WO2008050770A1

WO2008050770A1 - Bending section for endoscope and endoscope

Info

Publication number: WO2008050770A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/070657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshiaki Ito; Takashi Nakayama; Hideya Kitagawa; Akio Takeuchi; Shigeya Chimura
Original assignee: Olympus Corporation
Priority date: 2006-10-26
Filing date: 2007-10-23
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: JP2008104733A

Abstract

A bending section (34) for an endoscope, having bending tubes (42) constructed from joint pieces (44) connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other and also having an outer skin (46) for covering the outer periphery of the bending tubes (42). Projections (46a) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bending section (34) project from the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin (46) and control the shape of bending of the bending tubes (42).

Description

Specification

Endoscope curvature and endoscope

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope bending portion and an endoscope that are provided on the distal end side of an insertion portion of an endoscope and direct the distal end of the insertion portion in a desired direction.

Background art

[0002] In order to secure a viewing field within a narrow lumen, it is preferable that the bending portion of the endoscope bend more rapidly than the proximal end, rather than having a constant curvature. For this reason, conventionally, in a bending portion using a joint piece connection structure, a plurality of types of joint pieces are used so that the amount of rotation on the distal end side of the bending portion is larger than that on the proximal end side, or a different bending portion is used. By adding a member, the curvature of the curved part can be bent sharply at the distal end compared to the proximal end.

[0003] For example, in the bending portion of an endoscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-17766, the distal end side is set to the proximal end side by filling a rigid member as a separate member on the proximal end side of the bending portion. Compared to the above, bend sharply.

[0004] However, when a plurality of types of joint pieces are used, it is necessary to correctly set the connection order of the joint pieces, so that the part cost and the manufacturing cost due to assembly increase. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-17776, if a hardened member is filled on the base end side of the curved portion, the labor of filling and the cost of the filling member are required. Manufacturing cost increases. That is, cost increases such as an increase in parts cost and manufacturing cost, and an increase in the number of parts compared to a curved part having a constant curvature.

Disclosure of the invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to prevent an increase in costs such as component costs and manufacturing costs, and to easily change the amount of rotation of the distal end side and the proximal end side of the endoscope, It is to provide an endoscope.

[0006] The bending portion of the endoscope according to the present invention includes a bending tube having a plurality of joint pieces connected to each other in a rotatable manner, and an outer skin covering the outer periphery of the bending tube. Yes. And Thus, when the curved tube is covered with the outer skin, a plurality of projecting portions that control the curved shape of the curved tube are projected from the inner peripheral surface thereof in the longitudinal direction of the curved portion. Are formed along.

[0007] In addition, the endoscope according to the present invention includes an elongated insertion portion having a curved portion that is curved by an operation by the operation portion on the front end side. The bending portion includes a bending tube in which a plurality of joint pieces are rotatably connected along the axial direction of the insertion portion, and a cylindrical outer cover covering an outer periphery of the bending tube, The outer skin is provided with a plurality of protrusions on the inner side along the longitudinal direction of the bending portion for controlling the amount of rotation of the joint piece.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a curved portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope according to the first embodiment.

[FIG. 3A] FIG. 3A is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing an outer skin of a curved portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a schematic sectional view taken along line 3B-3B in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the bending portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope according to the first embodiment is bent and the protruding portion of the outer skin is held between the joint pieces. is there.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the distal end side of the insertion portion of the endoscope according to the first embodiment is curved.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the outer skin of the bending portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a state where the distal end side of the insertion portion of the endoscope according to the second embodiment is curved.

FIG. 8 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a state where a bending portion of a insertion portion of an endoscope according to a second embodiment is bent.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings. A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 10 includes an elongated insertion portion 12 and an operation portion 14 provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion portion 12.

