JPH0741018B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents
EndoscopeInfo
- Publication number
- JPH0741018B2 JPH0741018B2 JP61136843A JP13684386A JPH0741018B2 JP H0741018 B2 JPH0741018 B2 JP H0741018B2 JP 61136843 A JP61136843 A JP 61136843A JP 13684386 A JP13684386 A JP 13684386A JP H0741018 B2 JPH0741018 B2 JP H0741018B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- insertion portion
- deformable member
- bending
- endoscope
- tip
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Landscapes
- Endoscopes (AREA)
- Instruments For Viewing The Inside Of Hollow Bodies (AREA)
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】 ［産業上の利用分野］ 本発明は挿入部を強制的に湾曲できるようにした内視鏡
に関する。TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope in which an insertion portion can be forcibly curved.
［従来の技術］ 一般に、内視鏡は挿入部の先端の向きを変えるため、そ
の挿入部の先端付近に湾曲部を構成してあり、この湾曲
部は手元側操作部での遠隔操作により操作ワイヤを介し
て湾曲させられるようになっている。そして、この湾曲
部は多数の湾曲用駒を連結してなる関節機構を組み込ん
で、この関節機構により湾曲する構造になっている。[Prior Art] Generally, an endoscope changes a direction of a distal end of an insertion portion, and therefore a bending portion is formed near the distal end of the insertion portion. The bending portion is operated by a remote operation on a hand side operation unit. It can be bent via a wire. The bending portion has a structure in which a joint mechanism formed by connecting a large number of bending pieces is incorporated and the bending portion is bent by the joint mechanism.
このように関節機構を組み込んだ湾曲部のある内視鏡で
はその挿入部の細径化には限界があり、一定以上の細径
化は困難であった。また、構造も複雑となる。As described above, in an endoscope having a bending portion incorporating a joint mechanism, there is a limit to reducing the diameter of the insertion portion, and it is difficult to reduce the diameter beyond a certain level. In addition, the structure becomes complicated.
そこで、これを解決するために特開昭59−48710号公報
のものでは形状記憶合金からなる変形部材を用いて湾曲
操作するようにして挿入部の細径化を図っている。Therefore, in order to solve this, in JP-A-59-48710, the diameter of the insertion portion is reduced by performing a bending operation using a deformable member made of a shape memory alloy.
［発明が解決しようとする問題点］ しかしながら、この特開昭59−48710号公報で提案され
ているものはその変形部材を組み込んだ挿入部の部分全
体が一様に曲るので、体腔内の狭い部位への挿入性が悪
く、安全かつ迅速な湾曲操作ができなかった。[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the one proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-48710, the entire portion of the insertion portion incorporating the deformable member is bent uniformly, so that The insertability into a narrow area was poor, and a safe and quick bending operation was not possible.
本発明は上記問題点に着目してなされたもので、その目
的とするところは形状記憶合金を用いて挿入部の湾曲部
を湾曲するようにした内視鏡において、その湾曲部が先
端側から曲るようにして体腔内の狭い部位などへの挿入
性が良好で、安全かつ迅速な挿入操作ができるようにす
ることにある。The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is an endoscope in which a bending portion of an insertion portion is bent by using a shape memory alloy, and the bending portion is from the distal end side. It is intended to be bent so that it can be easily inserted into a narrow site in a body cavity, and a safe and quick insertion operation can be performed.
［問題点を解決するための手段および作用］ 上記問題点を解決するために本発明は可撓性の挿入部内
にその軸方向に沿って形状記憶合金よりなる変形部材を
挿入部の先端で折り返して並列に設け、さらに、その変
形部材を先端側から順次変態温度を越える高温に加熱す
る手段を組み込んだ内視鏡である。[Means and Actions for Solving Problems] In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a deformable member made of a shape memory alloy is folded back along the axial direction in a flexible insertion portion at the tip of the insertion portion. The endoscope is provided in parallel with each other, and further has means for heating the deformable members from the distal end side to a high temperature exceeding the transformation temperature in order.
この内視鏡では加熱手段を作用させると、変形部材が先
端側から順次変態温度を越えるため、挿入部の湾曲部分
が先端側から順次曲る。In this endoscope, when the heating means is actuated, the deformable member sequentially exceeds the transformation temperature from the distal end side, so that the curved portion of the insertion portion sequentially bends from the distal end side.
