JPH0243484B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope with an improved assembly structure of an operating section.

As shown in Fig. 1, the assembly structure of the operating section in a conventional endoscope has a base a as the main body of the operating section, and a pair of left and right covers b and a are attached to the base a using screws or the like. It is designed to be fixed with screws. In this case, the base a has mechanical strength, and the covers b, b can only serve as a casing attached to the base a.

However, built-in members c, such as a bending operation wire, a treatment instrument inductor raising wire, an air/water supply tube, various channels, and electrical wiring, are arranged around the base body a in the operation section, and furthermore, this part In order to connect the material from the insertion section side and the material from the eyepiece side or the connector to the attached device, the base a cannot have a shape with a large section modulus, and as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in , the cross-sectional shape was approximately I-shaped.

Therefore, in order to ensure strength against compression and bending, the operating section must be heavy and thick. In other words, it is inadequate as an endoscope operating section that must be held with one hand and operated for a long period of time.

The present invention was made with attention to the above circumstances, and
The aim was to create an endoscope with an operating section that is light and small, which satisfies the most necessary conditions for an endoscope operating section that can be held in one hand and operated for a long period of time, while also having a structure that provides sufficient strength. It is about providing.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 14.
This will be explained based on the diagram.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the entire endoscope. The endoscope includes an insertion section 1, an operation section 2, and a light guide cable 3. The operating section 2 is comprised of an operating section main body 4 as shown in FIG. 3, and a casing 5 made of a synthetic resin material that covers and encloses the operating section main body 4. The casing 5 is divided into two parts: a casing main body 6 in the shape of a hollow box and a rectangular cylinder, and a cylindrical gripping cover 7, which are joined so that their hollow parts communicate with each other. The casing body 6 includes an eyepiece 8, an air/water supply control member 9, and a suction control member 11.
and a bending operation knob 12 are provided. In FIG. 2, 10a is an intermediate connecting portion of the air/water feeding tube, and 10b, 10b is an intermediate connecting portion of a suction tube 54, which will be described later. These intermediate joints 10a, 10b, 10b are all arranged inside the grip cover 7. Further, an inclined surface 13 is formed in a portion of the casing body 6 on the opposite side from the bending operation knob 12, and this inclined surface 13 is provided with an opening 14 located opposite to the operation section main body 4. . A casing lid 15 made of a synthetic resin material is attached to the opening 14 so as to close it. The base end of the light guide cable 3 is connected to the casing lid 15.

The fixing structure of the casing lid 15 to the casing body 6 and the connection structure of the light guide cable 3 to the operating section body 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A fixing metal fitting 17 is provided on a plate surface of the operation section main body 4 facing the opening 14. As shown in FIG. The material of this fixture 17 is, for example, JIS C1720P, C5211P,
C2680P, C2800P, A5052P, SPCC, SUS304CP
It is formed by pressing a thin metal plate such as, and is composed of a top plate portion 18 and three support legs 19 bent integrally with the top plate portion 18. Furthermore, bent portions 19a are formed at the lower ends of the support legs 19, and each of the bent portions 19a
A mounting hole 19b is provided in which the fixing screw 20 is loosely inserted via a spring washer 20a. This fixing fitting 17 is attached to the fixing screw 2.
0... is fixed to the operating section main body 4. Therefore, the upper portions of the top plate portion 18 and support leg portions 19 of the fixture 17 protrude from the opening 14 of the casing body 6, and the top plate portion 18 and support leg portions 19, 19 that protrude from the top plate portion 18 and the support leg portions 19, 19 are attached. Hole 21...
is drilled. A proximal end portion of the light guide cable 3 is connected to this fixture 17. That is, the light guide cable 3 is fitted into a flexible tube 22 for accommodating elongated members such as a light guide fiber f, a fluid transport tube t, and an electric signal line l, and an end portion of this flexible tube 22. Consisting of a base tube 23, a notch 24 is provided at the base end of the base tube 23, and this notch 24
Screw holes 25 facing the mounting holes 21 of the fixing fittings 17 are bored in the screw holes 25 . Then, insert the fixing screws 26 that pass through the mounting holes 21 into the screw holes 2.
It is fixed integrally by screwing into 5.... Furthermore, a bend-preventing rubber tube 27 is fitted to the proximal end of the flexible tube 22, and a cap 28 is screwed and bonded to the open end of this tube. Further, a base end portion of a tightening ring 29 is screwed and adhesively fixed to the base 28 . This tightening ring 29 protrudes from the end surface of the anti-bending rubber tube 27, and a first annular groove 30 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of this protrusion.
A second annular groove 31 is provided on the outer peripheral surface.
The first and second annular grooves 30 and 31 are adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the tightening ring 29, and these first and second annular grooves 30 and 31 are provided with elastic seal members made of O-rings. 32 and 33 are stored.
Further, a stepped portion 34 is provided on the outer circumferential surface between the first and second annular grooves 30 and 31, and a female thread portion 35 is carved on the inner circumferential surface corresponding to the second annular groove 31. The female threaded portion 35 is screwed into a male threaded portion 36 carved on the outer peripheral surface of the protection tube 23. Further, a tightening annular portion 37 having a wedge-shaped cross section is integrally provided on the base end surface of the tightening ring 29, and is adapted to engage with the casing lid 15.

