in close contact. In some cases, the outer periphery of the buckling prevention member is further covered with a soft rubber for a cover, and the contact surface thereof is filled with a flexible adhesive to increase the adhesion.

[0005]

However, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-264401, when the fixing position of the flexible tube to which the guide coil is fixed to the operation section is adjusted, the built-in member is moved to the distal end side accordingly. And the built-in member may be damaged at the proximal end of the flexible tube.

Further, in the case where a buckling member is provided to prevent buckling of the insertion portion, the buckling member needs to have higher rigidity than the insertion portion. On the other hand, in order to prevent a gap from being formed between the fold-preventing member and the insertion portion, it is necessary to increase the adhesion between the fold-prevention member and the insertion portion.

As a method of improving the adhesion, it is conceivable to make the inner diameter of the buckling member smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion portion. However, if the inner diameter of the buckling member having rigidity capable of preventing buckling is simply reduced, the buckling member will be broken. The insertion part is buckled because the fastening force by the stopper member is too strong. Furthermore, assembly is troublesome. On the other hand, if the stiffness of the buckling member is reduced and the inner diameter of the buckling member is reduced, a sufficient buckling prevention effect cannot be obtained. In addition, the method of covering the soft rubber for the cover and bonding with a soft adhesive to prevent the gap can prevent the occurrence of the gap, but the cost is increased due to the increase in the number of parts, and the soft rubber for the cover is further increased. It is troublesome to put on and take off. Furthermore, assembly was troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of easily removing a slack of an operation wire without damaging a built-in component. To provide.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operation section having an insertion section having a bending section and a bending operation mechanism provided on the insertion section for bending the bending section. And an operation wire having one end fixed to the bending portion and the other end connected to the bending operation mechanism, the operation wire being inserted, one end being fixed to the tip of the insertion portion, and the other end being fixed to the operation portion. And an endoscope having a guide coil provided with a guide coil, a hand-side end of the insertion section is immovably fixed to the operation section, and a fixing position of the guide coil to the operation section is set to the operation wire. Characterized in that a means for adjusting the movement direction is provided.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 14 show a first embodiment, and FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope 1. The endoscope 1 includes an elongated insertion portion 2 inserted into a body cavity or the like, an operation portion 3 formed at a rear end of the insertion portion 2, a universal cord 4 extended from the operation portion 3, It comprises a connector 5 formed at the rear end of the cord 4 for connecting to a light source device (not shown).

The insertion portion 2 is formed from a distal end side to a rigid distal end portion 6, a rear end of the distal end portion 6, a bendable bending portion 7, and a flexible end portion formed at the rear end of the bending portion 7. And a flexible tube 8 having properties. The outer shape of the operation unit 3 is formed watertight by an operation unit casing 9 provided on the hand side and a holding unit casing 10 formed on the insertion unit 2 side of the operation unit casing 9.
The operation section casing 9 is provided with a vertical bending operation knob 11b for bending the bending section 7 in the vertical direction, and a horizontal bending operation knob 11a for bending the bending section 7 in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the operation unit 3 near the operation unit 3 covered with the operation unit casing 9 and the holding casing 10. A board 12 is provided inside the operation unit casing 9 and the holding casing 10. Operation unit casing 9
A horizontal sprocket 13a and a vertical sprocket 13b are arranged on the substrate 12 in the inside. The left and right bending operation knob 11a is provided on the left and right sprocket 13a.
Are connected to the vertical sprocket 13b, and the vertical bending operation knob 11b is connected to the vertical sprocket 13b. A left and right chain member 14a is wound on the left and right sprocket 13a as shown in FIG. 3, and a vertical chain member 14b is wound on the vertical sprocket 13b as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an end portion of the left-right chain member 14a, FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA. At the end of the left and right direction chain member 14a, a right chain side connecting member 16a having a right direction contact portion 15a for defining the moving range is attached, and a female screw is provided near the right direction contact portion 15a. A part 17 is provided.

