JPS6452B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope device that prevents pressure within a body cavity from exceeding safety limits.

Generally, when inserting an endoscope into a body cavity to observe the inside of the body cavity, gas is pumped into the body cavity to inflate the body cavity and isolate the observation window at the end of the endoscope from the body cavity wall. things are being done. However, when performing this air supply, if more gas is supplied than necessary, it will not only cause pain to the patient but also be dangerous.

Conventionally, an exhaust path is purposely provided inside the endoscope, and an exhaust port with a pressure regulating valve that communicates with the exhaust path is provided in the hand control unit, so that when the pressure inside the body cavity reaches a safe limit, There is a known device that allows the air to escape from the exhaust port (Jikkoaki
(See Publication No. 52-26225). However, in this system, even if the gas is released from the exhaust port, the air pump continues to operate. In addition, the safe limit for pressure inside a body cavity is extremely low, and there is not much difference from atmospheric pressure. Therefore, in order to obtain an exhaust amount that exceeds the air supply amount, it is necessary to increase the inner diameter of the exhaust passage considerably. However, increasing the inner diameter of the exhaust passage increases the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion, which is not preferable for an endoscope.

On the other hand, an exhaust port with a pressure regulating valve located in the hand control unit and communicating in the middle of the air supply path is provided so that air is released to the outside when the pressure in the air supply path exceeds a certain limit. is also known (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 1983-
(See Publication No. 40533). However, with this method, when air is supplied, the pressure at the pressure regulating valve becomes higher than the pressure inside the body cavity by the amount of pipe line loss on the distal end side.
This line loss easily changes depending on the fluid resistance of the air supply path of each endoscope, and is also affected by fluctuations in the discharge pressure of the air supply pump, so it accurately reflects the pressure inside the body cavity. do not. Therefore, the ability to maintain the pressure within the body cavity within safe limits was uncertain and unreliable.

The present invention has been made focusing on the above circumstances,
The purpose is to provide an endoscope device that can reliably maintain the air pressure inside the body cavity within a safe range.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an endoscope, and 2 is an air/water supply unit. The endoscope 1 includes an insertion section 3, an operating section 4, and a connecting section 5, and the air/water supply unit 2 is connected to the connecting section 5. Further, an air supply channel 6 and a water supply channel 7 are inserted and arranged in the endoscope 1 over the insertion section 3, operation section 4, and connection section 5. The base end of the air supply channel 6 is connected to an air supply device within the air and water supply unit 2, such as an air supply pump 8. Further, the distal end of the air supply channel 6 is connected to a nozzle 10 provided near the distal end of the insertion portion 3, for example, on the distal end surface 9. This nozzle 10 opens toward an observation window 12 of an observation optical system 11.

The proximal end side of the water channel 7 is connected to the water pumping pipe 14 of the water tank 13 so as to lead out from the middle of the connecting portion 5 to the outside. The tip of the water channel 7 joins the air channel 6 at least in the middle of the insertion section 3, for example near the tip, and is connected to the nozzle 10. Note that a branch tube 15 branched from the middle of the air supply channel 6 is connected to the upper space of the water supply tank 13 so as to communicate therewith.

On the other hand, in the operating section 4, a switching valve 16 is inserted between the air channel 6 and the water channel 7 to switch and control the air and water supply. The switching valve 16 consists of a cylinder 17 with a bottom and a piston 18 fitted into the cylinder 17. The piston 18 includes, in order from the outer end, a first large diameter portion 19, a first communication groove 20, a second large diameter portion 21, and a second communication groove 2.
The cylinder 17 has second and third large-diameter portions 23 formed therein, and a small-diameter operating rod 24 protruding from the outside of the cylinder 17 is formed at the outer end of the second and third large-diameter portions 23 . Furthermore, piston 1
8 is formed with a leak hole 25 that reaches and penetrates from the inner end to the outer end of the operating rod 24, and a finger rest 25 having a flange 26 is formed at the outer end of the operating rod 24.
7 is formed. A return spring 28 is wound around the outer periphery of the operating rod 24, and the return spring 28 is interposed between the lid portion 29 of the cylinder 17 and the flange 26, and
is elastically biased outward. Therefore, normally the piston 18 has its first large diameter section 19
The cylinder 17 is placed on standby in the state shown in FIG. In addition, the piston 18
O-rings 30 for sealing are attached to the peripheral surfaces of the large diameter portions 19, 21, and 23, respectively, to ensure airtightness in the axial direction. Further, a through hole 31 is provided in the lid portion 29 of the cylinder 17, and this is a fourth communication hole formed by the outer periphery of the operating rod 24 when the piston 18 is pushed in, as shown in FIG. It communicates with the groove 32.

