JP5021346B2 - Endoscope guide tube and endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope guide tube that is externally guided to an insertion portion, and an endoscope apparatus including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope apparatus having an insertion portion that can be inserted into a subject has been used so that a subject that cannot be directly viewed by an observer can be observed. When inserting such an insertion portion into the subject, the insertion portion is guided by covering the insertion portion with a flexible endoscope guide tube so that the insertion portion can be easily inserted. There is. More specifically, an endoscope guide tube having a tightly wound coil as an outer skin has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an endoscope guide tube, the densely wound coil is elastically curved in accordance with the shape of the subject to guide the insertion portion.

  In addition, a large number of cylinders arranged in a straight line, a pair of wires inserted through communication holes formed in the cylinder, a pair of racks connected to the base ends of the wires, and a pair of racks, An endoscope guide tube including a pinion that meshes with each other and an elastic body that biases the pinion has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In such an endoscope guide tube, the pinion is urged by an elastic body, and the rack in which the wire is connected to the pinion meshes with each other, so that the urging force is equally applied to the pair of wires. In addition, a large number of cylinders through which wires are inserted can be arranged in a straight line in the straight portion of the subject. On the other hand, at the curved portion of the subject, when the cylindrical body abuts on the subject, the position of the rack connected to each wire is displaced and is arranged so as to bend according to the shape of the subject. Has been.

Furthermore, it consists of a plurality of segments connected adjacent to each other via a wire, and the whole can be cured by pulling the wire, and it can be bent by being relaxed A guide tube has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In such an endoscope guide tube, by operating the wire, the wire is relaxed to form a curved shape, and after forming, the wire is pulled and inserted while maintaining the curved shape formed. It is supposed to be possible.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-150023 JP-A-5-11120 JP 2005-524431 A

  However, in the endoscope guide tube of Patent Document 1, when an annular body such as a tire or a double tube is used as an object and the inner surface is observed by being inserted into the inner space, the curve of the portion inserted into the inner space is curved. In some cases, the direction to perform becomes unstable. That is, such a subject has an extent that allows the endoscope guide tube to be freely moved while the interior space is curved in a certain direction, while the entrance to the interior space. The part is narrow enough to allow insertion of an endoscope guide tube with a valve or the like. Then, the endoscope guide tube that has reached the internal space from the entrance portion is further inserted in the internal space by pushing the proximal end into the entrance portion, abutting on the inner surface of the subject, or Due to its own weight, it will be bent by its own flexibility. Here, the endoscopic guide tube located in the internal space can be bent in any direction because the internal space has the above-described spread. For this reason, it is unclear which direction the tip of the endoscope guide tube is facing, and which position of the subject is currently being observed by the insertion part inserted into the endoscope guide tube There was a problem that could not be determined. In addition, if the endoscope guide tube is curved so as to meander in the internal space, even if it is pushed in from the proximal end to be inserted, it only further meanders and can be inserted further. There was a problem that made it impossible.

  In the endoscope guide tube of Patent Document 2, linearity is maintained by urging the pinion by an elastic body and applying an urging force equally to the pair of wires, and comes into contact with the inner surface of the subject. It is possible to bend only at the time, but the direction of bending changes depending on the direction of insertion and the direction of the inner surface inside the subject, and it is unclear as to which direction the tip is oriented as described above. There was a problem. Further, there is a problem that the bending performance is lowered and the insertability is lowered due to the application of the axial force to impart linearity. Furthermore, in the endoscope guide tube of Patent Document 3, the bending state can be changed by the tension state of the wire, but it is possible to control in which direction the wire is bent when the wire is relaxed. However, as described above, it is unclear which direction the tip is directed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is an endoscope apparatus that guides even a subject in which an internal space to be observed is curved and spreads in a certain direction with respect to an entrance portion. An endoscope guide tube and an endoscope apparatus are provided that can stabilize the posture of the insertion portion and can easily insert and observe a desired position.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The guide tube for an endoscope of the present invention includes a tube body that is substantially tubular and has a channel through which the insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus can be inserted , and can be bent only in one direction. are elastic members arranged for applying a restoring force to maintain the shape, the elastic member is a different length, that you have been more disposed toward the distal side from the proximal end of the channel It is a feature.

