JPH0371126B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope with an improved mounting structure for a jet nozzle for supplying liquid and air.

Generally, a distal end component of an endoscope is provided with a jet nozzle for cleaning the observation window and for other purposes. Normally, a jet nozzle is provided with a jet port formed with a small opening in order to increase the flow rate of the fluid sent from the delivery passage and jet it toward the observation window, and the observation window is cleaned through this jet port. I have to.

By the way, when the ejection nozzle configured in this way is used, that is, when the tip component is inserted into the body cavity, dirt and mucus from the body cavity may enter the small ejection port, causing damage to the ejection port and the delivery. They often clog aisles. For this reason, in order to eliminate clogging, the jet nozzle uses a removable structure so that it can be removed from the tip component and cleaned and disinfected along with the delivery channel, and can be replaced with a new jet nozzle. . By the way, the most important thing about making such a jet nozzle removable is that the jet nozzle can be easily positioned with respect to the cleaning surface of the observation window when attaching the jet nozzle to the tip component. can. Secondly, it is necessary that the jet nozzle can be easily attached and removed.

Conventionally, in view of these points, the
As seen in the publication, a locking part consisting of a thread or a step is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole, a leg part with an engaging part at the tip is provided on the jet nozzle, and the leg part is attached. The device is inserted into a hole, the engaging portion is engaged with a thread or a step, and the rotation of the jet nozzle adjusts the position of the viewing window of the jet nozzle relative to the cleaning surface. As seen in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-21201, a locking piece is provided protruding from the peripheral wall of the rear end of the jet nozzle, a notch is provided, and a step is similarly formed on the inner peripheral part of the mounting hole. There is one that engages with the locking part that is attached.

However, with either structure, it is necessary to adjust the position of the observation window of the jet nozzle with respect to the cleaning surface, and the entire jet nozzle, which serves as a gripping part required for installation and removal, is small.
It was not possible to easily position the jet nozzle with respect to the cleaning surface of the observation window, or to easily attach or remove the jet nozzle.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to enable positioning of the jet nozzle without requiring positioning adjustment of the jet nozzle, and to easily attach and remove the jet nozzle. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can perform the following.

That is, in this invention, the entire jet nozzle is made of an elastic material, and is configured in a substantially arc shape along the outer shape of the tip surface, and the jet nozzle is removably fitted into the mounting hole to receive the jet nozzle. It is formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the nozzle. As a result, the ejection nozzle can be easily installed by simply fitting the ejection nozzle and the attachment hole into the same shape, without requiring positioning adjustment of the ejection port of the ejection nozzle. In addition, by configuring the jet nozzle in a substantially arc shape that follows the outer shape of the tip surface of the tip component, it is possible to make the tip component into a large shape that is easy to grip without increasing the diameter. can. Furthermore, positioning of the jet nozzle is easy.

