JPH05885Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a connector structure for an endoscope.

[Conventional technology]

A general endoscope will be explained with reference to FIG.

The endoscope consists of an angle section 1 that is a bendable portion at the tip, a flexible tube section 2 following the angle section 1, and a handle section 3 that has an operating section and an eyepiece section. Such endoscopes are widely used for industrial and medical purposes, and the number of conductors in the flexible tube varies depending on the purpose of use, but at least a light made of a bundle of optical fibers is used. There are guides and image guides, and various other conductors such as air, water supply pipes, suction pipes, etc., depending on the purpose of use, are passed as necessary.

Therefore, for example, the light guide 4 protruding from the handle 3 has a metal blade layered on the outside of a band-like spiral, and is passed through a cladding tube 5 covered with a resin tube, so that it is strong against tension and twisting. It has a structure.

Furthermore, if this light guide is incorporated into a single cladding tube 5 together with other air and water supply pipes, electric wires, etc., the cladding tube becomes thick and hard.

A connector 6 is attached to the end of the cladding tube 5, and is used by connecting it to an apparatus main body 7 having a light source and a power source.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

When using an endoscope with such a configuration, the user grasps and operates the handle 3, but during observation, the user can twist the handle 3 to change the direction of the field of view of the angle part 1 at the tip. There are things to do. In this case, the cladding tube 5 coming out from the handle 3 is connected to the handle 3 and the device main body 7.
Since the connection between the connector 6 and the cladding tube 5 is in a fixed state, the connector 6 is twisted, and the force acting against the twisting acts on the spiral tube inside the cladding tube 5, making the handle 3 very difficult to operate. Deteriorate.

In addition, endoscopes with built-in solid-state image sensors have recently been developed, but with these endoscopes, observations are made while looking at a monitor rather than through the eyepiece, and the field of view can be manipulated. The twisting operation of the handle 3 becomes even greater, and in that case, the operability becomes even worse.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a rotation mechanism at the connection between the handle 3 and the cladding tube 5, but this requires a strong rotation mechanism due to the structure of the handle 3, and the problem is that the handle 3 becomes heavy. Furthermore, there is also the problem that the twist acts immediately on the rotating mechanism, increasing the load on the rotating mechanism due to the twist. Furthermore, when the endoscope is hung on a hanger after use, there is a risk that the endoscope may not be able to fully return due to the amount of twist.

[Means for solving problems]

This invention has a connector structure that is attached to the end of the cladding tube of the conductor led out from the handle of the endoscope. The rotating body is connected to the rotating body so that it can be rotated without coming off by locking its end, a connection plug is protruded from the other side, the end of the cladding tube is connected to the rotating body, and these fixed bodies are connected. The present invention is characterized in that a rotating mechanism biased by a spring is provided between the rotating body and a connector structure.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when the endoscope is used, when the handle is twisted to change the field of view of the angle part, the twist of the handle is partially over the entire length of the cladding tube, regardless of whether it is in the forward or reverse direction. This is transmitted as a slight twist angle, which is gradually transmitted to the rotation mechanism of the connector at the end and acts on the spring of the rotation mechanism, so that when the twist is released, the twist can be immediately returned to its original state.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main part of the connector, and Fig. 2 is a side sectional view. There is one in which only a single conductive object is passed through each independently, and in this embodiment, a single wire 8 is shown.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a connector, in which a rotating body 11 is rotatably connected to a cylindrical fixed body 10, a connection plug 12 protrudes from the end of the fixed body 10, and the above-mentioned cladding tube 5 is connected to the rotating body 11. It has been done.

A coil spring 13 has one end fixed to the fixed body 10 and the other end fixed to the rotating body 11. The fixed body 10 and the rotating body 11 are connected by this spring 13.

Reference numerals 14 and 15 denote stoppers, and the stopper 14 is attached to the fixed body 10, and the stopper 15 is attached to the rotating body 11, so that the rotating body 11 is not twisted too much.

