JP2018134120A - Lens cleaning tool for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens cleaning tool for an endoscope capable of removing dirt adhering onto a lens surface of the endoscope tip, surely inside a cavity of a patient.SOLUTION: In a lens cleaning tool for an endoscope including an elastically-deformable long-sized member 31 for transferring torque, and a cleaning member 21 for covering the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the long-sized member 31, and cleaning a lens of the endoscope, the long-sized member 31 has a bent part 32 having a tip bent in an L-shape, and in the cleaning member 21, when the long-sized member 31 is inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope and projected from the endoscope tip, a distance between a lens surface of the endoscope and a surface or a ridgeline on the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member 21 is not fixed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope lens cleaning tool for cleaning an objective lens and an illumination lens provided at the distal end of an endoscope via a treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope for observing the inside of a body cavity by using an objective lens or an illumination lens that is inserted into a human body and provided at the tip is known. During procedures such as inspection of the stomach and large intestine using an endoscope and ESD (endoscopic submucosal dissection), the lens surface of the endoscope is applied with mucus, stool, and a high-frequency treatment instrument. Fats from tissues accompanying mucosal incision may adhere.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscope including a nozzle that ejects air or water toward the lens surface of the endoscope. As a result, the dirt attached to the surface of the objective lens can be removed without the operator removing the endoscope from the body cavity.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a cleaning tool for cleaning an endoscope lens provided with a cleaning member at the tip of an elastic long member whose tip is formed in an annular shape. As a result, it is possible to remove the dirt attached to the lens surface without the operator removing the endoscope from the body cavity.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses an L-shaped cleaning tool that passes through a channel provided in the outer peripheral portion of the endoscope and has a distal end fixed to a fixing hole at the distal end of the endoscope. As a result, it is possible to remove the dirt attached to the lens surface without the operator removing the endoscope from the body cavity.

JP 2012-120701 A JP 2014-204843 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-15488

  However, the strongly adhering deposits may not be completely removed by a nozzle as shown in Patent Document 1, causing a loss or blurring of the visual field of the endoscope, which adversely affects high-precision inspections and treatments. there is a possibility. Therefore, under the present circumstances, it is generally necessary for the surgeon to remove the endoscope from the patient, wipe the lens with a cotton cloth or cotton swab to remove the dirt, and insert the endoscope into the patient again. This increases the treatment time and increases the mental and physical burden on both the operator and the patient.

  Further, in the cleaning tool shown in Patent Document 2, since the annular member protrudes from the endoscope tip when the cleaning member is deployed at the tip of the endoscope, the member can contact the mucous membrane in the body cavity of the patient unintentionally. And may affect the procedure of the surgeon. In addition, when inspecting and treating an endoscope, a cylindrical attachment called an endoscope tip hood may be attached to the endoscope tip to secure a field of view. Interference with the tip hood may affect the operator's procedure.

  Furthermore, the cleaning tool shown in Patent Document 3 requires a dedicated endoscope, and must be set in the endoscope before being inserted into the patient's body cavity, which may require a cleaning tool. You have to consume cleaning tools, regardless of whether or not. In addition, if the longitudinal part of the cleaning tool is pulled toward the base end in order to generate a pressing force on the lens surface in order to improve cleanability, the edge of the opening of the channel through which the cleaning tool is inserted or the edge of the endoscope tip It is conceivable that the cleaning member is lifted with the edge as a fulcrum, and it is difficult to uniformly clean a desired part.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning tool that can reliably remove deposits attached to the lens surface of an endoscope. .

  The endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.

