JP3605697B2 - Angle part of endoscope and method of attaching its outer tube - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an angle portion forming an insertion portion of an endoscope used for medical use or the like, and also relates to a method of attaching an outer tube to a curved tube of the angle portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The endoscope has a configuration schematically shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a main body operation unit, 2 is an insertion unit, and 3 is a universal cord. The insertion portion 2 is a flexible portion 2a that is bent in an arbitrary direction along an insertion path such as in a body cavity from the side of the connecting portion to the main body operation portion 1, and a predetermined end is provided at the distal end of the flexible portion 2a. An angle portion 2b having a length is continuously provided, and a distal end hard portion 2c is continuously provided at a tip of the angle portion 2b. Although not shown, the distal end hard portion 2c is provided with at least an illumination unit and an observation unit. The angle portion 2b is for turning the distal end hard portion 2c in a desired direction, and can be bent vertically and horizontally. This bending operation is called an angle operation, and is performed by rotating an angle knob 4 provided on the main body operation unit 1.
[0003]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the angle portion 2b. It should be noted that, in the figure, internal insertion members such as a light guide, a signal cable (or an image guide), and a treatment tool insertion channel are omitted. Thus, the angle portion 2b includes a curved tube 12 having a node ring structure by sequentially pivoting a predetermined number of angle rings 10 with pivot pins 11. The pivoting points between the front and rear angle rings 10, 10 by the pivoting pins 11 are alternately up and down and left and right, whereby the bending tube 12 as a whole can be bent up and down and left and right. The curved tube 12 is covered with a net 13 made of a braided wire such as a metal, and an outer tube 14 is attached to the outer periphery of the net 13.
[0004]
Of the angle rings constituting the curved tube 12, the end rings 10a and 10b located at both ends are connected to the flexible portion 2a and the distal end hard portion 2c, respectively. For this purpose, the end ring 10a is fitted and fixed to the connecting ring 15 extending from the flexible portion 2a side, and the end ring 10b is fitted and fixed to the distal end main body 16 constituting the distal rigid portion 2c. Is done. Then, the operation wires 17 for the bending operation are fixed to the end ring 10b at four positions, that is, up and down and right and left. Each of these operation wires 17 is inserted into an insertion hole provided in the pivot pin 11, extends to the end ring 10a while being positioned at a predetermined position, and is fixed to the end ring 10a. From the insertion pipe 18 into the close contact coil 19. The operation wire 17 inserted through the close contact coil 19 extends to the main body operation unit 1 and is wound around an angle pulley (not shown) that is rotated by the angle knob 4.
[0005]
In the angle portion 2b configured as described above, the outer tube 14, which is the outermost outer portion, is formed of an elastic member because it expands and contracts during the angle operation, and the inside of the angle portion 2b is completely sealed. Must be held as such. Also, since the insertion portion 2 is inserted into a body cavity or the like, it is natural to use one that is not harmful to the human body, and since it is repeatedly washed and disinfected, it must be excellent in chemical resistance. Must.
[0006]
Although both ends of the outer tube 14 are fixed, it is necessary to completely fix the outer tube 14 so as not to leak from the end of the outer tube 14. For example, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-154097, it is general that the inside of the outer tube 14 is kept airtight by being wound around the outer tube 14 and then fixed by applying an adhesive. It is. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-127571 discloses that a fixing member formed of an elastomer such as urethane resin or a rubber member is cohesively fixed to the inner periphery of an outer tube, and the fixing member is connected to a flexible portion to which a curved tube is connected. This figure shows a configuration in which the fixing ring is fixed to a groove or the like provided in a distal end body which constitutes a connecting ring on the side and a distal end hard portion.