Further, the opening 14 provided in the inclined surface 13 of the casing body 6 has a rectangular shape, and an inclined pressure receiving part 38 is provided at the inner peripheral edge of the opening 14. Further, the casing lid body 15 has a rectangular shape so as to close the opening 14,
An inclined pressing portion 39 is provided on the outer peripheral edge thereof, and is connected to the inclined pressure receiving portion 38 . Furthermore, a protrusion 40 is provided on the inside of the inclined pressing part 39 to protrude along the outer circumferential edge thereof, and a protrusion 40 is provided on the outside of the protrusion 40 to form a watertight seal between the inner circumferential surface of the casing body 6 and the casing body 6 . An elastic seal member 41 made of an O-ring is fitted. Further, a rectangular cylindrical fitting tube 42 is integrally bored on the outer surface of the casing lid 15, and is fitted into the fixing fitting 17. A circular penetrating portion 43 that fits on the outer periphery of the tightening ring 29 is provided at the tip of the fitting cylinder 42 , and a fitting stepped portion 44 opposite to the stepped portion 34 of the tightening ring 29 is provided at the open end of the fitting cylinder 42 . is formed. Furthermore, the fitting tube 4
An inner circumferential protrusion 45 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of No. 2 at a portion facing a portion of the tightening annular portion 37. This inner circumferential protrusion 45 is formed with an engaging notch 46 that fits into the tightening annular portion 37 .

Next, an assembly method for connecting the light guide cable 3 to the operating section main body 4 fixed within the casing 5 will be described. Casing body 6
The fixing metal fittings 17 are inserted through the openings 14, and the supporting legs 19 are tightened and fixed to the operating section main body 4 with the fixing screws 20. In this case, each support leg 19
Since the mounting hole 19b is formed as a large-diameter hole into which the fixing screw 20 is loosely inserted, the fixing fitting 17 can be adjustably fixed at a unique position with respect to the operating section main body 4. Next, attach the proximal end of the base tube 23 provided on the flexible tube 22 of the light guide cable 3 to the fixing fitting 17.
The base tube 23 and the fixture 17 are integrally fixed with the fixing screws 26. In this case as well, since the fixing fitting 17 is formed of a thin metal plate, the positioning of the cap tube 23 can be adjusted by plastically deforming it, and the fitting tube 42 of the casing lid 15 to be attached later can be adjusted. Can be positioned. On the other hand, after fitting the elastic seal member 41 to the protrusion 40 of the casing lid 15, the fitting tube 4 of the casing lid 15 is
2 to the flexible tube 22 of the light guide cable 3
to fit. Then, the casing lid body 15 is moved toward the casing body 6, and the fitting tube 4 is moved toward the casing body 6 direction.
2 encloses the fixture 17, and the opening 14 is closed by joining the inclined pressing part 39 of the casing lid 15 to the inclined pressure receiving part 38 of the casing body 6. Next, the tightening ring 29 fitted with the elastic seal members 32 and 33 and the anti-bending rubber tube 27 integrally bonded thereto are fitted into the flexible tube 22 of the light guide cable 3, and the male threaded portion thereof is fitted into the flexible tube 22 of the light guide cable 3. 36 and the female threaded portion 35 of the tightening ring 29 and tighten. In this case, since the axis 15a of the light guide cable 3 and the axis 42a of the fitting tube 42 are eccentric by α, the elastic seal member 33 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the axis 15a by tightening the tightening ring 29. , that is, it applies a force in the direction of arrow A. Furthermore, the tightening ring 2
The tightening annular portion 37 of 9 is connected to the inner peripheral protrusion 4 of the fitting tube 42.
Because it engages with the engagement notch 46 in 5,
By tightening the tightening ring 29, a force in the direction of arrow P is applied to the inner peripheral protrusion 45. Therefore, the casing lid body 15 and the casing body 6 form the inclined pressure receiving part 38.
The inclined pressing portion 39 is fitted into and in close contact with the slanted pressing portion 39 . Although the elastic seal member 33 is biased due to the tightening of the clamping member 29, the seal is ensured even if the elastic seal member 33 is biased by the maximum amount that allows the clearance between the clamping ring 29 and the casing lid body 15. The tightening ring 29 and the casing lid 15 are completely watertightly sealed by the elastic seal member 33, and the casing body 6 and the casing lid 15 are watertightly sealed by the elastic seal member 41.