［実施例］ 第１図ないし第３図は本発明の第１の実施例を示すもの
である。[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
第１図中１は血管用内視鏡の挿入部であり、これは複数
のルーメンを形成してなる可撓性のマルチル−メンチュ
ーブから形成されている。１つのルーメンは送液チャン
ネル２、他の１つのルーメンは処置具挿通チャンネル３
となっており、さらに、残る１つのルーメンはイメージ
ガイドファイバ束６が挿通され、残る他の１つのルーメ
ンにはライトガイドファイバ束７が挿通されている。上
記イメージガイドファイバ束５を通すルーメンの先端に
は観察対物光学部８が組み込まれ、上記ライトガイドフ
ァイバ束７を通すルーメンの先端には照明光学部９が組
み込まれている。In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an insertion portion of a blood vessel endoscope, which is formed of a flexible multi-lumen tube having a plurality of lumens. One lumen is the liquid feeding channel 2, and the other one is the treatment instrument insertion channel 3.
Further, the image guide fiber bundle 6 is inserted into the remaining one lumen, and the light guide fiber bundle 7 is inserted into the other remaining lumen. An observation objective optical section 8 is incorporated at the tip of the lumen through which the image guide fiber bundle 5 passes, and an illumination optical section 9 is incorporated at the tip of the lumen through which the light guide fiber bundle 7 passes.
上記挿入部１の本体を形成するマルチルーメンチューブ
11の肉厚内にはその挿入部１の長尺方向に沿って形状記
憶合金からなる線状の変形部材12が埋設されている。こ
の変形部材12は挿入部１の先端側においてコ字状に折れ
曲り、その両端側が手元側に向って平行に配設されてい
る。さらに、この変形部材12の先端側部分は第３図で示
すように挿入部１の湾曲部13に対応して他の部分より細
く形成されている。そして、この細径部14は湾曲部13の
全長ではなく、その湾曲部13の先端側部分のみに対応し
ている。そして、この変形部材12はマルチルーメンチュ
ーブ11の肉厚内に密に埋設されてその挿入部と一体化さ
れている。また、変形部材12を形成する形状記憶合金と
してはたとえばAu−Cd,In−Tlなどの組成のものからな
り、常温では第３図で示すように直線状であるが、その
変態点温度以上になると、その記憶形状、つまり、側方
へ曲るようになっている。また、再び常温（変態点温度
以下）になると、直線状に戻る性質が与えられている。
すなわち、この記憶形状は第３図で示すように湾曲部13
の全長に対応した範囲にわたって形成されている。Multi-lumen tube forming the body of the insertion part 1
A linear deformable member 12 made of a shape memory alloy is embedded in the thickness of 11 along the lengthwise direction of the insertion portion 1. The deformable member 12 is bent in a U-shape on the distal end side of the insertion portion 1, and both ends thereof are arranged in parallel toward the hand side. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the distal end side portion of the deformable member 12 is formed to be thinner than the other portions in correspondence with the curved portion 13 of the insertion portion 1. The small diameter portion 14 does not correspond to the entire length of the bending portion 13, but corresponds only to the tip side portion of the bending portion 13. The deformable member 12 is densely embedded in the wall thickness of the multi-lumen tube 11 and integrated with its insertion portion. The shape memory alloy forming the deformable member 12 is made of a composition such as Au-Cd, In-Tl, etc., and is linear as shown in FIG. Then, its memory shape, that is, it bends to the side. Further, it has a property of returning to a linear shape when the temperature returns to room temperature (below the transformation point temperature) again.
That is, this memory shape has a curved portion 13 as shown in FIG.
Is formed over a range corresponding to the entire length of the.
さらに、第１図で示すように線状の変形部材12の両端に
は内視鏡の手元側において直流電源15が直列に接続され
ており、また、その給電回路途中には操作スイッチ16が
介挿されている。Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a DC power source 15 is connected in series to both ends of the linear deformable member 12 on the proximal side of the endoscope, and an operation switch 16 is inserted in the middle of the power feeding circuit. Has been inserted.
次に、上記内視鏡の使用方法について説明する。Next, a method of using the endoscope will be described.
