JPH11267094A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent bursting of an outer tube due to forgetting to assemble a spiral tube in an endoscope having a bent part which can be bent by providing the bent part including an outer tube made by an elastic material, a net tube disposed in the inside of the tube, and a seal material integrated with the net tube. SOLUTION: In an endoscope having an insertion portion 1, an operating part and a universal cord, the insertion portion 1 is formed by serially connecting a flexible tube part, a bent part 12 and a distal end 13 in order from the this side. The bent part 12 has plural bent pieces 14 connected in a line by pivoting the adjacent pieces to each other, and a net tube 15 is fitted to the outer periphery of the bent pieces 14. The net tube 15 is coated with an elastic material 16, and the elastic material 16 is provided in such a manner as to be immersed in the meshes of the net tube 15. A soft outer tube 19 is fitted to the outermost layer or the bent part 12, and both end parts of the outer tube 19 are assembled to the distal end 13 and a connecting pipe 18 by a winding and fixing by an adhesive.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having an insertion portion having a bending portion which can be bent by remote control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an endoscope has an operation section and an insertion section, and the operation section is provided with an eyepiece. Further, the endoscope incorporates an imaging optical system, an optical fiber bundle, and an eyepiece optical system, so that the inside of the body cavity can be observed from the eyepiece. The endoscope and its accessories are generally washed, disinfected, and sterilized as necessary. One of the sterilization methods is ethylene oxide gas (EOG) sterilization or autoclave sterilization. In these general sterilization steps, the inside of the chamber in which the endoscope is installed is set to a negative pressure, and then the chamber is filled with EOG or high-pressure steam for sterilization. In the process of applying a negative pressure to the inside of the chamber, in an endoscope in which airtightness is ensured, the inside of the endoscope main body is at a positive pressure. May burst.

For this reason, in an endoscope which performs EOG sterilization or the like, a base is generally provided on the endoscope main body, and sterilization is performed while communicating the inside of the endoscope main body with outside air through the base. In this case, the endoscope main body does not rupture, but in the case of high-pressure steam sterilization, a large amount of water vapor enters into the endoscope, and there is a problem that the resistance of the optical fiber bundle or the like cannot be secured.

Therefore, as a conventional technique of this measure, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-103754, the endoscope is made to be in a watertight state by doubling the covering rubber of the curved portion and sandwiching the mesh tube between them. With EOG or autoclave sterilization while maintaining the
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-209, there is known an apparatus in which a helical tube is wound around the outer periphery of an endoscope insertion portion so as to prevent rupture of a covering rubber.

[0005]

(Disadvantages of the prior art) In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 5-103754, the coating rubber has two coatings.
There is a problem in that the outer diameter of the curved portion is increased because the sheet and the mesh tube provided between them are provided.
In addition, in the case of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-23045, a protective spiral tube must be wound around the insertion portion before sterilization, and this assembling work is troublesome. There has been a problem that the coated rubber ruptures, requiring extensive repair of the endoscope.

[0006] (Object of the invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, the curved portion is not so thick, the labor before sterilization does not increase, the rupture of the outer tube due to forgetting to assemble the spiral tube. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that does not occur.

[0007]

(Structure) The present invention relates to an endoscope having a bending portion which can be bent by remote control in an insertion portion, wherein the bending portion includes an outer tube made of an elastic material, and an outer tube. And a sealing material provided integrally with the mesh tube.

(Action) Ethylene oxide gas (EO)
G) In sterilization or autoclave sterilization, the inside of the chamber containing the endoscope to be sterilized is set to a negative pressure, and then the chamber is filled with EOG or high-pressure steam for sterilization. In this negative pressure step, in the endoscope in which watertightness is ensured, the inside of the endoscope becomes positive pressure and the endoscope tries to expand, but in the bending portion, the endoscope is provided integrally with the mesh tube. Airtightness is ensured by the provided sealing material, and the outer tube does not expand significantly. Therefore, the outer tube does not burst. Also, there is little if any gas present between the outer tube and the inner sealing material, and even if the gas expands, the outer tube does not greatly expand and does not burst.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment> An endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side view of the endoscope, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vicinity of a curved portion in an insertion portion of the endoscope.

(Structure) As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope includes an insertion section 1, an operation section 2, and a universal cord 3. The operation section 2 includes an eyepiece section 4, a bending operation knob 5, and the like. , A forceps insertion port 6 and the like. Universal code 3
Is provided with a connector portion 8 at the extension end thereof. The insertion portion 1 has a flexible tube (bend tube) portion 11, a bending portion 12, and a distal end portion 13 connected in series from the hand side. Curved part 1
Numeral 2 is adapted to be bent by a remote operation using a bending operation knob 5 provided on the operation unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bending portion 12 has a plurality of bending pieces (bending core members) 14 which are adjacent to each other and connected together in a line. A tube 15 is fitted. The reticulated tube 15 is the curved top 1
4 is fixed by, for example, soldering. The curved piece 14 to which the mesh tube 15 is to be soldered is a mesh tube 15.
However, at least the curved pieces 14 at both ends are to be soldered.