On the other hand, the grip cover 7 has an outer diameter and length suitable for the examiner to grip with one hand, and has a side surface of the end on the side of the insertion section 1 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. An attachment cylinder portion 48 for attaching a channel mouth body 47 is integrally formed with the tube. That is, the channel mouth body 4 is attached to this mounting cylinder part 48.
7 is inserted and removably inserted from the outside, and
A pair of mounting screws 51, 51 as shown in FIG.
Fixed by In addition, the channel mouth body 4
7 is connected to one end of a three-way pipe joint 52, as shown in FIG. A channel tube 53 is connected to the remaining one end of the three-way joint 52, and a suction tube 54 is connected to the other end.
In other words, this portion serves as the intermediate connecting portion 10b that connects the channel tube 53 and the suction tube 54 to the three-way joint 52, respectively.

By the way, the main body 4 of the operating section inserted into the inside of the casing 5 has a plurality of members, as shown in FIG. It consists of 58. More specifically, a pair of bent pieces 5 are provided at the end of the main plate 56 on the insertion portion 1 side.
9, 59, and one end of each of the frames 57, 57 is connected to each bent piece portion 59, 59 with a screw, and the frames 57, 57 are
The other ends of each are connected to the side surface of the cylindrical body 58 by screws. The base plate 56 is arranged across the casing body 6 and the grip cover 7, the frames 57, 57 are arranged inside the grip cover 7, and the cylindrical body 58 extends and protrudes from the opening at the tip of the grip cover 7. Placed. As shown in FIG. 8, the three-way pipe joint 52 is attached and fixed to the cylindrical body 58 by set screws 61, 61. Also,
A proximal end 62 of the flexible tube of the insertion section 1 is connected to the extending tip of the cylindrical body 58 by a retaining ring 63 . Furthermore, a stopper 65 made of a relatively hard elastic material is connected to the cylindrical body 58 via a connecting pipe 64. Further, a cylindrical watertight cover 66 is fitted around the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 58, and one end of this watertight cover 66 partially enters the open end of the grip cover 7 and is connected in a watertight manner. The other end of the watertight cover 66 is joined to the end surface of the stopper 65. Note that there are rings between the joints between the watertight cover 66 and the grip cover 7, between the joints between the watertight cover 66 and the cylinder body 58 on the insertion part 1 side, and between the cylinder body 58 and the base end of the insertion part 1. A shaped elastic packing 67 is interposed to ensure watertightness between the packings.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, a receiving portion 68 consisting of an annular protruding strip extending toward the center is formed over the entire circumference of the grip cover 7 on the inner circumferential surface of the opening on the side of the insertion portion 1. ing. This receiving portion 68 is connected to a tightening member 7 as a pressing member, which will be described later.
1 and 71 to press toward the grip cover 7 side. That is, the nut-shaped fastening members 71, 71 screwed into the external threads 69 formed on the circumferential surface of the cylinder 58 come into contact with the receiving part 68, and by advancing the fastening members 71, 71 toward the grip cover 7 side, The grip cover 7 can be pressed, and the operation section main body 4 can be pulled as a reaction.

