JP3348907B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a tip cover is detachably attached to a tip portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a part of an exterior part covering a distal end portion of an endoscope is configured as a detachable distal cover, so that the distal cover and the distal end body (the distal end portion with the distal cover removed). Endoscopes that have improved cleaning properties for fins have been proposed.

[0003]

Various locking means have been developed for securely locking such a distal end cover to the distal end body so as not to fall off during use of the endoscope.
For this reason, development of an endoscope provided with a tip cover that can be quickly and reliably locked with a simple configuration is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to meet such a demand, and has as its object to provide a tip cover which can be quickly and reliably detachably locked to a tip body with a simple structure. An endoscope is provided.

[0005]

In order to achieve such an object, an endoscope according to the present invention is operated by an operator.
Operating part, which extends from the operating part and
An insertable portion that can be inserted and removed, and a tip provided at the tip of the insertable portion.
At the end, this tip is detachably attached
A tip cover formed in a C shape, and a tip surface of the tip portion
A locking portion protruding from the front end cover,
Engage with the locking part and fix the tip cover to the tip part
And an engaging portion that engages .

[0006]

[Action] A locking portion protruding from the distal end surface of the distal end of the endoscope.
Is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section, and is engageable with this locking portion.
The engaging portion formed on the distal end cover is engaged, and the distal end cover is engaged.
A bar is detachably fixed to the distal end of the endoscope . But
Therefore, the locking effect of the distal end cover at the distal end of the endoscope is improved.
Become big .

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment includes an operation unit 4 and an insertion unit 3 extending from the operation unit 4 and configured to be insertable into and removable from a body cavity of a patient. ing.

The insertion section 3 includes a flexible tube section 7 and a bending section 6.
And a tip 5. The distal end portion 5 includes a plastic distal end cover 8, and a plastic treatment instrument raising base 9 rotatably supported on the distal end cover 8 via a plastic treatment tool raising rotary shaft 10. Is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the distal end cover 8 is composed of a fixed-side distal end cover 8A and a detachable-side distal end cover 8B. Is provided. The above-described treatment instrument raising table 9 is accommodated in the treatment instrument raising table storage chamber 11.

The distal end of a raising operation wire 12 made of a stainless steel stranded wire is rotatably connected to the treatment instrument raising table 9 via a raising operation wire connection portion 13. The base end of the raising operation wire 12 is connected to a raising operation wire advance / retreat operating device 14 via a raising operation wire connecting member 19.
Are stored in a raising operation wire advance / retreat operation device storage chamber 23 provided in the operation unit 4.

The distal end cover 8 is provided with a raising operation wire insertion hole and a treatment tool insertion hole on an extension of the raising operation wire insertion channel 24 and the treatment tool insertion channel 25 provided in the endoscope 1. ing.

The treatment instrument 2 is inserted through the treatment instrument insertion channel 25. The treatment instrument 2 has a distal end cup 27 at its distal end and a distal end cup opening / closing operation section 29 at its proximal end. These are connected via a sheath portion 28.

The distal cup 27 is configured to be able to protrude outward from the distal cover 8 through the treatment instrument insertion hole, and is configured to be openable and closable by operating the distal cup opening / closing operation section 29.

The distal end cover 8, the treatment tool raising table 9, the treatment tool raising table rotation shaft 10, the raising operation wire 12, and the raising operation wire connecting portion 13 are formed as one set as the endoscope main body distal end portion 3.
It is detachably attached to 2.

This set is single-use, and is delivered to a user after being radiation-sterilized in a peel pack. When the finger holding knob 18 is turned, the turning power rotates the pinion shaft 35 and the pinion 16 via the connecting rod 17. As a result, the rack 15, the raising operation wire connecting member 19, and the raising operation wire 12 advance and retreat, and the treatment instrument raising table 9 is raised and inverted.

The rack 15 is provided with stoppers 20 and 21, and the operation unit 4 is provided with a stopper 22. The stoppers 20 to 22 allow the rack 15 and the elevating operation wire connecting member 19 to move forward and backward, and the position thereof. The amount of movement is regulated.

The raising operation wire 12 is detachably connected to the rack 15 via a raising operation wire connecting member 19. The operation unit 4 includes a connection unit storage room 30,
The raising operation wire connection member 19 is configured to be able to move forward and backward within the connection portion storage chamber 30.