16 and 17 are position marks, position mark 1
6 is attached to the fixed body 10, and the position mark 17 is attached to the rotating body 11.
are attached so that they face each other, so that the rotating state of the rotating body 11 can be visually observed.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a device main body, which in this embodiment represents a power supply device, and has a connecting portion 19 to which the connection plug 12 can be connected.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a locking ring provided on the fixed body 10, which is rotatably attached to the fixed body 10 and has a screw 21 carved on its inner periphery.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a locking protrusion corresponding to this locking ring 20, which protrudes while holding the connecting portion 19 of the device main body 18, and has a screw 23 engraved therein to be screwed into the screw 21 of the locking ring 2. It has been done.

Note that the locking ring 20 and the locking protrusion 22 are not necessarily required due to the configuration, and the locking ring 20 and locking protrusion 22 are
Any structure may be used depending on the connection method between 2 and the connecting portion 19.

According to the above configuration, when the handle part 3 is twisted to change the field of view of the angle part during observation, the cladding tube 5 is twisted little by little over its entire length, and the twist transmitted to the rotating body 11 of the connector 9 at the end is caused by the spring 13. When the reaction force becomes larger than the reaction force, the rotating body 11 rotates and stops when the force becomes equal to the force of the spring 13. In this way, the handle 3 can be twisted until the stops 14, 15 come into contact with each other.

When the handle 3 is untwisted, the rotating body 11 is immediately returned to its original position by the force of the spring 13, and the cladding tube 5 is untwisted.

Note that the direction of twist is the winding direction of the spring 13,
Either direction is fine.

The twisting direction of the handle and the amount of rotation of the rotating body can be visually checked by position marks 16 and 17.

Note that the structure of the spring is not limited to the above structure, and a second embodiment in which a torsion bar is used is shown in the sectional view of FIG. In the figure, 24 is a torsion bar, which is placed between the fixed body 10 and the rotating body 11.

With this structure, even if the twist of the cladding tube 5 is transmitted to the rotating body 11, the twist can be absorbed by the torsion bar 24, as in the above embodiment.

Furthermore, a third embodiment in which a spiral spring is used is shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4 and the perspective view of FIG. 5. In the figure, 25 is an internal gear provided on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating body 11, and 26 is a pinion rotatably attached to the fixed body 10.
The rotating shaft 27 is connected to a spiral spring 28.

With this structure, even if the twist of the cladding tube 5 is transmitted to the rotating body 11, the twist is absorbed by the spiral spring 28, as in each of the above embodiments.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention described in detail above, a fixed body, a rotating body, and a spring connecting these are attached to the tip of the cladding tube that houses and conducts the light guide, electric wire, etc. led out from the handle of the endoscope. By providing a connector with a rotation mechanism consisting of And since it can be absorbed by the rotation mechanism of the connector, the operability is greatly improved.

In addition, by providing a rotation mechanism between the fixed body and the rotating body, the cladding tube will automatically return to its original position when the twist is released, which prevents the cladding from remaining twisted. has no effect. This can prevent an accident in which the cladding tube is damaged due to further twisting if the twisted condition is forgotten and the tube is continued to be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main part of the connector, Fig. 2 is a side sectional view, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the main part of the second embodiment, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the main part of the third embodiment, and Fig. 5 6 is a perspective view of a main part, and FIG. 6 is an overall side view showing a conventional example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Angle part, 2...Flexible tube part, 3...Handle part, 5...Coating tube, 9...Connector, 10...Fixed body, 11...Rotating body, 13...Spring, 1
4, 15...Stopper, 18...Device body, 24
...Torsion bar, 25...Internal gear, 26...
...Pinion, 28...Windspring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] In a connector structure that is attached to the end of a cladding tube of a conductive object such as a light guide or electric wire led out from the handle of an endoscope and connected to the main body of the device such as a light source or power source, A rotating body is connected to one side of a cylindrical fixed body attached to a locking ring connected to the main body of the device so that its end can be locked so that it can be rotated without coming off.
A connecting plug is protruded from the other end, an end of the cladding tube is connected to the rotating body, and a rotating mechanism is provided between the fixed body and the rotating body, which is biased by the force of a spring. endoscope connector structure.