JP6975819B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope.

The insertion portion of the endoscope is typically formed by connecting a relatively soft flexible portion to a curved portion configured so that the bending can be operated. The base end portion of the tubular body constituting the curved portion and the tip end portion of the tubular body constituting the flexible portion are fitted to each other, straddling the base end portion of the fitted curved portion and the tip end portion of the soft portion. A common connecting member is engaged and the curved portion and the flexible portion are joined to each other.

In the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the connecting member is provided at the base end portion of the curved portion arranged outside the fitting portion among the base end portion of the fitted curved portion and the tip end portion of the flexible portion. It is inserted into the engaging hole and is engaged with the engaging groove provided at the tip of the flexible portion arranged inside the fitting.

Then, in order to suppress the disconnection of the connecting member when an axial tensile force acts on the curved portion and the flexible portion, the connecting member is covered with a stopper member made of a thin metal tape or the like from the outer peripheral side, and further curved. It is fixed to the engaging hole of the portion and the engaging recess of the flexible portion by an adhesive or the like.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-115427

In addition to axial pulling, twisting around the shaft also acts on the joints of the curved and soft parts. In the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, tension and twist are received by a common connecting member, and appropriate strength is required for fixing the connecting member to the curved portion and the flexible portion.

Then, in the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the connecting member is adhered to the curved portion and the flexible portion, and when the fixing strength sufficient to receive the pulling and twisting is obtained by the adhesion, the connecting member is adhered to the curved portion and the flexible portion. It becomes difficult to separate the curved part and the soft part at the time of repair.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which a curved portion and a flexible portion of an insertion portion are separably and firmly connected to each other.

The tip portion includes an insertion portion including a tip portion, a curved portion connected to the tip portion, and a flexible portion connecting the curved portion and the operation portion, and the tip portion includes a tip portion main body and a tip end side of the tip portion main body. Has a protective cover attached to the tip body and a tip sleeve fixed to the base end side of the tip body, and the tip body communicates with the tip body from the base end surface of the tip body to the tip surface of the tip portion. A plurality of space portions are provided, and a plurality of internal objects mounted on the tip portion are fixed to the plurality of space portions, the curved portion has a tubular body, and the flexible portion is the tubular body. It has a tubular body that fits to one end, and the tubular body of the curved portion and the tubular body of the flexible portion are connected by at least one first connecting member and at least one second connecting member. Endoscopes that are connected to each other.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope in which a curved portion and a flexible portion of an insertion portion are separably and firmly connected to each other.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an example of an endoscope and an endoscope system for demonstrating an embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the schematic structure of the insertion part of the endoscope shown in FIG. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the structural example of the tip part of the insertion part of an endoscope. It is a perspective view which showed the knot ring of the head part of the head part and the head part of a curved part in a state where a balloon and an outer wall member were removed. It is a perspective view which showed the knot ring at the head of a tip portion and a curved portion, omitting a tip sleeve and a balloon. It is a perspective view which showed only the tip main body from the base end side. It is a front view which showed the tip surface of the tip part (insertion part). It is a perspective view which showed only the tip sleeve from the tip side. It is a perspective view which showed the tip sleeve from the base end side. It is sectional drawing which showed the screw thread part enlarged. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the curved part of the insertion part of an endoscope. It is a perspective view of the four-way piece used for the curved part of FIG. It is a perspective view of the bidirectional piece used for the curved part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the connecting part of two adjacent pieces in the curved part of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other structural example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is a perspective view of the four-way piece used for the curved part of FIG. It is a perspective view of an example of a bidirectional piece used for the curved portion of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another example of the bidirectional piece used for the curved portion of FIG. It is a perspective view of the modification of the two-way piece of FIG. It is a perspective view of the modification of the two-way piece of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other structural example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the bidirectional piece in another configuration example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the bidirectional piece in another configuration example of the curved part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the modification of the two-way piece of FIG. It is sectional drawing of another modification of the bidirectional piece of FIG. 23. It is sectional drawing of another modification of the bidirectional piece of FIG. 23. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the joint part of the bending part and the soft part of the insertion part of an endoscope. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a joint portion between a curved portion and a flexible portion in FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line circle XXVII. It is explanatory drawing which shows the joining process of the joining part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the joining process of the joining part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the joining process of the joining part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the joining process of the joining part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the joining process of the joining part of the bending part and the soft part of FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a side view of a modified example of the first connecting member used for joining the curved portion and the flexible portion in FIG. 25. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the other structural example of the joint part of the bending part and the soft part of the insertion part of an endoscope. FIG. 31 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line circle XXXII. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fixing method of the 2nd connecting member used in the joint part of the curved part and the soft part of FIG. 31. It is explanatory drawing which showed the composition example of the soft part of the insertion part of the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 schematically. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the soft portion shown in FIG. 34. It is a schematic diagram which showed the structure of the net-like tube. It is a process drawing which showed an example of the manufacturing method of a soft part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the soft part shown in FIG. 37. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the soft part shown in FIG. 37. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the soft part shown in FIG. 37. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the soft part shown in FIG. 37. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the method of covering the outer peripheral surface of a screw tube with an endothelium. It is explanatory drawing which showed the other example of the method of covering the outer peripheral surface of a screw tube with the endothelium.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an example of an endoscope and an endoscope system for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

The endoscope system 1 includes an endoscope 2, a light source unit 3, and a processor unit 4. The endoscope 2 has an insertion unit 6 to be inserted into the subject, an operation unit 7 connected to the insertion unit 6, and a universal cord 8 extending from the operation unit 7.

The tip portion 10 of the insertion portion 6 is provided with an illumination window that emits illumination light that illuminates the subject, an image pickup unit that includes an image pickup device that captures the subject, and the like.

A connector 9 is provided at the end of the universal cord 8, and the endoscope 2 takes an image of the light source unit 3 and the tip portion 10 that generate the illumination light emitted from the illumination window of the tip portion 10 via the connector 9. It is connected to a processor unit 4 that processes an image signal acquired by the apparatus. The processor unit 4 processes the input image signal to generate image data of the subject, displays the generated image data on the monitor 5, and records the generated image data.

A light guide and a group of electric wires are provided inside the insertion unit 6, the operation unit 7, and the universal cord 8. The illumination light generated by the light source unit 3 is guided to the illumination window of the tip portion 10 via the light guide, and signals and electric power are transmitted between the image pickup unit of the tip portion 10 and the processor unit 4 via the electric wire group. Be transmitted.

The insertion portion 6 includes a curved portion 11 connected to the tip portion 10 and a flexible portion 12 connecting the curved portion 11 and the operating portion 7. The curved portion 11 is configured to be bendable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6, and the bending operation of the curved portion 11 is operated by the operation unit 7. Further, the flexible portion 12 is configured to be relatively flexible so as to be deformable according to the shape of the insertion path of the insertion portion 6.

The operation unit 7 is provided with a button for operating the image pickup operation of the image pickup device of the tip portion 10, a rotary knob for operating the bending operation of the bending unit 11, and the like. Further, the operation unit 7 is provided with a treatment tool insertion port 13 into which a treatment tool such as dark blue is inserted, and inside the insertion portion 6, the treatment tool insertion port 13 reaches the tip portion 10 for treatment. There is a channel through which the tool is inserted.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the insertion portion 6.

The tip portion 10 is attached to a cylindrical tip portion main body 22 to which various internal objects mounted on the tip portion 10 such as the above-mentioned lighting window and an image pickup device are fixed, and a tip portion side of the tip portion main body 22. It includes a cap-shaped protective cover 23 forming the tip surface of 10, that is, the tip surface of the insertion portion 6, and a cylindrical tip sleeve 24 fixed to the proximal end side of the tip portion main body 22.

The curved portion 11 includes a plurality of annular pieces 20. These pieces 20 are arranged so that their central axes are aligned, and are covered with a mesh tube or the like formed by braiding a metal wire, so that a tube accommodating the above-mentioned light guide, electric wire group, channel, or the like is accommodated. The body is formed. The two adjacent pieces 20 are rotatably connected around the rotation axis by a pair of shaft members 21 arranged on a rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11. The curved portion 11 is curved as a whole by combining the individual rotations of the two adjacent pieces 20.

In the illustrated example, as the rotation axes of the two adjacent pieces 20, the rotation axis X extending in the first direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bending portion 11 and the first rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and orthogonal to the first direction. Rotating shafts Y extending in two directions are alternately provided. The curved portion 11 is based on the reciprocal two directions (hereinafter referred to as the vertical direction) based on the rotation of the two adjacent pieces 20 around the rotation axis X and the rotation of the two adjacent pieces 20 around the rotation axis Y. It can be curved in a total of four directions (hereinafter referred to as the left-right direction) in two opposite directions.

The flexible portion 12 includes a flexible tube 28 for accommodating the light guide, the electric wire group, the channel, and the like. The pipe body 28 is configured by, for example, covering the outer periphery of a screw pipe formed by spirally winding a metal strip material with a net-like pipe formed by braiding a metal wire rod or the like. The tube body 28 has a connecting ring 29, and the connecting ring 29 is fixed to the tip end portion of the tube body 28 by adhesion or soldering.

The base end portion of the tubular body of the curved portion 11, that is, the piece 20 located closest to the soft portion 12, is connected to the connecting ring 29 of the flexible portion 12. On the other hand, the piece 20 located closest to the tip portion 10 is connected to the tip sleeve 24 of the tip portion 10.

Inside the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12, a plurality of wires that bend the curved portion 11 according to the operation in the operating portion 7 are provided. In this example in which the curved portion 11 is configured to be able to bend in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, a pair of wires 25 corresponding to the vertical bending and a pair of wires 26 corresponding to the horizontal bending are provided. There is. In the figure, one of the pair of wires 25 and the pair of wires 26 is shown.

