JPH11128162A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope in which, when the function of a hardness adjustment means has deteriorated, the function is corrected to maintain the quality of a flexible tube. SOLUTION: In an endoscope, a rear end cap 36 is connected to a cylindrical tube 40 by a threaded ring 39, and a coil stopper 41 is attached to the rear end cap 36 and secured to a hardness adjustment coil 27. A moving ring 42 is placed at the rear end cap 36 in the cylindrical tube 40, and a towing member 43 is attached to the moving ring 42. A wire stopper 44 is secured to the rear end of a hardness adjustment wire 26, and the rear end of the hardness adjustment coil 27 is secured to the coil stopper 41. A moving pin 45 is attached to the moving ring 42 and fitted into a cam groove 47 in a cam ring 46. A hardness adjustment knob 25 is fitted over the cam ring 46, and the positions of the wire stopper 44 and the coil stopper 41 can be corrected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with hardness adjusting means for adjusting the hardness of a flexible tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, an incision is not required, thereby observing a site to be inspected in the body cavity. 2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope capable of performing various treatments / treatments by inserting a treatment tool into a tool channel is widely used.

The insertion portion of the endoscope has flexibility so that it can be inserted into a bent body cavity or the like. However, since the insertion portion has flexibility, the operation at the insertion portion hand side is not transmitted to the insertion portion distal end side, the direction of the insertion portion distal side is not determined, and the insertion portion is smoothly inserted to the target portion. There was a problem that became difficult.

To cope with this problem, for example,
JP-A-43802 discloses a method in which a hardness changing means (also referred to as a flexibility changing means) including a coil pipe and a wire is provided inside an endoscope, and an operator who performs an endoscopic examination performs a simple operation. By adjusting the flexibility of the insertion part by doing
An endoscope that facilitates insertion into a curved path is disclosed.

[0005]

However, both ends of the coil pipe and the wire constituting the hardness varying means are firmly fixed by brazing to the bases at both ends of the soft tube constituting the outer shell of the flexible tube. Was. For this reason, by repeatedly using the hardness varying means, when the wire is pulled while the coil pipe is deteriorated and the natural length is shortened, the tip of the flexible pipe is pulled more than before the coil pipe was deteriorated, and more than necessary. Applying the load on the flexible tube may cause the flexible tube to meander or deteriorate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when the function of the hardness adjusting means is reduced by repeated use, the function of the hardness adjusting means is corrected to maintain the quality of the flexible tube. The purpose is to provide an endoscope.

[0007]

An endoscope according to the present invention is provided with an elongated hardness adjusting means for adjusting the hardness of the flexible tube in a flexible tube constituting a flexible tube portion. In addition, it is possible to correct the load applied to the soft tube of the hardness adjusting means.

According to this configuration, the load on the soft tube is corrected as appropriate by correcting the load on the soft tube of the hardness adjusting means.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 13 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope system, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between a bending portion and a flexible tube portion, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection structure between the bending portion and the flexible tube portion, FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining a structure on the front end side of the operation portion, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 6 viewed from the direction C, and FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a spacer, FIG.
4 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 4, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of the cam groove, and FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a specific operation of the hardness adjusting means provided in the endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an electronic endoscope 2 in which a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD 11 is built in a distal end portion 21 of an elongated insertion section 20, and an electronic endoscope. The light source device 3 includes an illumination lamp 3a and a condenser lens 3b for supplying illumination light to a light guide cable 10 inserted into the endoscope 2, and a drive 4a for driving the CCD 11 and transmission from the CCD 11. It mainly comprises a signal processing device 4 having a signal processing unit 4b for converting an electric signal into an image signal, and a monitor 5 having a display unit 5a for displaying the image signal generated by the signal processing unit 4b. I have.

The insertion section 20 of the electronic endoscope 2 is
A curved portion 2 formed by connecting a tip portion 21 containing a CD 11 and a plurality of joint pieces 12 connected to the tip portion 21.
2 and a flexible tube portion 23 having a soft flexible tube 14 connected to the curved portion 22 via the connection tube 13.

