JP6061817B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention particularly relates to an endoscope suitable for treating a tissue in a body cavity of a patient by inserting a high-frequency treatment instrument through a treatment instrument channel and projecting it from a metal tip body.

  Conventionally, in an endoscope, a metal distal end body provided at the distal end of an insertion portion is conducted to a connector via a bending portion, a flexible tube portion, an operation portion, etc. Even when a leakage current occurs during treatment, the leakage current can be fed back to the high-frequency power supply device.

  Here, in general, the bending portion has a structure in which a plurality of joint pieces are connected, and the distal end body is electrically connected to the bending portion through a joint piece (tip joint piece) located at the distal end of the bending portion. The In this case, the distal end portion main body and the distal end joint piece are usually electrically connected by being coupled by screws or the like.

  However, in the configuration in which the distal end body and the distal joint piece are connected by screws or the like as described above, it is necessary to secure a space for forming a screw hole or the like in the distal end body. Miniaturization becomes difficult.

  On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for connecting a tip portion main body, a connection member, and a first node ring (tip joint piece) by bonding. A technique is disclosed in which each member is electrically connected by scraping off the adhesive layer with the provided protrusions.

Japanese Patent No. 3563882

  However, although the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above can be reduced in size as compared with the configuration in which the members are connected by screws or the like, the connection (adhesion) of the members and electrical continuity are possible. There is a risk that the manufacturing process becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an endoscope capable of realizing connection and electrical conduction between the tip body and the tip joint piece with a simple configuration without increasing the size of the tip. The purpose is to provide.

An endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention is located at a distal end of a metal distal end main body provided on a distal end side of an insertion portion and a plurality of joint pieces constituting a bending portion of the insertion portion, and the distal end side is the distal end. Formed by a cylindrical tip joint piece that fits to the outer periphery of the proximal end of the body part, and a notch provided in the peripheral wall on the distal end side of the tip joint piece, and locks the distal joint piece to the tip body. And a locking portion that electrically connects the distal joint piece with the distal end body by an urging force caused by elastic deformation at the time of locking, and the locking portion is a part of a peripheral wall of the distal joint piece. The tip end body has a protruding portion that can be engaged with the inner periphery of the locking hole .

  According to the endoscope of the present invention, it is possible to realize connection and electrical conduction between the distal end portion main body and the distal end joint piece with a simple configuration without increasing the size of the distal end portion.

1 is an overall view of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Same as above, schematic configuration diagram of high-frequency current feedback circuit in endoscope Same as above, end view of insertion section Same as above, main part sectional view of the distal end side of the insertion portion along the line IV-IV in FIG. Same as above, main part sectional view of the distal end side of the insertion portion along the line VV of FIG. Same as above, cross-sectional view of the main part on the distal end side of the insertion section along the line VI-VI in FIG. Same as above, exploded perspective view showing the main part on the distal end side of the insertion part The perspective view which shows the principal part of the front end side of an insertion part in the state which removed the front-end | tip cover same as the above. Same as above, perspective cross-sectional view showing the main part of the distal end side of the insertion part The disassembled perspective view which shows the principal part at the front end side of an insertion part in connection with the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the principal part of the front end side of an insertion part in the state which removed the front-end | tip cover same as the above. Same as above, perspective cross-sectional view showing the main part of the distal end side of the insertion part

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall view of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a high-frequency current feedback circuit in the endoscope, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main portion of the insertion portion along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main portion of the insertion portion along the line V-V in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main portion of the insertion portion along the VI-VI line of FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the main portion of the insertion portion, and FIG. 8 is inserted with the tip cover removed. FIG. 9 is a perspective sectional view showing the main part on the distal end side of the insertion part.

  An endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an insertion portion 2 that is formed into an elongated tubular shape and is inserted into a subject such as a body cavity, and an operation portion 3 that is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 2. A universal cord 4 extending from the side of the operation unit 3 and a connector 5 disposed on the distal end side of the universal cord 4 are provided as main components. The endoscope 1 is connected to various known devices such as a signal processing device (video processor), a light source device, an air / water supply device, and other peripheral devices via a connector 5 at the tip of the universal cord 4. An endoscope system is configured by the endoscope 1 and various device groups connected to the endoscope 1.

  The insertion portion 2 of the present embodiment includes, in order from the distal end side, a distal end portion 6, a bending portion 8 that can be bent on the proximal end side of the distal end portion 6, and a length that is connected to the proximal end side of the bending portion 8. It is comprised by the long flexible tube part 9. FIG.

  The operation unit 3 covers the proximal end side of the flexible tube unit 9 and is connected to the bending tube unit 9 and is connected to the bending unit 3a. It has a gripping part 3b that grips when it is used. Various operation members are disposed on the upper end side of the grasping portion 3b, and a treatment instrument insertion port 11 for guiding a treatment instrument such as forceps into the body cavity is provided on the lower end side of the grasping portion 3b. .

