JPH04367644A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the operating base body. CONSTITUTION:In a main body 1a of an operating base body 1, a shaft 14 of a handle 15 is provided so as to be freely turnable. To the end part of the outside of this shaft 14, a nut 16 shared of a joint is screwed and fixed, and also, to the end part of the inside of the shaft 14, one end part of a gear shaft 17 is fixed. The other end part of the gear shaft 17 is allowed to face a closed space S. In the inside of the nut 16, the shaft 14 and the gear shaft 17, a feed water port 8 in which one end is opened on the end face turned to the outside of the nut 16, and the other end is opened on the outside peripheral surface of the gear shaft 17 allowed to face the space S is formed. In this regard, the space S is connected to a water flow port through a water conveying channel.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having channels such as an air supply channel, a water supply channel, or a forceps channel therein.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an endoscope having a water supply channel includes an operating base having a handle, an insertion section extending from the operation base, a curved section provided at the distal end of the insertion section, and a curved section provided at the distal end of the insertion section. A water supply port (first processing port) is formed in the main body of the operation base. Further, the distal end component is provided with observation windows and the like, and is also formed with a water outlet (second treatment port) for spraying cleaning water onto these observation windows and the like. When observing the inside of a human body using such an endoscope, the insertion section is inserted into the human body. Then, the handle is rotated to bend the curved portion and orient the observation window of the distal end component in a desired direction. With this, a desired location within the human body is observed. Additionally, if bodily fluids, etc. adhere to the observation window during observation, cleaning water is ejected from the water outlet and sprayed onto the observation window to remove the bodily fluids, etc.
(See Publication No. 8-43404).

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When the water supply port is formed in the main body of the operation base as in the conventional endoscope described above, a formation location is required in order to form the water supply port in the main body. Moreover, the water supply port is installed in such a way that the water pipe connected to the water supply port does not interfere with other components such as the handle.
It is necessary to form it away from them. For this reason, there was a problem in that the main body became large, and by extension the entire operation base became large.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope whose operation base can be downsized.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operating base having a handle that is rotatably operated from the outside, an inserting portion extending from the operating base, and an inserting portion extending from the operating base. comprising a curved part provided at the distal end and curved by rotational operation of the handle, and a distal end component provided at the distal end of the curved part, and the operating base is provided with a first processing port, A second processing port is provided in at least one of the insertion section, the curved section, and the tip forming section, and one end is connected to the first processing section inside the operation base and the insertion section. , an endoscope provided with a channel whose other end is connected to the second processing section, characterized in that the first processing port is provided on the center of rotation of the handle.

[0006]

[Operation] Since the first processing port is formed on the outer surface located on the rotation center of the handle, there is no need to form the first processing port in the main body of the operating base. Furthermore, when connecting a water pipe, for example, to the first treatment port, it does not interfere with other components.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The endoscope of this embodiment has a water supply channel. First, the overall configuration of the endoscope will be explained based on FIG. 4. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an operating base. A tubular insertion portion 2 is provided at the tip of the operation base 1. A curved section 3 is provided at the distal end of the insertion section 2, and a distal end forming section 4 is further provided at the distal end of the curved section 3. On the other hand, a signal cable 43 extends from the rear end of the operation base 1. One end of this signal cable 43 passes through the operation base 1, the insertion section 2, and the bending section 3 to reach the tip structure section 4, and can be connected to an ultrasonic element 42, which will be described later. A connector 44 is provided at the other end of the signal cable 43. The connector 44 is
It is connected to a signal processing device (not shown) for receiving and transmitting electrical signals for ultrasonic vibration.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation base 1 has a cylindrical main body 1a with a substantially square cross section. A mounting plate 1b extending along one side of the main body 1a is arranged and fixed inside the main body 1a. A support cylinder 11 whose axis is perpendicular to the axis of the main body 1a is fixed to the outside of one side where the mounting plate 1b is disposed.

One end of the support cylinder 11 penetrates one side of the main body 1a and protrudes into the main body 1a, and one end of the cover cylinder 12 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the end protruding into the main body 1a. are fitted airtightly and liquidtightly via a gasket G1. This cover tube 12 is fixed to the mounting plate 1b by a flange portion 12a formed at the center thereof. The other end of the cover tube 12 passes through the mounting plate 1b and connects to the main body 1.
a, and a bottom portion 12b is formed at the end thereof. A notch hole 12c is formed in one side near the bottom 12b. A center portion of a guide tube 13 having bottoms at both ends and with its axis oriented in a direction parallel to the axis of the main body 1a is inserted into the notch hole 12c, and is fixed airtightly and liquid-tightly. A notch 13a is provided in a central portion of the guide tube 13 corresponding to the notch hole 12c.
is formed.