The present invention will be explained below based on a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates an operating section of the endoscope 1a, and reference numeral 2 indicates a flexible tube section having a distal end component 3 at its distal end. Further, the tip component 3 is provided with a jet nozzle 4 as described later, and based on the operation of an operation button 5 for liquid and air supply provided on the operation section 1, liquid or gas is ejected from the jet nozzle 4. It is now possible to selectively eject fluid. On the other hand, the distal end component 3 is constructed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, 6 in the figure is the main body of the tip component 3,
This main body 6 is fixed to the tip of the flexible tube section 2. Further, the distal end surface 3a of the distal end component 3 is provided with an observation window 7 at the center and two illumination windows 8 located on the left and right sides of the observation window 7. Furthermore, the distal end surface 3a of the distal end component 3 has mounting holes 9 located on the upper and lower sides.
Suction holes 10 are provided respectively. and,
Among these parts, the observation window 7 includes an imaging lens 11 provided inside the tip component 3, an image guide 1 inserted into the tip component 3, and the flexible tube section 2.
2 to the eyepiece section 13 provided on the operation section 1, and from the eyepiece section 13 to the tip structure section 3.
It is now possible to visually see the front of the vehicle. Further, the illumination windows 8, 8 are optically connected to a light guide (not shown) inserted through a universal cable 14 connected to the tip component 3, the flexible tube section 2, and the operation section 1, Illumination light can be guided to the front of the tip component 3. Furthermore, the suction port 10 includes a tip component 3,
It is connected to the flexible tube section 2, a switching mechanism (not shown) attached to a suction operation button 15 provided on the operation section 1, and a suction tube (not shown) inserted through a universal cable 14. Furthermore, the mounting hole 9 is provided with the distal end component 3 , the flexible tube section 2 , a switching mechanism (not shown) attached to the operation button 5 for liquid and air supply, and a transmission path inserted through the universal cable 14 . Liquid delivery as
It is connected to the air supply tube 16 for liquid supply and
Liquid or gas can be introduced into the mounting hole 9 through the air supply tube 16. The above-described jet nozzle 4 is detachably attached to this attachment hole 9. The structure around the jet nozzle 4, which is the main part of this invention, is as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG.
is entirely made of rubber or synthetic resin, and its shape is such that the area occupied by the tip surface 3a of the tip component 3 is as large as possible, for example, the inner diameter of the liquid/air tube 16 is set to 1. It is constructed in the shape of a substantially long cylindrical block whose length L satisfies the relationship L=(3-4)·l. That is,
The jet nozzle 4 is configured in a substantially arc shape along the outer shape of the tip surface 3 a of the tip component 3 .
A jet nozzle 17 consisting of a small opening is provided at the upper center of the outer surface that forms the inner arc of the jet nozzle 4, and inside the jet nozzle 4, the liquid and air supply tubes are arranged along the thickness direction. A bottomed cylindrical conduit 17a corresponding to the opening 16 is provided. Further, a tapered portion 18 whose diameter increases toward the bottom is formed on the entire outer surface of the jet nozzle 4, and this tapered portion 18 constitutes a locking portion 19 for the attachment hole 9. On the other hand, the structure of the mounting hole 9 for receiving the jet nozzle 4 configured in this way is such that the inner wall surface on the distal end side constituting the mounting hole 9 is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the jet nozzle 4, and a substantially arc-shaped receiver is formed. The jet nozzle 4 is removably attached to the tip structure part 3 with the tip protruding from the tapered part 18 of the jet nozzle 4 on the circumferential side of the receiving part 20. Stop. Spout nozzle 4
It is constructed by forming a mounting side taper part 21 corresponding to the taper part 18 of. Therefore, the jet nozzle 4
By fitting into the mounting hole 9, the liquid/air feeding tube 16 communicates with the jet nozzle 17 via the pipe line 17a, and the jet nozzle 17 fits into the jet nozzle 4 and the mounting hole 9 due to their similar shapes. The cleaning surface of the observation window 7 can be positioned in this manner. The pipe line 17a is connected to the liquid/air supply tube 16 when the jet nozzle 4 is fitted into the mounting hole 9, and the jet port 17 is connected to the observation window 7 when the jet nozzle 4 is fitted into the mounting hole 9. Needless to say, it is set to . Further, a notch 22 for removing the nozzle is provided at the center of the outer arc wall surface of the mounting-side tapered portion 21 for easily removing the jet nozzle 4 fitted into the mounting hole 9.

When using the endoscope configured as described above, the distal end portion 3 is inserted into the body cavity through the oral cavity, and the situation inside the body cavity can be observed through the observation window 7 when viewed from the eyepiece 13. You will be able to do this. During this observation, if the observation window 7 becomes dirty, use the operation button 5 for liquid/air supply.
When operated, liquid or gas is ejected from the ejection port 17 of the ejection nozzle 4 toward the observation window 7, thereby cleaning the observation window 7.

However, when such an endoscope is used, the ejection port 17 of the ejection nozzle 4 becomes clogged due to the entry of dirt, mucus, etc. in the body cavity, and the ejection nozzle 4 becomes clogged.
When removing the jet nozzle 4 because it needs to be replaced or cleaned and disinfected, use the notch 22 for nozzle removal to pull out the large part protruding from the tip component 3, and the taper will remove the nozzle. The stop is removed and the jet nozzle 4 is removed.

