JPS6334642Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an endoscope with an improved fixing structure for a protection member for protecting an optical fiber bundle.

Generally, various internal components such as an optical fiber bundle bound by an exterior tube, an air/water supply tube, a forceps insertion tube, etc. are arranged together inside the insertion section of an endoscope. Therefore, when the insertion section of the endoscope is bent or bent by the insertion operation, each internal component is forced to move in the axial direction relative to each other within the insertion section due to the structure, and each internal component A force is applied in the axial direction.

Furthermore, as a result of the fact that the interior components come into contact with each other and press against each other, smooth displacement between the interior components is prevented, and the force that should be compressed in the axial direction is converted into a force that causes the interior components to buckle. Put it away. In particular, since optical fiber bundles are weak, they often easily become fatally bent.

In addition, since the optical fiber bundle, tube for air and water supply, tube for forceps insertion, etc. are attached to the distal end of the distal end component of the endoscope, the space on the distal end becomes large, causing more pain to the patient. There were flaws.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, in an endoscope showing an illumination optical fiber bundle 1 and an observation optical fiber bundle 2, the illumination optical fiber bundle 1 is mounted on the distal end side of the distal end component 3. 4, and the illumination optical fiber bundle 1 is covered with a first protective tube 5, and then the outside of the first protective tube 5 is covered with a second protective tube 6, and the optical fiber bundle 2 for observation is covered with a second protective tube 6. is inserted into the pipe 7 fitted into the rear end side of the tip component 3, and the pipe 7 is inserted into the first protection tube 5 and the second protection tube 6 in the same way as the illumination optical fiber bundle 1. The optical fiber bundle 1 for illumination is covered with a protective tube 5 to protect the optical fiber bundle and to prevent the space of the tip component 3 from increasing. , 6 are introduced into the interior of the tip structure 3, and these tips are attached to the tip side of the tip structure 3.
It has been impossible to reduce the space of the tip component 3 (reducing the diameter and size).

This idea was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to make the optical fiber bundle the first
and a second protective member, the distal end of the first protective member is attached to the distal end side of the distal end component, and the distal end of the second protective member is attached to the rear end side of the distal end component. The present invention aims to provide an endoscope that reduces the space occupied by the distal end component and alleviates the pain caused to the patient.

An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 11 in FIG. 2 is a tip component. The distal end surface of this distal end constituent section 11 has this distal end constituent section 1.
An inclined surface 11a is formed with respect to the axial direction. Various internal components, such as an air/water supply tube, a forceps insertion tube, or an optical fiber bundle, are inserted through this inclined surface 11a.
2 and the observation optical fiber bundle 13 are shown. The tip of the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is attached to the tip component 11 via the attachment section 14, and the inclined surface 11
The rear end is connected to an illumination window 12a mounted on the rear panel 12a, and the rear end is led to an illumination source via an operation section main body (not shown). The illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is covered over its entire length by a protective tube 15 as a first protective member fitted onto the outer periphery of the mounting portion 14 . The protective tube 15 is made of, for example, a silicone rubber tube, has a flexible thin wall, and has its inner and outer peripheral surfaces lubricated with a solid lubricant. and the first protection tube 1
5 is a protective tube 17 as a second protective member via a pipe 16 that is fitted and fixed to the rear end side of the tip component 11 by soldering or adhesive.
is guided into the operating section main body (not shown). The second protection tube 17 is made of a foam made of fluororesin, for example, and passes through a curved part (not shown) of the endoscope, and its rear end reaches inside a flexible tube (not shown). Not fixed. Furthermore, the observation optical fiber bundle 13 is connected to a pipe 18.
The distal end portion is connected to the observation window 13a fitted to the inclined surface 11a through the objective lenses 19, 19 and the prism 20. is guided to an eyepiece lens provided on the main body of the operating section (not shown). The observation optical fiber bundle 13 has a protective tube 21 as a first protective member and a second
It is covered with a protective tube 22 as a protective member. The first protection tube 21 and the second protection tube 22 are fitted into the pipe 18 which is fitted and fixed to the tip component 11. The outer peripheral surface of this pipe 18 has annular concave portions 18a, 1
8b is formed so that the tips of the protective tubes 21 and 22 can be easily fitted. The protective tubes 21 and 22 are made of silicone rubber tubes and fluororesin foam in the same way as the protective tubes 15 and 17 for the illumination optical fiber bundle 12, and the first protective tube 21
The inner and outer surfaces are lubricated with solid lubricant.