On the inner peripheral surface of the outer end of the support tube 11,
The shaft 14 is rotatably supported while being engaged and not movable outward in the axial direction. A gasket G2 is provided between the shaft 14 and the support tube 11, thereby maintaining the space between the two in an airtight and liquidtight state. As is clear from the above content, the support tube 11, the cover tube 12, the guide tube 13, and the shaft 14 form a sealed space S.

A handle 15 is unrotatably fitted to the end of the shaft 14 that protrudes outward from the support tube 11. This handle 15 is fixed to the shaft 14 by a nut 16. Furthermore, a recess 14a is formed on the inner end surface of the shaft 14, that is, the end surface facing the space S. One end of the gear shaft 17 is inserted and fixed into this recess 14a. The gear 1 is attached to the other end of the gear shaft 17.
7a is formed. On the other hand, a rack 18 is movably inserted into the guide tube 13. This rack 18
is meshed with gear 17a. Therefore, when the handle 15 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the rack 18
It will move in the axial direction of a.

Next, the insertion section 2, the curved section 3, and the tip structure section 4 will be explained.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the insertion section 2 has a cylindrical body 21. 2
1 is fixed to the main body 1a of the operation base 1 via a mounting plate 1b and a mounting tube 1c. A rear end portion of a metal tube 22 is inserted and fixed into the tip portion of the cylindrical body 21 . A hole (second processing port) 23 is formed in one side of the metal tube 22 and penetrates from the rear end surface to the front end surface.
A protrusion 24 is formed on its tip surface.

Further, the tip component 4 has a body 41 made of hard resin, and the body 41 includes an ultrasonic element 4.
2 is provided with a portion thereof exposed from the outer peripheral surface of the body 41. This ultrasonic element 41 is connected to a connector 44 (see FIG. 1) via the signal cable 43. Further, the tip of the reinforcing tube 45 is fixed to the body 41. A protrusion 46 is formed on the rear end surface of the reinforcing cylinder 45.

The curved portion 3 includes two connecting cylinders 31 and 32. One connecting cylinder 31 is fitted and fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the tip end of the metal cylinder 22 . The other connecting tube 32 is fitted and fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the rear end portion of the reinforcing tube 45 . These 2
The two connecting cylinders 31 and 32 are rotatably connected to each other via a shaft 33 on one side, and the connecting cylinder 33 is connected to the connecting cylinder 31
The curved portion 3 is configured to curve by rotating relative to it.

The rotation of the connecting cylinder 32 with respect to the connecting cylinder 31 is as follows:
This is done by the operating wire 6. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the rear end of a guide tube (channel) 7 passing through the bottom is fixed airtightly and liquidtightly to the bottom of the tip of the guide tube 13. The distal end of the guide tube 7 passes through the cylindrical body 21 of the insertion section 2, and as shown in FIG.
It is inserted and fixed airtightly and liquidtightly into a hole (second processing port) 23 formed in the hole (second processing port). Note that the guide tube 7 has an airtight and liquidtight structure.

An operating wire 6 is inserted into the guide tube 7 . The rear end of the operating wire 6 is fixed to a rack 18, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the operating wire 6 passes through the guide tube 7 and is connected to one side of the connecting tube 32. Therefore, when the rack 18 is moved toward the rear end of the main body 1a using the handle 15, the operating wire 6 is pulled, thereby causing the connecting tube 32 to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 relative to the connecting tube 31. .

Note that one end and the other end of a protective tube 34 made of flexible resin are fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surfaces of the protrusion 24 of the metal tube 21 and the protrusion 46 of the reinforcing tube 45, respectively. ing. The signal cable 43 extending from the ultrasonic element 42 is inserted into the protection tube 34, and further penetrates the insertion portion 2 and the operation base 1 to be connected to the connector 44, as described above.

Next, the water supply port 8 (
The water supply port 8 is comprised of a hole 81 formed in the nut 16, a hole 82 formed in the shaft 14, and a hole 83 formed in the gear shaft 17. The hole 81 is formed to pass through the nut 16 on its axis from one end surface to the other end surface. The hole 82 passes through the axis of the shaft 14 from one end surface to the other end surface, and the outer end communicates with the hole 81 . The hole 83 has one end opened in one end surface of the gear shaft 17 facing the shaft 14 and communicates with the hole 82, and the other end opened in the outer peripheral surface facing the space S. Therefore, the water supply port 8 communicates with the space S, and eventually with the inside of the guide tube 7.

It should be noted that a connecting portion 8 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nut 16.
4 is formed, and a water supply pipe (not shown) connected to a water supply source (not shown) is connected to this connection part 84. As is clear from this point, the nut 16 is used not only for fixing the handle 15 to the shaft 14, but also as a joint.

