JPS5846932A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a curved tube of an insertion section is formed by a first curved section and a second curved section.

An endoscope in which a curved tube of an insertion section of the endoscope is connected to a first curved section that rotates υ when operated by an operating section and a second curved section that is naturally bent by external force. In this case, the outer periphery of the curved tube is covered with an elastic thief having equal inner and outer diameters over its entire length. In order to allow the curved tube to freely and lightly curve, the elastic chain is loosely placed over the outer periphery of the curved tube, and only the front and rear ends are fixed. Therefore, although the middle part of the elastic chain can move freely relative to the curved tube, this single long elastic tube is likely to be pulled in the longitudinal direction during use or cleaning of the endoscope, causing loosening. Since the elastic tube is relatively long, there have been frequent problems in that once the slack has occurred, it is naturally absorbed and cannot be restored to its original shape.

The present invention has been developed by paying attention to the above-mentioned circumstances.

The purpose is to prevent the loosening of the elastic tube that covers the outer periphery of the curved tube, which is constructed by connecting the first curved section and the second curved section, without impairing the bending characteristics. Our goal is to provide endoscopes.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates an endoscope, and this endoscope 1 consists of an operating section 2 and an insertion section 3. As shown in FIG. The insertion section 3 has a distal end component 6 connected to the distal end of the flexible tube 4 via a curved tube 5,
Further, the operating section 2 is provided with a bending knob 7 and an eyepiece section 8, and is further connected with a rear light cable (not shown). The above-mentioned bending f7 is for remotely bending the bending tube 5 of the insertion section 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the curved tube 5 consists of a first curved section J1 on the distal end side and a second curved section 12 on the rear end side.
The curved portion 11 has a plurality of curved arms 13 formed in a short tube shape.
When arranged in series, each bending arm 13... is connected by a pivot pin 14...-, so that the whole arm can be bent, for example, in the vertical direction. It has become. Further, a mesh tube 15 is fitted on the outer periphery of each curved arm J3, thereby forming a first curved portion 11.

The second curved portion J2 is constructed by fitting a mesh pipe 18 around the outer periphery of a stone 12 formed by winding a metal band plate 16 in a spiral shape. The tip of the material 17 is connected via an annular connecting member 19. An elastic tube 11 is fitted over the entire length of the first curved section 11 and second curved section 12, and bands 22. : Tightening is fixed by 1B. As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic tube 21 has the same wall thickness over its entire length, but the rear end portion 25 corresponding to the second curved portion 12 corresponds to the first curved portion 11. The tip end portion 24 is also formed to have a smaller diameter. Therefore, the distal end portion 24 is fitted relatively loosely to the outer periphery of the first curved portion 11, and the rear end portion 25 is fitted more tightly to the outer periphery of the second curved portion 12 than the first curved portion ll side. It can be attached tightly and tightened.

When opened, the band-shaped plate 16 forming the core material 11 of the second curved portion J1 is continuously wound and extended to the 11' side of the flexible tube 4, thereby forming the core material J6 of the flexible tube 4. ing. Similarly, the reticular tube 1t in the second curved portion J2 is also formed so as to protrude continuously from the 11 flexible tube 4 side.
A reticular tube 21 covering the outer periphery of the tube 6 is formed. The outer periphery of the flexible tube 4 is covered with an exterior wire 28. In addition, this exterior tube 28 is
It is formed to exhibit stiffness and elasticity. In other words, the 20th bending portion J2 side is more flexible than the flexible tube 4, and can be easily followed and bent by external force.

Furthermore, a pair of flexible guide tubes zp and xp extending from the operating section 2 to the rear end of the first curved section 11 are inserted into the insertion section 3 along the upper and lower inner walls.

This guide tube 29. : Curved operation wire no by tG,
K is telling me to guide so. The tip side of the bending operation wire 30 and 36 is the guide tube 1#.

The first curved portion 110 is led out from the two tips 7 and connected to the most extreme curved arm 1sK4. and.

Each of these bending operation wires 50.30 is connected to an operation section j.

By operating the bending knob 1, the bending portion 11 of the WXl is bent by pushing and pulling.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 2, the distal end component 6 of the insertion section S is provided with a Hiro objective lens 31, a Konshi mouth s2, and the like.

Therefore, the curved tube 5 has a long elastic tube 21 that covers the curved portions 1j and K of the first curved portions 11 and j12.
However, since the rear end portion 25 that fits into the second curved portion 12 and the tip portion 24 that fits into the first curved portion 11 are also tightly tightened, it is substantially divided into two parts. Therefore, family celebration i1
1 during use or cleaning, etc.
Even if the elastic tube 21 is pulled in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion IO due to forcible bending or the outer surface of the first bending portion 11 (D is rubbed), the second bending portion J2
When tightened, the covered rear end portion 25 is immediately pulled back and restored to its original natural shape. Further, the rear end side portion J5 of the elastic chain fjJ is not tightened by force and does not loosen.

FIG. 4 shows an elastic tube 33 according to another embodiment of the present invention, which has equal inner and outer diameters over its entire length except for a portion corresponding to the boundary between the first curved portion 11 and the second curved portion 12. At the same time, the inner diameter of the portion corresponding to the vicinity of the boundary is made into a small diameter portion 34 smaller than the other portions. Since only the small diameter portion 34 is tightened by the small diameter portion 34 in substantially 2 minutes, the amount of sagging caused by the small diameter portion 34 is small enough to cause large slack. There aren't many.

Then, the slight slack that occurs is absorbed by the elasticity of the elastic tube S3 and returns to its original shape.

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention, which is an elastic chain 35, in which a protrusion protruding inward is formed in place of the small diameter portion 34 of the elastic tube J3 in FIG. S
6.

As explained above, the present invention covers a curved tube consisting of a first curved section and a second curved section with an elastic tube over the entire length thereof, and provides an elastic tube near the boundary between the first curved section and the second curved section. Since the inner diameter of the part of the elastic tube corresponding to the above is made at least small, the relatively long elastic tube is substantially divided into two in the middle, and even if it is pulled in the longitudinal direction, the amount of slack is small and there is no large slack. Does not occur.

But 4. Even if slackness occurs, the amount of slack is small and the elastic tube itself will naturally take up the slack and restore it to its original shape.

Furthermore, since no large slack occurs, the durability of the elastic tube 5 is improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 81 is a side view of an endoscope showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the curved pipe, FIG. 3 is a side view of the elastic chase that is attached to the curved pipe, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are of other embodiments of the present invention. It is a side sectional view of elastic chew! 1... Endoscope, 3... Insertion part, 5... Curved tube, 1
1... First curved part, 12... Second curved part, 23
... Curved portion, 77... Elastic tube, 24... Front end portion, 25... Rear end portion, 33... Elastic chain, S4... Small diameter portion, J 5-... Elasticity Tube, 36...small diameter part. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] An elastic tube is provided over the first and second curved portions of a curved tube formed by connecting a first curved portion that is bent by an operation on the operating portion and a second curved portion that is curved only by an external force. The coated endoscope is characterized in that the inner diameter of at least a part of the elastic chain is reduced near the boundary between the first curved part and the second curved part and fixed to the outer periphery of the curved tube. endoscope.