JPS5949731A - 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 equipped with a suction switching valve and an air/water supply switching valve. Generally, an endoscope is provided with a suction switching valve that controls opening and closing of a suction channel for suctioning mucus and the like in a body cavity. This suction switching valve consists of a cylinder and a piston.
The suction operation is performed by pushing the piston which is biased in the outward projecting direction by a biasing means such as a spring. Naturally, the lighter the amount of pushing force at this time, the less tiring it will be and the better the operability will be. However, during standby, the surgeon often rests his or her finger on the piston operation button, so if the pushing force is too low /J%, suction may occur due to an accidental pushing operation. Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned suction switching valve, the endoscope is equipped with an air/water switching valve for controlling the opening/closing of the air/water supply pipe to perform air/water supply. There is. Conventionally, there are typically two types of air/water supply switching valves. First, the first type is one in which air is supplied by blocking the opening of a leak hole provided in a piston with a finger, and water is supplied by further pushing the piston (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 48-34638). The second type is one in which the piston is pushed in two steps, air is supplied by one pushing operation, and water is supplied by the second pushing operation (Utility Model No. 54-154588). (see publication). (

[The force required to start pushing with the first type is not only when you rest your finger on the operation button, but also when you withstand the air pressure from the leak hole during air supply and close the leak hole. It is necessary to place it in the stable so heavy that it does not accidentally supply water. However, it goes without saying that the lighter the button, the better when it is pushed in once. In addition, in the second type, the transmission %Ltffi(1
In addition to increasing the amount of force required to start pushing from the standby stage of the first stage to a certain extent, we also set the amount of pressure to start pushing from the standby stage of the second stage to a certain level so as not to inadvertently supply water when air is being supplied with the first stage of push-in X7. It is no longer necessary to have a certain amount of force to start pushing. It is considered that the amount of operating force for each switching operation valve should be set from the above viewpoint. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider whether the relationship between the suction switching valve and the air/water supply switching valve should be set to ensure operability and safety, but no research has been done on these points in the past. O The present invention has been made with attention to the above points, and its purpose is to improve the force required to start the pushing operation from the standby state of the suction switching valve, and to improve the force to start the pushing operation from the standby state of the air/water supply switching valve, which performs a two-step pushing operation. The purpose is to provide an endoscope that is safe and easy to operate without causing erroneous operation by making the amount of force for starting the pushing operation substantially equal to the amount of force required to start the pushing operation. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. 1 in Fig. 1 is an endoscope, and this endoscope 1 has an insertion section 2,
It is composed of an operating section 3 and a light guide cable 4. Various types of conduits are built into the interior of the endoscope 1 as will be described later.6 First, an air supply conduit 5 and a water supply conduit are installed across the insertion section 2, operation section 3, and light guide cable 4. 6 is inserted. The ends of the air supply pipe line 5 and the water supply pipe line 6 merge and are connected to an air and water supply nozzle 7 provided at the distal end of the insertion section 2, and the air and water supply nozzle 7 is connected to the outer surface of the observation window 8. The observation window 8 is provided so that cleaning water and air are blown toward the outer surface of the observation window 8. A connector 9 is provided at the extending end of the light guide cable 4, and this connector 9 has first and second air supply caps IO communicating with the air supply pipe 5.
, IJ, a water supply mouthpiece 12 communicating with the water supply pipe 6, and a suction mouthpiece 13 communicating with a suction pipe described later are provided, respectively. The first air supply cap 10 is connected to an air pump in the light source device (not shown) when the connector 9 is attached to the light source device (not shown). Further, the second air supply cap 11 and the water supply cap 12 are connected to an air supply cheep 15 and a water supply tape 16 on the water supply tank 14 side, respectively. Further, the suction cap 13 is connected to a suction pump (not shown). On the other hand, a suction conduit 17 is inserted into and arranged inside the insertion section 2, the operating section 3, and the light guide cable 4. This suction conduit 17 is formed using a treatment instrument insertion channel 18 on the distal end side. 1 to 1, the distal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 18 opens at the distal end r (+i) of the insertion section 2, and the proximal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 18 opens to the outside at the operating section 3 and opens at the insertion port 19. In addition, a forceps plug 20 is detachably provided in the insertion port 19. Furthermore, the treatment instrument insertion tube 8 has a suction switching valve 21 on the base end side of the suction conduit 170. Furthermore, an air/water supply switching valve 22 is inserted between the air supply pipe 5 and the water supply pipe 6. Each of the switching valves 21 and 22 is connected to the operating section 3. The suction switching valve 2) is arranged as shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the outer wall 3a of the operation section 3 is mounted through the hole 2.