According to the endoscope guide tube according to the present invention, if the tube body is pushed into the subject and inserted in a state where the insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus is inserted into the channel, the tube body is curved only in one direction. It will be inserted while. In other words, by inserting the tube main body so that the direction in which the subject is bent substantially matches the direction in which the tube main body can be bent, the straight direction is excellent in directions other than the direction in which the subject is bent. Can be ensured, and it can be easily bent according to the shape of the subject with respect to the direction in which the subject is bent. For this reason, it can insert reliably toward the desired direction inside a subject, without meandering inside a subject.
In addition, a restoring force is applied to the tube body curved in one direction by an elastic member disposed in the channel, so that the original shape is maintained. For this reason, it is possible to improve the straightness and transmit the pushing force from the proximal end to the distal end side suitably, and in the range curved in one direction according to the subject, it is curved more than necessary. Can be regulated.
Further, since a plurality of elastic members having different lengths are arranged from the proximal end of the channel toward the distal end side, the restoring force is applied to the tube body by the more elastic members on the proximal end side than the distal end side. Can act. That is, in the tube main body, the rigidity on the proximal end side can be increased more than the distal end side, the force pushed from the proximal end can be more suitably transmitted to the distal end side, and more than necessary in a range curved in one direction. Can be more reliably regulated.

  Further, in the endoscope guide tube, it is more preferable that the tube body is formed of a plurality of annular bodies that are coaxially disposed and are connected to each other so as to be rotatable only in the one direction. Has been.

  According to the endoscope guide tube according to the present invention, each of the annular bodies is rotatably connected in only one direction, so that the tube body constituted by the plurality of annular bodies as a whole is only in one direction. It is possible to bend, and straightness can be secured in directions other than the one direction.

  Furthermore, in the endoscope guide tube, it is more preferable that the elastic member is a leaf spring disposed so as to be able to bend in the same direction as the one direction in which the tube main body is bendable. ing.

  According to the endoscope guide tube according to the present invention, the leaf spring is disposed as the elastic member, which is effective for the tube body curved in one direction while saving the space in the channel. Restoring force can be applied to

  An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described endoscope guide tube, and a flexible insertion portion that is inserted through the channel of the endoscope guide tube. .

  According to the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the insertion portion is surely moved in a desired direction inside the subject without being meandered inside the subject by being guided by the guide tube for endoscope. It can be inserted and the desired position can be observed.

In addition, the above endoscope apparatus is characterized by including a vibration generating unit that vibrates the subject.
According to the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, when the endoscope guide tube is inserted into the subject with the insertion portion being inserted into the channel, the subject is vibrated by the vibrating means. The vibration is transmitted to the endoscope guide tube that contacts the subject inside the subject. For this reason, the friction generated between the endoscope guide tube and the subject can be temporarily released by the transmitted vibration, so that the endoscope guide tube can be more suitably pushed by pushing from the proximal end. Can be inserted.

  According to the endoscope guide tube and the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, since the tube main body can be bent in only one direction, it can be easily bent only in a certain direction while ensuring straightness. Even with a subject whose internal space to be observed is curved and spreads in a certain direction with respect to the entrance part, the posture of the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus to be guided can be stabilized and easily reached to a desired position. Allows insertion and observation.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to an elongated insertion portion 2 that has an observation means at a distal end and is inserted into a subject, and a proximal end side of the insertion portion 2. The operation section 3 and the main body section 4, and the endoscope guide tube 10 sheathed on the insertion section 2 are provided. The insertion portion 2 includes, in order from the distal end side, a rigid distal end portion 2a, a bending portion 2b that can be bent, and an elongated and flexible flexible tube portion 2c. Although not shown, the distal end portion 2a is provided with illumination means for illuminating the subject on the distal end side and observation means for observing the distal end side with illumination light from the illumination means. The illumination means is an LED or a light guide, and the observation means is a CCD camera or the like. The operation unit 3 is provided with a joystick 5 for bending the bending portion 2 b of the insertion portion 2. The main body 4 includes a lighting unit, an observation unit, and a power source for bending the bending portion 2b, and a monitor 4a that outputs an output from the observation unit as an image.

