JPH10146314A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (with correction) [PROBLEMS] A flexible endoscope having an Albalin mechanism having a distal end disposed on the head of an endoscope, which can be easily cleaned quickly, inexpensively, cleaned, and repaired. I will provide a. An albalan mechanism substantially surrounding the albalan lever is in a support device, which can be secured to the endoscope head in a device complementary thereto. The support device can be fixable in the complementary device by a fastening element. The securing element may utilize an element that engages a suitable complementary notch, such as a screw, pin, ring, or the like. The support device can also be embodied as a carriage which can be pushed and secured to the complementary device of the endoscope head by means of a securing element, a guiding element. Tab tail guides, tongue-and-groove systems, etc. can also be used for this.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible endoscope, particularly to a duodenum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such an endoscope, which generally has an optical system disposed on the side surface of the endoscope head, moves a probe introduced into the endoscope through a working passage within a viewing angle of the optical system. An Albalan mechanism having an Albalan lever that can be operated. The Alvaran lever can be moved by a Bowden wire extending between the distal end and the proximal end via an operation lever arranged outside the endoscope body.

In a conventional endoscope, an Albalin mechanism or an Albalin lever is a component that is firmly integrated with the head of the endoscope, and a Bowden wire jacket is sealed inside the endoscope. It is formed as a passage in the endoscope introduction handle and the endoscope body. The Bowden wire cord passed therethrough is generally sealed by a seal ring to the outside at the distal and proximal ends of the Bowden wire. Since these seals are movable seals through movable cables, at least the distal end when using such an endoscope,
For example, it may be stained by drawing in a rope portion that has been stained with blood. Such dirty endoscopes or endoscope heads are difficult to clean, causing hygiene problems or the spread of bacteria when used again, making the Bowden wire or the entire Albalan lever operating mechanism even more difficult to move.

[0004] In another type of endoscope, the Bowden wire can be cleaned for cleaning purposes through a syringe hole at the proximal end. During cleaning, liquid can be ejected from the distal end of the unsealed Bowden wire.
However, improper handling can cause the cleaning fluid to reach the interior of the endoscope due to excessively high pressure on the inner seal. Such cases that have actually appeared are mostly due to the dirt already present, which diminishes the cross section of the passage to be cleaned and reduces the flow velocity. The maximum allowable pressure can be easily exceeded by the operator pressing the syringe too hard. As a result, repairing the endoscope is time consuming and expensive.

[0005] A further disadvantage of the two known types is that they are difficult to clean due to the integral construction of the Albalan mechanism. It has been found that the sensitive Albalin mechanism is often damaged by the small brush cleaning that is actually required. Moreover, the entire encapsulated head including the optical system must be disassembled, and the encapsulation must be repaired after the Albalin mechanism has been repaired. And it takes time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible endoscope having an Albalan mechanism having a distal end disposed on the head of the endoscope, which can be easily, quickly and inexpensively cleaned, maintained, and repaired. It is in.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By constructing an Albalan mechanism detachable from the head of the endoscope, for example, by releasing the connection between the Albalan lever and the swing shaft suspension, it is possible to reduce the hygiene problem. No cleaning can be done easily. The advantage is that the Albalan mechanism is removed from the endoscope head when performing the cleaning, and is accessible for efficient cleaning methods and possibly also for sterilization methods such as, for example, ultrasound, autoclave or brushing. It is.
In addition, this Albalan mechanism can be replaced with a new one, and in some cases an improved or another type, without the need to disassemble the endoscope head by spending time and money in the event of wear or damage. Can also be easily replaced.

At the same time, after removing the Albalan mechanism,
The distal end of the Bowden wire is also better accessible. This increases the possibility of cleaning and, in some cases, sterilization, and thus avoids the disadvantages mentioned above.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an Albalan mechanism substantially surrounding the Albalan lever is in a support device, which can be secured to the endoscope head in a device complementary thereto. It is. The support device can be fixable in the complementary device by a fastening element. The securing element may utilize a suitable complementary notch engaging element, such as a screw, pin, ring or the like.

