JP3651949B2

JP3651949B2 - Covered endoscope

Info

Publication number: JP3651949B2
Application number: JP01819495A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 宏樹森山
Original assignee: Olympus Corp
Current assignee: Olympus Corp
Priority date: 1995-02-06
Filing date: 1995-02-06
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-25
Also published as: JPH08206057A

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の利用分野】
本発明は、カバー用内視鏡に内視鏡カバーを装着して内視鏡検査を行うカバー式内視鏡に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、人体内の観察等に用いられる内視鏡は、体腔内への挿入部に体液等が付着するのを防止するために、挿入部に保護チューブを被せて用いられるものが知られている。内視鏡の使用後は保護チューブが取り外され、新たな保護チューブと交換される。したがって挿入部が汚染されるのを防止することができ、それらを洗滌する必要がなく洗滌の手間が省ける。
【０００３】
具体的にはたとえばＵＳＰ４，８０９，６７８の図２にあるように観察光学系の前面に透明部を設けたカバーで挿入部全体を覆うようにしたものがある。これの挿入部カバーと内視鏡挿入部との固定は、カバー手元側に設けた弾性端の摩擦力により行われていた。
【０００４】
ＵＳＰ４，８０９，６７８の図３のように内視鏡先端に交換可能な先端部カバーを設け、先端部カバーの手元側周囲を先端が開口した挿入部カバーの弾性端の摩擦力により固定したものもある。これの先端部カバーと内視鏡先端との固定方法に関する詳細は記載されていない。
【０００５】
これとは別に、例えば特開平４−３５７９２０号公報においては、カバー手元支持体のパッキンによってカバーと内視鏡の気密を保つ方法が示されている。
【０００６】
また、特開平４−３５７９２０号公報においては、カバー手元支持体とシースとの間に折れ止めを設けたものが示されている。
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、従来例である特開平４−３５７９２０号公報では、カバー手元支持体とカバー用内視鏡との移動規制手段がなく、検査中にカバー手元支持体がカバー用内視鏡に対して移動してしまい、所望の内視鏡操作ができなくなる可能性がある。
【０００８】
本発明は、上記事情に鑑みてなされたものであり、内視鏡カバーとカバー用内視鏡の気密をすると共に、内視鏡カバーの手元支持体が検査中に支障をきたすような移動をすることのないカバー式内視鏡を提供することを目的としている。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明によるカバー式内視鏡は、挿入部と操作部からなるカバー用内視鏡と、前記挿入部を覆う挿入部カバーと、前記挿入部カバーを前記操作部に固定するために前記操作部に挿入可能な口体部を前記挿入部カバーの手元側に備えた内視鏡カバーとを具備したカバー式内視鏡において、前記口体部と前記操作部との間で前記挿入部カバー内の気密を確保する気密保持手段と、前記口体部に設けられ、挿入部長手方向に所定の間隔で並設された孔部を備えるとともに、前記孔部を基端部にかけてスリット状に切り欠いた固定用溝を有する固定部と、前記操作部に突設され、前記口体部が前記操作部に挿入されたときに前記固定用溝に導入され、前記孔部に係合可能なピンとを設けたことを特徴とする。
【００１０】
【作用】
本発明のカバー式内視鏡では、前記気密保持手段により前記口体部と前記操作部との間で前記挿入部カバー内の気密を確保すると共に、口体部を操作部に挿入した際に、前記ピンを前記孔部に係合させることにより、内視鏡カバーをカバー用内視鏡に固定でき、軸方向にも軸周りの回転方向にも移動規制がなされる。また、ピンに係合する孔部を変えることで、口体部と操作部との軸方向位置を選択できる。
【００１１】
【実施例】
以下、図面を参照しながら本発明の実施例について述べる。
【００１２】
図１ないし図３は本発明の１実施例に係わり、図１はカバー式内視鏡の要部を示す構成図、図２は図１のＡ−Ａ線に沿う断面図、図３は図１の矢視Ｂから見た要部拡大図である。
【００１３】
図１に示す１実施例のカバー式内視鏡１は、電子内視鏡で構成された内視鏡カバー用内視鏡（以下、カバー用内視鏡と略す）２と、このカバー用内視鏡２が装着されるチャンネル付き内視鏡カバー（以下、内視鏡カバーと略す）３とで構成される。
【００１４】
カバー用内視鏡２は、可撓性の挿入部４と、この挿入部４の後端に折れ止め５を介して設けた操作部６と、この操作部６から延出し図示しない信号処理装置や光源装置及び送気送水装置に接続されるユニバーサルケーブル７とから構成される。カバー用内視鏡２の先端部には図示しない先端構成部が設けられている。
【００１５】
カバー用内視鏡２に装着された汚染防止用の内視鏡カバー３は、カバー用内視鏡２の挿入部４を覆うシース８と、折れ止め５を覆うゴムなどの柔軟な樹脂である折れ止めカバー９と、操作部６及びユニバーサルケーブル７を覆う操作部カバー１０と、折れ止めカバー９と操作部カバー１０の間に操作部６の一部に固定する口体部（支持部）１１とからなっている。これら内視鏡カバー３の各部は全て、内視鏡検査に使用される前に予め滅菌されているものが使用され、内視鏡検査に使用した後は廃棄される。
【００１６】
シース８は、図示していないが、挿入部４の先端部まで気密的に覆っている。シース８と折れ止めカバー９、折れ止めカバー９と口体部１１は気密的に結合されている。口体部１１の一部にはシール部１２（気密保持手段）が設けてあり、口体部１１と操作部６の気密が保てるようになっている。一方、操作部６でシール部１２よりも前方には送気管路１３が設けられていて、この送気管路１３によりユニバーサルケーブル７を介し送気送水装置（図示せず）から送気して、シース８及び折れ止めカバー９内を加圧でき、シース８の気密チェックが行える。
