JPS6317443Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] The present invention relates to an improvement of the distal end of an endoscope.

Generally, the tip of an endoscope, whether for medical or industrial use, is made of a rigid body such as metal.
The components of the optical system, such as the objective lens frame and illumination fiber support tube, are fixed to the tip body with set screws and adhesives, and the rear end of the tip body forms the curved tube of the insertion section. The curved member or blade is fixed by soldering or the like. Further, the outer skin covering the curved tube is also fastened to the outer circumferential surface of the main body of the distal end portion with a thread, and this is hardened with an adhesive.

Due to this structure, the number of parts such as screws is large, and assembly is troublesome and time-consuming, and disassembly for repair is not easy.

This invention was made with attention to the above circumstances,
The aim is to create an endoscope that can reduce the number of parts and facilitate assembly and disassembly by attaching optical system components and curved tube components without using set screws or adhesives. Our goal is to provide the following.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes an endoscope, and this endoscope 1 has an operating section 2 connected to an insertion section 3, and further, a light guide cable 4 is connected to the operating section 2. In the insertion section 3, a distal end portion 7 is connected to the distal end of a flexible tube 5 via a curved tube 6. The bending tube 6 can be bent by operating an operating rod 8 in the operating section 2 via a bending operation wire, which will be described later.

The vicinity of the distal end of the insertion section 3 is constructed as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the bending tube 6 has a plurality of short tube-shaped bending pieces 11 arranged along the axial direction of the insertion portion 3, and each of the bending pieces 11 is rotatably connected by a pin 12 to form the core member 13. A knitted mesh pipe 14 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the core material 13, and a curved outer skin 15 is further fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the mesh pipe 14. Further, the most advanced bending piece 11 has a connecting tube 16 integrally connected to its tip, and a groove 17 is formed along the circumferential direction on its outer periphery.
By forming this, a locking edge 18 is formed that projects outward at the tip. Note that a wall surface 19 on the rear end side of the groove 17 is formed in a tapered shape, and the tip of the curved outer skin 15 is firmly fitted into this wall surface 19 so as to fall down.

Furthermore, an image guide 21 of an optical system for image transmission and a light guide 22 of an optical system for illumination light transmission are inserted into the insertion section 3, and a cylindrical objective lens frame 23 is provided at the tip of the image guide 21. are connected. Further, an illumination support tube 24 is fitted and fixed to the tip of the light guide 22. and,
The objective lens frame 23 and the illumination support cylinder 24 are provided with protrusions 25 and 26 along the circumferential direction on their outer peripheries, respectively. Note that the objective lens frame 23 and the illumination support tube 24 protrude from the tip of the connection tube 16. Further, a bending operation wire 27 is inserted into the bending tube 6, and the bending operation wire 27 is inserted into the bending tube 6.
7 is connected to the connecting tube 16 at its tip.

On the other hand, the tip 7 has a tip main body 31 that is integrally formed of an elastic material such as rubber or synthetic resin, and a hood 32 that has conventionally been a separate body is also integrally formed. There is. This tip body 31 has a press-fit hole 33 for the objective lens frame.
and a support tube press-fit hole 34 are formed so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. Each press-fit hole 3
Engagement grooves 35 and 36 are formed on the inner surfaces of the protrusions 3 and 34 in correspondence with the protrusions 25 and 26, into which the protrusions 25 and 26 are fitted, respectively. Further, the inner diameter of the objective lens frame press-fit hole 33 is smaller than the outer diameter of the objective lens frame 23 to be fitted therein, so that the objective lens frame 23 can be elastically press-fitted and held. The inner diameter of the support cylinder press-fit hole 34 is such that the support cylinder 24 to be fitted therein can be elastically press-fitted and held. Moreover, each press-fit hole 33, 34 has an engagement groove 35,
The inner diameter on the distal end side of the engaging grooves 35 and 36 is smaller than the inner diameter on the rear end side of the engagement grooves 35 and 36, so that a particularly strong press fit is achieved.