A pair of wires 25 corresponding to the bending in the vertical direction extend from the operation portion 7, respectively, and the tip portion of the wire 25 is fixed to the tip sleeve 24 of the tip portion 10 via the flexible portion 12 and the bending portion 11. .. Inside the curved portion 11, one wire 25 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the upper region when the inside of the curved portion 11 is divided vertically with the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 as a boundary. The wire guides 27 are sequentially inserted through the wire guides 27 provided on the plurality of pieces 20, and the other wire 25 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the lower region and is provided on the plurality of pieces 20. It is inserted in order to 27.

A pair of wires 26 corresponding to the bending in the left-right direction also extend from the operation portion 7, respectively, and the tip portion of the wire 26 is fixed to the tip sleeve 24 of the tip portion 10 via the flexible portion 12 and the bending portion 11. ing. Inside the curved portion 11, one wire 26 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the left side region when the inside of the curved portion 11 is divided into two in the left-right direction with the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 as a boundary. The wire guides 27 are sequentially inserted through the wire guides 27 provided on the plurality of pieces 20, and the other wire 26 is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the curved portion 11 in the right side region and is provided on the plurality of pieces 20. It is inserted in order.

In the vertical curvature of the curved portion 11, one of the pair of wires 25 is towed and the other wire 25 is unwound as the operation unit 7 operates, whereby the curved portion 11 is moved upward or downward. Curved in the direction. In the left-right bending of the curved portion 11, one of the pair of wires 26 is towed and the other wire 26 is unwound in accordance with the operation in the operating portion 7, whereby the curved portion 11 is left or right. Curved in the direction.

Hereinafter, a configuration example of each portion of the insertion portion 6 will be described in order.

First, a configuration example of the tip portion 10 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tip portion 10 cut along the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tip portion 10 has a tip portion main body 22, a protective cover 23, and a tip sleeve 24 as described above. The base end side of the tip sleeve 24 is connected to the leading piece 20 of the curved portion 11, whereby the tip portion 10 is joined to the curved portion 11.

Here, in FIG. 4, the tip sleeve 24 and the leading piece 20 are shown from the base end side, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tip sleeve 24 has a cylindrical main body portion on the tip side. A cylindrical recess 41 having a step from the main body 40 and having a step on the base end side and having a diameter reduced from that of the main body 40, and a concave recess 41 having a step from the recess 41 and being connected to the base end side. It is composed of a connecting portion 42 having a diameter larger than that of the concave portion 41 and a diameter smaller than that of the main body portion 40.

The outer diameter of the recess 41 substantially matches the outer diameter of the piece 20, the inner diameter of the connecting portion 42 substantially matches the outer diameter of the piece 20, and the connecting portion 42 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion of the piece 20. As a result, the tip sleeve 24 is connected to the piece 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 42 is formed with holes 43 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface at a plurality of locations, and the joint portion between the connecting portion 42 and the piece 20 is soldered in the holes 43. By doing so, the tip sleeve 24 and the piece 20 are fixed to each other.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a balloon mounting groove 44 in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip sleeve 24, and as shown in FIG. 2, the balloon 45 is formed along the balloon mounting groove 44. The tip portion is pressed from the outside by the rubber fixing ring 46 and is fixed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tip sleeve 24. The balloon 45 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape in which both ends are narrowed by an elastic body such as rubber, and the base end portion is also fixed in the curved portion 11 or the like by a fixing ring in the same manner as the tip end portion. The fixing of both ends of the balloon 45 may be other than the method using a fixing ring, and for example, a thread may be wound and fixed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the tip portion 10 and the leading piece 20 by omitting the tip sleeve 24 and the balloon 45. As shown in the figure, the inside of the tip portion 10 is a flexible portion 12 and a curved portion. The tip portions of the electric wire group 47 extending from the portion 11, the channel 48, the pair of light guides 49, the air supply water supply tube 50, and the balloon air supply tube 51 are arranged.

The tip body 22 is made of a hard material such as metal, and is formed in a columnar shape as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 6 showing only the tip body 22. The central axis of the tip body 22 is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6.

The tip main body 22 is provided with a plurality of space portions 52 to 55 communicating from the base end surface 22a to the tip surface 10a of the tip portion 10 via a protective cover 23 (see FIG. 3), and the space portion 52 is provided with a plurality of space portions 52 to 55. As shown in FIG. 3, the image pickup device 56 to which the electric wire group 47 is connected is inserted and fixed as an integral part.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the tip surface 10a, and as shown in the figure, the tip surface 10a is located on the most objective side (tip side) of the objective optical system which is a component of the image pickup apparatus 56. An observation window 57 is arranged. As a result, the subject light from the observed portion existing in front of the tip surface 10a is taken into the objective optical system through the observation window 57, and the solid-state image sensor 58 (see FIG. 3) which is a component of the image pickup device 56. An optical image of the observed portion is formed on the image pickup surface. Then, the optical image is photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor 58, and the image signal is transmitted to the processor unit 4 connected to the endoscope 2 by the universal cord 8 via the electric wire group 47 connected to the image pickup device 56. Will be done.

In FIG. 6, a pipe 59 (see FIG. 3) to which the tip end side of the channel 48 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) is connected is fixed to the space portion 53 provided in communication with the space portion 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the tip surface 10a is provided with a treatment tool outlet 60 through which the tip of the pipe 59 communicates. The proximal end side of the channel 48 is connected to the treatment tool insertion port 13 shown in FIG. 1, and the treatment tool such as forceps inserted from the treatment tool insertion port 13 is connected to the treatment tool via the channel 48 and the pipe 59. It is derived from the outlet 60.

In FIG. 6, a light emitting portion (not shown) to which each tip portion of the light guide 49 (see FIG. 5) is connected is fixed to each of the pair of space portions 54. As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of illumination windows 61, which are components of the light emitting portions thereof, are arranged on the tip surface 10a. The illumination light from the light source unit 3 connected to the endoscope 2 by the universal cord 8 is guided to the light emitting portion by the light guide 49, emitted from the light guide 49, and reaches the observed portion via the illumination window 61. Be irradiated.

In FIG. 6, the space portion 55 forms a pipeline of the air supply / water supply channel, and the tip end side of the air supply / water supply tube 50 is connected to the space portion 55. As shown in FIG. 7, the tip surface 10a is provided with an air supply / water supply nozzle 62 for injecting water or gas into the observation window 57 in order to clean the observation window 57, and a space is provided in the air supply / water supply nozzle 62. 55 communicates. As a result, the gas or water supplied to the endoscope 2 by the pump of the processor unit 4 connected to the endoscope 2 by the universal cord 8 is supplied to the endoscope through the air supply water supply tube 50 and the space portion 55. It is jetted from 62 toward the observation window 57.

Further, the tip sleeve 24 is provided with a balloon air supply port 63 as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, and the balloon air supply port 63 is provided with a balloon air supply tube on the inner peripheral surface side of the tip sleeve 24. The tip side of 51 is connected. The base end side of the balloon air supply tube 51 is installed at the base end portion of the operation unit 7, and is connected to the balloon control device via the tube connected to the base end portion of the operation unit 7. As a result, gas is supplied and discharged to the inside of the balloon 45 through the balloon air supply tube 51 and the balloon air supply port 63 under the control of the balloon control device, and the balloon 45 expands or contracts.

Subsequently, a fixing structure for fixing the tip main body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 are fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 22 on the tip side of the tip sleeve 24 (main body 40) and on the inner peripheral surface 24a side of the tip sleeve 24. It is tightened and fixed by the screw 65 in the screw screw portion 64 provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the tip body 22 has a screw hole 66 extending from the base end surface 22a along the central axis of the tip body 22 near the outer peripheral surface and into which a screw 65 is screwed. Is formed.

On the other hand, on the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24, a screw receiving portion 68 having an insertion hole 67 that protrudes in the radial direction and into which the screw 65 is inserted is formed as shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 8 shows a perspective view showing only the tip sleeve 24 from the tip side. As shown in the figure, the tip sleeve 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is formed from a main body portion 40, a recess 41, and a connecting portion 42 having different diameters as described above. A screw receiving portion 68 projecting radially from the inner peripheral surface 24a is formed in the main body portion 40, and an insertion hole 67 through which the screw 65 is inserted is formed in the screw receiving portion 68.

The insertion hole 67 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the threaded portion, which is a portion where the male screw of the shaft portion of the screw 65 is formed, and smaller than the outer diameter of the head portion. Further, the central axis of the insertion hole 67 is parallel to the central axis of the tip sleeve 24.

The inner diameter of the main body 40 substantially matches the outer diameter of the tip main body 22, and when the tip sleeve 24 is fixed to the tip main body 22, the tip sleeve 24 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tip main body 22 from the base end side. The tip end side of the main body portion 40 is fitted, and the screw receiving portion 68 is brought into contact with the base end surface of the tip portion main body 22 as shown in FIG. Further, the position of the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 is aligned with the position of the screw hole 66 of the tip portion main body 22.

As a result, the tip sleeve 24 is fitted to the tip body 22, and the tip sleeve 24 is arranged on the base end side of the tip body 22. Further, the central axis of the tip sleeve 24 is arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 6 and the central axis of the tip portion main body 22, and the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 is coaxial with the screw hole 66, that is, , The central axis of the insertion hole 67 (see FIG. 8) and the central axis of the screw hole 66 (see FIG. 6) are arranged substantially coaxially. The screw receiving portion 68 is arranged between the base end surface 22a of the tip portion main body 22 and the rib portion 69 described later as shown in FIG.