  (1) An endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention removes deposits on the lens surface of an endoscope, and is an elastically deformable long member that transmits torque, and a distal end of the long member. The long member has a bent portion whose tip is bent in a substantially L shape, and the cleaning member It is configured so that the distance between the endoscope lens surface and the endoscope lens side surface or ridge line of the cleaning member is not constant when it is inserted through the treatment instrument insertion channel of the mirror and protrudes from the endoscope tip. ing. Therefore, the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention can reliably transmit the force applied from the proximal side of the cleaning tool to the cleaning member on the distal end side, and can uniformly clean a desired part.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, dirt attached to the lens surface can be more effectively removed as compared with the endoscope of Patent Document 1 that ejects air or water toward the lens surface. Further, since the distal end side of the long member is bent in an L shape, the protrusion from the endoscope distal end can be reduced as compared with the cleaning tool disclosed in Patent Document 2, and the patient's body cavity mucous membrane is cleaned. Unintentional contact with the tool and interference with the endoscope tip hood can also be reduced. Furthermore, since the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member is not constant, the adhesion between the cleaning member and the lens surface can be improved. Compared with the cleaning tool disclosed in Patent Document 3, the removal performance of dirt can be further enhanced. Furthermore, since the cleaning tool of the present invention is used by inserting / removing the endoscope into / from the treatment tool insertion channel, the cleaning tool is set regardless of whether it is used or not, as in the cleaning tool disclosed in Patent Document 3. It is not necessary to use the cleaning tool of the present invention as necessary, and wasteful use of the device can be prevented.

  (2) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member has a gradient. Due to the slope, the cleaning member can be brought into contact with the lens surface from the front end to the rear end.

  (3) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line of the cleaning member on the endoscope lens side is smaller on the distal end side of the long member. . Since the distance on the front end side is smaller, the cleaning member can be reliably brought into contact with the lens surface from the front end to the rear end.

  (4) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the cleaning member has a tapered shape in which the distance from the endoscope lens surface decreases toward the tip. Thereby, irrespective of the bending angle of the long member, the front end to the rear end of the cleaning member can be reliably brought into contact with the lens surface.

  (5) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the bent portion of the long member bends in a direction in which the tip of the long member approaches the lens surface. Thereby, irrespective of the shape of the cleaning member, the front end to the rear end of the cleaning member can be reliably brought into contact with the lens surface.

  (6) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the bent portion of the long member bends in a direction in which the tip of the long member is parallel to the lens surface. Bending in a direction parallel to the lens surface means that the angle formed by the short side and the long side is approximately 90 degrees when the bent portion is bent in an L shape. Since it is not necessary to set a special angle, it is easier to manufacture the cleaning tool of the present invention.

  (7) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable to include a long outer tube made of resin that can accommodate the long member and the cleaning member. Thereby, the long member provided with the cleaning member at the tip can be more smoothly inserted into and removed from the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope. Further, since the cleaning tool and the endoscope member do not come into contact with each other, the cleaning tool body and the endoscope are not damaged.

  (8) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, the distal end portion of the cleaning member has a cleaning member bent portion that is bent in a direction in which the distal end of the cleaning member moves away from the lens surface, or (9) It is preferable to have a flexible part having a lower hardness than the endoscope lens. Thereby, it can suppress that the lens of an endoscope is damaged with a elongate member or a cleaning member.

  (10) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the cleaning member is a brush, or (11) the material of the cleaning member is an elastomer. Thereby, the deposits on the lens surface of the endoscope can be efficiently scraped off.

  (12) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that a material of the cleaning member is a biodegradable resin. Thereby, even if it is assumed that the cleaning member falls off in the body, the influence on the human body can be further reduced.

  (13) In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, it is preferable that the long member is a hollow tube member and has an opening at a portion where the base end portion of the long member and the cleaning member are provided. Thereby, since the lens can be cleaned by the cleaning member while injecting the liquid or gas from the base end portion of the long member and releasing the liquid or gas from the opening, it is possible to more reliably remove the deposits. In addition, it is possible to simultaneously perform cleaning with a liquid or gas and cleaning with a cleaning member with a simple structure.

  According to the present invention, dirt attached to the lens surface at the tip of the endoscope can be removed safely and efficiently in a patient's body cavity more securely than in the past. Further, since the number of components is small and the structure is simplified, the manufacturing is easy and the manufacturing can be performed at low cost.

It is a top view of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes concerning one example of the present invention. It is a top view including the partial cross section which shows the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is an enlarged view of a partial cross section of an endoscope lens cleaning tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the use condition of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the use condition of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the use condition of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the use condition of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the use condition of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the use condition of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes of a comparative example. It is a figure which shows the front-end | tip part of the use condition of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes of a comparative example.