  The endoscope guide tube 10 includes a tube body 11 having a channel 11 a through which the insertion portion 2 is inserted. The tube body 11 is a substantially tubular structure having an outer shape and a cross-sectional shape of the channel 11 a that is substantially rectangular, and includes a plurality of annular bodies 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the annular body 12 protrudes toward the one end 13 b side of the body member 13 having a substantially rectangular outer shape in which a through hole 13 a having a substantially rectangular cross section corresponding to the channel 11 a is formed. A pair of first connection members 14 and a pair of second connection members 15 projecting to the other end 13c side of the main body member 13. The pair of first connection members 14 are substantially semicircular and are provided at one end 13 b of the main body 13. In the first connecting member 14, a fitting hole 14a having a substantially circular cross section is formed at a central position.

  On the other hand, in the body member 13, a cutout portion 13 d having a substantially semicircular shape and a slightly larger diameter than the first connection member 14 is located at a position corresponding to the pair of first connection members 14 on the other end 13 c side. Is formed. Further, the pair of second connecting members 15 are joined to the inner surface of the main body member 13 at positions corresponding to the first connecting members 14 in the main body member 13, that is, inside the notch 13d, and on the other end 13c side. It protrudes. The second connection member 15 has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the width is set to be substantially equal to the width of the inner surface constituting the through hole 13a. Of the two edge portions 15a and 15b extending in the axial direction of the through hole 13a in the second connection member 15, one edge portion 15a protrudes toward the other end 13c of the body member 13 and has a corner portion 15c. On the other hand, the other edge end portion 15b is cut out so that the corner portion is inclined with respect to the one end portion 15a, and a chamfered portion 15d is formed. Further, in the second connecting member 15, a fitting convex portion having a substantially circular cross section that can be fitted into the fitting hole 14 a of the first connecting member 14 is located at the center of the notch portion 13 d of the main body member 13. 15e is provided so as to protrude outward.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, in a state where the annular bodies 12 are connected to each other, a portion of the annular body 12 on the distal end side that protrudes toward the other end 13c side of the second connecting member 15 is located on the proximal end side. The main body member is inserted into the through hole 13a of the main body member 13 of the annular body 12 and the first connection member 14 of the annular body 12 on the proximal end side is outside the second connection member 15 of the annular body 12 on the distal end side. It will be in the state accommodated in 13 notch parts 13d. Further, in this state, the fitting convex portion 15e of the second connecting member 15 of the annular body 12 on the base end side is fitted into the fitting hole 14a of the first connecting member 14 of the annular body 12 on the distal end side. Thus, the annular bodies 12 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about the center axis L of the center of the fitting hole 14a and the fitting convex portion 15d.

  Here, as described above, the width of the second connecting member 15 is substantially equal to the width of the inner surface of the through hole 13a, and one end portion 15a protrudes with a corner portion 15c. Therefore, when the adjacent annular bodies 12 try to rotate in the rotation direction P when trying to rotate with each other in a plane perpendicular to the central axis L with the central axis L as the center, One edge end 15a of the second connecting member 15 comes into contact with the through hole 13a of the main body 13 of the annular body 12 on the base end side, and rotation is restricted. On the other hand, when attempting to rotate in the opposite rotation direction Q, as shown in FIG. 2B, a chamfered portion 15d is formed at the other end portion 15b of the second connecting member 15 of the annular body 12 on the distal end side. As a result, the other edge 15b of the second connecting member 15 of the annular body 12 on the distal end side rotates without coming into contact with the through hole 13a of the main body 13 of the annular body 12 on the proximal end side. be able to. That is, the tube main body 11 configured by connecting the annular bodies 12 is removed from the linear state in a plane orthogonal to the central axis L by the restricting means configured by the one edge portion 15a of the second connection member 15. It is in a state where it can be freely bent only in one direction of the bending direction R corresponding to one rotation direction Q.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the notch part 13d is not formed in the main body member 13 of the annular body 12A connected to the most proximal side among the connected annular bodies 12, and the second member The connecting member 15 is also not joined. Further, the first connecting member 14 is not projected from the one end 13b of the main body member 13 of the annular body 12B connected to the most distal end side, and a guide member 16 is projected instead. The guide member 16 is provided at one end 13b of the body member 13 of the annular body 12B so as to regulate the bending of the insertion portion 2 protruding from the channel 11a toward the distal end in the direction opposite to the bending direction R.

