JPS6139441Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention is an air supply/water supply switching device for an endoscope, more specifically, a cylindrical frame provided in an air/water supply channel, and a cylindrical frame provided in the air/water supply channel. The present invention relates to an air/water supply switching device that switches between supplying air and water to the distal end of an endoscope using a fitted sliding valve body.

As is well known, endoscopes are equipped with water supply devices for cleaning the observation window provided at the distal end of the body cavity insertion section, and air supply devices for properly inflating the inside of the body cavity to facilitate observation. are now connected.
The endoscope is equipped with an air/water supply switching device to control whether or not to send water and air supplied from the water supply device and the air supply device to the distal end of the endoscope. There is.

FIG. 1 shows the main parts of an endoscope equipped with this type of air supply/water supply switching device. This endoscope 1
These include a hand-held operating section 2 that is located outside the body cavity and performs various operations, a body-cavity insertion section 3 connected to the hand-held operating section 2, and a distal end section 4 provided at the distal end of the body-cavity insertion section 3. , an eyepiece section 5 protruding from the hand operation section 2, and a connecting tube 6 for connecting the endoscope 1 to an air supply device (not shown) and a water supply device (not shown). The main parts are configured.

An air supply tube 7 and a water supply tube 8 are provided, which are sequentially passed through the connecting pipe 6, the hand operation section 2, and the body cavity insertion section 3 to form an air supply path and a water supply channel, respectively. Hand control unit 2 located midway between air supply tube 7 and water supply tube 8
An air/water supply switching device 9 is provided. Note that the air supply tube 7 and the water supply tube 8 are connected to each other in the vicinity of the distal end of the intracorporeal insertion section 3 so as to be integrated into one body, and are connected to an injection nozzle 10 provided at the distal end section 4 .

FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional air/water supply switching device. This air supply/water supply switching device 9 includes a cylindrical frame 11 to which an air supply tube 7 and a water supply tube 8 are connected, and a cylindrical sliding valve that is slidably fitted into this cylindrical frame 11. body 12 and the cylindrical frame 1
1. One end of the check valve body 13 is fixed to the cylindrical frame body 11 so as to open and close a valve port 16 formed in a partition near the lower end of the check valve body 13.
, an extensible coil spring 14 that urges the sliding valve body 12 in a direction to protrude from the cylindrical frame 11, and a coil spring 14 inserted between the cylindrical frame 11 and the sliding valve body 12. It is composed of an O-ring 15 for preventing water leakage.

In this air/water supply switching device 9, in a normal state without any operation, the sliding valve body 12 is lifted upward by the elasticity of the spring 14, and the water supply tube 8 is closed off. Since the water supply tube 7 is connected to the cylindrical frame 11, the air sent from the air supply device is passed through the cylindrical frame 1.
1. When the air discharge port 12a, which is the upper end opening of the central through hole of the sliding valve body 12, is open, the resistance of the conduit passing through the air discharge port 12a increases between the check valve body 13 and the air supply tube 7. The air flowing into the tubular frame 11 passes through the central through hole of the sliding valve body 12 and exits from the air outlet 12a. released.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, if the air outlet 12a is blocked with a finger 17, air will not be able to flow out from the air outlet 12a.
The pressure inside the cylindrical frame 11 increases. Then, the check valve body 13 is bent at the thin wall portion 13a by this air pressure, the valve port 16 is opened, and the air supply tube 7 is opened.
Air is sent out towards the distal end 4 of the endoscope 1 through it.

When the sliding valve body 12 is further pushed into the cylindrical frame 11 with the air discharge port 12a closed with the finger 17, the sliding valve body 12 closes the air supply tube 7. At the same time, the water supply tubes 8 on the inlet and outlet sides are communicated with each other by the water supply communication groove 18 bored in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the sliding valve body 12, and water is supplied from the water supply device. Water leaks into endoscope 1
It is sent out toward the tip 4 of.

When the finger 17 is released from the sliding valve body 12, the sliding valve body 12 is lifted upward by the elasticity of the spring 14, and the water supply tube 8 is closed again, and the water supply tube 8 is closed again. Air tube 7 is opened,
Air is discharged to the outside from the air discharge port 12a, and the air/water supply switching device 9 returns to its non-operational state.

By the way, in the conventional air supply/water supply switching device 9 as described above, body cavity fluid, blood, filth, etc. in the body cavity flows back toward the hand operation part 2 through the air supply tube 7, and the check valve body There was a problem that 13 was stuck. In addition, even when the endoscope 1 is not used for a long time, the check valve body 13
There was a problem in that the air supply path did not open due to the air being in close contact with part 6, making it impossible to supply air. If such a malfunction occurs, in the air/water supply switching device 9, as shown in FIG. The check valve body 13 stuck around the valve port 16 is pushed down at its tip to release the stuck state of the check valve body 13.