In the standby state, the upstream pipe section 6a and the downstream pipe section 6b of the air supply channel 6 are opened and connected to the side wall of the cylinder 17 facing the bottom space, respectively. The upstream pipe portion 7a of the water channel 7 is opened and connected to the side wall facing the first communication groove 20. The downstream pipe portion 7b of the water channel 7 is opened and connected to the side wall facing the second communication groove 22. In this standby state, the air supply channel 6 communicates through the bottom space of the cylinder 17 and at the same time communicates with the leak hole 25 of the piston 18. Further, the water channel 7 is blocked by the second large diameter portion 21 of the piston 18.

Further, the tip of a first pressure measuring pipe 33 is connected to a position C near the switching valve 16 in the downstream pipe line 7b of the water supply channel 7 with the tip opened, and the proximal end side of this first pressure measuring pipe 33 is guided into the air/water supply unit 2 through the connecting portion 5. A first pressure detector 34 consisting of a pressure sensitive switch or the like is installed at the base end of the first pressure measuring tube 33.

Furthermore, in the standby state, the first communication groove 2
The tip of a second pressure measuring tube 35 is open and connected to the side wall of the cylinder 17 facing 0, and the proximal end of the second pressure measuring tube 35 is connected to the first pressure measuring tube 33. Similarly, it is guided into the air and water supply unit 2 through the connecting portion 5. A second pressure detector 36 consisting of a pressure sensitive switch or the like is installed at the base end of the second pressure measuring tube 35.

The first pressure sensor 34 and the second pressure sensor 36 are connected in series to a solenoid 38 of a changeover switch 37 and a power source 39 thereof. The first pressure detector 33 is set to turn on its electrical (detection) circuit when it detects a predetermined pressure corresponding to the safe limit of pressure within the body cavity. Further, the second pressure detector 36 is configured to turn on its electric (detection) circuit when the pressure is higher than a predetermined pressure set higher than atmospheric pressure, and turn it off when the pressure is lower than that.

The changeover switch 37 has a contact piece 39 that is rotated by a solenoid 38, and when the solenoid 38 is energized, it closes a series circuit consisting of the air supply pump 8, suction pump 40, and power source 41, and When the solenoid 38 is demagnetized, the suction pump 40 is removed and only the air supply pump 8 is connected to the power source 41. That is, the changeover switch 37 normally turns on the air supply pump 8 side and turns off the suction pump 40 side.
The opposite is true when the solenoid 38 is energized.

Further, the suction pump 40 is connected to a suction channel 42 disposed within the endoscope 1. The distal end of this suction channel 42 is open to the distal end surface 9 of the insertion section 3. The suction pump 40 is also connected to another driving power source (not shown) which can be turned on and off as desired by, for example, a manual switch.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned endoscope device will be explained.

First, when the air supply pump 8 is operated in a standby state, air is supplied to the air supply channel 6.
Since the leak hole 25 of the switching valve 16 is open, the gas passes through the bottom space of the cylinder 17 from the upstream conduit 6a and is discharged to the outside from the leak hole 25 as it is. That is, since the fluid resistance on the downstream pipe line 6b side is significantly greater than that on the leak hole 25 side, air is released through the leak hole 25 in this standby state, and air is not supplied.

Therefore, when air is to be supplied, the leak hole 25 is closed by placing a finger on the finger contact portion 27 of the piston 18 as shown in FIG. As a result, air is no longer released and flows to the downstream pipe line 6b side of the air supply channel 6,
Air is supplied from the nozzle 10 into the body cavity. In addition,
At this time, air pressure is also applied inside the water supply tank 13, but the water supply channel 7 is connected to the second piston 18.
Since the water is blocked by the large diameter portion 21 of the pipe, water is not supplied.

By the way, during this air supply, the pressure within the downstream pipe line 7b of the water supply channel 7 is equal to the pressure at position A near the tip of the air supply channel 6. This position A is close to the opening of the nozzle 10 and there is little pressure loss in the air flow between these positions, so the pressure at this position A can be considered to be equal to the pressure within the body cavity. Therefore, the first pressure detector 34 detects the pressure through the first pressure measuring pipe 33 communicating with the downstream pipe line 7b of the water supply channel 7, and turns off while the pressure is within the safe limit, and the safe limit is exceeded. It turns on when it exceeds it.

Moreover, the upstream pipe line 7a of the water supply channel 7 is the first
It communicates with the second pressure measurement pipe 35 through the communication groove 20, and the pressure thereof is equal to the pressure at point B in the upstream pipe line 6b of the air supply channel 6. The pressure at point B is close to the discharge pressure of the air pump 8 because the pressure loss on the upstream side is considerably smaller than the pressure loss on the downstream side. This is detected by the second pressure detector 36 via the second pressure measuring tube 35, receives a relatively high pressure at point B, and is turned on by this pressure.