Further, when the tip sleeve 24 is fitted to the tip body 22, at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 22 and the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24 is previously joined to the joint portion thereof. Apply the sealing material to the area. For example, silicone RTV (room temperature vulcanization) rubber, which is initially cured at room temperature and is liquid, can be used as the sealing material.

As a result, the gap generated between the outer peripheral surface of the tip body 22 and the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24 and the joint portion is shielded by the sealing material, and the fitting portion between the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 is highly sealed. Secured.

The sealing material may be applied so as to seal the joint portion between the tip portion main body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 after fitting. Further, the sealing material may be either a liquid material that cures under predetermined conditions after application or a material that does not cure. Further, a sealing material whose initial state is solid may be used. However, the fitting portion between the tip portion main body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 may not be shielded by a sealing material.

After fitting the tip sleeve 24 to the tip body 22 in this way, the tip portion is a screw portion formed on the shaft portion of the screw 65 inserted into the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 as shown in FIG. It is screwed into the screw hole 66 of the main body 22. Then, the screw 65 is tightened, and the screw receiving portion 68 is pressed against the base end surface of the tip portion main body 22 by the head of the screw 65. As a result, the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 are tightened and fixed via the screw 65.

On the other hand, when the tip sleeve 24 is removed from the tip body 22, the screw screw portion 64 separates the tip body 22 from the tip sleeve 24 by rotating the screw 65 in the direction of loosening the screw 65 with a screwdriver, thereby separating the tip sleeve 24 from the tip body. It has a jack-up mechanism for jacking up the tip sleeve 24 with respect to 22 or the tip body 22 with respect to the tip sleeve 24.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, on the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24, a rib portion that protrudes from the screw receiving portion 68 toward the proximal end side along the radial direction with a substantially constant protrusion amount except for both ends. 69 is provided. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the tip sleeve 24 from the proximal end side, and the rib portion 69 is shown from the proximal end side. In the figure, the screw 65 inserted into the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 and the balloon for the balloon connected to the balloon air supply port 63 (see FIG. 4) formed in the main body portion 40 of the tip sleeve 24. The air supply tube 51 is also shown.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the screw threaded portion 64 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in which the screw threaded portion 64 is cut on a plane including the central axis of the tip sleeve 24 and the central axis of the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68, and the rib portion 69 is as shown in the figure. , Which is provided at a position intersecting the plane and has, for example, a shape symmetric with respect to the plane. In other words, the rib portion 69 is formed at a position where the center position of the tip sleeve 24 coincides with the center axis of the insertion hole 67 of the screw receiving portion 68 with respect to the direction (circumferential direction) around the center axis of the tip sleeve 24. In the state where the tip body 22 and the tip sleeve 24 are fixed, the central axis of the insertion hole 67 and the central axis of the screw hole 66 and the central axis of the screw 65 screwed into the screw hole 66 are substantially coaxial with each other. Placed on top.

In this rib portion 69, the protrusion amount Hr (diameter height) with respect to the inner peripheral surface 24a of the tip sleeve 24 (main body portion 40) is the head 65a of the screw 65 screwed into the screw hole 66 and the tip sleeve 24. It has a shape that is larger than the length Hs of the gap between the inner peripheral surface 24a and the inner peripheral surface 24a.

Therefore, assuming that the screw 65 is moved straight in the direction of the central axis of the screw hole 66, the head portion 65a of the screw 65 comes into contact with the rib portion 69.

Further, in a state where the screw portion 65c, which is the portion where the male screw of the shaft portion 65b of the screw 65 is formed, is screwed into the screw hole 66 to the first position as shown in FIG. 10, the screw hole 66 and the screw 65 When the screwing length with the screw portion 65c is Lp and the distance between the head 65a of the screw 65 and the rib portion 69 in the axial direction of the screw hole 66 is Ls, the rib portion 69 is at a position satisfying Lp> Ls. It is provided.

That is, when the screw 65 is rotated in the loosening direction (counterclockwise direction) and moved straight in the direction of the central axis of the screw hole 66, the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are completely screwed. The rib portion 69 is formed at a position where the head portion 65a of the screw 65 abuts before being released.

Here, the first position is a state in which the tip surface of the screw receiving portion 68 is in close contact with the base end surface 22a of the tip portion main body 22 and the head 65a of the screw 65 is in close contact with the base end surface of the screw receiving portion 68. When the screw 65 is tightened into the screw hole 66, that is, the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are screwed to the maximum screwing range. The base end position of the screw portion 65c in the screwing range.

Further, the screw length Lp is the length of the screwing range between the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 in a state where the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 is screwed into the screw hole 66 to the first position. Specifically, it refers to the length from the tip position of the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 screwed into the screw hole 66 to the opening position of the screw hole 66 (the position of the base end surface 22a of the tip portion main body 22). Since the screw 65 shown in FIG. 10 has a screw formed on the entire shaft portion 65b, the entire shaft portion 65b is a screw portion 65c. However, the screw portion 65c may be formed in a part of the shaft portion 65b.

With this configuration, the screw screw portion 64 having the rib portion 69 is rotated in the direction in which the screw 65 is loosened by the driver as described later, and even after the head portion 65a of the screw 65 comes into contact with the rib portion 69, the screw screw portion 64 is in the same direction. A jack device for jacking up the tip body 22 with respect to the tip sleeve 24 by rotating the tip body 22 is configured. Then, when the tip portion 10 is disassembled for maintenance or the like, the tip sleeve 24 can be easily removed from the tip portion main body 22.

In the above configuration, when the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are screwed until the screw portion reaches the maximum screw range, the base end position of the screw portion 65c in the screw range is set to the first position. The position is not limited to 1, but when the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 are screwed in a range smaller than the maximum screw range, the screwing range is set. The base end position of the threaded portion 65c may be set as the first position. Also in this case, a jack device that jacks up the tip body 22 with respect to the tip sleeve 24 can be configured, and when the tip 10 is disassembled for maintenance or the like, the tip sleeve 24 can be easily removed from the tip body 22. It can be removed.

Further, the rib portion 69 may be such that the head portion 65a of the screw 65 comes into contact with the rib portion 69 before the screwing between the screw hole 66 and the screw portion 65c of the screw 65 is completely released. Therefore, the protrusion amount Hr of the rib portion 69 is not limited to the above-mentioned conditions of the present embodiment.

That is, the rib portion 69 has an abutting portion that overlaps with at least a part of the head portion 65a when the head portion 65a of the screw 65 and the rib portion 69 are projected onto a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the screw hole 66. It should be.

Next, a configuration example of the curved portion 11 will be described.

In the bending portion 11 shown in FIG. 2, as the rotation axes of the two adjacent pieces 20, the rotation axis X extending in the first direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bending portion 11 and the first rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and first. Although it has been described that the rotation shafts Y extending in the second direction orthogonal to the direction are alternately provided, as shown in FIG. 11, one of the rotation shaft X and the rotation shaft Y is rotated. Can be provided locally and continuously.

The curved portion shown in FIG. 11 includes two types of pieces, a four-way piece 20A and a two-way piece 20B.

As shown in detail in FIG. 12, the four-direction piece 20A has a body 100 formed in an annular shape, a pair of connecting pieces 101 connected to one of the pieces adjacent to each other on both sides in the arrangement of the pieces, and the other. It has a pair of connecting pieces 102 connected to the piece.

The pair of connecting pieces 101 extend from one end of the body 100 in the axial direction of the body 100, and are arranged substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 100 interposed therebetween. The connecting piece 101 is formed in a flat plate shape by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the annular body 100, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 101 and the body 100. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 101 formed by protruding toward the outer diameter side with respect to the body 100 is referred to as an outer connecting piece. The outer connecting piece 101 is formed with a through hole 130a through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The pair of connecting pieces 102 are provided so as to extend from the other end of the body 100 in the axial direction of the body 100, substantially symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the body 100, and with respect to the pair of connecting pieces 101. It is arranged at a position rotated about 90 degrees around the central axis. The connecting piece 102 is formed in a flat plate shape by sinking toward the inner diameter side with respect to the annular body 100, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 102 and the body 100. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 102 formed by settling toward the inner diameter side with respect to the body 100 is referred to as an inner connecting piece. The inner connecting piece 102 is formed with a through hole 130b through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The four-way piece 20A further has a pair of wire guides 27 through which one of the wires 25 of the pair of wires 25 corresponding to the bending in the vertical direction or the pair of wires 26 corresponding to the bending in the left-right direction is inserted. In the illustrated example, the wire guide 27 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the body 100 in the vicinity of the outer connecting piece 101.

As shown in detail in FIG. 13, the two-way piece 20B includes a body 110 formed in an annular shape, a pair of connecting pieces 111 connected to one of two adjacent pieces in the arrangement of the pieces, and the other. It has a pair of connecting pieces 112 to be connected to the piece.

The pair of connecting pieces 111 extend from one end of the body 110 in the axial direction of the body 110, and are arranged substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween. The connecting piece 111 is formed in a flat plate shape by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 110, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 111 and the body 110. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 111 formed by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 110 is referred to as an outer connecting piece. The outer connecting piece 111 is formed with a through hole 130a through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The pair of connecting pieces 112 are provided so as to extend in the axial direction of the body 110 from the other end of the body 110, substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween, and with each of the pair of connecting pieces 111. They are arranged next to each other with the body 110 in between. The connecting piece 112 is formed in a flat plate shape by sinking toward the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110, and a step is provided between the connecting piece 112 and the body 110. Hereinafter, the connecting piece 112 formed by settling toward the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110 is referred to as an inner connecting piece. The inner connecting piece 112 is formed with a through hole 130b through which a shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is inserted.