When installing the jet nozzle 4 (including installing a new jet nozzle), grasp the tip side of the jet nozzle 4 and press the base side of the jet nozzle 4 into the mounting hole 9 according to the shape of the mounting hole 9. As a result, the jet nozzle 4 is fixed to the tip component 3 by elastic expansion and contraction and mutual elastic engagement of the taper part 18 on the jet nozzle 4 side and the mounting side taper part 21 on the mounting hole 9 side. At the time of installation, since the jet nozzle 4 and the mounting hole 9 each have a substantially arc shape that follows the outer shape of the distal end surface 3a of the tip component 3, the jet nozzle 4 cannot even be fitted into the mounting hole 9. Once installed, the spout 17 can be set in the desired position relative to the observation window 7 without requiring any positioning or adjustment work.

Thus, when installing the jet nozzle 4, the jet nozzle 17 can be positioned simply by fitting the jet nozzle 4 and the mounting hole 9 into the same shape without requiring any positioning adjustment. Moreover, since the shape of the jet nozzle 4 is formed into a substantially arc shape that follows the outer shape of the tip surface 3a of the tip component 3, the jet nozzle 4 can be gripped without increasing the diameter of the tip component 3. It can be made into a large shape that is easy to use, and the spout nozzle 4 can be easily attached and detached. Moreover, the shape of the jet nozzle 4 makes positioning of the jet nozzle 4 easy.
In addition, such an effect can be obtained by forming the entire jet nozzle 4 from an elastic material, by making the tip surface 3a into a substantially arc shape that follows the outer shape, and by forming the mounting hole 9 into a shape corresponding to the shape of the jet nozzle 4. The structure is simple. Furthermore, since the ejection nozzle 4 is attached and detached using the taper portions 18 and 21, the structure around the ejection nozzle 4 is extremely simple.
Furthermore, since the ejection nozzle 4 is made of an elastic material, it has the advantage of not damaging the inside of the body cavity and having excellent insulation.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, but the second embodiment shown in FIG.
A third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 may be used.

That is, what is shown in FIG.
The side portion of the pipe line 17a is opened all the way to the spout 17 to form the spout 17. Such a spout structure has the advantage that the spout nozzle 4 can be easily cleaned and disinfected by providing a large opening.

In addition, the one shown in FIG.
It is provided with jet ports 25, 25 for cleaning the water. In this way, not only the observation window 7 but also the illumination windows 8, 8 can be cleaned.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the injection nozzle can be easily installed without requiring adjustment of the positioning of the injection port of the injection nozzle, simply by fitting the injection nozzle and the mounting hole with the same shape. . Moreover, since the shape of the jet nozzle is formed into a substantially arc shape that follows the outer shape of the tip surface of the tip component, the diameter of the tip component does not become thicker, and the jet nozzle can be easily held in a large shape. The jet nozzle can be easily installed and removed. Moreover, the shape of the ejection nozzle facilitates positioning of the ejection nozzle.
Moreover, the structure is simple, and since the entire jet nozzle is made of elastic material, it has the advantage of not causing any damage to the inside of the body cavity.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the distal end component, and FIG. 3 is a distal end component thereof. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the jet nozzle, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 6 is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention. 3...Tip constituent part, 4...Ejection nozzle, 9...Mounting hole, 16...Liquid feeding/air feeding tube (feeding passage), 17,
25...Ejection port, 18...Tapered part, 21...Mounting side taper part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An endoscope in which a mounting hole is provided in the distal end surface of the distal end component and communicates with the feed passage, and a jet nozzle is removably fitted into the mounting hole, wherein the entire jet nozzle is is made of an elastic material and has a substantially arc shape along the outer shape of the tip surface, and the mounting hole is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the jet nozzle that receives and detachably fits the jet nozzle. An endoscope characterized by: 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the jet nozzle is provided with one or more jet ports. 3. The fitting form of the jet nozzle and the mounting hole is such that a tapered part is formed on the outer surface of the jet nozzle, and the taper part of the jet nozzle is received and locked in the mounting hole, which corresponds to the taper part of the jet nozzle. Claim 1 characterized in that it is formed by forming a side tapered portion.
The endoscope described in section.