A wire plug 33 made of an elastic member is provided at the proximal opening of the raising operation wire insertion channel 24. When the raising operation wire 12 is inserted, the raising operation wire insertion channel 24 is opened. The airtightness at the hand end is secured.

A brush portion 34 is provided in the middle of the raising operation wire 12. When the raising operation wire 12 is removed from the raising operation wire insertion channel 24, the brush portion 34 is provided inside the raising operation wire insertion channel 24. It is configured to brush and clean the peripheral surface. In particular, dirt may enter from the distal end side of the raising operation wire insertion channel 24 during the endoscopic inspection.
3 does not penetrate to the hand side of the raising operation wire insertion channel 24), and the brush portion 34 can brush and remove such dirt. The inner diameter of the raising operation wire insertion channel 24 is defined so that the brush portion 34 can be inserted.

At the proximal end of the treatment instrument insertion channel 25, a forceps stopper 26 made of an elastic member is provided.
The bending portion 6 is configured by connecting a node ring 38 supported by a node ring rotation shaft 39 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and a bending operation knob (not shown) provided on the operation portion 4. It is configured to be able to bend up, down, left and right by operating.

Further, an objective lens, CC,
D, an illumination window, an air supply / water supply channel, a water intake pipe channel system, and the like are built in. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cross-sectional shape of the hand-side end of the detachable front cover 8B is defined as a substantially C-shape as shown in FIG. That is, the pair of click portions 6 surround the fixed-side tip cover 8A.
4, 64 are extended, and the extended ends of the pair of click portions 64, 64 are not connected to each other and are cut off, and are not formed in the entire circumference.

The fixed-side tip cover 8A has a click portion 6
A click portion fitting groove 63 corresponding to No. 4 is formed,
When the detachable distal end cover 8B is covered from the distal end side of the endoscope main body distal end portion 32, the click portion 64 is fitted so as to grip the click portion fitting groove 63.

The click portion engaging groove 63 is formed so as to divide the click portion engaging groove 63 into two.
(See FIG. 4). As a result, when the click portion 64 is fitted into the click portion fitting groove 63, the detachable distal end cover 8B is locked in the axial direction, the direction perpendicular to the axis, and the rotational direction with respect to the endoscope main body distal end portion 32. It is maintained in the state. Therefore, even when a pressing force generated when the treatment tool raising base 9 presses in the distal direction due to the protrusion of the treatment tool 2 (see FIG. 1) or a reaction force of the treatment tool when the treatment tool is raised acts on the detachable side. The tip cover 8B is maintained in a locked state and does not fall off.

As described above, the detachable tip cover 8B is substantially C
Due to the configuration in the shape of a letter, the length of the click portion 64 can be increased. As a result, the click portion 64 is easily elastically deformed at the time of mounting, and the mountability is also improved. In addition, the rotation of the detachable front end cover 8B in the rotation direction can be restricted.

In this embodiment, the substantially C-shaped portion (click portion 64) is provided at the outermost end, but it is not always required to be at the end. Further, the angle of the click portion locking projection 65 does not have to be 90 ° leftward as in the present embodiment, but may be more upward or downward.

In order to prevent the click window 64 from scratching the observation window 49 or the illumination window 54, the click window 6
Since it is better that the lower end of 4 is located below the surface of the observation window 49 or the illumination window 54, the click portion locking projection 65
Is preferably formed below the 90 ° left side.

It is also preferable that the tips of the pair of click portions 64, 64 are slightly separated from each other without making contact with the click portion locking projections 65. Further, the length of the pair of click portions 64 may not be uniform, and the number of the click portions 64 may be one. Further, it is also preferable to dispose a pair of click portion fitting grooves 63 and a pair of click portions 64 at different positions in the axial direction.

A locking projection 61 is provided on the fixed end cover 8A, and a locking recess 62 is provided on the removable end cover 8B (see FIG. 3). The projection 61 and the locking recess 62 are configured to be fitted.

The locking projections 61 and the locking recesses 62 are not circular, but are defined as, for example, substantially quadrangular non-circles. Therefore, the detachable distal end cover 8B is maintained in the state of being locked in both the direction perpendicular to the axis and the rotational direction by the retaining protrusion 61 and the retaining concave portion 62, and the detachable distal end cover 8B falls off during use of the treatment tool. Prevention is ensured.