3 are bored, and a cylinder 24 as a valve seat body is fitted into the several holes 23. The outer end of the cylinder 24 protrudes outward from the outer wall 3a, and the outer periphery of the inner end of the cylinder 24 is provided with the outer wall 3a.
A collar 25 is formed on the inner surface of the tube. A ring 26 is screwed onto the outer periphery of the outer end of the cylinder 24, and this attachment is achieved by sandwiching the outer wall 3a between the ring 26 and the collar 25. The cylinder 24 is fixedly attached to the outer wall 3a. Note that there are several rings between the inner peripheral surface of the hole 23 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 24! A fitting 27 is fitted to ensure liquid tightness between them. Further, a first connecting pipe 28 is provided at the inner end of the cylinder 24.
A suction source side conduit section 17a of the suction conduit 17 is connected through the suction conduit 17. Furthermore, an opening 29 is formed in the side wall of the cylinder 24 and opens into the cylinder 24.
The nozzle-side conduit portion 17b of the suction conduit 17 is connected to this opening 29 via a second connecting pipe 30. Inside the cylinder 24 is a piston 1 for switching control.
31 is fitted and inserted so as to be vertically movable. A hollow hole 32 is formed in the inner end of the piston 31 and extends in the axial direction. It is open to traffic. When the piston 3 is in the standby position as shown in FIG. 2, this opening 33 also projects upward from the outer end of the cylinder 24. Then, the opening 33 becomes the opening 2 of the cylinder 24.
In the above installation, the ring 26 has a groove 34 for fitting formed on its outer peripheral surface, and its protruding outer end including this groove 34 is attached. 7 lunge 35. This installation is done on flange 3
5, an abutting member 36 is detachably attached thereto. Each of the abutment members 36 has an outer cylindrical part 36a and an inner cylindrical part 36b made of metal, which are arranged concentrically, and both cylindrical parts 3a,
One end of the Jb is integrally formed with a connecting bottom wall part 36c, and a rubber member 37 formed in a cylindrical shape is integrally connected with the outer cylinder part 36a. be. The tab and rubber member 37 are integrally attached and fixed to the outer cylindrical portion 36a of the abutting member 36 by insert molding. Furthermore, an engaging protrusion 38 is formed at one end of the rubber member 37 and is elastically and tightly fitted into the groove 34 of the attachment 7 flange 35. Furthermore, an abutting portion 39 that extends radially inward is integrally formed at the outer end of the inner cylinder portion 36b of the abutting member 36. And this abutment part 3
9 shows an upper end step 4 of the piston 3 in the standby position.
1 is fixed, and the position is regulated during standby. On the other hand, a male thread 31m is formed at the upper end of the piston 3, and a female thread 42a formed at one end of a connecting pipe 42 is screwed and fixed to this male thread 31a. Furthermore, an operation button 43 made of relatively hard plastic is fitted onto the outer end of the connecting tube 42. Further, the periphery of the operation button 43 is formed as a falling cylindrical wall portion 44,
This wall portion 44 pushes the piston 3. When inserted, it enters the inside of the rubber member 37 -N, and
It comes into contact with the upper surface of the inner edge protrusion 371. Furthermore, the outer end periphery of the connecting pipe 42 and the abutting portion 3
There is a position I around the piston 3 between the bottom wall 36c of the piston 6 and the bottom wall 36c of the piston 3.
