JPS6038961Y2 - Flexible tube for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a flexible tube for an endoscope that can be easily inserted into a body cavity.

In general, an endoscope consists of a distal end with an observation window, an illumination window, a forceps port, etc., a curved part that is remotely operated, a flexible part, an operating part with a remote control mechanism, an eyepiece part, and an optical fiber for observation inside. A bundle, an optical fiber bundle for illumination, a forceps passage, etc. are provided, and the tip is introduced into the body cavity to observe and treat a desired region.

There are endoscopes for observing the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine. In particular, when inserting a flexible endoscope deep into a body cavity, such as the duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine, it is necessary to It is clinically recommended that the flexibility of the flexible tube inserted deep inside the body be made softer and stiffer as it gets closer to the outside of the body.For example, for an endoscope that observes the duodenum, The portion of the flexible tube corresponding to the region of the stomach is made flexible, the portion of the visible tube corresponding to the region of the stomach is of medium flexibility, and the portion of the flexible tube corresponding to the region of the esophagus is made stiffer than in the region of the stomach.

By doing so, insertion into the duodenal region is facilitated.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope that can be inserted into a body cavity without causing much pain to the patient by improving the ease of insertion. It is.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the overall appearance of the endoscope, with 1 indicating the operating section;
2 is a tip, 3 is a flexible tube, and 4 is a curved portion, which is curved by rotating the operating knob 5 of the operating portion 1 and is observed through the eyepiece.

As shown in FIG. 2, the structure of the flexible tube 3 is such that the outer periphery of a flex 6 formed by winding a band-shaped metal material in a spiral manner is covered with a braid 7 knitted in a net shape, and the outer periphery of the blade 7 is It is coated with an outer skin 8 made of flexible synthetic resin or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the outer skin 8 has the same thickness over the distal end side A and the operation section side B, but on the distal end side A, it is formed by an outer skin layer 8a made of a single material, On the part side B, the outer skin layer 8 is continuous from the distal side A.
A hard part 8b made of a material different in hardness or elasticity from the outer skin layer 8a is formed inside the outer skin layer 8a.

Therefore, that's it (! The operation part side B can be made harder than the tip side A.

In addition, the thickness of the outer skin is uniform over the entire length, and no steps are formed, so cracks do not occur and the durability is good.

In this embodiment, the distal end side A is formed in one layer and the operating section side B is formed in two layers, but the material of the outer skin 8 on the distal end side A and the operating section side B may be disposed intermittently or continuously. Good too.

As described above, the structure in which the flexibility of the distal end side A is higher than that of the operating section side B has the following advantages when using this to observe the inside of a body cavity.

In other words, if the flexible tube 3 is inserted into the body cavity from the rigid distal end portion 2 side and then pushed in from the outside, the distal end side A portion of the flexible tube 3 will bend flexibly to follow the shape inside the body cavity.
It does not cause much pain to the subject.

Since the operating portion side B portion of the flexible tube 3 is relatively hard and difficult to bend, the transmission can be reliably transmitted to the distal end side A of the flexible tube 3 without buckling due to external pushing force. Can be done.

Therefore, the distal end of the visible tube 3 can be easily guided to a predetermined site.3 As explained above, the flexible tube for an endoscope of the present invention has a structure in which the distal end side is more flexible than the operating section side. Therefore, it does not cause much pain to the subject when inserted into the body cavity, and
It has excellent effects for use in endoscopes, such as ease of insertion and improved operability.

It also has the advantage of superior structural durability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external side view of an endoscope showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the flexible tube portion of the endoscope, and FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the flex in the flexible tube. 1... Operating section, 2... Rigid tip section, 3
...Flexible tube, 6...Flex, 7.
...Blade, 8...Outer skin, 8a...
...Outer skin layer, 8b...Hard part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a flexible tube for an endoscope having an outer skin, a blade, and a flexible tube, the outer skin is located inside a required portion to form a relatively hard hard part, and is located outside to form a relatively hard hard part over the entire length including the hard part. A flexible tube for an endoscope, characterized in that it is coated with a more flexible material and is formed to have the same thickness over its entire length, thereby making the tip side more flexible than the operating section side.