JPH0773567B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope having a bending operation mechanism.

[Prior Art] An endoscope having a bending operation mechanism is known from Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 56-87001. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, this endoscope comprises an operation part 1 and a long and flexible insertion part 2 which is inserted into the human body, and the insertion part 2 is provided between a flexible tube 3 and a distal end part 4. The curved tube 5 is inserted. And the insertion part 2
The bending tube 5 can be remotely bent by operating a bending operation lever 6 provided on the operation unit 1.
This bending operation mechanism is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the inside of the bending tube 5 is provided with a large number of pieces 7 ... Arranged along the longitudinal direction thereof. Each piece 7 ... Connects adjacent pieces to each other with pins 8 ... The core material 9 which can be formed is incorporated. That is, the bending tube 5 can be rotated right and left over its entire length.

Further, the bending operation device is provided inside the operation unit 1 on the near side.
Ten operation drums 11 are provided, and the operation drums 11 are rotated by the bending operation lever 6. Further, the operation drum 11 is wound around the rear ends of the pair of operation wires 12 and 13. A drum cover 14 is provided on the rear side of the operation drum 11 so as to face the half circumference of the operation drum 11 and prevent the operation wires 12 and 13 from coming off.

Further, the distal ends of the operation wires 12 and 13 are attached and fixed to the distal end of the bending tube 5 through the flexible tube 3 and the bending tube 5 of the insertion portion 2, for example, the left and right positions of the rear end portion of the distal end portion 4. Has been done. Further, the operation wires 12 and 13 are guided through the shrinkage preventing coil tubes 15 and 16 which are inserted into the flexible tube 3.

In addition, relaxation removers 17 and 18 are inserted in the operation wires 1 and 13 in the operation unit 1, respectively.

By the way, the shrinkage prevention coil tubes 15 and 16 are the operation wires 1
When the flexible tube 3 is contracted when the operation drum 11 of the bending operation device 10 of the operation portion 1 pulls the flexible wire 3 and the operation wires 12 and 13 are supplied with a pulling amount, the bending amount decreases. To prevent this. Therefore, the flexible tube 3 is installed over a full length of the flexible tube 3 by slightly pushing and stretching the flexible tube 3. The proximal ends of the shrinkage preventing coil tubes 15 and 16 are attached to a stopper 24 installed in the operation portion 1.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned conventional device, since the stopper 24 that engages the proximal ends of the shrinkage preventing coils 15 and 16 is installed in the operation portion 1 as described above, the flexible tube 3 It has to be separated from the base position of. In particular, the optical fiber bundles and the like inserted together in the insertion portion 2 must be distributed and passed, and the grip portion 25 of the operation portion 1 must be lengthened, and therefore, there is often no choice but to largely separate them. Therefore, the distance between the proximal end of the flexible tube 3 and the stopper 24 becomes long, and the portion between them is located in a wide space inside the operation portion 1. In addition, the shrinkage prevention coil tube 1
The coils 5 and 16 are made of thin wires as much as possible due to the reduced diameter of the insertion portion 2 and are therefore soft.

For each of these reasons, the shrinkage prevention coils 15 and 16 are
As shown in FIG. 7, there may be a large meandering in the wide space portion 26 in the operation portion 1. When the wire is meandered in this manner, the tensile force that pushes and extends the insertion portion 2 is reduced, and the shrinkage prevention ability is significantly insufficient. Therefore, the tensile force of the operating wires 12 and 13 is absorbed, and the bending amount of the bending tube 5 is insufficient. . Since the frictional force between the operation wires 12 and 13 and the shrinkage prevention coil tubes 15 and 16 becomes large in the still meandering portion, the amount of operation force increases and the operability is impaired. Further, the increased frictional force significantly reduces the durability of the operation wires 12 and 13.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope configured to prevent meandering of a shrinkage-prevention coil for passing an operation wire in a wide space in the endoscope. To provide.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems] In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, at least a proximal operation portion and a bending portion provided at an insertion portion connected to a distal end of the operation portion are provided. In an endoscope that can be bent by a pair of operation wires, a shrinkage prevention coil tube that guides the operation wire through the insertion and a stopper provided in the operation portion that fixes the proximal end portion of the shrinkage prevention coil tube. And supporting the outer circumference of the shrinkage prevention coil tube inserted into the cavity of the endoscope between the stopper and the base end portion of the insertion portion, thereby providing a predetermined arrangement shape of the shrinkage prevention coil tube. And a guide member for preventing the change.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 31 in the figure is a grip portion in the operation portion 32 of the endoscope. This grip part 31 covers the frame 33 of the operation part 32
It is fitted with. Further, the base end of the flexible tube 36 of the insertion portion 35 is connected to the frame body 33 of the grip portion 31 via the connection frame 34. A bending stop rubber tube 37 is fitted on the outer circumference of the base end portion of the flexible tube 36, and the base end of the bending stop rubber tube 37 is connected to the frame 33 through a connecting pipe 38.