[0010] The operation unit 14 includes an operation unit main body 22 having a gripping unit 22a, and a bend stopper 24 provided at a proximal end portion of the insertion unit 12. The operation portion main body 22 includes a first bending operation knob 26a that bends a bending portion 34, which will be described later, of the insertion portion 12 in the vertical direction, and a second bending operation knob 26b that bends in the left-right direction. Each of the first bending operation knob 26a and the second bending operation knob 26b is connected to the other end of an operation wire (not shown) whose one end is connected to the distal end of the bending tube 42 of the bending portion 34. . The first bending operation knob 26a and the second bending operation knob 26b are provided with a fixing lever 28a for fixing the first bending operation knob 26a and the second bending operation knob 26b in a rotated state. 28b is provided.

The insertion portion 12 includes a distal end hard portion 32, a bending portion 34, and a serpentine tube portion 36. Among these, the bending portion 34 is bent in a desired direction via the operation wire by the turning operation by the first bending operation knob 26a and the second bending operation knob 26b of the operation portion 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bending portion 34 includes a bending tube 42 formed by connecting and connecting a plurality of joint pieces 44 to each other, and an outer skin 46 covering the bending tube 42. The outer diameter of each joint piece 44 is about 10 mm, for example, and the thickness of the outer skin 46 is about 0.5 mm.

[0013] The plurality of joint pieces 44 have the same shape except for the one disposed at the most distal end of the bending tube 42 and the one disposed at the most proximal end. Therefore, the bending tube 42 can be configured at a lower cost while suppressing the component cost and the manufacturing cost due to assembly.

[0014] Here, of the joint pieces 44, the one disposed at the tip is assumed to be the first piece (not shown) and the one disposed at the base end is the first. 2 frames (not shown) and! /. Further, among the joint pieces 44, those having the same shape and disposed between the first piece and the second piece are referred to as third pieces. Hereinafter, the third frame will be described with the reference numeral 44 in the same manner as the joint frame 44.

[0015] The third piece 44 of the bending tube 42 includes a main body 52 formed in a short cylindrical shape (substantially ring shape) and a joint piece 44 adjacent from both ends of the main body 52 so as to be connected to the adjacent joint piece 44. And two pairs of arms 54 each extending in a pair toward the respective main bodies 52. 2 pairs of arms 54 extends along the axial direction of the curved portion 34. Of the two pairs of arms 54, one pair of arms is formed on one end side of the main body 52 of the third piece 44 at positions of 0 degrees and 180 degrees with respect to the center of the third piece 44. A pair of arms 54 are formed at 90 ° and 270 ° positions on the other end side of the main body 52 with respect to the center of the third frame 44. The distal ends of the arms 54 of the adjacent third pieces 44 are pivoted. That is, a plurality of third pieces 44 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable!

[0016] Further, although not shown, the first piece and the second piece include a main body formed in a short cylindrical shape (substantially ring shape) and a pair of arms extending from one end of the main body. I have. The pair of arms of the first piece and the second piece are formed at positions facing the central axis of the main body. Then, the arm of the first piece is pivotally supported by the distal end of the arm 54 of the third piece 44 at the most distal end. The arm of the second piece is pivotally supported at the distal end of the arm 54 of the most proximal third piece 44. For this reason, the bending tube 42 is moved relative to the central axis of the bending tube 42 by sequentially pivoting one first piece, a plurality of third pieces 44, and one second piece. For example, it can be rotated in four directions (vertical and horizontal directions).

