JP2716162B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope in which an insertion portion is operated to bend.

[Related Art] In general, a bending portion is formed in the insertion portion of an endoscope in the vicinity of a distal end component portion in order to change the direction of the distal end, and this bending portion is bent by a remote operation in a hand operation portion. Then, the direction of the tip can be changed. In many endoscopes up to now, the bending portion is bent unilaterally either up, down, left, or right, but as is known from Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-65901, the distal end of the insertion portion is known. Front and back 2
There is one in which two bending portions are provided, and each of the bending portions is operated by a bending operation knob with a hand operation portion.

Further, US Pat. No. 4,659,195 discloses that an endoscope insertion portion is inserted into a guide tube having a bending mechanism and used as an endoscope having substantially two bending mechanisms. I have.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, there are two front and rear bending portions provided near the distal end of the insertion portion, and each of the bending portions is operated by two bending operation knobs provided on the hand operation portion, respectively. In the case where a guide tube having a bending mechanism is prepared separately from the endoscope, it is necessary to operate two bending operation knobs (bending operation sections). If the two bending operation units are individually operated in this manner, the bending operation becomes very complicated, and there is a disadvantage that operability is impaired.

Further, when a guide tube is used separately from the endoscope, there is a drawback that the outer diameter of the operation section becomes particularly large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide two bending portions in an insertion portion to secure a small diameter and improve operability of the two bending portions. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope.

Means and Action for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to an endoscope having an insertion portion provided with two front and rear curved portions, and a first curved portion on the distal end side and a rear curved portion on the rear end side. An intermediate insertion portion is provided between the second bending portion and the second bending portion,
A bending operation wire leading to the hand operation unit is inserted into the insertion section, and the distal end side of the bending operation wire is the first side.
The second bending portion and the second bending portion are linked to respective wire support members provided at opposing positions opposite to the center axis of the insertion portion, and the bending operation wire extends along the inside of the intermediate insertion portion. The first bending part and the second bending part are bent in opposite directions by the operation wire.

Thus, the two bending portions can be bent in opposite directions by one bending operation. Then, despite the provision of the two curved portions in the insertion portion, it is possible to secure a small diameter of the insertion portion and to improve the operability of the two curved portions.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 15 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the endoscope 1 of this embodiment has an operation section 2 having a long insertion section 3 and a universal cord 4 connected thereto. The operation section 2 has bending operation knobs 46 and 47 to be described later.
And an eyepiece 6 are provided. The universal cord 4 is provided with a connector 7 for connecting to an unillustrated illumination light source at an extension end thereof.

The insertion portion 3 includes a distal end portion 11, a first bending portion 1 from the distal end side.
2, intermediate insertion portion 13, second bending portion 14, and flexible tube portion 15
Specifically, it is configured as shown in FIG. First, the distal end component 11 has an observational objective optical system 17 and an illumination distal end optical system 18 incorporated in a distal end body 16, and an image guide fiber is provided at an image forming position of the observation objective optical system 17.
Nineteen tip surfaces are located and provided. The image guide fiber 19 is fitted by a guide tube 20, and a base 21 is fitted to a tip portion thereof.
Then, it is fixed to the tip end body 16 via the base 21. Further, the tip surface of the image guide fiber 19 is protected by a cover glass 22. The rear end side of the image guide fiber 19 is guided to the eyepiece section 6 of the operation section 2 through the insertion section 3.

Similarly, the distal end surface of the light guide fiber 23 is provided in the illumination distal optical system 18 of the distal end component 11. This light guide fiber 23 is a guide tube 24
With a cap 25
Is fitted. And, it is fixed to the distal end body 16 via the base 25. Also, light guide fiber
The tip surface of 23 is protected by a cover glass 26.
The rear end side of the light guide fiber 23 is guided to the guide tube 27 of the connector 7 through the inside of the insertion section 3, the operation section 2 and the universal cord 4.

A tip hood 28 is attached to the outer periphery of the tip body 16.

On the other hand, the first bending portion 12 connected to the tip configuration portion 11
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first spring 31 formed in a coil shape is used as a core material having flexibility and elasticity, and an outer skin 32 is fitted around the core. The spring 31 is interposed between wire support members 33 and 34 provided at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the first curved portion 12, and the wire support members 33 and 34 are provided.
Is elastically pressed. In this embodiment, the wire support member 33 on the tip side is provided on the inner surface of the rear end of the tip hood 28,
The wire support member 34 on the rear end side is attached to the inner surface of the distal end of the relay pipe 35 constituting the intermediate insertion portion 13. The relay pipe 35 constituting the intermediate insertion portion 13 is formed relatively rigid. That is, although it may have a certain degree of flexibility, it is formed so as to exhibit substantially rigidity with respect to the curved portions 12 and 14. Further, the relay pipe 35 may be made of metal.

