JP4586946B2 - Endoscope insertion portion connection structure and connection method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connection structure and a connection method between an angle part and a soft part in an insertion part of an endoscope used for medical purposes and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An endoscope used for medical purposes or the like is configured as 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 mostly a flexible portion 2a from the connecting portion side to the main body operation portion 1, and an angle portion 2b is provided at the distal end of the flexible portion 2a, and a hard tip is provided at the distal end of the angle portion 2b. The parts 2c are connected to each other. The hard tip portion 2c is provided with an illuminating portion and an observation portion. The angle portion 2b is for directing the hard tip portion 2c in a desired direction, and the soft portion 2a is arbitrarily arranged along the insertion path. It is designed to bend in the direction.
[0003]
FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a connecting portion between the flexible portion 2a and the angle portion 2b. Since the flexible portion 2a bends in an arbitrary direction, the structure has a spiral tube 10 in which a metal strip having a predetermined width is spirally wound, and the spiral tube 10 changes the winding direction. Generally, it is composed of double tubes. The spiral tube 10 is configured so that the net 11 and the outer skin layer 12 are sequentially attached thereto.
[0004]
On the other hand, the angle portion 2b is bent by remote operation by the operation of the angle knob 4 provided in the main body operation portion 1, and the structure is constituted by connecting a plurality of angle rings 13 to each other. The connection between the front and rear angle rings 13 can be mutually rotated by a pair of pivot pins 14, and the pair of pivot pins 14 are provided in a 180 ° positional relationship. Thereby, it becomes possible to rotate in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the pivot pin 14. Further, the angle portion 2b can be bent up and down and left and right by changing the position of the pivot attachment pin 14 in the axial direction such as left and right and up and down. And the net | network 15 and the outer skin layer 16 are made to adhere to the outer periphery of the angle ring 13 connected as mentioned above similarly to the soft part 2a.
[0005]
As described above, since the structure of the soft part 2a and the angle part 2b are different, the soft part 2a and the angle part 2b are manufactured as separate members so as to connect the two. Assembled. For this purpose, connecting rings 17 and 18 are connected to the distal end portion of the soft portion 2a and the base end portion of the angle portion 2b, respectively, and the connecting rings 17 and 18 are fitted and fixed to each other. Configured as follows. The connection ring 17 is a soft part side connection ring, and the soft part side connection ring 17 is fixed to the tip of the spiral tube 10 of the soft part 2a together with the net 11 by means such as soldering or welding. Further, the connecting ring 18 is an angle portion side connecting ring, and this angle portion side connecting ring 18 constitutes an angle ring at the most proximal end portion or is inserted into the angle ring at the most proximal end portion to be soldered. It is fixed by means such as attaching or welding. Then, a part of the angle part side connecting ring 18 is inserted into the soft part side connecting ring 17, and a plurality of through holes 19 are formed in the soft part side connecting ring 17 positioned on the outside. The solder 20 is poured into the solder and the solder is heated to fix the solder 20 in a connected state. Then, the outer skin layers 12 and 16 are extended to the connecting portion between the soft portion 2a and the angle portion 2b, and the ends thereof are abutted against each other, and then wound with a thread and coated with an adhesive.
[0006]
Here, inside the insertion portion 2, a light guide made of an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light, a signal cable in the case of an electronic endoscope (from an optical fiber bundle in the case of an optical endoscope) Image treatment), a treatment instrument insertion channel, an air / water supply channel, and the like are inserted, and an operation wire 21 is provided to further bend the angle portion 2b by remote control. When the angle portion 2b is bent in the vertical direction, two operation wires 21 are provided in the vertical direction, and when the angle portion 2b is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions, four operation wires 21 are provided in the vertical and horizontal positions. The tips of these operation wires 21 are fixed to the most advanced ring or tip hard portion 2c of the angle portion 2b, but are inserted into the pivot pins 14 (or the cut-off portions) of the angle rings 13 in the angle portion 2b. Moreover, in the soft part 2a, it has penetrated in the close_contact | adherence coil 22 as a flexible guide cylinder. The tip of the close contact coil 22 is fixed to a portion of the connecting portion of the flexible portion 2a to the angle portion 2b.
