JPS6137933B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a flexible tube for an endoscope, more specifically,
This invention relates to a flexible tube for an endoscope that houses various built-in items such as an optical fiber bundle and a bending actuating wire.

As is well known, a flexible tube constituting the flexible portion of an endoscope has conventionally been composed of a long tube body in which a flex, a blade, and an outer skin are sequentially laminated. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the conventional flexible tube 1 is made of a flexible pipe 2, which is formed by winding a long thin steel plate into a spiral shape. Tubular braid made of thin wires woven into a wire mesh shape 3
The outer skin 4 is formed by fitting a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin tube around the outer periphery of the blade 3, or by applying a synthetic resin material by a dipping method. has been done.

However, since the flexible tube 1 uses the flex 2, the outer diameter becomes thicker, the weight increases, the operability becomes worse, and the flex 2 tends to become stiff. The drawback is that it is not very durable.

In order to eliminate these drawbacks, Flex2
However, simply forming the outer skin 4 around the outer periphery of the blade 3 would not be able to control the elongation of the flexible tube in the tube axis direction. , it is not possible to produce a flexible tube that can withstand use.

In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to incorporate and arrange a wire in the blade along the tube axis direction,
Furthermore, an outer skin is formed around the outer periphery of the blade, thereby providing an extremely effective flexible tube for an endoscope in which elongation in the tube axis direction is restricted without using a flex.

According to the present invention, even if the flexible tube accommodates the same built-in contents, the outer diameter can be made smaller, so that the patient's pain can be alleviated.

Furthermore, since the number of parts is reduced, it can be manufactured at low cost, and the weight is reduced, which greatly improves operability.

Furthermore, since there is no strain caused by the flexible portion due to the density of the flex, uniform flexibility and durability can be obtained over the entire length.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the flexible tube 11 has wires 12 made of stranded steel wires, metal wires, and synthetic resin wires installed in the left and right positions of the tube wall along the tube axis direction, respectively. The outer skin 14 is formed by closely adhering a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin tube to the outer periphery of the blade 13, or by applying a synthetic resin material by dipping. Both ends of the wire 12 are fixed to the distal end of the endoscope and the hand operation section.

If the flexible tube 11 is configured in this way, the braid 13 and the outer skin 14 will not be stretched beyond the range where the wire 12 is stretched, so that the extension of the flexible tube 11 in the tube axis direction is restricted. Ru. In addition, the wire 12 is made of stranded wire such as a metal wire, so that when the flexible tube 11 is bent, the difference in length between the inner wire and the outer wire at the curved portion can be absorbed. Therefore, the flexible tube 11 can respond equally to bending in any direction and exhibits uniform flexibility.

In the above embodiment, two wires 12 were disposed on the left and right positions of the tube wall of the flexible tube 11, but four wires were disposed on the top, bottom, left and right positions as shown in FIG. Of course, the number can be appropriately set as necessary.

Also, the wire 12 is incorporated into the blade 13;
Of course, it is also possible to weld or braze the inner circumferential surface of No. 3 at several places.

Furthermore, both ends of the wire 12 were fixed to the distal end of the endoscope and the hand control unit; however,
Of course, they may be fixed to both ends of the flexible tube 11, respectively.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope that is extremely convenient to use because no flex is used and elongation in the tube axis direction is restricted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional flexible tube for an endoscope, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the blade of the flexible tube for an endoscope shown in FIG. Third,
4 is a cross-sectional view and a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible tube for an endoscope showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view and a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible tube for an endoscope showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11... Flexible tube for endoscope, 12... Wire,
13...Blade, 14...Outer skin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A braid constituting the base of the flexible tube; A wire made of strands installed in the circumferential wall of the braid so as not to be relatively displaced along the tube axis direction; A flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an outer skin formed to tightly fit around the outer periphery of a blade;