A right-hand insertion portion side connecting member 19a to which a right-hand operation wire 18a for transmitting a right-hand bending operation by the left-right bending operation knob 11a to the bending portion 7 is fixed. A long hole 23 through which a circular maximum outer diameter portion 22 cannot be inserted is provided along the moving direction of the operation wire 18. A plurality of circular grooves are connected to the upper portion of the long hole 23 at equal intervals, so that the maximum outer diameter portion 22 is formed.
A locking groove 25 of the maximum outer diameter portion 22 in which a narrower projection 24 is formed is provided, and a long groove 26 having a shape in which the projection 24 of the locking groove 25 is removed is provided above the locking groove 25. I have.

The depth of the long groove portion 26 is set larger than the thickness of the maximum outer diameter portion 22, and the depth of the locking groove portion 25 is set smaller than the screwing length of the screw portion 21 and the female screw portion 17.
The screw portion 21 of the fixing screw 20 is screwed into the female screw portion 17 through the long hole 23, and the right-side insertion portion side connecting member 19a and the right-side chain side in a state where the largest outer diameter portion 22 and the protrusion 24 are in contact with each other. The connecting member 16a is connected. A cover member 28 having a narrower width than the maximum outer diameter portion 22 and having an adjustment long hole 27 through which a screwdriver for fixing the fixing screw 20 can be inserted is fixed to the upper surface of the long groove portion 26 by bonding, soldering, or brazing. ing.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section along the line BB in FIG. A convex portion 29 along the longitudinal direction of the right insertion portion side connection member 19a is provided at a contact portion of the right insertion portion side connection member 19a with the right chain side connection member 16a. The contact surface is provided with a concave portion 30 having a shape facing the convex portion 29. Here, since the structure of this portion is the same in the up, down, left, and right directions, the description of the structure in other directions is omitted, and a is shown in the right direction after the sign,
The left direction is b, the downward direction is c, and the upward direction is d.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rightward extending portion 19a, the rightward inserting portion side connecting member 19b, the downward inserting portion side connecting member 19c, and the rightward direction extending from the upward inserting portion side connecting member 19d. The operation wire 18a, the left operation wire 18b, the downward operation wire 18c, and the upward operation wire 18d are a right hand side guide coil 31a, a left hand side guide coil 31b, and a lower hand side formed by densely winding metal wires. The guide coil 31c and the upper proximal guide coil 31d are respectively inserted. Right hand side guide coil 31a, left hand side guide coil 31b,
Rightward positioning members 3 are provided at the proximal ends of the lower proximal guide coil 31c and the upper proximal guide coil 31d.
2a, the left-side positioning member 32b, the lower-side positioning member 32c, and the upper-side positioning member 32d are fixed to each other, and are locked to the substrate 12.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of the insertion portion side of the proximal guide coil 31. Right hand side guide coil 31
a, left hand side guide coil 31b, lower hand side guide coil 31c, and upper hand side guide coil 31d
At the insertion portion side end, right insertion portion side guide coil 33a, left insertion portion side guide coil 33b, and downward insertion portion side guide coil 3 having the same structure as hand side guide coil 31
The proximal ends of the guide coil 3d and the upper insertion portion side guide coil 33d are respectively abutted, and the outer periphery of the abutted portion is connected by covering with a heat shrink tube 34.

The right insertion section side guide coil 33a, the left insertion section side guide coil 33b, the lower insertion section side guide coil 33c, and the upper insertion section side guide coil 33d have a U-shaped groove 35 at the right. Direction locking block 36
a, leftward locking block 36b, downward locking block 3
6c and the upward locking block 36d are respectively fixed by solder or the like. Right insertion section side guide coil 33
a, the left insertion section side guide coil 33b, the lower insertion section side guide coil 33c, and the upper insertion section side guide coil 33d are inserted into the insertion section 2 and fixed to the distal end of the flexible tube 8, respectively. In addition, the guide coil 3 near the hand in each direction
The operation wire 18 in each direction inserted into the insertion portion side guide coil 33 in each direction via 1 is fixed to the distal end of the bending portion 7.

