JPH0642865B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope in which a bending tube of an insertion portion is operated to be bent by a bending operation wire.

[Prior Art] Generally, an endoscope includes an insertion portion connected to a hand-side operation portion, which includes a flexible tube, a bending tube, and a distal end forming portion. The tip ends of the upper and lower bending operation wires are attached, and the proximal ends of these bending operation wires are wound around a drum rotatably provided in the main body of the hand operation unit. The bending operation wire is wound and unwound by rotating the drum, and the bending operation wire is pushed and pulled to bend the bending tube in a desired direction.

By the way, if there is slack (play) in the bending operation wire,
This may have a delicate influence on the sense of the operator's hands, which may lead to an erroneous operation due to a feeling difference, which may be dangerous. Therefore, the bending operation wire must be assembled with the slack as small as possible.

However, during repeated use of this device, the actual amount of movement of the bending operation wire with respect to the operation amount in the initial use tends to change due to the extension of the bending operation wire or the change in the shape of the related mechanical member such as the connecting pipe. Thus, over time use causes operational play. If such play is left unattended, the bending range of the distal end constituting section is reduced (angle down) with a preset operation amount range of the operation member, the observation range is narrowed, or desired treatment such as cell collection is difficult. Come here.

Therefore, in the conventional endoscope, it has been necessary to shorten the length of the wire in the main body of the hand-side operation portion and reset the connecting position between the drum and the moving body successively every time a play occurs. And, this work is a large-scale work to do by disassembling the main body of the operation unit, and it is very troublesome.

On the other hand, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-31202, the angle wire is adjusted by the screw part to which the angle wire is fixed and its sliding body, but this adjustment mechanism is complicated and requires a large space. . Further, since the main body of the operation portion is purposely disassembled in the same manner as described above, there are similar drawbacks.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In any of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, adjustment work for removing play of the bending operation wire cannot be performed unless at least the main body of the hand operation unit is disassembled. Therefore, it was very troublesome. Further, if the adjusting mechanism is provided, the structure becomes extremely complicated, and a large space is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose thereof is a relatively simple structure, but without a large disassembling work, the tension of the bending operation wire can be easily performed from the outside. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can be easily corrected.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems] The present invention provides an endoscope in which the bending operation wire is pushed and pulled by the operation of the operation portion to bend the bending tube portion of the insertion portion, and the insertion portion and the insertion portion are supported. A mechanism for adjusting the length along the bending operation wire, which is combined with the connecting portion main body portion of the operating portion, is provided.

The adjusting mechanism adjusts the total length of the insertion portion and the connecting portion main body portion of the operation portion that supports the insertion portion, so that the tension of the bending operation wire can be adjusted.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an endoscope 1, which comprises an operating section 2 and an inserting section 3, and a light guide cable 4 is connected to the operating section 2. The insertion portion 3 has a distal end portion 7 connected to the distal end of a flexible tube 5 via a bending tube 6, and the bending tube 6 has a plurality of bending operation wires 8 inserted from the operation portion 2 to the insertion portion 3. It can be bent by pushing and pulling. The tip of each bending operation wire 8 ... Is connected to the tip or the tip portion 7 of the bending tube 6. Each of the proximal ends of the bending operation wires 8 is connected to a pulling operation mechanism (not shown) provided in the operating portion 2, and the pulling operation mechanism is operated by an operation knob 9 provided outside. The bending operation wires 8 ... Are pushed and pulled.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the base end of the insertion portion 3 is connected to the connection portion main body 11 of the operation portion 2. That is, the connecting fitting 12 is attached to the proximal end of the insertion portion 3, and the connecting fitting 12 is fastened and fixed to the connecting portion main body 11 by the stop ring 13.

Furthermore, the vicinity of the proximal end of the flexible tube 5 in the insertion portion 3 is fitted with a break-fixing tube 14. The vicinity of the base end of the flexible tube 5 fitted with the folding tube 14 is divided into a base end portion 15 and an extension portion 16 on the side of the coupling fitting 12. Reverse screw threads 17 and 18 are formed on the outer periphery of the abutting end portions of the base end portion 15 and the extending portion 16. For example, the thread portion 17 of the base end portion 15 is engraved with a right-hand thread, and the thread portion 18 of the extension portion 16 is engraved with a left-hand thread. In addition, each screw part
Cylindrical adjusting screws 19 are respectively screwed into the 17,18. That is, a threaded portion 21 to which a right-handed screw portion 17 is screwed is formed on the inner periphery of the proximal end portion of the adjusting screw 19, and a left-handed screw portion 18 is screwed on the inner periphery of the distal end portion. Mating screw part 22
Are formed. Further, the adjusting screw 19 is pressed by the loosening rings 23 and 24 which are screwed into the screw portions 17 and 18, respectively. Then, as shown in FIG.
The base end portion 15 and the extension portion 16 are assembled so as to abut each other.

