JP3724083B2 - End joint connection structure of endoscope insertion part - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distal end portion connection structure of an endoscope insertion portion that connects between a distal end portion main body and an angle portion constituting an insertion portion in an endoscope used for medical purposes and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 7, an endoscope used for medical purposes generally has an insertion portion 2 connected to a main body operation portion 1 and a universal cord 3 connected to a light source device or the like. Is roughly constituted by. The insertion portion 2 has an angle portion 5 connected to a flexible portion 4 that is bent in an arbitrary direction along the insertion path from the side where the insertion portion 2 is continuous to the main body operation portion 1. 6 is connected. As shown in FIG. 8, the distal end portion 6 is provided with an illumination portion 7 that irradiates illumination light toward the observation target portion (two illumination portions 7 are provided, but only one location may be provided) In addition, an observation unit 8 for observing the observation target portion under illumination from the illumination unit 7 is provided, and a treatment instrument insertion channel 9 for inserting forceps and other treatment instruments is opened. Further, a cleaning fluid ejection nozzle 10 is provided for cleaning the observation unit 8 when the observation unit 8 is soiled.
[0003]
FIG. 9 shows a section of the tip portion 6 and a connecting portion between the tip portion 6 and the angle portion 5. Here, the site | part which has arrange | positioned the observation part 8 and the treatment tool penetration channel 9 is shown by the same figure. The illumination unit 7 and the like do not appear in this drawing.
[0004]
The distal end portion 6 has a distal end portion main body 6a made of a metal material. In the distal end portion main body 6a, the observation portion 8 is formed of a through hole penetrating in the axial direction, and the objective lens unit 11 is mounted inside the through hole. A prism 12 for bending the optical path by 90 ° is disposed at the rear position of the objective lens unit 11. The prism 12 is joined with a solid-state imaging device 14 mounted on a circuit board 13, and a cable 15 is drawn from the circuit board 13. The treatment instrument insertion channel 9 is formed of a flexible tube 16 in the region from the angle portion 5 to the flexible portion 4, and a treatment instrument insertion passage 17 is formed in the distal end portion body 6a. Then, a connecting pipe 18 is inserted into a part of the treatment instrument insertion path 17 and a part of the connecting pipe 18 protrudes into the angle portion 5, and the flexible tube 16 is fitted and fixed to the connecting pipe 18. Has been.
[0005]
In addition to the observation unit 8 to which the objective lens unit 11 is attached and the treatment instrument insertion path 17, the illumination unit 7 is also a through hole through which the light guide is inserted, and is cleaned toward the cleaning fluid ejection nozzle 10. Fluid passages for supplying fluid are formed, all of which are directed in the axial direction at the tip portion 6.
[0006]
The angle portion 5 is formed by sequentially pivoting angle rings, and the tips of two to four operation wires 20 are fixed to the most advanced angle ring, that is, the tip ring 19 (or the tip portion main body 6). The operation wire 20 is extended to the main body operation unit 1, and the angle knob 21 provided on the main body operation unit 1 is operated to push and pull to bend the angle unit 5, The tip 6 provided with the illumination unit 7 and the observation unit 8 can be directed in a desired direction.
[0007]
The angle ring is a structure of the angle portion 5 and is composed of a metal ring to give strength, and an outer body 22 made of a net and a resin coating layer having electrical insulation is provided on the outer periphery of the angle ring. To be attached. Further, the tip main body 6a is also made of metal in order to give sufficient strength because of the relation that the above-described various members are mounted and a plurality of through holes are formed. In an endoscope used for medical purposes, it is necessary to hold the metal so as not to be exposed to the outside. For this purpose, a cap 23 made of a hard synthetic resin having electrical insulation is fitted to the distal end body 6a. Combined and fixed using an adhesive or the like. The cap 23 does not cover the entire distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 6a, but an opening is provided at a portion where the illumination portion 7, the observation portion 8, the treatment instrument insertion passage 17 and the fluid passage to the cleaning fluid ejection nozzle 10 are provided. And covers the portion where the tip surface of the tip body 6a is exposed.