The bending portion 2 is provided at the base end of the insertion portion 20.
An operation unit 6 including a bending operation knob 6a for bending the knob 2 is provided, and a drum 6b provided in the operation unit 6 is rotated by an operator operating the bending operation knob 6a. Then, the bending wire 15 wound around the drum 6b is pulled to operate the bending portion 22 in a desired direction.

From the side of the operation unit 6, the light source device 3
A universal cord 7 having a light source connector 7a at its base end, which is detachably connected to the cable, extends. An electric connector 7b is provided on a side portion of the light source connector 7a. By connecting a detachable external cable 8 to the electric connector 7b and the signal processing device 4, the signal processing device 4 and the CCD 11 are connected. It is connected via a signal line 19.

The base end of the insertion section 20 of the electronic endoscope 2 and the front end of the operation section 6 are connected via a buckling member 24, and the front end of the operation section 6 adjacent to the buckling member 24. On the side, a substantially cylindrical hardness adjustment knob (also referred to as a flexibility adjustment knob) 25 for performing a hardness adjustment operation (also referred to as a flexibility adjustment operation) of a hardness adjustment unit described later is provided. By rotating the hardness adjusting knob 25, a hardness adjusting wire 26 and a hardness adjusting means (also referred to as a variable flexibility means) of the hardness adjusting means disposed in the flexible tube portion 23 are provided. The hardness (also called flexibility) of the flexible tube portion 23 can be adjusted by adjusting the hardness adjustment coil 27. Reference numeral 6c denotes a treatment instrument insertion port communicating with a treatment instrument channel for guiding a treatment instrument and the like into the body cavity.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
The connecting tube 13 connecting the flexible tube portion 23 and the flexible tube portion 23 has a curved portion 22.
Are integrally fixed by screws 17 in a state fitted to the rear end joint piece 16 located at the rearmost end of the plurality of joint pieces 12,. A cut-out portion 13a for arranging the connection member 31 is formed in a part of the connection pipe 13, and the connection member 31 is fitted into the cut-out portion 13a. Therefore, the connection member 31
The connection pipe 13 and the rear end joint piece 16 are disposed on the connection pipe 13 by being integrally fixed. On the other hand, the screw 17 is removed to remove the rear end joint piece 16 and the connecting pipe 1.
3 to separate the connecting member 31 from the connecting pipe 1.
3 to slide off. In addition,
Reference numeral 18 denotes an outer tube constituting an outer layer of the curved portion 22. The screws 17 may be provided at one place or at a plurality of places.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end of a connection pipe 32 is fitted into a part of the connection member 31, and the connection member 31 and the connection pipe 32 are integrally fixed by a brazing portion 33. Have been. Also, this connection pipe 3
The other end of 2 has a distal end portion of a hardness adjusting wire 26 inserted therethrough and integrally fixed by solder 34. A tip of a hardness adjusting coil 27 is firmly fixed to a tip side of a hardness adjusting wire 26 extending from the connection pipe 32 by a brazing portion 33. The fixing between the hardness adjusting wire 26 and the connection pipe 32 is not limited to the solder 34, and caulking may be added.

Referring to FIG. 4, the structure of the front end side of the operation unit 6 will be described. As shown in the figure, a support member 35 is crimped to the base end of the buckling member 24. This support member 35 is
It is integrally fixed to the rear end cap 36 by a screw 37. A filler 38 is buried in a hole formed in the support member 35 on which the head of the screw 37 is disposed.

The rear end cap 36 is integrally attached to a front end of a cylindrical tube 40 fixed to an operation section main body 61 constituting the operation section 6 by a screw ring 39.
A coil stopper 41 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rear end cap 36.
The rear end of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is integrally fixed to the coil stopper 41. Further, a moving ring 42 is arranged in a portion of the cylindrical tube 40 adjacent to the rear end cap 36, and a traction member 43 is attached to the moving ring 42.