  Here, the operation section 3 is provided with a bending operation knob 12 for performing the bending operation of the bending section 8 as an operation member. The bending portion 8 is pulled and relaxed by a bending operation wire 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) inserted through the entire length of the insertion portion 2 by an operation input to the bending operation knob 12. For example, it can be bent in four directions, up and down and left and right. The operation unit 3 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons 13 and the like as operation members for performing corresponding operations such as air / water supply operation or suction operation, imaging, illumination, and the like.

  For example, the universal cord 4 is inserted from the distal end of the insertion portion 2 through the bending portion 8 and the inside of the flexible tube portion 9 to the operation portion 3, and further, various signal lines extending from the operation portion 3 are inserted therein. In addition, the composite cable is inserted through a light guide connected to a light source device (not shown) and further inserted into an air / water supply tube connected to an air / water supply device (not shown). A light source connection portion 5a that can be detachably connected to a light source device that is an external device and an image processing device connection portion 5b that is detachable to an image processing device that is an external device are provided at the end of the universal cord 4. A provided connector 5 is provided. Further, the connector 5 is provided with a high frequency terminal 5c that is electrically connected to a metal provided in the endoscope 1, and a cord that returns to the high frequency power source is provided in the high frequency terminal 5c. Connected.

  Next, the internal configuration on the distal end side of the insertion portion 2 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

  The distal end portion 6 at the distal end of the insertion portion 2 includes a distal end portion main body 20 composed of a hard metal member and a distal end cover 21 composed of a hard resin member that is provided on the distal end side of the distal end portion main body 20. It is configured. The distal end body 20 and the distal end cover 21 are provided with a plurality of holes 20a and 21a penetrating in the insertion axis O direction (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Various optical members, tubes, and the like are held or connected to the corresponding portions of the holes 20a and 21a, so that the distal end portion 6 has an illumination optical system 24 for illuminating the inside of the subject. An imaging optical system 25 for imaging a subject is provided, and a treatment instrument insertion channel 26 from which a treatment instrument such as forceps is led out, an air supply / water supply nozzle 27 that supplies fluid toward the imaging optical system 25, and the like. Is formed.

  The bending portion 8 has a plurality of joint pieces 30 arranged in the insertion axis O direction. Each of the joint pieces 30 has an arm portion projecting in the direction of the insertion axis O corresponding to the top and bottom or the left and right between the adjacent joint pieces 30, and the overlapping portion of the arm portions is rotated via the rivet 31. By being connected movably, a bending structure that can be bent in four directions perpendicular to each other in the vertical and horizontal directions is formed.

  The joint piece located at the forefront of the joint pieces 30 constituting this curved structure (hereinafter, this joint piece will be referred to as the tip joint piece 30A as necessary) is cylindrical (more specifically, for example, cylindrical. The distal joint piece 30A is provided with a wire fixing portion 32 for attaching and fixing one end of the wire 40 on the distal end side. In the present embodiment, the wire fixing portions 32 are provided at four locations on the inner peripheral side of the tip joint piece 30 </ b> A corresponding to the four wires 40 for up and down and left and right four-direction bending operations. Each wire 40 whose tip is fixed to the wire fixing portion 32 is inserted through an annular guide ring 33 provided on the inner peripheral side of the plurality of joint pieces 30. In addition, the end of each wire 40 is wound around a sprocket 28 connected to the bending operation knob 12 of the operation unit 3 for each pair facing vertically and horizontally in the tip joint piece 30A (see FIG. 2). . Each sprocket 28 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 29a protruding from the frame 29. With this, when one of the four wires 40 is pulled by the bending operation knob 12, the bending portion 8 moves up and down. And a bending operation in either the left or right direction. For simplification of explanation, FIG. 2 shows only the sprocket 28 that causes the bending portion 8 to bend in the vertical direction, for example.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the sprocket 28 and the frame 29 are made of a conductive member such as metal. As shown in FIG. 2, one end of a lead wire 4a is electrically connected to the frame 29, and the other end of the lead wire 4a is electrically connected to the high frequency terminal 5c through the universal cord 4. Yes. As a result, the tip joint piece 30A, the wire 40, the sprocket 28, the frame 29, the lead wire 4a, the high frequency terminal 5c and the high frequency power source (not shown) are electrically connected to form a feedback circuit having a very low impedance.

  Moreover, the flexible tube part 9 which comprises a base end side rather than the curved part 8 has the helical tube 35 formed, for example by winding the strip-shaped thin board | plate material which has elasticity helically.