[0007]
FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the fixed portion of the distal end portion of the close contact coil 22 as the guide means for the operation wire 21. A fastening pin 23 as a fastening member is fastened to the angle portion side connecting ring 18 located on the inner side of the connecting rings 17 and 18 by means such as caulking. The head 23 a of the fastening pin 23 is located inside the connecting ring 18, and an insertion hole 24 is formed in the head 23 a of the fastening pin 23. A fixed pipe 25 to which the tip of the contact coil 22 is fixed is inserted into the insertion hole 24 and fixed by means such as brazing. The fixed pipe 25 has a step formed by a large-diameter portion 25a and a small-diameter portion 25b, and the distal end of the close contact coil 22 through which the operation wire 21 is inserted is inserted into the large-diameter portion 25a. It is fixed by means. And only the operation wire 21 is inserted in the small diameter part 25b inserted in the insertion hole 24 of the fastening pin 23, and the large diameter part 25a is extended toward the soft part 2a side.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
It is necessary to firmly connect the connecting rings 17 and 18 on the soft part side and the angle part side. Therefore, in order to improve the solder wrapping in the through hole 19 formed in the soft part side connecting ring 17, the flux is filled in the through hole 19 and then the solder is poured to widen the fixing area by the solder. Like to do. In order to increase the connection strength during this period, it is necessary to fill a large amount of flux, and in this case, the flux may ooze out from the gap between the connection ring 18 and the connection ring 17. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the exuded flux, and the processing work after soldering becomes extremely troublesome. In particular, when the flux oozes out from the end portion of the angle portion side connecting ring 18 located inside, it is substantially impossible to remove the flux. And the flux which oozes out inside the insertion part 2 will enter the inside of the soft part 2a.
[0009]
By the way, the operation wire 21 passes through the inside of the end portion position of the angle portion side connecting ring 18, and the operation wire 21 is inserted into the contact coil 22 at this position. The operation wire 21 is formed by twisting a large number of fine metal wires, and the operation wire 21 slides inside the contact coil 22 when the angle portion 2b is bent. When the flux that has moved from the end of the angle portion side connecting ring 18 into the insertion portion 2 enters the inside of the close contact coil 22, it adheres to the surface of the operation wire 21 and oxidizes the fine metal wires constituting the operation wire 21. Let As a result, the operation wire 21 is deteriorated, and wear when the operation wire 21 is in sliding contact with the contact coil 22 is remarkably advanced, and eventually the operation wire 21 may be disconnected.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to be able to connect and fix extremely firmly by soldering between the soft part and the angle part without using a flux. Is to make it.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the endoscope insertion portion connecting structure according to the present invention includes a connecting ring connected to each of the flexible portion and the angle portion constituting the insertion portion of the endoscope. They are connected to each other by fitting a predetermined length. When soldering one of the joint surfaces of the two connection rings, a gold plated layer, rhodium plated layer, electroless nickel plated layer, A feature is that a metal plating layer made of any one of the electrolytic nickel-rhodium plating layers is formed, and on the other side, a solder plating layer bonded and fixed to the metal plating layer by heat melting is provided. It is.
[0012]
Here, the connecting portion between the flexible portion and the angle portion in the insertion portion of the endoscope is provided with a connecting ring, which is connected by fitting both connecting rings and fixed by soldering. It is common. A metal plating layer that is good for soldering is provided in order to prevent the formation of an oxide film on the surface of the connecting ring or at least prevent the formation of an oxide film. Therefore, the metal plating layer, a gold plating layer, rhodium plating layer, electroless nickel plating layer, electroless nickel - is either a rhodium-plated layer. Adhesion between the two connecting rings is achieved by heating and melting the solder plating layer. When the thickness of the solder plating layer is larger than that of the gold plating layer, the connection strength between them is further improved. Further, the soft part has a metal spiral tube as its structure, and this spiral tube can be fixed to the soft part side connecting ring by soldering together with a net attached thereto. In this case, the solder material constituting the solder plating layer is a solder material having a melting temperature higher than that of the solder material used when soldering the spiral pipe and the net, and this solder plating layer is connected to the soft part side connection ring. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure formed in the outer surface of an angle part side connection ring while forming in a surrounding surface.