The rear end of the hardness adjusting wire 26 passes through the through hole formed in the coil stopper 41 and the groove formed in the traction member 43 in the hardness adjusting coil 27 and into the operating portion 6. It is protruding. Further, a wire stopper 44 serving as a retaining member is firmly fixed to the rear end of the protruding hardness adjusting wire 26 by a brazing portion 33. The rear end of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is firmly fixed to the coil stopper 41 by the brazing portion 33.

Moving pins 45 are attached to symmetric positions of the moving ring 42, respectively.
The moving pin 45 is provided in a cam groove 46 provided on a cam ring 46 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical tube 40 through a long hole elongated in the longitudinal direction provided in the cylindrical tube 40. It fits in 47. A hardness adjusting knob 25 is put on the cam ring 46, and is fixed in the rotating direction by fitting of the concave and convex portions as shown in FIG. 11, which will be described later.

A slide ring 48 is sandwiched between the front end of the cam ring 46 and the rear end of the rear end cap 36. The rear end cap 36 and the cam ring 46 are formed of the same member, but the sliding ring 48 is made of a material having a different hardness from the rear end cap 36 and the cam ring 46. This is for preventing the bite that occurs when sliding occurs. Further, a first seal ring 49 provided on the support member 35 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface on the front end side of the hardness adjusting knob 25 so that water tightness is maintained. The rear end cap 36 and the supporting member 35 are kept watertight by a second seal ring 50. A rear portion of the hardness adjusting knob 25 is disposed so as to overlap the seal receiving member 51, and the hardness adjusting knob 25 and the seal receiving member 51 are connected to each other by a third seal ring 52 provided on the seal receiving member 51. Watertightness is maintained. A front end portion of the cylindrical body 62 is disposed on the rear end side of the receiving member 51 so as to overlap with the rear end side. The fourth seal ring 53 provided on the cylindrical body 62 makes the receiving member 51 and the cylindrical body 62 watertight. Is kept.

As shown in FIG. 5, the coil stopper 41 is
Two screws 54 serving as coil rear end position adjusting means described later
With this, it is integrally fixed to the rear end cap 36. Above the head of the screw 54, a groove 36a formed in the rear end cap 36 and a longitudinally elongated hole 40a formed in the cylindrical tube 40 are arranged. The screw 54 can be tightened or loosened from the outside.

A plurality of notches 36b for obtaining frictional resistance are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end cap 36. By providing the notches 36b, as shown in FIG. Rear end cap 3 adjusted to ideal position
During the work of tightening the cylindrical pipe 40 with the screw ring 39, the position of the rear end cap 36 and the cylindrical pipe 40 in the rotation direction is prevented from being shifted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rear end cap 36 is formed with a long and narrow hole 45a in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the screw 54 can be slid by a distance a from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. However, since the step 36b is provided in the groove 36a of the rear end cap 36, as shown in FIG.
When the screw 4a is placed on the bottom surface 36c of the groove 36a, the screw 54 cannot slide in the direction shown by the two-dot chain line. If it exceeds 36b, the screw 54 can slide to the position of the two-dot chain line by sliding in the long hole 45a.

Since the height of the stepped portion 36b is set to be smaller than the joining length of the screw 54 to the coil stopper 41, the screw 54 is slightly connected to the coil stopper 41, and Sliding movement is enabled by floating 70. Therefore, it is possible to fit the head 54a on the bottom surface 36c at the front end shown in FIG. 7, and by completely tightening the screw 54, the screw 54 cannot slide by the step 36b. By providing the elongated hole 40 a in the cylindrical tube 40, the operation of changing the positions of the coil stopper 41 and the screw 54 can be performed from the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical tube 40.

