【０００１】[0001]
【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は、内視鏡の挿入部に
設けられた湾曲部の構造に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a bending portion provided in an insertion portion of an endoscope.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】内視鏡挿入部は、基端部が手元操作部に
接続されるとともに、先端部に湾曲部が形成され、この
湾曲部は、複数の節輪が内視鏡挿入部の軸方向に沿って
連結されて構成されている。前記節輪は、リング状に形
成された節輪本体と、該節輪本体の端部に突出形成され
た連結部とからなり、前記節輪本体は、隣接する節輪の
連結部同士を連結することにより、一定の間隔で連結さ
れている。2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope insertion section has a proximal end connected to a hand operation section and a curved section formed at the distal end. They are connected along the axial direction. The node ring includes a ring-shaped node ring main body and a connecting portion protrudingly formed at an end of the node ring main body, and the node ring main body connects connecting portions of adjacent node rings. By doing so, they are connected at regular intervals.
【０００３】前記湾曲部は、必要とされる湾曲角度より
も湾曲するように余裕量が設定され、例えば、１８０度
の湾曲角度を必要とする湾曲部は、３０度程度の余裕量
を設けて２１０度程度湾曲するように構成されている。The bending portion has a margin so as to bend more than a required bending angle. For example, a bending portion requiring a bending angle of 180 degrees is provided with a margin of about 30 degrees. It is configured to bend by about 210 degrees.
【０００４】[0004]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、従来の
内視鏡の湾曲部構造は、湾曲部を湾曲操作すると、湾曲
部が基端部側から湾曲し始め、前記余裕量が湾曲部の先
端部側に集中し、先端部側が十分に湾曲しないという欠
点があった。このため、内視鏡挿入部の先端に形成され
た先端硬質部の実質的な長さが長くなり、先端部の小回
りが利かず、先端部に配設された観察窓からの観察範囲
が狭いという欠点があった。However, in the conventional bending portion structure of the endoscope, when the bending portion is operated to bend, the bending portion starts to bend from the base end side, and the margin is reduced to the distal end of the bending portion. There is a drawback that it concentrates on the side and the tip side is not sufficiently curved. For this reason, the substantial length of the distal end hard portion formed at the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion becomes longer, the small turning of the distal end is not effective, and the observation range from the observation window provided at the distal end is narrow. There was a disadvantage.
【０００５】本発明はこのような事情に鑑みてなされた
もので、湾曲部の先端部側を十分に湾曲させることによ
り観察窓からの観察範囲を大きくすることができる内視
鏡の湾曲部構造を提供することを目的とする。The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a curved portion structure of an endoscope which can enlarge an observation range from an observation window by sufficiently bending the distal end side of the curved portion. The purpose is to provide.
【０００６】[0006]
【課題を解決するための手段】本発明は前記目的を達成
するために、内視鏡挿入部の軸方向に沿って複数の節輪
が連結されて構成される内視鏡の湾曲部構造において、
前記複数の節輪は、隣接する節輪本体同士の間隔が湾曲
部の基端部側よりも湾曲部の先端部側の方が徐々に大き
くなるように連結されていることを特徴とする。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a bending portion structure of an endoscope constituted by connecting a plurality of articulation rings along an axial direction of an endoscope insertion portion. ,
The plurality of articulation rings are connected such that the interval between adjacent articulation body is gradually larger on the distal end side of the curved portion than on the proximal end side of the curved portion.
【０００７】本発明によれば、隣接する節輪本体同士の
間隔が、湾曲部の基端部側よりも湾曲部の先端部側の方
が徐々に大きくなっているので、先端部側の方が基端部
側よりも湾曲しやすい。したがって、本発明の湾曲部を
湾曲操作すると、基端部側だけでなく先端部側も十分に
湾曲され、先端硬質部の実質的な長さが短くなる。これ
により、先端部の小回りが利くようになるので、先端部
に配設された観察窓の観察範囲が大きくなる。According to the present invention, the distance between the adjacent node ring bodies is gradually larger on the distal end side of the curved portion than on the proximal end side of the curved portion. Are more likely to bend than the proximal end side. Therefore, when the bending portion of the present invention is operated to bend, not only the base end side but also the distal end side is sufficiently bent, and the substantial length of the distal end hard portion is reduced. As a result, the tip end can be turned more easily, so that the observation range of the observation window provided at the tip end is increased.