Further, a groove 37 into which the locking edge 18 is fitted is formed on the inner surface of the inner end of the tip main body 31, thereby forming a locking portion that elastically locks the component on the side of the curved tube 6. I'm starting to do that.

Therefore, in order to assemble the vicinity of the tip of the insertion section 3, press fit the objective lens frame 23 shown in FIG. 4 into the press-fit hole 33 for the objective lens frame of the tip body 31 shown in FIG. The support cylinder 24 is press-fitted into the press-fit hole 34. Note that at this time, a sealing agent may also be used for fitting. Further, although not shown, a forceps channel tube, an air/water supply tube, etc. are also attached to the tip body 31 in the same manner.

Next, the connecting tube 16 attached to the component on the side of the curved pipe 6 is inserted into the groove 37 of the tip body 31 by the locking edge 18.
Complete the assembly by fitting it in and attaching it elastically. At this time, the tip main body 31 and the connecting tube 1
6 is the elastic force of the tip body 31 itself and the outer skin 15
Because of the elastic force of the tips, they come into close contact with each other, and the tip main body 31 and the outer skin 15 are also directly pressed together, so there is no possibility that liquid will infiltrate into the interior of the endoscope 1 through a gap in the connection. However, if necessary, a sealant may be applied to this connection portion during assembly.

In addition, since it is assembled using elasticity as described above, it can be disassembled and reassembled very easily.

5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment differs from the above embodiment only in the structure of the tip body 41. That is,
The tip main body 41 is integrally formed of a transparent elastic material, and the press-fit holes such as the objective lens frame press-fit hole 42 and the support tube press-fit hole 43 are each closed on the tip side. Further, a notch groove 44 is formed on the outer surface of this closed side so as to partition the press-fit hole 42 for the objective lens frame and the press-fit hole 43 for the support tube. This notch groove 4
4 serves to prevent the light emitted from the light guide 22 side from propagating through the transparent tip body 41 and entering the objective lens side.

Note that in this embodiment, the entire tip body 41 need not necessarily be made transparent, but it is of course possible to make only the tip portions of at least the press-fit hole 42 for the objective lens frame and the press-fit hole 43 for the support tube transparent. .

As explained above, according to the present invention, the internal components of the endoscope are elastically fitted and held in the distal end main body, and the constituent members of the curved tube are elastically locked and connected. It can be assembled without using many parts such as screws and adhesives as in the case. Additionally, the assembly man-hours were significantly reduced. Furthermore, since it is assembled using elasticity, disassembly and repair of the tip part is easier. Furthermore, since the number of parts and the number of assembly steps are reduced, inexpensive endoscopes can be mass-produced, making it economical. Moreover, since the assembly is performed so as to accurately position the endoscope by providing an engagement groove for positioning that engages with the protrusion of the internal component of the endoscope, the assembly precision can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the distal end of the endoscope, and Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the main body of the distal end. , FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the tip with the tip main body removed, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tip main body showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a similar view of the tip main body. FIG. 1... Endoscope, 6... Curved tube, 7... Tip part,
11... Curving piece, 13... Core material, 16... Connection tube, 18... Locking edge, 21... Image guide,
22...Light guide, 23...Objective lens frame,
24... Support tube for illumination, 31... Tip body, 3
2...Hood, 33...Press-fit hole for objective lens frame,
34... Press-fit hole for support tube, 37... Groove, 41...
Tip body, 42... Press-fit hole for objective lens frame, 4
3... Press-fit hole for support tube, 44... Notch groove.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A tip body integrally formed of an elastic material, and positioning formed on the tip body to engage with a protrusion provided on the built-in endoscope. A press-fitting hole is formed in the tip body and elastically locks the constituent materials of the curved tube to connect the curved tube. A distal end portion of an endoscope, comprising a locking portion. (2) The distal end portion of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the distal end main body has a hood integrally molded therein.