挿入部１を体腔内に差し込み、その先端の向きを変える
必要がある場合、操作スイッチ16を閉じることにより変
形部材12に通電する。この通電により変形部材12はそれ
自身のもつ電気抵抗により発熱する。そして、このとき
変形部材12の先端側（細径部14）が細くなっているた
め、その部分の電気抵抗が大きい。したがって、この部
分の発熱量が他の部分より多く、他の部分より早く変態
温度に達する。このため、細径部14から湾曲し始め、湾
曲部13は第１図中１点鎖線で示すようにその記憶形状に
先端側から次第に湾曲する。そして、これに沿わせて挿
入部１の湾曲部13を湾曲する。つまり、挿入部１の湾曲
部13はその全体が一様ではなく、先端側から曲り始め
る。したがって、小回りがきき挿入性を向上し、体腔内
の狭い部位へも容易に挿入できる。When it is necessary to insert the insertion portion 1 into the body cavity and change the direction of the tip thereof, the deformable member 12 is energized by closing the operation switch 16. This energization causes the deformable member 12 to generate heat due to its own electrical resistance. At this time, since the tip side (the small diameter portion 14) of the deformable member 12 is thin, the electric resistance of that portion is large. Therefore, the calorific value of this portion is higher than that of the other portions, and the transformation temperature is reached earlier than the other portions. For this reason, the small-diameter portion 14 begins to bend, and the bending portion 13 gradually bends to its memorized shape from the tip side as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Then, the bending portion 13 of the insertion portion 1 is bent along this. That is, the entire curved portion 13 of the insertion portion 1 is not uniform and starts to bend from the tip side. Therefore, it is possible to improve the insertability with a small turning stroke and to easily insert into a narrow site in the body cavity.
第４図は本発明の第２の実施例を示すものである。この
実施例は２本の変形部材12の先端側部分をテーパ状に形
成して先端側が次第に細くなるようにした。さらに、各
変形部材12の先端同士を導線20により電気的に接続し
た。なお、テーパ部21の長さl1を湾曲部13の長さl2より
短かく、かつ先端側に位置させたが、そのテーパ部21の
長さl1を湾曲部13の全範囲に合わせてもよい。そして、
上記l1あるいはl2の部分に曲げ形状を記憶させてある。FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the distal end portions of the two deformable members 12 are formed in a tapered shape so that the distal end sides become gradually thinner. Furthermore, the tip ends of the deformable members 12 were electrically connected to each other by the conductive wire 20. The length l 1 of the taper portion 21 is shorter than the length l 2 of the bending portion 13 and is located on the tip side, but the length l 1 of the taper portion 21 is adjusted to the entire range of the bending portion 13. May be. And
The bending shape is memorized in the above l 1 or l 2 .
第５図は本発明の第３の実施例を示すものである。この
実施例は第１の実施例の細径部14に相当する部分Ｌを断
面積の小さい（細い）コイル状に形成したものである。
また、曲げ形状は湾曲部13の範囲にわたって記憶させて
ある。FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a portion L corresponding to the small-diameter portion 14 of the first embodiment is formed in a coil shape having a small cross section (thin).
The bending shape is stored in the range of the bending portion 13.
この実施例によればコイル状にしただけより高い電気抵
抗値が設られ、このため、より大きな発熱量が得られ
る。したがって、先端から曲り出す応答性がよくなる。
また、コイル状のため、その部分の変形力（剛性）が増
し、観察対物光学部８、照明光学部９およびマルチルー
メンチューブ11の曲げ抗力が大きい場合にも適用でき
る。According to this embodiment, a higher electric resistance value is provided only by forming a coil, and thus a larger amount of heat generation is obtained. Therefore, the responsiveness of bending from the tip is improved.
Further, because of the coil shape, the deforming force (rigidity) of that portion increases, and it can be applied even when the bending resistance of the observation objective optical unit 8, the illumination optical unit 9, and the multi-lumen tube 11 is large.