【０００８】[0008]
【発明の実施の形態】以下添付図面に従って本発明に係
る内視鏡の湾曲部構造の好ましい実施の形態について詳
述する。図１に示すように、本発明の湾曲部構造が適用
された電子内視鏡１０は、手元操作部１２と、この手元
操作部１２に接続された挿入部１４とを有している。挿
入部１４は、軟性部２０、湾曲部２２、及び先端硬質部
２４から構成されており、前記湾曲部２２は、手元操作
部１２に設けられた一対の湾曲操作用ノブ２６、２６を
回動させることにより遠隔的に湾曲操作され、前記先端
硬質部２４が所望の方向に向けられる。BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope 10 to which the bending section structure of the present invention is applied has a hand operation section 12 and an insertion section 14 connected to the hand operation section 12. The insertion portion 14 includes a flexible portion 20, a bending portion 22, and a distal end hard portion 24. The bending portion 22 rotates a pair of bending operation knobs 26, 26 provided on the hand operation portion 12. By performing the bending operation, the distal end hard portion 24 is turned in a desired direction.
【０００９】前記手元操作部１２には、鉗子等の処置具
が挿入される鉗子孔３４が設けられるとともに、シャッ
ターボタン２８、吸引ボタン３０、及び送気・送水ボタ
ン３２が並設されている。また、手元操作部１２には、
ＬＧ（ライトガイド）軟性部１６を介してＬＧ（ライト
ガイド）コネクタ１８が連結されている。ＬＧコネクタ
１８には、図示しない光源装置に接続されるライトガイ
ド棒１９が設けられ、さらにＬＧコネクタ１８には可撓
管３６を介して電気コネクタ３８が接続されている。な
お、図１の符号３９は、電気コネクタ３８のキャップで
ある。The hand operation section 12 is provided with a forceps hole 34 into which a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted, and a shutter button 28, a suction button 30, and an air / water supply button 32 are provided in parallel. In addition, the hand operation unit 12 includes:
An LG (light guide) connector 18 is connected via an LG (light guide) flexible portion 16. The LG connector 18 is provided with a light guide bar 19 connected to a light source device (not shown), and the LG connector 18 is connected to an electric connector 38 via a flexible tube 36. 1 is a cap of the electrical connector 38.
【００１０】図２に示すように、前記先端硬質部２４の
本体４０の内部には、複数のレンズからなる対物光学系
４２が配設されている。対物光学系４２の後方にはプリ
ズム４４が設けられ、このプリズム４４の出射端側には
ＣＣＤ（固体撮像素子）４６が設けられている。このＣ
ＣＤ４６の受光面には、対物光学系４２から取り込まれ
た観察像がプリズム４４を介して結像される。この観察
像はＣＣＤ４６によって電気信号に変換され、この電気
信号は基板４８に接続された信号ケーブル５０を介して
図１の電気コネクタ３８からプロセッサ（図示せず）に
出力される。プロセッサに出力された電気信号は、信号
処理回路によって映像信号に変換された後、モニタ（図
示せず）に出力される。As shown in FIG. 2, an objective optical system 42 composed of a plurality of lenses is provided inside the main body 40 of the hard distal end portion 24. A prism 44 is provided behind the objective optical system 42, and a CCD (solid-state imaging device) 46 is provided on the emission end side of the prism 44. This C
An observation image taken from the objective optical system 42 is formed on the light receiving surface of the CD 46 via the prism 44. This observation image is converted into an electric signal by the CCD 46, and the electric signal is output from the electric connector 38 of FIG. 1 to a processor (not shown) via a signal cable 50 connected to the substrate 48. The electric signal output to the processor is converted to a video signal by a signal processing circuit and then output to a monitor (not shown).