The support member 35 is provided with a breaking preventing member 2
The support member 35 is slid to the front end side by turning up 4 and removing the filler 38 and removing the screw 37 in this state. After the support member 35 is slid to the front end, the hardness adjustment knob 25 is slid to the front end. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the bending preventing member 24, the supporting member 35, the hardness adjusting knob 25
Is removed from the front end.

The slide ring 48 has a substantially C-shape as shown in FIG. 9 which is externally fitted to the cylindrical tube 40 with the buckling member 24, the support member 35, and the hardness adjusting knob 25 removed from the front end. A spacer 55 having a thickness d is arranged. In other words, by fixing the support member 35 removed with the spacer 55 disposed in a predetermined position on the rear end cap 36, the positions of the cam ring 46, the moving pin 45, the moving ring 42, and the traction member 43 are changed. Moves from the initial position to the rear end side by the thickness d of the spacer 55.

In this state, by rotating the hardness adjusting knob 25 and the cam ring 46, the moving pin 4
5. The moving ring 42 and the traction member 43 also move to the rear end side. At this time, the rearmost position of the wire stopper 44 also shifts from the initial position indicated by the two-dot chain line to the rear end side by the thickness d of the spacer 55. By preparing the plurality of types of spacers 55 by arbitrarily setting the thickness d, it is possible to appropriately adjust the amount of movement.

The spacer 55 is formed to have an inner diameter dimension that fits outside the cylindrical tube 40. And the notch 5
The width of 5a is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical tube 40,
It is formed larger than the outer diameter of the flexible tube portion 23. Therefore, after the spacer 55 is fitted into the flexible tube portion 23 from the lateral direction, it can be disposed at the front of the sliding ring 48. As a result, the flexible tube portion 23 can be moved from the front end of the operation portion 6 without completely removing the buckling member 24, the support member 35, and the hardness adjustment knob 25 from the insertion portion 20 in order to perform the work of attaching the spacer 55. It may be shifted to the halfway position. Further, the sliding ring 48 may also serve as the spacer 55. That is, a plurality of types of the sliding rings 48 having different widths are formed, and the sliding rings 48 are appropriately replaced to form the spacers 55.
The same operation as described above can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 10, the pulling member 43 is integrally fixed to the moving ring 42 by two screws 56. Since the groove 43a is provided in the traction member 43, the hardness adjusting wire 26 can be fitted from the outer peripheral direction and fixed to the moving ring 42. Since the moving ring 42 has a C-shape, a space for inserting other internal components is secured. The balance is maintained by arranging the moving pins 45 at symmetrical positions. Further, a plurality of recesses 25a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hardness adjustment knob 25 to prevent the gripping hand from slipping.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hardness adjusting knob 25 and the cam ring 46 are fixed in the rotational direction by engaging a plurality of uneven portions formed on the inner peripheral surface of the adjusting knob 25 with a plurality of uneven portions provided on the cam ring 46. Then, it is configured to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion. Note that the cam ring 46 is rotatable with respect to the cylindrical tube 40.

As shown in FIG. 12, the cam grooves 47a, 47b
The traveling angle between the first traveling section 57 and the second traveling section 58 on the rear side changes. This is because, when the cam ring 46 is rotated and the moving pin 45 slides in the cam grooves 47a and 47b, when the rear end of the hardness adjusting wire 26 is pulled against the hardness adjusting coil 27, an excessively large amount of force is required at first. Therefore, the moving pin 4 is moved by a slight rotation amount of the cam ring 46 that moves along the first traveling portion 57.
5 can be largely towed, and after a certain amount of towing, the amount of tractive force gradually increases, and by shifting to the second running portion 58, the amount of rotational operation of the cam ring 46 is reduced to a small amount with a large amount of rotational operation so as not to become too large. In order to