[0008]
The angle portion 5 and the tip portion 6 are connected by fitting the tip ring 19 constituting the angle ring on the angle portion 5 side with the tip portion main body 6a so that the tip ring 19 constitutes the angle ring and the angle portion. In order to function as a connecting ring between the front end 6 and the angle portion 5 and the front end 6, the peripheral body of the front end ring 19 and the peripheral body of the front end main body 6a It is fixed by fixing the countersunk screw 24 between them.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when the connection between the angle portion 5 and the tip portion 6 is performed using the countersunk screw 24, there are the following problems.
[0010]
First, the countersunk screw 24 must be screwed into the tip end body 6a in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, and in order to ensure the connection strength, the screwing depth of the countersunk screw 24 in the tip end body 6a. Needs to be increased to some extent. However, since various members are attached to the distal end portion main body 6a, and these members extend in the axial direction, when a screw hole is formed in a direction perpendicular to the axial line of the distal end portion main body 6a, The insertion part 2 becomes thick. In order to reduce the operability of inserting the insertion portion into a body cavity and the like and reducing the pain of the patient, there is an extremely high demand for a reduction in the diameter of the insertion portion. It becomes a very disadvantageous factor for the transformation.
[0011]
Similarly, in order to reduce the diameter of the insertion portion 2, the configuration of the angle portion 5 is also reviewed. The angle portion 5 uses an angle ring as its structure, but its thickness has been increased to some extent in order to give the strength necessary to prevent the deformation of the angle ring. For this purpose, the tip ring 19 which constitutes a part of the angle ring and functions as a connecting member between the angle portion 5 and the tip portion 6 has its meat. The thickness tends to be considerably thinner. The countersunk screw 24 is for connecting and fixing the tip ring 19 and the tip portion main body 6a. When the tip ring 19 becomes thin, the connection state becomes unstable. In particular, when the operation wire 20 for angle operation is connected to the tip ring 19, when an operation for bending the angle portion 5 to the maximum is performed, a strong pulling force acts on the tip ring 19, Since it acts on the part of the countersunk screw 24, the fixedness of the tip ring 19 is impaired during repeated angle operations.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points. The object of the present invention is to connect and fix the tip ring that constitutes the angle portion after the tip ring is fitted to the tip portion main body. Thus, it can be fixed so as not to be disadvantageous in terms of space, and can be stably held in a connected state.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention configures the distal end portion to connect the distal end portion of the insertion portion, which is arranged in the order of the soft portion, the angle portion, and the distal end portion from the main body operation portion side, to the angle portion. A connecting ring is fitted to the tip body, and the angle portion and the tip are connected by this connecting ring, and the tip body is provided with a cap that covers the exposed portion of the tip surface. And one or a plurality of engaging pieces bent inward at the tip of the connecting ring, the engaging pieces being sandwiched between the tip body and the cap, This is characterized in that a screw member is used for connection between the front end portion main body and the tip portion main body.
[0014]
In order to prevent the metal from being exposed at the tip of the tip portion main body, a cap is attached, and a tip ring is engaged between the cap and the tip portion main body. An inward engagement portion piece may be formed at the distal end portion of the connection ring, and the engagement portion piece may be sandwiched between the cap and the distal end portion main body. Here, since the engaging part piece is merely held between the cap and the tip part main body, the inwardly protruding part may be very small. Then, the cap and the tip body are connected using a screw member, and the screw hole into which the screw member is screwed is drilled in an axial direction that matches the insertion direction of various members provided in the tip body. Therefore, the space that exists between the members can be used to fix the screw member, and the formation of the screw hole substantially affects the outer diameter of the tip body. There is nothing. However, when the connection ring is configured to be held between the tip body and the cap, the connection ring may rotate relative to the tip body when fitted to the tip body. In order to prevent such a relative rotation, a connecting ring positioning means may be provided. As this positioning means, for example, a positioning member such as a positioning pin engaged with a peripheral body portion of the connecting ring and the tip portion main body, or a concave portion that accommodates an engaging piece of the tip ring formed at the tip portion of the tip portion main body. Etc.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those of the above-described conventional technology are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0016]
First, FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional structure of a connecting portion between the distal end portion 31 and the angle portion 32 in the insertion portion 30, and FIG. 2 shows a distal end surface of the insertion portion 30. Here, as described in the prior art, the light guide (not shown) facing the illumination unit 7 formed at the tip 31 and the observation unit 8 are configured as members housed in the insertion unit 30. The objective lens unit 11 attached to the through hole, the treatment instrument insertion passage 17, and the fluid passage leading to the cleaning fluid supply nozzle 10 are provided, and the distal end portion main body constituting the distal end portion 31 for inserting these members A large number of through holes are formed in the axial direction in 31a.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, 33 is a tip ring positioned at the forefront of the angle ring in the angle portion 32, and 34 is an exterior body that covers the angle ring of the angle portion 32. The distal end ring 33 that is fitted to the distal end portion body 31a and functions as a connecting ring between the distal end portion 31 and the angle portion 32 is attached to the distal end of the operation wire 35 for performing an angle operation. The part is fastened. Reference numeral 36 denotes a cap to be attached to the distal end portion main body 31a. The cap 36 is formed with an exposed surface, that is, a through hole through which each member is inserted, at the distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 31a. A peripheral body portion 36b that covers the outer peripheral portion of the tip portion main body 31a by a predetermined length is connected to an end surface portion 36a that covers other than the part. The tip portion main body 31a and the cap 36 constitute the tip portion 31. These points are basically not different from those of the prior art described above.
[0018]
However, as a connecting mechanism between the tip ring 33 and the tip main body 31a in the angle portion 32, the following connecting mechanism is adopted instead of using the countersunk screw shown in the prior art.
[0019]
That is, the tip ring 33 is fixedly connected so as to hold the tip ring 33 by using the cap 36 fitted to the tip portion main body 31a. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 3, the front end portion of the front end ring 33 is provided with forward protrusions at required locations (two locations in the drawing), and these protrusions are directed inward. By engaging approximately 90 °, the engaging piece 37 is integrally connected. Then, by engaging the engaging portion piece 37 toward the distal end surface side of the distal end portion main body 31a, when the cap 36 is fitted to the distal end portion main body 31a, the engagement portion piece 37 is sandwiched therebetween and fixed so as not to be separated. .
[0020]
Here, the peripheral body portion of the tip ring 33 is held between the outer periphery of the tip portion main body 31a and the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral body portion 36b of the cap 36, and deformation of the tip ring 33 is prevented. The tip ring 33 can be fixed even if the piece 37 is protruded slightly inward. The distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 31a is formed with the illumination unit 7, the observation unit 8, and the treatment instrument insertion passage 14 as described above, and the cleaning fluid ejection nozzle 10 is mounted, but these are edge portions on the outer periphery. Therefore, even if the engaging piece 37 is turned to the distal end surface side of the distal end portion main body 31a, it does not interfere with the above-described members.
[0021]
By the way, when the tip ring 33 is held between the tip portion main body 31a and the cap 36, a force in a direction in which the tip ring 33 protrudes in the axial direction acts when performing an angle operation or the like. Therefore, the cap 36 must be firmly connected to the tip end body 31a. For this purpose, the cap 36 is connected to the distal end portion main body 31a using a screw member 38. The screw member 38 has a screw flange portion 38a and a head portion 38b, and the screw flange portion 38a is screwed from the cap 36 in the axial direction of the distal end portion main body 31a. For this purpose, the cap 36 has a concave portion 39 for accommodating the head portion 38b of the screw member 38, and an insertion hole 40 of the screw flange portion 38a that is continuous with the concave portion 39 and opens on the contact surface with the tip end body 31a. The tip end body 31a is formed with a screw hole 41 into which the screw flange portion 38a is screwed.
