JPS6348241Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

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

Technical background of the invention and its problems Generally, inside the insertion section of an endoscope, there are optical fiber bundles for observation and optical fiber bundles for illumination, which are bundled together with an exterior tube, etc., a tube for air and water supply for cleaning the observation window, etc. Tubes for inserting treatment instruments into which forceps and the like are inserted are arranged in one direction. For this reason, when the endoscope insertion section is inserted into a body cavity, it is bent to follow the curvature of the passage within the body cavity, and the tip is curved by rotating the knob on the operation section. case,
Built-in components such as the optical fiber bundle, air and water supply tube, and treatment tool insertion tube within the insertion tube move relative to each other in the axial direction, so force is applied to each built-in component and the built-in components come into contact with each other, causing pressure. receive. For this reason, there was a drawback in that the weak optical fiber bundle among the built-in items was affected and the optical fiber itself could break. To solve this drawback, conventional methods have been developed in which the optical fiber bundle is covered with a first protective tube, and then the outer periphery of the first protective tube is further covered with a second protective tube. There is. In this conventional example, as shown in FIG. 1, an illumination optical fiber bundle 1 and an observation optical fiber bundle 2 are attached to the distal end side of the insertion section, and each optical fiber bundle 1,
2 to the first and second protective tubes 3, 4.
covered with. The first part of this illumination optical fiber bundle 1
The distal end of the protective tube 3 is attached to the distal end side of the distal end component 5 via a cap 6, and the second protective tube 4 is attached to the rear end side of the distal end component 5 via a pipe 7. Further, the observation optical fiber bundle 2 is configured such that a first protective tube 3 and a second protective tube 4 are attached to the observation optical fiber bundle 2 via a cap 8 that is fitted into the rear end side of the distal end component 5. The second protection tube 4 protects the illumination optical fiber bundle 1 in this way.
Since the distal end of the distal end portion is locked and fixed to the outer periphery of the pipe 7 fitted into the rear end side of the distal end component portion 5, the rear end portion of the distal end component portion 5 inevitably requires a large space for assembly. The tip of the insertion tube becomes thicker. In addition, there is a nodal tube 9 formed to curve from the tip component 5 that wraps the illumination optical fiber bundle 1 and the observation optical fiber bundle 2, and this first nodal tube 9
Since a is fixed to the rear end of the distal end component 5, the length a between the distal end component 5 and the first nodal ring tube 9a does not have flexibility even if it is bent by the operating section, so it cannot be bent. Can not. For this reason, the hard part of the distal end becomes longer, which impairs operability, and the distal end becomes thicker, causing pain to the patient.

Purpose of the invention The purpose of this invention is to reduce the pain caused to the patient and provide an endoscope with good operability by reducing the diameter and size of the tip component and hard part of the endoscope. It is.

Summary of the invention A first protective member that covers the optical fiber bundle is attached to the tip component via a cap, and an optical fiber for observation and illumination is attached to the tip of the second protective member to cover the second protective member on the outer periphery of the first protective member. The fiber bundle is fitted into a convex mounting hole at the rear end of the tip component forming a path for the fiber bundle and fixed with adhesive, soldering, or the like.

Embodiment of the Invention A first embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows the distal end of the endoscope insertion section. Inside the distal end 11 of the insertion section, there is an optical fiber bundle for illumination 12, an optical fiber bundle for observation 13, and there is dirt on the distal end surface of the distal end component 14. There are built-in tubes for air and water supply, which are not shown in the figure, for cleaning in order to remove dirt and other contaminants that have adhered thereto, and a treatment instrument insertion tube for inserting forceps and the like for treatment. These built-in parts are the tip component 14
The distal end surface of the distal end forming portion 14 forms an inclined surface 14a that is inclined with respect to the axial direction. The illumination window 1 is connected to the inclined surface 14a through a cap 15 in which an illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is attached.
The outer periphery of the tip of this cap 15 is attached to the tip component 14, and the first protective tube 17 is attached to the rear end to cover the illumination optical fiber bundle 12. This first protective tube 17
The tube is made of, for example, a flexible, thin silicone rubber tube.

The inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the first protective tube 17 are lubricated with a solid lubricant such as molybdenum disulfide to prevent the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 from directly hitting other members and breaking, and to prevent the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 from directly hitting other members and breaking, and to prevent the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 from directly hitting other members and breaking. It is designed to reduce directional friction and prevent breakage. The rear end of this illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is covered with a first protective tube 17, and is connected to a connector (not shown) that is inserted into the light guide cable from inside the insertion section, through the operation section, and connected to the light source device. ing. The outer periphery of the first protective tube 17 covering the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is covered with a second protective tube 18, and the tip of the second protective tube 18 is located behind the tip component 14. It is fixedly fitted into a convex mounting hole 19 arranged at the end via an adhesive, and is arranged as shown in FIG.
The second protection tube 18 is formed of a foam made of, for example, fluororesin, passes through a curved portion (not shown), and is guided into the flexible tube without being fixed at its rear end. In particular, the second protective tube 18 prevents the first protective tube 17 from being deformed by other internal components when the insertion portion is bent, thereby preventing breakage. Further, the observation optical fiber bundle 13 is inserted into a cap 20 that is fitted and fixed with an adhesive. The outer periphery of the tip of the cap 20 is fixed to the rear end side of the tip component 14, and in front of the tip of the cap 20 is an observation window 23 fitted on the inclined surface 14a through an objective lens 21 and a prism 22. An annular recess 20a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end, and this recess 20a
The distal end of the first protective tube 24 is fitted to cover the entire length of the observation optical fiber bundle 13, and the rear end of the observation optical fiber bundle 13 is connected to an eyepiece provided in an operation section (not shown). guided by.
The outer periphery of the first protection tube 24 is covered with a second protection tube 25, and the tip of the second protection tube 25 has a convex shape disposed at the rear end of the tip component 14. It is fixedly fitted into the mounting hole 26 of 2 with an adhesive. This second protective tube 25 covers the outer periphery of the first protective tube 24 from the inside of the curved portion to the inside of the flexible tube. The first protection tube 24 and the second protection tube 25 are made of a silicone rubber tube and a fluororesin foam similar to the protection tube for the illumination optical fiber bundle 12.
The inner and outer peripheral surfaces of 4 are lubricated with a solid lubricant such as molybdenum disulfide. Further, the first nodal tube 27a of the nodal tube 27 of the curved portion, which houses the optical fiber bundle 12 for illumination and the optical fiber bundle 13 for observation, is connected and fixed to the rear end of the tip component 14.

Next, the order of assembling the endoscope configured as described above will be explained. The order of assembling the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is to first insert the second protective tube 18 into the convex mounting hole 19 located at the rear end of the tip component 14.
and secure with adhesive. Next, after fitting the first protective tube 17 onto the outer peripheral surface of the cap 15, the optical fiber bundle 12 is inserted from the front surface of the cap 15. Next, the optical fiber bundle 12, the base 15 and the first
After inserting the subassembly consisting of the protective tube 17 into the second protective tube 18, the outer circumferential surface of the front end of the base 15 of the subassembly is inserted and fixed into the distal end of the tip component 14, and the base 15 is fixed. This is completed by attaching the lighting window 16 to the front. In addition, the order of assembling the observation optical fiber bundle 13 is to first attach the objective lens 21.
and an optical system such as a prism 22 in the tip component 14.
After fixing it to , the observation window 23 is attached. Next, like the illumination optical fiber bundle 12, the second protective tube 25 is inserted into the convex mounting hole 26 arranged at the tip of the tip component 14 and fixed with adhesive. Then, a first
The tip of the first protective tube 24 is inserted and fixed with adhesive, and the optical fiber bundle 13 is inserted from the front side of the base 20.
and a subassembly consisting of the optical fiber bundle 13.
into the protective tube 25 of the subassembly, and insert the outer periphery of the tip of the base 20 of the subassembly into the objective lens 2 of the tip component.
Assembly is completed by inserting it behind 1 and fixing it. In this way, the second protective tubes 18, 2 are inserted into the convex mounting holes 19, 26 at the rear end of the tip component 14.
By fixing 5 with adhesive, the tip component 1
As the overall diameter of 4 becomes thinner, the tip component 1 becomes smaller.
4 and the first nodal ring tube 27a, the distal end portions of the second protective tubes 18 and 25 are the same as the distal end forming portion 14.
Since it is inserted into the mounting holes 19 and 26 in the body, it can be made shorter, and the curved part can be curved from near the distal end, which improves maneuverability inside the body cavity and reduces the possibility of overlooking the lesion. Since the overall diameter is small, effects such as not causing pain to the patient can be obtained.

4 and 5 show a second embodiment. This embodiment is based on the illumination optical fiber bundle 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The shape of the tip of the second protective tube 18 covering the second protective tube 18 and how it is fixed, and the opening cut out on the lower side in the drawing of FIG. This embodiment has the same structure as the first embodiment except for the fact that the opening is provided with a section and the opening is sealed to make it airtight, so only the differences between the first embodiment and the first embodiment will be explained. do. The tip component 14 includes a first protective tube 17 that covers the illumination optical fiber bundle 12.
is provided, and the distal end of the second protection tube 18 forms a semicircular shape 18a as shown in FIG. 5 so as to surround the first protection tube 17. This semicircular tip portion 18a is fixed onto the inner periphery of one end of the mounting hole 19 of the tip component 14 by adhesive, soldering, or the like. Further, an opening 28 is formed on the lower side of the tip component 14 on the side that covers the illumination optical fiber bundle 12, and a first opening 28 is formed into which the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is inserted. A protective tube 17 is arranged, and this first protective tube 17
The second protective tube 18 covering the is provided with a semicircular tip 18a. Opening 2
A mounting cover 29 is fixed to the outside of 8 to maintain airtightness from the outside. To explain the assembly order with the above configuration, the semicircular tip 18a of the second protective tube 18 is connected to the tip component 1.
4, and fixed with adhesive or solder from the opening 28 side provided on the lower side of the tip component 14. Next, the subassembly in which the first protective tube 17 is attached to the base 15 surrounding the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is inserted into the second protective tube 18, and the base 15 of the subassembly is inserted into the second protective tube 18.
is fixed to the distal end of the distal end component 14 through the opening 28, and the illumination window 16 is attached from the distal end of the inclined surface 14a. Finally, attach the opening 28 to the cover 29.
The assembly of the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 is completed by fixing it from the outside. Observation optical fiber bundle 13
Since the assembly is the same as that of the first embodiment, the explanation thereof will be omitted.

