WO2020021741A1

WO2020021741A1 - Endoscope connector and endoscope

Info

Publication number: WO2020021741A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/005081
Authority: WO
Inventors: 佐藤　稔; 浩司大森; 正規谷島; 晋一北出
Original assignee: オリンパス株式会社
Priority date: 2018-07-27
Filing date: 2019-02-13
Publication date: 2020-01-30
Also published as: JP2022001074A

Abstract

This endoscope connector (5) comprises: a plug section (30) connecting to an external machine; a first molded body (40) provided in the plug section (30) and formed from a first resin, wherein a plurality of metal terminal parts (46, 47) are arranged; a second molded body (50) provided in the plug section (30), wherein the first molded body (40) is installed, and formed by injection molding of a second resin so as to cover the external surface of the first molded body (40) in such a manner as to expose electrical contacts (41, 42) of the plurality of metal terminal parts (46, 47). The first molded body (40) is formed from the first resin, which has a lower rigidity than that of the second resin forming the second molded body (50).

Description

Endoscope connector and endoscope

The present invention relates to an endoscope connector and an endoscope connected to an external device such as a light source device.

The endoscope device as a medical device is connected to a video processor and a light source device as peripheral devices. Therefore, in the endoscope apparatus, an endoscope connector, which is a connector unit that can be detachably connected to a video processor, a light source device, and the like, is provided at an extended end of the signal cable. The endoscope connector is connected to an external device such as a video processor or a light source device.

An endoscope connector of such an endoscope has a plug portion formed of a resin component in which a contact terminal is embedded, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-6163. I have. In order to cover a plurality of metal terminals with a resin, a plug portion of a conventional endoscope connector includes a resin-made primary molded body in which the plurality of metal terminals are press-fitted, and a resin-made secondary molding as an exterior. The body is formed by injection molding.

In the conventional endoscope connector, a super engineering plastic having high chemical resistance is used for the resin material in order to ensure resistance to various sterilization and disinfection processes.

In order to ensure the positional accuracy of the metal terminals and the adhesiveness of the resin at the time of the secondary molding, the connector for the endoscope uses a resin containing glass fiber for the primary molded body, and uses the secondary molded body. In some cases, the same resin as the primary molded body without glass fiber is used for the body.

However, the resin without glass fiber used for the secondary molded body has a larger linear expansion coefficient than the glass fiber used for the primary molded body, so that the resin is exposed to a low-temperature environment below the freezing point during transportation and storage. Then, the secondary compact shrinks more than the primary compact and there is a problem that cracks occur in the secondary compact.

Further, when a crystalline resin is used as the resin forming the primary molded body and the secondary molded body, the resin having no glass fiber in the secondary molded body crystallizes with respect to the resin containing the glass fiber in the primary molded body. Since the amount of shrinkage at the time is large, there is a problem that when crystallization proceeds due to annealing treatment after molding, the secondary molded body shrinks more and cracks similarly occur.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and suppresses a crack due to a volume change due to a temperature change and a shrinkage due to crystallization in a manufacturing process, and an endoscope connector and an endoscope having high chemical resistance. The purpose is to provide a mirror.

An endoscope connector according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plug portion connected to an external device, a first metal portion provided on the plug portion, a plurality of metal terminal portions provided, and a first resin molded product. And the first molded body provided in the plug portion, the first molded body is provided therein, and the first resin is formed by injection molding of a second resin so that the electrical contact portions of the plurality of metal terminals are exposed. And a second molded body formed so as to cover an outer surface of the molded body, wherein the first molded body has lower rigidity than the second resin forming the second molded body. It is formed from the first resin.

An endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plug portion connected to an external device, a first molded portion provided on the plug portion, a plurality of metal terminal portions provided, and molded with a first resin. And a first molded body provided in the plug portion, the first molded body being provided therein, and the first molded body being formed by injection molding of a second resin so that the electrical contact portions of the plurality of metal terminal portions are exposed. A second molded body formed so as to cover an outer surface of the first molded body, wherein the first molded body has a lower rigidity than the second resin forming the second molded body. An endoscope connector made of one resin is provided.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention. Perspective view showing the endoscope connector Perspective view showing a plug portion of the endoscope connector Schematic perspective view of a plug formed from a primary molded body and a secondary molded body. Perspective view showing the primary molded body Perspective view showing a plug portion in which a secondary molded body is formed on a primary molded body. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a plug formed from the primary molded body and the secondary molded body. Lateral sectional view of a plug formed from the primary molded body and the secondary molded body

Here, an embodiment of an endoscope connector provided in the endoscope will be described as an example. In the following description, the drawings based on the embodiments are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and the width of each part, the ratio of the thickness of each part, and the like are different from actual ones. It should be noted that the drawings may include portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios between the drawings.

Hereinafter, an endoscope connector of an endoscope which is a medical device of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an endoscope of one embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an endoscope connector, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a plug portion of the endoscope connector, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a primary molded body, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a plug formed from a primary molded body and a secondary molded body. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a plug formed from a primary molded body and a secondary molded body, and FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a plug formed from a primary molded body and a secondary molded body. FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1 includes an insertion portion 2 as an elongated member to be inserted into a site to be observed, here, a lumen such as a large intestine, and a base end portion of the insertion portion 2. And a universal cable 4 which is a composite cable extending from a side surface of the operation unit 3, and a video processor (not shown) provided at an end of the universal cable 4 and integrated with the light source device. Endoscope connector 5 which is a medical device connector detachably connected to an external device (not shown).
The endoscope 1 is not limited to a flexible insertion section 2 as illustrated, but may be various endoscopes, for example, a surgical endoscope having a hard insertion section. Furthermore, the connector 5 for an endoscope of the present embodiment is not limited to the connector for an endoscope, and is provided with a technology applicable to connectors for various medical devices.

挿入 The insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 has a distal end portion 6 having a built-in image pickup means at the distal end side, and a bending portion 7 as a movable portion that can be bent is connected to the rear portion of the distal end portion 6.

長 Further, a long and flexible flexible tube portion 8 formed of a soft tubular member is connected to the rear portion of the curved portion 7. The flexible tube section 8 of the insertion section 2 has a base end connected to the folding stopper 9 of the operation section 3.

The operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1 is provided with a grip 10 that is provided in continuity with the buckle 9 and that is gripped by a user during use, and is provided with a treatment tool channel (not shown) provided in the insertion unit 2. A treatment tool insertion opening 11 that forms a proximal end opening is provided at a portion where the stopper 9 and the grip 10 are connected.

In addition, the bending section 7 of the insertion section 2 is bent on the grip section 10 of the operation section 3. Here, two bending operation knobs 15 and a section for fixing these bending operation knobs 15 at desired rotation positions are provided. A bending operation section 17 having a fixed lever 16 is provided. Further, the grip 10 is provided with

switches

13 and 14 for operating various endoscope functions.

Note that the universal cable 4 of the endoscope 1 maintains connection strength so as to cover the outer peripheral portions of both ends connected to the operation unit 3 or the endoscope connector 5 to prevent damage due to twisting or the like. Are provided.

Next, the configuration of the endoscope connector 5 included in the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment will be described below. In addition, since the endoscope connector 5 of the present embodiment is disposed at the base end of the endoscope 1 which is the end of the universal cable 4, the end connected to the universal cable 4 is the front end (front). The following description may be made with the side connected to the external device as the base end (rear).

First, as shown in FIG. 2, a substantially cylindrical plug portion 30 is formed in two stages continuously from the base end and integrally formed so as to have different outer diameters, and is fixed to the plug portion 30 in a watertight manner. Flange 22 made of a disc-shaped frame and an outer case which is a resin-made tubular case body which is connected to the flange 22 in a water-tight manner and has a diameter reduced toward the buckle 19 on the universal cable 4 side. 23.

The plug section 30 has a plurality of

electrical contact sections

41 and 42 arranged side by side on the outer surface. A light guide base 21 into which illumination light from an external device such as a light source device enters is extended from an end surface (base end surface) of the plug portion 30. Further, the outer case 23 is provided with a water supply base, a front water supply base, a suction base, and the like (not shown).

