JP2004254819A - Cap attachment / detachment structure at the tip of side-view type endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a cap attaching / detaching structure for a distal end portion of a side-view type endoscope in which a front and rear length of a distal end portion of an insertion portion is shortened and a cap can be securely attached to the distal end portion of the insertion portion.
[Constitution] A side notch is provided on a side surface of a distal end portion of an insertion portion, an objective lens window is formed in the side notch portion, and a cap attached to the tip of the insertion portion is engaged with the side notch portion. In the distal end structure of the side-viewing type endoscope in which a rotation preventing anti-convex portion is provided, and a window hole for exposing the objective lens window is formed in the cap, in the distal end portion of the insertion portion, one of the side cutout portions is provided. The axial position is matched with the portion, an engagement groove having an arc shape in a front view excluding the side cutout portion is formed, and the inner peripheral surface of the cap is engaged with the arcuate engagement groove, A distal end structure of a side-view type endoscope, wherein an engagement ridge having an arc shape in a front view excluding the rotation preventing protrusion is provided.
[Selection] Fig. 2

Description

[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention relates to a cap attaching / detaching structure for a distal end portion of a side-viewing type endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
A side notch is recessed in the side surface of the tip of the insertion portion, and an objective lens window and a light distribution lens are provided on the surface of the side notch, and the inside of the insertion portion is inserted into the surface of the side notch. The outlet end of the water supply tube and the air supply tube is opened, and a cap made of an elastic material and provided with a nozzle is attached to this tip, and when the cap is attached, the nozzle is attached to the water supply tube and the air supply tube. 2. Description of the Related Art A side-viewing type endoscope that communicates with an exit side end and faces an objective lens window is conventionally known (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In this side-view type endoscope, in order to prevent the cap from coming off from the distal end of the insertion portion, an annular engaging groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end, located behind the side cutout, and the cap is provided. An annular ridge is protruded from the inner peripheral surface of the rim, and the ridge is elastically engaged with the engagement groove.
[0004]
However, if the annular engagement groove is engaged behind the side cutout in this manner, the front-rear length of the distal end of the insertion portion is increased by the front-rear length of the engagement groove. The part cannot be made compact.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-280605
[Object of the invention]
The present invention provides a cap attaching / detaching structure for a distal end portion of a side-view type endoscope, in which a front-rear length of the distal end portion of the insertion portion is shortened and a cap can be securely attached to the distal end portion of the insertion portion. Aim.
[0007]
Summary of the Invention
The cap attaching / detaching structure of the distal end portion of the side-viewing endoscope according to the present invention is provided with a side notch on the side surface of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and forming an objective lens window in the side notch portion. In a tip structure of a side-view type endoscope in which a rotation preventing projection engaging with the side cutout portion is provided on a cap to be attached to the cap, and a window hole for exposing the objective lens window is formed in the cap. An engagement groove having an arcuate shape in a front view excluding the side notch is formed at the distal end of the insertion portion so as to be axially aligned with a part of the side notch, and the inner periphery of the cap is formed. A surface is provided with an engagement ridge having an arc shape in a front view excluding the rotation preventing projection, which engages with the arcuate engagement groove.
[0008]
It is preferable that a nozzle is formed in the rotation preventing convex portion of the cap, and an air supply or water supply tube connected to the nozzle is opened in a step portion connected to the side cutout portion at the distal end portion of the insertion portion.
[0009]
Further, it is preferable that a concave portion is formed in the side cutout, and the rotation preventing convex portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap so as to have a shape corresponding to the concave portion.
[0010]
In addition, a concave portion is formed in the side cutout portion, and the anti-rotation convex portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap as having a shape corresponding to the concave portion, and the nozzle is formed in the anti-rotation convex portion. May be.
[0011]
In a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the center axis of the tip, it is preferable that a center angle formed by a line drawn from the center axis to both ends of the engagement groove is 270 ° or more.
[0012]
Preferably, the nozzle faces the objective lens window when the cap is mounted on the distal end portion.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is a medical electronic endoscope 10, which has an insertion section 11 inserted into a body cavity and an operation section 12 connected to a base side thereof. The insertion portion 11 has a distal end portion 13, a curved portion 14, and a flexible tube portion 15 in this order from the distal end side, and the flexible tube portion 15 is further connected to the operation portion 12 via a connecting portion 16. A universal tube 17 extends from the operation section 12, and a connector section 18 provided at an end of the universal tube 17 can be connected to a processor (not shown) separate from the endoscope main body. .