Ft; L, a coil spring 45 is interposed as a biasing member. Then, the piston 3 is directed outward and is kept waiting at a position where the upper end step portion 41 of the piston 3 abuts the abutting portion 39. In addition, the operating force for starting the pushing operation from the standby state and the equipped force of the twisting coil spring 45 are set to 300 g, and the force at the time of completing the pushing operation is set to 1000 g. Further, a plurality of leak holes 46 are formed in the wall of the inner cylinder portion 36b of the abutment member 36, and communicate with the opening 33 of the piston 31 when the piston 31 is on standby. . In order to prevent the piston 31 from rotating, a guide bin 47 is provided on the side wall of the cylinder 24 that protrudes from the inner wall surface thereof. Vertical groove 4 along the direction
8 and with respect to the longitudinal groove 48 of the guide bin 47.
is engaged. When the suction switching valve 21 is on standby, the opening 29 of the cylinder 24 is closed by the surface of the piston 3, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the suction conduit 17 is blocked in the middle, and the suction action toward the treatment instrument insertion channel 18 side does not work. However, piston 3
It communicates with the outside through the hollow hole 32, the opening 33, and the leak hole 46 of the abutting member 36, so that outside air is sucked in. Therefore, when performing a suction operation, the user puts his finger on the operation button 43 and pushes the piston 3 until the wall portion 44 contacts the inner edge protrusion 37g. This allows the opening 33 of the piston 31 to
The openings 29 of the cylinder 24 face each other and communicate with each other, and the suction conduit 17 is opened therethrough. However, it is blocked from the outside. Therefore, suction is performed through the suction conduit 17 while preventing outside air from being suctioned. On the other hand, the air/water supply switching valve 22 is constructed as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the cylinder 50, consisting of the cylinder 50 and the piston 51 fitted into the cylinder, is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape with the inner end closed. and,
The open end of the cylinder 50 is screwed into a hole 52 formed in the outer wall 3 & of the operating section 3 and fixed thereto. Further, a small diameter portion 54 formed from one end side of a ring 53 having a substantially cylindrical shape is screwed into the hole 52, and the ring 53 can be attached and removed from the outside. Further, for attachment, a stopper 55 is formed at the inner end of the ring 53 and projects toward the center in the radial direction. Further, the piston 51 is formed of a cylindrical member having an inner wall having a leak hole 49, and is composed of an inner insertion portion 56 and an outer end portion 67. The outer end 57 is the inner part 56
The outermost end 58 of the outer end 57 is also formed to have a small diameter.
is formed to have a smaller diameter with the stepped portion 60 as a boundary. A spring receiver tube 59 is fitted onto the outermost end 58, and the outer end of the spring receiver tube 59 is left open. Further, the spring receiver is provided at the outermost end 5 at the other end of the tube 59.
A boxwood 6 is formed that slides into the box 8. Further, a collar 62 for the spring holder is formed on the outer periphery of the outer end of the tube 59. Furthermore, a plastic operation button 63 is fixed to the outer end of the outer end portion 57 with a screw. The periphery of the operation button 63 surrounds the outer end 57 of the falling button. The spring receiver is interposed between the collar 61 of the tube 59 and the operation button 63, and a first coil spring 64 serving as a first biasing member is wound around the outermost end 58. . Further, a second coil spring 65 is wound around the outer end portion 57 as a second biasing member interposed between the collar 62 and the stopper 55 of the mounting section 53. Thus, under normal conditions, the piston 5 is biased by the first and second coil springs 64, 65 and is on standby in the state shown in FIG. The tab and spring holder are biased in the opposite direction by the first coil spring 64, so that the tube 59 and the operation button 63 are biased in opposite directions.