FIG. 8 shows the internal structure of the operation part 3 on the insertion part side of the part covered by the holding part casing 10. A cylindrical base 37 is fixed to the substrate 12 by screws, and the insertion portion 2 is fixed to the other end by screws so as not to move. A locking ring 38 is fixed to the cylindrical base 37 by a fixing screw 39.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section along the line CC in FIG. The locking ring 38 has a notch 4
0 is provided, and a rightward locking groove 41 is provided on the outer periphery.
a, left locking groove 41b, downward locking groove 41c
And an upward locking groove 41d. The right locking groove 41a has the groove 35 of the right locking block 36a, the left locking groove 41b has the groove 35 of the left locking block 36b, and the lower locking groove 41c has a lower groove. The groove 35 of the direction locking block 36c is locked with the upward locking groove 41d, and the upward locking block 36d is locked with the upward locking groove 41d.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a fixing portion of the fixing screw 39. This portion is provided with a long hole 42, a protrusion 43, and a locking groove 44 similar to the long hole 23, the protrusion 24, and the locking groove 25, and a screw portion 45 of the fixing screw 39.
The relationship between the maximum outer diameter portion 46 and the female screw portion 47 is also fixed screw 2
Since the relationship between the thread portion 21 and the maximum outer diameter portion 22 and the internal thread portion 17 is the same as that of the female thread portion 17, the description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the outer circumference of the cylindrical base 37 opposite to the fixing screw 39 is covered with a buckling member 48 made of soft rubber for preventing the flexible tube 8 from buckling. A stop base 49 is provided. Break-resistant base 4
9 has an abutting portion 50 that abuts on the end of the holding portion casing 10, and an inner surface of the abutting portion 50 has a female screw portion 5.
1 is provided. A male screw part 52 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical base 37 facing the female screw part 51, and the female screw part 51 is provided.
And the male screw portion 52 are screwed.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion preventing member 48 on the insertion portion side. The inclination of the inner diameter surface with respect to the central axis of the bending preventing member 48 is changed at the taper angle changing portion 53, and the proximal side of the taper angle changing portion 53 has a rigidity capable of preventing the flexible tube 8 from buckling. The stop portion 54 is a soft portion 55 that is thinner and softer than the bend stop portion 54 on the insertion portion side. By setting the taper angle N formed by the outer diameter surface and the inner diameter surface of the break preventing portion 54 to be larger than the taper angle P formed by the outer diameter surface and the inner diameter surface of the soft portion 55, the soft portion 55 It is formed softer than 54.

The inner diameter of the bending preventing member 48 in the taper angle changing portion 53 is 85 to 9 times larger than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 8.
5%, and the bending-preventing member 48 at the taper angle changing portion 53
Has a thickness of 1 mm or less. Here, the taper angle may change the inclination of the outer diameter surface of the breaking preventing member 48, or may change both the outer diameter surface and the inner diameter surface.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show a bending state holding mechanism for holding the bending state of the bending portion 7 at an arbitrary position. FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view around the vertical bending operation knob 11b. Vertical bending operation knob 11b, vertical bending operation knob 11b, and vertical sprocket 13b
A space 58 is formed by a curved shaft 56 for connecting the base plate 12 and a sprocket cover 57 fixed to the substrate 12 so as not to be movable.
Is formed, and a curved state holding member 59 made of an elastic material is disposed in the space portion 58. An operation shaft 60 is connected to the bent state holding member 59, and is guided to the outside via a sprocket cover 57. A watertight ring 61 is arranged between the operation shaft 60 and the sprocket cover 57.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show DD in FIG.
FIG. 13 shows a state where the curved state is not held, and FIG. 14 shows a state where the curved state is held. The curved state holding member 59 is oval, and its short side is shorter than the width R of the space 58 formed by the vertical bending operation knob 11b and the sprocket cover 57 opposed thereto, and the longer side is set longer. .