Since the locking projection 61 is provided at the distal end of the distal end portion 32 of the endoscope main body, the locking effect of the detachable distal cover 8B is large. Moreover, by providing the click portion 64 at the proximal end of the detachable front end cover 8B, the locking effect becomes extremely large.

The inner diameter of the raising operation wire insertion channel 24, that is, the inner diameter of the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 and the wire insertion flexible pipe 42, is defined as the diameter through which the brush portion 34 (see FIG. 1) can pass. Have been.

By providing the brush portion 34 on the raising operation wire 12 in advance, when the raising operation wire 12 is pulled out, the brushing inside the raising operation wire insertion channel 24 is performed at the same time, so that the operability is improved. Is achieved.

The position of the brush portion 34 need not be located in the raising operation wire insertion channel 24, but may be located in, for example, the connection portion storage chamber 30 in order to reduce the amount of advance / retreat force.

It is also preferable to use a dedicated brush other than the brush portion 34 to brush the raising operation wire insertion channel 24. Tip body 36
Is partially covered with a fixed-side tip cover 8A, and other parts such as the tip surface shown in FIG. 2 and the right side surface shown in FIG. 4 are covered with a detachable-side tip cover 8B.

The distal end portion 32 of the endoscope main body is
There are weak portions such as the air / water nozzle 46, the light guide storage chamber closing member 59, and the tip of the curved portion covering rubber 37, which are connected to the air / water tube 47 via the tube 6, and these are fixed-side end covers. It is configured to be fixedly covered and protected by 8A.

A filler filling portion 60 is appropriately provided on the outer periphery of the contact portion between the tip end body 36 and the fixed-side tip cover 8A, and a filler (not shown) is filled in the filler filling portion 60. By filling and applying, the tip body 36
Thus, it is ensured that dirt is prevented from entering into the joining gap formed between the fixed-side tip cover 8A and the fixed-side tip cover 8A.

The outer periphery of the joint between the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 and the distal end main body 36 and the treatment instrument insertion rigid pipe 43
Filling part 60 is also provided on the outer periphery of the joint between
Is provided.

The curved portion covering rubber 37, the fixing thread and the adhesive 40 for the curved portion covering rubber, the fixed end cover 8A, the air / water supply nozzle 46, the wire insertion rigid pipe 41, the treatment instrument insertion rigid pipe 43, and the observation window 49 , Illumination window 54, light guide fiber 55, objective lens 51, CCD 52 to which signal cable 53 is connected, prism 50, etc., detachable end cover 8 B, treatment instrument elevator 9, and tip to be left after removing elevator operation wire 12. The outer periphery of the endoscope main body distal end portion 32, which is the portion of the portion 5, has an extremely smooth and simple shape, and there is no portion where dirt sticks.

Further, the bottom of the click portion fitting groove 63 of the fixed-side tip cover 8A is defined in an R shape, and
Since the base of the locking projection 61 is also defined in an R shape,
When the endoscope main body distal end portion 32 is washed, it can be easily and reliably cleaned.

The outer periphery of the contact portion between the fixed-side tip cover 8A and the detachable-side tip cover 8B is chamfered or R-chamfered with each other so as not to damage the body cavity when the insertion portion 3 is inserted into the patient. ing.

As described above, the treatment instrument raising table 9 is housed in the treatment instrument raising table storage chamber 11. Specifically, the treatment tool raising table storage chamber 11 includes the distal end body 36 and the fixed distal end. The cover 8A is positioned in a recess surrounded by the detachable end cover 8B.

By removing the detachable end cover 8B, it is possible to easily clean the part of the distal end body 36 and the fixed end cover 8A which constitute the recess. Furthermore,
Cleaning of the treatment instrument raising stand 9 fixed to the fixed side distal end cover 8A or the distal end body 36 is also facilitated.

The detachable tip cover 8B and the treatment instrument raising stand 9
The treatment tool raising table locking member 45 having a function of locking the treatment tool raising table 9 at a predetermined position, for example, an inverted state, is provided in advance. As a result, when the detachable distal end cover 8B, the treatment instrument raising stand 9, and the raising operation wire 12 are mounted on the endoscope main body distal end portion 32, the connection between the raising operation wire 12 and the raising operation wire connecting member 19 is made. The axial position of the raising operation wire 12 can be positioned with high accuracy.