The collar 61 of the tube 59 touches the stepped portion 60, and the operating button 63 and the spring receiver are separated by a distance t from the other collar 62 of the tube 59. Further, the second coil spring 66 pushes up the tube 59, and the spring receiver urges the piston 5 outward via the tube 59 and the first coil spring 64. 56
is placed on standby at a position where it hits the stopper 55. Further, the strength of the first coil spring 64 is weaker than the strength of the second coil spring 65, and the second coil spring 65 is set not to be compressed by the amount of force compressed by the first coil spring 64. has been done. When the operation button 63 is pushed in, the operation button 63 pushes the piston 51f while compressing the first coil spring 64 by a distance t until the spring receiver contacts the pipe 59. When the piston 51 is pushed in further after , the second coil spring 65 starts to be compressed and the piston 51 is pushed in a distance m until the operation button 63 hits the mounting ring 53. It is configured to operate by pushing the knob and piston 5 in two stages. In addition, the installed force of the operation sword 4 and the first coil spring 64 of the claw when the pushing operation is started from the standby state of the first stage is 300g1.The force when the first stage of pushing is completed is 400 springs4'6. 's equipment capacity is 400. ! i+, the force of the second coil spring 65 at the second stage when pushing is completed is 600 g. Therefore, the total pushing force when pushing to the second stage is completed is 1ooo,y
becomes. In addition, the stroke (/:+
m) is the same as the pushing stroke of the suction switching valve 21. This provides a good operating feel when operating both switching valves 21 and 22 at the same time. On the other hand, on the outer periphery of the inner insertion portion 56 of the piston 51, from the inner end side, there is a first closed circumferential surface portion 66, a first communication groove 67 communicating with the leak hole 49, a second closed circumferential surface portion 68, and a first closed circumferential surface portion 66, Two communication grooves 69 are formed. Further, the upstream pipe line portion 5a of the air supply pipe line 5 is connected to the cylinder 50 so as to communicate with the bottom space of the cylinder 5θ where the piston 51 is on standby. Further, when the piston 51 is in the standby position, the piston 5 is attached to the first closed peripheral surface portion 68.
1 is pushed in one step, the downstream side pipe section 5b of the air supply pipe line 5 is connected to a position that faces and coincides with the first communication groove 67. Furthermore, when the piston 51 is in the standby position, it faces the second closed peripheral surface part 68, and when the piston 51 is pushed down to the second stage, it faces the second communication groove 6.
The upstream pipe section 6 of the water supply pipe 6 is located at a position where it can communicate with the water pipe 9.
a and the downstream pipe section -6b are connected to each other. Therefore, when the air and water supply switching valve 22 is on standby, the cylinder 2
The air that has flowed into the chamber 5 is discharged to the outside through the leak hole 49. The downstream pipe portions 5b of the water supply pipe 6 and the air supply pipe 5 are blocked by the piston 5, so there is no flow to the downstream side. Next, when air is to be supplied, K puts his finger on the operation 1763 and pushes the operation button 63 one step while closing the leak hole 49. As a result, the downstream pipe section 5b of the air supply pipe 5 communicates with the leak hole 49 through the first communication groove 67, thereby supplying air. Moreover, at this time, the water supply pipe line 6 is still blocked by the piston 5. When water is to be supplied, push the operation button 63'g further to the second stage. As a result, the multiple gas phase pipeline 5 is blocked by the piston 5, while the water supply pipeline 6 is connected to the second communication groove 6.
It will open on September 9th. Then, the gas discharged from the air supply pump flows to the pressurizing air supply cheep 15 and pressurizes the inside of the water supply tank J4. Therefore, water flows from the water tank 14 to the water supply pipe 6 and water is supplied. By the way, as is known from the above explanation, the suction switching valve 21
The force for starting the pushing operation from the standby time of the blade and the force for starting the pushing operation at the first stage of the air/water switching valve 22 were set to be equal to lrW (which can be considered to be substantially equivalent in terms of operation). Therefore, it depends on the size of the DWi person's hands, the length of his fingers, the way he operates the angle knob with his left hand, and other preferences, but broadly speaking, there are two ways to do it: First, use the index finger of your left hand to connect both switching valves 21,
22. In this case, the middle finger is not drawn on the operation button 43.71, and the index finger is usually drawn on the operation button 4, ? , 7 Place it lightly on the soil of either J and let it rest. The second method is to operate the suction switching valve 21 with your index finger and the air/water supply switching valve 22 with your middle finger.In this case, you usually place your index finger on the operation button 43 of the suction switching valve 21. Place your middle finger on the operation button 7 of the air/water switching valve 22 and let it rest. The position of these two positions is not specified by the operator; during the endoscopy, the user operated the angle with his/her left hand, turned the operating part 3, held the upper part of the operating part 3, The operation method changes every moment depending on how you hold the bottom part. Moreover, since the operator focuses on fixing his eyes on the eyepiece and staring at the observation image, until now he has only used his index finger to press which operation button 43.