[0022]
Here, a screw hole 41 is formed in the tip end body 31a, and the screw hole 41 is drilled in the axial direction of the tip end body 31a. In order to mount various members on the distal end portion main body 31a, a large number of through holes are formed in the axial direction, but a certain amount of space exists between the through holes. For example, since the illumination unit 7 and the observation unit 8 are separated to some extent in order to prevent harmful light from entering the observation unit 8, a space between them can be used. FIG. 1 shows an electronic endoscope using a solid-state imaging device. As an observation mechanism, an objective lens unit 11 is attached to an observation unit 8, and a prism 12 is provided behind the objective lens unit 11. The solid-state imaging device 14 mounted on the circuit board 13 is mounted so that the light receiving surface thereof faces the axial direction of the tip end body 31a. In the case of such a configuration, the circuit board 13 protrudes in the direction of the treatment instrument insertion path 17, and the circuit board 13 on which the solid-state imaging device 14 is mounted has a certain thickness. Accordingly, a considerable space exists between the observation unit 8 and the treatment instrument insertion path 17 in the distal end portion main body 31a.
[0023]
As described above, since there is originally a space for forming the screw hole 41 having a hole diameter enough to screw the screw rod 38a of the screw member 38 into the tip portion main body 31a, if these spaces are used, for example, As shown in FIG. 1, if the space between the observation part 8 and the treatment instrument insertion path 17 is used, the outer diameter of the distal end part body 31a is not affected at all. Moreover, since the screw member 38 is for fixing the cap 36 to the front-end | tip part main body 31a, as long as there is room of space, it is also possible to mount two or more.
[0024]
Since the screw member 38 is made of metal and is screwed into the tip end body 31a made of metal, the screw member 38 must be held so that the head portion 38b of the screw member 38 is not exposed to the outside. Don't be. Therefore, the thickness of the head portion 38b is made thinner than the depth of the concave portion 39 formed in the cap 36, and the head portion 38b is buried in the concave portion 39 when the screw member 38 is attached. Then, the recess 39 is filled with a sealing material having electrical insulation. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the metal from being exposed to the distal end portion of the insertion portion and to seal the mounting portion of the screw member 38.
[0025]
Since the tip ring 33 is fixed in a connected state by being sandwiched between the tip portion main body 31a and the cap 36, the tip ring 33 cannot be moved in the axial direction, but the tip ring 33 is restricted in the rotational direction. not exist. Also, since the bending direction of the angle portion 32 is directional, if the tip body 31a and the tip ring 33 are assembled in a state where the tip portion body 31a and the tip ring 33 are displaced in the rotational direction, an accurate angle operation cannot be performed. Therefore, the tip ring 33 must be provided with positioning means for restricting the tip ring 33 from moving in the rotational direction in a state where the tip ring 33 is assembled in a state where the direction of the tip ring main body 31a is aligned. .
[0026]
As the positioning means, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, an engaging recess 42 for engaging each engaging piece 37 of the tip ring 33 is formed on the tip surface of the tip portion main body 31a, and the tip ring Each engaging part 37 can be configured to engage with the engaging recess 42 when 33 is fitted to the tip end body 31a. Then, each engaging piece 37 is colored with a different color, and the engaging recess 42 with which each engaging piece 37 is engaged is colored with the corresponding color, or the engaging piece 37 and It is preferable to make it possible to identify which engaging piece 37 should be engaged with which engaging recess 42, such as changing the width of the engaging recess 42. Thereby, the directionality of the tip ring 33 can be easily matched at the time of assembly, and the tip ring 33 can be prevented from relatively moving in the rotational direction by the stepped wall in the engaging recess 42.
[0027]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a through hole 43 is formed in a portion of the peripheral body portion of the tip ring 33 where the cap 36 is fitted, and the tip ring 33 is assembled in a normal state in the tip portion main body 31a. Sometimes, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a pin insertion hole 44 is formed in a portion coinciding with the through hole 43. With this configuration, when the tip ring 33 is fitted to the tip portion main body 31a, if the through hole 43 and the pin insertion hole 44 are in a state of being matched, the tip ring 33 and the tip portion main body 31a are relatively aligned. The positional relationship will be matched. Further, by inserting the positioning pin 45 from the through hole 43 into the pin insertion hole 44, it is possible to prevent the tip ring 33 from rotating relative to the assembled state. Here, since the positioning pin 45 inserted into the pin insertion hole 44 only prevents rotation of the tip ring 33, the depth of the pin insertion hole 44 may be very small.