  The endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention is inserted through a treatment instrument insertion channel of an endoscope having a lens on a distal end surface thereof, and is for cleaning the lens of the endoscope. Insert the cleaning tool through the proximal end opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel at the proximal end of the endoscope, project part of the long member including the cleaning member from the distal end opening, and bring the cleaning member into contact with the lens. Clean the lens.

  The long member of the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention is formed of an elastically deformable material and has a bent portion bent in an L shape on the distal end side. The elasticity of the long member is sufficient as long as it changes in shape along with the deformation of the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope. The material of the long member is not particularly limited as long as it is an elastically deformable material, but is preferably a superelastic alloy, such as a Ni-Ti alloy, a Fe-Mg-Si alloy, an Au-Cu-Al alloy, a Co- Examples thereof include a Cr-based alloy and a Co—Ni-based alloy. Other materials include superelastic resins such as superelastic polyamide. Further, since at least the bent portion of the long member only needs to be formed of a material having superelasticity, only the portion may be formed of a superelastic alloy, and different materials may be used for other portions. As the different materials, metals such as stainless steel and resins such as nylon can be used. When different materials are used, different wire materials may be joined by a normal joining method. For example, there are methods such as caulking with metal pipes, welding, welding and bonding. By configuring the bent portion of the long member with a material that can be super-elastic or elastically deformed, it is ensured that the L-shaped bent portion of the long member including the cleaning member and the bent portion protrudes from the outer cylinder. The original shape can be restored, and the lens can be efficiently cleaned.

  The long member may be a single wire or a twisted wire in which the single wires are combined. If it is a single wire, it is easy to manufacture, and if it is a stranded wire, the strength of the long member can be increased, so that the rotation operation on the proximal end side can be more reliably transmitted to the distal end portion, etc. The operability can be improved. Moreover, the structure by which the linear member was joined in the middle part of the elongate member may be sufficient. The length of the long member needs to be longer than the treatment instrument insertion channel in order to clean the lens on the distal end side and operate the long member on the proximal end side.

  Further, the long member may be a hollow tubular member. By providing an opening that communicates with the outside of the tube at the base end and the position where the cleaning member is formed, a tube-shaped member is provided, so that liquid or gas fed from the base end side of the long member can be removed from the opening. Can be released. By removing the liquid or gas when removing the deposit by the cleaning member, the deposit can be removed more reliably. Delivery of liquid, gas, etc. can be performed by connecting a syringe etc. to the base end side opening part of a long member.

  The cleaning member of the present invention preferably includes an elongate member and an outer cylinder that houses the cleaning member located at the tip thereof. Since the long member and the cleaning member can be housed in the outer tube and the cleaning member can be protected, the cleaning member is delivered to the endoscope tip through the stopper of the endoscope treatment instrument insertion port and the treatment instrument insertion channel. When cleaning, the cleaning member is not damaged. Further, the inner surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel is not damaged. For this reason, according to this structure, a long member can be more smoothly inserted / removed with respect to a treatment tool penetration channel. The material of the outer cylinder is not particularly limited, but is preferably made of resin or metal, and is preferably an elastic material whose shape changes along with the deformation of the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope. If it is resin, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PP (polypropylene), etc. are preferable. The outer cylinder can also be formed of a transparent material in order to confirm the direction of the cleaning member in the endoscopic image.

  When the endoscope lens cleaning tool is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel or the outer cylinder of the endoscope, the distal end L-shaped bent portion of the long member is elastically attached to the treatment instrument insertion channel or the outer cylinder. It becomes a shape along the shape. When the bent portion of the long member protrudes from the treatment instrument insertion channel, the bent portion is restored to the original shape by the elastic force, and the cleaning member faces the distal end surface of the endoscope. Even when the long member is removed, the bent portion on the distal end side of the long member has elasticity, and thus has a shape that follows the shape of the treatment instrument insertion channel and the outer cylinder. Thereby, it is possible to smoothly insert / remove to / from the treatment instrument insertion channel.