It should be noted that the first traveling section 57 extends from the beginning to the end.
In the case of forming the cam ring 46, the rotation operation amount of the cam ring 46 becomes very long. In the present invention, the maximum rotation amount (stroke) of the cam ring 46 is set to 180 ° at which the operator can operate with one operation, and the operation force amount is not so large. Note that the maximum rotation amount is 18
A rotation angle other than 0 ° may be set. Further, since a gap serving as a play portion is provided between the traction member 43 and the wire stopper 44, the flexible tube 23 is bent when the flexible tube 23 shown in FIG. The hardness adjusting wire 26 has a hardness adjusting coil 2 at the rear end.
When it is pulled into the front end inside 7, the hardness adjusting coil 27 is prevented from becoming hard. That is, the hardness adjustment knob 2
5 prevents the flexible tube portion 23 from being naturally hardened when the device 5 is not operated.

Here, an operation for changing the hardness of the flexible tube 23 from a soft state to a hard state will be described. First, the hardness adjustment knob 25 is rotated to increase the hardness of the flexible tube 23. Then, when the cam ring 46 rotates together with the hardness adjustment knob 25, the moving pin 45 moves in the cam grooves 47a and 47b, and moves the traction member 43 to the rear end side. Then, the towing member 43 comes into contact with the wire stopper 44 by moving to the rear end side.

Next, in this state, the traction member 43 further moves to the rear end side. As a result, the hardness adjusting wire 26 is pulled to the rear side, and a compressive force is applied to the hardness adjusting coil 27 to harden the hardness adjusting coil 27, so that the hardness of the flexible tube portion 23 becomes hard. Become.

A specific operation example will be described with reference to FIG. This figure illustrates a state in which the insertion section 20 of the endoscope 2 is inserted into the large intestine.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the flexible tube 23 is softened, and the insertion portion 20 is inserted from the anus 91 through the rectum into the meandering sigmoid colon 92. Since the flexible tube portion 23 is in a soft state, even if a loop is formed in the middle of the flexible tube portion 23, the pain of the patient can be reduced. Eventually, the distal end portion 21 of the insertion portion 20 becomes the descending colon 93.
And reaches the vicinity of the spleen bend 94.

When the distal end 21 reaches the vicinity of the spleen bend 94, the sigmoid colon 92 is folded by operating the pulling of the flexible tube 23 as shown in FIG. 23 and the sigmoid colon 92 are made substantially linear. Then, as described above, the hardness adjusting knob 25 is rotated to bring the flexible tube portion 23 into a hard state. This prevents the folded sigmoid colon 92 from flexing again and re-looping when pushing the distal end 21 toward the transverse colon 95.

As shown in FIG. 4C, by pushing the distal end portion 21 with the flexible tube portion 23 in a hard state, the distal end portion 21 passes through the transverse colon 95 and crosses the liver curve 97, The cecum 98 is reached. The flexible tube portion 23 has a strong stiffness in a hard state, so that it not only prevents re-looping of the sigmoid colon 92 but also makes it easy to insert the transverse colon 95 as much as possible without bending it. Can be inserted in a state where is easily transmitted to the tip, so that good insertion becomes possible.

As described above, since the operation of hardening the flexible tube portion 23 can be performed while the insertion portion 20 of the endoscope 2 is being inserted to the target portion, the flexible tube portion 23 can be operated.
The more frequently the hardness adjustment operation is used, the more the hardness adjustment coil 27 and the hardness adjustment wire 26 deteriorate. That is, by performing the hardness adjusting operation frequently, the natural length of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is reduced by plastic deformation, and the natural length of the hardness adjusting wire 26 is increased.

As described above, when the hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 deteriorate, not only the maximum hardness of the flexible tube portion 23 in the hard state decreases. In the present embodiment, when the hardness adjusting wire 26 is deteriorated to be in an extended state, no load is applied to the flexible tube 14 in the longitudinal axis direction, but when the hardness adjusting coil 27 is deteriorated. Is different.