[0017] Inside the second piece and the third piece 44, guide portions (not shown) for guiding four (two pairs) operation wires (not shown) are formed. An operation wire is passed through each guide. The distal end of the operation wire is fixed to the most joint joint piece (first piece). On the other hand, the base ends of the two pairs of operation wires are connected to the first bending operation knob 26a and the second bending operation knob 26b of the operation unit 14 one pair at a time.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the outer skin 46 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The outer skin 46 is formed of a material having flexibility and elasticity, such as rubber or a resin material. As shown in FIG. 3A, on the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin 46, a protruding portion (rotation amount limiting portion) 46a that protrudes in the direction of the central axis of the outer skin 46 at substantially constant intervals (width W) is provided. Is formed. These protrusions 46 a are formed in a state having a step with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin 46. In order to increase the contact area with the end of the joint piece 44, the protrusion 46a is preferably formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a longitudinal direction in the circumferential direction of the outer skin 46. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the projecting portions 46 a are formed so as to be disposed at positions avoiding the arm 54 of the joint piece 44. Note that the protruding portion 46a is removed by, for example, extrusion molding. Another member which may be formed integrally with the skin 46 may be joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin 46 by adhesion or the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, the projecting portions 46a are formed at a height that enters between the joint pieces 44 when the joint pieces 44 rotate relative to each other. As shown in FIG. 3A, the width (length) of the protrusion 46a itself along the longitudinal direction of the outer skin 46 is such that the width L on the distal side (the distal rigid portion 32 side) is the proximal side. Smaller than the width L of the serpentine tube 36 side d P

And it shifts so that it may become large gradually toward the base end side from the front end side.

[0020] It should be noted that a mark (not shown) is attached to the outside of one end portion of the bending tube 42 so that the orientation of the outer skin 46 can be easily identified during manufacturing (assembling). It is preferable that Such a mark is preferably provided also at one end of the outer skin 46 in order to define a circumferential position with respect to the bending tube 42. For this reason, it becomes easy to determine the distal end side and the proximal end side of the outer skin 46 at the time of manufacture, and the outer skin 46 can be arranged in a predetermined state with respect to the bending tube 42. Further, even after the outer skin 46 is disposed outside the bending tube 42, the distal end side and the proximal end side can be easily distinguished by the mark of the outer skin 46.

[0021] Note that the distal end of the outer skin 46 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end hard portion 32 of the insertion portion 12 by, for example, thread winding. On the other hand, the base end of the outer skin 46 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the serpentine tube portion 36 of the insertion portion 12 by, for example, thread winding.

Next, the operation of the endoscope 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

The first bending operation knob 26a and the second bending operation knob 26b of the operation unit 14 are rotated from a state where the bending portion 34 of the insertion portion 12 is straight. Then, the operation wire is pulled along the axial direction by the turning operation of the first bending operation knob 26a and the second bending operation knob 26b. For this reason, the joint pieces 44 of the bending tube 42 are each subjected to force by the operation wires threaded through the guide portions, and the adjacent joint pieces 44 are sequentially rotated. That is, the bending tube 42 is bent.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, one end of the joint piece 44 and the other end of the adjacent joint piece 44 are in contact with the side surface of the protruding portion 46a of the outer skin 46, respectively. That is, the protrusion 46 a of the outer skin 46 is nipped and bitten by one end of the joint piece 44 and the other end of the adjacent joint piece 44. At this time, the length of the outer skin 46 out of the protrusions 46a of the outer skin 46 as shown in FIG. The width in the direction along the hand direction is larger at the base end side width Lp than at the front end side width Ld. For this reason, when the bending portion 34 is bent and the joint piece 44 is brought into contact with the protruding portion 46a of the outer skin 46, the distal end side width Ld becomes the proximal end side width Lp on the distal end side of the bending portion 34. Since it is small compared to! /, The amount of rotation until the rotation of the joint pieces 44 is restricted is larger than the base end side of the bending portion 34. Therefore, in the bending portion 34, the distal end side where the rotation amount between the adjacent joint pieces 44 is large is bent more than the proximal end side where the rotation amount between the adjacent joint pieces 44 is small. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the curved portion 34, the curvature on the distal end side on the distal end hard portion 32 side is larger than the curvature on the proximal end side on the serpentine tube portion 36 side. Therefore, the distal end side of the bending portion 34 can be bent more rapidly than the proximal end side. Then, the movable range of the distal end of the distal end hard portion 32 of the endoscope 10 can be increased, and an observation field of view from the distal end of the distal end hard portion 32 can be ensured satisfactorily.

