JPS63277027A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the damage of a flexible tube due to the generation of the pressure difference between the inside and outside of an endoscope at the time of sterilization, by providing a means for changing over the opening and closing of the air passing route with the inside and outside of the endoscope through operation to either one of the insert part, main body part and eyepiece part of the endoscope. CONSTITUTION:When a rigid endoscope is sterilized using ethylene oxide gas, a rotary body 17 is rotated to be moved from the state shown by a solid line to the state shown by a dotted line. Whereupon, the inclined surface 18 at the leading end of the rotary body 17 is slightly separated from an O-ring 21 and, therefore, the interior of a main body 2 communicates with the open air through the formed gap and a porous membrane 15. As a result, since the inside and outside of the main body part 2 can be brought to the same pressure, it can be prevented that the first and second tubes 11, 12 constituting a flexible tube 6 are stretched and damaged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope having a flexible tube section at least partially covered with an elastic material.

[Conventional technology] Endoscopes can be broadly divided into flexible and rigid endoscopes, and either of these can be used to endoscopically observe and photograph lesions, stones, etc. in body cavities. Treatments such as biopsies and stone removal are performed using various treatment tools.

Incidentally, a rigid endoscope disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 162013/1982 is known as an endoscope that takes advantage of the advantages of both a rigid endoscope and a flexible endoscope. In other words, although the insertion section is rigid, by using an image guide fiber as an observation optical system, the eyepiece section is connected to the main body section by a bendable flexible tube section, and the eyepiece section can be moved in any direction. I'm trying to be able to direct myself. The flexible tube section is constructed by covering a spiral tube with a tube made of an elastic material.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when attempting to sterilize a rigid endoscope having such a flexible tube section using, for example, an ethylene oxide gas sterilizer, it is difficult to sterilize the elastic material used for the flexible tube section. The tube made up of the sterilizer expands due to the pressure difference between the inside of the rigid scope and the sterilizer, causing the tube to become loose or, in the worst case, burst.

This invention was made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent damage to the flexible tube due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside when sterilizing with a sterilizer. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that does not cause such problems.

[Means and operations for solving the problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an endoscope having a flexible tube part covered at least in part with an elastic material. Either on the insertion section, main body section or eyepiece section,
A means is provided for switching the opening and closing of the ventilation path between the inside and outside of the endoscope by operating it. In addition, it is possible to prevent a pressure difference from occurring between the inside and outside of the endoscope.

[Example 1] An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 2 shows a rigid endoscope 1, which covers a main body 2. As shown in FIG. An insertion section 3 made of a hard pipe is connected to the distal end surface of the main body section 2. Although not shown, an image guide fiber and a light guide fiber are inserted into the insertion portion 3. Further, a connecting portion 4 is formed at the distal end of the main body portion 2, and a sheath 5a shown by a chain line in the figure is detachably attached to this connecting portion 4.

The main body part 2 is provided with a light guide cap 5 and is connected to one end of a flexible tube part 6. The base end of the light guide fiber is guided into the light guide base 5, and the base end of the image guide fiber is inserted through the flexible tube section 6. An eyepiece section 7 is provided at the other end of the flexible tube section 6 . The eyepiece 7 has a diopter adjustment ring 8 and an eyepiece 9, and by looking through the eyepiece 9, the optical image transmitted to the image guide fiber can be observed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible tube section 6 is formed by sequentially covering a spiral tube (not shown) with a first tube 11 and a second tube 12 made of an elastic material. The first tube 11 is made of a flexible and self-supporting interlock tube, and the second tube 12 is made of an airtight and elastic material such as a fluororubber or polyurethane tube. Made of materials.

A small diameter portion 13 is formed at the base end of the main body portion 2, and a through hole 14 is bored in the peripheral wall of the small diameter portion 13 to communicate the inside and outside of the main body portion 2. This through hole 14 is covered with a porous membrane 15 that allows gas to pass through but not liquid, and this porous membrane 15 is held by a pressing member 16.

Further, a cylindrical rotating body 17 is rotatably fitted onto the small diameter portion 13 . A slope 1 is formed on the tip surface of this rotating body 17.
8 is formed. A first O-ring 2 is provided between this slope 18 and a step 19 formed at the end of the small diameter portion 13.
1 is provided, and a second O-ring 22 is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the rear end portion of the rotating body 17 and the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 13. The second O-ring 22 is connected to the rotating body 17 and the small diameter portion 13.
The first O-ring 21 always maintains airtightness between the
is compressed only when the rotary body 17 moves in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1 to maintain airtightness between them. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cam groove 23 having a click groove 23a at one end is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 13 in a predetermined range in the circumferential direction and inclined with respect to the axial direction. has been done.

A cam pin 24 provided on the rotating body 17 is engaged with this cam groove 23 . Therefore, the rotating body 17 is adapted to rotate without sliding in the axial direction shown by the arrow in FIG. When the first O-ring 21 is slid as shown by the solid line, the first O-ring 21 is compressed and the airtightness between the rotating body 17 and the main body 3 is maintained. Further, at this time, the cam pin 24 is elastically engaged with the click groove 23a of the cam groove 23 by the repulsive force of the first O-ring 21, and is prevented from freely rotating.

On the other hand, one end portion of the treatment tool mortar body 25 is airtightly fitted into the small diameter portion 13 of the main body portion 2 via a third O-ring 26.
It is fixed with screws 27.

A treatment instrument insertion vibe 28 is attached to one end of the treatment instrument mortar body 25.
are airtightly connected via a fourth O-ring 29.

