JPS646804Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a replacement cap that fits into the tip of an insertion tube of an endoscope, and the replacement cap is equipped with a nozzle of an air or water pipe, and the cap is connected to the insertion tube of an endoscope. By making the nozzle replaceable from the tip, the nozzle can be easily cleaned.

In endoscopes used to observe the inside of a living body cavity, the observation window provided at the tip of the thin tube inserted into the body cavity (hereinafter referred to as the body cavity insertion tube) is clearly visible because it gets dirty with mucus and dirt. A clear field of view cannot be secured. Therefore, in the past, a nozzle of a water supply pipe was installed near the observation window, and cleaning water was sprayed onto the observation window from this nozzle for cleaning. Since water droplets remaining on the surface of the observation window can obstruct the field of vision, air is sent from the nozzle of the air pipe installed separately at the tip of the insertion tube after the cleaning water is delivered to remove the water droplets that adhere to the surface of the observation window. . The air supply pipe is also used to supply air when inflating the inside of the body cavity to ensure a distance between the tip of the tube for insertion into the body cavity and the wall of the body cavity during observation.

In this way, the nozzles of the water supply pipe and the air supply pipe face the tip of the insertion tube of the endoscope, and the inside of the body cavity is slightly exposed to the outside air due to the expansion caused by the air supply as described above. Because the pressure is high, gastric juices, contrast media, and dirt leaked into the body cavity enter the pipe through each nozzle, contaminating the pipe.

After use, the body cavity insertion tube is hung down and stored, so any dirt that has entered the pipe accumulates in the bent part of the nozzle, where it dries and solidifies. In particular, in direct-viewing endoscopes, the pipe and nozzle outlet are bent at right angles, so if solidification occurs at this bend, the pipe will become blocked, and if you try to use it later, the air and water supply will be interrupted. I can't use it because I can't do it anymore.

Moreover, once the dirt has solidified, it cannot be removed by just water supply, and the endoscope must be disassembled for cleaning.

Furthermore, conventionally, there is no good method for cleaning the nozzle portion, and even if dirt enters the nozzle portion, it cannot be sufficiently cleaned, making it extremely unsanitary.

Therefore, there is a strong desire for a means to easily replace or clean the air and water supply nozzles without disassembling the endoscope in case the nozzles become clogged. It was made by

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entire endoscope. The operation section 1 of the endoscope is provided with an air/water supply switching device consisting of a cylinder section 2 and a piston section 3. Cylinder part 2 of air supply/water supply switching device
One end of pipes 5 and 6 for air and water supply, which are connected to an air supply pump and a water supply tank provided separately from the endoscope, are connected via the light guide tube 4 to one side. Also, on the other side of the air/water switching device, air/water pipes 8, 9 are provided which extend through the body cavity insertion tube 7 of the endoscope to its tip.
One end is connected, and by adjusting the amount of push of the piston part 3 into the cylinder part 2 of the air/water supply switching device, switching between air supply and water supply into the body cavity is performed.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the distal end of the body cavity insertion tube 7 with the replacement cap of the present invention removed, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the tip of the body cavity insertion tube 7 with the replacement cap removed. FIG. Note that the location of the water pipe 9 is different in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, but for convenience of explanation, the location has been changed as shown in FIG. 3, and in reality,
It is usually in the position shown in FIG. A cylindrical tip fitting 10 is fitted and fixed in the tip opening of the body cavity insertion tube 7, and through holes 12, 13, 14, 15 are provided at predetermined positions from the inner end to the outer end of the tip fitting 10. , 16 are arranged, and an air pipe 8 and a water pipe 9 are fitted into the inner ends of the through holes 12, 13.
Connecting pipes 17 and 18 are fitted into the outer ends of the air supply pipe 8, water supply pipe 9 and connection pipe 1.
7 and 18 communicate within the metal tip 10, and the connecting pipes 17 and 18 protrude somewhat from the outer end surface of the metal tip 7. Further, in the through hole 14, a fixed pipe 1 having both ends slightly protruding from both ends of the tip metal fitting 10 is provided.
9 is fitted and fixed, one end of an optical fiber bundle for observation 20 is fitted into the inner end side of the fixed pipe 19, and a part of the optical fiber bundle for observation from the observation site is attached to the end surface of the optical fiber bundle for observation 20 in the middle part. A minute objective lens 21 for focusing light is incorporated, and a windshield 22 is provided on the outer end side.