[0024] As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

The width of the protrusion 46a in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the outer skin 46 can be set as appropriate. For this reason, the amount of rotation between the adjacent joint pieces 44 can be easily controlled by setting the width of the protruding portion 46a. For example, if the width is reduced, the amount of rotation between adjacent joint pieces 44 can be increased, and if the width is increased, the amount of rotation between adjacent joint pieces 44 can be reduced. Therefore, the amount of bending according to the position of the bending tube 42 can be easily set only by the configuration of the protruding portion 46a of the outer skin 46.

[0025] Since the bending tube 42 can be formed by using the joint piece (third piece) 44 having the same shape, the component cost of the joint piece 44 can be kept low. In addition, it is not necessary to consider the connecting order of the articulated frames (third frames) 44 when manufacturing the bending tube 42! /, So that the manufacturing cost by assembling can be kept low. Then, by simply disposing the outer skin 46 having the protruding portion 46a on the inner side in a predetermined position and a predetermined direction with respect to the bending tube 42, the bending portion 34 having different curvatures on the distal end side and the proximal end side can be easily formed. Can be formed.

[0026] Therefore, it is possible to provide the bending portion 34 of the endoscope 10 that can prevent an increase in component cost and manufacturing cost and can bend the distal end side more rapidly than the proximal end side.

[0027] It should be noted that in the bending portion 34 of this embodiment, a blade (mesh tube) that is normally disposed between the bending tube 42 and the outer skin 46 can be removed. Therefore, shorten the manufacturing process. And the number of parts can be reduced.

[0028] In this embodiment, the force described as the width Lp on the proximal end side gradually changes from the width Ld on the distal end side of the protruding portion 46a to the width Lp of the protruding portion 46a. It is also preferable that the directional force on the base end side is the same width Ld from the base end side to the predetermined position and the same width Lp from the base end side to the predetermined position. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the curved portion 34 is, for example, a first portion 62 on the distal end side, a second portion 64 on the proximal end side of the first portion 62, and a proximal end side of the second portion 64. When divided into the third portion 66, the width of the plurality of protrusions 46a of the first portion 62 is constant, the width of the plurality of protrusions 46a of the second portion 64 is constant, and the third portion It is also preferable to make the widths of the plurality of protrusions 46a of 66 constant. In this case, the curvature of the first portion 62 can be maximized, and the curvature of the second portion 64 and the curvature of the third portion 66 can be gradually decreased. That is, the force S controls the bending state of the bending portion 34 by the width of the protruding portion 46a.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. The same members as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a protrusion (rotation amount limiting portion) 46b having a substantially corrugated longitudinal section is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin 46. That is, the protrusion 46b in this embodiment is different from the protrusion 46a as described in the first embodiment.

[0031] Pitch of protrusions 46b whose longitudinal section is substantially corrugated (the length of the portion corresponding to a half wavelength) P 1, P

1 2

, P is the distal end of the outer skin 46 (hard tip 32 side) is small and the proximal side (conduit 36 side) is the tip

Three

It is formed to be larger than the side. In the case of this embodiment, there are three portions where the pitches P, P, and P of the protrusion 46b are constant (see FIG. 6). That is, the outer tube 4

one two Three

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the first portion 62, the second portion 64, and the third portion 66 are provided. On the other hand, the portion corresponding to the wave amplitude in the protrusion 46b is substantially constant. That is, in the outer skin 46, the distal end side (first portion 62) has many portions thinner than the proximal end side (third portion 66). Therefore, the base end side of the outer skin 46 tries to maintain a state where the thinned portion is as straight as possible as compared with the tip end side. Therefore, the distal end side of the outer skin 46 is easy to bend and the proximal end side is difficult to bend. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the bending tube 42 is disposed inside the outer skin 46 and the bending portion 34 is bent, the pitch of the protrusions 46b is small! /, The tip side (reference numeral 62 Can be bent more easily than the base end (portion 66). In other words, the distal end side of the bending portion 34 having a larger curvature than the proximal end side is bent more rapidly than the proximal end side.