The bidirectional piece 20B further includes a pair of wire guides 27 through which one of the wires 25 of the pair of wires 25 corresponding to the bending in the vertical direction or the pair of wires 26 corresponding to the bending in the horizontal direction is inserted. In the illustrated example, the wire guide 27 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the body 110 between the outer connecting piece 111 and the inner connecting piece 112 arranged adjacent to each other.

For the four-way piece 20A and the two-way piece 20B, for example, a molding material having a schematic shape of a piece is cut out from a pipe material having a circular cross section by laser cutting or the like, and a portion of the molding material corresponding to the connecting piece is press-molded into a flat plate. Can be made. The wire guide 27 is individually joined to the body of the press-molded piece by resistance welding or the like. At the time of press molding, a concave guide receiving portion may be formed at a position where the wire guide 27 is joined on the inner peripheral surface of the body of the piece. This facilitates temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining. Further, after joining the wire guide 27 by resistance welding, it may be further fixed by brazing or the like.

In the portion where the four-direction pieces 20A are continuously arranged, the inner connection of the other four-direction piece 20A is on the inner diameter side of each of the pair of outer connection pieces 101 of the four-direction piece 20A of the two adjacent four-direction pieces 20A. The pieces 102 are overlapped, and the shaft member 21 is inserted into the through hole 130a of the overlapped outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. Two adjacent four-direction pieces 20A are rotatably connected by a pair of shaft members 21.

Since the pair of outer connecting pieces 101 and the pair of inner connecting pieces 102 of the four-way piece 20A are arranged at positions rotated by approximately 90 degrees around the central axis of the body 100, the four-way pieces 20A are lined up continuously. At the site, as the rotation axes of two adjacent pieces, the rotation axis X extending in the first direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the curved portion and the rotation axis extending in the second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and orthogonal to the first direction. The moving shaft Y is provided alternately. In other words, the four-way piece 20A is rotatably connected to the piece adjacent to one side around the rotation axis X, and rotatably connected to the piece adjacent to the other side around the rotation axis Y. ..

On the other hand, in the portion of the four-way piece 20A and the portion where one or more two-way pieces 20B are interposed, the two-way piece 20B is adjacent to the inner diameter side of each pair of outer connecting pieces 111 and adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111 side. The inner connecting piece 102 of the matching four-way piece 20A or the inner connecting piece 112 of the other two-way piece 20B is overlapped, and the shaft member 21 is placed in the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. It is inserted. The bidirectional piece 20B and the other pieces adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111 side of the bidirectional piece 20B are rotatably connected by a pair of shaft members 21.

Further, on the outer diameter side of each of the pair of inner connecting pieces 112 of the two-way piece 20B, the outer connecting piece 101 of the four-way piece 20A adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112 side or the outer connecting piece of the other two-way piece 20B. The 111s are stacked, and the shaft member 21 is inserted into the through hole 130a of the superposed outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, respectively. The bidirectional piece 20B and the other pieces adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112 side of the bidirectional piece 20B are rotatably connected by a pair of shaft members 21.

Since the pair of outer connecting pieces 111 and the pair of inner connecting pieces 112 of the two-way piece 20B are arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween, the four-way piece 20A and one or more two-way pieces 20B are interposed. At the mounted portion, one of the rotation shaft X and the rotation shaft Y is continuously provided as the rotation shaft of two adjacent pieces. That is, the bidirectional piece 20B is rotatably connected to each of the two pieces adjacent to each other on both sides around the rotation axis of one of the rotation axis X and the rotation axis Y.

By interposing a four-way piece 20A and one or more two-way pieces 20B, for example, by continuously providing a rotation axis X, reciprocal two directions based on the rotation of two adjacent pieces around the rotation axis X. The radius of curvature at the portion where the bidirectional piece 20B is interposed can be reduced with respect to the curvature of the curved portion of the above. This makes it possible to facilitate the bending operation of the curved portion in a narrow place.

When the two pieces are connected by the shaft member 21, the two pieces are positioned with each other so that the connecting pieces of the two pieces overlap each other as described above. A plurality of positioning holes are provided in the body 100 of the four-way piece 20A and the body 110 of the two-way piece 20B.

The body 100 of the four-way piece 20A is provided with three first positioning holes 120 forming a set at predetermined positions with respect to the pair of outer connecting pieces 101, and three sets of three. A set of three second positioning holes 121 are provided at positions where the first positioning hole 120 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees around the central axis of the body 100.

Preferably, the three first positioning holes 120 forming a set are arranged at equal angles around the central axis of the body 100, and the three second positioning holes 121 forming a set are also arranged around the central axis of the body 100. Arranged at equal intervals. Further, preferably, as shown in the illustrated example, two sets of three first positioning holes 120 are symmetrically arranged with the central axis of the body 100 in between (in the figure, each set has a subscript " ₁ " or "". _Two sets of the three second positioning holes 121 are also provided symmetrically with the central axis of the body 100 in between (in the figure, the subscript " ₁ " or "1" or "in the figure" is provided for each set. ₂ "is attached).

Similar to the body 100 of the four-way piece 20A, the body 110 of the two-way piece 20B is also provided with three first positioning holes 120 forming a set at predetermined positions with respect to the pair of outer connecting pieces 111. Further, a set of three second positioning holes 121 is provided at a position where the three first positioning holes 120 forming a set are rotated by approximately 90 degrees around the central axis of the body 110. ..

A rivet is used as the shaft member 21. As shown in FIG. 14, the shaft portion 131 of the rivet is inserted from the inner diameter side into the through hole 130a of the superposed outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and then the tip portion of the shaft portion 131 is crimped. Will be. The overlapped outer connecting piece and inner connecting piece are sandwiched and held between the head portion 132 of the rivet and the crimped tip portion of the shaft portion 131.

In the illustrated example, the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece is formed to have a smaller diameter than the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. The shaft portion 131 inserted into the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece has a large diameter portion 133 provided on the head 132 side and a small diameter portion 134 provided on the tip end side. The large diameter portion 133 is housed in the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and the small diameter part 134 is housed in the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece except for the tip portion to be crimped.

Preferably, the edge portion of each of the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece is formed in a tapered shape, and the tip portion of the shaft portion 131 and the shoulder of the large diameter portion 133 are formed. The portion is also formed in a tapered shape. This facilitates the insertion of the shaft member 21 into the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece.

Further, preferably, the shaft member 21 is formed of a magnetic material. Although it depends on the type of endoscope, the piece is a small member having a diameter of about several millimeters, and the shaft member 21 for connecting the pieces is smaller than the piece. It can be attracted and held by magnetic force, and the shaft member 21 can be easily inserted into the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece. In this case, it is preferable that the piece is made of a non-magnetic material so that the piece is not attracted to a jig or the like that attracts and holds the shaft member 21 by magnetic force.

The curved portion shown in FIG. 15 includes two types of pieces, a four-way piece 20C and a two-way piece 20D.

As shown in detail in FIG. 16, the four-way piece 20C is configured in the same manner as the above-mentioned four-way piece 20A, except that the body 100 is provided with a pair of flat plate portions 103 and a pair of flat plate portions 104. There is.

The flat plate portion 103 is adjacent to the outer connecting piece 101, and is formed in a flat plate shape by being raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the annular body 100 like the outer connecting piece 101. The flat plate portion 103 extends axially across the body 100 with a width equal to or larger than that of the outer connecting piece 101. The outer connecting piece 101 extends from the flat plate portion 103 without a step.

The flat plate portion 104 is adjacent to the inner connecting piece 102, and like the inner connecting piece 102, the flat plate portion 104 is formed in a flat plate shape by settling toward the inner diameter side with respect to the annular body 100. The flat plate portion 104 extends axially across the body 100 with a width of the inner connecting piece 102 or more. The inner connecting piece 102 extends from the flat plate portion 104 without a step.

In the four-direction piece 20C, for example, a molding material having a schematic shape of a piece is cut out from a pipe material having a circular cross section, and the portion corresponding to the flat plate portion 103 supporting the outer connecting piece 101 and the outer connecting piece 101 in the molding material, and the inner connecting piece. A portion corresponding to the flat plate portion 104 that supports the 102 and the inner connecting piece 102 can be press-molded into a flat plate shape for each portion. In this case, the expansion and contraction of the materials in the flat plate portion 103 and the flat plate portion 104 are substantially aligned in the circumferential direction of the body 100, the inclination of the outer connecting piece 101 and the inner connecting piece 102 with respect to the central axis of the body 100 is suppressed, and the outer connecting piece is suppressed. The molding accuracy of 101 and the inner connecting piece 102 is improved. When the molding material is cut out from the tube material by laser cutting, the distance from the laser light source to the tube material becomes constant, and it is not necessary to adjust the depth of focus of the laser light source.

Further, the four-direction piece 20C can also be manufactured by directly cutting out from a pipe material formed in the same cross-sectional shape as the body. According to this, press molding for each piece becomes unnecessary, and productivity is improved.

The wire guide 27 is individually joined to the body 100 of the piece, which is press-molded or cut out directly from the pipe material, by resistance welding or the like. Here, in the four-way piece 20C, the flat plate portion 103 is provided adjacent to the outer connecting piece 101, and the wire guide 27 is provided on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 103. Since the joining portion of the wire guide 27 is a flat surface, the temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining becomes easier. When the four-way piece 20C is manufactured by press molding, even if a concave guide receiving portion is formed on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 103 to which the wire guide 27 is joined during press molding. good.

As shown in detail in FIG. 17, the bidirectional piece 20D is provided with a body 110 formed in an annular shape and extending from one end of the body 110 in the axial direction of the body 110, and is provided with a central axis of the body 110. A pair of outer connecting pieces 111a arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to each other and extending from the other end of the body 110 in the axial direction of the body 110, and substantially symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween. It has each of the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween.