[0010] The support device can also be constructed as a carriage which can be pushed and secured to the complementary device of the endoscope head by means of a securing element, a guiding element. Tab tail guides, tongue-and-groove systems, etc. can also be used for this.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the connection between the Bowden wire extending between the distal end of the endoscope and the operating lever disposed at the proximal end and the Albalan mechanism or the Albalin lever is removed. The Bowden wire jacket is releasably connected at its distal end to an Albalin mechanism or support device, for example, by a threaded joint. In addition, the Bowden wire rope can be removably arranged on the Albalan mechanism and / or the operating lever, again in the form of hooks and notches, for example.
Due to such detachability, the Albalan mechanism or the supporting device can not only be taken out of the endoscope head by a specific cable length determined by the mechanism or the angle range of the operation lever, but also completely removed from the endoscope head. it can. Thereby, another cleaning operation, maintenance operation, repair operation or replacement operation can be further simplified and improved.

In another embodiment of the invention, the Bowden wire is typically configured as a Bowden wire cord that is sealed to the interior of the endoscope and extends through a passageway that functions as a Bowden wire jacket; As a finished product that can be replaced as such, it can be provided inside a special passage formed in the endoscope. The Bowden wire cord does not extend through the Bowden wire jacket, which at the same time itself forms a passage sealed to the interior of the endoscope, as is generally the case in its own right, but also through the working passage. It has a unique Bowden wire jacket in a similar Bowden wire passage. Such Bowden wire jackets are generally
It consists of a helix or spring surrounding the Bowden wire rope, which helix or spring can additionally be surrounded by a covering, for example of Teflon.

By providing a unique Bowden wire passage, the removability of the Albalin mechanism or support device is further facilitated and improved. If the coupling is detachably provided at the proximal end, for example as a fast-acting clamping device, the entire Bowden wire can be withdrawn at least slightly, or the Bowden wire cord can be simultaneously pulled proximally or distally. This is because when it is removed with, it can be completely pulled out.

This embodiment of the present invention, combined with the improved removability of the Albalan mechanism or support device, and the aforementioned advantages resulting therefrom, make it extremely important to maintain Bowden wires or passageways, that is, sanitary clean and sterile in nature. Ensure easier cleaning of difficult areas.

The new tendency to completely disassemble and clean can also be addressed by this. This is because, in this embodiment of the invention, all parts--Albalan mechanism or support, Bowden wire rope, Bowden wire jacket and Bowden wire passage--are configured to be disassembled as separate individual parts. is there. Furthermore, it is advantageous to dispense with the use of movable seals, which are technically difficult to achieve technically, for example seal rings, which cannot sufficiently guarantee that dirt does not penetrate into non-cleanable or hard-to-clean areas. is there. Similarly, for example, in a conventional endoscope, problems that are actually caused by excessively strong mechanical stress such as buckling or breakage of the Bowden wire jacket that forms a single partition wall inside the endoscope are minimized. become. When damaged in this way, dirt such as blood and cleaning liquid may reach the inside of the endoscope during the cleaning operation, causing serious damage to the endoscope. Furthermore, this degradability can increase the cross-section of the passage to be cleaned and minimize the risk that the cleaning liquid will penetrate the interior of the endoscope.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. Duodenoscope 1 shown in FIG.
Denotes an endoscope body 3 and a flexible movable endoscope introduction shaft 4 following the endoscope body 3
The endoscope head 5 is disposed at the end of the shaft. In the head 5 of the endoscope, there is an Alvaran mechanism support device 7 inserted therein. As can be seen in the cutaway sectional view, this support device is connected to an operating lever 15 arranged outside the body 3 by a Bowden wire 13 extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the endoscope 1. Have been. A working passage 17 for introducing the probe extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoscope in the introduction shaft parallel to the Bowden wire 13.

As shown in FIG. 2 with the Alvaran mechanism support device 7 removed, the Bowden wire 13 has one end connected to the Albalan lever 9 on the distal side and the other end connected to the operation lever 15 on the proximal side. And a Bowden wire jacket 21 surrounding the rope. This jacket is connected at its distal end to the hollow cylindrical extension 23 of the Albaran mechanism support device 7. Bowden wire jacket 2
The proximal end of the control lever 15 is not shown in detail in a manner not shown.
Is removably arranged on the main body 3 in the region of, for example, by a screw joint. As shown in FIG. 2, the Bowden wire 13 has its Bowden wire cord 19 and Bowden wire jacket 21 inside a Bowden wire passage 27, which is also distal to the proximal end of the endoscope. Extending between the ends. The hollow cylindrical extension 23, like the Bowden wire jacket 21, has a Bowden wire passage 27.
Has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of. In parallel with the extension 23, the Albaran mechanism support device 7 also comprises a hollow cylindrical extension 25 having an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the working channel 17.
Having.