[0014]
The flexible tube section 15 of the insertion section 11 is flexible and flexible. Further, a plurality of node rings (not shown) connected so as to be relatively rotatable are provided in the bending portion 14 side by side in the longitudinal direction. When the bending operation knobs 19 and 20 provided on the operation unit 12 are rotated, a plurality of bending operation wires (not shown) are pulled or loosened, and the plurality of node rings relatively rotate. As a result, the bending unit 14 Curved vertically and horizontally.
[0015]
The electronic endoscope 10 of the present embodiment is a side-view type endoscope in which a side cutout portion 21 is recessed on one side of a distal end portion 13 made of a hard material. A light distribution lens holding hole 22 and an objective lens window holding hole 23 are provided in a flat portion 21a of the side notch portion 21, and a forceps erecting storage recess which faces in the front-rear direction is formed in the flat portion 21a. 24 is recessed. At the rear end of the side notch 21, an engagement recess (recess) 25 having a substantially L-shape as viewed from the side, which is located immediately after the forceps raising storage recess 24, is provided. The engaging recess 25 includes a circumferential recess 25a facing in the circumferential direction and an axial recess 25b facing in a direction parallel to the axis of the distal end portion 13. Further, a step 13a is formed in the front end portion 13 immediately after the engagement recess 25, and an air / water communication recess 13b is provided at the front end of the step 13a. An air supply hole 26 and a water supply hole 27 are formed in the rear surface of the air supply / water supply communication recess 13b.
[0016]
The light distribution lens L1 is fitted and fixed to the light distribution lens holding hole 22 of the flat portion 21a, and the objective lens window L2 is fitted and fixed to the objective lens window holding hole. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a first internal passage 28 extending rearward from the objective lens window holding hole 23 is formed in the distal end portion 13. A prism P located immediately below the lens window L2 is provided. Further, an imaging lens L3 located immediately after the prism P and a CCD 29 located immediately after the imaging lens L3 are disposed in the first internal passage 28, and an image signal from the CCD 29 is directed backward. A cable 30 extends, and the rear end of the image signal cable 30 passes through the inside of the insertion section 11 and the operation section 12 and reaches the connector section 18 of the universal tube 17. Therefore, when the reflected light from the observation target reaches the imaging lens L3 through the objective lens window L2 and the prism P, an observation image is formed on the imaging surface 29a of the CCD 29 by the imaging lens L3. The image signal cable 30 sends an electronic image signal to the image processing device of the processor. In the processor, the electronic image can be displayed on a monitor or recorded on an image recording medium. The operation unit 12 is provided with a plurality of remote operation button switches 31 for performing remote operations related to image processing.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, a second internal passage 32 extending rearward from the light distribution lens holding hole 22 is formed in the distal end portion 13, and the second internal passage 32 has a universal tube 17. The distal end portion of the light guide fiber bundle 33 disposed from the connector portion 18 to the distal end portion 13 of the insertion portion 11 is inserted. The incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 33 faces the light distribution lens L1, and illumination light from a light source inside the processor is supplied to the light distribution lens L1 via the light guide fiber bundle 33.
[0018]
A hole (not shown) is formed in the upper surface of the air / water button 34 provided on the operation unit 12. When the operator closes this hole with a finger, the positive pressure of the air supply source connected to the connector unit 18 is increased. Acts on an air supply tube (tube) 35 disposed in the electronic endoscope 10, and air is sent to an outlet of the air supply tube 35. Since the outlet end of the air supply tube 35 is connected to the air supply hole 26, when air is sent to the air supply tube 35, the air is ejected from the air supply hole 26.
When the operator presses the air / water supply button 34 while closing the hole with a finger, the water supply source connected to the connector 18 communicates with the water supply tube (tube) 36 provided in the electronic endoscope 10, Water is supplied into the water supply tube 36. Since the outlet side end of the water supply tube 36 located at the distal end portion 13 is connected to the above-described water supply hole 27, the liquid such as washing water sent to the water supply tube 36 is ejected from the water supply hole 27.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting portion 16 is provided with a treatment tool insertion port protrusion 37 for inserting a treatment tool (not shown) such as forceps or a high-frequency cautery treatment tool. A treatment instrument insertion tube (see FIG. 4) 38 extends toward the inside of the electronic endoscope 10. The distal end of the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 is connected to the treatment instrument insertion hole 24a formed in the rear end of the forceps raising and storing recess 24, and allows the treatment instrument inserted from the treatment instrument insertion port projection 37 to pass through. It can be made to protrude from the treatment tool insertion hole 24a.