However, in the conventional air/water supply switching device 9, although it is possible to release the stuck state of the check valve body 13 in this way, if the check valve body 13 itself is damaged, it must be replaced. The drawback was that repairs were troublesome. That is, since the check valve body 13 is fixedly attached to the lower end of the cylindrical frame 11, in order to replace it, the hand control unit 2 of the endoscope 1 is disassembled and the cylindrical frame is removed. The extremely troublesome work of removing the body 11 and the air supply tube 7 and replacing the check valve body 13 was required.

The purpose of the present invention is to make the sliding valve body removable from the cylindrical frame and to dispose a check valve body at the air outlet of the sliding valve body in order to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks. An air/water supply switching device for endoscopes that allows for easy replacement and repair of the check valve body by removing the sliding valve body from the hand control unit if the check valve body is damaged. is to provide.

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

FIG. 4 shows an endoscope air/water supply switching device showing an embodiment of the present invention. This air supply/water supply switching device 20 includes a cylindrical frame body 21 to which an air supply tube 7 and a water supply tube 8 are connected, and a cylindrical sliding valve that is slidably fitted into this cylindrical frame body 21. body 2
2, a check valve body 23 made of an elastic material such as rubber or plastic, and detachably disposed at the air outlet 22b at the lower end of the sliding valve body 22; A check valve body pressing member 24 for attaching to the sliding valve body 22 and the sliding valve body 2
2 from the cylindrical frame 21, and a retaining member 25 for preventing the sliding valve body 22 from coming off from the cylindrical frame 21.
An air/water supply button 26 fixed to an end protruding from the cylindrical frame 21 is inserted between the air/water supply button 26 and the retaining member 25, and is inserted between the sliding valve body 22 and the cylindrical frame 21. It is composed of an extensible coil spring 27 that biases in a direction to protrude further, and an O-ring 28 for preventing water leakage inserted between the cylindrical frame body 21 and the sliding valve body 22. .

The cylindrical frame 21 is formed of a cylindrical body with a bottom, and is provided with a flange-shaped attachment portion 21a having an outwardly projecting edge near its upper end.
1a is a screw 29 attached to the exterior frame 2a of the hand control unit 2.
The cylindrical frame body 21 is fixedly installed within the hand-held operating section 2 by being screwed in by the screws. Further, a screw 21b is carved on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end of this cylindrical frame 21, and the above-mentioned retaining member 2 is attached to this screw 21b.
The screw 25a of No. 5 is screwed together so that the retaining member 25 can be attached.

The sliding valve body 22 is formed of a cylindrical body with a smaller diameter at the upper end, and has a communication groove 31 for water supply on the outer peripheral surface in the middle thereof, and a water supply communication groove 31 on the outer peripheral surface near the lower end. A communication groove 32 is formed in each circumferential direction. The air supply communication groove 32 communicates with the central through hole of the sliding valve body 22 through the air supply communication hole 33 . Screws 22a and 22c are bored in the inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower ends of the sliding valve body 22, respectively.
The screw 26a of the air/water supply button 26 is screwed into the air/water supply button 26, and the air/water supply button 26 is connected to the sliding valve body 22.
is attached to. Further, the screw 24a of the check valve body pressing member 24 is screwed into the screw 22c, so that the check valve body pressing member 24 is attached.

The check valve body 23 has a cylindrical portion and a valve portion with a thin wall portion 2.
It is made of an elastic member integrally molded via the valve body 3a, and is fitted into the air outlet port 22b, which is formed at the lower end of the sliding valve body 22 and has a slightly larger diameter. The check valve body holding member 24 is a short cylindrical body with a bottom and a ventilation hole 24b is formed in the center of the bottom wall.
However, the screw 24a carved on the outer peripheral surface of the member 24
By being attached to the sliding valve body 22 by the above, the check valve body 23 is prevented from coming off at the air outlet 22b.

The retaining member 25 has the sliding valve body 22 in the center.
It is formed of a male screw member having a through hole 25b drilled through the narrow diameter portion at the upper end thereof, and the screw 25a is threaded on the outer circumferential surface of the narrow diameter portion at the bottom thereof. The through hole 25b has a slightly larger diameter at the top and a step 25c is formed in the center, and this step 25c and the flange 26 of the air/water button 26
The coil spring 27 is wound around the narrow diameter portion of the sliding valve body 22 and inserted between the sliding valve body 22 and the sliding valve body 22. The air/water supply button 26 has the flange portion 26b at the top.
The screw 26a is formed into a cylindrical body with the screw 26a carved on the outer peripheral surface of the lower part, and when the screw 26a is screwed into the screw 22a of the sliding valve body 22, the sliding valve body 22 The coil spring 27 is attached to the coil spring 27 to prevent it from coming off.