The treatment instrument raising stand locking member 45 is made of soft plastic, and is configured to be removable after connecting the raising operation wire 12 to the raising operation wire connecting member 19.

As shown in FIG. 2, the part to be fitted into the treatment tool insertion channel 25 is provided with the treatment tool raising table locking member 4.
5 may be provided. The treatment tool raising stand locking member 45 is defined to have a diameter larger than that of the curved portion 5, and is further given a conspicuous color such as red or yellow. Therefore, when inserting the insertion portion 3 (see FIG. 1) into a patient, it is possible to prevent a problem that the insertion portion 3 is inserted with the treatment instrument raising stand locking member 45 attached.

The treatment tool raising table locking member 45 fixes the treatment tool raising table 9 and the detachable end cover 8B to the endoscope main body distal end portion 32, and raises the treatment tool raising table 9 with respect to the treatment tool raising table 9. This is similarly effective when the operation wire 12 is configured to be detachable.

The distal end of the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 is tapered. In addition, between the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 and the wire insertion flexible pipe 42, between the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 and the distal end main body 36, and between the treatment instrument insertion rigid pipe 43 and the treatment instrument insertion flexible pipe 44. while,
The treatment instrument insertion rigid pipe 43 and the distal end main body 36 and the distal end main body 36 and the curved portion covering rubber 37 are water-tightly bonded, respectively.

An adhesive is filled between the distal end of the curved portion covering rubber 37, the fixing thread for the curved portion covering rubber and the adhesive 40 and the proximal end of the fixed-side distal end cover 8A so that no dirt enters. .

The air / water supply nozzle 46 and the air / water supply tube 4
7, between the air / water supply nozzle 46 and the distal end body 36, between the observation window 49 and the distal end body 36, between the illumination window 54 and the distal end body 36, the light guide storage chamber closing member 5
9 and the tip end main body 36 and between the curved portion covering rubber 37 and the node ring 38 are water-tightly bonded.

The click portion fitting groove 63 and the click portion 64 of the fixed end cover 8A and the detachable end cover 8B are
It has a relatively larger diameter than the other parts, and the distal ends of the click part fitting groove 63 and the click part 64 are gently tapered.

The distal end of the wire insertion rigid pipe 41, the treatment tool insertion rigid pipe 43, and the distal end of the distal end main body 36 are aligned in the same plane. An adhesive filling portion 48 is provided around the air / water supply nozzle 46 and between the distal end main body 36 and the fixed-side distal end cover 8A.

A light guide fiber 55 and a light guide fiber coating tube 56 are housed in a light guide storage chamber 57 provided in the distal end body 36.
The light guide fiber 55 and the light guide fiber covering tube 56 are fixed by a filler 58. Further, the light guide storage room 57 is closed by a light guide storage room closing member 59, and the light guide storage room closing member 59 is further covered by a fixed side end cover 8A.

The distal end body 36, the rigid wire insertion rigid pipe 41, the treatment instrument insertion rigid pipe 43, the air / water supply nozzle 46, and the light guide storage chamber closing member 59 are all made of stainless steel. Pipe 42, treatment instrument insertion flexible pipe 44, and air / water supply tube 47,
Both are composed of Teflon tubes.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rack 15 extends through the operation part exterior member 66 toward the front end side.
The portion corresponding to the packing 68 provided on the operation unit exterior member 66 during the forward / backward operation is configured as a watertight portion 69 having a circular cross section. Further, a screw portion 70 is provided at the tip.

The rack 15 is provided with a pinion 16 (FIG. 1).
), And are configured to move forward and backward but do not rotate. Wire insertion flexible pipe 42
The hand end of the wire is a wire insertion rigid pipe and wire plug mounting portion 6
7, and the wire insertion rigid pipe / wire plug attachment part 67 is water-tightly bonded to the operation part exterior member 66.

The ends of the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 (see FIG. 2) and the wire insertion rigid pipe / wire plug attaching portion 67 are formed in a tapered shape, and the raising operation wire insertion channel 24 (FIG. 2). The inner diameter of (see) is slowly changing. For this reason, when the brush portion 34 (see FIG. 1) is passed through the raising operation wire insertion channel 24, the ends of the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 and the wire insertion rigid pipe / wire plug attaching portion 67 are reliably washed. Is applied and will not be washed away.