【００１７】
図１のＡ−Ａ線断面である図２に示すように、送気管路１３の開口部上の口体部１１の内壁の一部には、送気用溝１４が設けられ、送気が速やかにできるようにしている。
【００１８】
図１の上方すなわち矢印Ｂから見た矢視図である図３に示すように、口体部１１のシール部１２の傍らには、固定部１５（移動規制手段）が延出している。固定部１５には、固定用溝１６が設けられている。操作部６には、固定用溝１６にはまるような位置にピン１７が設けられている。そして、ピン１７は偏平な形をしており、実線から破線へと回転操作できる。固定用溝１６には、複数の孔部１８が形成され、その孔部１８においてピン１７は図３のごとく回転できる。
【００１９】
次に、このように構成されたカバー式内視鏡１の作用について説明する。
【００２０】
図３において、カバー装着時、口体部１１を折れ止め５を越えて操作部６の一部にのり上げたところでピン１７が固定用溝１６にはまるようにする（図３の実線）。固定用溝１６のいずれかの孔部１８においてピン１７を回転させる（図３の破線）。すると、固定部１５の孔部１８がピン１７に対して前後にも回転方向にもほとんど動けないように固定される。このことによって口体部１１は操作部６に対して軸方向にも軸周りの回転方向にも移動規制がなされ、検査中に口体部１１がずれて検査に支障をきたすことがない。
【００２１】
なお、このような固定部１５をシール部１２の前に設けるのは気密確保が難しくなるので、シール部１２の後方が望ましい。
【００２２】
また、一般にカバー用内視鏡２の挿入部４の長さや、特に内視鏡カバー３の軸方向の長さは個体差があるため、図３のように、孔部１８が複数あることで、カバー用内視鏡２に対して常に内視鏡カバー３の挿入部４を適切な張り具合で装着することが可能である。この張り具合が適切でないと、例えばシース８がたるみすぎたり、逆に張力がかかりすぎたりして、所望の挿入部機能が出せないことがある。
【００２３】
このように本実施例のカバー式内視鏡１によれば、カバー用内視鏡２に対して口体部１１の移動規制がなされ、検査中に口体部１１が移動することなく検査に支障がない。
【００２４】
また、従来技術で述べたように、特開平４−３５７９２０号公報においては、カバー手元支持体とシースとの間に折れ止めを設けたことが示されているが、この従来例では、カバー用内視鏡にカバーを装着した状態では、カバーに設けた折れ止めがカバー用内視鏡挿入部の折れ止めとして機能するであろうが、カバー用内視鏡単体においての折れ止めはないので、カバーを装着していない時（例えば保管時、洗浄作業時、運搬時など）のカバー用内視鏡の挿入部が特に操作部との接続部において折れる可能性がある。
【００２５】
本実施例では、折れ止め５は、カバー用内視鏡単体の挿入部４の折れ止め機能を持つが、図１のように、折れ止め５の上に柔軟な折れ止めカバー９があることで、カバー装着時の硬質の口体部１１と操作部６による挿入部４の折れ止め機能もはたしている。
【００２６】
従って、挿入部４の操作部６との連結部は、カバー装着時も、非装着時も折れが防止されている。
【００２７】
なお、折れ止めカバー９は図１ではシース８と別体であるが、シース８端部を広げるような成形をして、シース８と一体であってもよい（部品数が減り、コストダウンが可能となる）。
【００２８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明のカバー式内視鏡によれば、気密保持手段により口体部と操作部との間で挿入部カバー内の気密を確保すると共に、口体部を操作部に挿入した際に、ピンを孔部に係合させることにより、内視鏡カバーをカバー用内視鏡に固定でき、軸方向にも軸周りの回転方向にも移動規制がなされるので、内視鏡カバーの手元支持体が検査中に支障をきたすような移動防止することができるという効果がある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の１実施例を示すカバー式内視鏡の要部構成図、
【図２】図１ののＡ−Ａ線に沿う断面図、
【図３】図１の矢視Ｂから見た要部拡大図、
【符号の説明】
１…カバー式内視鏡
２…カバー用内視鏡
３…内視鏡カバー
４…挿入部
６…操作部
１１…口体部
１５…固定部
１６…固定用溝
１７…ピン
１８…孔部[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a cover-type endoscope that performs an endoscopic examination by attaching an endoscope cover to a cover endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endoscopes used for observing the inside of a human body are known in which an insertion portion is covered with a protective tube in order to prevent body fluid or the like from adhering to the insertion portion into a body cavity. . After using the endoscope, the protective tube is removed and replaced with a new protective tube. Therefore, it can prevent that an insertion part is contaminated, it is not necessary to wash them, and the effort of washing can be saved.
[0003]