The material of the braided tube 15 is heat resistant (about 1
35 ° C) and a material having hot water resistance is desirable,
For example, a thin stainless steel wire, glass fiber, or polymer fiber is used, and the braided tube 15 is formed as a whole by knitting or braiding the material.

The reticulated tube 15 is covered with an elastic material 16 (for example, a room temperature-curable silicone rubber) as a sealing material for airtightness. The elastic material 16 is impregnated in the mesh of the reticulated tube 15. The elastic material 16 is preferably made of a material having high water-tightness and air-tightness, and moreover, a material having heat resistance (about 135 ° C.). The elastic material 16 ensures watertightness and airtightness of the curved portion 12. The lower the hardness of the elastic member 16, the better,
Good thing with fluidity.

The distal end portion of such a curved portion 12 is assembled to a metal body member 17 of the distal portion 13 and
Is attached to the connection pipe 18 on the flexible pipe section 11 side.

A flexible outer tube 19 is fitted on the outermost layer of the curved portion 12, and both ends of the outer tube 19 are fixed to the distal end portion 13 and the connecting tube 18 by a thread winding and an adhesive.
Has been assembled. The outer tube 19 is made of heat-resistant (about 135 ° C.) soft rubber (for example, fluorine rubber or silicone rubber).

(Operation) By remote operation using the bending operation knob 5, the bending portion 12 of the insertion portion 1 can be bent and the direction of the distal end portion 13 of the insertion portion 1 can be changed. Next, a method of sterilizing the endoscope will be described. When performing ethylene oxide gas (EOG) sterilization or autoclave sterilization,
The endoscope is washed as a pretreatment, and thereafter, the endoscope is installed in a chamber of the sterilizer. The sterilizer generally makes the inside of the chamber a negative pressure, and then performs sterilization by filling the chamber with EOG or high-pressure steam. Further, after the sterilization process, the gas in the chamber is often pulled to a negative pressure for aeration and drying.

In these negative pressure steps, the inside of the endoscope becomes positive pressure relative to the outside, and the endoscope tries to expand. Is damaged, and the air inside the endoscope leaks. In the curved portion 12 of the present embodiment, since the mesh tube 15 and the elastic member 16 are provided integrally, the mesh tube 15 does not greatly expand,
The elastic member 16 does not burst. Further, the airtightness is ensured by the elastic member 16 provided integrally with the mesh tube 15, and the outer tube 19 does not greatly expand. The gas slightly existing between the outer tube 19 and the inner elastic member 15 may swell, and the outer tube 19 may swell. However, this is slight and not enough to cause rupture.

(Effect) In this embodiment, when the bending portion 12 is bent by operating the bending operation knob 5 of the endoscope, the movement of the bending piece 14 is prevented by the elastic member 16 and the outer tube 19, but both are flexible. Therefore, there is no hindrance to the bending operation in practical use. Since the reticulated tube 15 is impregnated with the elastic material 16 to ensure watertightness, the elastic material 16 does not require much wall pressure and the outer diameter of the curved portion 12 does not increase.

When performing EOG / autoclave sterilization, it is not necessary to assemble an endoscope with an adapter or the like to ventilate it. There is no danger of causing it.

<Second Embodiment> An endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vicinity of a curved portion in the insertion section of the endoscope.

(Structure) FIG. 2 shows a bending portion 12 provided in an insertion portion 1 of an endoscope, in which a mesh tube 15 is fitted on a plurality of bending pieces 14, and an elastic material 16 is overlaid on the outer periphery thereof. It is fitting. Both ends of the mesh tube 15 and the elastic member 16 are fixed to the outer periphery of the corresponding bending piece 14 by bonding or the like. The mesh tube 15 is formed as a tubular (tubular) blade formed by knitting or braiding a heat-resistant (about 135 ° C.) metal wire such as stainless steel, glass fiber, or polymer fiber. The elastic material 16 is preferably made of a material having high watertightness and airtightness, and a material having heat resistance (about 135 ° C.). The reticulated tube 15 and the elastic material 16 are integrated, and various methods such as insert molding, heat welding, and bonding are considered as a manufacturing method.

Since there is a possibility that the elastic member 16 may be caught in the bending piece 14 during the bending operation and cut off, it is preferable that the reticulated tube 15 is exposed on the inner surface. However, measures such as attaching a lubricant to the inner surface are taken. Thus, it is not necessary to limit to such a configuration.

The reticulated tube 15 is formed into a tubular shape by assembling an elastic member 16 so as to be watertight as a whole.
Airtightness is ensured. Since both ends of the mesh tube 15 and the elastic member 16 are fixed to the curved piece 14 by bonding or the like, water-tightness and air-tightness at this portion are also ensured.