Next, the order of assembling the endoscope configured as described above will be explained. The assembly order of the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is that the pipe 16 is attached to the rear end of the tip component 11.
After the pipe 16 is fitted and fixed, the second protection tube 17 is fitted onto the rear end of the pipe 16. Then, the first
After the protective tube 15 is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion 14, the optical fiber bundle 12 is inserted from the front surface of the mounting portion 14. Next, the mounting portion 14, the first
protection tube 15 and illumination optical fiber bundle 12
After inserting the subassembly consisting of
Attach a and complete the assembly. Next, the order of assembling the observation optical fiber bundle 13 will be explained. After attaching the optical system such as the objective lenses 19, 19 and the prism 20 to the tip component 11, the observation window 13a is attached. Next, after fitting the tip of the first protective tube 21 into the concave portion 18b provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 18, the second protective tube 22 is fitted.
The distal end portion is fitted into the concave portion 18a. next,
After inserting the optical fiber bundle 13 for observation from the tip side of the pipe 18, the tip side of the pipe 18 is inserted into the tip component 1.
1 from the rear end side, and connect the rear end of the observation optical fiber bundle 13 to an eyepiece (not shown) to complete the assembly. Note that the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 may be assembled in two ways as described below. That is, the second protective tube 17 is fitted onto the rear end of the pipe 16, and then the subassembly consisting of the attachment part 14, the first protective tube 15, and the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is inserted into the second protective tube 17. After inserting it inside, the attachment part 14 is attached to the distal end of the distal end forming part 11. Then, the pipe 16 is fitted and fixed to the rear end of the tip component 11. Alternatively, the tip component 1
A pipe 16 is inserted and fixed to the rear end of the pipe 1. Next, the subassembly consisting of the mounting part 14, the first protective tube 15, and the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is attached to the second
After inserting it into the protective tube 17 of the mounting part 1
4 is attached to the tip of the tip component 11. Then, the second protective tube 17 is fitted onto the rear end of the pipe 16.

Next, FIGS. 3 to 6, in which the same components in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, show other embodiments of this invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 16 denotes a pipe having a threaded portion 16a, and a flange portion 16b is formed on the outside at the rear end of the pipe 16. And pipe 16
After fitting the tip of the second protective tube 17 into the tube, the thread 23 is wound and tied to form the second
This prevents the protective tube 17 from slipping out from the pipe 16.

In FIG. 4, an elastic body 24 having flexibility and tightening force is elastically fitted as a second protection member to the pipe 16 which is fitted and fixed to the tip component 11.

FIG. 5 shows that an elastic body 24 having flexibility and tightening force is fitted to the pipe 16 that is fitted and fixed to the tip component 11, and a second protective tube 17 is fitted through this elastic body 24. This prevents the protective tube 17 from falling off and facilitates fitting.

In FIG. 6, a spirally wound coil pipe 25 is attached as a second protection member to the outside of the pipe 16 which is fitted and fixed to the tip component 11. Since the coil pipe 25 has a tightening force, it is prevented from falling off from the pipe 16, and since it has flexibility and stretchability, the protection against the optical fiber bundle 12 is improved.

Although the second protective tube 17 is configured to be attached to the pipe 16, the pipe 16 is not used, and an annular hole into which the protective tube 17 is inserted is bored in the end surface of the rear end of the tip component 11. It is also possible to fix it.

In addition, although the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 above have been described with respect to the optical fiber bundle 12 for illumination, they can be applied not only to the optical fiber bundle 13 for observation, but also to the oblique view type and side view type. This is not limited to endoscopes, but is particularly effective and has a large effect when the length of the tip component 11 must be longer than the length of the hard end portion of the observation optical fiber bundle 13. play.

As explained above, in this invention, in an endoscope that protects an optical fiber bundle by covering it with first and second protective members, the distal end of the first protective member is placed on the distal side of the distal end component. Since the distal end portion of the second protection member is fixed on the rear end side, the space occupied by the distal end component is reduced, and the pain caused to the patient is reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional endoscope, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an endoscope showing an embodiment of this invention, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 to 6 show other embodiments of this invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the pipe of the second embodiment and the second protection member are fixed with a thread, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the second embodiment. 3
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which an elastic body is fitted to the pipe of the fourth embodiment, FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which a coil pipe is attached to the pipe of the fifth embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Tip structure part, 12, 13... Optical fiber bundle, 15, 21... First protection tube (first protection member), 17, 22... Second protection tube (second protection member) ).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an endoscope in which an optical fiber bundle is covered and protected by first and second protection members, the first protection member has its distal end portion fixed to the distal end side of the distal end component, and the second protection member has its distal end portion fixed to the distal end side of the distal end component. is fixed to the rear end side of the distal end component.