The length S of the space 58 formed by the curved shaft 56 and the sprocket cover 57 facing the curved shaft 56
Is set longer than the long side of the curved state holding member 59. Further, an engagement groove 62 is provided in the sprocket cover 57 with which the curved state holding member 59 contacts in the state of FIG. Here, the curved state holding member 59 is not limited to an ellipse, but may be an ellipse or a polygon. The space 58 may be a hard resin.

Next, a method of assembling the insertion section will be described. The insertion-section-side guide coils 33 in each direction are fixed at predetermined positions on the distal end side of the flexible tube 8, and the insertion-section-side guide coils 33 are fixed.
Locking blocks 36 in each direction corresponding to the
Attach.

Next, the operation wire 18 in each direction is connected to the bending portion 7.
The bending portion 7 and the flexible tube 8 are fixed in a state where the bending portion 7 and the flexible tube 8 are inserted in the insertion portion side guide coils 33 corresponding to the predetermined positions. The hand-side guide coil 31 to which the positioning member 32 corresponding to the operation wire 18 in each direction is fixed is extrapolated from the hand side, and the hand-side guide coil 31 and the insertion-portion-side guide coil 33 are pushed in a state of being abutted. The outer periphery of the contact portion is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube. Next, the insertion-portion-side connecting member 19 corresponding to the predetermined position of the operation wire 18 in each direction is fixed.

Next, the locking blocks 36 in each direction are locked in the corresponding locking grooves 41 of the locking ring 38.
Next, the tubular base 37 is inserted from the insertion section 2 and the locking groove 4 is inserted.
The locking ring 38 is screw-fixed via the cylindrical base 37 with the fixing screw 39 arranged at the most proximal side of 4. As a result, the locking block 36 in each direction becomes the locking groove 41 in each direction.
And, it is sandwiched between the inner wall surfaces of the tubular base 37 and is immovably fixed. Next, the cylindrical base 37 is screwed to the rear end of the insertion section 2.

Next, the cylindrical base 37 and the substrate 12 are fixed by screws. Next, the connection of the bending operation mechanism will be described. However, since the connection structure in the up, down, left, and right directions is the same, the description regarding the direction is omitted. The positioning member 32 is connected to the substrate 12
And the convex portion 29 of the insertion portion side connecting member 19 fixed to the operation wire 18 and the corresponding concave portion 30 of the chain side connecting member 16 are overlapped with each other. The screw portion 21 of the fixing screw 20 is inserted into the long hole 23, and the screw portion 21 is brought into contact with the largest outer diameter portion 22 at the position where the fixing screw 20 is closest to the long hole 23 with the protrusion 24. It is screwed into the female screw portion 17 of the chain side connecting member 16.

As a result, the chain-side connecting member 16 and the insertion-portion-side connecting member 19 are fixed, and the convex portion 29 and the concave portion 30 are engaged with each other. The twist of the side connecting member 16 is suppressed. Further, since the maximum outer diameter portion 22 is in contact with the projection 24, the maximum outer diameter portion 22 does not shift along the elongated hole 23. Next, the cover member 28 is fixed by bonding.

When the bending operation knob 11 is rotated in a desired direction in a state where connection in all directions has been completed, the sprocket 13 rotates correspondingly, and the operation wire 18 is pulled in at the hand side. At this time, since the compressive force generated in the insertion portion 2 is received by the insertion portion side guide coil 33, the insertion portion 2 does not shrink, and the operation wire 18 is pulled by the bending portion 7.
And the bending portion 7 is bent in a desired direction.

As for the assembling of the holding part casing 10, the holding part casing 10 is extrapolated from the insertion part 2 side, arranged at a position where one end abuts on the operation part casing 9, The stopper base 49 is inserted from the insertion portion 2 side, and the female screw portion 51 is screwed into the male screw portion 52 and tightened with a predetermined force. With this, the fixing screw 3
Even when 9 is loosened, the maximum outer diameter portion 46 abuts against the inner surface of the tubular base 37 and the screwing between the screw portion 45 and the female screw portion 47 does not come off. Further, since the movement of the maximum outer diameter portion 46 in the longitudinal direction is restricted by the projection 43, the fixing screw 39 is used.
The locking ring 38 will not be displaced in the longitudinal direction even if it is loosened.