[0028]
In addition to these, it is also possible to configure the positioning means by providing a protrusion on the tip end body 31a and providing a through hole into which the protrusion is fitted in the tip ring 33. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a combination of positioning using the engaging piece 37 of the tip ring 33 and a plurality of positioning means such as positioning pins that engage with the tip ring 33 and the peripheral body portion of the tip body 31a are combined. Then, the tip ring 33 can be positioned more accurately and stably.
[0029]
By the way, in order to repair a member inserted through the insertion portion 30 and perform other maintenance, it is necessary to separate the tip portion 31 and the angle portion 32. The tip ring 33 is formed in a state in which an engagement piece 37 protrudes inward. The tip ring 33 also serves as an angle ring together with the connecting ring, so that the tip body 31a and the angle portion 32 are separated as they are. You can't do that. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 4, a detachable groove 46 penetrating in the axial direction is formed at a position where the phase of the engaging recess 42 is changed in the peripheral body portion of the tip body 31 a, What is necessary is just to make a width | variety and a depth into the shape corresponding to the engaging part piece 37.
[0030]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a connecting ring 50 is provided in the distal end portion body 31a so as to extend to the position of the distal end portion body 31a of the distal end ring 33 ′ positioned at the most distal end in the angle portion 32. It can also comprise so that it may connect with the base end part of the connection ring 50, without existing. In this case, the connection ring 50 and the tip ring 33 'must be detachable and must be firmly fixed in the connected state. For this purpose, the diameter of the tip of the tip ring 33 'is reduced to form a stepped portion 33a', the base end of the connecting ring 50 is fitted to the stepped portion 33a ', and the overlapping portion of both rings 1, one or a plurality of through holes 51 may be formed on the connection ring 50 side, and solder may be poured into the through holes 51. Accordingly, both rings are firmly connected by this solder, and the connecting ring 50 can be separated from the tip ring 33 'by melting the solder as required. In FIG. 6, configurations other than those described above are the same as those in FIG. 1, so corresponding members are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the coupling ring that forms the angle portion can be fitted to the tip body, and can be fixed so as not to be disadvantageous in terms of space when connecting and fixing the two. In addition, there is an effect that it can be stably held in a connected state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion between an angle portion of an insertion portion and a distal end portion main body showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view showing a distal end surface of an insertion portion.
FIG. 3 is an external view of a main part of a tip ring.
FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view showing an example of a positioning means in a rotational direction between a tip body and a tip ring.
FIG. 5 is a configuration explanatory view showing another example of a positioning means in a rotational direction between a tip portion main body and a tip ring.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion between an angle portion of an insertion portion and a distal end portion main body showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope.
FIG. 8 is an external view showing a configuration of a distal end surface of an insertion portion of an endoscope according to a conventional technique.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting portion between the angle portion of the insertion portion and the tip portion main body according to the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
30 Insertion part 31 Tip part 31a Tip part body 32 Angle part 33, 33 'End ring 36 Cap 37 Engagement piece 38 Screw member 39 Recess 40 Insertion hole 41 Screw hole 42 Engagement recess 43 Through hole 44 Pin insertion hole 45 Positioning Pin 46 Groove 50 Connection ring 51 Through hole

Claims (3)

In order to connect the distal end portion of the insertion portion, which is arranged in the order of the flexible portion, the angle portion, and the distal end portion from the main body operation portion side, to the angle portion, a coupling ring is fitted to the distal end portion main body constituting the distal end portion. The angled part and the tip part are connected by a connecting ring, and the tip part body is provided with a cap that covers the part where the tip surface is exposed.
One or a plurality of engaging part pieces bent inward are connected to the tip of the connecting ring, and the engaging part piece is sandwiched between the tip part main body and the cap,
A distal end portion connecting structure for an endoscope insertion portion, wherein the cap and the distal end portion main body are connected using a screw member.   The distal end portion connecting structure for an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means for preventing relative rotation in a state where the connecting ring is fitted to the distal end portion main body. .   The positioning means is formed on a positioning pin for connecting a peripheral body portion of the connecting ring and the tip portion main body, an uneven fitting portion provided between the connecting ring and the tip portion main body, and a tip portion of the tip portion main body. The distal end portion connecting structure for an endoscope insertion portion according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion piece is configured by any one of the concave portions in which the engagement portion pieces are accommodated.

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