[0007]
Regardless of which of the above fixing methods is adopted, the outer tube partially expands and contracts at the time of the angle operation, so that the fixing tube has sufficient fixing strength so that the fixed portion does not fall off during this expansion and contraction. Must be demonstrated. Here, the end rings located at both ends of the curved tube are fitted to the connection ring on the flexible portion side and the tip end body, respectively, so that these end rings can be used even at the time of angle operation or when an external force is applied. It is a non-curved part that does not bend. Therefore, both ends of the outer tube are located in the vicinity of the both end rings of the curved tube, particularly the portion of the end ring connected to the distal end main body and the connection ring to the flexible portion, that is, the position that is not pressed and deformed even when an external force acts. Is fixed stably. Thereby, the fixing strength of the outer tube is increased.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the insertion portion of the endoscope is long, and there is a possibility that the insertion portion, particularly the tip portion thereof, erroneously collides with a surrounding object or the like when carrying. Therefore, if the outer tube is damaged or damaged due to the impact at the time of such a collision, dirt inside the body adheres and cleaning becomes difficult. Inconveniences such as damage to the members such as the solid-state imaging device provided in the insertion portion and breakage of cables and optical fibers occur.
[0009]
In the outer part of the entire insertion part, the hard end at the tip has extremely high strength against the action of external force such as impact, and the angle part and the soft part are bendable. Can be absorbed. However, the connecting portion between the angled portion and the rigid portion at the tip end and the connecting portion between the angled portion and the soft portion have a limited length, but have a portion that does not bend, and the exterior portion of the portion that is not bent is flexible. Is composed of the following members. Therefore, when a large impact force acts on the non-bending portion, the possibility that the soft exterior portion is damaged or broken increases. In addition, since the soft portion and the angle portion have a difference in the material of the exterior portion, etc., the angle portion generally has a lower strength against an impact force.
[0010]
That is, as the exterior portion of the angle portion, it is necessary to provide a material having high elasticity in order to suppress the resistance to the angle operation, and to have properties such as chemical resistance. In general, urethane rubber and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) are used, and a material having high strength against impact or the like cannot always be selected. In particular, at the portion of the outer tube located on the end ring of the curved tube, that is, at the non-curved portion of the curved portion, the elastic outer tube is in contact with the hard base made of metal or the like, Even if a relatively small impact is applied, the impact cannot be absorbed, and the outer tube may be damaged. If a large impact is applied, the outer tube may be damaged.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to effectively protect a fragile part of an outer tube constituting an exterior part of an angle part.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a medical medical device in which an angle portion that is bent by remote control is provided on a hard distal end portion, and a flexible portion that can be bent in any direction is connected to the angle portion. In the insertion portion of the endoscope, a predetermined number of angle rings are sequentially pivoted to form a bendable ring structure, and the ends of these angle rings are connected to the distal end hard portion and the flexible portion. A curved tube formed into a non-curved portion by a ring, a net mounted on the outer surface of the curved tube, and a skin tube mounted on the outside of the net; the skin tube and any of the non-curved portions And a shock absorbing layer made of a member more flexible than the outer tube.
[0013]
Here, it is desirable that the shock absorbing layer extends over substantially the entire length including the end ring and a connection portion to another angle ring adjacent to the end ring. In addition, a typical material of the outer tube is urethane rubber or ethylene propylene diene rubber. The shock absorbing layer formed inside the outer tube is made of silicone rubber or natural rubber which is more flexible than these materials. It can be a layer. Further, the impact absorbing layer can be formed by interposing a sealing material having a predetermined thickness at a portion from a fixed end of the end ring to a connection portion to another angle ring. Moreover, it is more desirable to use a sealing material having an adhesive function. Further, it is necessary to fix the shock absorbing layer to the outer tube as firmly as possible. For this purpose, it is more desirable that the portion of the inner surface of the outer tube where the shock absorbing layer is to be laminated is subjected to a primer treatment in advance.