A screw hole 71 and a wire insertion hole 72 are formed on both sides of the raising operation wire connecting member 19.
The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction is defined as a substantially quadrangle. The screw hole 71 and the wire insertion hole 72 each have a stopping shape, and the wire insertion hole 72 is provided with a small-diameter portion at two places at the entrance and the back, and a large-diameter portion in the middle. In the large diameter part,
A single screw hole 73 is formed across it.

The hand end of the raising operation wire 12 is provided with a hard portion 75 by a length corresponding to the wire insertion hole 72, and the end is formed in a hemispherical shape. The formation into such a hemisphere is performed by a plasma processing method, while the formation into a hardened state is performed by a plasma processing method, a high-frequency processing method, or a brazing method.

The length of the insertion section 3 (see FIG. 1) is
There is some variation every time. In addition, the length of the raising operation wire 12 also varies slightly from one endoscope 1 to another. Therefore,
In order to optimize the connection between the endoscope 1 and the raising operation wire 12, the axial positions of the endoscope 1 and the raising operation wire 12 are adjusted at the time of connection.

Hereinafter, the connection method will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a treatment tool raising table 9 is connected to the detachable side front cover 8B in advance via a treatment tool raising table rotation shaft 10, and the treatment tool raising table 9 has a raising operation wire 12. Is connected. Further, a treatment tool raising table locking member 45 is set on the detachable side front cover 8B and the treatment tool raising table 9, and the treatment tool raising table 9 is locked in an inverted state.

In this state, the detachable tip cover 8B, the treatment tool raising table 9, the raising operation wire 12, and the treatment tool raising table locking member 45 are sealed in a peel pack in a sterilized state.
After removing the detachable tip cover 8B, the raising operation wire 12, the wire plug 33, the forceps plug 26, and the raising operation wire connecting member 19, a clean endoscope 1 that has been cleaned and disinfected is prepared.

As shown in FIG. 5, the wire stopper 33 cleaned and disinfected, the raising operation wire connecting member 19, the pointed thumb screw 7
4 is prepared. The insertion section 3 of the endoscope 1 is positioned in a straight state together with the bending section 6 and the flexible tube section 7. Fingertip knob 1
By operating 8, the rack 15 and the screw portion 70 are positioned at the highest position (on the right side as viewed in FIG. 5).

The screw operation part 70 is connected to the raising operation wire connecting member 19.
Then, the wire plug 33 is attached to the wire insertion rigid pipe / wire plug attaching portion 67. With the peel pack opened, the raising operation wire 12 is inserted into the wire insertion rigid pipe 41 from the proximal end thereof.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the detachable end cover 8B is connected to the endoscope main body end portion 32 (fixed end cover 8).
A) is mounted along the outer circumference of A). At the time of mounting, the pair of click portions 64, 64 are fitted in the pair of click portion fitting grooves 63, 63, and the locking concave portion 62 is locked. The above mounting operation is performed until the projection 61 is locked by the projection 61.

As a result, the distal end of the treatment instrument raising base locking member 45 is fitted into the treatment instrument insertion rigid pipe 43, and the proximal end of the raising operation wire 12 is connected to the wire insertion rigid pipe as shown in FIG. It passes through the wire plug attachment portion 67 and the wire plug 33 and protrudes into the connection portion storage chamber 30.

Since the proximal end of the raising operation wire 12 is defined in a hemispherical shape, the inner periphery of the wire insertion flexible pipe 42 is not damaged during the mounting operation. In addition, the passage operation of the wire plug 33 is easily performed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rack 15 is moved to the most inverted position (left side as viewed in FIG. 5) by operating the finger holding knob 18 while introducing the raising operation wire 12 into the wire insertion hole 72. Move to

At this time, the raising operation wire connecting member 19 is
Since it is maintained in the state where it is most screwed into the screw portion 70, the proximal end of the raising operation wire 12 is inserted into the wire fitting hole 72.
Never hit the back of The length relationship and the adjustment allowance are set.