Since the soft portion 55 of the buckling member 48 is firmly adhered to the flexible tube 8, the buckling member 48
There is no gap between the flexible tube 8 and the flexible tube 8, and the soft portion 55 is thin and soft. Low.
Further, the flexible tube 8 does not buckle due to the buckling portion 54.

Next, a method for removing slack in the operation wire 18 in each direction caused by repeated bending operations will be described. When the operation wire 18 becomes loose, the amount of pulling is reduced, so that the bending angle is reduced and the bending operation knob 11 is turned off.
A phenomenon occurs in which the bending portion 7 does not follow the operation of. First, a case where the bending angle is similarly reduced in all directions will be described.

In this case, first, the left and right bending operation knob 11
a, and the vertical bending operation knob 11b is operated to measure the amount of decrease in the bending angle in each direction, and calculate how many intervals the protrusion 43 should be moved from the amount. Next, fold-proof base 4
9 is removed, the fixing portion of the fixing screw 39 is exposed to the outside, and the fixing screw 39 is loosened until the maximum outer diameter portion 46 of the fixing screw 39 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical base 37. At this time, the screwing between the screw portion 45 and the female screw portion 47 does not come off.

Next, by pushing the maximum outer diameter portion 46 into the insertion portion 2 side, the flexible tube 8 is passed through the locking ring 38, the locking block 36 in each direction, and the guide coil 33 in the insertion portion in each direction. Move toward the distal end due to the elastic force. In response to this, the fixed portion on the distal end side of the operation wire 18 in each direction also moves uniformly, and the slack of the operation wire 18 in all directions is relatively removed. Tighten the fixing screw 39 again in that state,
Adjustment is completed by reattaching the fold-preventing base 49.

Next, a case where there is a difference in the amount of decrease in the bending angle in each direction will be described. First, the holding section casing 10 is shifted toward the insertion section 2 to expose the fixing screw 20 to the outside. Next, adjustment in each direction is performed. However, since the same operation is performed in all directions, symbols indicating directions are omitted. Cover member 28
Without removing the screw, the tip of the screwdriver is inserted into the long groove 26 side of the adjusting long hole 27, and the fixing screw 20 is loosened until the upper surface of the fixing screw 20 contacts the inner surface of the cover member 28. In this state, the screwing between the screw portion 21 and the female screw portion 17 does not come off. At this time, the fixing screw 20 is
Are arranged in the long groove portion 26 where the groove is not provided, and thus can be moved along the long hole 23.

Next, when the fixing screw 20 is moved to the insertion portion 2 side by using a screwdriver, the insertion portion side connecting member 19 is moved via the fixing screw 20 so that the operation wire 18 is moved.
Slack is removed. Here, when the reduction amounts of the bending angles in the three directions are substantially the same and the reduction amounts in the remaining one direction are large,
When the amount of decrease is different in each direction, the number of operations can be reduced by combining the adjustment with the fixing screw 39 and the adjustment with the fixing screw 20 as compared with the case where the adjustment is performed only with the fixing screw 20.

Next, a method of holding the bending state of the bending portion 7 at an arbitrary position will be described. During a normal bending operation, as shown in FIG. 13, the long side of the bending state holding member 59 is in a state where it does not abut on the vertical bending operation knob 11b.
To maintain the curved state, the operation shaft 60 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12, and one end of the long side of the curved state holding member 59 is engaged with the engagement groove 62 as shown in FIG.