[0014]
As described above, in a case where the sealing material functions as an impact absorbing layer and the sealing material has an adhesive function, as a method of mounting the outer tube constituting the exterior portion of the angle portion, the outer tube is evacuated to a vacuum. A step of expanding the diameter by a suction force, a step of inserting the angle portion structure into the outer tube thus expanded, and a method of protecting both ends of the outer tube by angles at both ends of the angle portion structure. A step of applying a sealing material having a predetermined thickness on an end ring that is a ring, a step of applying a skin tube to the sealing material application region, and cutting both ends of the skin tube, And fixing to the end position of the angle portion structure.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a distal end portion in an insertion portion of an endoscope. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a hard tip portion, 21 denotes an angle portion, and 22 denotes a soft portion. Although not shown, the distal end hard portion 20 is provided with an illuminating unit equipped with an illuminating lens, and an observing unit 23, which constitutes an observing unit of the endoscope. The observation unit 23 includes an objective optical system 24 and a solid-state imaging device 25 such as a CCD provided at an image forming position of the objective optical system 24. Further, the distal end hard portion 20 is provided with a treatment tool lead-out opening 26 for leading out a forceps and other treatment tools, and a connection pipe 26a is provided in the treatment tool lead-out opening 26 by being inserted thereinto. A treatment tool insertion tube 27 is provided so as to fit into the connection pipe 26a. Therefore, the distal end hard portion 20 includes a distal end main body 28 having a predetermined shape for mounting each of these members, and a distal end cap 29 that covers a front portion of the distal end main body 28. The tip main body 28 is formed of metal from the viewpoint of structural strength, workability, and the like, and a tip cap that covers the tip portion so as not to expose the metal tip main body 28 to the outside. Reference numeral 29 is formed of a synthetic resin having electrical insulation.
[0016]
The angle portion 21 has a curved tube 32 formed by sequentially connecting the angle rings 30 via pivot pins 31, and a net 33 is attached to the curved tube 32. An outer tube 34 is attached. The pivot pins 31 for pivotally connecting the front and rear angle rings 30 are provided at two locations each in the order of up and down and left and right, so that the angle portion 21 can be bent up and down and left and right. For this purpose, four operating wires 35 are provided with a phase relationship of 90 °. Of the angle rings 30, the end ring 30a at the most proximal position is fitted to the connecting ring 36 extending from the flexible portion 22, and the end ring 30b at the most distal position is fitted to the distal end body 28. Is done. Accordingly, both end rings 30a and 30b of the bending tube 32 are non-bending portions that do not bend when a bending operation is performed by pushing and pulling the operation wire 35 or when an external force is applied.
[0017]
Moreover, specifically, in FIG. 1, the length L up to the mounting portion of the pivot pin 31 connecting between the end rings 30a and 30b and the adjacent angle ring 30 is a non-curved portion. The portion between them becomes a curved portion. That is, in the angle ring 30 including the end rings 30a and 30b, their end faces are inclined at a predetermined angle so as to be able to bend, and the portion where the pivot pin 31 is mounted is further protruded. Projecting portion 30P. Therefore, strictly speaking, the non-curved portion is the entire end ring 30a, 30b, that is, the portion of the connecting projection 30P to which the pivot pin 31 is mounted.
[0018]
The outer tube 34 is formed of, for example, EPDM in order to exhibit properties such as elasticity and chemical resistance. The outer tube 34 extends to the end positions of the end rings 30a, 30b and beyond, and seals the inside as an exterior portion of the angle portion 21. Therefore, it is necessary for the outer tube 34 to fully exhibit the function of completely sealing the angle portion 21 and not to be damaged by an external impact or the like over its entire length. Increasing the thickness of the outer tube 34 increases the strength. However, increasing the thickness of the outer tube 34 not only increases the diameter of the entire insertion portion but also increases the resistance during the angle operation. Here, in the curved portion of the outer tube 34, the impact is absorbed to some extent by bending when the impact is applied. Therefore, the thickness dimension of the outer tube 34 is set based on the strength against impact at the curved portion. In this case, when an impact is applied to the non-curved portions located on the end rings 30a and 30b, sufficient strength cannot be obtained.
[0019]
From the above, the shock absorbing layer 37 is provided to protect the non-curved portion of the outer tube 34, that is, the substantially entire length on the end rings 30a and 30b including the connecting projection 30P. The shock absorbing layer 37 is made of a member that is more flexible than the outer tube 34 and has a high ability to absorb shock. Thus, the shock absorbing layer 37 can protect the device from damage by the shock absorbing effect. Moreover, by providing the shock absorbing layer 37 with a minimum thickness necessary to substantially prevent a difference in strength with respect to the impact action between the curved portion and the non-curved portion, the insertion portion can be formed. Partial increase in diameter is suppressed. Here, since the shock absorbing layer 37 is not exposed to the outside, it is not necessary to provide a chemical resistance or the like as the material thereof, and the material can be selected only from the viewpoint of shock absorption.
