JPH0376127B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a bending operation device for an endoscope, and particularly to the structure of a bending operation knob portion that projects from an operation section.

[Prior Art] In a conventional bending operation device for an endoscope, a vertical bending operation knob and a left/right bending operation knob are simply superimposed and protruded from an operation section.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Generally, an endoscope operator holds the operating section with his left hand and performs other operations such as insertion and removal of the insertion section with his right hand. The bending operation is performed using either the right hand or the thumb of the left hand, depending on the situation.

Therefore, with the conventional structure in which the vertical bending operation knob and the horizontal bending operation knob are simply overlapped and protruded, the insertion tube inserted into the body cavity may come into contact with the contamination. There was a drawback in that dirt was transferred from the right hand to the left hand side via the curved operating knob, resulting in the entire operating section becoming contaminated. Therefore, each time the endoscope is used, it is necessary to sterilize the operation section by immersing it in a disinfectant solution, making the disinfection process extremely complicated. Moreover, it takes at least 30 minutes to disinfect one time, and another endoscope must be used for the next patient's examination. It was not possible to test the number of people.

However, if disinfection was insufficient, there was a risk of infection through contaminated operating parts.

Further, in some bending operation devices for respiratory endoscopes, only the vertical bending operation knob is provided protruding from the operation section, but this case also has the same problem as described above.

This invention eliminates such drawbacks of the conventional
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bending operation device for an endoscope in which other parts of an operation part are not contaminated through a bending operation knob and the contaminated parts can be easily disinfected.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope bending operation device of the present invention has a bendable curved portion formed on the distal end side of the insertion portion, and a curved portion of the insertion portion. A bending endoscope having an operating section connected to the proximal end side, at least one bending operation knob protruding from the operating section, and bending the bending section by rotating the bending operation knob. The operating device is characterized in that an isolation means having a diameter larger than each bending operation knob is provided inside the at least one bending operation knob.

Further, at least a bending operation knob disposed outside the isolation means may be detachably provided, and the isolation means may be detachably provided.

[Function] In the bending operation knob portion, the space touched by the right hand is separated by the isolation means. When the operating part is held with the left hand, the right hand only touches the part located on the outside of the isolation means. Therefore, the dirt carried by the right hand will adhere to the outer surface of the isolation means and not to the inner side thereof.

In addition, if the isolation means and the curved operation knob placed on the outside of the isolation means are detachably provided, the isolation means and the curved operation knob on the outside of the isolation means can be removed after use, and only they can be cleaned, disinfected, or separated. can be exchanged for one.

[Example] Examples will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the endoscope. Reference numeral 1 denotes an insertion section covered with a flexible tube, and a curved section 2 is formed on the distal end side of the insertion section, which can be bent in up, down, left and right directions, and any combination of these directions. A tip main body 3 containing an objective optical system and the like is connected to the tip of the curved portion 2. An operating section 4 is connected to the proximal end of the insertion section 1, and a vertical bending operation knob 5 and a left/right bending operation knob 6 are coaxially overlapped and protrude from the operating section 4. .

FIG. 1 shows a bending operation device. A fixed shaft 7 is fixedly protruded from a substrate 40 fixed within the operating section 4, and the fixed shaft 7 projects outside the operating section 4. A left-right pulley 9 is engaged with the lower end of a left-right rotating shaft 8 rotatably fitted to the fixed shaft 7 so as to rotate together. Further, a vertical pulley 11 is engaged with the lower end of a vertical rotating shaft 10 that is rotatably fitted on the outside of the horizontal rotating shaft 8 so as to rotate together. 15 is a washer-like spacer.

The proximal end portions of operating wires 12, 13 whose tips are connected to the curved portion 2 are wound around each of the pulleys 9, 11. As the pulleys 9 and 11 rotate, the operating wires 12 and 13 are pulled, and the bending portion 2 is bent. Reference numeral 14 denotes a cover that serves as a bearing for the vertical rotating shaft 10 and is provided to prevent the operating wires 12 and 13 from protruding from the pulleys 9 and 11.

The vertical rotating shaft 10 has a rivet 16 on the external middle flange of the operating section 4 into which a partial notch of the vertical bending operation knob 5 is fitted. At the same time, the knob 5 is dropped and fixed by a receiving member 19. Further, the upper end portion of the vertical rotating shaft 10 is formed, for example, in a square non-circular cross section, and an auxiliary vertical bending operation knob 17 is removably engaged therewith from above. 18 is its engaging portion. The engagement hole formed in the center of the vertical auxiliary bending operation knob 17 matches the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the vertical rotating shaft 10. Therefore, the auxiliary bending operation knob 1 for the vertical direction
7 rotates integrally with the vertical rotation shaft 10, but can be separated from the vertical rotation shaft 10 by pulling it outward (upward in FIG. 1).

Between the vertical bending operation knob 5 and the vertical auxiliary bending operation knob 17, the above-mentioned vertical bending operation knob 5 is tightened and fixed, and a disc-shaped separation plate 20 is provided.
A receiving member 19 that also serves as a rotation stopper is screwed onto the outer periphery of the vertical rotating shaft 10. This receiving member 19 and the auxiliary bending operation knob 17 for the vertical direction
A disc-shaped separator plate 20 made of an elastic member such as synthetic rubber and having a diameter larger than each of the bending operation knobs is fitted between the two. This separator 2
0 is engaged with a recess 19a formed in the receiving member 19, and the vertical bending operation knob 5 and the vertical auxiliary bending operation knob 17 rotate together. The separator plate 20 is formed into an umbrella shape that largely covers the vertical bending operation knob 5, and the upper surface of its peripheral edge is bent inward in a J-shape over the entire circumference, so that dirt attached to the upper surface can be removed. etc. are starting to accumulate there. 20a is a dirt storage part.