Further, the second bending portion 14 connected to the intermediate insertion portion 13
Is configured in the same manner as the first bending portion 12. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a second spring 36 formed in a coil shape is used as a core material having flexibility and elasticity, and an outer skin 37 is fitted around the core. Spring of 36
Is interposed between wire support members 38, 39 provided at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the second curved portion 14, and the wire support members 38, 39
Pressing 39 elastically. In this embodiment, a wire support member 38 on the distal end side is provided on the inner surface of the rear end of the intermediate insertion portion 13, and the wire support member 39 on the rear end side is attached to the inner surface of the distal end of the core material in the flexible tube 15. . The flexible tube section 15 is made of a core material and an outer skin, and has a predetermined flexibility.

Further, a pair of first operation wires 41 and 42 for operating the first bending portion 12 and the second bending portion 14 up and down or left and right respectively in the insertion portion 3, The operation wires 43 and 44 are inserted. Each of these operation wires 41,
42, 43, and 44 are wire guide tubes 4 in the flexible tube portion 15, respectively.
Guided by 5, ... This wire guide tube 45,
A first operating wire 41, 42 guided by ...
The operation wires 43 and 44 are connected to respective bending operation mechanisms (not shown) provided in the operation section 2 and are alternately pushed and pulled. Then, the first operation wires 41, 4
2 is driven to be pushed and pulled by operating the operation knob 46 for up and down bending, and the second operation wires 43 and 44 are driven to be pushed and pulled by operating the operation knob 47 for left and right bending.

Further, the pair of first operation wires 41 and 42 are disposed in the first bending portion 12, the intermediate insertion portion 13, and the second bending portion 14 as follows. That is, each tip is fixedly attached to each of the upper and lower wire support members 33 at the tip of the first bending portion 12, and the upper and lower wires at the rear end of the first bending portion 12, that is, the tip of the intermediate insertion portion 13. Each wire support member 34 is supported by penetrating therethrough. That is, the operation wires 41, 4
2 is slidable and linked so as to receive the driving force from the operation wires 41 and 42 by frictional force or the like.
Further, the operation wires 41 and 42 are arranged in the first curved portion 12 so as not to intersect with each other and to be parallel to the axial direction of the insertion portion 3.

Further, in the intermediate insertion portion 13, the operation wires 41 and 42 are provided with two flexible wire guide tubes 51, which are provided between the wire support member 34 at the front end and the wire support member 38 at the rear end. Guided through 51. This 2
The wire guide tubes 51, 51 intersect so that the operation wires 41, 42 are contained inside, and the top and bottom ends of the wire guide tubes 51, 51 are inserted vertically. Unusually diagonally facing wire support members
It is attached to 34,38. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, when the wire guide tubes 51, 51 are turned upside down, they are turned by 180 ° along the inner surface of the intermediate insertion portion 13. Therefore, this arrangement does not hinder the built-in components.

In the second bending portion 14, the first bending portion 12
From the upper and lower wire support members 38 at the front end to the rear end wire support member 39, the upper and lower operation wires 41, 42
Are arranged parallel to the axial direction of the insertion portion 3 without intersecting with each other. In the first curved portion 12, they are arranged in parallel with the insertion portion 3 without intersecting. However, since they intersect in the intermediate insertion portion 13, they are upside down from the first bending portion 12.

On the other hand, the pair of second operation wires 43 and 44 for bending left and right are arranged in the first bending portion 12, the intermediate insertion portion 13, and the second bending portion 14 as follows. That is, each tip is fixedly attached to each of the left and right wire support members 33 at the tip of the first bending portion 12, and the rear end of the first bending portion 12, that is, each of the left and right at the tip of the intermediate insertion portion 13. Each wire support member 34 is supported by penetrating therethrough. In the first curved portion 12, they are arranged in parallel to the axial direction of the insertion portion 3 without intersecting.

Further, in the intermediate insertion portion 13, the wire is guided through two flexible left and right wire guide tubes 51, 51 provided between the wire support member 34 at the front end and the wire support member 38 at the rear end. Is done. The two wire guide tubes 51, 51 intersect so that the left and right are interchanged with the operation wires 41, 42 contained therein, and the front and rear ends of the wire guide tubes 51, 51 are left and right. And are attached to wire support members 34 and 38 which face diagonally. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the wire guide tubes 51, 51 are switched to the left and right, they rotate 180 ° along the inner surface of the intermediate insertion portion 13.

In the second bending portion 14, the first bending portion 12
From the left and right wire support members 38 at the front end to the rear end wire support member 39, the left and right operation wires 41, 42
Are arranged parallel to the axial direction of the insertion portion 3 without intersecting with each other. In the first curved portion 12, they are arranged in parallel with the insertion portion 3 without intersecting. However, since they intersect in the intermediate insertion portion 13, the first bending
The left and right are interchanged with 12.

