JP3679655B2 - Method for manufacturing flexible tube for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope, and more specifically, a flexible tube formed by coating a spiral tubular flex (flexible body) with a blade (wire mesh) and coating the blade with an outer skin. It relates to the manufacturing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, a flexible endoscope used for medical purposes is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the endoscope 1 includes an operation unit main body 2 that performs various operations at hand and a flexible long body cavity insertion unit 3 that is inserted into the body cavity of a patient. The operation unit main body 2 of the endoscope 1 includes an eyepiece unit 4, an operation knob for bending 5, an insertion port for an affected part treatment tool such as forceps, an operation knob 7 for raising a treatment tool, and an air supply / water supply button. 8, a suction button 9 and the like are disposed, and a light guide cord 10 connected to a light source device (not shown) for illumination is coupled.
[0003]
The body cavity insertion portion 3 includes a flexible bendable long flexible tube 11 connected to the operation portion main body 2, and is connected to the flexible tube 11 for bending the operation portion main body 2. A bending tube 12 for displacing the distal end constituting portion 13 in an arbitrary direction by the operation knob 5, and a continuous connection to the bending tube 12, an illumination window, an observation window, a treatment instrument inlet / outlet, an air / water supply port (any (Not shown) and the like.
[0004]
As is well known, in the flexible tube 11 and the bending tube 12 of the insertion portion 3 in the body cavity, a light transmission member such as an image guide fiber or a light guide fiber, a treatment instrument insertion tube, air supply / water supply, etc. Many built-in members, such as operation members (both not shown) such as tubes and treatment instrument raising devices, are passed through, and the respective distal end portions of these built-in members are fixed in the distal end constituting portion 13. Yes.
[0005]
The flexible tube 11 of the flexible endoscope 1 configured as described above is formed as shown in FIG. 2, and the front and rear end portions thereof are connected to the bending tube 12 and the operation unit main body 2, respectively. That is, as is well known, the flexible tube 11 is fitted to the outer periphery of the flex 14 and a spiral tubular flex (flexible body) 14 formed by spirally winding a belt-like elastic thin plate as a base. A tubular blade (for example, a braided wire mesh) 15 and an outer skin 16 made of a thermoplastic resin coated on the outer peripheral surface of the blade 15 are configured.
[0006]
And the front-end | tip part of the flexible tube 11 is couple | bonded with the rear-end part of the said bending tube 12 as follows. That is, the outer skin 16 at the distal end portion of the flexible tube 11 is scraped off, and this portion is inserted into a ring-shaped connection base 20 fixed to the rear portion of the joint piece 19 in the bending tube 12 and soldered or the like. It is fixed to the connection base 20. At the time of the soldering, the outer skin 17a of the bending tube 12 on the outer peripheral portion of the connection base 20 is turned up, and after the soldering is completed, the outer end 17a is returned to its original position, and the rear end surface is flexed as shown in FIG. The tube 11 is in close contact with the distal end surface of the outer skin 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer skin 16, 17a in the vicinity of the close contact portion is squeezed with a thread 21 or the like, and an adhesive or the like is further applied thereon to turn up the outer skin 16, 17a In addition to preventing, it is hermetically sealed.
[0007]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 denotes a blade of the bending tube 12 on which the joint piece 19 is fitted, and reference numeral 17 denotes an outer skin of the bending tube 12.
[0008]
The rear end portion of the flexible tube 11 is coupled to the distal end portion of the operation portion main body 2 as follows. That is, a short cylindrical connection base 21 fixed by soldering to a blade 15 whose outer skin has been scraped off at the rear end of the flexible tube 11 and a ring-shaped possibility formed at the distal end of the operation unit main body 2. The flexible tube mounting portion 2a is brought into contact with the tapered surfaces formed on the respective opposing surfaces, and the coupling screw ring 22 is screwed onto the outer periphery of the mounting portion 2a, so that the two are in close contact with each other. Is done.