However, when the bending operation of the bending tube 6 is repeated using the endoscope 1, the bending operation wires 8 ... Or this connecting portion may extend, and the bending operation wires 8 ... May sag.

Therefore, when removing the slack and applying the same tension force to the bending operation wires 8 as at the time of initial setting, the bending stop tube 14 is removed or displaced and the vicinity of the proximal end of the insertion portion 3 provided with the adjusting screw 19 is removed. Expose. And the locking ring 2
Loosen 3,24 and turn the adjusting screw 19 to separate the base end portion 15 and the extension portion 16 from each other as shown in FIG. That is, since the screw portions 17 and 18 have a reverse screw relationship, the adjusting screw 19 is
By rotating the base, as shown in FIG.
15 and the extension 16 can be separated. Then, when the bending operation wires 8 ... Are given the same tension as in the initial setting, the loosening rings 23 and 24 are tightened to fix the adjusting screw 19 at that position. Finally, return the break stop tube 14 to its original position.

Thus, according to the above configuration, the length of the flexible tube 6 itself of the insertion portion 3 can be adjusted, whereby the tension of the bending operation wires 8 ... Can be made the same as that at the time of initial setting. Moreover, this adjustment work can be performed directly from the outside without disassembling the operation unit 2. Further, the adjusting mechanism has a simple structure and can be constructed without taking up a large space.

4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a tubular connecting member 31 is attached to the proximal end of the flexible tube 5 in the insertion portion 3. The connecting member 31 is a connecting tubular member provided on the connecting portion main body 11 on the operating portion 2 side. It is slidably fitted on the portion 32 and closely fitted. Further, the connecting member 31 is formed with elongated holes 33, 33 along the axial direction of the insertion portion 3. Further, set screws 34, 34 are implanted in the connecting tubular portion 32 so as to pass through the elongated holes 33, 33, respectively. Then, the connecting member 31 is tightened and fixed by the set screws 34, 34.

Then, at the time of initial setting, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the setscrews 34, 34 are tightened at the position where the connecting member 31 is most deeply inserted into the connecting tubular portion 32, and both are fixed. At this time, the total length of the connecting portion main body 11 and the insertion portion 3 is the shortest.

Further, when the bending operation wires 8 ... Slacken, the folding tube 14 and the member 35 for supporting the same are displaced forward. Then, the set screws 34, 34 are loosened, the connecting member 31 is moved forward, and the bending operation wires 8 are stopped at the same tension as at the time of initial setting, and the set screws 34, 34 are set at the position shown in FIG. 6, for example. Retighten 34 and tie 3
1 is fixed to the connecting tubular portion 32. Then, the folding tube 14 and the member 35 supporting it are returned to their original positions again.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, there is no trouble of correcting the connecting portion of the bending operation wire in the operating portion, and the insertion portion and the connecting portion main body portion of the operating portion supporting the insertion portion are combined. The length can be easily adjusted to apply the bending force of the bending operation wire to the initial setting time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part in the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of the entire endoscope in the same embodiment, and FIG.
Similarly, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view in the vicinity of the proximal end of the insertion portion in that embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the main portion in the second embodiment.
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are plan views showing different states of the base end connecting portion of the insertion portion in the same embodiment. 1 ... endoscope, 3 ... insertion part, 5 ... flexible tube, 6 ... bending tube, 8 ... bending operation wire, 11 ... connecting part body, 15 ...
… Base end part, 16 …… extension part, 17 …… screw part, 18 …… screw part, 19 …… adjusting screw, 21 …… screw part, 22 …… screw part,
31 ...... connecting member, 32 ... connecting tubular part, 33 ... oblong hole,
34 ... Set screw.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope for operating a bending tube portion of the insertion section by pushing and pulling a bending operation wire which is connected to the operation section and inserted from the operation section over the insertion section by an operation in the operation section. In the endoscope, there is provided a mechanism for adjusting a length of the insertion portion and a connecting portion main body portion of the operation portion supporting the insertion portion along the bending operation wire. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism is provided in the middle of the insertion portion. 3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism is provided at a portion connecting the insertion portion and the operation portion.