【００１１】前記先端硬質部２４の本体４０の先端面に
は、プラスチック製のキャップ５４が取り付けられ、ま
た、本体４０の基端部側には、湾曲部２２を構成する先
端節輪５６が連結されている。前記本体４０、先端節輪
５６は、被覆チューブ５８によって被覆されている。前
記湾曲部２２は、複数の節輪６０、６０…を軸方向に連
結することによって構成される。節輪６０の内部には、
４本の湾曲操作用ワイヤ６２、６２…（１本は図示せ
ず）が内周面に沿って所定の間隔で配設されている。湾
曲操作用ワイヤ６２の先端はそれぞれ、前記先端節輪５
６に固定されるとともに、湾曲操作用ワイヤ６２の後端
は図１に示した湾曲操作用ノブ２６、２６で回動される
プーリ（図示せず）に接続されている。これにより、前
記湾曲操作用ノブ２６、２６を操作して前記プーリを回
動すると、図２の湾曲操作用ワイヤ６２が押し引き操作
され、湾曲部２２が所望の方向に湾曲される。A plastic cap 54 is attached to the distal end surface of the main body 40 of the distal end hard portion 24, and a distal node ring 56 constituting the curved portion 22 is connected to the base end side of the main body 40. Have been. The main body 40 and the distal end ring 56 are covered with a covering tube 58. The bending portion 22 is configured by connecting a plurality of node rings 60 in the axial direction. Inside the node ring 60,
Four bending operation wires 62, 62 ... (one not shown) are arranged at predetermined intervals along the inner peripheral surface. The distal ends of the bending operation wires 62 are respectively connected to the distal node ring 5.
6, and the rear end of the bending operation wire 62 is connected to a pulley (not shown) rotated by the bending operation knobs 26, 26 shown in FIG. Thus, when the bending operation knobs 26, 26 are operated to rotate the pulley, the bending operation wire 62 in FIG. 2 is pushed and pulled, and the bending portion 22 is bent in a desired direction.
【００１２】前記節輪６０は、リング状の節輪本体６４
と、節輪本体６４の両端部に突出形成された連結部６６
とから構成されている。前記連結部６６は、１８０度間
隔で配設され、隣接された節輪６０の連結部６６と重ね
合わされる。そして、この連結部６６、６６同士が連結
ピン６８により連結されて、節輪６０、６０同士が回動
自在に連結される。The node ring 60 includes a ring-shaped node ring main body 64.
Connecting portions 66 protruding from both ends of the node ring main body 64
It is composed of The connecting portions 66 are disposed at intervals of 180 degrees and overlap the connecting portions 66 of the adjacent node rings 60. Then, the connecting portions 66 are connected to each other by the connecting pin 68, so that the node rings 60 are rotatably connected to each other.
【００１３】図３に示すように、前記節輪本体６４は、
連結部６６から離れた外周部分が切り欠かれ、節輪本体
６４、６４同士は、所定の間隔をもって連結されてい
る。この間隔は、前記節輪本体６４の切欠量を変えるこ
とにより、手元操作部１２側から先端硬質部２４側にか
けて徐々に大きくなるように形成されている。これによ
り、節輪本体６４、６４同士は、間隔ＡＢ＞間隔ＣＤ＞
間隔ＥＦ＞間隔ＧＨ＞間隔ＩＪ＞間隔ＫＬ＞間隔ＭＮ＞
間隔ＯＰ＞間隔ＱＲ、となるように連結されている。節
輪６０、６０同士は、節輪本体６４、６４同士が当接す
るまで回動できるので、先端硬質部２４側の湾曲部２２
は、手元操作部１２側よりも湾曲可能な角度が大きくな
る。したがって、前記湾曲部２２は、手元操作部１２側
よりも先端硬質部２４側が湾曲しやすく構成される。ま
た、湾曲部２２は、必要とされる湾曲角度よりも湾曲す
るように余裕量（例えば３０度）が設定されている。As shown in FIG. 3, the node ring main body 64 includes:
The outer peripheral portion away from the connecting portion 66 is cut out, and the node ring bodies 64 are connected to each other at a predetermined interval. This gap is formed so as to gradually increase from the hand operation section 12 side to the distal end hard section 24 side by changing the cutout amount of the node ring main body 64. As a result, the interval AB> the interval CD>
Interval EF> Interval GH> Interval IJ> Interval KL> Interval MN>
The connection is made such that the interval OP> the interval QR. Since the articulation rings 60, 60 can rotate until the articulation body bodies 64, 64 abut against each other, the bending portion 22 on the distal end rigid portion 24 side can be rotated.
Has a larger bendable angle than the hand operation unit 12 side. Therefore, the bending portion 22 is configured such that the distal end hard portion 24 side is more easily bent than the hand operation portion 12 side. Further, the bending portion 22 has an allowance (for example, 30 degrees) set so as to be bent more than a required bending angle.
