JPS61222433A - Flexible tube for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a flexible tube for an endoscope.

[Prior Art] Generally, as shown in FIG. 2, an endoscope 1 includes a distal end portion 2 equipped with an illumination window, an objective lens, an air/water supply port, a forceps port, etc., a curved portion 3, and a flexible tube 4. an insertion section consisting of an insertion section, an operation section main body 5 consisting of a curved operation section, an air/water supply side, a forceps insertion port, etc., an eyepiece section provided in the operation section main body 5, and an other end extending from the operation section main body 5. A universal cord 7 is provided with a part of the connector.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible tube 4, which is entirely in the shape of a flexible pipe, has a flex 8 made of a spirally formed cloth-like plate for preventing soaking disposed inside the flex 8. The outer side of the blade 9 is surrounded by a braid 9 formed into a net-like cylindrical body using metal wire or the like to prevent twisting, and the entire outer periphery of the blade 9 is covered with a skin tube 10 made of synthetic resin.

In addition, a release agent is provided between the flex 8 and the blade 9,
The gap between the blade 9 and the outer skin tube 10 is formed by applying an adhesive. Further, at both ends of the flexible tube 40, a ring-shaped intermediate cap 11 and a rear cap 12 are integrally fixed to the flex 8 and the blade 9 by soldering. Inside the flex 8 is a coil pipe 13 through which the operating wire is inserted.
is inserted and fixed to the intermediate cap 11 by brazing. Furthermore, a top coat 14 is applied to the outer surface of the outer skin tube 10 to improve slipperiness and relieve patient pain during insertion. (Utility Model No. 51-8887,
(Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-46931) [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since a urethane moisture curing type resin is used as the top coat 14, a curing time of 8 to 10 hours is required. Curing time is also affected by humidity. In addition, because the curing time is long, dust and dirt in the air may adhere to the surface, and solvents on the surface may evaporate quickly.
The bubbles do not come out and the product hardens in a foamed state, resulting in a defective product.

The present invention was made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope in which the quality of the top coat is improved by using a top coat that hardens in a short time. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, a flex, a blade, and an outer skin tube are sequentially laminated from the innermost layer, and a tour coat made of photocurable plastic or electron beam curing plastic is provided on the outside. Can be used for endoscopes! It is t.

[Function] In the present invention, 1-Tupko 1- is applied to an outer skin tube, polymerized by irradiation with ultraviolet rays and electron beams, and cured in a short time to form a top coat.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged sectional view of an embodiment of a flexible tube for an endoscope according to the present invention. A flex 8 made of metal ribbon material or the like is arranged as the innermost layer of the flexible tube 4, and a mesh braid 9 made of a mixture of metal wire such as SUS, brass material, or synthetic resin fiber is arranged on the outside thereof. ing. Then, an adhesive (not shown) is applied to the outer periphery of the net-like blade 9, and an outer skin tube 10 made of molten synthetic resin or the like is molded on the outside using a tube extrusion molding machine or the like. As the material for the outer skin tube 10, polyurethane, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, other thermoplastic resins, synthetic rubber, etc. are used. The skin tube 10 is filled through the mesh part of the reticulated braid 9 to the extent that it reaches the outer surface of the flex 8 or the inner surface of the blade 9, and is bonded with an adhesive.
and the outer skin tube 10 are formed so as to be integrated. Further, a top coat 14 made of photocurable plastic is formed on the outside thereof. This top coat 14 is formed by dipping the photocurable plastic into a liquid, applying it by dipping, and curing the photocurable plastic by irradiating it with ultraviolet light. Examples of the photocurable plastic used as the top coat 14 include urethane modified acrylate photocurable plastic, butadiene modified acrylate photocurable plastic, epoxy modified acrylate photocurable plastic, ester modified acrylate photocurable plastic, Other suitable materials include thionic polymerization type photocurable plastics.

After the top coat 14 is applied to the outer skin tube 10, in order to make the film thickness constant, the top coat 14 is passed through a die by squeezing the periphery and passing through a die.
It is applied to a thickness of 50μ. Application of top coat 14-
The flexible tube 4 is hung vertically and uniformly irradiates ultraviolet light from its surroundings. For irradiation, lamps are provided along the entire length of the flexible tube 4, or lamps are provided in a ring shape and are moved in the longitudinal direction for irradiation.

By irradiating with ultraviolet light in this manner, the top coat 14 can be cured and formed in about 30 seconds to 5 minutes.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In other embodiments, an electron beam curable plastic is used as the top coat 14. A cinnamic acid polymer resin or the like is used as the electron beam curable plastic, and after being applied to the outer surface of the outer skin coat 10, the film is made to a certain thickness, hung vertically, and irradiated with an electron beam from the surrounding area to form the top coat 14. Formed by curing.

The top coat 14 can also be applied by spraying a resin in the form of a mist.

[Effects of the Invention] The flexible tube for indoor ma of the present invention uses resins that harden by irradiation with ultraviolet rays and electron beams, such as photocurable plastics and electron beam curable plastics, so it can be used in an extremely short period of time. The top coat can be cured and formed in time. Therefore, there is no dirt or dust attached to the surface during curing, no air bubbles are generated, and the quality of the flexible tube can be greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Is Figure 1 related to the present invention? ! A partially enlarged sectional view of the flexible tube of the lens barrel, Figure 2 is an external view of a general endoscope, and Figure 3 is part of Figure 2. ! FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of the flexible tube of the mirror. 4...Flexible tube, 8...Flex, 9...Blade, 10...Sheath tube, 14...Top coat patent applicant Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Procedural amendment voluntary) July 1985 August 8, 1, Display of the case 1985 Patent Application No. 64853 2 Name of the invention Flexible tube for endoscope 3 Amendment person (2) ``Top coat'' on page 3, line 15 of the same ``Top coat'' Correct the top coat layer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a spiral flex; a net-like blade disposed on the outside of the flex; an outer skin tube made of synthetic resin or the like fixed to the outer periphery of the blade; and a top coat coated on the outer periphery of the outer skin tube. A flexible tube for an endoscope, characterized in that the top coat is made of a photo-curable plastic or an electron beam-curable plastic.