In this state, the other end of the long side of the curved state holding member 59 comes into contact with the vertical bending operation knob 11b. As a result, a frictional force is generated between the bending state holding member 59 and the vertical bending operation knob 11b, and since the sprocket cover 57 is fixed so as not to rotate with respect to the operation unit 3, the vertical bending operation knob 11b can be arbitrarily set. , And the bending portion 7 also maintains that state. Further, when the curved state holding member 59 is engaged with the engagement groove portion 62, a click feeling is generated, so that the held state is recognized. Further, since the curved state holding member 59 is engaged with the engagement groove portion 62, the held state is maintained even when the operation shaft 60 is released.

According to the present embodiment, the insertion section 2 is provided with the endoscope 1
And is fixed so as not to be movable with respect to the insertion portion side guide coil 3.
The slackness of the operation wire 18 can be removed by changing the pushing amount of 3, and the arrangement of the built-in object at the proximal end of the insertion section 2 does not change.

With respect to the adjustment by the fixing screw 39, the adjusting work can be performed only by removing the buckling base 49, so that the workability is good, and even if the fixing screw 39 is loosened, the fixing position does not shift so that the fixing strength is stable. Is obtained.
Further, since the long hole portion 42 is provided in substantially the same direction as the traveling direction of the operation wire 18, adjustment can be performed efficiently.

Further, in the initial state, since the fixing screw 39 is arranged closest to the long side of the long hole portion 42, many adjustment margins can be set without increasing the size of the endoscope 1. The adjustment by the fixing screw 20 can be performed by removing the holding portion casing 10 so that the workability is good. The long hole 23 is provided in substantially the same direction as the traveling direction of the operation wire 18 so that the adjustment can be efficiently performed. I can do it. Furthermore, in the initial state, since the fixing screw 20 is disposed closest to the long side of the long hole 23, many adjustment margins can be set without increasing the size of the endoscope 1.

The structure of the buckling member 48 prevents dirt from entering between the flexible tube 8 and the buckling member 48 without increasing the number of parts, and also prevents the flexible tube 8 from buckling. Can be maintained.

The holding mechanism in the curved state is inexpensive because it is composed of a small number of parts. 15 and 16 show the second embodiment, and show another configuration for adjusting the pushing amount of the guide coil 36. FIG. The insertion coil side end of the guide coil 63 is fixed to the distal end side of the flexible tube 8 as in the first embodiment, and the positioning member 64 is fixed to the proximal end, as in the first embodiment. Similarly, the operation wire 18 is inserted.

The operating section 3 is provided with an adjusting plate 68 comprising a vertical portion 65 substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the operating wire 18 and a parallel portion 67 substantially parallel to the substrate 66 of the present embodiment. The parallel portion 67 is provided with a plurality of female screws 69 at equal intervals.
A positioning member 64 is locked to 5.

A screw portion 71 of a fixing screw 70 for fixing the adjusting plate 68 is provided at a position facing the female screw 69 of the substrate 66.
Can be inserted, and a fixing hole 73 through which the maximum outer diameter portion 72 cannot be inserted.
Are provided at two places at the same interval as the female screw 69, and the fixing holes 73 are provided.
In the initial state, the guide coil 63 is fixed to the board 66 by screwing the fixing screw 70 to the closest female screw 69 in the initial state. A fixing screw 7 is provided on the substrate 66.
A notch 74 is provided at a position where the vertical portion 65 is disposed when the 0 is disposed on the female screw 69 closest to the hand and the insertion portion.

Next, an assembling method will be described. In the initial state, the fixing screw 70 is screwed into the female screw 69 closest to the insertion portion, and the adjustment plate 68 is fixed to the substrate 66, and the positioning member 6
4 is locked to the vertical portion 65. When the operating wire 18 is loosened, the adjusting plate 68 is once removed and the screwing position of the internal screw 69 to the adjusting plate 68 is shifted by a necessary amount, and the operation wire is operated by the operation described in the first embodiment. Eighteen slacks are removed.

According to the present embodiment, the mechanism for removing the slack in the operation wire 18 is simple, and the fixing screw 70 is disposed closest to the hand in the initial state. Many adjustment allowances can be set.