  The outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the long member is partially or entirely covered with the cleaning member. The cleaning member is for cleaning the lens. When the cleaning member is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel and protrudes from the distal end portion of the endoscope, the cleaning member faces the distal end surface of the endoscope. At this time, the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens surface side of the cleaning member is not constant. By pulling the long member toward the proximal end in the axial direction, the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens surface side of the cleaning member becomes zero, and the cleaning member and the endoscope lens Can be adhered.

  The surface on the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member refers to a surface that faces the lens surface of the endoscope when the cleaning member is opposed to the distal end surface of the endoscope. The ridge line on the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member refers to a portion closest to the lens when the portion of the cleaning member facing the lens surface of the endoscope is linear.

  The distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens surface side of the cleaning member is that the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line of the cleaning member facing the lens surface Are not constant, and include a configuration in which the interval gradually increases from the front end side to the bent portion side of the cleaning member, a configuration in which the interval narrows, a configuration in which the interval periodically changes, and a configuration in which the interval changes randomly. The fact that the distance between the lens surface and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member has a gradient means a configuration in which the interval is gradually increased or decreased. In order to bring the cleaning member and the endoscope lens into close contact with each other, a configuration in which the interval gradually increases from the distal end side to the bent portion of the cleaning member, that is, a configuration in which the distal end side is closer to the endoscope lens surface is preferable. This configuration is referred to as a configuration in which the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens surface side of the cleaning member is smaller on the distal end side of the long member.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the shape of the cleaning member itself is a tapered shape in which the distance between the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens surface side of the cleaning member and the lens surface of the endoscope is small. Thereby, the front end side of the cleaning member can be brought closer to the endoscope lens surface regardless of the shape of the bent portion. As such a tapered shape, the base end portion of the cleaning member is the bottom, and a truncated cone shape or a quadrangular pyramid shape that gradually and gradually narrows toward the distal end portion, a shape that decreases toward the distal end portion only on the lens surface side, etc. can do.

  Here, examples of the cleaning member include a brush, a sponge, a flexible plastic piece, and a non-woven fabric. In the case of a brush, the certainty of removing the deposits can be increased, which is preferable. There are various cleaning materials such as nylon, polypropylene, vinyl chloride, polyamide, polyester, acrylic, polyurethane, polystyrene, polyolefin, silicone, rayon, rubber, nylon elastomer, ester elastomer, urethane elastomer, olefin elastomer, cotton, silk, etc. The material can be selected. By using a material such as an elastomer and a blade-like shape such as a shape having an edge with an angle with respect to the lens surface of the endoscope, the deposits can be more reliably removed. Moreover, since it is used in the living body, it is also preferable to use a biodegradable resin in order to further improve safety. Since the cleaning member is in contact with the lens of the endoscope, it is preferable to select a cleaning member that does not damage the lens and has strength or waist strength that can remove deposits.

  In order to fix the cleaning member to the long member, for example, when the cleaning member is a brush, the long member is made of two wires, the hair is sandwiched between them, the wire is twisted into a brush shape, Arbitrary methods, such as the method of fixing the hair of the brush to the member by electrostatic flocking, can be employed. In the case of a sponge, a plastic piece, or a non-woven fabric, the long member and the cleaning member can be fixed by welding with heat, bonding with an adhesive, or sandwiching the long member as described above.

  The shape of the bent portion of the long member is only required to be bent in the direction in which the distal end of the cleaning member approaches the lens surface of the endoscope, and as the shape, the distal end side of the long member is the short side and the proximal end side is An L-shaped shape having a long side can be mentioned. Further, the bent portion may be bent so that two sides have an angle, or may be bent so as to draw a curve. Further, a wavy shape may be used. If the distal end of the long member is bent in a direction approaching the lens surface of the endoscope, the distal end of the cleaning member is not affected even when the cleaning member has a shape parallel to the long axis of the long member. This is preferable because it approaches the lens surface of the endoscope.

  Further, the bent portion may be configured such that the tip of the long member bends in a direction parallel to the lens surface of the endoscope. In this case, the adhesiveness of the cleaning member to the lens can be enhanced by making the shape of the cleaning member such that the tip of the cleaning member approaches the lens surface.