On the other hand, the other end of the operating section main body 4 is connected to the casing main body 6 by a connecting means described later. In other words,
The end of the base plate 56 on the eyepiece section 8 side is attached and fixed to the side wall 74 of the casing body 6 using a pair of members, for example, metal bodies 72 and 73. That is, the side wall 74 is sandwiched between a pair of metal bodies 72 and 73, and fixed by tightening with setscrews 75 and nuts 76 passing through these three bodies.

Note that pieces 77, 77 formed on one side of the inner metal body 72 are screwed to the base plate 56. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the outer metal body 7
3, the parts of the eyepiece section 8 are assembled using this.

Furthermore, the casing body 6 of the casing 5 and the grip cover 7 are connected as shown in FIG. That is, the casing body 6 is formed with a protrusion 79 that protrudes from the joint end surface 78 toward the grip cover 7 and corresponds to the shape of the opening of the grip cover 7, and this protrusion 79 is fitted into the open end of the grip cover 7. It's becoming like that. Further, the inner peripheral portion of the opening of the grip cover 7 into which the protrusion 79 is fitted is formed to have a large diameter in accordance with the thickness of the protrusion 79 to form a stepped portion 80 . At the tip of the rising wall of this stepped portion 80 is a protrusion 8 that protrudes toward the casing body 6 side.
0a is formed, and a corresponding protrusion 79a is also formed at the tip of the protrusion 79. Each of the protrusions 79a and 80a forms a slope on the bottom side of the stepped portion 80, and a ring-shaped elastic packing 81 is fitted into the space surrounded by the protrusions 79a and 80a.

On the other hand, a bending operation mechanism as an operation mechanism is attached to the base plate 56 of the operation section main body 4, as shown in FIG. That is, of the base plate 56,
A fixing portion 82a of a shaft 82 is provided on the upper surface of one end located inside the casing body 6, and the shaft 82 is provided in a protruding manner, and an inner sleeve 83 and an outer sleeve 84 are rotatably fitted onto this shaft 82. has been done.
One end of each sleeve 83, 84 engages with a pair of sprockets 85, 85 (only one shown) which are vertically positioned and rotatably provided in the axial direction of the shaft 82, and the other end is connected to the casing body 6. The above-mentioned bending operation knobs 12, 12 protrude (only one is shown).
are connected to each other. In addition, the base plate 56
On the upper surface of the other end protruding into the grip cover 7, a partition member 86 having a U-shaped cross section is attached and fixed along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 56 by a presser plate 87 via its intermediate side. On the outside of both sides of the partition wall member 86, passages 89 are defined in two upper and lower stages by partition walls 88. The partition wall 88 is divided into an inner partition wall 88a and an outer partition wall 88b in the width direction of the passage 89.
Each of the partition walls 88a and 88b is supported and fixed at a longitudinally intermediate portion and an end portion on the sprocket 85 side by first and second support portions 90a and 90 erected on the base plate 56.

A mounting plate 91 is erected on the end surface of the partition wall member 86 on the side opposite to the sprocket 85, and a flat holding member 92 having a width larger than that of the partition wall member 86 is bonded and fixed to this mounting plate 91. . The passages 8 are provided at both ends of the holding member 92 in the width direction.
Two notches 93 are formed in correspondence with the notches 9. This notch 93 has a hollow cylindrical regulating member 94 with a small-diameter stepped portion 94a formed in the middle part in the axial direction.
is provided in a state in which movement in the axial direction is restricted by engaging the stepped portion 94a. This regulating member 9
4 is held by the end of the outer partition wall 88b so as not to come off from the notch 93. Further, a flexible wire guide pipe 95 made of a tightly wound coil or the like, which is inserted over the entire length of the insertion portion 1, is fitted into the regulating member 94 at its base end and fixed by brazing with a brazing material 96a. ing. A wire 96 is inserted through the wire guide pipe 95. The distal end of the wire 96 is connected and fixed to a piece (not shown) constituting the curved portion, and the proximal end is led to the passage 89. A connecting member 97 is connected to the proximal end of the wire 96 led into the passage 89, and an end of a chain 98 whose midway portion is engaged with the sprocket 85 is connected to the connecting member 97. The connecting member 97 has a wire 9
A collision member 99 is installed in a state perpendicular to the axis of 6. A portion of the collision member 99 protrudes outward in the width direction of the base plate 56, and the outer circumferential surface of this protruding portion is formed into a slope 100 forming an acute angle with the end surface thereof.