  Next, the operation of the endoscope apparatus 1 and the endoscope guide tube 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 and 5 show a situation diagram in which the subject is observed by the endoscope apparatus 1. As an example of the subject in which the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is most effectively used, an inner tube The case where the internal space S3 of the double pipe S comprised by S1 and the outer pipe | tube S2 is observed is shown. In the inner pipe S1 of the double pipe S, a plurality of valves S4 that communicate the internal space S3 and the outside are provided in the axial direction. The diameter of the valve S4 is set to be substantially equal to the outer width of the tube main body 11 of the endoscope guide tube 10 in the opened state, and is used for the endoscope through the valve S4 from the outside toward the internal space S3. It is possible to insert the guide tube 10. Then, the insertion portion 2 inserted through the endoscope guide tube 10 is inserted into the internal space S3 from the valve S4, and the internal space S3 is observed in order in the observation direction T that is clockwise in FIG. To do.

  First, in the endoscope apparatus 1, the insertion portion 2 is inserted through the channel 11 a of the endoscope guide tube 10. At this time, the distal end portion 2a of the insertion portion 2 is kept in the channel 11a. Next, in the endoscope guide tube 10 and the insertion portion 2 that are bent in the bending direction R, the bending direction R and the direction that is bent when observing in the observation direction T are matched. Thus, it arrange | positions along the observation direction T of internal space S3 toward the front-end | tip from a base end inside the inner pipe | tube S1.

  And the front-end | tip of the guide tube 10 for endoscopes is pushed in from desired valve | bulb S4, and is inserted in internal space S3. The endoscope guide tube 10 passing through the valve S4 is inserted while being substantially linear according to the shape of the valve S4. Here, when the position of the valve S4 is as shown in FIG. 5, the portion of the endoscope guide tube 10 that has reached the internal space S3 is directed in the direction opposite to the observation direction T by its own weight. However, since the endoscope guide tube 10 can be bent only in the bending direction R that coincides with the observation direction T, it is inserted while maintaining a straight state. And the front-end | tip of the guide tube 10 for endoscopes contacts the inner surface S2a of the outer tube | pipe S2 in internal space S3, and the guide tube 10 for endoscopes is curved by the external force which acts. Here, as described above, the endoscope guide tube 10 can bend only in the bending direction R, so that the inner surface S2a of the outer tube S2 is curved toward the observation direction T in which the bending direction R is matched. It will be inserted along.

  And when it is inserted to the upper part in the internal space S3, it will bend further downward by its own weight, and will come off from the inner surface S2a of the outer tube S2 and come into contact with the outer surface S1a of the inner tube S1, and from the inner tube S3 Will act. The external force acting from the inner tube S3 acts to bend the endoscope guide tube 10 in a direction opposite to the bending direction R, so that the endoscope guide tube 10 also has a size in the inner space S3. However, it is in a straight line state and tries to bend further in the direction opposite to the bending direction R. However, since the guide tube for endoscope 10 is restricted from being curved in the direction opposite to the bending direction R from the linear state by the second connecting member 15 of each annular body 12, the state is curved in the bending direction R. Alternatively, the straight line state is maintained, and it is not bent so as to bend in a direction opposite to the bending direction R and meander. For this reason, the pushing force from the proximal end is reliably transmitted to the distal end side and can be inserted toward the observation direction T. Since the endoscope guide tube 10 is bent only in the bending direction R, the bending direction R of the endoscope guide tube 10 and the direction of bending when observing in the observation direction T in advance coincide with each other. Since the insertion is surely performed in the observation direction T, the position of the distal end of the endoscope guide tube 10 in the internal space S3 is determined according to the length inserted from the valve S4 by the push-in insertion. You can identify what you are doing.

  Then, in the internal space S3 of the subject S, observation is started when the distal end of the endoscope guide tube 10 reaches a desired position. That is, the distal end portion 2 a and the curved portion 2 b of the insertion portion 2 inserted through the channel 11 a are projected from the distal end of the endoscope guide tube 10. Then, by operating the joystick 5 of the operation unit 3 to freely bend the bending portion 2b, the distal end portion 2a is disposed in a desired direction, and the outer surface S1a of the inner tube S1 or the inner surface S2a of the outer tube S2 is observed. can do.

