JPH0679593B2 - Endoscopic bending device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope bending apparatus that bends a bending tube of an insertion portion of an endoscope.

[Prior Art] A general endoscope is provided with an insertion section, an operation knob, a light guide cable, and an eyepiece section in its operation section.

The tip of the insertion portion has a tip forming portion, and an image taken out through the tip forming portion can be directly observed with the naked eye from the eyepiece portion.

Further, a bending tube is provided at the rear portion of the tip forming portion, and the bending tube can be bent by the operation knob.

Explaining this bending device, an operation wire, one end of which is fixed to the distal end of the bending tube, is wound around a pulley provided on a rotary shaft of an operation knob of the operation section through the flexible tube and the other end of the operation wire. Is again fixed to the tip portion inside the bending tube through the inside of the flexible tube. Here, both ends of the operation wire are fixed to symmetrical positions inside the bending tube.

The operation knob is operated to rotate the pulley provided on the rotary shaft of the operation knob, and the operation wire is pushed and pulled to bend the bending tube.

By providing two bending devices having the above-described structure, it is possible to operate the bending tube vertically and horizontally.

When observing and diagnosing a bending tube by this bending device, it is necessary to brake the operation wire to fix the bending state of the bending tube while directing the tip component to a predetermined observation portion. . Therefore, a braking device for braking the operation wire is provided.

In this manufacturing apparatus, as shown in JP-A-57-69838 and JP-A-58-32736, a braking shaft is provided parallel to and adjacent to the rotary shaft of the operation knob. A braking pulley is provided on the shaft, and a wire is wound around this pulley. The operation wire in the operation knob is braked by braking the rotation of the braking shaft.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the conventional braking device for braking the operation wire of the bending device is a braking shaft provided adjacent to the rotary shaft provided on the operation knob of the operation portion. As a result, the large size of the operating part and the complicated structure were unavoidable.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of the braking device, downsize the operating portion, and improve the operability of the braking device.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems] The present invention provides a rotating shaft rotatable by an operating knob in an operating unit, a transmitting member for transmitting rotation of the rotating shaft, and an operation via the transmitting member. In an endoscope in which an insertion portion is bent by transmitting it to a wire, a friction device is directly crimped to the transmission member and provided with a braking device that fixes it in a predetermined bending state. It is in a high endoscopic bending device.

[Embodiment] Each embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

In FIG. 2, 1 is an endoscope. The endoscope 1 is composed of an insertion portion 3 provided on the operation portion 2, a light guide cable 4, an operation knob 5, and the like. And the insertion part 3 is
It is configured by sequentially connecting the tip forming portion 6, the bending tube 7 and the flexible tube 8 from the tip side.

The bending tube 7 can be bent vertically and horizontally by rotating the upper and lower knobs of the operation knob 5.

A first embodiment of a braking device 10 for braking the bending in the left-right direction in the endoscope bending device 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. Here, since the bending device structures in the vertical and horizontal directions are almost the same, only the horizontal direction will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a rotary shaft of the operation knob 5 in the operation unit 2. A gear 12 is integrally provided on the rotating shaft 11. A toothed belt 13 serving as a transmission member is wound around the gear 12, and both ends of the toothed belt 13 are directed to the front of the operation unit 2. This toothed belt 13
One end of each of the two operation wires 14, 14 is connected to both ends of the. The other ends of the operation wires 14 and 14 are fixed so as to face each other on the left and right inside the tip side of the bending portion 7 (not shown).

With the above structure, when the operation knob 5 is rotated, the gear 12 rotates, and the toothed belt 13 moves accordingly. Then, by pulling one of the operation wires 14, 14 connected to both ends of the toothed belt 13 and pushing the other, the bending tube 7 can be bent in the left-right direction.

In addition, the operating wires 1 at both ends of the toothed belt 13
Stoppers 15 and 15 are fixed to the connecting portions with 4, 14 and together with the receivers 16 and 16 that receive the stoppers, 15 and 15 are restrained from being bent more than necessary.