On the other hand, a first support portion 90 erected on the base plate 56
A wall portion 101 formed by bending a part of this base plate 56 or a separate member into an L-shape is provided between a and the second support portion 90. A support hole 102 is bored in one side of the wall portion 101 along the width direction of the base plate 56, and a screw 103 having a receiving portion 103c between a screw portion 103a and a head 103b is inserted into the support hole 102. It is rotatably supported via the receiving portion 103c. That is, this screw 103 has its axis parallel to the axis of the wire 96 and parallel to the axis of the wire 96.
The end of the threaded portion 103 a is engaged with a support hole 104 formed in the second support portion 90 . A stopper 105 is screwed onto the threaded portion 103a of this screw 103. This stopper 105
The height of the stopper 105 is formed to be slightly smaller than that of the passage 89, so that when the screw 103 is rotated, the stopper 105 moves back and forth through the passage 89 without rotating. Note that the passage 89 in the portion where the screw 103 is provided is defined by an outer partition wall 88b. On one side of the stopper 105 facing the partition wall member 86,
A slope 106 is formed at an angle corresponding to the slope 100 of the collision member 99, and the slope 40 of the collision member 99 is formed on the slope 106 of the stopper 105.
When the wires 96 collide with each other, the travel of the wire 96, that is, the maximum bending angle of the curved portion in the vertical and horizontal directions is restricted.

On the other hand, the head 103b of the screw 103 is provided with an engagement hole 107 that passes through the head 103b in the radial direction. A locking spring 108 made of a wire bent into a wave shape is provided in the engagement hole 107 with one end thereof engaged. Further, the other end of the locking spring 108 is in pressure contact with the first support portion 90a in a compressed state. Therefore, the rotation of the screw 103 is restricted by the locking spring 108, and the head 1
The end face of 03b is fixed to the wall part 1 by the restoring force of the locking spring 108.
01 and its movement in the direction of coming out of the support hole 102 is restricted.

In the bending operation mechanism configured in this way,
When the sprocket 85 is rotated by the bending operation knob 12 and the chain 98 is run in order to bend the curved part of the insertion section 1, the wire 96 on one passage 89 side in the width direction of the main plate 56 is pulled, and the wire 96 on the other side is pulled. The wire 96 on the passage 89 side is pushed.
Therefore, the curved portion is connected to the wire 9 to be towed.
It will be curved in the direction of 6. and,
When the wire 96 is further pulled, the slope 100 of the collision member 99 provided on the connecting member 97 that connects the base end of the wire 96 and the chain 98 collides with the slope 106 of the stopper 105, so that the wire 96 is pulled away. It will no longer be possible to tow more than that. That is, the maximum bending angle of the bending portion is regulated by the stopper 105. Furthermore, as the collision member 99 collides with the stopper 105, the screw 103 is pressed toward the second support portion 90 via the stopper 105. However, the end surface of the head 103b of this screw 103 is connected to the wall portion 101.
This contact causes the stopper 10 to abut against the side surface of the stopper 10
5 is prevented from shifting in the axial direction, so there is no risk that the maximum bending angle of the bending portion will become larger than the initially set angle.

On the other hand, in order to change the maximum bending angle of the curved portion, the locking spring 108 provided in a compressed state between the first support portion 90a and the engagement hole 107 of the head 103b of the screw 103 may be further compressed. Remove by. Next, rotate the screw 103 to stop the stopper 1.
05 toward the second support portion 90, the bending operation knob 12 is rotated to bend the bending portion to a predetermined bending angle. In this state, the bending operation knob 12 is fixed, and the screw 103 is rotated in the opposite direction until the slope 106 of the stopper 105 comes into contact with the slope 100 of the collision member 99. Then, the locking spring 1 is inserted between the first support portion 90a and the engagement hole 107 of the head 103b of the screw 103.
08 is installed again, the stopper 105
3, the maximum bending angle of the bending portion is set by this stopper 105.