  The outer periphery of each spiral piece 35 and each joint piece 30 (30A) constituting the bending structure of the bending portion 8 is covered with, for example, a net-like pipe 36 formed in a tubular shape by weaving stainless wire. The outer periphery of the tube 36 is covered with a tubular outer tube 37 formed of a resin member or a rubber member. In this way, each joint piece 30 and the spiral tube 35 are covered with a series of mesh tubes 36, whereby the bending portion 8 and the flexible tube portion 9 are electrically connected from the distal end side to the proximal end side. Continuity is achieved. Furthermore, the mesh tube 36 is covered with the outer tube 37, so that the bending portion 8 and the flexible tube portion 9 are electrically insulated from the outside.

  Here, the distal end portion 6 and the bending portion 8 configured as described above are connected to the distal end joint piece 30A on the proximal end side of the distal end portion main body 20 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 to 9, for example. This is realized by engaging and engaging the front end side.

  More specifically, the distal joint piece 30A has a first cut 45a extending from the distal end of the distal joint piece 30A in the direction of the insertion axis O, and is orthogonal to the insertion axis O from the proximal end of the first cut. A second cut 45b extending in the direction is provided by laser processing or the like. And the latching claw part 46 as a latching | locking part is formed in 30 A of front-end | tip joint pieces by bending the inner area | region of these notches 45a and 45b to an internal diameter direction. Here, in the present embodiment, the first cut 45a is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the insertion axis O so that the angle formed by the two sides in the inner region is an acute angle. The protrusion amount in the inner diameter direction of the distal joint piece 30A is set to be larger toward the proximal end side.

  On the other hand, a keyway 47 extending in the insertion direction is provided in the middle of the outer periphery on the proximal end side of the distal end body 20. In the present embodiment, the key groove 47 is closed at the base end side by the engaging portion 47 a that can be engaged with the locking claw portion 46, and the depth is shallower than the maximum protruding length of the locking claw portion 46. It is comprised by the bottomed groove part set so that it might become.

  When the tip joint piece 30A is externally fitted to the tip body 20 having such a key groove 47, the locking claw portion 46 provided on the tip joint piece 30A engages while elastically deforming. It gets over the portion 47a and is inserted into the key groove 47 (see FIG. 8). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the locking claw portion 46 inserted into the key groove 47 is engaged with the engaging portion 47a, whereby the distal end body 20 and the distal joint piece 30A are connected. Hold.

  In addition, since the depth of the key groove 47 is set to be shallower than the maximum protruding length of the locking claw portion 46 as described above, the locking claw portion 46 remains in a predetermined elastically deformed state. It is held in the groove 47. Therefore, the latching claw portion 46 is always pressed against the bottom of the key groove 47 by the urging force due to elastic deformation, and this pressure contact establishes electrical continuity between the tip body 20 and the tip joint piece 30A. Realize. Thereby, the front-end | tip part main body 20 is conduct | electrically_connected to the wire 40 grade | etc., Via the front-end | tip joint piece 30A, As a result, suitable conduction | electrical_connection from the front-end | tip part main body 20 to the high frequency terminal 5c is implement | achieved.

  The distal end main body 20 after being connected to the distal joint piece 30A is covered with an outer tube 37 extending from the curved portion 8 side, and the distal end portion of the outer tube 37 is fixed by a bobbin adhering portion 38. Yes.

  According to such an embodiment, the first and second notches 45 and 46 provided on the peripheral wall on the distal end side are bent in the inner diameter direction to form the locking claw 46 on the distal joint piece 30A. A key groove 47 shallower than the protruding length in the inner diameter direction of the locking claw portion 46 is provided in the distal end body 20, and when the distal joint piece 30 </ b> A and the distal end body 20 are fitted, the locking claw portion 46 is inserted into the key groove. By inserting into 47 and engaging in an elastically deformed state, the tip portion main body 20 and the tip joint piece 30A can be connected and electrically connected with a simple configuration without increasing the size of the tip portion 6. Can be realized.

  That is, since the connection state between the tip body 20 and the tip joint piece 30A is maintained using the locking claw portion 46 formed on the tip joint piece 30A, a separate member such as a screw becomes unnecessary, and the screw fixing The configuration can be simplified compared to the above. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a screw hole or the like for screwing the screw in the distal end portion main body 20, and the key groove 47 can be formed with a small space, so that the distal end portion main body 20 and the like can be easily reduced in size. Can do.

  Further, by setting the depth of the key groove 47 to be shallower than the maximum protruding length of the locking claw portion 46 and elastically pressing the locking claw portion 46 to the bottom portion of the key groove 47, The electrical continuity between these members can be accurately realized by the locking mechanism for maintaining the connection state with the joint piece 30A.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the locking claw portion 46 and the key groove 47 are provided at only one place has been described, but it is needless to say that these can be provided at two or more places. .