[0013]
In the endoscope insertion portion coupling method according to the present invention, a coupling ring is connected to each of the flexible portion and the angle portion constituting the insertion portion of the endoscope, and both the coupling rings are fitted to a predetermined length. In order to connect each other, when soldering one of the joint surfaces of the two connection rings, a gold plating layer, a rhodium plating layer, an electroless nickel plating layer, an electroless nickel-rhodium plating layer is formed on the surface. After forming a metal plating layer consisting of either one , forming a solder plating layer on the other, fitting both connecting rings, and then heating the fitting portion to melt the solder plating layer, It is characterized in that the connecting rings are connected and fixed together.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, members that are the same as or equivalent to those of the above-described prior art are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0015]
First, FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a connecting portion between the flexible portion 2a and the angle portion 2b in the insertion portion 2. As is apparent from the figure, the flexible portion 2a is constituted by a structure in which a metal strip is spirally wound and a net 11 and an outer skin layer 12 are covered, and an angle portion 2b. This structure is composed of an angle ring 13, and a net 15 and an outer skin layer 16 are attached to the outer peripheral side of the angle ring 13. An operation wire 21 for bending the angle portion 2b by remote operation is inserted into the insertion portion 2, and this operation wire 21 is inserted into the contact coil 22 in the flexible portion 2a. Regarding the above points, there is no particular difference from the above-described prior art.
[0016]
Reference numeral 30 denotes a soft part side connecting ring in which the end of the spiral tube 10 is fixed by welding means, and 31 denotes an angle part side connecting ring connected to the angle ring 13 by a pivot pin 14. Therefore, the soft part 2a and the angle part 2b are connected to each other by fitting the two connection rings 30 and 31 together and fixing them. Here, in the connected state, the flexible portion side connecting ring 30 is located on the outside, and the angle portion side connecting ring 31 is located on the inside and has a predetermined fitting length.
[0017]
Here, the soft part side connecting ring 30 and the angle part side connecting ring 31 are connected as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 2, a solder plating layer 32 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the angle portion side connecting ring 31 located on the inner side, and on the outer peripheral surface of the soft portion side connecting ring 30 located on the outer side. A metal plating layer 33 is formed. Here, the soft part side connection ring 30 is usually made of stainless steel, and an oxide film is formed on the surface of the stainless steel in the air, and the soldering strength is lowered. The metal plating layer 33 is used to improve soldering so that an oxide film is not formed in the air or an oxide film is hardly formed. Therefore, as the metal plating layer 33, an oxide film is not formed on the surface or at least an oxide film is hardly formed, that is, a gold plating layer, a rhodium plating layer, an electroless nickel plating layer, an electroless nickel-rhodium plating layer. Etc.
[0018]
The solder plating layer 32 and the metal plating layer 33 are formed on the entire circumference in substantially the entire length of the fitting portions of the connection rings 30 and 31. Therefore, when the angle part side connection ring 30 is fitted in the soft part side connection ring 31, the solder plating layer 32 and the metal plating layer 33 are in contact with each other over the entire circumference. Here, since the metal plating layer 33 has high wettability with respect to solder and is for improving the so-called soldering, its thickness is not substantially a problem. Therefore, the thickness of the metal plating layer 33 may be extremely thin, and is preferably 0.2 μm or less, for example. Further, the thickness of the solder plating layer 32 is made sufficiently thicker than that of the metal plating layer 33, and is preferably about 10 μm to 20 μm, for example.
[0019]
As described above, the outer peripheral side of the fitting portion between the angle portion side connecting ring 30 and the soft portion side connecting ring 31 is heated with the solder plating layer 32 and the metal plating layer 33 in contact with each other. Thus, for example, by pressing a soldering iron heated to about 300 ° C. to 350 ° C., the soft part side connection ring 31 is heated and the solder plating layer 32 is melted to fix the joint part. In addition, since the solder plating layer 32 and the metal plating layer 33 extend over the entire periphery, the fixing area becomes extremely wide by heating over the entire periphery, and has a substantially uniform fixing force over the entire periphery.
[0020]
While the solder plating layer 32 formed on the angle portion side connection ring 30 is melted and then cooled, it is firmly fixed to the metal plating layer 33 constituting the surface of the soft portion side connection ring 31. In addition, since the solder plating layer 32 and the metal plating layer 33 are formed on the entire circumference of both the connecting rings 30 and 31, the fixing region is remarkably widened, so that the fixing strength is extremely high even when compared with the solder pouring method. There is no need to use a flux that is high and penetrates the solder.