In this way, the air supply/water supply switching device 20 of the present invention
Next, the operation of this air/water supply switching device 20 will be explained.

This air supply/water supply switching device 20 is in a normal state without any operation, the sliding valve body 22
is lifted upward by the elasticity of the spring 27 to close the water supply tube 8, and the air supply tube 7 communicates with the air communication groove 32. As a result, air sent from the air supply device passes through the communication groove 32 and the communication hole 33 to the sliding valve body 22.
into the central through-hole. Now, when the air discharge port 26c, which is the upper opening of the air/water supply button 26, is open, the check valve body 23, the vent hole 24b,
Since the resistance of the conduit leading to the distal end 4 of the endoscope 1 through the air supply tube 7 is greater than the resistance of the conduit passing through the air discharge port 26c, the sliding valve body 2
The air that has flowed into the central through hole 2 is discharged to the outside from the air discharge port 26c.

As shown in FIG. 4, if the air outlet 26c is blocked with the finger 17, air will not be able to flow out from the air outlet 26c. The pressure inside the through hole increases. Then, due to this increased air pressure, the valve portion of the check valve body 23 is bent at the thin wall portion 23a.
The air outlet 22b is opened. As a result, air is sent out to the air supply tube 7 through the air outlet 22b and the ventilation hole 24a, and is supplied to the distal end portion 4 of the endoscope 1.

When the sliding valve body 22 is further pushed into the cylindrical frame 21 with the air discharge port 26c closed with the finger 17, the air supply tube 7 and the air communication groove 32 are connected to each other. When the communication is cut off, the water supply tubes 8 of the inlet and outlet ports are brought into communication with each other through the water communication groove 31. Therefore, air is no longer sent out through the air supply tube 7, and the endoscope 1 is not sent out through the water supply tube 8.
Water is now supplied to the tip 4 of.

When the finger 17 is released from the air/water supply button 26, the sliding valve body 22 is moved by the elasticity of the spring 27.
moves back to its normal position where it most protrudes from the cylindrical frame 21, and the inlet water tube 8 is closed again to stop the water supply, and the inlet side is connected to the air tube 7 and the communication groove. 32, and air is discharged to the outside from the air discharge port 26c. Therefore, the air supply/water supply switching device 20
returns to the non-operating state.

In the endoscope air/water supply switching device of the embodiment described above, fluids in the body cavity, blood, dirt, etc. flow back into the hand operation unit 2 through the air supply tube 7.
If the check valve body 23 becomes stuck or if it is not used for a long period of time, the check valve body 23 may become stuck to the air outlet 22b.
If the check valve body 23 is stuck in close contact with the check valve body 23, it is possible to easily release the fixed state of the check valve body 23 by inserting a push rod through the air discharge port 26c as in the conventional case.

In addition, if the check valve body 23 is damaged, simply removing the retaining member 25 from the cylindrical frame 21 will remove the sliding valve body 22 and the check valve attached to the valve body 22. The body 23 can be taken out from inside the cylindrical frame 21. Therefore, the check valve body 23 can be easily replaced or repaired by removing the check valve body pressing member 24 from the sliding valve body 22 taken out. After replacing and repairing the check valve body 23, the sliding valve body 22 is reattached to the cylindrical frame 21.
When the retaining member 25 is attached to the cylindrical frame 21, the sliding valve body 22 is prevented from coming off, and the air/water switching device 20 can be used again.

As described above, according to the present invention, the check valve body can be replaced or repaired without disassembling the hand control unit, which is extremely convenient for use and eliminates the conventional drawbacks mentioned at the beginning of the specification. An air supply/water supply switching device for an endoscope can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of an endoscope equipped with a conventional air/water switching device, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of the conventional air/water switching device of an endoscope. , FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the air/water switching device shown in FIG. 2 above, showing a method for releasing the stuck state of the check valve body, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air/water supply switching device for an endoscope showing an embodiment of the present invention. 7...Air supply tube (air supply path), 8...Water supply tube (conveyance channel), 21...Cylindrical frame, 22...
Sliding valve body, 22b...Air delivery port, 23...Check valve body, 26c...Air discharge port.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A cylindrical frame provided in the air/water supply channel, a sliding valve body for switching air/water supply that slides within this cylindrical frame and is removably fitted, and this sliding valve body. An air outlet is provided at one end of the valve body and communicates with the air supply path by sliding of the sliding valve body, and an air outlet is provided at the other end of the sliding valve body and communicates with the air supply path by sliding of the sliding valve body. an air outlet that communicates with the air outlet through the inside and releases the air sent from the air supply path to the outside; An air supply/water supply switching device for an endoscope, comprising a check valve body biased to close communication with an air supply path.