[0020]
Thus, a sealing material is used as the shock absorbing layer 37. This sealing material is a plastic member and also has an adhesive property, such as a silicon-based sealing material or a urethane-based sealing material. The impact absorbing layer 37 has a length from the end to the pivotal connection to the adjacent angle ring 30, that is, the entire length of the non-curved portion L so as to completely cover the end rings 30a and 30b. They are almost equal. Here, both ends of the net 33 are fixed to the end rings 30a, 30b, and the net 33 covers up to an intermediate position of the end rings 30a, 30b. Therefore, a part of the shock absorbing layer 37 extends to the portion where the net 33 is attached.
[0021]
A method for mounting the outer tube 34 on the curved tube 32 with the shock absorbing layer 37 made of a sealing material interposed therebetween will be described with reference to FIG. First, a net 33 is attached to the bending tube 32, and thereby the angle part structure 40 is formed. The distal end body 28 is connected to the distal end of the angle portion structure 40, and the flexible portion 22 is connected to the proximal end side (see FIG. 2B). Here, the inner diameter of the outer tube 34 is smaller than the outer diameter of the angle portion structure 40, so that the outer tube 34 is attached to the curved tube 32 in a compressed state.
[0022]
A mounting jig 41 is used to mount the outer tube 34. The mounting jig 41 is formed of a tubular member, and the inner diameter thereof is larger than the outer diameter of the curved tube 32, and is large enough to allow the curved tube 32 to be inserted therewith. The length of the mounting jig 41 is shorter than the entire length of the angle portion 21. Further, a connection cylinder 42 is provided at an intermediate position of the mounting jig 41.
[0023]
First, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the outer tube 34 is inserted into the mounting jig 41, and both ends thereof are led out. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, both ends of the outer tube 34 are turned outward from both ends of the mounting jig 41 so that the outer surface of the outer tube 34 and the inner surface of the mounting jig 41 are connected. Seal the gap. In this state, by connecting the vacuum suction means 43 to the connection cylinder portion 42 and applying a suction force, the outer tube 34 is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the mounting jig 41. After the angle structure 40 is inserted, the operation of the suction force by the vacuum suction means 43 is stopped.
[0024]
Next, the angle part structure 40 including the curved tube 32 to which the net 33 is mounted is inserted into the mounting jig 41. Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, the shock absorbing layer 37 made of a sealing material is formed to have a predetermined thickness from the base end side of the curved tube 32, that is, from the end ring 30a to the base end of the net 33. Is applied. Here, the application of the shock absorbing layer 37 can be performed before the angle part structure 40 is inserted into the mounting jig 41. Therefore, the coating thickness of the shock absorbing layer 37 can be arbitrarily controlled. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), by inverting the end of the outer tube 34 folded back by the mounting jig 41, the mounting portion of the shock absorbing layer 37 is covered with the outer tube 34. I do. Further, the impact absorbing layer 37 is similarly applied to the distal end side of the curved tube 32, that is, the end ring 30b side. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (e), the other end of the outer layer 34 is also inverted from the mounting jig 41 so as to cover the shock absorbing layer 37, and an unnecessary length of the outer tube 34. Cut and removed. Then, finally, the thread is taken out from the mounting jig 41, and as shown in FIG. 2 (f), the bobbin 44 is wound on both ends of the outer tube 34, and an adhesive is applied to the portion of the bobbin 44. By doing so, the mounting of the outer tube 34 is completed, and the angle portion 21 is formed.
[0025]
As described above, since the shock absorbing layer 37 is interposed between the outer tube 34 and the end rings 30a and 30b, even if it collides with another object or the like, the shock absorbing layer 37 interposed therebetween is compressed. Therefore, the impact is reduced, and the possibility of damage is reduced. In addition, since the shock absorbing layer 37 is formed of a sealing material having an adhesive property, the sealing function of the sealing material is exhibited in addition to the sealing property of the thread winding 43, so that the sealing property inside the insertion portion is further improved. .