That is, since the hardness adjusting coil 27 shrinks even when it is elastically deformed by the pulling operation of the hardness adjusting wire 26, the rear end of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is previously connected to the soft tube 14.
The coil stopper 41 is attached to the rear end cap 36 in a state where the coil stopper 41 is slightly pushed into the inside of the flexible tube 14 so as to be slightly slackened. Specifically, at the maximum hardness, 2
If it is known to shrink by about mm, the rear end is attached to the rear end cap 36 while being pushed into the flexible tube 14 by about 2 mm more than the natural state. By doing so,
When the maximum hardness is reached, the connection tube 13 is prevented from being pulled as much as possible.

If the connecting tube 13 is pulled, a force for contracting the flexible tube 14 acts. Then
The flexible tube 14 tends to meander or deteriorate. Further, when the hardness adjusting coil 27 is deteriorated and the natural length is reduced, when the hardness adjusting knob 25 is operated to pull the hardness adjusting wire 26, the connection pipe 13 is more depressed than before the hardness adjusting coil 27 was deteriorated.
May be pulled backward, and further load may be applied to the flexible tube 14 to adversely affect the insertability and durability.

However, according to the present invention, the rear end position of the hardness adjusting coil 27 can be changed as shown in FIGS. Therefore, when the hardness adjusting coil 27 is contracted due to the deterioration as described above, the position of the coil stopper 41 is changed by operating the screw 54 to correct the contracted state of the hardness adjusting coil 27. Thereby, when the hardness adjusting knob 25 is operated, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary load from being applied to the connection pipe 13. According to the configuration of the present embodiment, not only the deterioration of the hardness adjusting coil 27 but also the hardness adjusting wire 26
8 can be corrected by arranging the spacer 55 having a desired thickness dimension as shown in FIG.

For this reason, even if a large number of fixing positions of the screws 54 are provided in FIG. 7 and only the amount of pushing the hardness adjusting coil 27 into the flexible tube 14 is corrected, the hardness adjusting coil 27 is actually used. Since both the hardness 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 are deteriorated, even if the pushing amount of the hardness adjusting coil 27 in the initial state is reproduced, the maximum hardness in the initial state cannot be obtained. Conversely, when the hardness adjusting coil 27 is pushed in until the maximum hardness in the initial state is realized, the connection pipe 13 is pushed further to the front end side than in the initial state, so that the connecting pipe 13 is stretched toward the front end side and becomes soft. An extra load such as stretching the tube 14 will be applied.

As described above, in the present embodiment, both the amount of the hardness adjusting coil 27 pushed into the flexible tube 14 and the position of the hardness adjusting wire 26 at the maximum hardness are determined by the hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting coil 26. By correcting in accordance with the deterioration state of the wire 26, both the initial state where the load on the flexible tube 14 is small and the initial state of the maximum hardness can be reproduced. Here, FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. The coil rear end position adjusting means for determining the rear end position of the hardness adjusting coil 27 different from that of the above embodiment will be described. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the distal end of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is fixed to the distal end side of the hardness adjusting wire 26. The distal end of the hardness adjusting wire 26 is fixed to the connection pipe 13. For this reason, although the tip of the hardness adjusting coil 27 may be slightly twisted elastically, it hardly rotates in a natural state.

On the other hand, the rear end of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is also non-rotatably fixed to the coil stopper 41. And
As shown in FIG. 5, the coil stopper 41 is non-rotatably attached to the rear end cap 36.

However, by completely removing the two screws 54 from the coil stopper 41, the coil stopper 4
Reference numeral 1 denotes a space in the rear end cap 36 which is rotatable with respect to the rear end cap 36. By rotating the coil stopper 41, the hardness adjusting coil 27 is rotated.
The rear end rotates. When the rear end of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is rotated, the front end of the hardness adjusting coil 27 does not rotate much due to the regulation of the front end of the hardness adjusting wire 26. That is, by rotating the coil stopper 41, the number of turns of the hardness adjusting coil 27 is changed. If the number of turns is changed, the length of the hardness adjusting coil 27 can be changed according to the coil wire diameter.