FIG. 17 shows a third embodiment, and shows another structure of the fold-preventing member 75. In the bending preventing member 75 of the present embodiment, the inclination of the outer diameter surface and the inner diameter surface with respect to the central axis is changed by the taper angle changing portion 76, and the bending preventing portion 77 on the hand side is provided.
The inclination M of the thin portion 76 on the insertion portion side is larger than the inclination L of the outer diameter of the insertion portion. In addition, the breaking preventing member 7 at the taper angle changing portion 76
5 has an inner diameter of 85 to 95% of the outer diameter of the flexible tube 8, and the thin portion 78 has a uniform thickness of 1 mm or less. Here, the slope M may be smaller than the slope L.

Therefore, when the fold-preventing member 75 is attached, the thin portion 78 becomes stronger than the fold-preventing portion 77 in the flexible tube 8.
Adhere to Therefore, the amount of tightening of the thin portion 78 is larger than that of the buckling portion 77, so that the ingress of dirt between the buckling member 75 and the flexible tube 8 is prevented, and the thin portion 78 is thin and the flexibility is impaired. Since the flexible tube 8 does not buckle at that portion.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following configuration is obtained. (Supplementary Note 1) An insertion section having a bending section, an operation section provided on the insertion section and having a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending section, one end is fixed to the bending section, and the other end is bent. In an endoscope having an operation wire connected to a mechanism and a guide coil in which the operation wire is inserted and one end is fixed to a distal end of a flexible tube and the other end is fixed to an operation portion, a proximal side of the insertion portion Means for fixing the end of the guide coil immovably with respect to the operation unit and adjusting a fixing position of the guide coil to the operation unit with respect to a moving direction of the operation wire. Endoscope.

(Supplementary Note 2) The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein means for adjusting at least two positions in which the guide coil is fixed to the operation unit in one direction is provided. (Supplementary Note 3) The proximal end of the guide coil is fixed or locked to a fixing member having a female screw portion, and the operating portion has a width greater than the outer diameter of the screw portion of the fixing screw having a screw portion that can be screwed to the female screw portion. The fixing member is fixed to the operation part by providing a long hole narrower than the maximum outer diameter part, approximately parallel to the moving direction of the operation wire, and screwing the screw part of the fixing screw to the female screw through the long hole. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein

(Supplementary Note 4) The endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein an allowance for adjusting a fixing position of the guide coil to the operation unit is provided only in a direction toward the insertion unit in a moving direction of the operation wire. (Supplementary Note 5) The fixing or locking position of the fixing member to the guide coil in the initial state is such that the female screw portion is the same as the proximal end portion of the long hole provided in the operation portion or is located closer to the proximal side than that. 5. The endoscope according to claim 3 or 4, wherein:

(Supplementary Note 6) Insertion part inserted into body cavity,
An operating portion connected to the proximal side of the insertion portion, one end of which is fixed to the operation portion, the other end having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion portion, and arranged in contact with the outer diameter surface of the insertion portion; An endoscope having a buckling prevention member for preventing buckling, wherein the bending prevention member includes a buckling prevention portion for preventing buckling of an insertion portion at a hand side, and a flexible portion which is more flexible than the buckling prevention portion for the insertion portion side. An endoscope, wherein the endoscope further comprises a flexible portion, and a tightening of the insertion portion in the flexible portion is larger than a tightening of the bending portion.

(Supplementary note 7) The endoscope according to Supplementary note 6, wherein the taper angle formed by the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface of the flexible portion is smaller than the taper angle formed by the break preventing portion. . (Supplementary note 8) The endoscope according to supplementary note 7, wherein the inclination of the outer diameter surface of the flexible portion with respect to the center axis of the insertion portion is smaller than the inclination of the outer diameter surface of the buckling prevention portion. (Supplementary note 9) The endoscope according to supplementary note 7, wherein the inclination of the inner diameter surface of the flexible portion with respect to the center axis of the insertion portion is smaller than the inclination of the inner diameter surface of the buckling prevention portion. (Supplementary note 10) The endoscope according to supplementary note 7, wherein the inclination of the outer diameter surface and the inner diameter surface of the flexible portion with respect to the center axis of the insertion portion is the same.