Further, the other end side of the treatment instrument mortar body 25 has a first opening forming a first treatment instrument opening whose axis is aligned with the treatment instrument insertion vibe 28.
and a second tube 32 forming a second treatment instrument opening whose axis is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of the first tube 31. These tubes 31
．． 32 are each provided with a cock 33 and a rubber cap 34 is attached. For example, a first
Into the tube body 31, an ultrasonic probe 35 or the like as a treatment instrument shown by a chain line in FIG. 1 can be inserted in a fluid-tight manner.

Note that a treatment instrument can be inserted into the second tube body 32 as well.

In the rigid endoscope 1 configured as described above, when it is actually used clinically or when disinfection or sterilization is performed using a substance other than ethylene oxide gas such as various chemical solutions or formalin gas, the rotating body 17 is moved to the first position. 0 ring 21
is compressed and the cam pin 24 rotates until it engages with the click groove 23a of the cam groove 23. Then, the first O-ring 21 is compressed to make the space between the main body 2 and the rotary body 17 airtight, and the inside of the main body 2 is isolated from the outside. If the rigid endoscope 1 is used in such a state, or if disinfection or sterilization is performed using a chemical solution or gas other than ethylene oxide gas, the chemical solution, irrigation fluid, etc. will pass between the rotating body 17 and the small diameter portion 13. Infiltration into the main body portion 2 can be prevented. Further, in this case, the cam pin 24 is connected to the click groove 23a of the cam groove 23.
Since the rotating body 17 is elastically engaged with the rotating body 17, there is no possibility that the rotating body 17 will turn inadvertently.

On the other hand, when a rigid scope is to be sterilized using ethylene oxide gas, the rotating body 17 is rotated in the opposite direction, and the rotating body 17 is changed from the state shown by the solid line in FIG. Move to the state shown.

Then, the slope 18 at the tip of the rotating body 17 slightly separates from the first O-ring 21, so that the inside of the main body 2 communicates with the outside air through the gap and the porous membrane 15. Therefore, since the inside and outside of the main body section 2 can be made to have the same pressure, it is possible to prevent the first and second tubes 11 and 12 forming the flexible tube section 6 from being stretched and damaged. .

Furthermore, since the porous membrane 15 allows gases to pass through but not liquids, for example, when immersing it in a chemical solution for disinfection, it is possible to accidentally open the through holes 14 while the rotating body 17 is still rotating. Also, it is possible to prevent the chemical liquid from entering into the main body portion 2.

6 and 7 show other embodiments of the invention.

In this embodiment, a ring 41 made of a self-lubricating material such as Lulon is fitted and fixed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating body 17. In addition, the cam groove 42 formed in the small diameter portion 13
is formed at a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction without being inclined in the axial direction, and the rotation angle of the rotating body 17 is regulated by the cam pin 24 engaged with the cam groove 42.

Further, a ventilation hole 44 is provided in the same portion of the rotating body 17 and the ring 41, and the cam bin 22 is provided with a vent hole 44 as shown in FIG.
When the rotating body 17 is rotated until the rotor 4 contacts one end of the cam groove 42, the ventilation hole 44 communicates with the through hole 14 of the small diameter portion 13.

Even in such a structure, the rotating body 1 may be
By rotating 7, the inside of the main body part 2 is communicated with the outside,
It is possible to eliminate the pressure difference between the inside and outside.

In other embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotating body 17 is elastically held in the open position and the closed position of the through hole 14 of the main body 2, for example, by being biased by a spring. A click mechanism may be provided that includes a steel ball and a recess with which the steel ball engages. In addition, when the through hole 14 is closed, a symbol or character is placed on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 13 so that it is exposed through the ventilation hole 44 of the rotating body 17, so that it can be easily seen that it is in the closed state. By keeping it attached, you can prevent misuse.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to rigid endoscopes but also to flexible endoscopes.

Furthermore, in this invention, the rotating body may be provided in other places, such as the insertion part or the eyepiece, instead of the main body, and the through hole can be opened and closed by sliding in the axial direction instead of the rotating body. It may be possible to have a structure that allows

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides a method for connecting the inside and outside of an endoscope by manipulating the insertion section, main body section, or eyepiece section of an endoscope, which has a flexible tube section in at least a portion thereof. A means for switching the opening and closing of the ventilation path is provided. Therefore, when an endoscope is sterilized using ethylene oxide gas, for example, by communicating the inside and outside of the endoscope, it is possible to equalize the pressure between the inside and outside. It is possible to prevent the tube-shaped elastic material of the flexible tube portion from stretching or bursting.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of the main body where the rotating body is provided, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rigid endoscope, and FIG. Figure 1 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■, Figure 4 is a front view of the cam groove, Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the movement of the rotating body along the axial direction, and Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the invention. A half-sectional view of the structure with the rotating body attached, Figure 7 is the 6th
FIG. 2... Main body part, 3... Insertion part, 6... Flexible tube part,
14... Through hole, 15... Porous membrane, 17... Rotating body, 21... First O ring, 23... Cam groove, 2
4... Kambin. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Procedure amendment 1, Indication of case Patent application No. 112106/1982 2, Title of invention Endoscope 3 , Relationship with the amended person case Patent applicant (037) Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. UBE Building, 3-7-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100 m
Story 03 (502) 3181 (Major Representative) 7. On page 4, lines 12 to 15 of the statement of contents of the amendment, the statement ``The flexible tube portion 6 is formed...'' was changed to `` As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible tube section 6 is formed by covering a first tube 11 with a second tube 12 made of an elastic material.''

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an endoscope having a flexible tube section covered at least in part with an elastic material, the insertion section, the main body section, or the eyepiece section of the endoscope can be manipulated into the interior of the endoscope. What is claimed is: 1. An endoscope characterized by having a ventilation path between the inside and the outside and a means for switching opening and closing.