As described above, when the hardness adjusting coil 27 is deteriorated and contracted, the coil stopper 41 is rotated, for example, one or more times in the direction in which the hardness adjusting coil 27 becomes longer (the number of windings increases), and then again. By fixing the hardness adjusting coil 27 to the rear end cap 36 with the screw 54, it is possible to correct the hardness of the coil 27 so that the natural length becomes substantially the same as the initial state.
Since the natural length can be corrected for each element diameter of the hardness adjusting coil 27, it is possible to perform highly accurate and fairly precise correction.

The fact that the load of the hardness adjusting means on the flexible tube 14 can be adjusted means that the length of the hardness varying means can be adjusted in accordance with variations in the length of the flexible tube 14 at the manufacturing stage. Correction) to perform an assembling operation, so that an endoscope with good initial quality is shipped.

Incidentally, in the hardness varying means disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 3-43802, how the hardness varying means travels (arranges) from the inside of the insertion section to the inside of the operation section.
There was no three-dimensional description of what was done.
For this reason, if the hardness adjusting means is running three-dimensionally obliquely from the insertion portion to the operating portion, when operating the hardness adjusting means, the hardness adjusting means may compress other built-in components and damage the hardness adjusting means. There was a risk of doing. For this reason, there has been a demand for a structure that minimizes damage to other internal components by operating the hardness adjusting means.

FIGS. 14 to 17 relate to an endoscope having a structure for preventing damage to other internal components by hardness adjusting means.
4 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the built-in components inside the flexible tube of the endoscope in FIG. 1, FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the built-in components inside the flexible tube of a different endoscope, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement position of the hardness adjusting means of the endoscope in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view showing an arrangement position of the hardness adjusting means of the endoscope in FIG. 15 in a section taken along a line DD shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the flexible tube 14 constituting the flexible tube portion 23 of the endoscope 2 shown in the above embodiment, a hardness adjusting coil 27 and a hardness adjusting coil 27 constituting hardness adjusting means are provided. The wire 26 is connected to the up side of the endoscope 2 and the rig.
ht side. This is because the parts are the bending wire 15, the signal line 19, and the light guide cable 1.
This is because it is the position where the outer diameter of the flexible tube 14 is hardest to be increased in relation to other internal components such as the treatment instrument channel 72, the air supply tube 75, and the water supply tube 74. As shown in FIG. 5, the positions of the hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 in the operation section are set between the up side and the right side similar to the flexible tube section 23.

However, in the endoscope 70 having a different model from the endoscope 2 such as the outer diameter of the insertion portion 71, the size of the treatment instrument channel 72, the optical system specifications, etc., the layout of the built-in components is as shown in FIG. The layout of the endoscope 2 was different from that shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the endoscope 70, a hardness adjusting coil 27 and a hardness adjusting wire 26 are provided.
Is disposed between the up side and the left side of the endoscope 70. That is, the hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 are arranged at positions completely different from those of the endoscope 2.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the hardness adjusting coil 27 in the operation section of the endoscope 70 is used.
The position of the wire 26 for adjusting the hardness is determined by the
The position is located between the up side and the left side in the figure in the operation unit based on the arrangement position in 3.

Generally, the treatment instrument channel 7 in the insertion portion
Regardless of the model in which the arrangement position of 2 is different, the position of the treatment tool channel 72 in the endoscope operation unit is substantially the same in all models. The same is true for the air supply tube 75 and the water supply tube 74, so that even if the position of the built-in component in the insertion portion is different, the operability does not cause an uncomfortable feeling.

However, in the present embodiment, the soft tube 73
Hardness adjusting coil 27 and hardness adjusting wire 26
The arrangement positions of the hardness adjustment coil 27 and the hardness adjustment wire 26 in the operation unit are set based on the arrangement position of the hardness adjustment coil 27. That is, the hardness adjusting coil 27 in the operation section
The arrangement position of the hardness adjusting wire 26 is changed for each model.