[0009]
A reinforcing tube 23 is fitted over the outer periphery of the rear end portion of the flexible tube 11 and the outer periphery of the base 21, and is fixed to the flexible tube mounting portion 2a of the operation portion main body 2 by screws 2b. A cone-shaped anti-bending member 25 made of synthetic rubber or plastic material is fitted through the mounting member 24, and the base portion of the long flexible tube 11 is bent extremely to damage a built-in member. There is nothing to do.
[0010]
The flexible tube 11 configured as described above has been conventionally produced as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the flex 27 is wound around a metal pipe 26 which has an outer diameter substantially equal to a predetermined inner diameter of the flex 27 and is slightly longer than the length of the flex, and serves as a core metal. Is fixed with an adhesive tape or the like, and when the outer peripheral surface of the flex 27 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the flex 27 and is brought into close contact with the outer periphery of the flex 27, it becomes longer than the metal pipe 26. It is covered with a braid 28 braided in a wire mesh, and both ends 28a and 28b are squeezed as shown in the figure to prevent loose contact, and are fixed by soldering etc. The both ends of the flex 27 and the blade 28 in the length l range are fixed by soldering or the like so that the metal pipe 26 is not fixed together.
[0011]
Next, the outer peripheral surface of the blade 28 is covered with an outer skin 29 made of a synthetic resin material having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the blade 28. At this time, an adhesive is disposed between the outer skin 29 and the blade 28 so that the outer skin 29 does not move, or the flexibility of the flexible tube is appropriately changed by the adhesive. .
[0012]
In this way, the flexible tube 11 in the state of FIG. 3 then breaks one end 28 a of the blade 28, exposing one end of the metal pipe 26 therein, and the other end of the blade 28. Holding the portion 28b with a vise or the like, pulling the end of the exposed metal pipe 26, pulling it out from the flex 27, and then cutting it into a predetermined length l to obtain the desired flexible tube 11. It was supposed to be.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the metal pipe 26 is pulled out from the flexible tube 11 during the above process, talc, dencaboron, molybdenum disulfide, Teflon powder or the like is previously placed between the flex 27 and the metal pipe 26 in order to make the pulling operation smooth. Although the lubricant was applied, the following drawbacks were still unavoidable. That is,
(1) When the metal pipe 26 is pulled out from the flex 27, the alignment of the flex 27 is disturbed by the frictional force of both, the pitch changes, and the flexibility as a flexible tube partially changes, so that the average flexibility Flexibility cannot be obtained.
[0014]
(2) When the flex 27 and the blade 28 are fixed by soldering, the metal pipe 26 is soldered at the same time so that the metal pipe 26 cannot be pulled out from the flex 27 or the flex 27 is damaged. Will occur.
[0015]
(3) Therefore, in order to avoid the above disadvantages, careful work is required when pulling out the metal pipe 26 from the flex 27 of the above (1) and when soldering the flex 27 and the blade 28 of the above (2). It takes a lot of time and costs increase.
[0016]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope, in which the drawbacks of pulling a metal core from the flex are satisfactorily eliminated.
[0017]
[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes a step of coating a rod-shaped cored bar with a heat-resistant core tube having elasticity and expansion / contraction force via an anti-friction agent, and winding a spiral tubular flex on the outer peripheral surface of the coated core tube A step of covering the outer peripheral surface of the wound flex with a blade, a step of covering the outer peripheral surface of the coated blade with an outer skin made of resin, and an endoscope for which the outer surface is covered Pulling out only the cored bar from the flexible tube, and pulling the core tube of the endoscope flexible tube from which the cored bar has been pulled out in the longitudinal axis direction, the outer diameter of the core tube with respect to the inner diameter of the flex A method of producing a flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising a step of pulling out the flex from the flex in a thin state.
[0019]
According to the present invention, when pulling out the cored bar from the flex, the cored bar is first pulled out from the core tube, and then the core tube is stretched to make it thinner than the flex, and then the tube is pulled out from the flex. As a result, the cored bar and the core tube can be easily pulled out without any frictional resistance, and the conventional drawbacks as described above can be eliminated at all.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments.