The body 110 is provided with a pair of flat plate portions 113. The flat plate portion 113 is provided between the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b arranged adjacent to each other, and has an outer diameter with respect to the annular body 110 like the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b. It rises to the side and is formed in a flat plate shape. The flat plate portion 113 extends axially across the body 110 with a width equal to or greater than that of the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b. The outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b extend from the flat plate portion 113 without a step.

Similar to the four-way piece 20C, the two-way piece 20D cuts out a molding material having a schematic shape of the piece from a pipe material having a circular cross section, and forms a portion of the molding material corresponding to the outer connecting piece and the flat plate portion supporting the outer connecting piece. Each part can be press-molded into a flat plate, and in this case, a press-molding mold common to the four-way piece 20C can be used. Further, the two-way piece 20D can be manufactured by directly cutting out from a pipe material formed in the same cross-sectional shape as each body, like the four-way piece 20C.

The wire guide 27 is individually joined to the body 110 of the piece, which is press-molded or cut out directly from the pipe material, by resistance welding or the like. Here, in the two-way piece 20D, the flat plate portion 113 is provided between the outer connecting piece 111a and the outer connecting piece 111b, and the wire guide 27 is provided on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 113. Since the joining portion of the wire guide 27 is a flat surface, the temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining becomes easier. When the bidirectional piece 20D is manufactured by press molding, a concave guide receiving portion may be formed on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 113 to which the wire guide 27 is bonded during press molding. good.

When the four-way piece 20C and one two-way piece 20D are interposed, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the inner diameter side of each of the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a of the two-way piece 20D and the outer connecting piece 111a side. The inner connecting pieces 102 of the above are overlapped. Further, on the inner diameter side of each of the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b of the two-way piece 20D, the inner connecting piece 102 of the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111b side is overlapped. The shaft member 21 is inserted through the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and the two-way piece 20D, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the outer connecting piece 111a side, and the outer connecting piece 111b are inserted. It is rotatably connected to the four-way pieces 20C adjacent to each other on the side.

As shown in FIG. 18, a pair of inner connecting pieces 112a and a pair of inner connecting pieces 112a are used instead of the two-way pieces 20D in which the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b are arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween. A two-way piece 20E in which the inner connecting pieces 112b are arranged next to each other with the body 110 interposed therebetween may be used. Hereinafter, the two-way piece 20D is referred to as a first two-way piece, and the two-way piece 20E is referred to as a second two-way piece.

A pair of flat plate portions 114 are provided on the body 110 of the second two-way piece 20E. The flat plate portion 114 is provided between the inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b arranged adjacent to each other, and is on the inner diameter side with respect to the annular body 110 like the inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b. It is formed in a flat plate shape by settling in. The flat plate portion 114 extends axially across the body 110 with a width of the inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b or more. The inner connecting piece 112a and the inner connecting piece 112b extend from the flat plate portion 114 without a step. The wire guide 27 is provided on the flat surface on the inner diameter side of the flat plate portion 114.

When the four-way piece 20C and one second two-way piece 20E are interposed, the inner connecting piece 112a side is on the outer diameter side of each of the pair of inner connecting pieces 112a of the second two-way piece 20E. The outer connecting pieces 101 of the four-way pieces 20C adjacent to each other are overlapped with each other. Further, on the outer diameter side of each of the pair of inner connecting pieces 112b of the second two-way piece 20E, the outer connecting piece 101 of the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112b side is overlapped. The shaft member 21 is inserted through the through hole 130a of the outer connecting piece and the through hole 130b of the inner connecting piece, and the second two-way piece 20E, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the inner connecting piece 112a side, and the inner one. It is rotatably connected to the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the connecting piece 112b side.

FIG. 19 shows a modified example of the first two-way piece 20D described above. In the body 110, a pair of flat plate portions 114 settled on the inner diameter side and formed in a flat plate shape sandwich the central axis of the body 110. It is provided at a position substantially symmetrically and rotated about 90 degrees around the central axis with respect to the pair of flat plate portions 113.

Further, FIG. 20 shows a modification of the above-mentioned second two-way piece 20E, in which a pair of flat plate portions 113 that are raised toward the outer diameter side and are formed in a flat plate shape are formed in the center of the body 110. It is provided at a position substantially symmetrical with respect to the shaft and rotated about 90 degrees around the central axis with respect to the pair of flat plate portions 114.

In the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E formed as described above, the cross-sectional shapes of the respective body 110s are the same as each other, and further, the body 100 of the four-way piece 20C shown in FIG. 10 has the same cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape is the same. This makes it possible to use a common pipe material when the first two-way piece 20D, the second two-way piece 20E, and the four-way piece 20C are manufactured by cutting directly from the pipe material, and by press molding. When manufactured, a common press molding die can be used.

The width W1 of the flat plate portion 113 and the width W2 of the flat plate portion 114 in the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E may be the same, or one of them may be larger than the other. .. Similarly, the width of the flat plate portion 103 and the width of the flat plate portion 104 in the four-way piece 20C may be the same, or one may be larger than the other.

Up to this point, the wire guide 27 of the four-way piece 20C has been described as being provided on the flat plate portion 103 raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 100, but on the flat plate portion 104 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 100. It may be provided. Further, also for the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E, the wire guide 27 may be provided on the flat plate portion 113 raised on the outer diameter side with respect to the body 110, or on the inner diameter side. It may be provided on the flat plate portion 114 which has settled down.

The curved portion shown in FIG. 21 is formed by interposing a four-way piece 20C, a first two-way piece 20D, and a second two-way piece 20E alternately and in an even number of consecutive pieces.

For example, in the curved portion shown in FIG. 15, a four-way piece 20C and one first two-way piece 20D are interposed. In this case, a pair of outer connecting pieces 101 or a pair of the four-way pieces 20C are interposed. Focusing on the direction of the inner connecting piece 102, the direction of the four-way piece 20C is reversed with the first two-way piece 20D interposed therebetween. Similarly, when the four-way piece 20C and one second two-way piece 20E are intervened, the direction of the four-way piece 20C is reversed with the second two-way piece 20E interposed therebetween.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21, the first two-way piece 20D is arranged at one end of the arrangement of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E which are alternately and evenly continuous. A second bidirectional piece 20E is placed at the other end. In this case, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the first two-way piece 20D arranged at one end is connected to the first two-way piece 20D by a pair of inner connecting pieces 102 as described above. Then, the four-way piece 20C adjacent to the second two-way piece 20E arranged at the other end is connected to the second two-way piece 20E by a pair of outer connecting pieces 101 as described above, and the four-way piece 20E is connected to the second two-way piece 20E. The pair of inner connecting pieces 102 of 20C are directed in the same direction as the pair of inner connecting pieces 102 of the four-way piece 20C connected to the first two-way piece 20D.

In this way, by interposing the four-way piece 20C and the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E alternately and in an even number of consecutive pieces, the directions of the four-way piece 20C can be aligned. can. This facilitates the supply of the four-way piece 20C when assembling the curved portion.

Preferably, the continuous arrangement of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E is composed of one first two-way piece 20D and one second two-way piece 20E. Further, preferably, the axial length L1 of the first bidirectional piece 20D and the axial length L2 of the second bidirectional piece 20E are smaller than the axial length L3 of the four-way piece 20C. This suppresses an increase in the length of the curved portion. The axial lengths of the first two-way piece 20D, the second two-way piece 20E, and the four-way piece 20C are opposite to the center line of the through hole of the pair of connecting pieces provided on one side of the piece. It shall mean the distance to the center line of the through hole of the pair of connecting pieces provided on the side.

Here, the pair of wire guides 27 of the four-way piece 20C are typically arranged on a plane including the central axis of the body 100 and parallel to the rotation axis X, or include the central axis of the body 100 and the rotation axis. They are arranged on a plane parallel to Y and symmetrically across the central axis of the body 100. The pair of wire guides 27 for the first bidirectional piece 20D and the second bidirectional piece 20E are also typically located on a plane parallel to the axis X, including the central axis of the body 110, or the body. It is arranged on a plane including the central axis of 110 and parallel to the rotation axis Y, and is arranged symmetrically with the central axis of the body 110 interposed therebetween.

From the viewpoint of facilitating the supply of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E when assembling the curved portion, as shown in FIG. 22, the first two-way piece 20D and the second two Each of the pair of wire guides 27 of the direction piece 20E is formed symmetrically with a surface S1 orthogonal to the central axis of the body 110 and equally dividing the body 110 in the axial direction.

As a result, the first two-way piece 20D is inverted and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111a and the pair of outer connecting pieces 111b are exchanged, and the second two-way piece 20E is inverted and becomes the pair of inner connecting pieces 112a. Even when the pair of inner connecting pieces 112b are replaced, the positional relationship of the pair of wire guides 27 with respect to the adjacent pieces does not change. Therefore, it is not necessary to pay attention to the orientation of the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E, and it becomes easy to supply the pieces when assembling the curved portion.

The configuration of this example can be applied to any of the configuration examples of the curved portion shown in FIGS. 15 and 21, respectively.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of securing a storage space for accommodating internal organs such as the light guide, the electric wire group, and the channel, the first two-way piece 20D, the second two-way piece 20E, and the four-way piece 20C have a pair. One of the wire guides 27 may be displaced from the symmetrical position.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, in the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E, a pair of wire guides 27 are provided on the flat plate portion 114 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110. As shown, one wire guide 27 is arranged on a surface S2 including the central axis of the body 110 and parallel to the rotation axis X (or a surface including the central axis of the body 110 and parallel to the rotation axis Y), and the other. The wire guide 27 of the above is biased to one side with respect to the surface S2 and is arranged out of the symmetrical position. In this case, a relatively large accommodation space is secured on the side opposite to the side on which the wire guide 27 is biased.

