JP3352766B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a forceps opening branch portion in an endoscope having an insertion portion and an operation portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a light guide for illumination, a cord for guiding an image, a wire for bending operation, forceps for sampling, and the like are provided inside an insertion portion of an endoscope inserted into a subject. A forceps tube, an air supply / water supply tube, and the like to be inserted are inserted, and a curved portion near the distal end thereof is configured to bend and deform by operation of an operation knob in an operation portion. In the insertion portion, a portion connecting the bending portion and the operation portion is provided in a flexible portion having flexibility.

[0003] A base end portion of the insertion portion is connected to an operation portion, and various tubes and the like installed in the insertion portion are guided into the operation portion through the connection portion, and a bending operation mechanism, air / water supply line switching. Connected to valves, forceps, connectors, etc. The forceps tube introduced from the insertion portion into the operation portion is branched into three directions by a branching member, and a part thereof is connected to a forceps port.

[0004] A hollow cylindrical member is provided at the portion of the branching member for reinforcement as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-74568. The cylindrical member has a distal end connected to the insertion portion, and a proximal end connected to the chassis of the operation portion main body. In addition, various tubes as described above are inserted into the inside of the cylindrical member, and a branch member is provided to connect the forceps tube.

[0005]

In the endoscope as described above, a branching member is arranged with the tubular member connected to the insertion portion and the chassis, and a forceps tube is connected to the branching member. However, the work is performed from the opening of the tubular member, and there is a problem in workability.

That is, the insertion portion is provided with a tip observation portion on the tip side of a bending portion capable of bending and deforming in an arbitrary direction, and a cord, a tube, or the like is previously provided in an image sensor, forceps opening, or the like provided at the tip portion. Are connected to form a unit with a protective coating provided on the surface and are assembled as a unit. The connection to the branching member is made through the opening of the cylindrical member, and other cords and tubes are arranged around the member so that the connection member is narrow, so that connection work and other operations can be performed. The assembling and disassembling operations are complicated and the workability is low, and there is a possibility that an unreasonable operation may adversely affect various parts and cause a failure.

[0007] Further, a plumbing device of a sub-water supply system for supplying water and air is disposed in the tubular member. When disassembling the tubular member, the plumbing of the sub-water supply system is provided. The work of removing the plumbing fixture and the tube is required, which is complicated.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can easily perform various operations such as attaching and detaching a forceps tube to and from a branch member of a forceps opening branch portion. is there.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an endoscope having an insertion portion inserted into a subject and an operation portion for performing a bending operation and the like of the insertion portion. The operation unit has a branch case in which a forceps port is formed and a base end of the insertion unit is connected to an end, and a plate-shaped chassis extending in the axial direction is provided inside the rear end side of the branch case. A branching member that branches a forceps tube extending from the insertion portion into a forceps port is provided at the forceps port branch portion in the branch portion case, and one end portion is formed in the branch portion case. An axially extending hollow tubular member connected to a connection fitting at an end of the insertion portion and the other end connected to a front end of the chassis is provided, and the branching member is provided inside the tubular member. Is disposed, and the cylindrical member is connected to the forceps on the distal end side of the branch member. In the vicinity of the tube connecting portion to which the tube is connected, the distal end side tubular member and the main body side tubular member are divided at a dividing portion in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, and the distal end side tubular member is located at an end of the insertion portion. The branch member having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the connection fitting, and the tip-side tubular member being separated from the main body-side tubular member and moving in the axial direction toward the insertion portion beyond the connection fitting. Is characterized in that the tube connecting portion can be exposed and opened.

[0010] It is preferable that a plumbing device of a sub-water supply system is attached to the main body side tubular member.

[0011]

According to the above construction, the tubular member is divided into the distal end side tubular member and the main body side tubular member in the vicinity of the tube connecting portion of the branch member, and the tubular member is divided at the time of assembly and disassembly. The distal end side cylindrical member is also separated from the connection fitting of the insertion portion, and when the distal end side cylindrical member is moved beyond the connection fitting, the tube connection portion of the branch member is exposed and opened, and the forceps tube is removed. The detachment and replacement can be easily performed, and by opening this connection portion, the operability of assembly and repair is improved, and adverse effects on other parts due to unreasonable work can be reduced.

Further, when the sub-water supply pipe is provided on the main body-side tubular member fixed to the chassis, the tip-side tubular member can be connected as described above without removing the sub-water supply tube and piping. Various operations can be performed simply by removing.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an endoscope according to one embodiment.

The endoscope 1 is provided with an operation section 2 which is gripped by an operator to perform various operations, and an insertion section 3 on the distal end side (the distal end portion is not shown) for insertion into a subject. The operation unit 2 includes a main body case 10 at a base end, a gripping case 11 and a branch case 12 which are sequentially connected to the main body case 10.