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 of USP 4,809,678, there is one in which the entire insertion portion is covered with a cover provided with a transparent portion on the front surface of the observation optical system. The insertion portion cover and the endoscope insertion portion are fixed by the frictional force of the elastic end provided on the cover side.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 3 of USP 4,809,678, a replaceable distal end cover is provided at the distal end of the endoscope, and the periphery of the distal end cover is fixed by the frictional force of the elastic end of the insertion portion cover with the distal end opened. There is also. Details regarding the method of fixing the tip cover and the endoscope tip are not described.
[0005]
Apart from this, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-357920 discloses a method of keeping the cover and the endoscope airtight by packing the support on the cover hand.
[0006]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-357920 discloses a structure in which a folding stop is provided between a cover hand support and a sheath.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-357920 which is a conventional example, there is no movement restricting means between the cover hand support and the cover endoscope, and the cover hand support moves relative to the cover endoscope during the inspection. Therefore, there is a possibility that a desired endoscope operation cannot be performed.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the endoscope cover and the endoscope for the cover are hermetically sealed, and the proximal support of the endoscope cover is moved so as to hinder the inspection. An object of the present invention is to provide a cover-type endoscope that does not need to be performed.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Cover type endoscope according to the present invention, an insertion portion and the endoscope cover made from the operation unit, and the insertion portion cover that covers the insertion portion, the operation of the front Symbol insertion portion cover to fix the operating unit In a cover-type endoscope provided with an endoscope cover provided with a mouth part that can be inserted into a part on the proximal side of the insertion part cover, the insertion part cover is provided between the mouth part and the operation part. An airtight holding means for ensuring the airtightness of the inside and a hole provided in the mouth part and arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the insertion part , and the hole is cut into a slit shape at the base end part. A fixing portion having a lacking fixing groove; and a pin projecting from the operation portion, introduced into the fixing groove when the mouth portion is inserted into the operation portion, and engageable with the hole portion; Is provided .