[0021]
4 (a) to 4 (d) are diagrams showing a manufacturing process in the manufacturing method of the present invention, and FIG. 4 (a) shows the same state as that in the manufacturing process of the flexible tube 11 of FIG. ing.
[0022]
However, in the conventional manufacturing method of FIG. 3, the flex 27 is wound directly around the metal pipe 26, whereas in the manufacturing method of the present invention, as shown in FIG. After applying a lubricant such as Dencaboron, molybdenum disulfide, or Teflon powder on the outer peripheral surface of the metal rod 32, the core tube 33 having elasticity and stretchability is coated, and the outer surface of the core tube 33 is coated with the above-mentioned figure. 3 is different in that a flex 34 similar to the flex 27 in FIG.
[0023]
Thereafter, both ends of the flex 34 are fixed to the core tube 33 with an adhesive tape 35 or the like, and the outer peripheral surface of the flex 34 is similarly covered with the blade 36 similar to the blade 28 in FIG. The left and right end portions 36a and 36b are similarly screwed and fixed by soldering or the like.
[0024]
Next, the blade 36 and the flex 34 are fixed by soldering at the left and right outer portions of the required length l as the flexible tube and the left and right lengths l1 and l2 which become the connecting portions for coupling. Is done. This is because when the metal rod 32 is pulled out, the flex 34 and the blade 36 do not move at both end portions so that the predetermined length of the flexible tube does not change, and the pre-coating when the connection base is attached. For.
[0025]
Next, the outer peripheral surface of the blade 36 is covered with an outer skin 37 made of a thermoplastic resin material.
[0026]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), one end 36a (left in this case) of the blade 36 is cut open to expose one end (in this case left) of the metal dedication 32. Then, holding the same end with a vise and holding the other blade end 36 b and pulling in the direction of arrow A, the above-mentioned anti-friction agent is interposed between the metal rod 32 and the core tube 33. Therefore, the metal rod 32 is easily and smoothly pulled out from the core tube 33. That is, in the operation of pulling out the metal bar 32, the metal bar 32 is pulled out without coming into direct contact with the flex 34, so that the flex 34 does not deform at all.
[0027]
In this way, after the metal rod 32 is pulled out from the flexible tube 31, as shown in FIG. 4C, the other blade end portion 36b is cut open, and the core tube 33 (both ends are exposed) When the both ends of (shown by a two-dot chain line) are pulled toward the left and right outer sides, the concentric tube 33 has elasticity, so as shown by the solid line, it extends long and its outer diameter is small. Since it becomes the core tube 33a, it can be pulled out from the inside of the flex 34 without any resistance.
[0028]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), both ends of the flexible tube 31 are cut to form the flexible tube 31 to a predetermined length l, and the outer skin 37 of the coupling portions l1, l2 at both ends. The flexible tube 31 similar to the flexible tube 11 in FIG. The flexible tube 31 thus obtained is connected to the bending tube 12 of the endoscope and the operation unit body 2 in exactly the same manner as the conventional one.
[0029]
The metal bar 32 used as the metal core is formed of iron, copper, steel, or the like, but stainless steel is suitable for repeated use over a long period of time.
[0030]
The core tube 33 is preferably made of a fluorine-based resin such as a tetrafluoroethylene resin or a hexafluoroethylene resin because of the ease of pulling out the metal rod 32 when high heat is applied by soldering. A rubber tube, fluorine rubber, or the like may be used.
[0031]
When this silicon rubber tube is used, its inner diameter changes easily according to the outer diameter of the core metal, so the core metal is covered with a silicon rubber tube with an inner diameter approximately equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the core metal. The outer diameter of the tube after coating should be approximately equal to the inner diameter of the predetermined flexible tube, or an outer diameter that is larger by the thickness of the flex, so that the outer diameter of the tube can be suitably controlled during the manufacturing process. Use. It has been demonstrated that even if the silicon rubber tube has an inner diameter that is 50% of the inner diameter of a predetermined flexible tube, the silicon rubber tube can be manufactured with the outer diameter.