なお、上記各実施例では挿入部の湾曲部を１方向へのみ
湾曲させる構成としたが、複数の変形部材、操作スイッ
チ、電源を設けることにより、いくつかの異なる方向へ
湾曲することも可能である。また、第１ないし第３の実
施例のものでは湾曲部だけでなく、挿入部の全長にわた
って組み込んでもよいし、湾曲部のみに設け、それより
手元側は単なる電気的結線でスイッチ、電源に接続して
もよい。また、湾曲部内の変形部材の太さは数種類（数
段階に変化）設けてもよい。さらに、電源には直流電源
のみならず交流電源でもよい。Although the bending portion of the insertion portion is bent only in one direction in each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to bend the bending portion in several different directions by providing a plurality of deforming members, operation switches, and a power source. is there. In addition, in the first to third embodiments, not only the bending portion but also the insertion portion may be incorporated over the entire length, or it may be provided only in the bending portion, and the side nearer to it is connected to the switch and the power supply by simple electrical connection. You may. In addition, the thickness of the deformable member in the curved portion may be set to several types (change in several steps). Further, the power source may be not only a DC power source but also an AC power source.
［発明の効果］ 以上説明したように本発明によれば、挿入部の湾曲部を
先端側から曲げることができる。したがって、細い管腔
内へも安全な湾曲操作で容易かつ迅速に挿入できるよう
になった。また、構成的にも挿入部の細径化を確保でき
るものである。[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention as described above, the bending portion of the insertion portion can be bent from the distal end side. Therefore, it has become possible to insert easily and quickly into a narrow lumen by a safe bending operation. In addition, it is possible to ensure that the insertion portion has a small diameter in terms of configuration.
第１図は第１の実施例における要部の斜視図、第２図は
同じくその第１の実施例における挿入部の縦断面図、第
３図は同じくその第１の実施例における変形部材の平面
図、第４図は第２の実施例における変形部材の平面図、
第５図は第３の実施例における変形部材の平面図 １……挿入部、11……マルチルーメンチューブ、12……
変形部材、13……湾曲部、14……細径部、15……直流電
源、16……操作スイッチFIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part in the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an insertion part in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a deformation member in the first embodiment. A plan view, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a deformable member in the second embodiment,
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the deformable member in the third embodiment 1 ... Insert portion, 11 ... Multi-lumen tube, 12 ...
Deformation member, 13 …… Bending part, 14 …… Small diameter part, 15 …… DC power supply, 16 …… Operation switch
Claims (2)
沿って形状記憶合金からなる変形部材を挿入部の先端で
折り返して並列に設け、その変形部材を先端側から順次
変態点温度を越える高温に加熱する手段を組み込んでな
ることを特徴とする内視鏡。A deformable member made of a shape memory alloy is provided in parallel in the flexible insertion portion along the axial direction of the insertion portion by folding back at the tip of the insertion portion and the transformation members are sequentially transformed from the tip side. An endoscope comprising means for heating to a high temperature exceeding the temperature.
線状に形成して上記挿入部内に設けるとともに、その変
形部材に通電して抵抗熱で発熱させる加熱用電源を設け
たことを特徴とする特許請求の範囲第１項に記載の内視
鏡。2. The deformable member is formed in a linear shape having a narrower tip end side and provided in the insertion portion, and a heating power source for energizing the deformable member to generate heat by resistance heat is provided. The endoscope according to claim 1.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP61136843A JPH0741018B2 (en) | 1986-06-12 | 1986-06-12 | Endoscope |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP61136843A JPH0741018B2 (en) | 1986-06-12 | 1986-06-12 | Endoscope |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS62292133A JPS62292133A (en) | 1987-12-18 |
| JPH0741018B2 true JPH0741018B2 (en) | 1995-05-10 |
Family
ID=15184804
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP61136843A Expired - Fee Related JPH0741018B2 (en) | 1986-06-12 | 1986-06-12 | Endoscope |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH0741018B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0641533Y2 (en) * | 1988-05-19 | 1994-11-02 | オリンパス光学工業株式会社 | Bending drive |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS58101601U (en) * | 1981-12-29 | 1983-07-11 | 株式会社町田製作所 | Endoscope |
| JPS5948710A (en) * | 1982-09-10 | 1984-03-21 | Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd | fiberscope |
| JPS5997115A (en) * | 1982-11-27 | 1984-06-04 | Shigeo Hirose | Cord-like active body |
| JPS60221718A (en) * | 1984-04-18 | 1985-11-06 | Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd | fiberscope |
-
1986
- 1986-06-12 JP JP61136843A patent/JPH0741018B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS62292133A (en) | 1987-12-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAPS | Cancellation because of no payment of annual fees |