This is because the hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 are arranged at the same position even if the model is changed based on the same concept as the treatment instrument channel 72 and the air / water supply tubes 73 and 74 described above. In this case, the layout of the hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 in the insertion portion and the layout of the hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 in the operating portion may be completely different depending on the model. The hardness adjusting coil 27 and the hardness adjusting wire 26 from the insertion portion to the operation portion.
Is arranged so as to press the other internal components, and when the hardness adjusting knob 25 is operated to increase the hardness, the other internal components may be pressed and damaged. .

As described above, since the layout in the insertion portion and the layout in the operation portion of the hardness adjusting member, which is one of the internal components, are substantially at the same position, the other internal components are pressed and the other internal components are damaged. Can be prevented.

Further, by arranging the position of the hardness adjusting member in the operation portion corresponding to the insertion portion, the position of the built-in component in the flexible tube can be made the best.
As a result, the diameter of the insertion portion can be reduced.

The means for adjusting the hardness is not limited to the configuration of the coil and the wire, but may be a means using a shape memory alloy or a means for adjusting the fluid pressure by injecting a fluid into an elongated balloon. It is only necessary that the length be variable with a built-in elongated member.

The present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) In an endoscope provided with an elongated hardness adjusting means for adjusting the hardness of the flexible tube in the flexible tube constituting the flexible tube portion, a load applied to the flexible tube by the hardness adjusting means is provided. An endoscope characterized in that the amount can be corrected.

(2) The hardness adjusting means is composed of a coil and a wire passing through the coil, and the arrangement of the coil and the wire in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion can be respectively changed. Endoscope.

(3) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the hardness adjusting means has a coil, and a rotation of a rear end side of the coil can be adjusted with respect to a front end side of the coil.

(4) In an endoscope in which an elongated hardness adjusting means for adjusting the hardness of the flexible tube is provided in a flexible tube constituting a flexible tube portion of the endoscope, the arrangement position of the hardness adjusting means is changed. , An endoscope at substantially the same position in the insertion section and the operation section.

(5) The endoscope according to appendix 4, wherein an arrangement position of the hardness adjusting means in the operating section is set in accordance with an arrangement direction of the hardness adjusting means in the insertion section.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the function of the hardness adjusting means is reduced by repeated use, the function of the hardness adjusting means is corrected to maintain the quality of the flexible tube. An endoscope can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 13 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope system.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between a bending portion and a flexible tube portion.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection structure between a bending portion and a flexible tube portion.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a front end side of an operation unit.

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

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 6 viewed from a direction C.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a portion D in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a spacer.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a cam groove.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a specific operation of a hardness adjusting means provided in the endoscope.

14 to 17 relate to an endoscope having a structure for preventing damage to other built-in components by hardness adjusting means;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of internal components inside the flexible tube of the endoscope in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of built-in objects inside flexible tubes of different endoscopes.

FIG. 16 is a view showing the arrangement position of the hardness adjusting means of the endoscope in FIG. 15 in the AA section shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an arrangement position of a hardness adjusting unit of the endoscope in FIG. 15 in a section taken along a line DD shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Endoscope 14 ... Flexible tube 23 ... Flexible tube 25 ... Hardness adjustment knob (hardness adjustment means) 26 ... Hardness adjustment wire (hardness adjustment means) 27 ... Hardness adjustment coil (hardness adjustment means) 39 ... Screw ring 40 ... Cylindrical tube 41 ... Coil stopper 42 ... Movement ring 43 ... Twisting member 44 ... Wire stopper 46 ... Cam ring 48 ... Sliding ring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope provided with an elongated hardness adjusting means for adjusting the hardness of a flexible tube in a flexible tube constituting a flexible tube portion, wherein a load applied to the flexible tube by the hardness adjusting means is provided. An endoscope characterized in that it is possible to correct for the endoscope.