When one wire guide 27 is biased, as shown in FIG. 24A, the width Wa of the flat plate portion 114 provided with the biased one wire guide 27 is set to the width Wa of the flat plate portion 114 provided with the other wire guide 27. It may be formed larger than the width Wb of the wire guide 27, which allows the wire guide 27 to be more biased within the range of the relatively wide flat plate portion 114. Further, the outer shape of the body 110 becomes asymmetrical, and the side where the biased wire guide 27 is located can be easily identified from the outside of the body 110, so that the workability when arranging the pieces is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24B, the wire guide 27 may be provided in the arc portion of the body 110 adjacent to the flat plate portion 114, which also makes the wire guide 27 more biased. Then, as shown in FIG. 24C, a flat plate portion 115 adjacent to the flat plate portion 114 may be provided, and the wire guide 27 may be provided on the flat plate portion 115. According to this, the joint portion of the wire guide 27 becomes a flat surface. , Temporary fixing of the wire guide 27 at the time of joining becomes easy.

Although the case where the pair of wire guides 27 are provided on the flat plate portion 114 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 110 in the first two-way piece 20D and the second two-way piece 20E has been described as an example. When the pair of wire guides 27 are provided on the flat plate portion 113 raised on the outer diameter side, one of the wire guides 27 can be similarly deflected.

Further, also in the four-way piece 20C, one of the wires of the pair of wire guides 27 provided on the flat plate portion 104 settled on the inner diameter side with respect to the body 100 or provided on the flat plate portion 103 raised on the outer diameter side. The guide 27 can be biased as well.

The configurations shown in FIGS. 23 and 24A to 24C, respectively, can be applied to any of the configuration examples of the curved portion shown in FIGS. 15 and 21, respectively.

Next, a configuration example of the joint portion between the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12 will be described.

FIG. 25 is an external perspective view of an example of a joint portion between the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12. Further, FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the joint portion of FIG. 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, the piece 20 located on the most flexible portion 12 side of the curved portion 11 is connected to the connecting ring 29 provided at the tip end portion of the tubular body 28 of the flexible portion 12, and the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion are connected to each other. 12 is joined to each other. In the example shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 are fitted to each other and connected by using a clip 200 which is a first connecting member and a pin 201 which is a second connecting member. ..

In the following description, it is assumed that the piece 20 is inserted inside the connecting ring 29, the connecting ring 29 is arranged outside the fitting, and the piece 20 is arranged inside the fitting, but the piece 20 is connected inside the piece 20. Ring 29 may be inserted. Further, although it is assumed that two clips 200 and two pins 201 are used for connecting the fitted piece 20 and the connecting ring 29, the number of clips 200 and pins 201 is arbitrary.

The clip 200 has an elastically deformable strip portion 210 and a pair of locking portions 211 extending from both ends of the strip portion 210. Further, the pin 201 has a head portion 212 and a shaft portion 213 formed having a diameter smaller than that of the head portion 212.

In the connecting ring (outer tube body) 29 arranged on the outer side of the fitting, a pair of first engaging holes 214 through which the locking portions 211 at both ends of the clip 200 are inserted, and a shaft portion 213 of the pin 201 are provided. Through holes 215 to be inserted are formed. In the illustrated example in which the two clips 200 and the two pins 201 are used, the pair of first engaging holes 214 are provided symmetrically with the central axis of the connecting ring 29 in between, and the through holes 215 are also provided. Further, two are provided symmetrically with the central axis of the connecting ring 29 interposed therebetween.

A pair of second engaging holes 216 through which the locking portions 211 at both ends of the clip 200 are inserted into the piece (inner tube body) 20 arranged inside the fitting, and the tip of the shaft portion 213 of the pin 201. A notch 217 for accommodating each portion is formed. The notch 217 is formed so as to extend from one end of the piece 20 in the axial direction of the piece 20, that is, in the fitting direction with the connecting ring 29. In the illustrated example in which the two clips 200 and the two pins 201 are used, the pair of the second engagement holes 216 are provided symmetrically with the central axis of the piece 20 in between, and the notch 217 is also provided. , Two are provided symmetrically with the central axis of the piece 20 in between.

The shaft portion 213 of the pin 201 is inserted into the through hole 215 of the connecting ring 29 from the outside of the connecting ring 29. The shaft portion 213 is press-fitted into the through hole 215, or the head 212 is adhered or soldered to the connecting ring 29, and the pin 201 is preliminarily fixed to the connecting ring 29.

As shown in FIG. 27, the head 212 of the pin 201 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting ring 29, but from the viewpoint of suppressing the protrusion of the head 212 from the outer peripheral surface of the connecting ring 29, the connecting ring 29 A recess 218 capable of accommodating at least a part of the head 212 may be provided around the through hole 215 on the outer peripheral surface. Further, the end surface of the head 212 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the connecting ring 29 is scraped, and when the pin 201 is fixed to the connecting ring 29 by adhesion or soldering, the adhesive or solder covering the end face of the head 212 is scraped. You may finish it.

As the material of the pin 201, for example, a stainless steel material can be used, and it is preferable to use JIS SUS 303 in consideration of workability.

28A to 28B and 29A to 29C show a joining process between the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12.

First, as shown in FIGS. 28A to 28B, the piece 20 is inserted into the connecting ring 29 to which the pin 201 is previously fixed. The tip of the shaft portion 213 of the pin 201 protruding inward of the connecting ring 29 enters the notch 217 of the piece 20 as the piece 20 is inserted into the inside of the connecting ring 29, and is accommodated in the notch 217. NS.

With the tip of the shaft portion 213 of the pin 201 housed in the notch 217 and the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 fitted, each of the first engaging holes 214 of the connecting ring 29 and the piece 20 Each of the second engagement holes 216 overlaps with each other. The locking portion 211 of the clip 200 is inserted into the set of the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216 that are overlapped with each other, and the clip 200 is attached to the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29.

As shown in FIGS. 29A to 29C, in mounting the clip 200, first, one of the locking portions 211 of the clip 200 is a combination of the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216 that are overlapped with each other. It is inserted from the outside of the connecting ring 29 and engages with the inner peripheral surface of the piece 20. Subsequently, while the strip portion 210 of the clip 200 is elastically deformed, the other locking portion 211 is inserted into the set of the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216 which are overlapped with each other, and the piece is inserted. Engage with the inner peripheral surface of 20. The piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 are bound between the strip portion 210 of the clip 200 and the pair of locking portions 211, and are connected to each other.

Here, as shown in FIG. 30, the extended length La of one locking portion 211 of the clip 200 may be smaller than the extended length Lb of the other locking portion 211. In mounting the clip 200 described above, the relatively short locking portion 211 is first inserted into the assembled set of the first engagement hole 214 and the second engagement hole 216 which are overlapped with each other. Work of attaching the clip 200 by suppressing interference with various internal components (electric wire group 47, channel 48, pair of light guides 49, and air supply / water supply tube 50) housed in the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12. It can enhance the sex.

The clip 200 is axial with the first engaging hole 214 of the connecting ring 29 and the second engaging hole 216 of the piece 20 against the axial pull acting on the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 fitted to each other. Engage with, and the relative movement of the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 in the axial direction is prevented.

Further, the shaft portion 213 of the pin 201 is circumferentially oriented with the through hole 215 of the connecting ring 29 and the notch 217 of the piece 20 against the twisting around the shaft acting on the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 fitted to each other. Engages and prevents relative rotation of the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 around the axis.

When the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 are separated, the locking portion 211 is pulled out from the first engaging hole 214 of the connecting ring 29 and the second engaging hole 216 of the piece 20, so that the clip 200 is used. Is removed from the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29. The engagement between the tip of the shaft portion 213 of the pin 201 fixed to the connecting ring 29 and the notch 217 of the piece 20 restricts the axial movement of the piece 20 in the direction of being detached from the connecting ring 29. Therefore, the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 can be easily separated by simply removing the clip 200.

Therefore, the pin 201 can be firmly fixed to the connecting ring 29 without affecting the separation between the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29, and the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 can be twisted around the axis. Can be firmly joined. As a result, the twisting around the shaft is suppressed from acting on the clip 200, so that the clip 200 can exhibit the desired joining strength, and the piece 20 and the connecting ring can be pulled even in the axial direction. It can be firmly connected to 29.

Since the twisting around the axis between the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 is suppressed from acting on the clip 200, the first engaging hole 214 of the connecting ring 29 through which the locking portion 211 of the clip 200 is inserted is suppressed. And the rotational clearance around the axis between each of the second engagement holes 216 of the piece 20 and the clip 200, with each of the first engagement hole 214 and the second engagement hole 216 of the piece 20. It may be larger than the axial clearance with the clip 200. As a result, in the mounting of the clip 200 described above, the locking portion 211 can be easily inserted into the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216.

In this way, the bending portion 11 and the flexible portion 11 and the flexible portion are received by distributing and receiving the torsion in the axial direction acting on the pieces 20 and the connecting ring 29 fitted to each other by the clip 200 and the twist around the axis by the pin 201. 12 can be separated and firmly joined.

FIG. 31 is an external perspective view of another example of the joint portion between the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12.

In the example shown in FIG. 31, the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 are fitted to each other and connected by using the clip 200 which is the first connecting member and the key 202 which is the second connecting member. Although it is assumed that the two clips 200 and the two keys 202 are used for connecting the fitted piece 20 and the connecting ring 29, the number of the clips 200 and the keys 202 is arbitrary.

The key 202 is provided on the fitting surface 220 of the connecting ring 29 arranged on the outer side of the fitting. The key 202 is a small piece-shaped member curved along the fitting surface 220, is formed so as to be accommodated in the notch 217 of the piece 20, and is previously fixed to the connecting ring 29. In the illustrated example in which the two keys 202 are used, the keys 202 are provided symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the connecting ring 29.