Directly look at the top of 63 and see if it is 11 yen (02). Switching valve 2
1. Is it lighter, the same, or heavier? It would be easier for the surgeon to apply the same amount of pressure with his or her finger, and if possible, use the same amount of force when pumping or suctioning air. If the weight is different, there is a risk that the air that is sucked and the air that is injected will be damaged. Therefore, in the above embodiments, the cost is 300. They are the same at p. However, when the air/water supply switching valve 22 is pushed to the first stage, it may be pushed further, resulting in an accidental water supply. In order to prevent this, in the above configuration, the force of the M2 coil spring 65 compressed in the second-stage pushing operation is set to be equal to the force of the first coil spring 64 at the end of the first-stage pushing operation. It is. The force i of the second coil spring 64 may be large, but\
If the softness is large, the overall pushing force will be large and you will get tired easily. In addition, if there is a case where water supply and suction are performed at the same time to strongly clean the observation nitrogen 8, use the index finger to press the operation button 43 for suction, and the middle finger to press the operation button 6 for air and water supply.
3f: For pushing, the strength of both the pushing operation is the same /I? E: Good operating feel. Therefore, the above structure is also designed in this manner.In some endoscopes, in addition to the switching valves 21 and 22, an operation button for gas supply is provided next to the switching valves 21 and 22. However, the appropriate amount of pushing force for this operation button varies depending on its installation position. In other words, if you can rest your finger on the operation button, it would be appropriate to use a button similar to that of the suction operation button, and if you can't, then a lighter one would be better. As explained above, in the present invention, the force l for starting the pushing operation from the standby state of the suction switching valve is approximately equal to the force for starting the pushing operation in the first stage of the air/water switching valve that is pushed in 12 steps. be. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation compared to the case where each operation button has different strength. Incidentally, if one operation button is heavier, there is a possibility that the other operation button may be pressed by mistake, but this does not occur according to the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the entire endoscope, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the suction switching valve when it is on standby, and FIG. 3 is a 1. It is a side Wr side view of the air/water supply switching valve when it is on standby. 63-゛Operation button 921/Suction ≧1 Hinoki Katsunori, 22 KuN
Strange? 7 Lq. Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Indication of the case of Kazuo Wakasugi, Director-General of the Public Patent Office.In the name of the invention, Patent Application No. 160365/1983.Relationship with the Endoscope Corrector Case.Patent Applicant (037) Olin/? Spontaneous amendment 7 by agent of Sugaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. Contents of amendment (1) 1.Okutono on page 4, line 11 of the specification is amended to ``Okutono''. (2) “...” on page 21, line 14 of the specification
Next to "force", add "and pushing stroke".

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) The operation section includes a suction switching valve that performs a suction operation when the operation button is pushed in, and a suction switching valve that performs a suction operation by pressing the operation button in at least two stages and causing air to be supplied by the first pressing operation. In an endoscope equipped with an air/water switching valve that performs water supply (by the second-stage pushing operation), the force required to start the pushing operation from the standby state of the suction switching valve and the first stage of the air/water switching valve An endoscope characterized in that the force for starting an eye-pushing operation is set to be approximately equal. (2) Claim 1, characterized in that the force at the time of the first stage push-in operation of the delivery pneumatic water switching valve and the force at which the second stage operation starts from the standby state are set to be approximately equal. The endoscope described in section. (3) The sum of the amount of operating force when pushing the air/water switching valve in the first and second stages is set to be approximately equal to the amount of operating force when pushing the suction switching valve. An endoscope according to claim 1. (4) The sum of the pushing strokes of the first and second stages of the air/water switching valve is approximately equal to the pushing stroke of the suction switching valve. Endoscope described in Section 3 @