The upper large diameter portion of the left-right rotation shaft 8 and the left-right bending operation knob 6 also rotate integrally at the non-circular engagement portion 21 formed in a square shape, for example, but the left-right bending operation is not possible. It is provided so that it can be removed by pulling up the knob 6.

A tightening knob 30 that protrudes above the left-right bending operation knob 6 and is rotated by manual operation is screwed into the head of the left-right rotating shaft 8 .
By tightening this tightening knob 30, the left-right bending operation knob 6 is pressed from above and fixed to the left-right rotating shaft 8. Thereby, the vertical auxiliary bending operation knob 17 and the separator plate 20 are simultaneously fixed to the vertical rotating shaft 10. Furthermore, by loosening the tightening knob 30 and removing it from the left-right rotating shaft 8, the left-right bending operation knob 6, the vertical bending operation knob 17, and the separator plate 20 can be pulled upward and removed all at once. can.

An elastic member 31 is compressed and interposed between the upper part of the left-right rotating shaft 8 and the fixed shaft 7 in the larger diameter part. Therefore, when the left-right rotating shaft 8 rotates, frictional resistance is generated between it and the fixed shaft 7, so that the left-right bending movement is always braked with a constant force. ing. and,
The amount of compression of the elastic member 31 is determined by the amount of compression of the nut 32a, which is screwed inside near the upper end of the left-right rotating shaft 8.
It can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of tightening of 32b. 33 is a rotation shaft 8 for left and right directions.
This is a retaining bolt that is screwed onto the top of the fixed shaft 7 to prevent it from coming off upward.

Note that a mechanism 50 for applying a brake on vertical bending is provided between the vertical bending operation knob 5 and the operating section 4, but a description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, O-rings 34 to 38 for sealing are attached to the rotating parts of each shaft to maintain the operating section 4 watertight.

When using the endoscope bending operation device of the above embodiment configured in this manner, as shown in FIG. The vertical bending operation knob 6 and the vertical auxiliary bending operation knob 17 can be operated. The space on the right hand side and the space on the left hand side are completely separated by a separating plate 20, and the filth carried by the right hand adheres to the outer surface of the separating plate 20 and flows into the waste pool 20a. Reservoir, separator 20
It does not stick to the inside of the

After use, by loosening and removing the tightening knob 30, you can remove the left-right bending operation knob 6, the up-down direction auxiliary bending operation knob 17, and the isolation plate 20, and clean and disinfect only these. , it can be replaced with another disinfected one. Note that the separator 20 is made of an elastic material, so it is flexible and fits comfortably in the hand during operation, so it does not hinder the operation. Since the receiving member 19 can be pinched and loosened, the vertical bending operation knob 5 can be removed without getting dirty.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention,
The vertical bending operation knob 5 and the left and right bending operation knob 6 are both provided on the outside of the separating plate 20, and are all detachably provided. With this configuration, since the left hand cannot touch the bending operation knobs 5 and 6 at all, it is possible to prevent the operation section 4 from being contaminated through the bending operation knobs 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention,
A vertical bending operation knob 5 and a left and right bending operation knob 6 are provided to be operated with the left hand, and a separating plate 20 and a left and right auxiliary bending operation knob 26 are detachably provided on the outside thereof. With this configuration, both the vertical bending operation knob 5 and the left and right bending operation knob 6 are isolated from the right hand, and the operating section 4 is protected from contamination.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the endoscope bending operation device of the present invention, in the bending operation knob portion, the space touched by the right hand and the space touched by the left hand are completely separated by the isolation means. Therefore, dirt carried by the right hand does not adhere to the operating section side inside the isolating means, and contamination of the operating section can be prevented. Therefore, there is no risk of infection through the endoscope,
Very good hygiene. In addition, if the isolation means and the curved operation knobs placed on the outside of the isolation means are detachably provided, these can be removed and sterilized, or replaced with new sterilized ones. There is no need for disinfection by immersion, etc., and endoscopic examinations can be carried out quickly on a large number of people in a clean state, and maintenance is very simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of an endoscope according to the embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a schematic diagram of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Insertion part, 2... Curving part, 4... Operation part, 5... Curving operation knob for vertical direction, 6... Curving operation knob for left and right direction, 20... Separation plate, 30... Tightening knob.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bendable curved portion is formed at the distal end of the insertion portion, and an operating portion is connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion, and at least one bending operation knob is protruded from the operating portion. In the bending operation device for an endoscope, the bending operation device for an endoscope is configured to bend the bending portion by rotating the bending operation knob, on the inside of the at least one bending operation knob;
A bending operation device for an endoscope, characterized in that an isolation means having a diameter larger than each bending operation knob is provided. 2. Claim characterized in that the bending operation knob is comprised of a bending operation knob for the vertical direction and a bending operation knob for the left and right directions, and these knobs are superimposed coaxially with each other and protrude from the operation section. 1. The endoscope bending operation device according to 1. 3. The bending operation knob for an endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a bending operation knob disposed outside at least the isolation means and detachably provided therein. 4. The endoscope bending operation device according to claim 1, wherein the isolation means is detachably provided. 5. The endoscope bending operation device according to claim 1, wherein the isolation means is disc-shaped.