A flexible outer tube 19 is fitted on the outermost layer, and both end portions of the outer tube 19 are assembled to the distal end portion 13 and the connecting pipe 18 by means of a spool and an adhesive. The outer tube 19 is made of a heat-resistant (about 135 ° C.) soft rubber (for example, fluorine rubber or silicone rubber).
Made of.

(Operation) This is the same as the first embodiment. (Effect) When the bending portion 12 is bent, the bending of the bending piece 14 is hindered by the elastic member 16 and the outer tube 19. However, since both are soft, the bending operation by the bending operation knob 5 is hindered in practical use. Not that. Further, the elastic member 16 does not require a large wall pressure, and the outer diameter of the curved portion 12 does not increase. Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

<Third Embodiment> An endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. (Structure) FIG. 3 shows a bending portion 12 in the insertion portion 1 of the endoscope.
The mesh tube 15 is fitted on the outer circumference of the plurality of bending pieces 14, and the mesh pipe 15 is fixed to the outer circumference of the bending pieces 14 including the bending pieces 14 at both ends or the bending pieces 14 at both ends by soldering or the like. I have. The mesh tube 15 is a heat-shrinkable tube 2
The ends of the heat-shrinkable tube 21 are fixed to the curved pieces 14 at both ends or the metal body member 17 at the distal end portion 13 and the connection pipe 18 while ensuring watertightness and airtightness. The hardness of the heat-shrinkable tube 21 is preferably low and the wall thickness is preferably thin. Further, a material that is rich in watertightness and airtightness is good, and a material having heat resistance (about 135 ° C.) is good.

The reticulated tube 15 and the heat-shrinkable tube 21
The front end portion of the bending member is assembled to the metal body member 17 of the front end portion 13, and the rear end portion is fixed to the connection pipe 18 at the front end of the flexible tube portion 11.

A flexible outer tube 19 is fixed to the outermost layer by assembling the both ends to the metal main body member 17 at the distal end portion 13 and the connecting tube 18 at the distal end of the flexible tube portion 11 by means of thread winding and fixing with an adhesive. I have. The outer tube 19 is made of heat-resistant (about 135 ° C.) soft rubber (for example, fluorine rubber or silicone rubber). FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the heat-shrinkable tube 21 alone. The upper half from the center line shows a cross section, and the lower half shows an external view. The outer surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 21 is provided with a plurality of orbital grooves 22 for improving resistance to bending and for making it easy to bend.

(Operation) This is the same as the first embodiment. (Effect) When the bending portion 12 of the present embodiment is bent, the movement of the bending piece 14 is hindered by the heat-shrinkable tube 21 and the outer tube 19, but the outer tube 19 is soft and the heat-shrinkable tube 21 has a groove on the outer periphery thereof. Because 22 is provided,
It is easy to bend and does not hinder the bending operation in practical use. Further, since the heat-shrinkable tube 21 is usually thin, the outer diameter of the curved portion is not so large.
Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. According to the description of the above embodiment, at least the following items can be obtained. [Appendix] 1. In an endoscope having a bending portion that can be bent by remote control in an insertion portion, the bending portion is provided integrally with the outer tube made of an elastic material, a mesh tube provided inside the outer tube, and the mesh tube. An endoscope having a sealing material. 2. In an endoscope having a bending portion that can be bent by remote control in an insertion portion, the bending portion is formed of an outer tube made of an elastic material, a mesh tube provided inside the outer tube, and an integral portion of the mesh tube. An endoscope comprising: an elastic member provided. 3. In an endoscope having a bending portion that can be bent by remote control in the insertion portion, the bending portion includes an outer tube made of an elastic material, a mesh tube provided inside the outer tube, and a tube between the outer tube and the mesh tube. An endoscope comprising: a heat shrink tube provided.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is no need to attach a special helical tube before sterilization, and the curved portion does not become too thick.
The outer tube does not burst.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an endoscope according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vicinity of a curved portion in the insertion section of the endoscope according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a curved portion in an insertion section of an endoscope according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vicinity of a curved portion in an insertion section of an endoscope according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an enlarged upper half of a heat-shrinkable tube alone in an insertion portion of an endoscope according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... insertion part, 2 ... operation part, 3 ... universal cord, 4
... Eyepiece part, 5 ... Bending operation knob, 6 ... Force insertion slot, 8 ... Connector part, 11 ... Flexible tube (coil tube) part, 12 ... Bending part,
13: Tip, 14: Curved top, 15: Reticulated tube, 16:
Elastic material, 17: metal body member, 18: connecting pipe, 19 ...
Exterior tube.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an endoscope having a bending portion which can be bent by remote control in an insertion portion, the bending portion includes an outer tube made of an elastic material, a mesh tube provided inside the outer tube, and a mesh tube. An endoscope comprising a sealing material provided integrally.