The elevating operation wire connecting member 19 is moved while rotating to the left with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 5, and it is felt by hand that the hand end of the erecting operation wire 12 comes into contact with the back of the wire insertion hole 72.

Further, the raising operation wire connecting member 19 is rotated and moved in the same direction, and the screw hole 73 is arranged so as to face upward on the plane of FIG. Furthermore, the raising operation wire connecting member 19 is rotated twice in the same direction. As a result, the raising operation wire 12 is pushed in by two to three rotations.

The pointed thumb screw 74 is screwed into the screw hole 73 until the contact portion 76 of the pointed thumb screw 74 contacts the contact portion 77 of the raising operation wire connecting member 19. The hard portion 75 of the raising operation wire 12 is supported at both ends by a small diameter portion of the wire insertion hole 72, and a pressing force from the side is applied to the large diameter portion via a pointed thumb screw 74. Join and bend and deform. Further, the tip of the pointed thumbscrew 74 slightly bites into the hard portion 75. As a result, the raising operation wire 12
Is firmly fixed to the raising operation wire connecting member 19.

Next, the treatment tool raising stand locking member 45 (see FIG. 2) is removed. By the above operation, the variation in the length of the endoscope 1 and the raising operation wire 12 is absorbed, and the optimum state is uniquely set.

That is, when the bending portion 6 or the flexible tube portion 7 is bent, the treatment instrument raising table 9 has such a characteristic that it is automatically raised. Therefore, even if the bending portion 6 or the flexible tube portion 7 is bent,
The treatment instrument raising stand 9 does not rise.

Further, even if the raising operation and the inversion are repeated while the raising operation wire 12 is pushed too much, the raising operation wire 12 is not broken in the treatment instrument raising table storage chamber 11.

Further, even when the amount of pulling of the raising operation wire 12 is too small, the treatment instrument raising table 9 is not completely raised. That is, by operating the finger touch knob 18 until the stoppers 20 and 21 come into contact with the stopper 22, the treatment instrument raising table 9 is completely raised without being affected by the state of the bending portion 6 and the flexible tube portion 7. And can be completely inverted.

The detachable tip cover 8 B, the treatment instrument raising stand 9,
When removing the raising operation wire 12, first, the pointed thumb screw 74 is removed, and then the detachable distal cover 8B is strongly pulled toward the distal end in the axial direction.

At this time, if the detachable front end cover 8B is single-use, the click portion 64 may be broken. Next, the detachable tip cover 8B, the treatment instrument raising stand 9, and the raising operation wire 12 are discarded. Then, after removing the wire plug 33 and the raising operation wire connecting member 19, the endoscope 1, the wire plug 33, and the raising operation wire connecting member 19 are cleaned and disinfected.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, there is provided an endoscope provided with a distal end cover which can be quickly and securely detachably locked to the distal end body with a simple structure. Can be.

Next, an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description of the present embodiment, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment includes
The same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the endoscope according to the present embodiment is a direct-view scope, and includes a detachable end cover 8B.
Also serves as an air / water nozzle. Removable end cover 8
B, bases of a pair of click parts 64, 64, FIGS. 6 and 7
A nozzle base 80 is provided in an upward direction with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 6, and this nozzle base 80 extends to the left (front end side) with respect to the paper surface of FIG. . The inner diameter of the nozzle portion 79 is
And is arranged to face the observation window 49. The other configuration and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0081]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope having a distal end cover which can be quickly and reliably detachably engaged with the distal end body with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a configuration of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a configuration of a portion of a tip cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a distal end portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a connection portion storage chamber shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

8A: fixed end cover, 8B: detachable end cover, 6
1 ... locking projections (locking portions), 62 ... locking recesses (engaging portions) ,
63: click portion fitting groove, 64: click portion, 65: click portion locking projection

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 5-9501 (JP, U) JP-A 5-28303 (JP, U) JP-A 61-39501 (JP, U) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An operation unit operated by an operator and an insertion unit extended from the operation unit and insertable into and removable from a body cavity of a patient.
Join the club and the distal end portion provided at a distal end of the insertion portion, detachably attached to the distal end, the substantially C-shaped cross section
A tip cover formed, a locking portion protruding from a tip surface of the tip portion, and a tip formed on the tip cover and engaged with the locking portion.
An endoscope characterized by comprising an engaging portion for fixing the end cover to the tip.