  A cleaning member bending portion that bends in a direction away from the lens surface of the endoscope may be provided on the most distal side of the cleaning member. By doing in this way, it can prevent damaging a lens surface with the front-end | tip part and long member of a cleaning member. The cleaning member bending portion may be configured by the shape of the cleaning member or may be configured by the shape of the long member.

  You may provide the flexible part whose hardness is lower than the lens of an endoscope in the front end side of the cleaning member. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the lens surface from being damaged when the tip of the cleaning member comes into contact with the lens. In this case, it is preferable that the most distal portion of the cleaning tool is the flexible portion.

  In addition, when the operator inserts the cleaning member of the present invention into the treatment instrument insertion channel, the cleaning member is brought into contact with the lens of the endoscope, or the long member is rotated around its central axis to move the cleaning member. In order to facilitate operations such as swinging, an operation handle can be provided on the base end side of the long member. The operator can operate the cleaning tool by grasping and rotating the operation handle. The operation handle preferably has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the long member. This makes it easier for the operator to rotate the long member. In addition, since a high torque can be generated on the base end side, it is possible to improve the performance of removing dirt due to the swing of the cleaning member at the tip.

  Below, the usage method of the lens cleaning tool for endoscopes of this invention is demonstrated.

  In the endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention, during endoscopic examination and treatment, an operator has a stain on the lens surface that cannot be removed by spraying water or air from the endoscope nozzle from the endoscope image. Used when confirming. The endoscope lens cleaning tool of the present invention is inserted from the treatment instrument insertion port of the endoscope through the treatment instrument insertion channel toward the endoscope distal end.

  At this time, since the long member has elasticity, the distal end L-shaped portion is deformed into a shape along the shape of the treatment instrument insertion channel. And when the front-end | tip part of an elongate member protrudes from an endoscope front-end | tip, it will restore | restore to the original shape of a bending part, for example, L shape, with an elastic force, and the cleaning member will oppose the front-end | tip surface of an endoscope. While viewing the endoscope image, the surgeon rotates the long member and adjusts the cleaning member attached to the tip of the long member so that it is positioned above the endoscope lens. Thereafter, the cleaning member is pressed against the lens by pulling the long member toward the base end side.

  Here, the distance between the cleaning member and the endoscope lens surface decreases toward the tip before pressing, so when the long member is pulled toward the proximal end, the tip of the cleaning member first contacts the lens. When pulled further, the rear end direction of the cleaning member gradually comes into contact with the lens along with the deformation caused by the external force received from the lens at the bent part of the long member, and finally the tip from the front end to the rear end of the cleaning member contacts the lens. Contact. When the cleaning member is a brush and the tip of the long member protrudes from the brush portion, it is desirable that the protruding portion be gently bent away from the lens so as not to damage the lens.

  Thereafter, by rotating the proximal end side of the long member, the cleaning member at the distal end is swung like a wiper to remove dirt on the endoscope lens. At this time, if the above operation is performed while jetting water or air with a lens cleaning nozzle provided in the endoscope, dirt can be removed more strongly.

  When it is confirmed that the dirt has been removed from the endoscopic image, the long member is pulled from the treatment instrument insertion port of the endoscope, and the cleaning tool is removed. When passing through the treatment instrument insertion channel, the bent portion of the long member is elastically deformed in the same manner as when passing through the treatment instrument insertion channel, so that the shape follows the shape of the treatment instrument insertion channel. Therefore, it can be smoothly removed from the endoscope.

  In inserting the cleaning tool of the present invention from the treatment tool insertion port, the proximal side of the long member including the cleaning member from the distal end portion of the long member can be inserted into the outer cylinder in advance. Since the long member has elasticity, the bent portion is deformed and can be accommodated in the outer cylinder. Since insertion into and removal from the endoscope is possible, the cleaning member can be scraped off at the endoscope treatment instrument insertion port, the treatment instrument insertion channel, and the channel opening on the distal end side of the endoscope. No damage is caused, the performance of removing dirt is not deteriorated, and contamination of the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope due to deposits adhering to the cleaning member can be prevented at the time of removal.