Next, the operation of the endoscope 1 will be described. By operating the up / down or left / right bending operation knobs 46, 47 of the operation unit 2, the bending operation mechanism (not shown) pushes and pulls the corresponding first operation wires 41, 42 or the second operation wires 43, 44. I do. For example, when the up / down bending knob 46 is operated, the pair of first operation wires 41 and 42 corresponding to this is pushed and pulled. And the operating wire of the person who retracted
41 pulls the upper wire support member 33 at the tip of the first bending portion 12 and the lower wire support member 34 at the tip of the second bending portion 14 respectively. That is, since the one operation wire 41 pulls the upper side at the tip of the first bending portion 12 and the lower side at the tip of the second bending portion 14 at the same time,
The first curved portion 12 is curved upward and the second curved portion 14
Curves downward.

Also, by operating the up / down bending knob 46 and pulling the opposite operation wire 42, the lower wire support member 33 at the tip of the first bending portion 12 and the lower wire support member 33 at the tip of the second bending portion 14 are formed. Since each of the upper wire support members 34 is pulled, this 1
The operating wire 42 pulls the lower side at the tip of the first bending portion 12 and at the same time pulls the upper side at the tip of the second bending portion 14. Then, the first curved portion 12 is curved downward, and the second curved portion 14 is curved upward. As described above, the first bending portion 12 and the second bending portion 14 are respectively bent in exactly opposite directions.

In this case, the bending amount of the first bending portion 12 and the second bending portion 14 is changed by relatively changing the bending stiffness of the first spring 31 and the second spring 36 incorporated therein. Or twelfth
Various curved forms can be set as shown in the figure. Note that the springs 31 and 36 are not always necessary. If the bending stiffness of each of the curved portions 12 and 14 becomes a desired value as a result, the conditions of constituent members such as the core material and the outer skins 32 and 37 are required. By adjusting, various curved forms can be set.

FIG. 5 shows a state of the insertion section 3 in which the bending operation is not performed. FIG. 6 shows each bending portion when performing a bending operation.
12 and 14 show the initial bending state. First curved portion 12 and second curved portion
Of the bending portion 14 shows the same amount of bending, so that the front (viewing direction) of the distal end configuration portion 11 is always kept parallel to the axial direction of the first insertion portion 3.

FIG. 7 shows a middle bending state. In this state as well, the first bending portion 12 and the second bending portion 14 show the same amount of bending, so that the front portion 11 faces forward (in the viewing direction). ) Is always kept parallel to the axial direction of the first insertion portion 3.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the front end component 11 is bent to the maximum bending amount. In this case as well, the front (viewing direction) of the distal end component 11 is always kept parallel to the axial direction of the first insertion portion 3.

9 and 10 show the endoscope 1 adjusted so that the rigidity of the second curved portion 14 is stronger than the rigidity of the first curved portion 12.
2 shows a curved state of In other words, when the bending operation is not performed at all, the state is the same as the straight state shown in FIG. . further,
When the bending operation is continued as shown in FIG. 10, the first bending portion
12 bends more strongly, and when complete or to some extent, the second bend 14 bends. Finally, as shown in FIG. 8, the front (the direction of the visual field) of the distal end component 11 is always parallel to the axial direction of the first insertion portion 3.

11 and 12 show an endoscope 1 adjusted so that the rigidity of the first curved portion 12 is stronger than the rigidity of the second curved portion 14.
2 shows a curved state of That is, when the bending operation is not performed at all, the state is the same as the straight state shown in FIG. . further,
When the bending operation is continued as shown in FIG. 12, the second bending portion
The first bending portion 12 bends more strongly, and when the bending is completely or partially completed, the first bending portion 12 bends. Finally, as shown in FIG. 8, the front (the direction of the visual field) of the distal end component 11 is always parallel to the axial direction of the first insertion portion 3.

As described above, according to the endoscope 1 having the above-described configuration, various modes of using the bending can be obtained. Meanwhile, the state shown in FIG. 13 is about to observe the hole 62 in the wall portion 61 by using the conventional bending operation of the endoscope 60. Since the insertion portion 63 of the conventional endoscope 60 has only one curved portion 64, the specimen bottom surface 65
Even when the bending portion 64 is bent from the state where the insertion portion 63 lays down, the viewing direction is merely directed upward, and the wall portion 61 is turned.
Can not be observed up to the inside of the hole 62 located at.