  Next, FIGS. 10 to 12 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part on the distal end side of the insertion portion, and FIG. 11 is a view of the insertion portion with the distal end cover removed. FIG. 12 is a perspective sectional view showing the main part on the distal end side of the insertion part. In addition, this embodiment mainly differs in the structure of the latching | locking part with respect to the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment. In addition, about the structure similar to the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment, a same sign is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the distal joint piece 30A is provided with two locking holes 50 penetrating the peripheral wall on the distal end side of the distal joint piece 30A. In the present embodiment, these locking hole portions 50 are configured by, for example, round hole-shaped through holes formed by cutting out the peripheral wall of the tip joint piece 30A by laser processing or the like.

  Further, the first joint piece 30A is provided with a first slit 51 by laser processing or the like as a slit that opens each locking hole 50 to the distal end side. Further, in the tip joint piece 30A, a second slit 52 as a slit is formed by laser processing or the like in the vicinity of each locking hole 50 (specifically, a position close to both sides of the locking hole 50). Is provided.

  On the other hand, a protrusion 55 is provided at a position corresponding to the locking hole 50 in the middle of the outer periphery on the proximal end side of the distal end main body 20. For example, the protrusion 55 has a shape similar to the inner periphery of the locking hole 50 and is configured by a protrusion that can be engaged with the engagement hole 50. More specifically, the projecting portion 55 of the present embodiment has a substantially cylindrical shape with an outer peripheral surface that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the circularly formed locking hole portion 50, for example, and its protruding end surface. An inclined surface 55a is provided on the base end side.

  In such a configuration, when the tip joint piece 30A is externally fitted to the tip portion main body 20, a part of the peripheral wall of the tip joint piece 30A gets over the protrusion 55 while being elastically deformed, and the locking hole portion The protrusion 55 is engaged in 50. And by this engagement, the locking hole part 50 maintains the connection state of the front-end | tip part main body 20 and the front-end | tip joint piece 30A. In addition, since a part of the outer periphery of the protruding portion 55 has a similar shape larger than the inner periphery of the locking hole portion 50, the locking hole portion 50 is elastically deformed in the expanding direction at the portion. The locking hole 50 realizes electrical continuity between the distal end body 20 and the distal joint piece 30A. In this case, the locking hole 50 can be easily elastically deformed by having the first slit 51 and the second slit 52. Further, by providing the inclined surface 55a on the proximal end side of the protruding portion 55, the peripheral wall of the distal joint piece 30A can easily get over the protruding portion 55.

  According to such an embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be achieved. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the locking hole portion 50 and the protruding portion 55 are provided at two locations has been described. However, it is of course possible to provide these at one location or three or more locations. is there. In addition, when desired elastic deformation is possible with the locking hole 50 alone, the first slit 51 and the second slit 52 can be omitted as appropriate.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to each embodiment described above, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible, and they are also in the technical scope of this invention. Of course, the configurations of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 2 ... Insertion part, 3 ... Operation part, 3a ... Bending part, 3b ... Gripping part, 4 ... Universal cord, 5 ... Connector, 5c ... High frequency terminal, 6 ... Tip part, 8 ... Bending part , 9 ... Flexible tube portion, 11 ... Treatment instrument insertion port, 12 ... Bending operation knob, 13 ... Operation button, 20 ... Tip body, 20a, 21a ... Hole, 21 ... Tip cover, 25 ... Imaging optical system, 26 ... Treatment instrument insertion channel, 28 ... Sprocket, 29 ... Frame, 30 ... Joint piece, 30A ... Tip joint piece, 31 ... Rivet, 32 ... Wire fixing part, 33 ... Guide ring, 35 ... Spiral tube, 36 ... Reticulated tube 37 ... outer tube, 38 ... adhesive part, 40 ... wire, 46 ... locking claw part, 47 ... key groove, 47a ... engaging part, 50 ... locking hole part, 51 ... first slit (slit), 52 ... second slit (slit), 55 ... projection, 5a ... inclined surface

Claims (4)

A metal tip body provided on the tip side of the insertion portion;
A cylindrical distal joint piece that is located at the distal ends of a plurality of joint pieces constituting the bending portion of the insertion portion, and whose distal end side is fitted to the outer periphery of the proximal end side of the distal end portion main body,
The tip joint piece is formed by a notch provided in the peripheral wall on the tip side of the tip joint piece, and the tip joint piece is locked to the tip portion main body, and the tip joint piece is moved to the tip by an urging force due to elastic deformation at the time of locking. A locking portion that is electrically connected to the main body ,
The locking portion is a locking hole formed by cutting out a part of the peripheral wall of the tip joint piece,
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion main body has a protruding portion that can be engaged in a state of being pressed against an inner periphery of the locking hole portion .   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion has a similar shape in which at least a part of an outer periphery is larger than an inner periphery of the locking hole portion.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the distal joint piece has a slit that opens the locking hole to the distal end side.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the distal joint piece has a slit in the vicinity of the locking hole.

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