Example 1
As the endoscope cleaning tool of Example 1, the cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was prepared. In the endoscope cleaning tool, the long member 31 forms a bent portion 32 by bending the tip of a long member obtained by twisting two wires of nickel titanium alloy into an L shape, and cleaning is performed on the tip side. Member 21 was provided. The total length of the long member is longer than the channel path length of the endoscope. Since superelastic materials are generally expensive, they may be joined with another wire such as a stainless wire in the middle.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a long member is formed by connecting two kinds of wire rods, a nickel titanium alloy wire 31a on the distal end side and a stainless steel wire 31b on the proximal end side, by caulking joining with a pipe 33. . As shown in FIG. 4, the long member is stored in advance in an outer cylinder 50 that is a tube of elastic fluororesin (PTFE). By inserting the long member into the outer cylinder, the L-shaped portion, which is the bent portion at the tip, is deformed, and the cleaning member can be stored in the tube. When the long member is pushed out of the outer cylinder, the L-shaped bent portion comes out of the tube and is restored to its original shape. The base end portion of the long member is provided with a handle 41, and the long member is easily pulled, pushed out and rotated. In the cleaning tool, the base end means the side provided with the handle, and the front end means the opposite side.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical low-density polyethylene sponge having a diameter of 1.5 mm and a length of 6 mm was fixed as a cleaning member 21 on the distal end side from the bent portion 32 of the long member 31 by heat welding. As the long member 31, the tip end side of a nickel titanium alloy single wire having a diameter of 0.3 mm was bent into an L shape to form a bent portion 32. The bent part was bent so that the angle θ formed by the short side and the long side of the L-shape was 68 degrees. Thereby, since the distal end 21a of the long member of the cleaning tool is bent in a direction approaching the lens surface, the cleaning member is arranged so that the distance from the endoscope lens surface decreases toward the distal end. It was.

The distal end side including the cleaning member of the cleaning tool was inserted from the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope to the endoscope distal end. The distal end side including the cleaning member of the cleaning tool is protruded from the distal end of the endoscope, the proximal end portion of the long member is rotated, and the direction of the cleaning member is adjusted so that the cleaning member is positioned in the information of the endoscope lens . When the long member is pulled toward the proximal end, the tip of the cleaning member first comes into contact with the lens.When the long member is pulled further, the cleaning member gradually moves toward the rear end along with the deformation caused by the external force received from the lens at the bent portion of the long member. As shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning member finally contacted the lens from the front end 21a to the rear end 21b.
Then, by rotating the proximal end side of the long member, the cleaning member at the distal end was swung like a wiper to remove dirt on the endoscope lens, and the lens was cleaned.

(Example 2)
As the long member 31, the leading end side of a cobalt nickel alloy single wire having a diameter of 0.3 mm was bent into an L shape to form a bent portion 32. The bent part was bent so that the angle θ formed by the short side and the long side of the L-shape was 90 degrees. A nylon thread having a diameter of 15 μm was planted on the distal end side of the long member by electrostatic flocking as the cleaning member 21 on the distal end side from the bent portion. The implanted nylon thread was cut, the tip side 21a was 0.8 mm, the length was shortened sequentially, and the bent part side 22b was 0.2 mm.

  According to the present embodiment, the bent portion of the long member is bent in a direction in which the tip of the long member is parallel to the lens surface, but the length of the brush hair is inclined, The distance between the cleaning member and the endoscope lens surface decreases toward the tip. The mechanism of contact between the cleaning member and the lens surface is the same as in the first embodiment.

(Example 3)
As the long member 31, a nickel titanium alloy single wire having a diameter of 0.2 mm was folded in half. An acrylic thread having a diameter of 0.07 mm was sandwiched by 5 mm from the position where the single wire was folded in half, and the metal wire was twisted to plant brush hair as a cleaning member on the distal end side of the long member. Thereafter, the planted acrylic yarn was cut, and the cleaning member as a whole was cylindrical with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 6 mm. The position of the long member on the base end side with respect to the cleaning member was bent into an L shape to form a bent portion 32. The bent part was bent so that the angle θ formed by the short side and the long side of the L-shape was 68 degrees. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the leading edge of the long member was bent in a direction away from the endoscope lens. According to the present embodiment, since the tip of the long member is gently bent in the direction away from the lens, it is possible to prevent the tip of the long member from contacting the lens and damaging the lens.