On the other hand, although not shown, the insertion portion 3 has a curved portion which can be bent and deformed in an arbitrary direction, and a distal end observation portion is provided at a distal end side of the curved portion. Sensors, optical systems such as an imaging objective lens and other various members are installed, and an opening for inserting forceps, air, a tube for supplying water and the like are inserted, and a proximal end side of the curved portion is A flexible portion 13 having flexibility is connected, and the operation portion 2 is connected to the proximal end side of the flexible portion 13 for performing various operations such as photographing and bending operations.

The main body case 10 of the operation section 2 has therein a bending operation mechanism (not shown) and the like, and has operation knobs for operating the bending operation mechanism in the vertical and horizontal directions on the opposite side of the figure. , Air / water supply valve 17, suction valve 1
8. A photographing switch 19 is installed, and further, a light guide and other various tubes connected to a lighting light source (not shown) and a connecting flexible portion 20 for leading out cords are connected.

The gripping case 11 becomes thinner and circular in order from the connection portion with the main body case 10 and is connected to the branch case 12. The branch case 12 has a forceps port through which a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted. 12a is provided. In addition, the forceps port 12
In the vicinity of a, a sub water supply piping device 25 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the forceps port 12 is provided in the forceps port branch portion 5 in the branch portion case 12 of the operation section 2.
A branch member 27 is provided so as to be connected to the inner end of the forceps port pipe fitting 26 and the connection pipe 28 attached to the connector a. This branch member 27
The inner end of the connection tube 28 is threadedly connected to a three-pronged, obliquely-directed forceps port connection portion 27a, and a forceps tube extending from the distal end of the insertion portion 3 to a distal tube connection portion 27b.
29 is connected by a clamp 31 and a suction tube 30 is connected to a pipe-shaped suction tube connecting portion 27c branched from an intermediate portion.
The suction tube 30 extends from the holding case 11 into the main body case 10 and is connected to the suction valve 18.

A tubular member 35 for reinforcement is provided along the inner peripheral surface of the branch case 12. The cylindrical member 35
The front end of a chassis 36 extending from the main body case 10 to the holding case 11 is connected to a rear end of the cylindrical member 35 via a connection fitting 37, while a sleeve-shaped hollow is formed on the inner periphery of the front end of the cylindrical member 35. A connection fitting 42 provided at the base end of the insertion section 3 is connected via a member 41.

The details of the cylindrical member 35 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and an opening 35c is formed in a portion of the cylindrical member 35 corresponding to the forceps port 12a, and the connecting tube 28 and the forceps port are formed. The piping tool 26 is inserted and connected to the branch member 27 installed inside. The tubular member 35 is divided into a distal-end-side tubular member 35a and a main-body-side tubular member near a tube connecting portion 27b on the distal end side of the branching member 27 at a divided portion D in a direction orthogonal to the central axis.
35b. In the embodiment, the dividing portion D is located at a substantially branched position of the suction tube connecting portion 27c, and the distal end of the tube connecting portion 27b is located inside the distal end side tubular member 35a. The tip-side tubular member 35a and the main-body-side tubular member 35b are fitted to each other at their divided ends, and are connected and fixed by tightening screws 38 from the outside.

The tip-side cylindrical member 35a is formed such that its entire inner diameter is larger than the outer diameters of the connection fitting 42 and the sliding member 44 of the insertion portion 3, and is movable outside in the axial direction. . A part of the base end of the main body side tubular member 35b is extended, two connecting fittings 37 are fixed to the extended part, and one end of a plate-shaped chassis 36 is screwed to the connecting fitting 37, The chassis 36 is provided so as to extend substantially in the center in the axial direction. In addition, at two places (not necessarily two places) of the tubular member 35b on the main body side, a plumbing device 2 of a sub-water supply system is provided.
4, 25, which are connected to the inner pipes 24, 25 of the sub-water supply system.
a, 25a are fixed to the main body side tubular member 35b, and the outer bases 24b, 25b pass through the branch case 12 and are connected to the connecting part 24b.
a, 25a. As for the plumbing tool 24 of the sub-water supply system provided at the portion of the forceps port 12a, the base portion 24b becomes detachable with the forceps port plumbing tool 26 removed.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
A locking member 27d extending to both sides is installed at the front end of the main body side tubular member 35b (divided end).
The branch member 27 is engaged with and supported by the end of the opening 35c.
In the engaged and supported state, the connection tube 28 and the forceps port plumbing tool 26 are inserted from the forceps port 12a, and the distal end thereof is screwed and connected and fixed to the forceps port connection portion 27a of the branching member 27. A base plate 39 (see FIG. 4) is separately provided in parallel with the chassis 36, and a bending operation mechanism for bending the bending portion of the insertion section 3 is independently attached to the base plate 39.