With such a configuration and assembly order, the subassembly can be easily inserted from the opening 28 of the tip component 14 to the inclined tip, and the tip of the second protective tube 18 can be shaped into a semicircular shape 18a. This has the effect of making the diameter even smaller.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment, which differs from the second embodiment in that a hole 30 is provided in the semicircular shape 18a at the tip of the second protective tube 18, and a cylindrical portion of the opening 28 of the tip component 14 is provided. The hole 30 is engaged with a pin 31 fixed in the mounting hole 19 of the second embodiment with adhesive or solder, and the other features are the same as those of the second embodiment. With this configuration, the hole 30 in the semicircular shape 18a of the second protective tube 18 is engaged with the pin 31, which has the effect of increasing the mounting strength in the axial direction.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment, in which a screw 32 is used instead of the pin 31 of the third embodiment to engage a hole 30 in the semicircular shape 18a of the second protection tube 18. The rest of the structure is similar to that of the third embodiment. With this configuration, the axial mounting strength is further increased than in the third embodiment since the fixation is achieved by engagement of the screws 32.

FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in that a coil pipe 33 is used instead of the second protection tube 18. This coil pipe 33 is provided on the outer periphery of the first protective tube 17 that covers the illumination optical fiber bundle 12 provided in the tip component 14, and is provided in a convex mounting hole 19 at the rear end of the tip component 14. The tip of the coil pipe 33 is fixed to the coil pipe 33 by adhesive or soldering. The rear end portion of this coil pipe 33 is led without being fixed into the flexible tube through the inside of the curved portion. As described above, since the flexible and stretchable coil pipe 33 is provided in place of the second protective tube 18, the protective force for the optical fiber bundle 12 is improved accordingly, thereby preventing the optical fibers from breaking. It is something that can be done.

FIG. 9 shows a sixth embodiment. 1st and 5th
In this embodiment, a spirally wound flex 34 is used instead of the embodiment shown in FIG. This configuration provides the same effects as the fifth embodiment.

Effects of the Device As explained above, this device connects the tip of the second protective tube, coil pipe, or flex covering the optical fiber bundle to the convex mounting hole located at the rear end of the tip component. The diameter of the tip component is reduced by fixing it with adhesive or soldering. In addition, the length of the tip component and the first segmental canal following it is shorter than before, which reduces the pain caused to the patient when inserting the endoscope into the body cavity due to the small diameter. In addition, since the hard part formed by the tip component and the first segmental ring canal is short, it is possible to easily bend the tip from the tip, which reduces the chance of overlooking a lesion, and provides an endoscope with improved operability as a whole. It is something that can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional endoscope insertion section, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an endoscope insertion section showing the first embodiment of this invention, and FIG. A sectional view, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the endoscope insertion part showing the second embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG.
A sectional view, FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the third embodiment,
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing the fourth embodiment, FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the fifth embodiment in which the coil pipe is fitted to the tip component, and FIG. 9 is the sixth embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the flex is fitted into the tip component. 1, 12... Optical fiber bundle for illumination, 2, 13...
Observation optical fiber bundle, 3, 17, 24... First protection tube, 4, 18, 25... Second protection tube, 5, 14... Tip component, 6, 8, 15,
20...Cap, 18a...Semicircular shape, 19, 26...
...Mounting hole, 31...Pin, 32...Screw, 33...
...Coil pipe, 34...Flex.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. An endoscope in which an optical fiber bundle attached to a base is covered with a first protective member, and the outer periphery of the first protective member is covered with a second protective member. An endoscope according to the present invention, wherein the distal end portion of the second protection member is fixed by being fitted into a mounting hole disposed on the rear end side of the distal end component. 2. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tip of the second protective member is cut out so that the cross-sectional shape is half-moon. 3. The endoscope according to claim 2 of the utility model registration, characterized in that the endoscope is locked by a locking member of a second protection member attached to the inner periphery of the attachment hole of the distal end component. 4. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second protection member is made of a coil pipe. 5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second protection member is made of flexible material.