In the endoscope configured as described above, after the endoscope is used, a water supply source is connected to the nut 16 via the water supply pipe, and cleaning water is supplied to the water supply port 8. The supplied cleaning water flows into the space S and enters the inside of the guide tube 7. Then, the inside of the guide tube 7 is cleaned, and the operating wire 6 is also cleaned.
It flows out from the opening at the tip of the guide tube 7. As is clear from the above, the guide tube 7 is not only used to guide the operating wire 6, but also serves as a water supply channel.

[0021] In the above endoscope, the water supply port 8
Since it is formed on the shaft 14 of the handle 15, the main body 1a does not require a place for forming a water supply port. Therefore, the main body 1a can be downsized. Moreover, since it is formed on the shaft 14, it does not interfere with the operation of the handle 15.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. In this embodiment, the same components as in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

As is clear from FIG. 6, this embodiment has the following features:
The present invention is applied to a normal endoscope, and the body 41 of the distal end component 4 is provided with an observation window 46 and an illumination light window (not shown), and an image guide 4.
7 and a light guide (not shown). Note that the image guide 47 and the light guide extend through the inside of the curved portion 3 and the insertion portion 2 to the operation base 1. The image guide is connected to an eyepiece (not shown) provided at the rear end of the operation base 1. On the other hand, the image guide extends outside from the operation base 1 and is connected to the light source device. Furthermore, the tip component 4 includes a water outlet pipe (second treatment port) 4 according to the present invention.
8 is provided. The rear end of the water outlet pipe 48 is made to protrude from the rear end surface of the body 41.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the handle 1
5, the shaft in the above embodiment is integrally formed as a shaft portion 15a, and the shaft portion 15a is rotatably supported by the main body 1a of the operating base 1. The handle 15 has a through hole 1 extending along its axis from one end surface to the other end surface.
5b is formed. A joint 91 is provided at the outer opening of the through hole 15b so as to be relatively rotatable.

The joint 91 has a connecting part 91a to which a water supply pipe is connected on its outer circumferential surface, a protruding part 91b in the center of the end face facing the through hole 15b, and a protruding part 91b inside which extends along the axis. A water supply port 9 is formed. Projection 91
One end of a water supply channel (channel) 92 is fitted and fixed to b in an airtight and liquidtight manner. The other end of this water channel 92 passes through the through hole 15a of the handle 15, passes through the mounting plate 1b, extends into the main body 1a, and further extends from the main body 1a to the insertion portion 2 and the curved portion 3.
and reaches the tip component 4 through the inside of the water outlet pipe 48.
The mating is fixed.

In this embodiment, a pulley 19 is used in place of the drive mechanism for the operating wire 6 in the above embodiment, that is, the drive mechanism using the gear 17a and the rack 18. Furthermore, as is clear from the fact that the water supply channel 91 is separately provided, the guide tube 7 for the operation wire 6 is used only as a guide for the operation wire 6 and is not used as a water supply channel. Note that this point can also be applied to the embodiments described above.

[0027] Also in the endoscope having the above configuration, since the water supply port 9 is provided on the axis of the handle 15, the operation base 1 can be downsized. In addition, since the joint 91 is rotatably supported relative to the handle 15, the water supply pipe and water supply channel 92 connected to the joint 91 do not interfere with the rotation operation of the handle 15.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified as appropriate without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an endoscope having a water supply channel, but it is of course applicable to an endoscope having an air supply channel, a forceps channel, etc. . Also,
In the above embodiment, a disc-shaped handle 15 is used, but a lever-shaped handle may be used, one end of which is rotatably supported by the operating base 1.

[0029]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the endoscope of the present invention, since the first treatment port is provided on the center of rotation of the handle, the operation base can be miniaturized. can get.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 4, showing essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the tip of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the tip of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Operation base 1a Main body 15 Handle 2 Insertion part 23 Hole (second processing port) 3 Curved part 4 Tip component 48 Water outlet pipe (second treatment port) 7 Guide tube (channel) 8 Water supply port (first treatment port) 9 Water supply port (first treatment port)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operating base having a handle that is rotatably operated from the outside; an insertion portion extending from the operating base;
The insertion portion includes a curved portion that is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion and is curved by the rotating operation of the handle, and a distal end component that is provided at the distal end of the curved portion, and the operating base has a first processing port. is provided, and a second
In the endoscope, a processing port is provided, and a channel is provided inside the operation base and the insertion section, one end of which is connected to the first processing section, and the other end of which is connected to the second processing section. . An endoscope, wherein the first processing port is provided on a rotation center of the handle.