[0010]
[Operation]
In the cover-type endoscope of the present invention, when the airtight holding means ensures airtightness in the insertion portion cover between the mouth portion and the operation portion , and the mouth portion is inserted into the operation portion. By engaging the pin with the hole, the endoscope cover can be fixed to the cover endoscope, and movement is restricted both in the axial direction and in the rotational direction around the axis. Moreover, the axial direction position of a mouth part and an operation part can be selected by changing the hole part engaged with a pin .
[0011]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
1 to 3 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main part of a cover-type endoscope, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG.
[0013]
A cover-type endoscope 1 according to one embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes an endoscope cover endoscope (hereinafter abbreviated as a cover endoscope) 2 constituted by an electronic endoscope, and a cover endoscope. It is comprised with the endoscope cover with a channel (henceforth an endoscope cover) 3 with which the endoscope 2 is mounted | worn.
[0014]
The cover endoscope 2 includes a flexible insertion portion 4, an operation portion 6 provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 4 via a bend stopper 5, and a signal processing device (not shown) extending from the operation portion 6. And a universal cable 7 connected to the light source device and the air / water supply device. A distal end configuration portion (not shown) is provided at the distal end portion of the cover endoscope 2.
[0015]
The anti-contamination endoscope cover 3 attached to the cover endoscope 2 is a flexible resin such as a sheath 8 that covers the insertion portion 4 of the cover endoscope 2 and rubber that covers the folding stopper 5. An anti-folding cover 9, an operation unit cover 10 that covers the operation unit 6 and the universal cable 7, and a mouth part (support unit) 11 that is fixed to a part of the operation unit 6 between the anti-breaking cover 9 and the operation unit cover 10. It is made up of. All of these parts of the endoscope cover 3 are sterilized in advance before being used for endoscopy, and are discarded after being used for endoscopy.
[0016]
Although not shown, the sheath 8 covers the distal end portion of the insertion portion 4 in an airtight manner. The sheath 8 and the anti-bending cover 9 and the anti-bending cover 9 and the mouth part 11 are hermetically coupled. A part of the mouth part 11 is provided with a seal part 12 (airtight holding means) so that the mouth part 11 and the operation part 6 can be kept airtight. On the other hand, an air supply line 13 is provided in front of the seal part 12 in the operation unit 6, and air is supplied from an air supply / water supply device (not shown) via the universal cable 7 through the air supply line 13, The inside of the sheath 8 and the folding cover 9 can be pressurized, and an airtight check of the sheath 8 can be performed.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, an air supply groove 14 is provided on a part of the inner wall of the mouth part 11 on the opening of the air supply conduit 13, We are able to do it quickly.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3 which is an arrow view as viewed from the upper side of FIG. 1, that is, from the arrow B, a fixing portion 15 (movement restricting means) extends near the seal portion 12 of the mouth portion 11. The fixing portion 15 is provided with a fixing groove 16. The operation unit 6 is provided with a pin 17 at a position so as to fit in the fixing groove 16. The pin 17 has a flat shape and can be rotated from a solid line to a broken line. A plurality of holes 18 are formed in the fixing groove 16, and the pins 17 can rotate as shown in FIG. 3 in the holes 18.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the cover type endoscope 1 configured as described above will be described.