As the key 202, a cut piece cut out from the piece 20 in forming the cutout 217 can be preferably used. According to this, the key 202 is naturally curved along the fitting surface 220 of the connecting ring 29, and is formed in a shape that can be accommodated in the notch 217 with the maximum thickness that does not protrude inside the piece 20. It also saves materials. The key 202 can be cut out from the piece 20 by laser cutting or the like.

As shown in FIG. 32, the inner peripheral surface of the connecting ring 29 is provided with an annular step portion 221 that protrudes toward the inner diameter side and is adjacent to the fitting surface 220. The step portion 221 abuts on one end of the piece 20 inserted inside the connecting ring 29. The protruding height H of the step portion 221 with respect to the fitting surface 220 is the same as the wall thickness of the piece 20, and when the cut piece cut out from the piece 20 is used as the key 202, the thickness of the key 202 and the step. The key 202 is provided so as to extend from the step portion 221 without a step, which is equal to the protrusion height H of the portion 221.

In joining the curved portion 11 and the flexible portion 12, first, the piece 20 is inserted inside the connecting ring 29 to which the key 202 is previously fixed. With the insertion of the piece 20 into the inside of the connecting ring 29, the key 202 is housed in the notch 217 of the piece 20, the piece 20 is positioned in the rotational direction around the axis, and one end of the piece 20 is in the step portion 221. The piece 20 abuts and is positioned in the axial direction.

With the key 202 housed in the notch 217 and the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 fitted, each of the first engaging holes 214 of the connecting ring 29 and the second engaging hole 216 of the piece 20 The locking portion 211 of the clip 200 is inserted into the set of the first engaging hole 214 and the second engaging hole 216 which are overlapped with each other and overlapped with each other, and the clip 200 is inserted into the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29, respectively. Is installed.

The clip 200 is axial with the first engaging hole 214 of the connecting ring 29 and the second engaging hole 216 of the piece 20 against the axial pull acting on the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 fitted to each other. Engage with, and the relative movement of the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 in the axial direction is prevented.

Then, the key 202 fixed to the connecting ring 29 engages with the notch 217 of the piece 20 in the circumferential direction against the twisting around the axis acting on the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 fitted to each other, and the piece. The relative rotation of the 20 and the connecting ring 29 around the axis is prevented.

The key 202 is fixed to the connecting ring 29 by welding, for example, and spot welding is preferably used as a welding method in which a current is locally passed between the connecting ring 29 and the key 202 and welding is performed by the resistance heat generated in the energized portion. be able to.

As shown in FIG. 33, when the connection ring 29 and the key 202 are joined by spot welding, it is preferable to provide a plurality of spot welding points A. Although it depends on the outer diameter of the endoscope 2, the contact area between the connecting ring 29 and the key 202 is 1 mm ² , the spot diameter of spot welding is 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, and four or more spot welds are performed. It is preferable that 30% or more of the contact area between the connection ring 29 and the key 202 is spot welded in terms of the joint area.

Further, as the material of the key 202, for example, a stainless steel material can be used, and when the key 202 is fixed to the connecting ring 29 by welding, JIS SUS304 is preferably used in consideration of weldability, and the key 202 is preferably used. It is preferable to use JIS SUS304 as the material of the connecting ring 29 to be welded. Further, when a cut piece cut out from the piece 20 is used as the key 202, it is preferable to use JIS SUS304 as the material of the piece 20.

The fixing strength between the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 to be twisted around the shaft was evaluated in a production example in which the presence or absence of the key 202 and the method of fixing the key 202 to the connecting ring 29 were variously changed.

In Production Example 1, the key 202 was omitted, and the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 were connected only by the clip 200.

In Fabrication Example 2, the key 202 was provided on the fitting surface 220 of the connecting ring 29, and the key 202 was fixed to the connecting ring 29 by spot welding at three points. Then, the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 were connected by using the clip 200 and the key 202.

In Production Example 3, a pilot hole was provided in the fitting surface 220 of the connecting ring 29, the key 202 was fitted into the prepared hole, and the key 202 was fixed to the connecting ring 29 by spot welding at three points. Then, the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 were connected by using the clip 200 and the key 202.

In Fabrication Example 4, the key 202 was provided on the fitting surface 220 of the connecting ring 29, and the key 202 was fixed to the connecting ring 29 by spot welding at four points. Then, the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 were connected by using the clip 200 and the key 202.

In Fabrication Example 5, the key 202 was provided on the fitting surface 220 of the connecting ring 29, and the key 202 was fixed to the connecting ring 29 by spot welding at five points. Then, the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 were connected by using the clip 200 and the key 202.

In the evaluation of the fixing strength between the piece 20 twisting around the shaft and the connecting ring 29, when the torque around the shaft is applied to the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 and the fixing between the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 is broken. The breaking torque of is measured three times for each production example, and 50 N · cm or more is evaluated as A based on the average torque of 30 N · cm that an adult male can exert against the average value of the measured broken torque. , 30 N · cm or more and less than 50 N · cm was evaluated as B, and less than 30 N · cm was evaluated as C, and evaluated in three stages. The evaluation results are shown in the table below.

As is clear from Table 1, the twist around the shaft is distributed and received by the key 202 as compared with the production example 1 in which the twist around the shaft is received by the clip 200 in addition to the tension in the axial direction. In the production example 2 set forth in the above, it can be seen that the fixing strength between the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 is improved. Then, from the evaluation results of Fabrication Example 2 to Fabrication Example 5, when the key 202 is fixed to the connecting ring 29 by spot welding, the fixing strength between the piece 20 and the connecting ring 29 improves as the number of spot welded portions increases. , It can be seen that it is preferable to provide four or more spot welded points.

Next, a configuration example of the flexible portion 12 will be described.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the flexible portion 12. Further, FIG. 35 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the flexible portion 12.

As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the flexible portion 12 includes a flexible tube 28 for accommodating a light guide, a wire group, a channel, etc., as described above, and the tube 28 is a BR> magic "belt plate". A screw tube (also referred to as a flex) 300 formed by spirally winding the screw tube 300, and a mesh tube (also referred to as a blade or a net) 302 covering the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300 via a resin inner skin 301. It is composed of a resin outer skin 303 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the reticulated tube 302. The endothelial 301 is located between the spiral tube 300 and the reticulated tube 302 to prevent the spiral tube 300 and the reticulated tube 302 from being integrated. In addition to functioning as an intermediate layer, it also functions as a support layer for joining the outer skin 303 via the adhesive 304 selectively applied to the gap P of the reticulated tube 302 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner skin 301.

The screw tube 300 is formed on a first screw tube 300a formed by winding a strip-shaped elastic substance, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, with a spiral gap and having a constant diameter, and on the outer surface of the first screw tube 300a. It has a double-wound structure consisting of a second screw tube 300b that is in contact with each other and has opposite spiral directions, and plays a role of preventing the tube body 28 from being crushed. Although not shown, the screw tube 300 may have a single winding structure including a first screw tube 300a or a second screw tube 300b.

The material constituting the screw tube 300 (first screw tube 300a and second screw tube 300b) is not particularly limited as long as the mechanical strength for preventing the tube body 28 from being crushed is secured. In addition to metal, engineering plastic such as polycarbonate, or engineering plastic reinforced with glass fiber, carbon fiber, or the like may be used and molded as a screw tube by injection molding or the like.

The net-like tube 302 covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300 via a resin inner skin 301 and serves as a reinforcing material for enhancing the rigidity of the tube body 28. As shown in FIG. 36, the mesh tube 302 is made of stainless steel. Alternatively, it is formed by braiding metal fibers 305 such as brass in a mesh pattern.

The outer skin 303 is not particularly limited as long as it is made of resin, can protect the inside of the tube body 28, and does not affect the living body when the endoscope 2 is inserted into the body.

The resin forming the outer skin 303 is not particularly limited, but is a polyurethane resin, vinyl chloride, nylon, polyester, synthetic resin such as Teflon (registered trademark), polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin. , Polyurethane-based resin, polyamide-based resin, polyvinyl chloride-based resin, fluororesin, and a mixture thereof are mentioned as suitable examples.

The endothelium 301 is made of a resin tube-shaped (cylindrical) or tape-shaped (strip-shaped) member that covers the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300, and is configured to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300. The endothelium 301 is interposed between the screw tube 300 and the mesh tube 302 without being joined to the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300, and serves as an intermediate layer for preventing the thread tube 300 and the network tube 302 from being integrated. Playing a role. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the endothelium 301, a resin adhesive 304 is selectively applied to the gap P of the reticulated tube 302, and the exodermis 303 is bonded to the endothelium 301 via the adhesive 304. Further, since the exodermis 303 is bonded to the endothelium 301 through the gap P of the network tube 302, the exodermis 303 is not directly bonded to the network tube 302, and the network tube 302 is configured to be stretchable without being restricted in movement.

The resin forming the endothelial 301 is not particularly limited, but is the same as the above-mentioned outer skin 303, such as polyurethane resin, vinyl chloride, nylon, polyester, synthetic resin such as Teflon (registered trademark), polystyrene resin, and polyethylene resin. , Polypropylene-based resin, polyester-based resin, polyurethane-based resin, polyamide-based resin, polyvinyl chloride-based resin, fluorine-based resin, and mixtures thereof are mentioned as suitable examples. Among these resin materials, a resin material having good heat resistance and chemical resistance is preferably used.

The resin forming the inner skin 301 and the outer skin 303 is not particularly limited as long as it is a resin having an affinity with the resin adhesive 304 used for adhering (bonding) the inner skin 301 and the outer skin 303, and both are the same. It may be made of the same resin, or it may be made of a different resin.