However, if the endoscope 1 having the above configuration is used,
As shown in FIG. 14, the bending portions 12 and 14 can be bent in opposite directions so that the distal end component 11 can be directed in a horizontal direction parallel to the sample bottom surface 65. For this reason, the hole in the wall 61
The inside of 62 can be observed. In addition, it moves forward and inserts the tip component 11 into the hole 62,
As shown in FIG. 15, the entire insertion portion 3 can be inserted.

FIG. 16 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. First, a first bending tube 71 and a second bending tube 72 are provided instead of the springs 31 and 36 provided inside each of the first bending portion 12 and the second bending portion 14. Each of the curved tubes 71 and 72 has flexibility and elasticity. The distal end of the first curved tube 71 is located at the rear end of the distal hood 28, the rear end of the first curved tube 71 is located at the distal end of the relay pipe 35, and the distal end of the second curved tube 72 is located at the distal end. The rear end side of the relay pipe 35 and the rear end side of the second curved tube 72 are respectively connected to the front end side of the flexible tube portion 15.

FIG. 17 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. First, a bending mechanism in which a plurality of bending pieces 81 each having a pivotal support pin 80 pivotally attached to each other is arranged inside springs 31 and 36 inside each of the first bending portion 12 and the second bending portion 14. Is arranged,
The bending strength of each of the bending portions 12 and 14 is increased. The distal end of the first bending mechanism is at the rear end of the distal hood 28, the rear end of the first bending mechanism is at the distal end of the relay pipe 35, and the distal end of the second bending mechanism is at the relay pipe 35. The rear end of the second bending mechanism and the rear end of the second bending mechanism are connected to the flexible tube portion 15, respectively.

FIG. 18 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. First, the outer skin 32 of the first bending portion 12 and the second bending portion 14
Is replaced by interlocking spiral tubes 91 and 92. The interlock spiral tubes 91 and 92 can be easily bent by an external force and maintain their shapes. Further, it can be easily returned to the original shape by applying an external force. Further, more robust curved portions 12, 14 can be configured. Note that the front end of the first interlock spiral tube 91 is at the rear end of the tip hood 28, the rear end of the first interlock spiral tube 91 is at the front end of the relay pipe 35, and the second interlock spiral is The front end side of the pipe 92 is the rear end side of the relay pipe 35, and the rear end side of the second interlock spiral pipe 92 is a flexible pipe part.
15 are connected to each other.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible without changing the gist. For example, the length of the intermediate insertion section 13 may be shorter. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the length of the curved portions 12 and 14 does not need to be longer than the length. At this time, at least the wire guide tubes 51, 51
A length that can be twisted easily within 3 is enough. Further, in each of the above embodiments, a fiber scope is used, but an electronic endoscope may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, two bending portions can be bent in opposite directions by a single bending operation, and the bending operation of the insertion portion can be performed even though the two bending portions are provided. Performance can be improved. Also, despite the provision of the two curved portions in the insertion portion, it is possible to ensure a small diameter of the insertion portion. In addition, the bending operation wire and the wire guide tube containing the bending operation wire extend along the inner surface of the intermediate insertion portion.
Because it is arranged to be rotated by 180 °, the bending operation wire and the wire guide tube do not obstruct other endoscope built-in components such as, for example, an image guide fiber, a light guide fiber, and tubes. Since the built-in endoscope can be inserted and arranged at the center of the insertion section, there is no possibility that the bending operation wire and the wire guiding tube touch the built-in endoscope and cause them to be worn or broken. Further, since the bending operation wire is contained in the wire guiding tube, there is no further danger of abrasion and destruction of the built-in endoscope due to intense movement of the bending operation wire.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 15 show a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an insertion portion thereof, and FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the endoscope, and FIGS. 5 to 12 are each a perspective view of the insertion portion of the endoscope. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing various bending operation modes, FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a general endoscope inspection usage mode shown for comparison, and FIGS. 14 and 15 are endoscope inspection usage modes of this embodiment. FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of an insertion portion of the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of an insertion portion of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a sectional side view of an insertion part of a 4th example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 2 ... Operation part, 3 ... Insertion part, 11 ... Tip formation part, 12 ... First bending part, 13 ... Intermediate insertion part, 14 ... Second bending part, 33,34 ... Wire support Members, 38, 39 ... wire support members, 41, 42 ... operation wires, 43, 44 ... operation wires.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope having an insertion portion provided with two front and rear curved portions, wherein an intermediate insertion portion is provided between a first curved portion on the distal end side and a second curved portion on the rear end side. A bending operation wire leading to a hand operation unit is inserted into the unit, and a distal end side of the bending operation wire is opposed to a center axis of the insertion unit in the first bending unit and the second bending unit. And the bending operation wire is included in a wire guide tube that is turned 180 ° along the inner surface of the intermediate insertion portion, and the first bending operation is performed by the operation wire. An endoscope wherein a bending operation is performed on the section and the second bending section in opposite directions.