Therefore, if the pressure inside the body cavity is within the safe limit, the first pressure detector 34 is turned off and the solenoid 38 is not energized, so that the contact piece 39 is in the state shown by the dotted line. Therefore, the suction pump 40 does not operate, and only the air supply pump 8 continues to operate. Also, if the pressure inside the body cavity exceeds the safe limit,
Since the first pressure detector 34 is turned on and its electric circuit is turned on as a whole, the solenoid 38 is energized and the control piece 39 is brought into a solid line state. Therefore, while the air pump 8 immediately stops, the suction pump 40 starts operating and forcibly suctions the air inside the body cavity. Therefore, the pressure inside the body cavity drops instantly.

Then, when the pressure inside the body cavity returns to a pressure within the safe limit, the first pressure sensor 34 is turned off and the air supply state is resumed.

Next, when water is to be supplied, as shown in FIG. The large diameter portion 23 blocks the air supply channel 6. For this reason, the water in the water tank 13 is pressurized by receiving all the pressure from the air pump 8, so it is sent through the opened water channel 7, and is ejected from the nozzle 10 toward the observation window 12, causing dirt, etc. Wash. At this time, the pressure at point C becomes higher than the intra-body cavity pressure by the amount of pipe loss in the water flow downstream from point C, so the first pressure sensor 34 may sometimes be turned on. However, during this water supply, the second pressure measuring pipe 35 is connected to the fourth communication groove 3 of the switching valve 16.
2 and the through hole 31, the second pressure sensor 36 is always in an off state. Therefore, the air supply pump 8 can continue to be operated and water supply can be continued.

Note that the pipe loss of water supply is greater than that of air supply, and the flow rate is extremely small. Therefore, there is no danger in performing water supply when the intrabody cavity pressure is relatively high. In addition, air is supplied for the purpose of removing moisture remaining on the observation window 12 after water is supplied.
At this time, the pressure within the body cavity is detected as described above, and safety is ensured.

Further, when suction is performed, the suction pump 40 is operated by a manual switch (not shown). For example, it is possible to suction dirt inside the body cavity.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention.

This is done by connecting an electric switch 5 to the changeover valve 16 as a means of detecting the water supply state and releasing the blockage of pressure rise.
0 is provided in place of the second pressure sensor 36, and the electric switch 50 is turned off by the flange 26 when water is being fed, and turned on at other times. The other configurations are the same as those of the above embodiment.

According to this configuration, a simple electric switch 50 is used in place of the pressure detector 36, which is a pressure-sensitive switch, etc., and electric wiring is required in place of the pressure measuring tube 35, resulting in a compact and inexpensive configuration. be able to.

As explained above, according to the present invention, when the pressure inside the body cavity reaches the safe limit, air supply is automatically stopped or a suction operation is performed, thereby preventing the risk that the pressure inside the body cavity will exceed the safe limit. It can definitely be prevented. Moreover, according to the detection means of the present invention, there is no need to provide any special member for making the insertion portion of the endoscope thicker in addition to the various channels that are originally necessary for the endoscope. Therefore, the insertion portion of the endoscope does not become thick, and there is no inconvenience such as causing pain to the patient. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide any special additions to the insertion section of the endoscope, there is no need for any malfunctions when cleaning or using the insertion section.
Durability and safety can be ensured.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire endoscope apparatus showing one implementation of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire endoscope apparatus during water supply according to the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire endoscope apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1...Endoscope, 2...Air and water supply unit, 3...
...Insertion part, 6...Air supply channel, 7...Water supply channel, 8...Air supply pump, 13...Water supply tank, 16...Switching valve, 17...Cylinder, 18
... Piston, 33 ... First pressure measuring tube, 34
...First pressure detector, 35...Second pressure measuring tube, 36...Second pressure detector, 37...Switchover switch, 38...Solenoid, 39...Contact piece, 40...Suction Pump, 42... Suction channel, 50... Electric switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An air supply channel and a water supply channel that are arranged at least independently from each other in the portion from the proximal end to the middle part of the insertion section, and an air supply channel and a water supply channel that are inserted in the middle of both channels and are supplied in an air supply state. A switching valve that opens the air channel and closes the water channel, and detects the pressure in the part of the water channel that is located on the tip side of the switching valve in the operation part in the above air supply state, and detects that the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. 1. An endoscope apparatus comprising: means for preventing a pressure increase when the pressure rises. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for preventing the pressure increase is configured to stop the air supply operation of the air supply device that supplies air to the air supply channel. 3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for preventing pressure increase is a suction means for sucking through a suction channel that opens near the distal end of the insertion section.