[0020]
Further, the forceps raising storage recess 24 is provided with a forceps raising 39 that is rotatable around the vertical axis in FIG. At the rear end of the forceps raising 39, one end of a rotating shaft 40 embedded in the distal end portion 13 so as to be rotatable around an axis in the vertical direction is fixed, and at the other end of the rotating shaft 40, The distal end of the operation wire W around which the guide coil 41 is wound is linked to the outer peripheral surface of the operation wire W while passing through the inside of the insertion portion 11. Further, the rear end of the operation wire W is linked to a forceps raising operation lever (not shown) provided on the operation section 12. When the forceps raising lever is in the non-operation position, the forceps raising 39 is at a position where the forceps raising lever comes into contact with (turns down on) the concave portion 24 for storing forceps. When the forceps raising operation lever is turned toward the operating position, the rotation shaft 40 rotates forward, the forceps raising 39 is separated from the forceps raising storage recess 24 (up), and the forceps raising operation lever is further moved. When returned to the inoperative position, the rotating shaft 40 is reversed, and the forceps raising 39 comes into contact with the forceps raising concave portion 24 (lie down).
[0021]
In addition, a suction tube (not shown) is connected to the treatment instrument insertion tube 38, and the rear end of the suction tube reaches the connector section 18, and the outside of the electronic endoscope 10 is connected via the connector section 18. Is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) provided in the first stage. Therefore, a treatment tool such as forceps or a high-frequency cautery treatment tool is inserted into the treatment tool insertion tube 38 through the treatment tool insertion port projection 37, and a negative pressure is applied from a negative pressure source through the suction tube. It is possible. When using the treatment instrument insertion tube 38 as a suction conduit, the suction button 41 provided on the operation unit 12 is pressed. Then, the negative pressure source side conduit and the suction tube are communicated with each other, and the negative pressure acts on the treatment instrument insertion tube 38, so that fluid such as body fluid can be sucked from the treatment instrument insertion hole 24a.
[0022]
Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 13, an engagement groove 42 having a smaller diameter than other portions of the distal end portion 13 and having a substantially arc shape in a front view is formed. The axial position of the distal end portion 13 of the engaging groove 42 coincides with the circumferential concave portion 25a of the engaging concave portion 25. As shown in FIG. The rear end of the rear end 21 coincides with the upper and lower edges. Further, the central angle when viewed from the front formed by line segments drawn from the central axis of the distal end portion 13 to both ends of the engagement groove 42 is set to 270 ° or more.
[0023]
The cap 43 shown in FIG. 5 is made of rubber and covers the distal end portion 13 of the insertion portion 11. The inside of the cap 43 is hollow, the rear surface is open, and a substantially square window hole 44 is formed in one side surface. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 43, an engagement ridge 45 having an arc shape in a front view is provided by integral molding at a position away from the rear end edge of the cap 43 in a forward direction. The engaging ridge 45 is elastically engageable with the engaging groove 42, and has a central angle θ formed by lines drawn from the center axis of the cap 43 to both ends of the engaging ridge 45 (see FIG. 5). Is set to the same angle as the central angle of the engagement groove 42.
Further, at the rear end of the inner peripheral surface of the cap 43, an engagement protrusion (rotation prevention protrusion) 46 having a substantially L-shape in side view is provided in a gap between both ends of the engagement protrusion 45. ing. The engaging protrusion 46 includes a circumferential protrusion 46a in which the axial position of the cap 43 is the same as the engaging protrusion 45, and an axial protrusion extending forward from one end of the circumferential protrusion 46a. 46b. The circumferential protrusion 46a is elastically engageable with the circumferential recess 25a, and the axial protrusion 46b is elastically engageable with the axial recess 25b. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the axial projection 46b is provided with an internal passage 48 (nozzle) penetrating the axial projection 46b in the front-rear direction. , An injection hole 49 (nozzle) (see FIG. 3) having a rectangular shape as viewed from the front, which is opened on the front surface of the engagement projection 46.
[0024]
The cap 43 is placed on the distal end portion 13 such that the window hole 44 faces the side notch portion 21, the engaging ridge 45 is elastically engaged with the engaging groove 42, and the circumferential convex portion is formed. When the projection 46a is elastically engaged with the circumferential recess 25a and the axial projection 46b is elastically engaged with the axial recess 25b, the rear surface of the engagement projection 46 comes into contact with the front surface of the step 13a, and the rear end opening of the internal passage 48 is opened. The portion communicates with the air / water communication recess 13b (the air supply hole 26 and the water supply hole 27). Further, the injection hole 49 faces the surface side of the objective lens window L2, and the light distribution lens L1, the objective lens window L2, the treatment tool insertion hole 24a, and the forceps rising 39 are exposed through the window hole 44. Therefore, when air is injected from the air supply hole 26 or liquid such as washing water is injected from the water supply hole 27 while the cap 43 is placed on the distal end portion 13, air or liquid is injected from the injection hole 49 into the objective lens window L2. It is sprayed toward the surface, and the surface of the objective lens window L2 is cleaned.