A partition 17 having a U-shaped cross section formed by bending a plate is provided near the end portion of the toothed belt 13.

The braking device 10 in the endoscope bending device 9 as described above is
The operation pin 18 is located near the tip of the operation portion 2 in FIG. 2, is provided perpendicularly to the back surface of the toothed belt 13 as the transmission member, and is provided so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the pin. Has been.

As shown in FIG. 1, a friction member 19 made of an elastic material has a surface parallel to the toothed belt 13 at a portion of the operation pin 18 in the operation portion 2 which is close to the toothed belt 13. It has and is fixed. Further, convex portions 20, 21, 22 are provided in the middle of the operation pin 18 inside the operation portion 2. A first spring 23 is provided between the convex portion 20 and the casing 2a of the operating portion 2 so as to urge a force to pull the operating pin 18 outward. Further, the protrusion 21 restricts the operation pin 18 from protruding more than necessary by the first spring 23. Further, a locking pin 24 is provided on a wall portion of the casing 2a that is formed at a right angle to the wall portion on which the operation pin 18 is provided, with the head protruding outward so as to be slidable in the axial direction. Further, a leaf spring 25 formed in an arc shape is provided at an end portion of the locking pin 24 located inside the operation portion 2. A convex portion 26 is provided on the mounting portion of the leaf spring 25, and a second spring 27 that biases the locking pin 24 inward is provided between the convex portion 26 and the casing 2a. . The second spring 27 has a stronger biasing force than the first spring 23. Further, the leaf spring 25 is in contact with the convex portion 22 of the operation pin 18 and has a click action for guiding the convex portion 22 to either of the both ends of the leaf spring 25. Further, O-rings 18a and 24a for maintaining the watertightness of the operating portion 2 are provided on the sliding surfaces of the operating pin 18 and the locking pin 24 in the casing 2a.

In the braking device 10, by pushing the operation pin 18 from the outside to the inside, the state shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. That is, when the operation pin 18 is pushed, the friction member 19 is pushed to the position where the friction member 19 is pressed against the toothed belt 13 as a transmission member while pushing the leaf spring 25, and the toothed belt 13 is pushed into the partition wall.
It is sandwiched between 17 and the friction member 19 to be braked. At this time,
The projection 22 provided on the operation pin 18 rides over the leaf spring 25,
Moreover, since the locking pin 24 is biased by the second spring 27 having a stronger biasing force than that of the first spring 23, the operating pin 18 does not return, and the toothed belt 13 is braked. It's locked.

Further, the braking is released by pulling the locking pin 24 outward while compressing the second spring 27, and the convex portion 22 and the leaf spring.
25 is unlocked. Then, by the biasing of the first spring 23, the operation pin 18 moves outward and enters the state shown in FIG. 1 to release the braking.

With the above-described structure, the structure of the braking device 10 is simpler than that of the conventional structure, and thus the operating unit 2 can be made smaller and lighter, and the operability of the endoscope can be improved. .

Hereinafter, the second to fourth embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. Since the basic structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals. And the description is omitted.

In FIG. 4 showing the second embodiment, 28 is a chain as a transmission member, which replaces the toothed belt 13 as a transmission member in the first embodiment. And
The gear 12 is also changed to a sprocket (not shown). Also,
A chain of friction members 30 provided at the tip of the operation pin 18.
The edge of the surface that contacts 28 forms a large R shape to prevent inadvertent interference during operation of chain 28.

By using the chain 28 as the transmission member as described above,
Smooth and reliable operation can be obtained.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment, in which 31 is a wire as a transmission member. The wire 31 is, for example, the operation wire 14 that is used as it is.

A pulley (not shown) is integrally provided on the rotary shaft 11 of the operation knob 5, and the wire 31 is wound around the pulley. Then, the wire 31 as the transmission member can be braked by crimping the wire 31 to the partition wall 17 by the friction member 19.