Further, the endothelium 301 is preferably made of a stretchable resin material. Compared with the case where the endothelium 301 is made of a non-stretchable resin material, the endothelium 301 expands and contracts more even when the soft portion 12 is bent, so that the degree of freedom of movement of the screw tube 300 and the reticulated tube 302 is not limited. , It is possible to further improve the original flexibility of the soft part.

Next, a method for manufacturing the tubular body 28 will be described. FIG. 37 is a process diagram showing an example of a method for manufacturing the tubular body 28. Further, FIGS. 38A to 38D are explanatory views for explaining the manufacturing method of the tubular body 28 shown in FIG. 37. Further, FIG. 39A is an explanatory view showing an example of a method of coating the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300 with the endothelial 301, and FIG. 39B is another example of a method of coating the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300 with the endothelial 301. It is explanatory drawing which showed.

First, as shown in FIG. 38A, the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300 is coated with the endothelial 301 (step S100). The method of covering the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300 with the endothelium 301 is not particularly limited, and is formed in advance in a hollow tubular shape (tube shape) as shown in FIG. 39A by a known method for producing a hollow tube. The endothelium 301 may be placed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300, or the endothelium 301 may be directly formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300. Further, as shown in FIG. 39B, the endothelium 301 formed in a tape shape (strip shape) may be overlapped and wound around the outer peripheral surface of the screw tube 300 without a gap.

Next, as shown in FIG. 38B, the outer peripheral surface of the endothelium 301 is coated with the reticulated tube 302 (step S102). The method of covering the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301 with the reticulated tube 302 is not particularly limited, but as an example, the screw tube 300 coated with the endothelial 301 is inserted into the inside of the hollow tubular reticulated tube 302 and inserted. After that, until there is no gap between the endothelium 301 and the reticulated tube 302, the reticulated tube 302 is stretched by an appropriate means, and the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301 is covered with the reticulated tube 302 so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface.

Next, as shown in FIG. 38C, the adhesive 304 is selectively applied to the outer peripheral surface of the endothelium 301 (step S104). Specifically, the adhesive 304 is selectively applied to the gap P (see FIG. 35) of the reticulated tube 302 coated on the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301.

The method for selectively applying the adhesive 304 to the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301 is not particularly limited, but the adhesive is applied to the gap P of the reticulated tube 302 on the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301 by using the inkjet head 306. A method of selectively applying the adhesive 304 by ejecting the droplets of 304 is preferably used. Further, the adhesive 304 may be selectively applied to the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301 by using a known coating means.

Since a known inkjet head 306 may be used, detailed description thereof will be omitted here, but the inkjet head 306 is provided with a plurality of nozzles on the ejection surface facing the ejection medium (endothelial 301). Droplets of adhesive are ejected from each nozzle by utilizing the ejection energy generated by the ejection energy generating element such as a piezoelectric element or a heat generating element.

Further, a control unit 307 that controls ejection of each nozzle is connected to the inkjet head 306. Data indicating the shapes and positions of the endothelium 301 and the reticulated tube 302 are stored in the control unit 307, and ejection control of each nozzle is performed based on the data. As a result, the adhesive droplets discharged from each nozzle are selectively applied to the gap P of the network tube 302 on the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301.

As the material of the adhesive 304, when the endoscope 2 is used, the inner skin 301 and the outer skin 303 can be adhered to each other so that the adhesiveness between the inner skin 301 and the outer skin 303 is not deteriorated. For example, although not particularly limited, a polyester-based resin, a polystyrene-based resin, a polyurethane-based resin, or the like is preferably used.

Further, the amount of the adhesive 304 applied to the outer peripheral surface of the endothelium 301 is not particularly limited, but may be applied so as to sufficiently exhibit the adhesiveness between the endothelium 301 and the outer skin 303.

Next, as shown in FIG. 38D, the outer peripheral surface of the reticulated tube 302 is coated with the outer skin 303 and adhered (step S106). The method of covering the outer peripheral surface of the reticulated tube 302 with the outer skin 303 is not particularly limited, and similarly to the above-mentioned endothelial 301, a known hollow tube is manufactured, and the hollow tubular (tube-shaped) outer skin 303 is previously used. May be put on the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302. Further, as another method, a known extrusion molding machine is used to extrude the melted resin to the outer peripheral surface of the mesh tube 302 to a uniform thickness, and then cool the resin tube 302 immediately after the melted resin. The outer skin 303 may be directly formed on the outer peripheral surface. The outer skin 303 coated on the outer peripheral surface of the reticulated tube 302 is bonded to the endothelial 301 via an adhesive 304 selectively applied to the gap P of the reticulated tube 302 on the outer peripheral surface of the endothelial 301. In this way, the tube body 28 can be obtained.

As described above, since the endothelium 301 is interposed between the screw tube 300 and the network tube 302 without being joined to the screw tube 300, the integration of the screw tube 300 and the network tube 302 is prevented. The degree of freedom of movement of the screw tube 300 is not limited. Further, both the endothelium 301 and the outer skin 303 are made of a resin material, and the resin adhesive 304 is selectively applied to the gap P of the mesh tube 302 on the outer peripheral surface of the endothelium 301, so that the resins are bonded to each other. This makes it possible to uniformly and firmly bond the exodermis 303 to the endothelium 301. Further, since the exodermis 303 and the endothelium 301 are joined via the gap P of the reticulated tube 302, the degree of freedom of movement of the reticulated tube 302 is not limited. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently secure the original flexibility of the soft portion and to improve the durability without wrinkling the outer skin 303.

The present invention can be used for an endoscope in which a curved portion and a flexible portion of an insertion portion are separably connected.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but this is merely an example, and the present invention can be carried out in a mode in which various modifications are made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. This application is based on a Japanese patent application filed on February 27, 2015 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-038789), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1 Endoscope system 2 Endoscope 3 Light source unit 4 Processor unit 5 Monitor 6 Insertion part 7 Operation part 8 Universal cord 9 Connector 10 Tip part 10a Tip surface 11 Curved part 12 Flexible part 13 Treatment tool insertion port 20 Pieces (curved part) Tube)
20A Four-way piece 20B Two-way piece 20C Four-way piece 20D First two-way piece 20E Second two-way piece 21 Shaft member 22 Tip body 22a Base end surface 23 Protective cover 24 Tip sleeve 24a Inner peripheral surface 25 Wire 26 Wire 27 Wire guide 28 Tube 29 Connection ring (soft tube)
40 Main body 41 Recess 42 Connecting part 43 Hole 44 Balloon mounting groove 45 Balloon 46 Fixing ring 47 Wire group 48 Channel 49 Light guide 50 Air supply water supply tube 51 Balloon air supply tube 52 Space part 53 Space part 54 Space part 55 Space part 56 Image pickup device 57 Observation window 58 Solid-state image sensor 59 Pipe 60 Treatment tool Outlet port 61 Lighting window 62 Air supply / water supply nozzle 63 Balloon air supply port 64 Screw threaded part 65 Screw 65a Head 65b Shaft part 65c Threaded part 66 Screw hole 67 Insertion hole 68 Screw receiving part 69 Rib part 100 Body 101 Outer connecting piece 102 Inner connecting piece 103 Flat plate part 104 Flat plate part 110 Body 111 Outer connecting piece 111a Outer connecting piece 111b Outer connecting piece 112 Inner connecting piece 112a Inner connecting piece 112b Inner connection Piece 113 Flat plate portion 114 Flat plate portion 115 Flat plate portion 120 First positioning hole 121 Second positioning hole 130a Through hole 130b Through hole 131 Shaft portion 132 Head 133 Large diameter portion 134 Small diameter portion 200 Clip (first connecting member)
Pin 201 (second connecting member)
202 key (second connecting member)
210 Band plate portion 211 Locking portion 212 Head 213 Shaft portion 214 First engagement hole 215 Through hole 216 Second engagement hole 217 Notch 218 Recession 220 Fitting surface 221 Stepped portion 300 Screw tube 300a First screw Tube 300b 2nd screw tube 301 Infraline 302 Reticulated tube 303 Outer skin 304 Adhesive 305 Metallic fiber 306 Inkjet head 307 Control unit A Spot weld point H Protrusion height Hr Protrusion amount Hs Gap length La Extension length Lb Extension length Lp screw Combined length Ls Distance L1 Axial length L2 Axial length L3 Axial length P Gap S1 Surface S2 Surface W1 Width W2 Width Wa Width Wb Width X Rotation axis Y Rotation axis

Claims (5)

An insertion portion including a tip portion, a curved portion connected to the tip portion, and a flexible portion connecting the curved portion and the operating portion is provided.
The tip has a tip body, a protective cover attached to the tip side of the tip body, and a tip sleeve fixed to the base end side of the tip body.
The tip body is provided with a plurality of spaces communicating from the base end surface of the tip body to the tip surface of the tip.
A plurality of internal objects mounted on the tip portion are fixed to the plurality of space portions, and the plurality of built-in objects are fixed .
The curved portion has a tubular body and has a tubular body.
The flexible portion has a tubular body that fits into one end of the tubular body.
An endoscope in which the tubular body of the curved portion and the tubular body of the flexible portion are connected to each other by at least one first connecting member and at least one second connecting member. The endoscope according to claim 1.
The plurality of built-in objects include an endoscope to which an image pickup device to which a group of electric wires housed in the curved portion and the flexible portion is connected is included. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2.
The plurality of internal organs include an endoscope to which a connected pipe on the distal end side of a channel for insertion of a treatment tool is included. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The plurality of internal organs include an endoscope including a light guide. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The plurality of internal organs include an endoscope including an air supply / water supply tube.

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