During insertion, the cylindrical extensions 23, 25 of the Albaran mechanism support device 7 can be pushed into holes in the distal end faces of the Bowden wire passage 27 and the working passage 17. The working passage 17 of the endoscope head 5 has an inner diameter in the end region corresponding to the wall thickness of the hollow cylindrical extension 25 and the hollow cylindrical extension 2.
5 slightly larger than the outside diameter. The depth of this enlarged end region corresponds to the circumferential extent of the hollow cylindrical extension 25. Since the inner peripheral surface of the region further inside the working channel 17 advantageously coincides with the hollow cylindrical extension 25, a straight or coplanar seam is formed on the inner peripheral surface after insertion. . In addition, during the insertion operation, a projection or hook 31 having a T-shaped cross section as viewed in cross section, which is arranged on the inner wall of the Albalan mechanism support device, is provided with an endoscope head 5
(FIGS. 3 and 4). In order to prevent movement in the longitudinal direction, this projection 31 is locked in a recess not shown in detail (for example by a spring element) and / or prevents the withdrawal movement by an additional element such as an end cover. Have been.

To insert and remove the Albalin mechanism support device 7, simply remove or connect the quick-action tightening device (not shown) at the proximal end, and the Alvalan mechanism support device 7 is vertically It can be pulled out of the head of the endoscope or inserted into it. For said releasable connection at the proximal end, the cable 19 can be removably arranged at the distal end, for example via a hook and a recess in the Alvaran lever 9. Similarly, it is conceivable for the Bowden wire jacket 21 to be detachably arranged at its distal end on the cylindrical extension 23 of the Albaran mechanism support device 7, for example by means of a screw joint. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning, maintenance, maintenance and replacement of the Albalin mechanism or the Albalin mechanism support device 7 is not only substantially facilitated and improved, but also the Bowden wire cable 19, the Bowden wire jacket 21. Also, cleaning of the Bowden wire including the Bowden wire passage 27 is significantly facilitated. The space between the Bowden wire cable 19 and the Bowden wire jacket 21 and the space between the Bowden wire jacket 21 and the Bowden wire passage 27 should be cleaned and cleaned in the assembled state or the disassembled state. Can be. At that time, the Bowden wire 13 is pulled out from the Bowden wire passage 27,
In some cases, the Bowden wire cable 19 is additionally pulled out of the Bowden wire jacket 21 and cleaned, and if necessary, sterilized by ultrasonic waves, an autoclave or the like.

As described above as a particularly advantageous point, it is not necessary to break the capsule of the head 5 at the time of maintenance work or repair work and to repair it again after repair, so that not only the service cost can be greatly reduced, but also The availability of such expensive medical equipment can be increased by reducing the time-consuming work and possibly also by storing spares.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a duodenoscope in which an Albalin mechanism support device is inserted, with a part cut away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of detail A in FIG. 1 with the Albalin mechanism support device pulled out;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the duodenoscope, excluding the Alvaran mechanism support device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the Albalin mechanism support device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Endoscope head 7 Albalin mechanism support device 9 Albalan lever 13 Bowden wire 15 Operating lever 19 Bowden wire rope 21 Bowden wire jacket 27 Bowden wire passage

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A flexible endoscope having an Albalan mechanism 9 whose distal end is disposed on a head 5 of an endoscope 1. The Albalan mechanism 9 is removably disposed in the head 5 of the endoscope. A flexible endoscope characterized in that: 2. An endoscope head according to claim 1, wherein an albalin mechanism is arranged in the support device and the support device can be fixed to the endoscope head in a device complementary thereto.
4. The flexible endoscope according to claim 1. 3. The support device 7 comprises fixing elements 23, 25, 3
3. A flexible endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope can be fixed in a complementary device in the endoscope head by means of the first and third heads. 4. The flexible endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the support device is embodied as a carriage. 5. An Albalin mechanism (9) is connectable to a Bowden wire (13) extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope body (3). The flexible endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the other end is connected to the operation lever 15 at the proximal end of the endoscope 1. 6. When the Bowden wire 13 is connected to the endoscope main body 3
The flexible endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the flexible endoscope is disposed in a Bowden wire passage 27 which is sealed with respect to the inside of the flexible endoscope. 7. The bowden wire 13 may be provided with a cable 19 and / or
7. The flexible endoscope according to claim 5, further comprising a device for detachably connecting the jacket 21. 8. 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the Bowden wire has a removable fast-acting tightening device and / or an adjusting device at a proximal end of the endoscope. The flexible endoscope according to the above.