[0033] It should be noted that the pitch on the distal end side of the first portion 62 is made smaller than the pitch on the proximal end side of the first portion 62 so as to average P, and the pitch on the distal end side of the second portion 64 Is smaller than the pitch of the base end side of the second portion 64 so that the average is P, and the tip side of the third portion 66 is

2

So that the pitch of the third portion 66 is smaller than the pitch of the base end side of the third portion 66 so that the average is P

Three

It is also suitable to do. In particular, the pitch on the base end side of the first portion 62 is smaller than the pitch on the tip end side of the second portion 64. The pitch on the base end side of the second portion 64 is the tip end of the third portion 66. It is preferable that the pitch is smaller than the side pitch. In this case, the curvature of the first portion 62 can be maximized, and the curvature of the second portion 64 and the curvature of the third portion 66 can be gradually decreased.

[0034] Further, when it is not necessary to make the curvature on the distal end side of the outer skin 46 larger than the curvature on the proximal end side, a desired curve can be obtained by appropriately setting the pitch of the substantially corrugated protrusions 46b of the outer skin 46. Ability to get shape S. That is, by changing the flexibility of the outer skin 46 between the distal end side and the proximal end side according to the pitch of the protrusions 46b, the bending force of the bending tube 42 is controlled by the force S according to the position.

In this embodiment, it is also preferable that there is a gap between the bending tube 42 and the outer skin 46 so as to be slidable even if they are in close contact with each other. Furthermore, it is also preferable that a blade (not shown) is disposed between the bending tube 42 and the outer skin 46.

[0036] Although some embodiments have been specifically described so far with reference to the drawings.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and does not depart from the gist thereof.

V, including all implementations conducted in scope.

Industrial applicability

[0037] According to the present invention, the bending portion and the endoscope of the endoscope that prevent an increase in costs such as component costs and manufacturing costs and that can easily change the rotation amount on the distal end side and the proximal end side are provided. Offer Serving with power S

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A curved portion of an endoscope,

A bending tube having a plurality of joint pieces connected to each other so as to be rotatable with respect to each other; and an outer skin covering an outer periphery of the bending tube;

Comprising

A plurality of protrusions for controlling the bending shape of the bending portion are formed on the outer skin along the longitudinal direction of the bending portion so as to protrude from the inner peripheral surface when the bending tube is covered. Bends.

[2] The protrusion has a width in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the bending portion of the protruding portion, and the distal end side of the curved portion is formed smaller than the proximal end side of the bending portion. The bending portion of the endoscope according to claim 1.

[3] At least some of the joint pieces have the same shape,

The protrusion is disposed between the joint pieces of the same shape, and when the joint pieces of the same shape are rotated with respect to each other, an end surface of one joint piece and an end side of the one joint piece The bending portion of the endoscope according to claim 1, having a height sandwiched between an end face of the other joint piece adjacent to the joint piece.

[4] The bending portion of the endoscope according to [1], wherein the protruding portion is formed so that a longitudinal section of the outer skin has a substantially waveform.

[5] An elongated insertion part having a curved part on the distal end side that is curved by an operation by the operation part is provided,

The curved portion is

A bending tube in which a plurality of joint pieces are rotatably connected along the axial direction of the insertion portion; and a cylindrical skin covering an outer periphery of the bending tube;

Have

The outer skin is an endoscope provided with a plurality of protrusions for controlling the amount of rotation of the joint piece on the inner peripheral surface along the longitudinal direction of the bending portion.

6. The protruding portion according to claim 5, wherein a width in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the bending portion is formed smaller on a distal end side of the bending portion than on a proximal end side of the bending portion. Introspection of mirror.

[7] The joint piece has at least some joint pieces each having the same shape,

6. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion is formed such that at least a part of the protrusion has a step difference in a convex state with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin.

8. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the protruding portion is formed smoothly and continuously with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the outer skin.