Further, the illumination optical fiber bundle 39 and the observation optical fiber bundle 40 are inserted through the operation portion 32 and the insertion portion 35, and further, a pair of bending operation wires 41, 42 are inserted over both of them. The respective operation wires 41, 42 pass through the flexible tube 36 and the bending tube (not shown) of the insertion portion 35 in the same manner as described above, and the distal end side of the bending tube, for example, the insertion portion.
It is attached and fixed to the left and right positions at the rear end portion of the front end portion (not shown) of 35. The proximal ends of the operation wires 41, 42 are wound around, for example, an operation drum (not shown) of the bending operation device provided in the operation portion 32. And
The bending operation device is operated by a bending operation lever (not shown), and the operation wires 41 and 42 are alternately pushed and pulled to bend the bending tube in the left-right direction.

Further, the operation wires 41, 42 are respectively guided through the shrinkage prevention coil tubes 43, 44 inserted in the flexible tube 36 as described above. Further, the proximal ends of the shrinkage prevention coil tubes 43, 44 extend into the operation portion 32. Then, guide pipes 45 and 46 as guide members are fitted in the portions located in the operation portion 32, and are supported by the guide pipes 45 and 46, respectively. Further, the base end portions of the respective guide pipes 45, 46 are fixed in a fitted state in a stopper 48 which is attached and fixed to the frame body 33 of the operation portion 32. That is, each of the guide pipes 45 and 46 is cantilevered with respect to the stopper 48, and the extended end side thereof is arranged at a position where it does not interfere with other built-in optical fiber bundles 39 and 40.

Even if a compression force is applied to the shrinkage prevention coil tubes 43 and 44, the shrinkage prevention coil tubes 43 and 44 are inserted and supported by the guide pipes 45 and 46, respectively, which serve as guide members. The meandering is prevented even in the large internal space 51 of the operation portion 32.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the stopper 48 is largely separated from the base end of the flexible tube 36 in the insertion portion 35, and the shrinkage prevention coil tubes 43 and 44 in this section are respectively provided with guide members. Guide coils 55 and 56 are fitted. The guide coils 55 and 56 are composed of relatively thick wires and have a high elasticity. In addition, the guide coil
The intermediate portions of 55 and 56 are supported by penetrating the intermediate support member 57. In addition, 58 is a forceps insertion mouthpiece, and 59 is a forceps insertion tube.

In this embodiment, since the guide member is made of a coil, there is a degree of freedom in the positions of both ends thereof, and there is a large allowance even if there is a variation in the position where the central support member 57 is supported by the intermediate support member 57.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, suspension grooves 61, 61 into which the shrinkage preventing coil tubes 43, 44 are fitted are formed in a plate member 60 made of an elastic synthetic resin as a guide member. Further, the plate member 60 is attached by fitting the protrusions 63 and 64 formed on the upper and lower ends thereof into the attachment holes 65 and 66 formed on the frame 33 of the operation unit 35.

According to this embodiment, the shrink-fitting prevention coil tube 4
Since it can support 3,44, it can be attached at the end of assembling other components, and the assembly workability is good.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention is provided with the guide member for supporting the shrinkage prevention coil tube, so that the shrinkage prevention coil tube can be prevented from meandering in a wide space inside the endoscope. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the tension force that pushes and extends the insertion portion, and to secure the bending operability. Further, the frictional force between the coil tube for preventing shrinkage due to meandering and the operating wire does not increase, the amount of operating force of the operating wire can be reduced, and the durability of the operating wire is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a side sectional view showing an essential part of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an essential part of the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an essential part of a third embodiment. A side sectional view, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a general endoscope,
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the bending operation mechanism of the endoscope, and FIG. 7 is a side cross-section of the endoscope near the operation portion. 32 …… Operation part, 35 …… Insertion part, 41,42 …… Operation wire, 4
3,45 …… Coil tube for preventing shrinkage, 45,46 …… Guide pipe,
48 …… Stopper, 55,56 …… Guide coil, 60 …… Plate material,
61,62 ... Grooves for suspension.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope in which a proximal end side operation section and a bending section provided in an insertion section connected to a distal end of the operation section are made bendable by at least a pair of operation wires. A shrinkage prevention coil tube to be inserted and guided, a stopper provided in the operation portion for fixing the proximal end portion of the shrinkage prevention coil tube, and the endoscope between the stopper and the proximal end portion of the insertion portion. And a guide member for supporting the outer circumference of the shrinkage prevention coil tube inserted in the void portion of the shrinkage prevention coil tube to prevent a change in the predetermined arrangement shape of the shrinkage prevention coil tube. mirror.