Further, FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment. The transmission member in FIG. 6 is formed by coating the wear resistant member 33 on the outer surface of the wire 31 in the third embodiment.
This prevents wear of the wire 31 due to contact with the friction member 19 during braking.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment, and the bending device 9 uses a gear 12 and a toothed belt 13 as a transmission member similar to those in the first embodiment.

The friction member 19 is fixed to the tip of the operation pin 34. Further, the friction member 19 is provided toward the center of the gear 12, and the rear end portion of the operation pin 34 projects to the outside of the operation portion 2. The operation pin 34 is slidably provided in an insertion hole 35 formed in the casing 2a of the operation portion 2. Further, convex portions 36, 37, 38 are provided in the middle of the casing 2a of the operation pin 34. A first spring 39 is provided between the convex portion 36 and the casing 2a to urge a force to pull the operation pin 34 outward. The convex portion 37 is provided so that the operation pin 34 does not project outward more than necessary due to the biasing by the first spring 39. Further, the convex portion 38 forms a notch.

In the state where the operating pin 34 is pushed into the convex portion 38 to press the toothed belt 13 against the gear 12 for braking, a locking member 40 that locks is rotatably supported on the casing 2a. Has been done. The locking member 40 is always urged counterclockwise by a spring (not shown). A lock release pin 41 for releasing the lock state of the lock member 40 with respect to the operation pin 34 is slidably inserted in an insertion hole 42 formed in parallel with the insertion hole 35 of the casing 2a. Further, its tip portion is provided in the vicinity of the rear end 43 of the locking member 40 inside the operation portion 2.

A convex portion 44 is provided at the tip of the unlocking pin 41, and a force is applied between the convex portion 44 and the casing 2a to urge a force to pull the unlocking pin 41 outward. Two springs
45 are stretched.

Further, a protrusion 46 is provided in the middle of the lock release pin 41 to prevent the lock release pin 41 from projecting to the outside more than necessary due to the bias of the second spring 45.

An O-ring 47 that maintains watertightness is provided between the insertion hole 35 and the operation pin 34, and a similar O-ring 48 is also provided between the insertion hole 42 and the lock release pin 41. .

In the braking device 10 configured as described above, the operation pin
34 is pushed in from the outside and the gear 12 is
When the toothed belt 13 is crimped onto the
Is braked. At this time, the convex portion 38 is locked by the locking member 40 and locked in the state shown in FIG. 7, that is, in the state where the toothed belt 13 is braked.

Further, when releasing the braking, the locking release pin 41 is pushed inward from the outside to push the rear end 43 of the locking member 40, and the locking member 40 is rotated clockwise. Locking member
The locking between 40 and the convex portion 38 is released, the operation pin 34 is pulled back by the urging of the first spring 39, and the braking is released.

With the structure as described above, it is possible to make the structure extremely simple as compared with the conventional structure.

It should be noted that the braking device does not strongly brake the transmission member, but may have an appropriate braking force in the body cavity of the human body. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in each embodiment, the braking device is configured to crimp the friction member by using the operation pin, but the braking device is not limited to this and may be a structure that directly crimps the transmission member.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a braking effect similar to the conventional one with an extremely simple structure as compared with the conventional one, and to reduce the size and weight of the operating portion. . Furthermore, the range in which the braking device can be placed is widened, and a design that emphasizes operability is possible. Therefore, the operability of the endoscope can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a main portion, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entire endoscope, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. FIGS. 4 to 7 are plan views showing the operating state of the braking device, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are plan views showing the essential parts of the second to fifth embodiments of the present invention. 2 ... Operation part, 3 ... Insertion part, 9 ... Endoscope bending device, 10 ...
… Braking device, 11 …… Rotary shaft, 13 …… Toothed belt (transmission member), 14 …… Operating wire, 19 …… Friction member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transmission shaft, which is provided in an operation portion for performing a bending operation, and an endoscope bending apparatus for transmitting a rotation of the rotation shaft to an operation wire via a transmission member to bend the insertion portion. An endoscope bending apparatus, wherein a braking device for directly crimping a friction member is provided on the endoscope bending device.