[0025]
According to such an embodiment, the engagement groove having a substantially arc shape in a front view is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion 13 such that the axial position of the front end portion 13 coincides with a part of the side cutout portion 21. Since the protrusion 42 is provided, the front-rear length L (see FIG. 3) of the distal end portion 13 can be reduced as compared with the related art.
In addition, the engaging protrusions 45 of the cap 43 are elastically engaged with the engaging grooves 42, and the engaging convex portions 46 of the cap 43 are elastically engaged with the engaging concave portions 25 formed in the side cutouts 21. Because of this, there is almost no possibility that the cap 43 attached to the distal end portion 13 comes off unexpectedly.
Further, since the central angle between the engaging groove 42 and the engaging ridge 45 is set to 270 ° or more, there is almost no possibility that the elastic engagement between the engaging groove 42 and the engaging ridge 45 is suddenly released. .
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, the cap can be securely attached to the distal end of the insertion section while shortening the front-rear length of the distal end of the insertion section.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an electronic endoscope to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view in which a part of a distal end portion of an insertion portion is broken.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional front view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a rear half of the cap.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Electronic endoscope (side-view type endoscope)
Reference Signs List 11 Insertion part 12 Operation part 13 Tip part 13a Step 13b Concave part for air / water communication 14 Curved part 15 Flexible tube part 16 Connection part 17 Universal tube 18 Connector part 19 20 Curved operation knob 21 Side cutout part 21a Flat part 22 Light distribution lens holding hole 23 Objective lens window holding hole 24 Forceps raising storage recess 24a Treatment tool insertion hole 25 Engagement recess (recess)
25a Circumferential recess 25b Axial recess 26 Air supply hole 27 Water supply hole 28 First internal passage 29 CCD
29a Imaging surface 30 Image signal cable 31 Remote operation button switch 32 Second internal passage 33 Light guide fiber bundle 34 Air supply / water supply button 35 Air supply tube (tube)
36 Water supply tube (tube)
37 Treatment instrument insertion port projection 38 Treatment instrument insertion tube 39 Forceps riser 40 Rotary shaft 41 Guide coil 42 Engagement groove 43 Cap 44 Window hole 45 Engagement ridge 46 Engagement convex part (rotation prevention convex part)
46a Circumferential protrusion 46b Axial protrusion 48 Internal passage (nozzle)
49 Injection hole (nozzle)
L1 Light distribution lens L2 Objective lens window L3 Imaging lens W Operation wire

Claims (6)

A side notch is provided on the side of the distal end of the insertion portion, an objective lens window is formed in the side notch, and a cap attached to the distal end of the insertion portion is engaged with the side notch to prevent rotation. In the tip structure of the side-view type endoscope in which a convex portion is provided and a window hole for exposing the objective lens window is formed in the cap,
At the tip of the insertion portion, an axially aligned engagement groove is formed in a front view excluding the side notch, by aligning an axial position with a part of the side notch,
A side-view type endoscope, wherein an engagement protrusion in a front view excluding the rotation preventing protrusion is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the cap, the engagement protrusion being engaged with the arc-shaped engagement groove. Cap detachable structure at the tip of The cap attaching / detaching structure at the distal end of the side-viewing endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle is formed at the rotation preventing convex portion of the cap, and a stepped portion connected to a side notch at the distal end of the insertion portion. Is a distal end structure of a side-view type endoscope in which an air supply or water supply tube connected to the nozzle is open. 3. The cap attaching / detaching structure of the distal end portion of the side-viewing type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is formed in the side cutout portion, and the rotation preventing convex portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap with the concave portion. A cap attaching / detaching structure at the tip of a side-view type endoscope formed as a corresponding shape. 3. The cap attaching / detaching structure at the distal end of the side-view type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein a concave portion is formed in the side cutout portion, and the rotation preventing convex portion corresponds to the concave portion on an inner peripheral surface of the cap. A cap attachment / detachment structure for a distal end portion of a side-view type endoscope in which the nozzle is formed in the rotation-preventing projection formed as a shape. 5. The cap attaching / detaching structure at the distal end of the side-viewing type endoscope according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the engaging groove from the central axis in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the central axis of the distal end. 6. A cap attaching / detaching structure at a distal end portion of a side-viewing type endoscope in which a central angle formed by a line segment drawn to is 270 ° or more. 6. The cap attaching / detaching structure of the distal end portion of the side-viewing type endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle faces the objective lens window side when the cap is attached to the distal end portion. The cap attachment / detachment structure at the tip of the side-view type endoscope.

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