JPH03170125A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To delicately curve and operate the tip part of the endoscope by comparing the tip part side of a curved member for forming a curved part with a snake tube part side and enlarging a bending angle. CONSTITUTION:As for a tubular curved member 8, holes 11, 12 are pierced in both end parts, and the member is connected to the tip part 1 and a snake tube connecting member 13 with a screw or a pin, etc., 14, 15 through the holes 11, 12. Also, the curved member 8 consists of an ultra-elastic alloy, and in the upper and the lower parts of the peripheral surface of the curved member 8, plural wedge-like grooves 16 notched to the vicinity of the tube axis are provided extending in the tube-axial direction. Moreover, on the inside surface of a tube wall on which there are the wedge-like grooves 16 of the curved member 8, guide holes 19, 20 are formed by providing a recessed part extending in the tube axis direction, a curvature operating wire pushed and drawn by a curvature operating knob is allowed to pass through the guide holes 19, 20 and the curvature operating wire is fixed to the tip part. The tip part side 17 of the curved member 8 is formed larger than a snake tube part side 18 as to its groove width and pitch, therefore, the tip part side 17 curves easily, and even if a contained object resists at the time of curving, the tip side of the curved part 2 curves first.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an improvement in the bending operability of an endoscope.

[Prior Art] An endoscope includes a distal end section provided with an observation means and an illumination means, a curved section connected to the distal end section, a flexible tube section connected to the curved section, and an operating section connected to the flexible tube section. It is constructed from.

The bending section is configured to curve by rotating a bending operation knob provided on the operation section.

As shown in FIG. 8, the curved member forming the curved portion is formed by connecting a large number of node rings a in the tube axis direction, and the intervals between the node rings a are arranged at equal pitches.

An operator of such an endoscope rotates a bending operation knob to bend the bending portion and guide the distal end portion to a target site.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in the conventional endoscope, the curved part has
Since built-in objects such as optical fiber bundles are disposed, these built-in objects resist during bending, and the curved portion curves from the flexible tube section side, and finally the tip side curves.

Therefore, even if you try to delicately bend the tip of the endoscope, it will curve from the flexible tube side, making it impossible to delicately manipulate the tip, resulting in poor bending operability. Ta.

This invention has been made with attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope with improved bending operability so that the distal end of the endoscope can be delicately bent. .

Means for Solving Problem E] According to the present invention, the bending angle of the tip end side of the curved member forming the curved section is made larger than that of the flexible tube section side.

[Action] When the curved part is curved, the curved member on the tip side, which has a large bending angle, bends more easily than the curved member on the side of the serpentine part, so even if there is resistance from built-in objects, the tip of the curved part The sides curve first.

[Example 1] Figures 1 to 4 are diagrams showing the first embodiment, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope, Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of the curved part, and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope. is a side view of the curved member, 4th rI! J is a sectional view of the curved member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope includes a distal end 1 provided with an observation lens and an illumination window, and a curved section 2 connected to the distal end 1.
, a flexible pipe part 3 connected to the curved part 2, an operating part 4 connected to the flexible pipe part 3, an eyepiece part 5 provided at the end of the operating part 4, and an operating part for connecting to a light source device for illumination. 4 and a light guide flexible tube section 6 branched from the light guide section 4. Further, the operating section 4 is provided with a bending operation knob 7.
When rotated, the bending portion 2 is configured to bend via a bending operation wire (not shown).

Built-in components such as optical fiber bundles are provided from the tip 1 to the operating section 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bending section 2 includes a bending member 8 shown in FIG.
It is composed of O.

The tubular curved member 8 has holes 11. at both ends. 12 is drilled, and holes 11, I
2 through screws or bottles etc. 14. 15.

Further, the curved member 8 is made of a superelastic alloy, and the curved member 8 is made of a superelastic alloy.
A plurality of wedge-shaped grooves 16 cut out to the vicinity of the tube axis are provided above and below the circumferential surface of the tube along the tube axis direction.

The tip side 17 of the curved member 8 has a groove width and pitch larger than that of the flexible pipe side 18 so that the bending angle of the side work 7 at the tip of the curved member 8 is large, and the bending angle of the flexible pipe side 18 is small. It's shaped.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a recess is provided in the inner surface of the tube wall of the curved member 8 in which the wedge-shaped groove 16 is located, extending along the tube axis direction, and a guide hole 19 is formed. It has the shape of 20. This guide hole 19.
A bending operation wire pushed and pulled by the bending operation knob 7 is passed through 20, and the bending operation wire is fixed to the tip.

With this structure, when the bending operation knob 7 is rotated, one bending operation wire is pulled and the other bending operation wire is relaxed. The bending member 8 is curved because the distance between the wedge-shaped grooves 16 on the side pulled by the bending operation wire is narrowed, and a portion of the portion 21 between the two vertices of the upper and lower wedge-shaped grooves 18 is elongated. Since the distal end side 17 of the bending member 8 has a larger groove width and pitch than the flexible tube side 18, the distal end side 17 is easy to curve, and even if the built-in objects resist when bending, The tip of the curved portion 2 is curved first.

Therefore, the distal end portion 1 of the endoscope can be delicately bent, thereby improving the bending operability.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the curved member 8 has a U-shaped groove 23 instead of the wedge-shaped groove of the first embodiment, which makes it easier to process and bend.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the machining depth of the U-shaped groove 24 is varied along the tube axis direction, so that the machining remaining thickness is reduced toward the tip end, making it easier to curve the tip end.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the wedge-shaped groove 25. 26 are provided alternately on the top, bottom, left and right, making it possible to curve in four directions: top, bottom, left and right. Similar effects can be obtained by incorporating the configurations shown in the first to third embodiments and changing the groove width, pitch, groove shape, and groove depth.

It is also possible to change the thickness of the curved member. The groove of the curved member is not limited to a wedge shape or a U-shape, but may also be a slit shape,
It may be half-moon or any other shape.

[Effects of the Invention] As stated above, the bending angle of the tip side of the curved member that shapes the curved portion is made larger than that of the flexible pipe portion, so that the bending member on the tip side, which has a large bending angle, is Since it is easier to curve compared to the curved member on the side, the tip side of the curved part can be curved first even if there is resistance from built-in objects.

Therefore, the distal end portion of the endoscope can be delicately bent, thereby improving the bending operability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are views showing the first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the curved part.
3 is a side view of the curved member, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the curved member, FIG. 5 is a side view of the curved member showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the curved member showing the third embodiment. 7 are side views of a bending member showing a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bending member showing a conventional example. 1... Tip part 2... Curved part 3... Flexible tube part 4... Operation part 8... Curved member 16, 25, 26... Wedge-shaped groove 23, 24... U-shape shaped groove

Claims (1)

[Claims] An endoscope having a distal end section equipped with an observation optical system and an illumination window, a curved section connected to the distal end section, a flexible tube section connected to the curved section, and an operation section connected to the flexible tube section. An endoscope, characterized in that the bending angle of the distal end side of the curved member forming the curved portion is larger than that of the flexible tube side.