Here, the configuration of the plug section 30 as a main part of the present embodiment will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plug portion 30 includes a flat portion 32 in which a part of the outer periphery of a substantially cylindrical plug main body 31 exposed to the outside in the endoscope connector 5 is cut out, and a distal end from the flat portion 32. And an inclined surface 33 directed to the side.

The plug portion 30 has a stepped columnar connection portion 34 having a smaller diameter than the plug body 31 and connected to the flange portion 22 at the tip end side of the plug body 31.

(4) A plurality of electrical contact portions 42 are juxtaposed on the outer peripheral surface of the plug body 31 of the plug portion 30 so as to be exposed in substantially the same plane. Further, a plurality of electrical contact portions 41 are juxtaposed on the flat portion 32 of the plug portion 30 so as to be exposed in substantially the same plane.

プラグ In the plug portion 30, a metal tubular socket portion 25 to which the light guide base 21 is connected is embedded.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plug portion 30 is a first molded body 40 which is a first molded body formed by injection molding of a super engineering plastic resin of an amorphous resin capable of securing the positional accuracy of the plurality of electrical contact portions 42. And a second molded body 2 covering the outer surface of the primary molded body 40 by injection molding of a super-engineering plastic resin of a crystalline resin having high chemical resistance so that the primary molded body 40 is internally provided. And a next molded body 50. In addition, the exterior of the plug portion 30 is formed by the secondary molded body 50.

As shown in FIG. 5, the primary molded body 40 has an electrical contact holding portion 43 having a half-moon cross-section at a distal end portion which is on the upper side toward the paper surface, and a thick portion on the base end side which is on the lower side toward the paper surface. An electrical contact array portion 44 having a semicircular cross section with a diameter is injection-molded with a super engineering plastic resin.

In the primary molded body 40 thus formed, a plurality of electric contact portions 41 and 42 (the plurality of electric contact portions 41 are blind spots in FIG. 5) are arranged in the electric contact arrangement portion 44. A plurality of

metal terminals

46 and 47 are press-fitted and arranged. At this time, the ends of the plurality of

metal terminal portions

46 and 47 opposite to the

electrical contact portions

41 and 42 protrude from the surface 45 of the electrical contact holding portion 43.

The

metal terminal portions

46 and 47 are conductive metal members formed by bending and forming

electrical contact portions

41 and 42 at a plurality of positions on a slender strip-shaped metal plate body such as copper (see FIG. 8).

Further, the socket part 25 and the like are embedded in the secondary molded body 40.

This primary molded body 40 is housed in a mold (not shown), and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a secondary molded body 50 is injection-molded with a super engineering plastic resin of a crystalline resin so as to cover the outer surface. Formed by

(4) The secondary molded body 50 is tightly joined to the surfaces of the plurality of

metal terminal portions

46 and 47 and the surface of the socket portion 25 while maintaining airtightness / watertightness.

The secondary molded body 50 has an opening 52 communicating with the socket portion 25 at an end surface 53 on the front end side which is located inside the outer case 23 of the endoscope connector 5 and is not exposed to the outside. The secondary formed body 50 is formed such that the ends of the plurality of

metal terminal portions

46 and 47 protrude from the end face 53 of the secondary formed body 50.

(4) That is, the plurality of

metal terminal portions

46 and 47 are partially embedded in the secondary molded body 50. The ends of the plurality of

metal terminals

46 and 47 are to which an electric cable (not shown) is soldered.

As described above, the plug portion 30 used in the endoscope connector 5 of the present embodiment can secure the positional accuracy of the plurality of

metal terminal portions

46 and 47 in the resin forming the primary molded body 40. A super engineering plastic resin of an amorphous resin is used. Note that the resin forming the primary molded body 40 may be a resin containing glass fiber.

{Circle around (1)} The plug portion 30 is made of a super engineering plastic resin of a crystalline resin having high chemical resistance as a resin forming the secondary molded body 50 covering the primary molded body 40.

The resin that forms the primary molded body 40 is a super engineering plastic resin material that is softer (has lower rigidity) than the resin that forms the secondary molded body 50.

As an example, in the plug section 30, the primary molded body 40 is formed using polyphenylsulfone resin (PPSU), and the secondary molded body 50 is formed using polyetheretherketone resin (PEEK).