  When the subject S shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a rotating body, the endoscope S is inserted once so as to make one round, and then the subject S is rotated while rotating the subject S in the observation direction T. It is more preferable to perform observation in the internal space S3 sequentially while pulling out the mirror guide tube 10. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 5, the position of the distal end portion 2a of the insertion portion 2 with respect to the subject S is observed in the observation direction while keeping the position of the distal end of the endoscope guide tube 10 constant in the radial direction. By changing to T, the entire circumference can be suitably observed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the annular body 12 is formed to have a substantially rectangular outer shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tube body 11 formed by connecting and connecting the members with a substantially circular cross section is formed in a circular tube shape. It may be formed. Further, the adjacent annular bodies 12 can be rotated around the central axis L corresponding to the fitting hole 14a and the fitting convex portion 15e, and can be rotated only in one direction using the second connecting member 15 as a restricting means. It is not limited to this. For example, a rotatable shaft is provided on one side of the body member 13 of the annular body 12 to connect the adjacent annular bodies 12 to each other, and one end 13b and the other end 13c of the body member 13 of the adjacent annular body 12 are connected. May be made to rotate in only one direction by contacting each other as a regulating means.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, members that are the same as those used in the above-described embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the endoscope apparatus of this embodiment, an endoscope guide tube 20 includes a tube main body 11 and a leaf spring 21 that is an elastic member disposed in a channel 11 a of the tube main body 11. It has. The leaf spring 21 is disposed so as to be able to bend in a bending direction R in which the tube main body 11 can be bent, and is located on at least one of the annular bodies 12A and 12B (see FIG. 1) located on the most proximal side or distal end side. It is fixed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the other annular body 12 positioned in the middle is fixed by a pressing member 22 provided in the main body member 13 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction of the channel 11 a.

  In the endoscope guide tube 20 of the present embodiment, a restoring force is applied to the tube main body 11 bent in the bending direction R by the leaf spring 21 disposed in the channel 11a. For this reason, it is possible to improve the straight advanceability and to suitably transmit the force pushed from the proximal end to the distal end side, and when it is curved in the bending direction R according to the subject S, it is bent more than necessary. Can be regulated. Further, since the leaf spring 21 is selected as the elastic member disposed in the channel 11a, the restoring force is effectively applied to the tube body 11 curved in the bending direction R while saving the space in the channel 11a. Can act.

  The elastic member is not limited to a leaf spring. For example, the shape is not limited to a plate shape, and may be a member formed in a spiral shape or a tube shape. The material is not limited to a metal material, and may be a resin material. That is, as the elastic member, at least, any elastic member may be used as long as the tube body 11 can be bent in one direction and the restoring force is applied to maintain the shape.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. 7 and 8 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, members that are the same as those used in the above-described embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the endoscope apparatus according to this embodiment, the endoscope guide tube 30 is an elastic member disposed in the tube body 11 and the channel 11a of the tube body 11 as a first member. Three elastic members including a single plate spring 31, a second plate spring 32, and a third plate spring 33 are provided. The length of each elastic member is set such that the third leaf spring 33 is substantially equal to the length of the tube body 11, and the second leaf spring 32 and the first leaf spring 31 are shortened in this order. On the other hand, each of the first leaf spring 31, the second leaf spring 32, and the third leaf spring 33 is fixed with its proximal end aligned with the proximal end of the tube body 11. For this reason, the number of elastic members to be arranged is set so as to decrease sequentially from the proximal end of the tube main body 11 toward the distal end side. As a result, a restoring force can be applied to the tube body 11 by more elastic members on the proximal side than the distal side, that is, the rigidity of the proximal side of the tube body 11 is higher than that of the distal side. It has become. For this reason, while being able to transmit the force pushed from a base end more suitably to the front end side, when curving in the curving direction R, it can control more certainly that it curves more than necessary.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, members that are the same as those used in the above-described embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the endoscope apparatus 40 of this embodiment includes an insertion portion 2, an operation portion 3, a main body portion 4, an endoscope guide tube 10, and a vibration generating means 41. Yes. The vibration generating means 41 includes an oscillator 41a that generates an electric signal having a predetermined frequency, and a vibrator 41b that is connected to the oscillator 41a and generates vibration according to the input electric signal.

  In the endoscope apparatus 40 of this embodiment, when the endoscope guide tube 10 is inserted into the subject S in a state where the insertion portion 2 is inserted into the channel 11a, the exciter 41b of the excitation means 41 is used. Thus, vibration can be applied to the double tube S as the subject. And the vibration given to the double pipe S from the vibration generating means 41 is transmitted to the guide tube 10 for endoscopes which contacts the inner pipe S1 in the internal space S3. For this reason, the friction which arises between the guide tube 10 for endoscopes and the double tube | pipe S by the transmitted vibration can be cancelled | released temporarily, and, thereby, an endoscope more suitably by pushing from a base end. The guide tube 10 can be inserted.