(Supplementary note 11) The endoscope according to supplementary note 6, wherein the ratio of making the inner diameter of the insertion portion side end of the flexible portion smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion portion is 0.85 or less. (Supplementary Note 12) The endoscope according to supplementary note 6, wherein the thickness of the flexible portion is 1 mm or less.

(Supplementary Note 13) A flexible tube constituting an insertion portion,
A bending section connected to the distal end of the flexible tube, an operating section connected to the rear end of the flexible tube, and having a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending section; In an endoscope having a bending operation knob for operating a mechanism and a bending state holding mechanism for holding the bending operation knob at an arbitrary bending position, the endoscope is formed by the bending operation knob and a bearing member non-rotatably fixed to an operation unit. And a deformed curved state holding member disposed in the space section, wherein the curved state holding member is rotatably disposed by an operation shaft extending outward from the bending operation knob. Endoscope that features.

(Supplementary Note 14) The length of at least one side of the cross section in the direction perpendicular to the operation axis of the curved state holding member is made larger than the width formed by the bending operation knob and the bearing member in the space in the same direction, and the other side. 14. The endoscope according to claim 13, wherein the length of the endoscope is smaller than the width.

(Supplementary note 15) The endoscope according to supplementary note 13, wherein the curved state holding member is an elastic body. (Supplementary note 16) The endoscope according to supplementary note 13, wherein the curved state holding member is a hard resin. (Supplementary note 17) The endoscope according to supplementary note 14, wherein a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the operation axis of the curved state holding member is elliptical. (Supplementary note 18) The endoscope according to supplementary note 14, wherein a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the operation axis of the curved state holding member is polygonal.

(Supplementary Note 19) When the curved state holding member comes into contact with both surfaces of the bearing member and the bending operation knob, an engagement groove portion is provided in the bearing member, in which a part of the curved state holding member is engaged. 14. The endoscope according to supplementary note 14, wherein

According to Supplementary notes 1 to 3, it is possible to provide an endoscope which can easily remove the slack of the operation wire without damaging the built-in components. According to appendices 4 and 5, in addition to the effects of appendix 1,
An endoscope without an increase in the size of the operation unit can be provided.

According to Supplementary Notes 6 to 12, it is possible to prevent infiltration of dirt into the gap between the insertion portion and the fold-preventing member, and to provide a fold-preventing member that is inexpensive and easy to assemble. According to supplementary notes 13 to 19, an inexpensive curved state holding mechanism can be provided.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, the proximal end of the insertion portion is immovably fixed to the operation portion, and the guide coil for guiding the operation wire is connected to the operation portion. By providing the means for adjusting the fixed position in the moving direction of the operation wire, there is an effect that the operation of removing the slack of the operation wire can be easily performed without damaging the built-in components.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the operation unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical side view of an end of the left-right chain member of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the proximal guide coil of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a vertical side view of the holding portion casing of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary plan view of the fixing portion according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the folding member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the bending state holding mechanism according to the embodiment, which is around a vertical bending operation knob;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a structure for adjusting a pushing amount of a guide coil according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the adjusting plate of the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a buckling member according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 7 ... Bending part 8 ... Flexible tube 18 ... Operation wire 31 ... Guide coil

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An insertion section having a bending section, an operation section provided on the insertion section and having a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending section, one end is fixed to the bending section, and the other end is An endoscope comprising: an operation wire connected to the bending operation mechanism; and a guide coil having the operation wire inserted therein, one end of which is fixed to a tip of the insertion portion, and the other end of which is fixed to the operation portion. Means are provided for fixing the proximal end of the insertion portion immovably with respect to the operation portion and adjusting a fixing position of the guide coil to the operation portion with respect to a moving direction of the operation wire. An endoscope characterized by the following.