【００１４】次に上記の如く構成された内視鏡の湾曲部
構造の作用について説明する。湾曲操作用ノブ２６、２
６を回動すると、湾曲操作用ワイヤ６２が押し引き操作
され、湾曲部２２が手元操作部１２側から湾曲される。
このとき、湾曲部２２は手元操作部１２側よりも先端硬
質部２４側が湾曲しやすいので、前記余裕量が先端硬質
部２４側に集中しても、湾曲部２２の先端硬質部２４側
は、湾曲部２２の手元操作部１２側と同様に十分に湾曲
される。したがって、湾曲部２２は、全体が略均等に湾
曲され、図４に示すように曲率が一様な略円弧状に湾曲
される。このように、本実施の形態の湾曲部構造では、
湾曲部２２が全体に渡って十分に湾曲されるので、先端
硬質部２４の実質的な長さが短くなり、挿入部１４の先
端部の小回りが利くようになる。これにより、狭い場所
での湾曲操作が可能となり、図２の先端硬質部２４の対
物光学系４２から観察される観察範囲を大きくすること
ができる。Next, the operation of the bending portion structure of the endoscope configured as described above will be described. Knob for bending operation 26, 2
When the user rotates the bending device 6, the bending operation wire 62 is pushed and pulled, and the bending portion 22 is bent from the hand operation portion 12 side.
At this time, the distal end hard portion 24 of the bending portion 22 is easier to bend on the distal end hard portion 24 side than the hand operation portion 12 side. The bending portion 22 is sufficiently bent similarly to the hand operation portion 12 side. Accordingly, the entire curved portion 22 is substantially uniformly curved, and is curved in a substantially arc shape having a uniform curvature as shown in FIG. Thus, in the bending portion structure of the present embodiment,
Since the bending portion 22 is sufficiently bent over the entire length, the substantial length of the distal end hard portion 24 is shortened, so that the distal end portion of the insertion portion 14 can be turned slightly. Thereby, the bending operation can be performed in a narrow place, and the observation range observed from the objective optical system 42 of the distal end hard portion 24 in FIG. 2 can be increased.
【００１５】なお、湾曲部２２は、４本の湾曲操作用ワ
イヤ６２、６２…を押し引き操作することにより上下左
右の４方向に湾曲されるが、例えば１方向に大きく湾曲
させる構造の湾曲部の場合には、その方向に対応した節
輪本体６４、６４同士の間隔を上記の如く設定すればよ
い。また、節輪本体６４、６４同士の間隔は、湾曲部２
２全体として先端硬質部２４側が手元操作部側１２より
も大きく形成されるのであればよく、例えば、間隔ＡＢ
＝間隔ＣＤ＝間隔ＥＦ＞間隔ＧＨ＝間隔ＩＪ＝間隔ＫＬ
＞間隔ＭＮ＝間隔ＯＰ＝間隔ＱＲのように、幾つかの間
隔を同じ大きさで形成してもよい。さらに先端硬質部２
４側の一部の間隔だけを大きく形成してもよい。The bending portion 22 is bent in four directions of up, down, left and right by pushing and pulling four bending operation wires 62, 62,. In the case of, the spacing between the node ring bodies 64 corresponding to the direction may be set as described above. In addition, the interval between the node ring main bodies 64, 64
2 as long as the distal end hard part 24 side is formed larger than the hand operation part side 12, for example, the interval AB
= Interval CD = interval EF> interval GH = interval IJ = interval KL
Some intervals may be formed with the same size, such as> interval MN = interval OP = interval QR. Further hard tip 2
Only some of the intervals on the four sides may be formed large.
【００１６】また、本実施の形態では、節輪本体６４の
切欠量を変えることにより隣接する節輪本体６４、６４
同士の間隔を調節したが、節輪本体６４から突出形成さ
れる連結部６６の突出量を変えることによって前記間隔
を調節してもよい。更に、湾曲部２２は、先端硬質部２
４側の湾曲部２２が手元操作部１２側よりも湾曲可能な
角度が大きく形成されるのであればよい。例えば節輪６
０、６０同士の回動角度を規制できるように連結ピン６
８を構成し、先端硬質部２４側の回動角度を手元操作部
１２側よりも大きくする。Further, in the present embodiment, by changing the cutout amount of the node ring main body 64, the adjacent node ring main bodies 64, 64 are formed.
Although the distance between them has been adjusted, the distance may be adjusted by changing the amount of protrusion of the connecting portion 66 formed to protrude from the node ring main body 64. Further, the curved portion 22 is provided at the distal end hard portion 2.