[0020]
In FIG. 3, when the cover is mounted, the pin 17 fits into the fixing groove 16 when the mouth part 11 is lifted over the stopper 5 and part of the operation part 6 (solid line in FIG. 3). The pin 17 is rotated in any hole 18 of the fixing groove 16 (broken line in FIG. 3). Then, it fixes so that the hole 18 of the fixing | fixed part 15 may hardly move with respect to the pin 17 in the front-back direction or the rotation direction. As a result, the movement of the mouth part 11 is restricted both in the axial direction and in the rotational direction around the axis with respect to the operation part 6, and the mouth part 11 is not displaced during the inspection and does not hinder the inspection.
[0021]
In addition, since it is difficult to ensure airtightness when such a fixing portion 15 is provided in front of the seal portion 12, the rear portion of the seal portion 12 is desirable.
[0022]
In general, the length of the insertion portion 4 of the endoscope 2 for the cover, and particularly the length of the endoscope cover 3 in the axial direction varies depending on the individual, and therefore there are a plurality of holes 18 as shown in FIG. The insertion portion 4 of the endoscope cover 3 can always be attached to the cover endoscope 2 with an appropriate tension. If this tension is not appropriate, for example, the sheath 8 may be excessively slack or tension may be excessively applied, and a desired insertion section function may not be achieved.
[0023]
As described above, according to the cover-type endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, the movement of the mouth part 11 is restricted with respect to the cover endoscope 2, and the inspection can be performed without moving the mouth part 11 during the examination. There is no hindrance.
[0024]
Further, as described in the prior art, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-357920 discloses that a folding stop is provided between the cover hand support and the sheath. In the state where the cover is attached to the endoscope, the fold prevention provided on the cover will function as a fold prevention of the cover endoscope insertion portion, but there is no fold prevention in the cover endoscope alone, There is a possibility that the insertion part of the endoscope for the cover when the cover is not attached (for example, during storage, during cleaning work, during transportation, etc.) may break at the connection part with the operation part.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the folding stop 5 has a folding preventing function for the insertion portion 4 of the cover endoscope alone. However, as shown in FIG. The function of preventing the insertion portion 4 from being bent by the hard mouth portion 11 and the operation portion 6 when the cover is mounted is also provided.
[0026]
Therefore, the connecting portion of the insertion portion 4 with the operation portion 6 is prevented from being bent both when the cover is attached and when it is not attached.
[0027]
Although the folding cover 9 is separate from the sheath 8 in FIG. 1, it may be formed so as to widen the end of the sheath 8 and be integrated with the sheath 8 (the number of parts is reduced and the cost is reduced). Possible).
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the cover-type endoscope of the present invention, the hermetic holding means ensures airtightness in the insertion portion cover between the mouth portion and the operation portion, and the mouth portion is used as the operation portion. When the pin is inserted, the endoscope cover can be fixed to the cover endoscope by engaging the pin with the hole, and movement is restricted both in the axial direction and in the rotational direction around the axis. There is an effect that the hand support of the mirror cover can be prevented from moving so as to cause trouble during inspection.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a cover endoscope showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part viewed from an arrow B in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cover-type endoscope 2 ... Endoscope for cover 3 ... Endoscope cover 4 ... Insertion part 6 ... Operation part 11 ... Mouth part 15 ... Fixing part 16 ... Fixing groove 17 ... Pin 18 ... Hole

Claims

A cover endoscope comprising an insertion portion and an operation portion;
An insertion cover for covering the insertion portion, the endoscope cover insertable mouth body portion to the operation portion to fix the front Symbol insertion portion cover said operating portion provided on the proximal side of the insertion portion cover ,
In a cover-type endoscope comprising:
An airtight holding means for ensuring airtightness in the insertion portion cover between the mouth portion and the operation portion;
A fixing portion provided in the mouth portion and provided with holes arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion at a predetermined interval, and having a fixing groove notched in a slit shape with the hole extending to the base end ,
A pin protruding from the operation portion, introduced into the fixing groove when the mouth portion is inserted into the operation portion, and a pin engageable with the hole ;
A cover-type endoscope characterized by comprising