[0032]
Also in this case, as described above, the application of the lubricant to the surface of the metal core remains unchanged. In the case of a silicon rubber tube, the outer diameter of the tube is automatically reduced when the cored bar is pulled out, so that it is very easy to pull it out of the flex and has the advantage that it can be reused. . Also, the rubber hardness of the silicon rubber tube is good at about 40-60HS. If the expansion and contraction is adjusted by air after inserting the core, the outer diameter of the tube can be adjusted, and the dimensional error of the rubber alone is reduced to 0. It has been demonstrated that it can be adjusted to about 05 mm.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, the case where the outer skin 37 is formed of a flexible synthetic resin tube has been described. However, when the thermoplastic resin or rubber is formed as an outer skin through a die, the above-described substance is removed by an immersion method. Of course, the same can be applied to the case of coating.
[0034]
<Appendix>
(1) A rod-shaped cored bar and its outer diameter d1 are detachably covered with a heat-resistant core tube having elastic force and stretching force and its inner diameter d2, and in a natural state, dl ≧ d2 A spiral tubular flex is wound on the outer peripheral surface of the flexible member, and the outer peripheral surface of the flex is covered with a blade, and the outer peripheral surface is covered with an outer skin to form a flexible tube. The core tube is pulled out from the heat-resistant core tube, and then the core tube is pulled so that the outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the flex, and the core tube is pulled out from the flexible tube made of the flex, blade, and outer skin. A method of manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope.
[0035]
(2) In the above (1), the heat-resistant core tube is a tube made of a material made of fluorine-based resin (tetrafluoroethylene resin, hexafluoroethylene resin), silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, or the like.
[0036]
(3) In the above (1), a lubricant such as talc, dencaboron, molybdenum disulfide, and Teflon powder is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the core metal, and then the heat-resistant core tube is coated. .
[0037]
(4) A heat-resistant core tube having elasticity and stretchability is detachably coated on a rod-shaped cored bar, the inner surface is coated on the outer circumferential surface, and a spiral tubular flex is wound on the outer circumferential surface. The outer peripheral surface of the flex is covered with a blade, and the outer peripheral surface is covered with an outer skin to form a flexible tube. After that, the rod-shaped cored bar is pulled out from the heat-resistant core tube, and then the core tube is pulled. A method for producing a flexible tube for an endoscope, wherein the outer diameter is made smaller than the inner diameter of the endothelium and the outer tube is pulled out from the flexible tube made of the endothelium, flex, blade, and outer skin.
[0038]
(5) In the above (4), the heat-resistant core tube is a tube made of a material made of fluorine-based resin (tetrafluoroethylene resin, hexafluoroethylene resin), silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, or the like.
[0039]
(6) In the above (4), an anti-friction agent such as talc, dencaboron, molybdenum disulfide, and Teflon powder is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the core metal, and then the heat-resistant core tube is coated. .
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the above-described drawbacks of this type of manufacturing method can be brilliantly achieved by using a core tube having a very simple structure and almost the same as the conventional manufacturing method. It is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope that has been eliminated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a flexible endoscope.
2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the flexible endoscope shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible tube showing a part of a manufacturing process in a conventional method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope.
4A to 4D are cross-sectional views of a flexible tube showing manufacturing steps of a method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube according to the present invention, respectively.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 11, 31 ... Flexible tube 14, 27, 34 ... Flex 15, 28, 36 ... Blade 16, 29, 37 ... Outer skin 33 ... Core tube 26, 32 ... Core metal (metal pipe)

Claims (1)

Coating a heat-resistant core tube having elasticity and expansion / contraction force on a rod-shaped cored bar via a lubricant,
Winding a spiral tubular flex on the outer peripheral surface of the coated core tube;
Coating the outer peripheral surface of the wound flex with a blade;
Coating an outer skin made of resin on the outer peripheral surface of the coated blade;
A step of pulling out only the cored bar from the endoscope flexible tube covered to the outer skin,
A step of pulling the core tube of the endoscope flexible tube from which the core bar has been pulled out in the longitudinal axis direction and pulling out the core tube from the flex in a state where the outer diameter of the core tube is smaller than the inner diameter of the flex; ,
A method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising:

Images