[0026]
Then, in order to further improve the hermeticity of the interior by the shock absorbing layer 37 made of a sealing material, it is desirable to further increase the adhesion between the inner surface of the outer tube 34 and the shock absorbing layer 37. For this purpose, a surface treatment, for example, a primer treatment, for improving the adhesiveness is performed on a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube 34 where the shock absorbing layer 37 is to be laminated. Here, when the outer tube 34 is formed of EPDM, a primer mainly composed of toluene, xylene or the like is preferably used. By performing such a surface treatment, the outer tube 34 and the shock absorbing layer 37 are strongly bonded. The sealing material constituting the shock absorbing layer 37 extends over the entire length of the end rings 30a, 30b, and the end rings 30a, 30b are covered with a net 33, which also exerts an anchoring effect on the net 33. Therefore, if a sealing material having high adhesiveness is used, the shock absorbing layer 37 also has a function of fixing the outer tube 34, so that the outer tube 34 can be formed without applying the special spool 43 and the adhesive. The end can be fixed.
[0027]
The shock absorbing layer 37 is not limited to the sealing material, but it is sufficient that a member more flexible than the outer tube 34 is interposed between the outer tube 34 and the end rings 30a and 30b of the curved tube 32. When the tube 34 is made of EPDM, silicon rubber, natural rubber, or the like can be used as the shock absorbing layer. These may be applied in liquid form on the end rings 30a and 30b, or formed in a tube shape and fixed to the inner surface of the outer tube with an adhesive or the like. The outer tube may be formed of urethane rubber or the like in addition to EPDM.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention, as described above, by limiting the sheathing tube provided in the bending tube in the non-bending portion since so as to interposed a shock-absorbing layer flexible than the outer skin tube, influence the bending operation of the angle portion Without giving the effect, it is possible to effectively protect the easily breakable portion of the outer tube constituting the exterior portion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an angle part showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a process explanatory view of a method of attaching an outer tube to a curved tube.
FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an angle part according to the related art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Hard tip part 21 Angle part 22 Flexible part 28 Tip body 30 Angle ring 30a, 30b End ring 31 Pivot pin 32 Curved tube 33 Net 34 Outer tube 36 Connection ring 37 Shock absorbing layer 40 Angle part structure 41 Mounting jig

Claims (7)

In the distal end hard portion, an angle portion that is bent by remote control is provided, and in the insertion portion of a medical endoscope in which a flexible portion that can be bent in any direction is connected to the angle portion,
A predetermined number of angle rings are sequentially pivoted to form a bendable ring structure that can be bent, and the ends of these angle rings become non-curved portions by the end ring connected to the distal end hard portion and the flexible portion. Curved tube,
A net attached to the outer surface of this curved tube,
It consists of a skin tube attached to the outside of this net,
An angle portion of an endoscope , wherein a shock absorbing layer made of a member that is more flexible than the outer tube is provided between the outer tube and any of the non-curved portions. . The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing layer extends over substantially the entire length of the non-curved portion including the end ring and a connection portion to another angle ring adjacent thereto. Angle part of. The angle section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube is made of urethane rubber or ethylene propylene diene rubber, and the shock absorbing layer is made of silicon rubber or natural rubber. The outer tube is made of urethane rubber or ethylene propylene diene rubber, and the shock absorbing layer has a predetermined thickness between the inner surface of the outer tube, the end ring, and the net. The angle part of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the angle part is interposed. 5. The angle part of an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the sealing material has an adhesive function. The angle part of an endoscope according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the outer tube where the shock absorbing layer is laminated is subjected to a primer treatment. A net is formed on the outer surface of a curved tube formed by pivotally attaching a predetermined number of angle rings, and a skin tube is sequentially formed on the outer side of the net. And a method of attaching an outer tube constituting an exterior part to an angle part curved by remote operation,
A step of expanding the outer tube by vacuum suction,
A step of inserting the angle part structure into a sheath tube having an enlarged diameter,
In order to protect the end portion of the outer tube, a step of applying a sealing material having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined thickness on an end ring which is an angle ring at both ends of the angle part structure,
A step of applying the outer tube to the sealing material application area,
Cutting both ends of the outer tube and fixing the outer tube to an end portion of the angle portion structure.

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