In order to engage the end of the locking spring 108 with the engagement hole 107, it may be necessary to slightly rotate the screw 108 from a predetermined position.
If the pitch of the screw 103 is made small enough, a slight rotation of the screw 103 will cause the stopper 1 to
05 hardly moves, so it does not affect the maximum bending angle of the bending part.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, stopper members 111 and 112 as stoppers for preventing deflection are attached to the protruding tips of the first supporting parts 90 and 90, respectively. Stopper members 111, 112 for preventing each deflection
Both are made of synthetic resin material and are attached by screwing into screw holes 104 formed in the supporting parts 90, 90. The deflection prevention stopper members 111 and 112 are in contact with the inner wall surface of the casing 5, and in this embodiment, the inner wall surface of the casing body 6. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, this deflection prevention stopper member 111,1
A stopper piece 113 as another stopper for preventing deflection is provided on the base plate 66 on the opposite side to the side 12.
is fixed with screws, and this stopper piece 11
3 is the inner wall surface of the casing body 6 (deflection prevention stopper member 111, 1
12)
It is coming into contact with the The deflection prevention stopper members 111, 112 and the stopper piece 113 are desirably arranged substantially (substantially) on a plane perpendicular to the surface of the base plate 56, as shown in FIG. Further, a stopper piece 113 is provided on the side where the operating section main body 4 bends and swells when the bending operating mechanism is operated, and the stopper members 111 and 112 for preventing deflection are further provided. and,
The ends of the deflection prevention stopper members 111, 112 and the stopper piece 113 are provided so as to be in constant contact with the inner wall of the casing body 6. For this reason, during the bending operation, etc., the operation section main body 4,
In particular, even if the base plate 56 tries to sag, this is prevented. Of course, this deflection can be prevented by applying a tensile force to the operating section main body 4 as described later, but the stopper member 11
1, 112 and the stopper piece 113, this can be completely prevented. This also produces the effect that the operating section main body 4 can be made thinner and more compact. However,
Stopper members 111, 112 and stopper piece 1
13 applies only a very slight stress to the casing body 6 due to contact, and no undesirable concentrated stress is applied. In addition, as in this embodiment, the deflection prevention stopper members 111, 112 and the stopper piece 113 are attached to the inner wall of the casing body 6.
It is not necessarily necessary to keep them in close contact with each other at all times, but they may be kept at a distance that allows them to come into contact when the operating section main body 4 is slightly bent.

Therefore, the assembly structure of the operating section 2 is such that a hollow box-shaped casing body 6 and a cylindrical gripping cover 7 are joined together to form a cylindrical casing 5 as a whole, and the operating section is provided inside this casing 5. The main body 4 is inserted and arranged, and both ends of the casing 5 are supported by the operating part main body 4 so as to apply a tensile force to the operating part main body 4. That is, the end of the operating section main body 4 on the eyepiece section 8 side is attached and fixed to the side wall 74 of the casing main body 6 using a pair of metal bodies 72 and 73. The cylindrical body 58 at the end of the operating section main body 4 on the insertion section 1 side is supported with the tightening member 71 pressed against the receiving section 68 of the grip cover 7, and the operating section main body 4 receives a tensile force, while
The casing 5 receives a compressive force as a reaction thereto. The elastic packing 81 interposed between the casing body 6 and the grip cover 7 is compressed to ensure watertightness.

Incidentally, the casing 5 resists deflection, buckling, and bending due to compression, but since it occupies the outermost shell of the operating section 2 and is formed into a hollow box shape and a cylindrical shape, it should be formed thin. also has a large section modulus. Therefore, the casing 5 can be made thin and light, and is strong against compression and bending. On the other hand, since the operating section main body 4 is configured to receive tensile force, it can be made thin and thin by being made of metal, for example. In other words, even if the operating section main body 4 is made thin and thin, it can still have sufficient strength against tensile force, so that the operating section main body 4 can be constructed more compactly. Further, since the operating section main body 4 always has tensile stress, when compressive force is applied to the operating section 2, this is offset. Moreover, since the operating section main body 4 always has tensile stress, it has a stronger resistance to bending than a case without this tensile stress.