  In FIG. 9, vibration is applied only to the inner tube S1, but vibration may be applied to the outer tube S2. Further, when the endoscope guide tube 10 is inserted, if the position where the endoscope guide tube 10 is in contact in the internal space S3 is clear or can be inferred, the endoscope guide tube 10 is contacted. By attaching the vibrator 41b in the vicinity of the position, vibration can be transmitted to the endoscope guide tube 10 more effectively, which is preferable.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, members that are the same as those used in the above-described embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the endoscope apparatus of this embodiment, the tube main body 51 of the endoscope guide tube 50 is a tubular body having a substantially rectangular cross section having a channel 51a. The tube main body 51 is formed of a resin or the like having such a rigidity that it can maintain linearity even if it is inserted into a subject and abuts against a wall surface or the like. The tube main body 51 is provided with a plurality of slits 51b formed on one side substantially in parallel with a surface orthogonal to the axial direction at equal intervals in the axial direction. For this reason, the tube main body 51 can be bent toward one side where the slit 51b is formed, but does not bend in the other direction due to its own rigidity in the other direction. In this way, the plurality of annular bodies are not configured by connecting with a restricting means, but can be bent in one direction by forming a slit in the tube body, while the self-rigidity can be used as the restricting means. It is good also as a structure which does not curve in the direction.

  In the present embodiment, the tube main body 51 is a substantially linear member having a substantially rectangular cross section in a state where no external force is applied, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the cross section may be substantially circular. Or it is a tube main body of a cross section as shown in FIG.10 and FIG.11, Comprising: The range which the slit of the tube main body of FIG.10 and FIG. A plurality of slits may be provided on the opposite side. By doing in this way, a tube main body can be easily changed from the state curved in one direction until it becomes a substantially linear shape, and can provide the curvature and straightness in one direction.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the endoscope apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) Detailed sectional drawing of the guide tube for endoscopes in a linear state, (b) Detailed sectional drawing of the guide tube for endoscopes in a curved state. . In the endoscope apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the detail of the annular body which comprises the tube main body of the guide tube for endoscopes. In the endoscope apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, it is explanatory drawing at the time of inserting the guide tube for endoscopes and an insertion part in a subject. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line AA in FIG. 4. In the endoscope apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) Detailed sectional drawing of the guide tube for endoscopes in a linear state, (b) Detailed sectional drawing of the guide tube for endoscopes in a curved state. . It is a side view which shows the detail of the guide tube for endoscopes in the endoscope apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which showed typically the guide tube for endoscopes in the endoscope apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a whole block diagram which shows the endoscope apparatus of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of the guide tube for endoscopes in the endoscope apparatus of the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of the guide tube for endoscopes of the modification of the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope apparatus 2 Insertion part 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 Guide tube for endoscopes 11, 51 Tube main body 11a Channel 12 Ring body 21 Leaf spring (elastic member)
31 First leaf spring (elastic member)
32 Second leaf spring (elastic member)
33 Third leaf spring (elastic member)
41 Exciting means Q Rotation direction R Curvature direction (one direction)
S Double tube (subject)

Claims (5)

A tube body that is substantially tubular and has a channel through which the insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus can be inserted, and can be bent only in one direction ,
In the channel of the tube main body, an elastic member that applies a restoring force so as to maintain the shape is disposed,
The elastic member is a different length, are more disposed toward the distal side from the proximal end of said channel for an endoscope guide tube, characterized in Rukoto. The endoscope guide tube according to claim 1 ,
The guide tube for an endoscope, wherein the tube body is configured by a plurality of annular bodies that are coaxially disposed and are connected to each other so as to be rotatable only in the one direction. In the endoscope guide tube according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The guide tube for an endoscope, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring disposed so as to be able to bend in the same direction as the one direction in which the tube main body is bendable. An endoscope guide tube according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An endoscope apparatus comprising: a flexible insertion portion that is inserted through the channel of the endoscope guide tube. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
An endoscope apparatus comprising a vibration generating unit that applies vibration to a subject.

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