It is only necessary that the angle at which the bending portion 22 on the fourth side can be bent is larger than that at the side of the hand operation portion 12. For example, node ring 6
The connecting pin 6 is provided so that the rotation angle between 0 and 60 can be regulated.
8, the turning angle on the distal end hard portion 24 side is made larger than that on the hand operating portion 12 side.
【００１７】また、湾曲部２２は、先端硬質部２４側が
手元操作部１２側よりも湾曲しやすく構成されているの
であればよい。例えば、先端硬質部２４側に配設された
連結部６６、６６同士の接触面を磨いて、連結部６６同
士の摩擦抵抗を減少させて湾曲しやすくしてもよい。Further, the bending portion 22 may be configured so that the distal end hard portion 24 is more easily bent than the hand operation portion 12. For example, the contact surfaces between the connecting portions 66, 66 disposed on the distal end hard portion 24 side may be polished to reduce the frictional resistance between the connecting portions 66 to facilitate bending.
【００１８】[0018]
【発明の効果】以上説明したように本発明に係る内視鏡
の湾曲部構造によれば、隣接する節輪本体同士の間隔
が、湾曲部の基端部側よりも湾曲部の先端部側の方が大
きいので、湾曲部の先端部側が湾曲しやすい。したがっ
て、本発明の湾曲部によれば、湾曲部の先端部側も十分
に湾曲されるので、先端部の小回りが利くようになり、
観察範囲を大きくすることができる。As described above, according to the bending portion structure of the endoscope according to the present invention, the interval between the adjacent articulating ring bodies is closer to the distal end portion of the bending portion than to the proximal end side of the bending portion. Is larger, so that the distal end side of the bending portion is easily bent. Therefore, according to the bending portion of the present invention, the distal end side of the bending portion is also sufficiently curved, so that the tip portion can be turned slightly,
The observation range can be enlarged.
【図１】本発明の内視鏡の湾曲部構造が適用された内視
鏡の全体構成図FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope to which a bending portion structure of an endoscope according to the present invention is applied.
【図２】図１に示した挿入部の先端部の縦断面図FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end portion of the insertion section shown in FIG.
【図３】図１に示した湾曲部の構造を説明する説明図FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating the structure of a bending portion shown in FIG. 1;
【図４】図３に示した湾曲部が湾曲した状態を示す説明
図FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state where the bending portion shown in FIG. 3 is bent;
１０…内視鏡、１２…手元操作部、２２…湾曲部、２４
…先端硬質部、６０…節輪、６２…湾曲操作用ワイヤ、
６４…節輪本体、６６…連結部、６８…連結ピンDESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Endoscope, 12 ... Hand operation part, 22 ... Bending part, 24
… Tip hard part, 60… node ring, 62… wire for bending operation,
64: node ring body, 66: connecting portion, 68: connecting pin
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11153555AJP2000342517A (en) | 1999-06-01 | 1999-06-01 | Structure of curved part of endoscope |
| US09/568,697US6482149B1 (en) | 1999-05-12 | 2000-05-11 | Curved part of endoscope |
| DE10023392ADE10023392B4 (en) | 1999-05-12 | 2000-05-12 | Joint tube of an endoscope |
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11153555AJP2000342517A (en) | 1999-06-01 | 1999-06-01 | Structure of curved part of endoscope |
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JP2000342517Atrue JP2000342517A (en) | 2000-12-12 |
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11153555APendingJP2000342517A (en) | 1999-05-12 | 1999-06-01 | Structure of curved part of endoscope |
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2000342517A (en) |
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2005334050A (en)* | 2004-05-24 | 2005-12-08 | Fujinon Corp | Angle section of endoscope |
| US9345390B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2016-05-24 | Olympus Corporation | Endoscope flexible tube and endoscope device |
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2005334050A (en)* | 2004-05-24 | 2005-12-08 | Fujinon Corp | Angle section of endoscope |
| US9345390B2 (en) | 2005-02-14 | 2016-05-24 | Olympus Corporation | Endoscope flexible tube and endoscope device |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A621 | Written request for application examination | Free format text:JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A621 Effective date:20060221 | |
| A131 | Notification of reasons for refusal | Free format text:JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131 Effective date:20090508 | |
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| A711 | Notification of change in applicant | Free format text:JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A711 Effective date:20090916 | |
| A521 | Written amendment | Free format text:JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523 Effective date:20090925 | |
| A02 | Decision of refusal | Free format text:JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A02 Effective date:20100308 |