The amorphous resin polyphenylsulfone resin (PPSU) used for the primary molded body 40 is softer (rigidity) than the crystalline resin polyetheretherketone resin (PEEK) used for the secondary molded body 50. (Low) super engineering plastic resin material.

The plug portion 30 of the endoscope connector 5 configured as described above is exposed to a low-temperature environment below the freezing point, for example, during transportation or storage, so that the secondary molded body 50 is separated from the primary molded body 40. Even if the primary molded body 40 shrinks greatly, the resin having low rigidity absorbs the contraction of the secondary molded body 50 in the inward direction shown by the arrows in FIGS. The generation of cracks is suppressed.

Further, when a crystalline resin such as a polyetheretherketone resin (PEEK) is used as the resin having high chemical resistance to form the secondary molded body 50, the plug portion 30 may be used during the heat treatment such as annealing in the manufacturing process. Even if the molded body 50 shrinks significantly, the primary molded body 40 having low rigidity absorbs the contraction of the secondary molded body 50 and the occurrence of cracks in the secondary molded body 50 is suppressed.

In this way, the plug portion 30 suppresses the occurrence of cracks in the secondary molded body 50 by deforming and absorbing the contraction of the secondary molded body 50 by the primary molded body 40.

In the case where the secondary molded body 50 is made of polyetheretherketone resin (PEEK) in a heat treatment such as an annealing treatment, the secondary molded body 50 is heated to, for example, 220 ° C. In the process of cooling and crystallizing the secondary molded body 50, the deflection temperature under load (glass transition point) of the polyphenylsulfone resin (PPSU) for molding the primary molded body 40 is equal to or lower than the annealing temperature. Since the temperature is 207 ° C. and the material is softened by heat, the contraction of the secondary molded body 50 is deformed and absorbed by the primary molded body 40.

Furthermore, by using polyphenylsulfone resin (PPSU) which is a material having a lower melting temperature than polyetheretherketone resin (PEEK) used for the secondary molded body 50 for the primary molded body 40, In the above, since the surface of the primary molded body 40 is melted and molded while being mixed with the secondary molded body 50, the interfaces between the resins are firmly adhered to each other, so that waterproofness can be secured.

From the above description, the endoscope connector 5 provided in the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment uses the resin having high chemical resistance for the secondary molded body 50 that is the exterior of the plug portion 30, By using a resin having a lower rigidity than the secondary molded body 50 and a load deflection temperature (glass transition point) lower than the temperature at the time of the annealing process, the primary molded body 40 covered by the body 50 is changed in volume due to temperature change. And a crack in the secondary molded body 50 due to shrinkage due to crystallization during the manufacturing process.

The present invention described above is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector for an endoscope and an endoscope having high chemical resistance, by suppressing a volume change due to a temperature change and a crack due to shrinkage due to crystallization in a manufacturing process.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-141222 filed on Jul. 27, 2018 as the basis for claiming the priority, and the contents disclosed above are described in the present specification and claims. Shall be quoted.

Claims

A plug section connected to an external device,
A first formed body provided on the plug portion, provided with a plurality of metal terminal portions, and formed of a first resin;
An outer surface of the first molded body provided in the plug portion, wherein the first molded body is provided inside, and an injection molding of a second resin is performed so that electric contact portions of the plurality of metal terminals are exposed. A second molded body formed so as to cover
Has,
The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the first molded body is formed of the first resin having a lower rigidity than the second resin forming the second molded body.
The connector for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein, in the plug portion, a heat shrinkage of the first molded body is equal to or less than a heat shrinkage of the second molded body.
The connector for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein, in the plug portion, a deflection temperature under load of the first molded body is equal to or lower than a temperature at the time of annealing of the second molded body.
コネクタ The endoscope connector according to claim 1, wherein the second resin is a crystalline resin.
The endoscope connector according to claim 4, wherein the first resin is an amorphous resin.
The connector for an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the first resin is a polyphenylsulfone resin, and the second resin is a polyetheretherketone resin.
An endoscope comprising the endoscope connector according to claim 1.