Furthermore, when the casing body 6 and the grip cover 7 try to bend one side away from each other at their contact surfaces as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 14, the operation part body 4 will bend and its length will increase. (QP<
QR), but as mentioned above, with the above structure, the bending and elongation of the operation section main body 4 are small, so the changes are suppressed. Therefore, bending between the casing body 6 and the gripping cover 7 is also prevented. Due to the above-mentioned effects, the operating section 2 not only has sufficient strength against tension and can be constructed thin and light, but also has sufficient strength against compression and bending. In the conventional structure, when trying to obtain sufficient strength against compression and bending, the operation part 2 became thick and heavy and had excessive strength against tension, resulting in waste.However, in the above structure, the cross-sectional area And the operation part main body 4 which is not convenient for obtaining strength against compression and bending due to weight distribution.
By reducing the amount of the casing and increasing the amount of the outermost casing, it is possible to achieve a structure in which the operation section 2 is thin, light, and has sufficient strength while balancing strength against tension, compression, and bending.

Furthermore, in the above assembly structure, when the casing main body 6 is removed, the connecting portions of the built-in components are exposed, so that assembly workability is improved. Also,
Since the sealing portion between the casing body 6 and the gripping cover 7 can be easily configured as a simple ring-shaped joint, the sealing structure of that portion is simple and reliable. Moreover, since the casing body 6 and the gripping cover 7 can be assembled by pressure contact using the tightening member 71, there is no need for unnecessary through holes such as screw holes, which improves sealing performance and prevents galling due to eccentricity between the through hole and the screw. Since there is no material, it is easy to use synthetic resin, for example, and it can be manufactured at low cost by molding.

Note that in the above configuration, the operating section main body 4 in particular has a metal body 7 as a pair of members having a relatively large area.
Since the side walls 74 of the casing body 6 are sandwiched between the casing body 6 and the side walls 74, the fixation is reliable and strong, stress concentration on the casing body 6 is reduced, and durability is improved.

Furthermore, during the bending operation, compression and bending force are applied to the operating section main body 4 between the fixed part at the proximal end of the wire guide pipe 95 for bending operation and the fixed part of the bending wire advance/retreat means. Since the compressive force acts on this portion, the tensile force cancels out the compressive force, resulting in strong resistance to bending force.

As described above, according to the present invention, the operating section can be made lightweight and thin, and can have a highly durable structure that is resistant to compression and bending. especially,
Since the deflection-preventing stopper prevents the operating section main body from deflecting even when the operating mechanism is operated, this also makes it possible to form the operating section main body thin and compact. Further, according to the present invention, the operation part can be easily assembled, the sealing performance can be improved, and it can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the operating section of a conventional endoscope, Figs. 2 to 14 show an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the endoscope. , Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the operating unit main body, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating unit main body viewed from the opposite back side, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the connection structure portion of the light guide cable to the operating unit, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line - in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the channel mouth part, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the connecting part between the operating section and the insertion section, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the operating section. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the internal mechanism of the operating section, FIG. 11 is a side sectional view thereof, FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the connection between the operating section and the eyepiece, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the internal mechanism of the operating section. FIG. 14, a cross-sectional view of the casing, is also an explanatory view showing the action of the casing. 2... Operating unit, 4... Operating unit main body, 5... Casing, 6... Casing main body, 7... Gripping cover, 56... Base plate, 57... Frame, 58...
Cylindrical body, 68... Receiving part, 69... Male thread, 71...
...Tightening member, 72...Inner metal body, 73...
Outer metal body, 111... Stopper member for preventing deflection, 112... Stopper member for preventing deflection, 1
13...Stopper piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An endoscope having an operating section main body 4 having an elongated plate-like part for holding a bending operating mechanism, and a cylindrical casing 5 enclosing the operating section main body, the casing a connecting means for connecting one end and one end in the longitudinal direction of the operating section main body; and a receiving section 6 provided at the other end of the casing.
8; and a pressing member 71 that is fixed to the other end of the operation section main body in a state of contacting the receiving section and pressing the receiving section toward the connecting section. mirror. 2. An endoscope having an operating section main body 4 having an elongated plate-like part that holds a bending operation mechanism, and a cylindrical casing 5 enclosing this operating section main body, the endoscope having one end of the casing and the above-mentioned operation. a connecting means for connecting one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body; and a receiving part 6 provided at the other end of the casing.
8, a pressing member 71 that is fixed to the other end of the operating section main body in a state where it comes into contact with the receiving section and presses the receiving section toward the connecting section; and a surface of the plate-shaped section of the operating section main body. An endoscope comprising: a stopper provided between at least one of the back surfaces and the inner surface of the casing to regulate the distance therebetween.