Furthermore, through the through hole 15, although not shown in FIG.
One end of a forceps tube 23 extending through the through hole 16 is fitted into the through hole 16, and one end of an illumination optical fiber bundle (not shown) is fitted into the inner end of the through hole 16. On the end side, as shown in FIG. 2, an optical system 24 for illumination is arranged.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a replacement cap made of synthetic resin or the like, and the replacement cap 25 can be removably fitted onto the metal tip 10. When the replacement cap 25 is fitted onto the metal tip 10, the The annular convex portion 26 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the replacement cap 25 and the annular recess 27 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip metal fitting 10 fit together as shown in FIG. Fit and fix to.

Furthermore, the replacement cap 25 has a through hole 15 for the forceps channel, as shown in FIG. 3b.
A through hole 28 that coincides with the above, a fixed pipe 19 protruding from the outer end surface of the tip metal fitting 10, and a connecting pipe 1.
Through holes 29, 30, 31 into which the connecting pipes 17, 18 fit are formed, and air and water nozzles 32, 33 are formed in the through holes 30, 31 into which the connecting pipes 17, 18 fit.
is inserted from the outside, and when the cap 25 is replaced with the tip metal fitting 10 and fitted as described above, the through hole 28 aligns with the through hole 15 as shown in FIG.
A fixed pipe 19 and connection pipes 17 and 18 are fitted into the holes 9, 30 and 31, and the connection pipes 17 and 18 are connected to air and water supply nozzles 32 and 33 within the through holes 30 and 31, respectively.
communicate with. In addition, the air and water supply nozzles 32, 3
3 may be integrally molded with a replacement cap 25 as shown in FIG.

As mentioned above, the present invention integrates a replacement cap made of synthetic resin or the like with a nozzle for air and water supply, and the replacement cap is removably fitted to the metal tip. Even if the nozzle becomes clogged and air or water cannot be supplied, there is no need to disassemble the endoscope and clean the nozzle, and you can simply replace the replacement cap with a new one. This allows the endoscope to be inspected immediately, and by removing the replacement cap, the air and water nozzles can be easily cleaned. This eliminates hygiene issues, and since it can be easily cleaned every time, it also helps prevent nozzle clogging. In addition, conventionally, removing and cleaning the nozzle alone has been difficult as the nozzle itself is very small, and when refixing it, the nozzle opening must be properly directed toward the observation window, which is extremely cumbersome for the surgeon to handle. However, since the replacement cap and the nozzle are integrated, the practical effects are extremely large, such as when the replacement cap is attached to the metal tip, the nozzle opening is set in the direction of the observation window, making it extremely easy to handle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entire endoscope, Figure 2 is a front view of the distal end of the body cavity insertion tube, Figures 3a and b are sectional views of the distal end of the body cavity insertion tube and the replacement cap, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state in which a replacement cap is fitted to the distal end of a body cavity insertion tube, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment. 7... Body cavity insertion tube, 8... Air supply pipe, 9...
...Water pipe, 25...Replacement cap, 32
...Air supply nozzle, 33...Water supply nozzle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A replacement cap that is detachably fitted onto the distal end of the body cavity insertion tube of an endoscope, which communicates with the air and water supply pipes of the body cavity insertion tube, and is provided at the distal end of the body cavity insertion tube. A replacement cap characterized by being integrally equipped with air and water nozzles for cleaning the observation window of an objective system.