On the other hand, the connecting structure between the cylindrical member 35 and the insertion portion 3 is formed by a flexible portion 13 (flexible tube) of the insertion portion 3.
A tip-side cylindrical member 35a is connected via a hollow member 41 to a sleeve-like connection fitting 42 fixed to one end of the first member so as to be capable of adjusting the rise by relative angle change. That is, a sliding member 44 is provided on the distal cylindrical member 35a, which is engaged with the hollow member 41 fixed by the screw 43 to restrict rotation, and a shaft is provided between the sliding member 44 and the connection fitting 42. Male and female knurls engaging from the directions are formed, and by the engagement, the phases of the tubular member 35 and the connection fitting 42 are adjusted to stop rotation. Further, a fastening ring 45 for preventing the sliding member 44 from coming off is screwed to the connection fitting 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, a protective cover rubber 14 is provided on the outer periphery of the connecting portion between the insertion section 3 and the operation section 2. An insert fitting 15 that is extended and screwed is fixed, and a protective sleeve 16 is disposed between the insert fitting 15 and the tip of the branch case 12.

To explain the operation of the above embodiment, when disassembling for repair or the like, first, after removing the cover rubber 14 and the protective sleeve 16 and pulling out in the axial direction, the branch case 12 is also moved in the axial direction. The forceps port plumbing tool 26
The connection pipe 28 is removed from the branch member 27 and the branch case 12 and removed, and the bases 24b and 25b of the pipes 24 and 25 of the sub-water supply system are also removed in the same manner. When the branch portion case 12 is removed, the tubular member 35 is exposed, and in this state, the distal-side tubular member 35a and the main-body-side tubular member 35b of the divided portion D of the tubular member 35 are connected. By removing the screw 38 connecting the distal end of the distal cylindrical member 35a and the hollow member 41 on the inner peripheral side, the distal cylindrical member 35a can move in the axial direction, When this is moved to the insertion portion 3 side, as shown in FIG. 5, the tube connecting portion 27b on the distal end side of the branch member 27 is exposed in an open state, and the work of attaching and detaching the forceps tube 29 can be easily performed.

When the distal cylindrical member 35a is removed, there is no supporting member between the connecting fitting 42 and the main cylindrical member 35b. It is preferable to perform the following.

The connecting structure of the divided portion D of the cylindrical member 35 can be designed and modified as appropriate in addition to the structure of the above embodiment. However, the inner diameter of the distal cylindrical member 35a does not become small, and It is necessary to configure so that the outer shape of the divided portion does not become large. Similarly, the design of the connection structure between the tubular member 35 and the chassis 36 can be changed as appropriate.

[0028]

According to the endoscope of the present invention, the tubular member in which the branch member is installed between the end of the chassis on the main body side and the insertion portion connecting portion at the forceps opening branch portion in the operating portion. A member is provided, and the distal end side tubular member and the main body side tubular member are divided at a dividing portion in a direction orthogonal to the central axis in the vicinity of a tube connecting portion to which the forceps tube on the distal end side of the branch member is connected. And the inner diameter of the distal-side tubular member is provided larger than the outer diameter of the connection fitting of the insertion portion, so that at the time of assembling and disassembling, the tubular member is separated at the divided portion to separate the distal-side tubular member. By moving to the insertion part side, the tube connecting part of the branching member can be exposed and opened, and the detachment and replacement of the forceps tube can be easily performed. Eliminates the adverse effects of other operations on other parts to increase reliability It is what it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view of a forceps port bifurcation of an endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of a tubular member and a connection fitting.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a separated state of the distal-side tubular member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Operation part 3 Insertion part 5 Forceps port branch part 10 Main body case 12 Branch part case 12a Forceps port 13 Flexible part 24,25 Secondary water supply system piping tool 27 Branch member 27b Tube connection part 29 Forceps tube 35 Tubular member 35a Tip-side tubular member 35b Body-side tubular member 36 Chassis 42 Connection fitting

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An insertion section to be inserted into a subject, and an operation section for performing a bending operation and the like of the insertion section, wherein the operation section has a forceps port formed therein and a proximal end of the insertion section at an end. And a plate-shaped chassis extending in the axial direction is provided inside the rear end side of the branch case, and an insertion portion is provided at a forceps port branch in the branch case. An endoscope provided with a branching member for branching a forceps tube extending from the forceps opening into the forceps port, wherein one end of the endoscope is connected to a connection fitting at the end of the insertion portion, and An axially extending hollow cylindrical member connected to the front end of the chassis is provided,
The branching member is disposed inside the tubular member, and the tubular member has a direction perpendicular to a central axis in the vicinity of a tube connecting portion to which the forceps tube is connected on the distal end side of the branching member. Is divided into a distal-side tubular member and a main-body-side tubular member at a dividing portion, and the distal-side tubular member has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of a connection fitting at an end of the insertion portion; The member is separated from the main body side tubular member, moves in the axial direction in the direction of the insertion portion beyond the connection fitting, and the tube connection portion of the branch member can be exposed and opened. mirror. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a plumbing device for a sub-water supply system is attached to the main body side tubular member.