Example 4
As the long member 31, the front end side of a cobalt nickel alloy single wire having a diameter of 1 mm was bent into an L shape to form a bent portion 32. The bent portion was bent so that the angle θ formed by the short side and the long side of the L-shape was 80 degrees. Three circular openings with a diameter of 0.2 mm were provided along the long axis direction at a position of 30 degrees in the circumferential direction from the side facing the endoscope lens on the front end side of the bent portion of the long member. . A rectangular parallelepiped silicone rubber having a length of 6 mm, a thickness of 0.5 mm, and a height of 0.5 mm was adhered as an cleaning member 21 at a position facing the endoscope lens on the tip side from the bent portion.

  A connecting portion and a handle were formed at the proximal end of the long member so that a syringe could be connected. Since the opening communicates with the proximal end syringe, the physiological saline was released from the distal end opening when physiological saline was injected from the syringe. Not only physiological saline but also liquid such as purified water or cleaning agent, and gas can be injected and released. According to the present embodiment, the cleaning member is closely attached to the endoscope lens surface, and the physiological saline can be discharged when the cleaning lens member cleans the lens surface of the endoscope. Could be removed.

(Comparative example)
As a cleaning tool of the comparative example, a cleaning tool shown in FIG. 11 was created. As the long member 131, the tip side of a nickel titanium alloy single wire having a diameter of 0.3 mm was bent into an L shape to form a bent portion. The bent portion was bent so that the angle formed by the short side and the long side of the L-shape was 90 degrees. A cylindrical low-density polyethylene sponge having a diameter of 1.5 mm and a length of 6 mm was fixed as a cleaning member 121 to the tip side from the bent portion by heat welding.

  The cleaning tool of the comparative example was housed in the outer cylinder 150, inserted from the treatment tool port of the endoscope 80 into the endoscope channel 82, and the cleaning member was made to face the lens surface 81. When the cleaning member is pressed against the lens, the long member comes into contact with the edge of the treatment instrument insertion channel opening as shown in FIG. It could not be brought into close contact with the lens surface of the mirror. For this reason, even if the cleaning member is swung on the endoscope lens, the dirt cannot be wiped off.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope lens cleaning tool 21 Cleaning member 31 Long member 32 Bending part 41 Operation handle 51 Outer cylinder 80 Endoscope 81 Endoscope lens 82 Treatment tool insertion channel

Claims (13)

An elastically deformable long member that transmits torque;
Covering the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the long member, and equipped with a cleaning member for cleaning the lens of the endoscope,
The long member has a bent portion whose tip is bent in an L shape,
When the elongated member is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope and protrudes from the distal end of the endoscope, the cleaning member is a surface or ridge line of the endoscope lens surface and the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member. Lens cleaning tool for endoscopes whose distance to is not constant. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line on the endoscope lens side of the cleaning member has a gradient. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the lens surface of the endoscope and the surface or ridge line of the cleaning member on the endoscope lens side is smaller on the distal end side of the long member. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning member has a tapered shape in which a distance from an endoscope lens surface decreases toward a tip. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bent portion of the long member is bent in a direction in which a distal end of the long member approaches the lens surface. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bent portion of the long member is bent in a direction in which a distal end of the long member is parallel to the lens surface. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a long outer tube made of a resin capable of accommodating the long member and the cleaning member. The endoscope lens cleaning according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a cleaning member bent portion that is bent in a direction in which the tip of the cleaning member is separated from the lens surface at the tip of the cleaning member. Ingredients. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a flexible portion having a hardness lower than that of an endoscope lens is provided at a distal end portion of the cleaning member. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is a brush. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein a material of the cleaning member is an elastomer. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein a material of the cleaning member is a biodegradable resin. The endoscope lens cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the long member is a hollow tube member and has an opening at a portion where the cleaning member of the long member is provided.