[0021]
Here, it is desirable to use a solder material having a melting point as low as possible as the solder material constituting the solder plating layer 32. However, the solder plating layer 32 is formed on the soft part side connection ring 30, and the spiral tube 10 and the tip of the net 11 covering the spiral tube 10 are fixed to the soft part side connection ring 30 by welding means. It has come to be. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the solder plating layer 32 from being softened or melted by the heat acting during the welding of the helical tube 10. For this reason, it is assumed that the solder material of the solder plating layer 32 has a higher melting temperature than the solder material used when the spiral tube 10 and the net 11 are connected to the soft part side connection ring 30.
[0022]
As described above, when the soft part 2a and the angle part 2b are connected and fixed by soldering, the soft part 2a and the angle part 2b can be firmly fixed without using flux, and the flux enters the soft part 2a. Deterioration of the operation wire 21 can be prevented, and work such as removal of the exuded flux is not necessary, and the process can be simplified. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a through hole for pouring solder into the soft part side connecting ring 30, the processing itself of the connecting ring 30 is facilitated, and the cost can be reduced as a whole.
[0023]
Thus, on which side of the soft part side connecting ring 30 or the angle part side connecting ring 31 the solder plating layer 32 is to be formed, there are various types at the stage before connecting the connecting rings 30 and 31. In this case, when it is necessary to apply heat, such as soldering or brazing, when the heat is not applied to a state where the solder plating layer 32 may be melted, the connection ring A solder plating layer may be provided on either side of 30, 31 and a metal plating layer may be provided on the other side. For example, a fixed pipe 25 is attached to the angle portion side connecting ring 31 in order to fix the tip of the contact coil 22. When the fixed pipe 25 is fixed by brazing, the angle portion side connecting ring 31 is attached. 31 is heated to, for example, about 700 ° C. to 750 ° C. Therefore, in this case, the solder plating layer 32 is formed on the soft part side connection ring 30. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the angle part side connection ring 31 is an angle ring at the most proximal end, and a connecting ring is soldered to the angle ring at the most proximal end, welded, When it is configured to be fixed by means such as screwing, the angle portion side connection ring 31 directly connected to the soft portion side connection ring 30 is this connection ring. The same applies to the soft part side connecting ring 30 side.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, there are various effects such that the soft portion and the angle portion can be extremely firmly connected and fixed by soldering means without using a flux.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion between a flexible portion and an angle portion of an insertion portion according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part in a state where a flexible part and an angle part in FIG. 1 are separated.
FIG. 3 is an external view of an endoscope.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion between a flexible portion and an angle portion of an insertion portion according to the prior art.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body operation part 2 Insertion part 2a Soft part 2b Angle part 10 Spiral tube 13 Angle ring 21 Operation wire 22 Adhesion coil 25 Fixed pipe 25a Large diameter part 25b Small diameter part 30 Flexible part side connection ring 31 Angle part side connection ring 32 Solder plating Layer 33 Metal plating layer

Claims (4)

A connecting ring is connected to each of the soft part and the angle part that constitute the insertion part of the endoscope, and these two connecting rings are connected to each other by a predetermined length. When soldering on one side, a metal plating layer consisting of either a gold plating layer, rhodium plating layer, electroless nickel plating layer, or electroless nickel-rhodium plating layer is formed on the surface, and the other is heat-melted An endoscope insertion portion connecting structure characterized in that a solder plating layer to be bonded and fixed to the metal plating layer is provided.   2. The endoscope insertion portion connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the solder plating layer is configured to be thicker than the metal plating layer.   The soft part has a metal spiral tube as its structure, and the spiral pipe is fixed to the soft part side connecting ring by soldering together with a net attached thereto, and the solder plating layer The solder material constituting the solder pipe layer is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the soft part side connection ring using a solder material having a higher melting temperature than the solder material used when soldering the spiral tube and the net, 2. The endoscope insertion portion connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the metal plating layer is formed on an outer surface of the angle portion side connection ring. In order to connect the connecting rings to the soft part and the angle part constituting the insertion part of the endoscope, and to connect the two connecting rings to each other by a predetermined length, When soldering one of them, a metal plating layer consisting of one of a gold plating layer, a rhodium plating layer, an electroless nickel plating layer and an electroless nickel-rhodium plating layer is formed on the surface, and the other is soldered After the plating layer is formed and both connecting rings are fitted, the fitting portion is heated to melt the solder plating layer, thereby connecting and fixing the two connecting rings. Endoscope insertion portion connecting method.

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